Baseball America Mock Draft 2020

[baltfan]

2. Orioles — Spencer Torkelson, 1B/OF, Arizona State

Hancock should be in play here as well, but we’d lean towards Baltimore’s group simply taking the bat they believe in at this spot, regardless of defensive profile. Right-right first baseman have a bad reputation in the draft, despite the fact that first basemen drafted high have a tremendous success rate. Torkelson has the biggest power in the 2020 class and has hit .337/.443/.723 with 48 home runs over two seasons with Arizona State. If he is drafted here by the Orioles, don’t be surprised to see him taken as an outfielder. This decision-making group drafted Seth Beer as an outfielder in the first round in 2018, and Torkelson is much more athletic than Beer was at the same time.

 

They have Hancock going third. 
 

https://go.baseballamerica.com/e/504451/ce-Newsletter-utm-medium-email/xgg1yn/330436311?

[joelala]

So they have Austin Martin first?

[Luke-OH]

47 minutes ago, joelala said:

So they have Austin Martin first?

Yeah

[Moose Milligan]

I'd be underwhelmed if we took a 1B/OF type with the 2nd pick unless Torkelson is some type of generational talent.  

[Can_of_corn]

3 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

I'd be underwhelmed if we took a 1B/OF type with the 2nd pick unless Torkelson is some type of generational talent.  

Are him and Andrew Vaughn (2019 1-3) in different generations?

[Luke-OH]

3 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

I'd be underwhelmed if we took a 1B/OF type with the 2nd pick unless Torkelson is some type of generational talent.  

He's a great bat, huge power and I'm not aware of a better Fresh and Soph year statistical performance in recent history. That said, I like up the middle talent and would prefer that type of player if they grade out similarly overall. 

[Moose Milligan]

2 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Are him and Andrew Vaughn (2019 1-3) in different generations?

[Can_of_corn]

3 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

What, you think he's that big an upgrade over Vaughn?

[Moose Milligan]

2 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

What, you think he's that big an upgrade over Vaughn?

From what I can tell, nope.  He'd have to be head and shoulders above Vaughn for me to be alright with it.

[Can_of_corn]

6 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

From what I can tell, nope.  He'd have to be head and shoulders above Vaughn for me to be alright with it.

He is listed as being four inches taller, so maybe half a head.

[calsmanystances]

Here are Torkleson's stats over the last two seasons:

2018: .320/.440/.743 25 HR 38 Walks 44 Strikeouts

2019: .353/.449/.702 22 HR 41 Walks 43 Strikeouts     

Here are Vaughn's stats over the same two season period:

2018: .402/.531/.819 23 HR 44 Walks 18 Strikeouts

2019: .374/.539/.704 15 HR 60 Walks 33 Strikeouts

Vaughn hit for a higher average (.389 v. .338), walked more (about 25% more) and struck out less (about 58% of the frequency that Tork k'd). Torkelson, obviously, hit more homers (47 v. 38).

Edited October 2, 2019 by calsmanystances

[Luke-OH]

4 minutes ago, calsmanystances said:

Here are Torkleson's stats over the last two seasons:

2018: .320/.440/.743 25 HR 38 Walks 44 Strikeouts

2019: .353/.449/.702 22 HR 41 Walks 43 Strikeouts     

Here are Vaughn's stats over the same two season period:

2018: .402/.531/.819 23 HR 44 Walks 18 Strikeouts

2019: .374/.539/.704 15 HR 60 Walks 33 Strikeouts

Vaughn hit for a higher average (.389 v. .338), walked more (about 25% more) and struck out less (about 58% of the frequency that Tork k'd). Torkelson, obviously, hit more homers (47 v. 38).

A more useful comparison is Torkleson's 2018-2019 vs Vaughn"s 2017-2018 so their ages match up.

Here are Torkleson's stats over the last two seasons:

2018: .320/.440/.743 25 HR 38 Walks 44 Strikeouts

2019: .353/.449/.702 22 HR 41 Walks 43 Strikeouts   

Here are Vaughn's same age seasons:

2017: .349/.414/.555 12 HR 19 BB  24 Strikeouts

2018: .402/.531/.819 23 HR 44 Walks 18 Strikeouts

[El_Duderino]

Give me Martin, or a pitcher. Power is cheap these days.

[Can_of_corn]

On 10/2/2019 at 9:43 PM, El_Duderino said:

Give me Martin, or a pitcher. Power is cheap these days.

In 2014 pitching was cheap and power rare.

 

[El_Duderino]

On 10/2/2019 at 9:55 PM, Can_of_corn said:

I'm 2014 pitching was cheap and power rare.

 

I’m nothing if not a prisoner of the moment.