70)
Player: Zack Hess | Position(s): RHP | |||
School (ST): LSU | Grade: Junior | |||
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’6” | Weight: 216 lbs. | |
Quick Report: A tall righty that has had more success out of the bullpen than the starting rotation. Hess has been known to have a very busy head in his delivery, something that was noticeably different when pitching for the US Collegiate National Team this summer. The belief he would be a reliever only at the next level has cost him in the eyes of scouts, but if the more controlled delivery and better control is here to stay, he just may prove to be a long term starter after all. | ||||
69)
Player: Wil Dalton | Position(s): OF | |||
School (ST): Florida | Grade: Junior | |||
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’ | Weight: 180 lbs. | |
Quick Report: Wil Dalton was drafted out of High School, went to JuCo, but then decided to go the four-year route and joined the Gators program last year. One thing that was obvious was the pure power in the bat, hitting 19 home runs, more than a few of which were no doubters. His arm and athleticism will play in right and he can hold down center in a pinch, but his carry tool will be the power bat. | ||||
68)
Player: Jonny DeLuca | Position(s): OF | |||
School (ST): Oregon | Grade: Sophomore | |||
Bats: Switch | Throws: Right | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 180 lbs. | |
Quick Report: Don’t be tuned away by his .212 average his Freshman season, as he showed better in the Cape this summer. He set a Freshman school record with six home runs and plays a very good center field. The pop comes easy and cleaning up some of the movement in his swing could make DeLuca a guy who rockets up draft boards this spring. | ||||
67)
Player: Quin Cotton | Position(s): OF | |||
School (ST): Grand Canyon | Grade: Junior | |||
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 190 lbs. | |
Quick Report: Cotton doesn’t really do anything at an elite level, but he doesn’t struggle with much either. He grades out to be about average in all five tools and showed a dramatic improvement in batting average last season over his freshman season. The closest thing he has to a weakness is a lack of game power, but the body and swing suggest there is power to come, his draft stock will be largely reliant on how much shows up this season. | ||||
66)
Player: Kyren Paris | Position(s): SS | |||
School (ST): Freedom (CA) | Grade: High School | |||
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 163 lbs. | |
Quick Report: Paris is a bit of an oddity. From a state loaded with talent, California, but from a part of Northern California that doesn’t provide a lot of prospects. Truly elite footwork in the infield that makes him an easy stick in the middle infield, but the arm means that will probably have to be second base. Smaller frame, but a big swing, yet still shows a good ability to put the bat to ball. He will be one of those some teams love, while other have little interest. | ||||
65)
Player: Jonathan French | Position(s): C | |||
School (ST): Parkview (GA) | Grade: High School | |||
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 213 lbs. | |
Quick Report: I am a sucker for a quality defensive catcher, and that is what you have in Jonathan French. He has an incredibly strong lower half, good footwork, pop times regularly under 2.00. The bat is going to be the determining factor in how well regarded a prospect he becomes. He has a substantial leg lift and weight shift that could prove costly at the next level but the bat plane is excellent and, with a few minor tweaks, should become a solid hitter with some pop. | ||||
64)
Player: Matt Canterino | Position(s): RHP | |||
School (ST): Rice | Grade: Junior | |||
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 205 lbs. | |
Quick Report: One look at Canterino’s numbers and it is clear he is a true strikeout machine, 227 in 190 college innings. He has a four-pitch mix and a strong core that should allow him to eat innings, while the inconsistency in his delivery leads some to believe he is better suited for a bullpen role. Despite a lot of moving parts, his command seems to only be getting better so there is a chance he can develop into a legitimate mid-rotation arm, or settle as a power reliever. | ||||
63)
Player: Will Rigney | Position(s): RHP | |||
School (ST): Midway (TX) | Grade: High School | |||
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 191 lbs. | |
Quick Report: Tall, mid-90s fastball, mid-80s slider that flashes plus, projectable body…yup, Rigney fits the bill as a Texas right-handed pitcher. He has a 3/4 to low-3/4 slot that causes him to get under the slider and leave it spinning a bit too often. He also shows an occasional curve and features a change that can really run. | ||||
62)
Player: Adam Laskey | Position(s): LHP | |||
School (ST): Duke | Grade: Junior | |||
Bats: Right | Throws: Left | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 205 lbs. | |
Quick Report: Laskey is a three-pitch guy with two average to better off-speed pitches. There is argument as to whether his slider or change is his better secondary offering, but that is a good thing to have to argue about. He has a high leg kick but good mechanics with a fastball that sits in the low-90s. He projects like a back of the rotation arm, but he is one with a higher floor than most. | ||||
61)
Player: Anthony Volpe | Position(s): SS | |||
School (ST): Delbarton (NJ) | Grade: High School | |||
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 185 lbs. | |
Quick Report: Volpe is a sure handed prep shortstop that should stick there especially as his game adds polish. There is natural lift in his swing, although he does not provide much in terms of power. I would like to see him look to hit more line drives than lift the ball, but that could certainly come with coaching. He takes a bit too long to get rid of the ball around the bag which would be the lone defensive concern I have with him. | ||||
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