#2 Pick in a Rookie Draft

[revo]

I have the 2nd overall pick in the RJEL rookie draft starting tomorrow. There's no clearcut top players this year, I don't think, and I don't even know who will go #1 overall. From among the below list, who would you consider at #2?

Casey Mize
Nick Madrigal
Chris Paddack
Joey Bart
Jonathan India
Victor Victor Mesa
Alec Bohm
Jarred Kelenic
Dustin May
Gavin Lux
Nolan Gorman
EDIT TO ADD - Vidal Brujan

[DMT]

I'd take Mize if he isn't taken #1. If he is, I'd probably go Paddack or Lux.

[mjl]

Yes, give him lots of opinions!

I will say that one of the two people I'm considering isn't even on your list.

[harmon]

Yes, give him lots of opinions!

I will say that one of the two people I'm considering isn't even on your list.

AL or NL guy?

[Big Tymer]

There is no clear top anything this year. It’s not a bad pool of available players but I compare it to the pitching “glob” that Paul often refers to. I have no round 1 or 2 pick this year and thus I haven’t defined a lot of the top-5 per se but I’d personally lean to guys like Lux, Kelenic, India and Gorman I think just based on various write ups I’ve seen. I’m done drafting pitching in RJEL so it would be a hitter 100%.

Bart and Madrigal and “nice” but minor league catchers are only slightly a better choice than pitchers and lack of power concerns me with Madrigal. I actually like what I’ve read on Swaggerty but he’s more back half of top-10.

[revo]

Yes, give him lots of opinions!

I will say that one of the two people I'm considering isn't even on your list.

Interesting! Do tell!

[mjl]

well, a couple notes:

1) I'm one of the few teams that still likes pitching prospects, but even then, I don't think I can take one with the first pick. Their perceived value across the league is so low and there are so many trades in the league overall that if you take someone like Mize 1/1 you're pretty committed to waiting for him to reach the majors two years later where if you take a hitter with similar value you can at least trade them this year if you need help.

2) Also what Rick said about catchers.

3) well, I was waffling between Lux and Brujan and Gorman, but the rankings between FG, BP, and Keith Law are really different, even factoring in caring about fielding. Haven't made up my mind yet.

[revo]

well, a couple notes:

1) I'm one of the few teams that still likes pitching prospects, but even then, I don't think I can take one with the first pick. Their perceived value across the league is so low and there are so many trades in the league overall that if you take someone like Mize 1/1 you're pretty committed to waiting for him to reach the majors two years later where if you take a hitter with similar value you can at least trade them this year if you need help.

2) Also what Rick said about catchers.

3) well, I was waffling between Lux and Brujan and Gorman, but the rankings between FG, BP, and Keith Law are really different, even factoring in caring about fielding. Haven't made up my mind yet.

All told, it's a terrible rookie draft on paper as of today.

[Sour Masher]

Mize, Gorman, Paddack would be my top three. Gorman has the most power potential in the class. Mize is the best arm in the class. Paddack is a good arm with probably the best change up in the minors, and is close to the majors.

If you want a speedster, Brujan is an option too. He is tiny, and to me that is risky, despite the success of other small-ballers. But the guy looks like he will develop into a good contact hitter, and he has great speed. He has a great story too--coming up from abject poverty, he was illiterate just a few years ago, and now he is fluent in multiple languages.

[The Feral Slasher]

All told, it's a terrible rookie draft on paper as of today.

Maybe I'll feel better wasting 4 rookie picks then. Uggh

[Hornsby]

Maybe I'll feel better wasting 4 rookie picks then. Uggh

The problem is, you can't tell anything until 5 years from now. It could be a really deep draft with very good, but not great, players. There's just no Harper at the top of the draft...

[Ken]

I’m personally really high on Gorman FWIW. Tons of talent, great debut, great org. What’s not to like?

[Big Tymer]

I also like Gorman a lot but there is plenty not to like. He has a ton of swing and miss in his profile and because he’s a HS player we really won’t know if that’s an issue until he gets to Hi-A if not AA. He’s in a good system but there are plenty of first round picks the Cardinals weren’t able to develop so far from a sure thing and quite a risky profile imo.

[revo]

MJL took Gorman #1 overall. I went with India at #2. Paddack went #3 and Kelenic #4.

[Roy Hobbs]

MJL took Gorman #1 overall. I went with India at #2. Paddack went #3 and Kelenic #4.

I would have taken Paddack #1, and at the very least #2.