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2020 MLB Draft Prep: Week four

By Tim Huwe
Austin Martin of Vanderbilt
Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

I recently came across this tweet:

The name rang a bell. Not Hurts, but Kmet. I’m not going on the four-deep on NFL tight ends, but his name ended up Top 200 on the Fangraphs list. Kmet is not only among the best college tight ends for the draft, but he’s a realistic left-handed pitcher.

It’s tougher to find a video of him pitching, but he’s a valid reliever, one of two the draft-worthy ones Irish have. How should a player who’s a second-round (or so) football player or a fourth-round baseball player go about deciding which sport? Rob Manfred has, effectively decided. Major League Baseball has very little interest in competing for talent. The Oakland Athletics selected Kyler Murray, who signed. However, once football came a-calling, he gave his signing bonus back, and the A’s were left with nothing.

Baseball teams have their draft bonus spending pools tightly regulated. This might be of great benefit to smaller market teams trying to keep up with the Yankees, as the elimination of affiliates might be useful for some cost-suppressionist types. However, it tends to defer talent to other sports. Or other careers outside of sports.

“But, I’ve never heard of him. His opinion is moot.”

How about this guy?

Limiting costs on players seems to have won the MLB-based tug-of-war on player development salaries. It hasn't bettered the quality of the on-field product.

***

Pitchers shredded this weekend. You’ll see that here and below.

I value Mason McRae’s opinion on the draft. His dossiers are more numerous and in-depth than mine. As a Blue Jays fan, he’s trying to figure out what the Jays should do if the four expected names (as of now) go top four. Which is a useful tool for assessing for the Cubs pick at 16.

1) Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia

2) Austin Martin, SS, Vanderbilt

3) Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State

4) Nick Gonzales, IF, New Mexico State

5) Garrett Mitchell, CF/RF, UCLA

6) Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M

I’m still trying to figure a go-to source that’s both easily used and accurate to give letter grades to “spin rate” numbers. Admit it when you don’t know.

7) Zac Veen, OF, Port Orange HS (FL)

8) Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville

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

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

11) Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP, South Carolina

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

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

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

Plus 1 Cole Wilcox right-handed pitcher Georgia

Plus 2 Garrett Crochet left-handed pitcher Tennessee

Plus 3 CJ Van Eyk, RHP, Florida State

Plus 4 Patrick Bailey, C, North Carolina State

*****Flames*****

Bryce Jarvis will probably get a full-length soon. Perhaps an article, or a podcast. (“Pre-arb excellence” available on most podcast outlets.) He has some non-believers, but his was quite impressive on Friday afternoon.

Jared Kelley is the annual hard-throwing right-hander from Texas.

*****Tanks*****

Pete Crow-Armstrong is a center-fielder from the prep ranks that I’m not sold on yet. A Mets fan on Twitter hopes the Cubs agree with me.

*****Dings******

Ginn is who I mocked to the Cubs in my first ever mock.

Last year, Ball State had a first-round arm in Drey Jamison. They have another first-day likely (first two rounds) in Kyle Nicholas this time. If you’re anywhere near Muncie, Indiana, check him out.

Walk-offs!

The Cubs might draft a first baseman this season. Alex Toral wouldn’t have been realistic prior seasons, when selecting first basemen was discouraged.

In This Stream

2020 MLB Draft

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