RHRP Trevin Michael, grad transfer to OU, has an interesting arm (93+ with great breaking ball) and is somebody to look at late
I found an article from CBS Sports that says the Astros are said to be eyeing college bats. Overall this is more of a hitting class than a pitching class, but that was interesting to read.
Now on the mound for A&M is Chris Cortez. He hails from Las Vegas, one of the nation’s new hotspots for baseball prospects. He throws 98+ on his fastball, and is only a freshman. The coaches hope to make him a starter as soon as next year, but I think his future is in the bullpen. Though not draft eligible for another two years, apparently a lot of scouts are already doing their homework because it’s never too soon.
It's a bit surprising Melendez hasn't gotten more talk than he has or maybe I just haven't been paying attention..He has put up one of the four or five greatest college baseball seasons of the last 40 years. I mean who has had a better year? Incaviglia for sure, but after that.... Maybe JD Drew? Kotsay as a two way guy.
Oh, I meant that in just that I want them on the quiet (as quiet as he can be) and he drops to the Stros in the 2ndish round. Incaviglia was on another plane than everyone else (best college hitter ever). Brooks Kieschnick as a 2-way player deserves a mention. I believe he's the only 2-time winner of the Golden Spikes Award. Berkman. Bryant. Drew. Melendez. I'm sure there's a couple of recent others who wrecked stuff at the plate. Also, the fat kid from Auburn.
Remember when Berkman lasted until the 16th pick (5 college players were drafted right in front of him, negative career WAR) because he was an older college guy who was maybe only a 1B? Ooops. https://www.baseball-reference.com/...ry_type=year_round&draft_round=1&year_ID=1997 (you remember Cameron Hahn and Scott Barrett, 2nd/3rd picks from that draft? Me neither)
He was a serviceable corner outfielder, and even somewhat decent at CF. Surprisingly athletic for a man that big. But yes, same story heard many times. Paul Goldschmidt was another, though one of his knocks was “small conference.”
Not sure if mentioned in the article, but Greg Harris for the Expos was an ambidextrous pitcher back in the 90s. Don't think they let him do it very often but I read a story about him in a magazine back then.
David LaManna from Notre Dame is another catcher to watch. Guy can really rake but he's a bit older (grad student) and may be on the smaller side (5'10, 170). A lot of interesting catcher prospects in this draft, I definitely expect one to be drafted.
1-28: OF Jacob Melton, Oregon 2-64: RHP Landon Sims, Miss. St. 2C-80: 1B Ivan Melendez, Texas 3-103: RHP Nazier Mule, HS 4-133: SS Jordan Sprinkle, UCSB
I really like Melton, he can also play 1B and has done so in college. I will note, however, he is from Oregon State, not Oregon.
Draft is 8 days away. Last mlb.com mock has Astros looking at college OF. Of the 4 linked to Houston in that article my order of preference would be Melton then Thompson and Gilbert. Not a fan of Jones at 28. But none of them excite me all that much. That said, the crop of college position players is DEEP so while I don’t expect them to get a stud in round 1 there will be a lot of value to be had in rounds 2-8. https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-mock-draft-july-6-2022?t=mlb-draft-coverage Not that it will play into their strategy but looking at their farm rosters the Fayetteville lineup is very weak, so getting 2-3 really good college hitters would cure that. The Asheville, Corpus, and Sugar Land lineups are really deep (even if a few key prospects have been disappointing). Those teams have not won a lot of games but that’s mostly due to pitching, which I think will get better over the next couple months. Based on how the talent appears to be stratified it wouldn’t surprise me if Houston tried to get their 1st rounder to sign for 2nd rd slot, then take 1-2 guys in the later (4-6) rounds who might warrant late 2nd round money. My thinking is in this particular draft 2 2nd rounders are move valuable than a late 1st rounder.
We def need to get some polished bats into the system, Barber, Lee, and Diaz seem to be the only guys that may be productive big leaguers and Lee has been meh at AAA and Barber is still 2 years away. I think I'd be happy with either Thompson, Melton, or Gilbert. Not sure if there's any particular order I would rank them, they're all pretty even IMO but Melton and Gilbert may get the nod due to ability to stick in CF. If we go pitcher I like Gabriel Hughes and if Rocker is there you kinda have to take him no? A guy I like that's probably a 2nd rounder is Justin Campbell, might go in Round 1A, low 90s with a hammer that probably has some unlocked velo in his 6'7 lanky frame.
Campbell and Brandon Birdsell are 2 players Houston previously drafted that could be fits again if there’s no bad blood there.
