An Early Look at the 2019 Draft

[Greg Pappas]

This is a compilation of items (articles, lists, podcasts, etc...) that highlight the top prospects, and other intricacies, for the 2019 Draft.
With the O's picking 1, 41, 72,  79, and 109 in the first four rounds, it's fun to look ahead, with the caveat that it's VERY early and these lists and opinions will likely change... potentially a great deal.
So, don't take this too seriously.  I hope you find these resources informational:

• Posted by Fangraphs (Updated) [The Top 200 Draft Prospects]
• Posted by PerfectGame on December 4, 2018  [The Top 300 Draft Prospects] 
• Posted by MLB Pipeline on December 5, 2018  [The Top 50 Prospects for the 2019 MLB Draft]
• Posted by PerfectGame on November 5, 2018   [Their updated list of the Top 500 High School Prospects, though you need a subscription to see beyond the Top 10]
• Posted by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com on October 25, 2018  [The Top 10 performers from the WWBA Upperclass Championships]
• Posted by Fangraphs (Updated)  [A 'Top 89' prospects list]
• Posted by 2080Baseball.com [Their scouting "spotlight" reports of various 2019 Draft prospects]
• Posted by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com on August 28, 2018  [His updated Top 10 HS prospects]
• Posted by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com on August 20, 2018  [His updated Top 10 College prospects]
• Posted by Fansided, via CallToThePen.com on July 12, 2018 [An interesting read regarding, "The possible insanity of the 2019 first round"]
• Posted by Baseball America on July 6, 2018 [A top 10 HS & Top 10 College prospects review]
• Posted by Baseball America on July 2, 2018 [A podcast regarding the 2019 Draft, by JJ Cooper and Carlos Collazo]
• Posted by 2080Baseball.com on June 8, 2018 [From Nick Faleris (a.k.a. @Stotle)... "Ten names to know for 2019"]
• Posted by Justin Sims of Macalester College on May 5, 2014  [Another 'MLB Age Effects' study]
• Posted by Baseball Prospectus on October 13, 2011   [A study on Age Effects in the MLB Draft]
• Posted by Fangraphs on February 1, 2010  ["Analyzing the MLB draft using WAR"]

[joelala]

16 minutes ago, Greg Pappas said:

This is a compilation of items (articles, lists, podcasts, etc...) that highlight the top prospects, and other intricacies, for the 2019 Draft. With it looking like we'll be picking either first or second, it's fun to look ahead, with the caveat that it's VERY early and these lists and opinions will likely change... potentially a great deal. So, don't take this too seriously.  I hope you find these informational:

• Posted by Baseball America on July 6, 2018 [A top 10 HS & Top 10 College prospects review]
• Posted by Fangraphs on August 10, 2018  [A top 27 prospects list]
• Posted by Fansided, via CallToThePen.com on July 12, 2018 [An interesting read regarding, "The possible insanity of the 2019 first round"]
• Posted by 2080Baseball.com on June 8, 2018 [From Nick Faleris (a.k.a. @Stotle)... "Ten names to know for 2019"]
• Posted by Baseball America on July 2, 2018 [A podcast regarding the 2019 Draft, by JJ Cooper and Carlos Collazo]

Aweseome, thanks!

From watching the videos in the Baseball America article, I'm not really crazy about Witt Jr.  He hits off his front foot.  I'm pretty sure Luke has mentioned before that that's a relatively easy fix though, so maybe not a huge deal.  The guy who's swing really stood out to me was Riley Greene's.  The sound the ball makes off the bat is loud. 

Hinds also looked better that Witt IMO.

[Greg Pappas]

On 8/10/2018 at 12:40 PM, joelala said:

Aweseome, thanks!

From watching the videos in the Baseball America article, I'm not really crazy about Witt Jr.  He hits off his front foot.  I'm pretty sure Luke has mentioned before that that's a relatively easy fix though, so maybe not a huge deal.  The guy who's swing really stood out to me was Riley Greene's.  The sound the ball makes off the bat is loud. 

Hinds also looked better that Witt IMO.

Witt is super talented, but he's far from being a lock for a Top 5 or even Top 10 pick. We'll see how he does during the spring. Naturally, the more super talent at the top, the better. So, I'm rooting for all of these guys to have great upcoming seasons and showcases.

[Ruzious]

Yeah, this is a fun subject.  Fangraphs loves Rutschman.  He seems like the same kind of prospect that Wieters was.  I always thought Wieters was hurt by his long legs playing catcher, and that shouldn't be a problem for Rutschman.  Right now, I'm thinking either him or Hinds - and leaning towards Rutschman.  

Does the CBA allow draft picks to be traded?  

 

[weams]

1 minute ago, Ruzious said:

 

Does the CBA allow draft picks to be traded?  

 

No. Absolutely not. Only Competitive Balance picks. During the season. 

[joelala]

15 minutes ago, Greg Pappas said:

Witt is super talented, but he's far from being a Top 5 or even Top 10 pick. We'll see how he does during the spring. Naturally, the more super talent at the top, the better. So, I'm rooting for all of these guys to have great upcoming seasons and showcases.

Indeed, looks like we should land a potential impact player even if we don't have the number one overall pick.  Potentially very exciting and these guys will be fun to follow next spring.

[Greg Pappas]

At this ridiculously early point, I'm big on Rutschman.  My reasoning is that I feel a truly great catcher (both offensively AND defensively) would be the most coveted hypothetical player in all of baseball. Another way of putting it is that I'd rather select a great young catcher over any other position, including SS and SP. IMHO.

[El Gordo]

I want the best college SS.

[Il BuonO]

The Orioles should select the best player, regardless of position. Unless, of course it’s a LH starter who throws 95+ with a three pitch mix.

[joelala]

7 minutes ago, El Gordo said:

I want the best college SS.

Cadyn Grenier?

[Greg Pappas]

17 minutes ago, Il BuonO said:

The Orioles should select the best player, regardless of position. Unless, of course it’s a LH starter who throws 95+ with a three pitch mix.

Yes, they should take the best overall player... no doubt.

[El Gordo]

13 minutes ago, joelala said:

Cadyn Grenier?

Bryson Stott

[baltfan]

24 minutes ago, Greg Pappas said:

At this ridiculously early point, I'm big on Rutschman.  My reasoning is that I feel a truly great catcher (both offensively AND defensively) would be the most coveted hypothetical player in all of baseball. Another way of putting it is that I'd rather select a great young catcher over any other position, including SS and SP. IMHO.

It is interesting that catcher is arguably the weakest position in the MLB at present when so many kids come up trying to be catchers in order to have a better shot at making it to the MLB.  On most travel teams I see, there are tons of kids who want to be catcher and many times it is the best kids.

[Ruzious]

31 minutes ago, baltfan said:

It is interesting that catcher is arguably the weakest position in the MLB at present when so many kids come up trying to be catchers in order to have a better shot at making it to the MLB.  On most travel teams I see, there are tons of kids who want to be catcher and many times it is the best kids.

And one of the top SS prospects (can't remember which) has played some catcher and apparently looked good doing it.  I remeber back in the day - Atlanta's top prospect was catcher... Dale Murphy. His first few games in the majors were disasters defensively, and they moved him to centerfield.  The rest is history - including 2 MVP awards.  And BJ Surhoff started out as a catcher.  Craig Biggio...  Werth...  These guys started out as catchers and presumably wanted to be catchers.  It takes a special player to stick at catcher and still be a big-time offensive player.    

[Aristotelian]

2 hours ago, joelala said:

Aweseome, thanks!

From watching the videos in the Baseball America article, I'm not really crazy about Witt Jr.  He hits off his front foot.  I'm pretty sure Luke has mentioned before that that's a relatively easy fix though, so maybe not a huge deal.  The guy who's swing really stood out to me was Riley Greene's.  The sound the ball makes off the bat is loud. 

Hinds also looked better that Witt IMO.

Wow, the front foot thing is crazy. That is the first thing I work on with my 7-10 year olds. I don't think I have ever seen it that extreme at that level.