*Photo from redsminorleagues.com*
Although the draft is only 5 rounds long this year instead of 40, the draft still goes on. The draft will take place on June 10 and June 11, and will be broadcast both days on MLB Network, with 160 players being selected in the draft. The Detroit Tigers hold the first overall pick. Here are the top 5 prospects for this year's draft, plus scouting reports.
*Photo from Arizona Sports*
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State
Torkelson is a power hitter in every sense of the word. He has plus power now and he has lots of plus power that's raw, and if developed properly, could make him one of the best slugging first basemen in baseball. He can also hit for contact as well, with scouts grading him above average in that department due to his bat speed. He can hit to all fields as well, making him more deadly. He's merely average defensively, but he can handle the load at first base. The one big concern about Torkelson is his 16.6 percent strikeout rate, but through the minors he can be taught how to improve on that.
*Photo from CBS Sports*
Austin Martin, OF/3B, Vanderbilt
What jumps out immediately about Martin is that he's a Vanderbilt player, so he's playing in a system that does a good job of preparing kids for the major leagues. Martin displays all 5 tools, and does them well enough to be drafted high. He has good speed, an above average bat, and good hands at the plate. He's also got good bat speed and pitch recognition. He can play multiple positions, but scouts give his most likely positions as center field and shortstop, with second and third base being options as well. The only potential concern is that his hitting game is the only thing that scouts list as above average right now, but he can change that through the development system.
*Photo from Prospect Insider*
Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M
Lacy has all the tools needed to be successful at the major league level. He's got a four pitch mix of fastball, slider, changeup, and curveball, with his fastball topping off at 97 mph this season. His slider was effective on righties, while his change and curve are both plus offspeed pitches. He mixes his pitches well and pounds the zone, so hitters likely don't get very long at bats against Lacy. He can use all 4 of his pitches in any situation, and can get weak contact quite freqently. However, improving on command and gaining consistency with his changeup are the main knocks on Lacy. He'll probably end up being the first pitcher off the board despite that.
*Photo from Baseball America*
Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia
Hancock is very similar to Lacy in terms of how polished and major league ready he is. His fastball, slider, changeup, and curveball are all above average, and he pounds the strike zone. His fastball tops off at 99 mph, and he throws his slider and curve in the mid 80's, but he can throw them hard when he does. He doesn't use his changeup much, but when he does it's a good pitch. The only big concern was how he would recover from arm soreness this year, but he did just fine.
*Photo from Detroit News*
Nick Gonzales, SS/2B, New Mexico State
Gonzales is one of the shorter prospects, at 5’10” and 190 pounds, but he is very skilled. He's offensive minded with great bat speed and hand eye coordination. Gonzales has been a good hitter every level he's been at, including the Cape League. Down on the Cape, he hit .351 with 7 homers and had an OPS over 1.000. He's more of a contact hitter now, but he's got the potential to hit for power more as well. His weaknesses are that he's a below average defender and doesn't seem to have enough arm strength to be a pro shortstop, but he'll be a very solid pick.
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