The draft reports have been gone for a while, but this week they make their comeback. I am going to try and do a few more so we get most of the guys that are potentially there at 13 profiled, but then I am going to skip some guys and go back to the sandwich round guys that you may see at the 39th pick. Today’s report includes some big time college bats. These are guys that play premium positions and have a polished enough game to move fast. I am guessing you have seen their names on the weekend wrap-ups.
Gordon Beckham SS Georgia 6′0″ 185 lbs. DOB: 9/16/86
Beckham positioned himself as a probable first rounder when he led the Cape Cod League in homers and RBI last summer, but this spring he has positioned himself as one of the best players in college baseball and a possible top 10 pick with a blazing hot start. He may be generously listed at 6 foot, but his power is legitimate and he can show it to any field. He uses a short, quick stroke, but the ball jumps off his bat. The only problem with his offensive game is he tends to be a little over aggressive, but he has shown more patience as the season has moved along and pitchers began to pitch around him. Gordon is known for his bat and will likely be an offensive minded middle infielder, but he is no slouch defensively. He can make all the plays at short, and his arm is actually a tick above average. However, there are some concerns that he may eventually have to slide over to 2nd base. Either way he is going to hit and will be an above average offensive player at either spot.
Buster Posey C Florida State 6′2″ 200 lbs. DOB: 3/27/87
Posey came to Florida State as a very talented two way star and stepped in as the team’s everyday shortstop right off the bat his freshman year. In somewhat of a surprising move, he was shifted to catcher before his sophomore year and has taken off as a prospect. As a former shortstop he obviously has great lateral movement behind the dish, and as the team’s closer his arm is a plus as well. He still has some things to smooth out behind the plate, but scouts are impressed by how quickly he has taken to the position and he projects as a very good defensive player. Even with all that, the best part of Posey’s game is his bat. He was known as a very good pure hitter coming into this year after hitting .382 as a sophomore, but this year he has added power and improved upon his already very good plate discipline. Posey projects as an above average defense catcher capable of hitting .300 with 15 homers a year. He also should move through the minors leagues quickly, and that will make him a very hot commodity on draft day.
Jemile Weeks 2b Miami (FL) 5′9″ 180 lbs. DOB: 1/26/87
The obvious knock on Weeks has always been his size, but he is a dynamic, wiry strong athlete and has game changing ability. Weeks fits the lead off profile as a switch-hitter with incredible speed and a line drive stroke. While he doesn’t have the power of his older brother Rickie, he does have some pop and could hit 10-15 homers a year. He is a better defensive 2nd baseman than his brother with plus range, but he still has some work to do as his hands are a little stiff and his arm isn’t the best. Weeks is having a fantastic spring showing both power and speed while hitting right around .400, and he has positioned himself to go in the 10-20 range in the first round. He may not have the upside of some of the other top picks, but he is a pretty safe bet to be a solid lead off man in the mold of Brian Roberts.
Filed under: 2008 MLB draft
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jon mayo of MLB.com recently said Gordon Beckham is bandied about by the Buccos at #2. He didn’t even have Pedro in his projected top 5. I’m guessing that’s the Boras factor.
Here’s what he had:
1. TB-T Beckham
2. Pitt-G Beckham
3. KC-Crow
4. Balt-Matusz
5. SFG-Posey
The more I look at the draft, the more I’m thinking Jemile is the safest bet that’s likely to be available at 13
No way Weeks is 180 lbs with that frame!
Cario-
I bet he is around 180. I am 5′9″ 190, built about the same as he is in that photo, and if I was as ripped as he is I would probably weigh between 175 and 180.
I’ve heard that Melville’s velocity is a little down this year and that he may slip as a result. I would love to see him still available at 13.
i saw him last saturday, and i think he will be around at 13 for sure. he didn’t look very good at all. sitting at 87-89 touched 90 a couple times, but he was rocked for 7 earned runs in 5 innings. he didn’t look like a first rounder on that day.
yeah, from all i’ve heard about melville recenty i’m starting to think he’s a trainwreck ready to happen. part of me says “maybe in the supp round if he’s there”, but i’m thinking they should avoid him like the plague.
I hope the Cardinals take a serious look at Zack Putnam, he’s a perfect fit IMO.
i think melville could be headed to UNC.
as for putnam, he certainly fits the mold. i’m thinking he is one of the favorites for that pick at 39.
If Weeks = Roberts that’s an incredibly valuable player. Roberts is very underrated with his doubles power and plus defense. Add in that he was long overshadowed by Miguel Tejada and you get a middle infielder who is largely overlooked.
I think Weeks could be a good fit for the Cardinals. He and Kozma could form the middle infield and possibly top of the order combo of the future(though I see Kozma as more of a #7 hitter).
Luhnow has shown he likes the athletic hitters that project to steal some bases and possibly be a top of the order hitter(Tyler Greene, Shane Robinson, Daryl Jones, Jon Jay). Weeks is the same type of player but better. He really is an exciting player to watch.
I have a buddy who lives in Michigan and has seen Putnam a few times. He seems to think that do to some mechanical issues, Putnam may be a reliever in the major leagues. Though apparently he does throw four pitches(FB, Splitter, CB, and Slider). From what i hear, the FB and splitter are nasty, but the breaking stuff could use some work. If he is available at 39, the cards have to seriously look at taking him. I think it depends on who they end up taking at 13. though.
My opinion that last thing this team needs early is a 2B.
You spent a 3rd on Descalso to be a 2B, you got Martinez who profiles better at 2B, you got Hoffpauir as well.
I posed the question over Cardstalk to Fewgood…if were to take a high ceiling guy at #13…would you consider taking LH setup guy Daniel Schlereth with the #39 pick?
He is what he is…but he will move fast and you could envision a bullpen of Motte/Schlereth setting up Perez.
Just a thought, I am not sure what I would do…but your getting a guy that is a pretty safe bet to be a MLB’er and be one quickly.
Mid 90’s LHP’s with a plus, plus breaking ball dont grow on tree’s…plus he fits the Cards lack of caring about BB per 9.
look at the last draft, and you will find that the cards took guys with much better control then in year’s past-mort, todd and kopp all have less then 3 bb per 9.
Speaking of Todd, I know this was in the DFR, but as a U of A Alum myself, it’s glad to see him doing so well early. I can’t wait until he get’s up to AA and starts some games here in NWA against the Naturals.
i was really happy with the todd and kopp selections as they are both guys that were able to throw strikes in college. mortensen looked like another guy with no control, but he actually had very good control at quad cities last year.
we will see how it goes this year, but if they take shooter hunt i am convinced they don’t care at all about walk rates.
TB signing Longoria to a big extension makes this draft interesting. From what I understand, the Pirates said they are going to draft the BEST player at #2, regardless of $$. This draft could absolutely test that…there should be no “Boras” factor. If Alvarez is the best player in the country and TB doesn’t pick him, the Pirates (according to the new management regime) should pick him despite the cost.
I’d personally like to see T. Beckham fall to 2 for the Pirates…but we’ll see!