2019 2nd round pick (42): Gunnar Henderson - SS - John T. Morgan Academy (AL)

[Luke-OH]

Stotle loves this guy.

[Philip]

OK here’s a strategy question:

Let’s say the draft is very weak, but next year’s is strong and deep. How feasible is it to deliberately take somebody you know will not sign, you choose them, they say “no I’m going to college,” you say,”Ooops, so sad“ so that you can get an extra selection in the following draft, where you are more likely to get a stronger player even if your pick is later?

[LookinUp]

I love that he was an all-state basketball player. 

[Can_of_corn]

14 minutes ago, Philip said:

OK here’s a strategy question:

Let’s say the draft is very weak, but next year’s is strong and deep. How feasible is it to deliberately take somebody you know will not sign, you choose them, they say “no I’m going to college,” you say,”Ooops, so sad“ so that you can get an extra selection in the following draft, where you are more likely to get a stronger player even if your pick is later?

I think the value you lose by delaying the selection makes it a net loss.

[Il BuonO]

37 minutes ago, Luke-OH said:

Stotle loves this guy.

Yep, saw that. You?

[JMU_Birdfan]

I was calling for this pick in the draft feed. I love the pick!

6'3" Left handed bat, SS/3B, only 17

[Frobby]

45 minutes ago, Luke-OH said:

Stotle loves this guy.

Link?

[justD]

31 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Link?

Not specifically quoting him, but this is the review that sits on 2080 Baseball as of 6/3 with Nick and Burke Granger as co-authors: (https://2080baseball.com/2019/06/2019-mlb-draft-positional-previews-middle-infielders/)

Quote

Background: An Auburn commit, Henderson has steadily built up his draft stock over the past 11 months with solid play, improving power and increased physicality. He showed particularly well during Under Armour’s All-America Workout last summer at UIC and again in Jupiter as part of the Astros Scout Team/Elite Squad.

Notes: Henderson displays quick hands and natural loft in his left-handed stroke, driving the ball capably to all fields while showing good feel for the barrel. He shows a high level of comfort in the box and could emerge as a legit above-average hit and power guy at maturity. Defensively, he continues to handle shortstop and should have no issue doing the same at the hot corner should team need or increased bulk ultimately land him at third base. He’s a very good athlete and an above-average runner at present who should maintain at least average speed as he continues to fill out his frame. Henderson is a step behind Witt and Abrams but comes with big upside and would be a nice get anywhere in the back-half of the first round.

 

[Luke-OH]

Edit: JustD has the link Frobby requested above

[hoosiers]

Agree with all above.  This really is a tremendous talent to land in Round 2.  Very few knocks in multiple write-ups.  Appears to be potentially "legit above average hit and power guy".  Love the size, frame, athleticism and that Henderson is young for his age.  It's three or four years out (or more), but having corner, middle of the lineup, infielders in Henderson and Mountcastle plus AR, Hays and Diaz in Bmore is a sufficient talent base to form a competitive team.

[Just Regular]

That big 'ol infielder Cal Ripken Jr. was Round 2, Pick 48 his year.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=1978&draft_round=2&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0

Somehow we had 4 second round picks that year, including Larry Sheets, who went before Cal.

[weams]

Real name is Gunnar. Brother, who is already at Auburn, will support whatever decision he makes. 

[Luke-OH]

On 6/4/2019 at 11:35 AM, Philip said:

OK here’s a strategy question:

Let’s say the draft is very weak, but next year’s is strong and deep. How feasible is it to deliberately take somebody you know will not sign, you choose them, they say “no I’m going to college,” you say,”Ooops, so sad“ so that you can get an extra selection in the following draft, where you are more likely to get a stronger player even if your pick is later?

Teams don't do this on purpose, because there are so many unknowns about next year's draft class, but some teams are fine with taking a guy who isn't committed to signing because worst case scenario they get another shot the following year. 

You want Henderson to sign though, he's a good player to get at 42 in any draft. 

This draft wasn't weak, I know that reporting is out there, but it's just lazy. It was actually really strong at the top. It's just missing much high end pitching. 

[Philip]

54 minutes ago, Luke-OH said:

Teams don't do this on purpose, because there are so many unknowns about next year's draft class, but some teams are fine with taking a guy who isn't committed to signing because worst case scenario they get another shot the following year. 

You want Henderson to sign though, he's a good player to get at 42 in any draft. 

This draft wasn't weak, I know that reporting is out there, but it's just lazy. It was actually really strong at the top. It's just missing much high end pitching. 

As always, thank you for your insight.

[Ruzious]

Braden Shewmake was the 21st pick (by Atlanta), and he seems to be in the same mold as Henderson - a big SS who's likely going to out-grow SS and move to 3B - but from reading about the 2 of them, I'm not sure Shewmake should have been taken ahead of Henderson.  Seems to me the O's got 1st round value there.  If Shewmake was there at 42, would the O's still have taken Henderson?