2020 Comp Pick A (30): Jordan Westburg - SS - (JR) (Mississippi State)

[DocJJ]

"Scouts think he'll be more of a fringe-average type hitter".....

 

Really?  THAT was the best we could do with this pick????    

[ChuckS]

These picks are just terrible.  

I don't get it.  I thought this draft was deep in college pitching?  Don't we need pitching?  Don't we need position players with plate discipline (Martin)?  

I've never been more disappointed with an Orioles draft. 

[bpilktree]

39 might be great spot.  Tigers shouldn’t be able to go over slot so Elias needs to get the first two agreed to deal then we know exactly how much money they have and then you take it to a few over slots type guys and see who will take what.

[DocJJ]

Because retooling Cadyn Grenier's swing worked so well.....

 

 

 

[TheWall]

23 minutes ago, TINSTAAPP said:

Okay, now I’m pissed. I gave the Orioles the benefit of the doubt with the Hierstad pick by assuming that they’ll pick an overslot high school player later in the first round. That turned out to be a bunch of baloney. This is Orioles ownership being cheap period. I’m starting to believe the Angelos sons are worse than Peter. At least PA ponied up money to sign draft picks like Wieters.

Did we not spend money on Adley? Some of the takes on this board are ridiculous. 

[lovetoaster]

6 minutes ago, DocJJ said:

"Scouts think he'll be more of a fringe-average type hitter".....

 

Really?  THAT was the best we could do with this pick????    

Well, to play devils advocate: 

“25. Jordan Westburg, SS, Mississippi State, 45 FV: A big shortstop who has plus power and speed and is growing into more contact as he catches up to his peers in terms of on-field reps.”

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/29251325/updated-2020-mlb-draft-rankings-latest-top-150-players

 

[Can_of_corn]

5 minutes ago, TheWall said:

Did we not spend money on Adley? Some of the takes on this board are ridiculous. 

To play Devil's advocate, maybe the money for the International market came out of the draft?

[24fps]

11 minutes ago, BohKnowsBmore said:

Might be overslot their remaining four picks 

Elias & Co. have a hell of a crystal ball then.

[Three Run Homer]

Seems like a reasonable value at 30, and the O's have a crying need for a good SS prospect who can get to the majors quickly.  Definitely not an overslot pick, though.  

[section18]

Talk about a downer draft so far.  I think we should let Eric DeCosta  make the rest of our picks.

[Can_of_corn]

5 minutes ago, Three Run Homer said:

Seems like a reasonable value at 30, and the O's have a crying need for a good SS prospect who can get to the majors quickly.  Definitely not an overslot pick, though.  

If his swing does need to be rebuilt how fast can he get to the majors?

[Frobby]

Nothing against this pick.    I just don’t understand what we did at 2.     

[survivedc]

3 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

If his swing does need to be rebuilt how fast can he get to the majors?

We don’t know his swing will get rebuilt. Even if it does, 3-4 years is reasonable and would line up well with a theoretical competitive window.

[Tony-OH]

Westburg is an interesting pick in that he's never really put up the college numbers that a Elias/Sig college pick generally has put up. He's a guy with a plus raw power grade who has never been able to take it onto the field, and that's concerning a little bit. He's also a fairly aggressive hitter who in several scouting videos was seen chasing sliders away and watching inside fastballs for strike three which could suggest some guessing.

Defensively, although scouting reports seem to indicate he has enough arm to stay at SS, the videos I watched did not show plus arm a strength and at 6-3 and nearly 200 pounds right now, the question is whether he will outgrow SS and end up at 3B.

It actually appears his best profile in my limited looks could be a Jonathan Schoop like second baseman. 

Elias and his staff have seen a ton more than me on this guy so I will hope their looks suggest he can stick at SS, or will hit for enough game power to play 3B. 

I have concerns about his plate discipline and pitch recognition based on some limited video work. If he can stick at shortstop than I like this pick more, particularly if he's going to be able to tap into his raw power more after some development.

[Can_of_corn]

4 minutes ago, survivedc said:

We don’t know his swing will get rebuilt. Even if it does, 3-4 years is reasonable and would line up well with a theoretical competitive window.

I'd hope someone like Hall would be ready in 3-4 years.