Drafting teams from Top 100 Prospects list

When we put collectively our prospects lists yearly, we attempt to rank gamers based mostly on what they are going to do within the large leagues sooner or later. Projection is the secret.

This yr’s Top 100 listing is not any exception, the place as soon as once more we tried to look into the proverbial crystal ball to forecast who would be the finest Major Leaguers.

On this week’s MLB Pipeline Podcast, we received to attempt to decide our favorites. In a 10-round Draft, Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff used the Top 100 as a expertise pool and picked a participant at every place (together with three complete outfielders, one right-hander and one left-handed pitcher), based mostly on who we predict may have essentially the most long-term worth.

Sam set an Outlook reminder for Jan. 31, 2033, so we will look again then and see who gained the Draft.

1. (1) Gunnar Henderson, 3B/SS, Orioles (No. 1)
2. (8) Diego Cartaya, C, Dodgers (No. 14)
3. (9) Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants (No. 18)
4. (16) James Wood, OF, Nationals (No. 17)
5. (17) Brett Baty, 3B/OF, Mets (No. 21)
6. (24) Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Orioles (No. 7)
7. (25) Michael Busch, 2B/OF, Dodgers (No. 54)
8. (32) Jordan Lawlar, SS, D-backs (No. 11)
9. (33) Evan Carter, OF, Rangers (No. 41)
10. (40) Miguel Vargas, 3B/OF/1B, Dodgers (No. 37)

I at all times strive to have a look at place shortage with these items, however did not suppose there was an apparent No. 1 decide. I believed Termarr Johnson might need one of the best worth relative to his place however did not need to take him 1-1. I additionally thought-about Corbin Carroll as a result of you must discover three outfielders. But in the end I simply determined to take one of the best participant.

I believed the drop-off after the primary two catchers was fairly large in order that made Cartaya a straightforward decide. Also thought LHP was skinny so I took Harrison, although I knew that might have an effect on me at different positions.

I felt like nobody I hoped would possibly slide just a little and get to my subsequent decide ever did, as everybody was making good picks all through. Baty qualifying within the outfield  was a pleasant break. The solely break I caught was Sam taking Kyle Manzardo, which meant I might push Vargas to my final decide — I type of assumed he’d be my first baseman when this began.

There had been loads of shortstops so I simply waited. You guys in all probability knew I’d take Carter.

1. (2) Corbin Carroll, OF, D-backs (No. 2)
2. (7) Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies (No. 6)
3. (10) Jackson Holliday, SS, Orioles (No. 12)
4. (15) Tyler Soderstrom, 1B/C, A’s (No. 39)
5. (18) Harry Ford, C, Mariners (No. 52)
6. (23) Ken Waldichuk, LHP, A’s (No. 76)
7. (26) Endy Rodriguez, 2B/C/OF (No. 55)
8. (31) Zac Veen, OF, Rockies (No. 27)
9. (34) Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins (No. 88)
10. (39) Cam Collier, 3B, Reds (No. 69)

I attempted to go for a mix of the highest expertise and excessive upside, which led to what is likely to be construed as “reach” picks. I positively went in keeping with chalk by taking Carroll with the second decide — it was a great spot to be in as a result of I might simply react to no matter Jim did, and taking our No. 2 man at No. 2 made a ton of sense.

My subsequent two picks had been alongside these traces as nicely, taking who I believed was one of the best participant within the spot with out worrying an excessive amount of about positional depth. Sure, I might have gotten an excellent RHP afterward, however I actually needed Painter, and he’s our greatest pitching prospect, so I went for it. After recovering from the shock of Jim not taking Holliday along with his back-to-back picks, I couldn’t resist taking the man he retains saying would be the No. 1 prospect in baseball a yr from now.

I began taking good care of a few of these scarce positions after that. I actually like Soderstrom and Manzardo at 1B, and although I’ve been on the Manzardo prepare for some time, I opted for the higher-ranked man. I noticed a separation in lefties between Waldichuk, who I believe is a particular starter, and DL Hall, who might find yourself within the bullpen, which is why I took the A’s southpaw there. I didn’t take the highest-ranked catcher on the board as a result of I actually consider in Ford, and have mentioned (on the Pipeline Podcast beforehand) that I believe the Mariners’ athletic backstop shall be our No. 1 catcher a yr from now. Then I took benefit of some positional flexibility to fill my second base spot with Endy Rodriguez, who I believe is absolutely going to hit. I’ll have reached a bit for Emmanuel Rodriguez (I cornered the market on E. Rodriguezes) and Collier, however when the previous is a high 20 prospect and the latter is atop the third baseman listing, I’m going to look good.

1. (3) Francisco Álvarez, C, Mets (No. 3)
2. (6) Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers (No. 8)
3. (11) Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Blue Jays (No. 32)
4. (14) Druw Jones, OF, D-backs (No. 14)
5. (19) Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Rays (No. 73)
6. (22) Curtis Mead, 2B/3B, Rays (No. 33)
7. (27) Eury Pérez, RHP, Marlins (No. 13)
8. (30) Marcelo Mayer, SS, Red Sox (No. 9)
9. (35) Josh Jung, 3B, Rangers (No. 34)
10. (38) Elijah Green, OF, Nationals (No. 46)

I joked on the podcast that I supposed to make use of a drafting technique (suppose NASCAR) in that I might wait on my fellow pickers to pick out a participant from a top-heavy place after which snatch a prospect I believed was shut quickly after. That’s how Tiedemann and Manzardo — two prospects I like lots — ended up being comparatively excessive picks in comparison with their Top 100 standing as a result of I needed to pounce earlier than that includes a tough drop-off on the left-hander and first-base lists.

That mentioned, I did purpose for high-ceiling varieties the place I might and was elated with my outfield of Chourio, Jones and Green. Some hit-tool questions could hold all three from reaching their full potential, however wouldn’t it be a shock if the trio made up a beginning NL All-Star outfield some day? Not actually.

Since that is about long-term worth, I’m much less frightened about Álvarez’s defensive issues for now and am leaning into his 70-grade energy potential. I might have been pleased with anybody from our Top 4 shortstops so I waited, however Mayer offers me a pleasant steadiness of hit and glove alongside comparable traces to Chourio and Jones.  Bring on the subsequent decade.

Team Ratliff
1. (4) Jordan Walker, OF/3B, Cardinals (No. 4)
2. (5) Termarr Johnson, 2B, Pirates (No. 26)
3. (12) Elly De La Cruz, SS/3B, Reds (No. 10)
4. (13) Triston Casas, 1B, Red Sox (No. 23)
5. (20) Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs (No. 28)
6. (21) Sal Frelick, OF, Brewers (No. 30)
7. (28) Anthony Volpe, SS, Yankees (No. 5)
8. (29) Daniel Espino, RHP, Guardians (No. 16)
9. (36) Kevin Parada, C, Mets (No. 36)
10. (37) DL Hall, LHP, Orioles (No. 97)

Going into the Draft, I deliberate to attend on RHP and SS as a result of there have been 4 of every inside the high 16 gamers total, and I knew I’d be pleased with whichever one I received.

With the primary three picks going off the board so as, I took one of the best participant obtainable, Walker, who additionally had the advantage of being eligible as an outfielder and third baseman, which afforded me some flexibility shifting ahead. I then made the most important attain down the Top 100 among the many high 10 picks, taking Johnson, who I believed was probably one of the best worth within the Draft based mostly on place shortage. Jim even thought-about him at 1-1.

With my third decide, I took maybe essentially the most thrilling prospect in baseball, De La Cruz, who has big upside and offered extra place flexibility. I then nabbed the top-ranked first-base prospect, Casas, giving me one of the best prospect at every place on the best aspect of the diamond. I used my subsequent two picks on outfielders, skipping over the higher-ranked Veen to get 80-grade fielder Crow-Armstrong and 70-grade hitter Frelick. 

With 4 picks remaining, the opposite three groups had crammed their C, RHP and LHP spots, so realizing that I might wait on these positions, and with two different groups nonetheless needing a shortstop, I grabbed Volpe, the highest-ranked shortstop on the Top 100 and No. 5 total. Not unhealthy for the twenty eighth decide.

I received the No. 16 total prospect, Espino, with the twenty ninth decide and the No. 36 prospect, Parada, at No. 36. After the highest two left-handers went with the ninth and eleventh picks, I used to be content material to take whichever of the 2 remaining southpaws was left for me, so I wound up with Hall as my ultimate decide.