SWING BATTA BATTA SWING! SPRING TRAINING IS IN FULL SWING!
With the Olympics coming at an end and March Madness right around the corner, baseball drafts are heating up all over the country. Based on some early news out of camps, your draft sheets should be getting a make over. Here are some player/prospects that are seeing their stock climbing and falling. Take a look and make the adjustments, friends. If you want to add your thoughts or two cents, comment below. In the meantime, enjoy the Boys of Summer warming up in Arizona and Florida. We are on track for a great baseball season!
Taijuan Walker – With bursistis in the shoulder putting him on the sideline for the first few weeks of the season (at least) while he builds strength back up, his stock for THIS season took a hit. With first year super prospects being treated as if they were a precious gem, the stud will certainly see action, but temper your expectations for this season. If you are in a keeper league, don’t let this hiccup make you think twice though, as his stuff is legit and size/frame is conducive to take a beating for years to come.
Billy Hamilton – Early reports are his offseason work with bunting is paying off with a better eye for a tight strike zone. His legs have looked as fresh and good as advertised. I don’t put him any higher in terms of draft (6th-10th round) but it’s a win to see that I’m not backing off on a very respectable first year projection. After 12 AB’s, he is sporting a .500 OBP with a couple SB’s. If he can manage a .325-.345 OBP, he will be legitimate stud. I’m still cheering the crazy legs on!
Jose Abreu – With reports out of White Sox camp that coaches and executives are impressed with his “work ethic” and “maturity” being top notch, terms that are seldomly attached to Cuban defectors (ala Puig, Cespedes), I’m inclined to move him up the ranks and give him a look in 8th-12th rounds as a guy who is now expected, not hopeful, to hit 25 HR and rake in 80 RBI’s. With just four games under his belt, it’s nice to see a double and homerun already. Draft away with expectations, not just hope!
Ryan Braun – It was never a question IF you were drafting Braun but WHEN. I’ve seen him go as low as 3rd round and with a torrid start to Spring, ALL signs point to a unquestionable first rounder. Reaching base 8 out of his first 9 plate appearances along with 2 HR’s tells me he is on a mission to win back his fan base. And nothing makes people forget the bad, like delivery the good. And by good, I mean great. Jump on him early and be rewarded by a fired up talent that is focused on a monster season! No stats count in Spring Training but seriously, the Miami Masher is throwing good wood right now!
Masahiro Tanaka – One big thing for me stemming from his first outing was the 94 I saw on the radar. Now, granted he may have been pumped since he has an army of news reporters from his home land but seeing his teammate CC barely hitting 89 early on, Tanaka looks like he has an almost “Braun-like” focus to his transition. With everyone saying he is no Darvish, I’d look for him to push Darvish on all peripherals except strikeouts. Tanaka’s two early starts have shown a polished, matured winner with a fluid motion and utterly sick splitter. I’m moving him up the rankings in my draft sheets. Yankee line-up protection and 3-4 spot in rotation should equal plenty of opportunities at W’s. Don’t be shy in being the first to grab him in mid rounds. He won’t be around in later rounds, as I’ve seen in a few drafts already finished.
Alex Rios – With a 4-10 start including 2 SB’s, the butterflies I had about his 2nd -3rd status are being calmed. His somewhat erratic past looks as if it’s a thing of the past. Rangers lineup protection and his motivation to stay in the conversation amongst all the studs in the clubhouse has him on track for a second consecutive big year. I’d put him in that 2nd-3rd round talk without hesitation. In a keeper league, by season’s end, I may be looking at trading for a super prospect but for now, draft and enjoy the summer Texas heat and plenty of stat stuffing coming from Arlington!
Jurickson Profar – Since we are talking Rangers, let’s take a look at J-Pro and his early stats: 8-22 with a walk (thought he was allergic to them) and NINE RBI’s has me excited. I would hate to see the #1 prospect last year fall flat on his face. They are playing him plenty and it is paying off. My projection of .280 with 15 and 75 looks doable. Great sleeper pick for those missing out early in drafts on Pedroia, and Kipnis. Cano is an unquestionable first rounder and best 2B.
With a few more games under their belts, look for more pitcher outlooks real soon.