1st rd picks are usually the future at their positions. What I'm really wondering is how Click and company feel about Leon's future with the team. Is he more valuable as a trade chip, or is does he have a place in the Stros future?
I want to know where in the field he plays. Minute Maid CF is a far more daunting task than most here realize, especially when compared to a LF so small Yordan can play it with no major issue. Yet it makes GG-ish RF Kyle Tucker look awful. Can he play CF, or does he project more as a corner OF in the majors?
Most people believe Gilbert does have the speed and athleticism to stick at CF, and the Astros tend to give their minor league outfielders ample opportunity at all 3 spots. If I had to guess I think he does stick at CF, but we will see.
Wow! I am shocked and thrilled that we got both Gilbert and Melton. Two good left handed college bats. He has played all 3 OF positions and some 1B at Oregon State. I doubt he sticks at CF, though. He looked sloppy at times in the limited action I have watched. I would not be surprised to see him get more looks at first in the minors, TBH. He is definitely more of a bat first guy, though.
AGE 21 BATS L DOB 09/07/2000 THROWS L HT 6' 3" WT 208 Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50 After a stellar high school career at South Bedford High School in Oregon, Melton began his college career at Linn-Benton Community College, also in the Beaver State. From there, Melton moved on to Oregon State and after barely playing in the shortened 2020 season, he hit .404 over 32 games in 2021. He’s continued to swing the bat well in 2022 while becoming the everyday center fielder. Melton has the chance to do some damage from the left side of the plate. He has an advanced approach at the plate and makes a ton of contact. He also has a good amount of juice to his pull side, and he’s tapped into that power even more in 2022, leading some scouts to think he might have better than average pop in the future. A plus runner, Melton can take the extra base and is an efficient basestealer as well. In 2021, Melton showed that not only is he capable of playing center and the outfield corners, but he saw a good amount of time at first base as well. He has a good chance of sticking up the middle now, however, with a strong enough arm for right should the need arise. — MLB 25. Jacob Melton, OF, Oregon State Melton has hit .371/.435/.680 for the Beavers over the last two years, taking off after a small tweak by OSU coach Darwin Barney (yep, that one) helped him stay back on the ball more and use the whole field rather than swinging early to try to pull everything. He’s a premium athlete with plus speed, stealing 29 bases in 31 attempts since the start of 2021, and projects to stay in center, where his above-average power gives him a chance to be a strong regular, maybe more. His hands travel a long way due to a high hand load, but he accelerates quickly and gets power from his wrists and from huge hip rotation. He also hasn’t shown a platoon split, unusual for a left-handed amateur batter. He’ll turn 22 about eight weeks after the draft, so he’s on the older side for a college junior, but the speed/power/centerfield combo with production in a power five conference could help him slide into the back of the first round. — Keith Law
Melton is an excellent value at pick 64. High floor/ceiling combo. I think he ends up at RF or 1B. I think he will be Houston’s 5th or 6th best prospect as soon as he signs, but Gilbert and Melton could reasonably be ranked as high as 2nd and 3rd. They are on par with the group ranked after Brown that includes Lee, Leon, Barber, Y Diaz, and Whitley.
We are more likely to see Alvarez in LF and Melton at 1B if you ask me. I think the Yordan at first base dream needs to die. He's shown he is capable in LF, even if he'll never be a Gold Glove finalist. Melton has actually seen time at 1B in college and as I said, do not be surprised if they give him time there in the minors given how many OF we have and their propensity to play non-first basemen at first.
With the Astros going with college juniors, any chance they bust out the bonus money for some "unsignable" High Schooler at 80?
