2023 2nd Round Pick (#53): Mac Horvath - OF - (Jr) North Carolina (NC)

[NCRaven]

Elias really does hate pitchers.  And Joey Ortiz.

[sportsfan8703]

Two NCAA bats. Both need some cleaning up. We’ve showed we can do that. 
 

Slot value is $1.58 million. 

[ArtVanDelay]

1 minute ago, 86this said:

I swear they said 3B on the selection but he's an OF?

3B/OF. 

[bpilktree]

The swing reminds me a lot of Austin Hays lot of arm action in that swing.  Then kinda lunge rotates hips.  

[86this]

1 minute ago, 86this said:

I swear they said 3B on the selection but he's an OF?

Maybe Tony can correct the header from 3B to OF?

[CaptainRedbeard]

Sounds like Elias’ type. College hitter with power and athleticism but a hit tool question. 

[86this]

2 minutes ago, ArtVanDelay said:

3B/OF. 

Thanks.

[sportsfan8703]

3 minutes ago, bpilktree said:

The swing reminds me a lot of Austin Hays lot of arm action in that swing.  Then kinda lunge rotates hips.  

Mullins replacement. Then Hays replacement. 

[bpilktree]

Mariners pick guy that they didn’t even have ranked in top 200.  Talk about reach..  if we would have made that pick the board would have flipped out,  lol

[Moose Milligan]

Surprised he hits from the right side. 

Edited July 10, 2023 by Moose Milligan

[sportsfan8703]

3 minutes ago, bpilktree said:

Mariners pick guy that they didn’t even have ranked in top 200.  Talk about reach..  if we would have made that pick the board would have flipped out,  lol

It happened with Jonah Heim years ago. Now he’s starting an all star game. 

[justD]

From Matt Collier of RotoBaller (?)

 

[e16bball]

From Keith Law:

Horvath has plus power with a lot of hard contact, and his swing puts the ball in the air a ton for extra bases, but concerns about his strikeouts and lack of track record have raised some doubts about his hit tool. He’s a solid athlete who plays right for the Tar Heels, with 2024 prospect Vance Honeycutt in center; Horvath spent his first two years at UNC playing third base, with the outfield a much better fit. He does strike out more than most teams like, with no two-strike approach, and some scouts question whether his swing will allow him to keep that rate from spiraling in pro ball. Even with those concerns, he doesn’t whiff that much, taking too many strikes rather than swinging and missing. Horvath did scuffle at the end of the season, only pulling his average back over .300 with a 3 for 5 performance in the Heels’ final game, which isn’t going to assuage any concerns about his hit tool. He offers first-round upside but needs to get into the right system.

I would wager that ours is “the right system” he references in closing. #44 prospect overall.

Edited July 10, 2023 by e16bball

[Sydnor]

1 hour ago, bpilktree said:

Mariners pick guy that they didn’t even have ranked in top 200.  Talk about reach..  if we would have made that pick the board would have flipped out,  lol

He’s a senior sign so they can afford Emerson, Farmelo, and Peete. Emerson is an Auburn commit, Farmelo is a UVA commit (good player—I’ve seen him), and Peete is a Georgia Tech commit. That will cost some money.

[Sports Guy]

He’s Wagner and Fabian wrapped into one guy.