2022 MLB Draft July 17-19 - An Extensive Look At Top Draft Prospects

[True Rangers Fan]

Brock Porter. The mad lads did it.

 

[saddles]

Adam and Evan were right.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Adam and Evan were right.

was there ever any doubt?

 

[saddles]

The top pitching prospect in the Draft, Porter won three Michigan state titles in three seasons at St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake), Division 2 crowns in 2019 and 2021 and a Division 1 championship at part of a 44-0 team in 2022. Gatorade's state player of the year in 2021, he repeated this spring and earned Gatorade's national honor as well after going 9-0 with a 0.41 ERA, 115 strikeouts in 58 innings and three no-hitters. He's the state's best prep pitcher since Steve Avery went No. 3 overall to the Braves in the 1988 Draft. Porter has the best fastball in the high school crop, sitting at 94-97 mph for innings at a time, topping out at 100 and generating that velocity and plenty of armside run and carry with relative ease. He also owns one of the better changeups in the Draft, as he throws his with deceptive arm speed, good velocity separation in the low 80s and outstanding horizontal action. He has made encouraging progress with his slider this spring, flashing some plus slide pieces as hard as 87 mph, and he'll mix in a downer curveball in the upper 70s. Other than continuing to refine his feel for spin, Porter doesn't need much beyond experience and continued good health. He has a strong 6-foot-4 frame with some projection remaining, repeats a delivery that features little effort and provides plenty of strikes. He's committed to Clemson and would be Draft-eligible in 2024 as a sophomore if he doesn't turn pro this summer.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Can't be mad at picking two P's this year after Leiter last year.

Pitching wins championships.

 

[saddles]

From Keith Law's Draft Prospect Rankings:

16. Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)

Porter has emerged as one of the top high school right-handers in this class, and right now is the best bet to be the first arm taken from anywhere in the class. He’s been up to 97 this spring with good arm-side run on the pitch, while both his curveball and changeup project as at least above-average offerings when he starts using them more. He offers a ton of projection on his 6-4 frame, with a long stride toward the plate and good extension over his front side. He’s also committed to Clemson, but he’s pitched well enough this spring that he should go high enough to sign.

 

[saddles]

Great first 2 selections by the Rangers.

 

[saddles]

Better draft than last year already.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Just need Porter to actually sign

 

[saddles]

So, have the Rangers just assured themselves of getting the best 3 pitchers available in the last couple of drafts combined?

 

[saddles]

Currently there are 4 guys from mlb.com's board that rank better than 75 that are still available.

 

[Kelleyman]

Wow and wow again. Surely they are foo f to sign him

 

[Kelleyman]

It just might be that the Rangers have been playing chess while the rest of the league is playing checkers

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Porter is repped by Boras. As is Rocker. It'd be shocking if there wasn't an "understanding" in place.

Reddit has nothing but glowing praise for the Rangers draft, especially considering there was no 2nd or 3rd round pick.

 

[scotsman1948]

From Keith Law's Draft Prospect Rankings:

16. Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)

Porter has emerged as one of the top high school right-handers in this class, and right now is the best bet to be the first arm taken from anywhere in the class. He’s been up to 97 this spring with good arm-side run on the pitch, while both his curveball and changeup project as at least above-average offerings when he starts using them more. He offers a ton of projection on his 6-4 frame, with a long stride toward the plate and good extension over his front side. He’s also committed to Clemson, but he’s pitched well enough this spring that he should go high enough to sign.

he seems to be strongly committed to Clemson to the point where everyone else didn't pick him even though he was ranked in the top 15 picks

 

[saddles]

The 5th round pick is in. Chandler Pollard

 

[saddles]

Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.) hasn't had a player drafted since the Astros took Delino DeShields eighth overall in 2010, but that should change this July. Pollard has boosted his stock with a strong spring -- he finished sixth in the nation among prepsters with 59 steals in 61 attempts -- and offers an impressive assortment of tools. Pollard doesn't have the smoothest right-handed swing, but he has cleaned it up some and is showing more feel for hitting as a high school senior. He has a quick stroke and displays plus raw power, and he should tap into it more as he fills out his lean 6-foot-2 build. He's a well-above-average runner who should maintain at least plus speed once he matures physically. Pollard will need time to develop at the plate and to find a defensive home. He has the twitchy athleticism and strong arm that scouts want in a shortstop, but he doesn't look natural getting his tall frame down to field grounders. The Washington State recruit will get a chance to stay at short and might be able to handle third base, though most evaluators think he'd fit nicely in center field despite his lack of outfield experience.

 

[saddles]

Pollard was ranked 110 and taken at 139.

 

[saddles]

I am not crazy about the Pollard pick.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I am not crazy about the Pollard pick.

at this point they are picking guys that will sign for under slot money.