Who Will Be the #1 Overall Draft Pick?

who is your pick at this point?

 

I want all 3...

 

Firstly, I really appreciate all of your hard work updating these threads on a regular basis, tellitlikeitis. Even though I rarely post here, I keep up with this thread and check it daily, and I'm sure that goes for many others as well.

Also, it seems like Appel is finally a strikeout pitcher. I always wonder what his ceiling was since he had good stuff, but never had eye popping K #'s. Either he's off to one hell of a start this season, or he has reached that next level and will separate himself from the pack and finally go #1.

I wonder how much money he cost himself by not signing last year? He reportedly turned down 6 mil from us, and now he is a college senior (no leverage). I hope we sign him to a Correa type deal if we pick him.

 

If Appel continues to put up these numbers, it would be hard to say no to him. The higher his floor gets, the more and more attractive a pick he becomes to me.

 

San Diego coach Rich Hill remembers that when Troy Glaus played at UCLA, then-Southern California coach Mike Gillespie would sometimes use four outfielders and three infielders during his at-bats. Anything to get an edge against the fearsome slugger.

Don't be surprised if desperate opponents start thinking way outside the box to scheme against USD junior Kris Bryant.

"Every once in a while you have a player like this in college baseball—just a guy who can dominate the college game," Hill said. "The only time I can remember seeing anything like this is Troy Glaus."

Incidentally, Bryant has garnered comparisons to Glaus—who went on to be a four-time all-star and hit 320 home runs in the big leagues—since his high school days in Las Vegas. Hill said he tries to avoid comparisons—but Bryant has certainly justified the lofty projections.

"It's Troy Glaus, Jayson Werth, Pat Burrell," Hill said. "It's a combination of those three guys all wrapped into one."

In light of the last two weeks, nobody would blame you for comparing Bryant to Roy Hobbs, either. There was his mammoth home run deep into the night against Saint Louis last week—a shot that either soared halfway up the light standard or cleared it altogether, depending on who you ask. "It grows by the week—it was 500 feet, then the next week it was 550 feet, then it was 600," Hill said.

Then there was his three-homer game this past Thursday in USD's West Coast Conference opener against Brigham Young. He went to the opposite field on sliders for his first two long balls, then pulled a walk-off, three-run homer to left field in the ninth, turning a 5-4 deficit into a 7-5 victory.

In Saturday's series finale, a wild back-and-forth, 14-inning affair, Bryant delivered yet another walk-off shot—a two-run blast to right field, giving the Toreros a 10-9 victory and a series sweep. That set off a jubilant celebration. Later that day, San Diego catcher Dillon Haupt—himself the national leader in doubles and USD's leader in batting (.392)—tweeted of Bryant, "He's not human."

"That's the most excited I've seen one of our teams get in a few years," Hill said of the scene after Bryant's Saturday walk-off. "It almost looked like they were trying to pitch around him a little bit, but the guy just left it up and he just smoked it. It was just complete elation."

In his last 13 games, Bryant is hitting .465 with 11 home runs. He is hitting .386/.561/.986 with 24 RBIs and 12 long balls on the year, leading the nation in homers even though teams are pitching him very cautiously—he also leads Division I with 26 walks.

"He has really matured into a complete hitter," Hill said. "He and (hitting coach) Jay (Johnson) have just spent a ton of time together. Kris is just way more balanced right now. His dad was a hitting coach, is a hitting coach, so he came in with a good approach, a good understanding of things. The power's always been there, but now, there really are no holes. He just makes the ballpark look small, one of those guys."

At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Bryant has serious leverage in his righthanded swing, and he has become better at handling fastballs in on his hands. But he also runs very well for his size, and he has showcased his defensive versatility by playing first base, center field and right field along with his usual third base.

"For me, that's my favorite thing about Kris is just the athleticism," Hill said. "This is a 6-5, wiry, athletic guy that someday, he has Gold Glove right fielder defensively written on him. And I think he could do the same thing at first base. He could play third base in a pinch in the big leagues, and center field at the college level very well. He can throw somebody out at the plate, he can steal a base. All these things are just emerging—the athleticism, arm strength, power. Now you put the hitting ability, not just power but using all fields, power to all fields, not striking out.

"The scary thing is he just keeps getting better and better every day, and he's never satisfied, which is awesome."

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2013/03/three-strikes-week-five-3/

 

http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/3...-paul-jp-crawford-ss-shortstop-lakewood-hs-ca

"John Paul (JP) Crawford is a rangy shortstop/pitching prospect from Lakewood High School near Los Angeles. He's blessed with a terrific pedigree: Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford is his uncle, and his father, Larry, was a defensive back at Iowa State and in the Canadian Football League."

"Crawford's status is a little difficult to place, given the volatility of high school shortstops, as well as his age relative to the rest of the high school class - at 18.54 years old on Draft Day, Rany Jazayerli would rank him as old. There's little doubt that he'll be taken in the first round - the only question is how high.

Baseball America and Minor League Ball rank him among their top ten, and there are rumors that Houston has him near the top of their draft board. He could go 1-1, but I also wouldn't be shocked if he falls to the bottom of the first round. It really boils down to who's willing to take a chance on a toolsy kid with their first-round pick."

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=268473

"Showed outstanding defensive ability and hitting tools @ PG National. Extremely high ceiling, continued to impress at WWBA WC."

http://baseballdraftreport.com/2012...ound-mlb-draft-2013-middle-infield-prospects/

"What’s funny about Crawford’s recent rise is that so much of it is predicated on his improved defense up the middle. In my first looks at Crawford last year, it was actually his defense at shortstop that stood out to me the most. Not for nothing, but I heard down in Florida that the Astros really, really, really like Crawford. Really."

"I won’t say there’s a 0% chance he eventually gets moved to 3B or CF — either could be in play down the line if what I heard about Houston having him as the top prep player on their board is true — but, as you said, the bat will play no matter where he winds up. As I think I mentioned in the original piece, I actually liked his glove more than his bat the first two or three times I saw him. Can’t say that is true now, but he’s more well-rounded than I gave him credit for at first."

 

I still think Appel has the inside track if he continues to produce, but Kris Bryant is my number two guy now. Dude can hit. I want to know, though, if he has a good eye at the plate or if pitchers are just mostly respecting his power.

 

Minor League Ball has Astros selecting Frazier 1-1 in an early Mock.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/3/23/4139314/2013-mlb-mock-draft-version-one

 

Here's a nice detailed mock draft from Through the Fence. It has the first four round picks for the Astros. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2013-mlb-draft-4/30877/

Here's the list for those who don't want to click the link:

Round 1

Austin Meadows may have the highest ceiling in the draft.
1. Houston Astros — Austin Meadows, Grayson HS (GA)

Over his last four games, the 6’-3” lefthander has gone 10-for-13 with four doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and has stolen three bases. For the season, he is now hitting .600 (18-for-30) with six doubles, four home runs, 16 RBI and a slash line of .676/1.200/1.876. He has also added 11 stolen bases. Meadows has plus power, a plus arm and plus speed. His size, abilities and great make up give him arguably the highest ceiling in the 2013 MLB draft.


Round 2

40. Houston Astros — Justin Williams, OF, Terrebone HS (LA)

One of the better power bats in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-3”, 210-pound left-hander is also a great athlete. He has a great arm, great bat speed and just needs to refine his approach at the plate to put it all together. He won both the Perfect Game Classic and Under Armour All-American Game home run derbies over the summer.


Round 3

75. Houston Astros — Tyler Danish, RHP, Durant HS (FL)

One of the better two-way threats in the prep class, The 6’-1” right-hander has been outstanding as both a pitcher and hitter this season. Over 15 games, he is hitting .415 (17-for-41) with four home runs and 16 RBI. He has also drawn 11 walks to just three strikeouts for a .537 OBP and .756 SLG, and has swiped four bases. On the mound, he has been even better. Over seven starts, he is 7-0 and has yet to allow an earned run over 42 innings. He has used his fastball that can touch 95 mph to strike out 73 batters and has walked just eight while allowing 14 hits. He is a better prospect on the mound, however, his power and strong arm would also play well at the hot corner at the next level.


Round 4

107. Houston Astros — Zack Collins, C/1B, American Heritage HS (FL)

Enormous power from the left side. The 6’-3”, 205-pound masher has a good understanding of the strike zone, as well as very good bat speed. Most believe he will eventually end up at first base. He was also a member of U16 Team USA, hitting .500 (16-for-32) with three home runs and 16 RBI over eight games. Over 16 games this season, he is hitting .455 with six doubles, one home run, 18 RBI and has drawn 17 walks for a .640 OBP.

 

All HS

 

Barring his agent, he was likely the #1 pick last year, and has seemingly improved and polished up significantly. Would be tough to pass up on the guy. I feel like the fact that he's a senior, went 8 last year, and had anunimpressive K rate before this season tarnish him a bit in a lot of posters' eyes, but his current run is pretty convincing, IMO.