An Early Look at the 2020 Draft's Top Prospects

[Frobby]

It’s just too early to speculate on who might be a 1:1 candidate in 2020.    Too much baseball to be played between now and then.   

[Aglets]

9 minutes ago, Frobby said:

It’s just too early to speculate on who might be a 1:1 candidate in 2020.    Too much baseball to be played between now and then.   

Please be aware of Oriole Hangout bylaw #34 Sec 6 lines 7-8  concerning the realm of speculation.

"With respect to speculation in advance of an event, the only rule is that it's never to early to so speculate."

[sportsfan8703]

2 hours ago, Frobby said:

It’s just too early to speculate on who might be a 1:1 candidate in 2020.    Too much baseball to be played between now and then.   

Are we actually playing baseball though?  I though Elias was basically hitting the “simulate” or “skip ahead” button on this season. 

There isn’t too much to talk about around these parts nowadays. Haha. The Chris Davis thread just got locked. 

[Greg Pappas]

Guys, how do I post an image from my computer or a URL? 

[MurphDogg]

1 hour ago, Greg Pappas said:

Guys, how do I post an image from my computer or a URL? 

There is a giant button under where you click to submit a reply that says "Insert Image from URL".

[Greg Pappas]

2 hours ago, MurphDogg said:

There is a giant button under where you click to submit a reply that says "Insert Image from URL".

I don't see a giant button below Submit Reply... odd. Would you mind posting a screen shot or whatever image showing it? Thanks.

EDIT: Wait... I now see a button that says 'Insert Other Media' above reply. Thanks and sorry I hadn't noticed it. I may be starting my senility a bit early at 54.

[Greg Pappas]

This is an extended version of Fangraphs' Early Top Prospects list: The Photobucket overlay is annoying, but it's free.

[jerios55]

1 hour ago, Greg Pappas said:

This is an extended version of Fangraphs' Early Top Prospects list: The Photobucket overlay is annoying, but it's free.

Chase Davis (RF, #20) and Daniel Cabrera (LF, #21) would give me bad vibes. 

[Frobby]

4 hours ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Are we actually playing baseball though?  I though Elias was basically hitting the “simulate” or “skip ahead” button on this season. 

We may not be playing baseball, but the potential draft picks are.   

[oceanicvoyage]

If the O's take Austin Martin (SS, #3) with their first pick and Casey Martin (SS, #25) as the supplemental pick, the O's would have Richie Martin, Austin Martin, and Casey Martin all competing for the SS position.

[El_Duderino]

7 hours ago, sportsfan8703 said:

We might as well be looking at the 2021 top prospects as well. Heck, maybe even Kumar Rocker in 2022, but that would be 4 straight #1 picks. 

I think I’d want us to take the top NCAA P. The 1B is out just because of positional value. Just comes down to whoever are scouts like and what they will sign for. 

I believe we get a comp pick next year after the 1st rd instead of after the 2nd like this year. That increases our bonus pool. If there is no clear cut #1(like AR or Witt) then maybe draft based on who gives you chance to sign a tough sign with the comp pick and pick at the top of the 2nd. 

Pete Alonso and says hi. Personally I’m not worried about positional value at 1.1. Take the best baseball player. Tork is definitely in that conversation.

[sevastras]

I would keep an eye on Mick Abel.  Upper 90's FB, flashes plus slider, command coming around and working on a changeup but hard throwing HS all need to work on that.  It will be interesting to see how much weight he adds to his frame this fall/winter and how he progresses next spring. 

[Greg Pappas]

I had a dream that we'll take Pete Crow-Armstrong, the highly rated CF from Harvard Westlake HS, CA.  While it's not official, it may as well be now that I've dreamt it. 

 

[Greg Pappas]

FYI, as has been mentioned multiple times (and spelled out in the thread title ) , these articles, lists, reviews, etc... are all early in the process. Rankings are based on what these sites' evaluators have seen thus far, but the rankings, as they do every year, change for most, if not all, of the prospects. 

[Greg Pappas]

Baseball America put out a new article regarding four prospects with big tools: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/four-2020-mlb-draft-prospects-with-big-tools/

Here are the 1st two:

  Quote

Blaze Jordan
HS—Southaven, Miss.

Jordan likely has the most raw power in the high school class despite being one of the youngest players in it. He matured physically quicker than most players his age, and he has well above-average natural strength in the box, plus extremely quick bat speed. The two combine to give Jordan 80-grade raw power, which has been seen in both amateur home run derbies and in game competition against older pitchers.

Spencer Torkelson
Arizona State

Torkelson ranked No. 436 on the BA 500 predraft ranking in 2017 when he was a high schooler in Petaluma, Calif. After going undrafted, Torkelson tapped into immense power at Arizona State. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound first baseman shattered Barry Bonds’ ASU freshman home run record (11) in 2018 by hitting 25. He followed that up with 21 more as a sophomore. Torkelson has top-of-the scale raw power and the most usable juice in the entire 2020 class. He is in play to go No. 1 overall.

...and yet another BA article regarding Blaze Jordan: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/blaze-jordan-wants-to-prove-hes-more-than-a-youtube-sensation/

  Quote

Watching a YouTube video of home run-hitting phenom Blaze Jordan is feast enough for the eyes. More than half a million pairs have watched Jordan’s 57 seconds of Internet gold, when he launched two 500-foot home runs at the age of 13 in an amateur home run derby.

Bryce Harper hit a 502-foot home run in that same derby—the Power Showcase—in 2009. But he was 17.

Jordan did it with baby fat on his waist.

Cameras traced the trajectory of balls he demolished over Greene’s Hill, the signature slope that serves as the batter’s eye at Globe Life Park, home of the Texas Rangers. One careened off the top of the Hyundai Club restaurant roof.

Even the broadcast’s audio paints a clear picture. After one particularly majestic swing, you can hear the pre-pubescent voice of a 12-year-old boy within earshot of the center field camera operator as he exclaims: “Holy Mother of God.”

 

Blaze just finished up his sophomore season in June, and will be going into his junior year.  However, the 16-year old 1B/3B will graduate early and has already reclassified for the 2020 Draft. He's a VERY interesting prospect and is currently rated as the 33rd best prospect in the 2020 Draft by Fangraphs, but the 2nd best HS prospect by PerfectGame.org.