Tag: MLB Draft

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.

2021 Draft Prospect: Jack Leiter – RHP – Vanderbilt

Player: Jack Leiter Scout Date: 3/20/2021 vs. South Carolina

Organization: Vanderbilt Position(s): RHP

Height: 6’ Weight: 195 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right

Fastball: Absolutely dominant pitch on day. 90-97, sat 95. Final pitch (number 124) was 96. True 4-seamer, occasional arm side run but typically pretty straight. Rising look when working up in zone. Gets solid downhill plane despite shorter stature.

Change: 83-85. Far and away his fourth best offering on most days, was only off-speed working early in outing. Flashed plenty of arm side run. Inconsistent and rarely used currently but flashed easy above average upside.

Slider: 79-82 big 2-8 breaker that shows plus at times. Had no command of it on day, regularly missing glove side or bouncing. Mixing in cutter that runs. Seen this be his best pitch on days, this day it was just not working for him.

Curve: 76-77, 12-6 break, many scouts like this as best offering. No feel for it in first 7 innings on day. Best came in 8^th and was unquestioned plus in one good offering. Consistency needs to be better. More loop than big faller. Plays close enough to slider batter doesn’t know where it will end.

Delivery/Mechanics: 3/4 to high-3/4 slot. Big leg kick in stretch and windup. Tons of drop and drive. Lands with very wide base. Fights against front leg some leading to late effort. Base combined with violence at the finish screams future arm issues. Ability to use legs suggest staying as starter highly likely.

Summary: No-hitter on the day with 16 Ks and one BB. Absolutely dominant on day despite none of the secondary offerings working. One pitch pitcher for 7 of the innings and couldn’t be touched. Overall, there is some longevity concerns with the effort late, but has established himself as a real 1-1 candidate. Outing after he went 7 hitless before being removed. Pure stuff he is on-par with Kumar Rocker, prior knock was lack of track record against high level talent, no longer a factor. Ace upside, injury risk, quick mover with aggressive approach on mound.

2022 MLB Draft Prospect – Elijah Green – OF – IMG Academy

Player: Elijah Green Scout Date: 2/25-2/27/2021

Organization: IMG Academy Position(s): OF

Height: 6’3” Weight: 215 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right

Hit: Mild leg kick in stride, bat lives in a 45-degree plane covering the whole zone. Shows quality zone awareness. Solid balance through swing. Swung and missed on quality curve early in AB, same pitch later in AB turned on for double.

Power: Ball jumps. XBH machine. Doesn’t get cheated on hacks. HR in big league ballpark. Mature body but still room to add strength. True plus power potential.

Run: 7.60 home to second on dribbler to center turned hustle double. Steals bases with ease. Concern the speed will slow to average in time based on frame, but a weapon today.

Arm: Scouts have had him up to 93 in the OF in showcases, take a few MPH off to account for game action and still above-average to plus. Wasn’t tested in weekend I watched.

Glove: Bad route led to dropped fly ball that should have been caught. Athleticism currently makes up for raw routes. May be lone concern currently but likely to improve.

Summary: There is a reason Green is listed as the top prospect for 2022. He opened the tournament at Globe Life with a rough game but bounced back in games two and three with dominant performances. Most athletic player on field anytime he steps onto it, plus raw power, advanced approach at the plate with an efficient swing. Would not surprise me to see true five-tool player grades on him, some concern about future speed and the D has room to improve. Real shot to go 1-1!