Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 10, 2013 7:32:05 GMT -5
FIRST PICK - ERIC JAGIELO (3B)
26th overall, ranked 16
Jagielo went 15 picks from the bottom of the 2010 draft out of high school in Illinois, and he should go roughly that far from the top this year. He combines the ability to hit for power and average like few players available. He finished second in the Cape Cod League last summer with 13 homers, showing pop to all fields as the ball exploded off his lefthanded bat. The knocks on Jagielo were a tendency to chase pitches and questionable defense at third base, but the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder has addressed both this spring. He has shown more discipline, made more contact and done a better job of using the whole field. He now projects to hit for a solid average with at least plus power. While he's a below-average runner and his agility and reactions still need improvement, scouts believe Jagielo will be able to stick at the hot corner. His actions, hands and arm all are fine for the position. He played all four corner positions for the Fighting Irish, not becoming a full-time third baseman until mid-2012. Jagielo has a chance to surpass Ken Plesha (17th overall in 1965) and A.J. Pollock (ditto in 2009) as the highest-drafted position players in Notre Dame history.
SECOND PICK - AARON JUDGE (OF)
32nd overall, ranked 30
With a build that's rare for baseball at 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds, Judge earns physical comparisons to NBA player Blake Griffin. He was a three-sport athlete in high school and got most of his college offers for football as a tight end. But he loved baseball and headed to Fresno State—where both his parents went—even after the Athletics drafted him in the 31st round out of high school. Judge puts on jaw-dropping batting practice displays, but some scouts worry that his power won't translate to games. He hit four home runs as a sophomore and had eight so far this season as he got bigger in his stance and made adjustments. Judge profiles as a .250 hitter and is going to strike out a lot, which comes with the territory for tall power hitters with long arms. A team can live with the strikeouts if he hits 30-plus home runs a year. While his swing is more about strength and leverage than bat speed, he has light-tower power. Judge is a solid-average runner with an above-average arm and will be a solid defender in right field.
THIRD PICK - IAN CLARKIN (LHP)
33rd overall, ranked 17
Clarkin punctuated his strong performance on the 2012 summer showcase circuit with six strong innings in the gold medal game to lead USA Baseball's 18-and-under team to the IBAF 18U World Championship in Seoul, South Korea, in September. He got off to a strong start this spring with a good showing at the Southern California Invitational in February, establishing himself as the top prep pitcher in the region. Clarkin has feel for pitching with three quality offerings. His fastball sits at 90-92 mph and bumps 93-94, and he pitches inside aggressively, but sometimes his fastball command falters. He flashes a plus downer curveball with sharp bite, and he can locate it to both sides of the plate when he's on. He also has shown the makings of an average (but inconsistent) changeup with good arm speed and fade. Clarkin needs refinement, but his three-pitch arsenal and competitiveness give him a chance to be a quality major league starter down the road. He is committed to San Diego.
FOURTH PICK - GOSUKE KATOH (2B)
66th overall, ranked 189
Katoh opened eyes at the Area Code Games last summer, ripping a triple off the right-field wall at cavernous Blair Field. His stock continued to rise during a big senior year this spring, and he was batting .451 with 12 doubles and eight home runs, belying his reputation as a contact-oriented hitter. In the past, Katoh showed a tendency to hit everything to the opposite field, but he has sneaky strength in his wiry frame and could grow into fringe-average power. He's a tough out with a knack for putting the ball in play. When he hits the ball on the ground, his plus speed gives him a good chance to beat out infield singles. Katoh is the rare high school second baseman who's a legitimate pro prospect. His below-average arm is inadequate for shortstop but playable at second. His excellent athleticism is also an asset at second, where he has good range, smooth actions, sure hands and a quick release. Katoh is a good student who is committed to UCLA and regarded as a tough sign, so he was generating top-three-rounds buzz late in the spring, though the scouting consensus has him lower.
FIFTH PICK - MICHAEL O'NEILL (OF)
103rd overall, ranked 79
O'Neill remains the top position prospect in the Big 10 Conference, though he hasn't performed as well as he did as a sophomore or in the Cape Cod League in 2012. All of the tools are still there, as he's a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder with plus speed, solid righthanded power and arm strength and a chance to play center field. O'Neill has a reputation for being too hard on himself--much like his uncle Paul, a five-time all-star with the Reds and Yankees--and he tried to do too much when Patrick Biondi was out of the Wolverines lineup for three weeks with a sprained thumb. He didn't adjust well to a steady diet of breaking balls and will have to improve his pitch recognition and plate discipline to maximize his offensive potential. Biondi's absence did give O'Neill the opportunity to show what he could do in center, and he acquitted himself well. He has the wheels for the position, posting the fastest 60-yard dash (6.36 seconds) during the Cape League's Fenway Park workout last summer. The Yankees selected him in the 42nd round out of an Ohio high school in 2010.
26th overall, ranked 16
Jagielo went 15 picks from the bottom of the 2010 draft out of high school in Illinois, and he should go roughly that far from the top this year. He combines the ability to hit for power and average like few players available. He finished second in the Cape Cod League last summer with 13 homers, showing pop to all fields as the ball exploded off his lefthanded bat. The knocks on Jagielo were a tendency to chase pitches and questionable defense at third base, but the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder has addressed both this spring. He has shown more discipline, made more contact and done a better job of using the whole field. He now projects to hit for a solid average with at least plus power. While he's a below-average runner and his agility and reactions still need improvement, scouts believe Jagielo will be able to stick at the hot corner. His actions, hands and arm all are fine for the position. He played all four corner positions for the Fighting Irish, not becoming a full-time third baseman until mid-2012. Jagielo has a chance to surpass Ken Plesha (17th overall in 1965) and A.J. Pollock (ditto in 2009) as the highest-drafted position players in Notre Dame history.
SECOND PICK - AARON JUDGE (OF)
32nd overall, ranked 30
With a build that's rare for baseball at 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds, Judge earns physical comparisons to NBA player Blake Griffin. He was a three-sport athlete in high school and got most of his college offers for football as a tight end. But he loved baseball and headed to Fresno State—where both his parents went—even after the Athletics drafted him in the 31st round out of high school. Judge puts on jaw-dropping batting practice displays, but some scouts worry that his power won't translate to games. He hit four home runs as a sophomore and had eight so far this season as he got bigger in his stance and made adjustments. Judge profiles as a .250 hitter and is going to strike out a lot, which comes with the territory for tall power hitters with long arms. A team can live with the strikeouts if he hits 30-plus home runs a year. While his swing is more about strength and leverage than bat speed, he has light-tower power. Judge is a solid-average runner with an above-average arm and will be a solid defender in right field.
THIRD PICK - IAN CLARKIN (LHP)
33rd overall, ranked 17
Clarkin punctuated his strong performance on the 2012 summer showcase circuit with six strong innings in the gold medal game to lead USA Baseball's 18-and-under team to the IBAF 18U World Championship in Seoul, South Korea, in September. He got off to a strong start this spring with a good showing at the Southern California Invitational in February, establishing himself as the top prep pitcher in the region. Clarkin has feel for pitching with three quality offerings. His fastball sits at 90-92 mph and bumps 93-94, and he pitches inside aggressively, but sometimes his fastball command falters. He flashes a plus downer curveball with sharp bite, and he can locate it to both sides of the plate when he's on. He also has shown the makings of an average (but inconsistent) changeup with good arm speed and fade. Clarkin needs refinement, but his three-pitch arsenal and competitiveness give him a chance to be a quality major league starter down the road. He is committed to San Diego.
FOURTH PICK - GOSUKE KATOH (2B)
66th overall, ranked 189
Katoh opened eyes at the Area Code Games last summer, ripping a triple off the right-field wall at cavernous Blair Field. His stock continued to rise during a big senior year this spring, and he was batting .451 with 12 doubles and eight home runs, belying his reputation as a contact-oriented hitter. In the past, Katoh showed a tendency to hit everything to the opposite field, but he has sneaky strength in his wiry frame and could grow into fringe-average power. He's a tough out with a knack for putting the ball in play. When he hits the ball on the ground, his plus speed gives him a good chance to beat out infield singles. Katoh is the rare high school second baseman who's a legitimate pro prospect. His below-average arm is inadequate for shortstop but playable at second. His excellent athleticism is also an asset at second, where he has good range, smooth actions, sure hands and a quick release. Katoh is a good student who is committed to UCLA and regarded as a tough sign, so he was generating top-three-rounds buzz late in the spring, though the scouting consensus has him lower.
FIFTH PICK - MICHAEL O'NEILL (OF)
103rd overall, ranked 79
O'Neill remains the top position prospect in the Big 10 Conference, though he hasn't performed as well as he did as a sophomore or in the Cape Cod League in 2012. All of the tools are still there, as he's a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder with plus speed, solid righthanded power and arm strength and a chance to play center field. O'Neill has a reputation for being too hard on himself--much like his uncle Paul, a five-time all-star with the Reds and Yankees--and he tried to do too much when Patrick Biondi was out of the Wolverines lineup for three weeks with a sprained thumb. He didn't adjust well to a steady diet of breaking balls and will have to improve his pitch recognition and plate discipline to maximize his offensive potential. Biondi's absence did give O'Neill the opportunity to show what he could do in center, and he acquitted himself well. He has the wheels for the position, posting the fastest 60-yard dash (6.36 seconds) during the Cape League's Fenway Park workout last summer. The Yankees selected him in the 42nd round out of an Ohio high school in 2010.
