RealGM

Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Texas

Still hearing the same batch of names here, primarily Jungmann, Mikie Mahtook, Cory Spangenberg and possibly Lindor or Springer. I'm still surprised by how little I'm hearing Jungmann's name, given how good he is. I'm also hearing Utah's C.J. Cron in the Brewers' mix at No. 12 or 15, more likely 15 since he won't go in between the picks. Taylor Guerrieri's also an outside possibility.

C.J. Cron, 1B, Utah

Cron's a safe, signable plan at this spot, with big raw power and the potential to replace Prince Fielder in a year or two. If Mahtook's here, they'd probably take him, and Spangenberg would fit the bill as an athletic position player with a good swing who'll sign quickly, since this pick is unprotected.

LUKE23 wrote:I have to be honest, if you held a gun to my head without looking I couldn't name the best bat in the system. I know the supposed best arm is Rogers, but he currently has a pristine 13.20 ERA.

Jungmann is one of several three-year performers among college pitchers in this year's draft, and he does it while looking like he isn't even breaking a sweat. Jungmann can sit 91-93 but go back for 94-95 whenever he wants it, and he pairs it with a hammer curveball at 75-78 with two-plane break.

He's a strike-thrower who commands the ball to both sides of the plate with his fastball and breaking ball. That precise command is part of why he rarely needs to use his hard, mid-80s changeup.

His delivery finishes with a "head-bobble," but it doesn't happen until after release, so the ordinary concerns about a head-jerk reducing command don't seem to apply here. He comes across his body slightly because he starts on the extreme third-base side of the rubber but lands on line to the plate as if he'd started in the center.

Jungmann doesn't use his lower half as much as most power pitchers, but he doesn't show a lot of effort in his arm action and he has no trouble throwing quality strikes, so I'm not sure you'd want to tinker with his delivery either; at most you might try to lengthen his stride a little to see if he adds any velocity.

Baez has crazy bat speed and big future power potential, but needs to find a position and show a little more energy on the field.

At the plate Baez unleashes on every pitch with a max-effort swing that, when he squares a ball up, produces loud, hard contact. He doesn't shorten up or ever use another approach beyond "swing with all you've got," and he can get too power-happy and start to swing uphill.

He still projects to hit for plus power, but the potential to hit for average will depend on his willingness to cut down his swing when needed.

On defense, he has a plus arm and quick transfers, meaning he should be able to play third base if (as is likely) he outgrows shortstop. He has also caught a little in the past, and I know scouts who like him there, but the general sentiment is that he's not interested in the position.

But the biggest issue for Baez is how he acts on the field. He's more than just flashy, he's very showy, and he doesn't always play like he's fully prepared or engaged. He has as much potential impact with the bat as any prep player in this draft, but the need for a new position and questions about his on-field demeanor are going to hold down his stock.

trwi7 wrote:They want him to play every day and not sit on the bench you dumbass.