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2020 MLB Draft Prep: Mock drafts, highlights and a guy named Crow

A review of last weekend in college baseball, and the top possibilities for the Cubs’ No. 1 pick in June.

By Tim Huwe
Emerson Hancock
Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

I'd planned to talk about Nick Frasso this week. A valid starting pitching option from Loyola Marymount, he seemed a fun entry point this week. After all, Rule 5 guy Trevor Megill is from Loyola Marymount, as is second-shelf Cubs pitching prospect Cory Abbott. That the Lions played a 24-inning game over the weekend made it all the more timely. However, Frasso missed his start. Pitcher assessment is tough.

Instead, I start with a player I'm ignoring on my draft list. It happens every year that the touting of one player or another is unsettling for me for whatever reason. Pete Crow-Armstrong is that guy this year. A pure defensive center-fielder, his offensive reviews are checkered. It isn't that he doesn't hit. It's what happens when he tries to hit with power.

According to people who have traveled to see him, when he tries to sell out for power, his swing gets loopy. This can be worked around. The Cubs signed a youngster internationally like that last cycle. I was fine with it. However, with an early draft choice, I'd prefer someone a bit better than "probably hits better than Omar Moreno" with pick 16.

Carmen Mlodzinski continues to pick up steam. Major conference arms that dispatch hitters on Friday nights move up as others fade. Mlodzinski pitched well enough against Clemson for me to do a key bit of research. How does one pronounce Mlodzinski? Apparently, muh-Jin-ski. If he's the South Carolina tonic against SEC hitters, he can be the gin in my 16th pick considerations.

Two mocks I respect came out this week. The mocks I tend to respect are the ones that send the best available to teams, as opposed to "filling in supposed weak spots". No effective draft war room in baseball is floating the "We need an ace" concept. Nor are the Cubs "trying to replace Kris Bryant or Anthony Rizzo". Find the best guy. Whoever that is will have value in 2022 or 2023.

Here’s D1 Baseball’s review of Friday night.

1) Austin Martin, SS, Vanderbilt

2) Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia

3) Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State

4) Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State

These four are separating themselves from the rest of the pack.

5) Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M

6) Jordan Walker, 3B, Decatur HS (GA)

7) Ed Howard, SS, Mt. Carmel HS (IL)

8) Zac Veen, RF, Port Orange HS (FL)

9) Austyn Hendrick, RF, West Allegheny HS (PA)

10) Nick Bitsko, RHP, Central Bucks East HS (PA)

11) Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville

Against a sneaky-good West Michigan offense, Detmers only lasted five innings. He walked two, fanned ten, made 105 pitches, and was lit for a first inning homer by #2 hitter Justin McIntyre, who’s now on my draft list.

12) Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA

13) Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (OR)

14) Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee

Plus 1) JT Ginn, RHP, Mississippi State

Plus 2) Casey Martin, SS/3B, Arkansas

A notoriously slow-starter, he was rested on Sunday as a bit of a reset. He’s responded before to slow starts, and the speed is valid.

Plus 3) Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia

7 ip 3 h 11 k and nothing. Georgia Tech had no chance. And the Jackets are gooooooood. Find this game on video, and try to talk me out of it.

Plus 4) CJ Van Eyk, RHP, Florida State

Bryce Jarvis (Duke) tossed a perfect game this season. That sounds impressive, no? Does it sound as impressive as this looks?

Ugh!!!!

Have a weekend. I need to listen to a Memphis Tigers game.

Cade Cavalli from Oklahoma pitched against Arkansas on Friday.

And then, after giving up two homers in the fifth....

Scouting is hard.

Note to self about UNC-Wilmington:

Rigsby Mosely is a junior left fielder for Troy University. He had a grand slam against Jack Leftwich (2nd or third round likely) from Florida on Saturday. By the time I shifted my attention to Gainesville, he led off the fourth inning, Mosely banged one for a double down the right-field line. Mosely should go in the first 20 rounds, I don’t care.

****

Are you looking forward to June in a few years?

Which is better? The blast? Or the bat flip?

Interesting:

Walk-offs:

Kody Hoese State University (or Tulane)

And an odd one.

In This Stream

2020 MLB Draft

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