r/MLBDraft • u/jcallis3 • Apr 26 '19
MLB Draft Talk with MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis: April 25
Hi, everyone. Jim Callis from MLB Pipeline here. Looking forward to answering your MLB Draft questions just minutes after Kyler Murray became the first athlete ever drafted in the first round in baseball and football. The unveiling of our Draft Top 100 has been pushed back to next week because of unforeseen circumstances, but I'm still game to discuss whatever's on your mind. The MLB Pipeline Draft Top 50 from the winter is here: http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=draft. And we have a ton more Draft coverage coming at https://www.mlb.com/pipeline leading up to the Draft. Fire away!
4
u/brown_boot Apr 26 '19
Have you heard any names associated with the Padres? Thoughts on Bleday and Lodolo?
4
u/jcallis3 Apr 26 '19
We're 39 days out from the Draft, so it's a bit early for anything that qualifies as more than a rumor or an educated guess. It feels like Rutschman/Witt/Vaughn/Abrams won't get to 7 but everyone else has a chance to be in play. I don't necessarily but that teams have a strong type, especially at the top of the Draft, but if the Padres want to go left-handed pitcher again, TCU's Nick Lodolo should go around there as the first pitcher selected. Vanderbilt's J.J. Bleday, along with fellow outfielders Hunter Bishop (Arizona State) and Riley Greene (HS/Florida), will be in that mix as well. Both Lodolo and Bleday have really helped themselves this spring by doing what scouts hoped -- Lodolo has been more consistent and Bleday has shown more power. I could see Bleday going ahead of 7 too.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/brown_boot Apr 26 '19
How worried are you about Witts hit tool?
5
u/jcallis3 Apr 26 '19
Not too worried. I'd take him at No. 2 overall. There was some swing and miss on the showcase circuit last summer, but he also played in every single event he could and might have been a bit worn down. I cringe when I look at the 45 Hit grade I gave him on our original Draft Top 50 -- I was trying to confirm that was a concern relative to his other tools, but that's too harsh. We'll upgrade that when we update the list. Most of the scouts I've talked to give him a future 60 grade, which might be a bit generous but shows you that they're not real worried about it.
3
2
Apr 26 '19
As I am sitting here watching the NFL and saw 4(!!) Picks in an hour, I've come to the conclusion that the NFL draft is extremely bloated and boring. My mom is more of a football than baseball fan, but finds the MLB draft more fun to watch because the pace is quicker. How do you think that MLB could make the draft just as big as the NFL draft?
→ More replies (2)
2
u/bfavo16 Apr 26 '19
Thoughts on Jack Leiter? Where do you see him going in the draft?
→ More replies (1)
3
2
u/yoboapp Apr 26 '19
Hey Jim. You’ve just been put in charge of running a amateur and intl scouting department for a team. What are some of the scouting philosophies you put in place to stress the most in prospects (ie. good eye, bat-to-ball, make up and work ethic).
My reason for asking is that you and Jonathan have been doing this for a long time. Do you see any commonalities between all the prospects who end up succeeding and those who bust?
→ More replies (1)
2
2
u/BruteSentiment Apr 26 '19
What are your thoughts on the suggestion of abolishing the draft, and turning it into a signing period with a hard cap like the international signing process?
→ More replies (1)
2
u/juicyjensen Apr 26 '19
What are your thoughts on Daniel Espino? I’ve heard talk of decreased Velo, which hasn’t quite matched what I’ve seen in his starts I’ve watched.
But I do understand the delivery length and frame concerns. Curious to hear where you stand.
→ More replies (2)
2
3
u/yoboapp Apr 26 '19
Hey Jim! I know it’s early, but are you hearing any names tied to the Blue Jays early? Any chance Hunter Bishop falls to us?
→ More replies (1)
1
u/MenShouldntHaveCats Apr 26 '19
How can we make the MLB draft more of a spectacle as I watch the NFL draft? How about a move to Omaha? So we can have some of the top college players be there in person.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/romorr Apr 26 '19
Adley for sure 1.1, or if you were running the Orioles, go Vaughn for under, and then go over on a strong college commit? Adley really put a stamp on 1.1 with the increased power. But part of me wants two high end talents at 1.1 and 2.42.
→ More replies (1)
2
1
2
u/IAmTheButtholeBandit Apr 26 '19
What do you believe should be the strategy the Dbacks take in this draft? Are there any signability issue guys you've heard about that they can scoop up later? Do you believe this is an exciting enough draft that Dbacks fans should be really excited? Thank you!
→ More replies (1)
2
u/blackflash234 Apr 26 '19
Who has the best raw power and the best fastball in this year's draft?
1
u/jcallis3 Apr 26 '19
Best raw power is Florida HS 3B Rece Hinds, though he does come with some hittability concerns. Best fastball is Georgia HS RHP Daniel Espino. Espino probably goes in the second half of the first round, though high school righties often drop because the demographic is considered too risky for some clubs in the first round. Hinds may go a little later than that.
1
1
u/edubs_stl Apr 26 '19
Do you think Kameron Misner can be a Top 10 pick with the season he's had at Mizzou this year?
2
u/jcallis3 Apr 26 '19
Probably not. He might have the best tools and body in the college crop, but his SEC performance has been mostly wretched. I still think he goes in the first round, though, just the top 10 is too rich unless he finishes really strong.
1
u/brown_boot Apr 26 '19 edited Apr 26 '19
What high school arms do you like best? Why?
2
u/jcallis3 Apr 26 '19
My top five:
Matthew Allan (Florida)
Brennan Malone (Florida)
Daniel Espino (Georgia)
J.J. Goss (Texas)
Quinn Priester (Illinois)
I might be a tad low on Priester.
1
u/giobbistar21 Apr 26 '19
Hi Jim, I really want to thank you for doing this, especially on tonight of all nights.
So I do have a couple questions, first of all, which of the three Connecticut top high school talents, Montana Semmel, Bobby Zmarzlak, or Chad Knight, do you feel has the best chance of sneaking into Day 1?
Second, has there been any indications as to who's going to take charge of the Mets war room, and if so, who do you feel would be the most likely fit?
Again, thank you so much for doing this.
1
u/jcallis3 Apr 26 '19
Thanks for inviting me, Alex.
Jonathan Mayo and I split up the country, and he has New England, so he'd be better versed on the Connecticut guys. My guess is that Zmarzlak would have the best shot, but a lot of it will come down to signablity.
Not sure on the Mets.
So I didn't really answer either of your questions!
1
u/giobbistar21 Apr 26 '19
Considering you featured my two-way question on your inbox a while ago, I'll survive.
9
u/thekidfromyesterday Apr 26 '19
I think I speak for my fellow mods of r/mlbdraft we cannot thank you enough, Mr. Callis for doing this!
I was wondering are their any guys with some helium that you think are currently underrated?