Tag: MLB Draft

2022 MLB Draft: Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison

Player: Chase DeLauter 
School: James Madison                                                 Position(s): OF 
Height:  6-4                  Weight:  235                       Bats: Left                        Throws: Left 
Hit: Busy feet in swing, full shoulder load, hips fire too early and leak. Some stiffness in wrists. Pulls hands through allowing him to handle the inner half. Busy body leaves concern regarding long term consistency with contact.  
Power: Legit, unquestioned pop. Jammed on ball and still flew to track, plenty of no doubters, bat is searching for power over hit. Shoulder load and hip fire to go with quick hands make this the carrying tool. Has 35 HR potential.
Run: Average runner which feels above-average due to size. 
Arm: Potential plus will allow him to play right with ease if moved off center.  
Glove: Good enough range to stick in center, seen too many poor routes. Can get caught with parallel or in on first step. Gave up double on mis-read in Florida State series. Potential above-average defender if moved to right, average at best if sticks in center.  
Summary: Abysmal series against the best pitching he will face this season, has feasted on lower-level arms. Showed pop in Cape, but long-term consistency is the concern. Massive bust profile for me. The load, the early hip fire, the busy feet all scream trouble. He can hold down center but may be better suited to play right at the next level. He is a sure-fire first round pick, but I don’t want to be the GM that pulls the trigger, too much risk in the bat for me despite the massive power potential. 

2022 Draft Profile: Daniel Susac, C, University of Arizona

Player: Daniel Susac
Organization: University of Arizona                                                             Position(s): C
Height: 6’4”                   Weight: 220 lbs.                        Bats: Right                   Throws: Right
Hit: Former switch-hitter turned RH only. Head stays still through swing and body stays balanced. No glaring hole in the zone. Hands are quick to zone but long through. Can cover whole plate and not afraid to use whole field. Had much larger leg kick out of HS, calmed it down which has helped adjust to off-speed easier.
Power: Pop is real and size suggests even more to come. Currently more of a doubles pop consistently, but 25+ HR in the future not unlikely. Want to see more HR production this season.
Run: Runs like a catcher.
Arm: 2.05 pop with ball right on money in one attempted steal against. Above-average to plus strength, accuracy solid. Real weapon behind plate.
Glove: Shown real improvement receiving ball. Hands are soft enough to stick behind dish, won’t be much better than average, but should reach average receiver. Blocking was issue. Lack of ability to get down and keep body square cost three bags in first two games of series. One was attempted backhand pick that let ball get away.
Other: Good bloodlines, brother Andrew former big-leaguer, younger brother also on Arizona as a pitcher.
Summary: Top ten college prospect without question. Big body for a catcher, it shows when handling balls in dirt, but hands and arm will keep him behind dish long term. Wouldn’t put an above-average overall grade on him, but average is easy and has a high likelihood to reach that level. Can be future everyday backstop for a contender.
2021 Draft Prospect: Ty Madden – RHP – Texas

2021 Draft Prospect: Ty Madden – RHP – Texas

Player: Ty Madden                                    Scout Date: 3/5/2021 vs. Houston
Organization: Texas                      Position(s): RHP
Height: 6’3”           Weight: 215 lbs.    Bats: Right                   Throws: Right
Fastball: 93-98 on day. Heavy sinking downhill plane with limited arm-side run. Plus offering that will play even better at next level with less forgiving wood bat. Rarely gets barreled on fastball.
Change: Low-80s, arm speed consistent with fastball creating deception. Late dip with plenty of run has the look of plus potential with easy above-average projection.
Slider: Mid-80s, 1-7 break. Starts high with natural downhill plane ending in late cut. Two plane action is truly plus and is easily best off-speed, maybe best offering overall. One of the best sliders in the draft.
Curve: High-70s, rarely threw it on day. Have seen it as a looping 1-7 breaker on other days. Inconsistent that needs to be improved to round out a quality four pitch mix. Unlikely to ever be more than average.
Delivery/Mechanics: High arm slot. Limited drop with back leg but still gets good drive off it. Repeats well despite late effort and some fall to glove side. 1.40 delivery. Impressive extension takes full advantage of size.
Summary: Complete game shutout with 14 Ks on day. Starter’s body with starter’s repertoire. Does not have the upside of some other arms in draft but could be a quick moving starter. Fastball-slider combo can play in bigs now, change almost there, curve distant fourth offering. No real concern with the late effort, as safe a pick in the top 10 as there is. Could slip simply because not a sexy pick as no way to call him an ace, but a high quality 3 likely with shot to become a number 2.

2021 Draft Prospect: Colton Cowser – OF – Sam Houston State

Player: Colton Cowser                                                        Scout Date: 3/9/2021 vs. Texas
Organization: Sam Houston State                                         Position(s): OF
Height: 6’3”                  Weight: 195 lbs.                   Bats: Left                  Throws: Right
Hit: As quick a bat as any lefty in draft. Hips clear well to find barrel on inside fastball. Starts with a big bat wrap resting on shoulder but uses mild leg kick to get hands in sync with feet. Covers whole plate and will get bat on anything. Sits on breaking balls well and explodes on ball.
Power: Not a powerful look or approach, but quickness creates the pop. Line drive swing will limit home run totals but can line balls off the wall to either gap with apparent ease.
Run: Above-average times, plus application. Uses baseball knowledge all over field to allow wheels to play up.
Arm: Wasn’t tested on day, all reports put it as average.
Glove: Covers incredible amount of ground. Natural center fielder for me despite many scouts having expressed doubt. Speed and instincts are more than enough.
Summary: Old school two-hole type hitter. Gets bat on ball and is always a threat for extra bases. Should stick in center, can hold down right, too good to be stashed in left. Should be top half of first round type pick. No massive holes in game, bat will be carrying tool. Some concern the lack of ideal launch angle will not play well with analytic heavy organizations. More of a scout friendly style.