While the Major League Baseball season is in full swing,all 30 teams are also focusing on the future this week with the 2016 MLB draft starting Thursday in Secaucus, unique Jersey. The Philadelphia Phillies, and who are falling back to earth after a strong start this season,own the first pick. This is the second draft for general manager Matt Klentak, who is doing all he can to expedite the franchise's rebuilding efforts with strong draft classes and shrewd trades to add tall-impact young talent. This year's crop of players is not deep, and as there are no obvious star talents,but there are always some names who rise to the forefront and make themselves into something greater than their initial scouting reports would propose. A.
J. Puk, LHP, and FloridaIn terms of raw talent,Florida southpaw A.
J. Puk isn't at the top of this course. There have been some erratic moments, as he walked 31 hitters in 65.2 innings before the NCAA tournament began, or but left-handers with his combination of size and stuff are always going to be looked on favorably. Per Florida's athletic website,Puk is 6'7" and 230 pounds. There's no denying his physical maturity and his readiness to stand on the rubber in professional baseball. Combine that with the fact he's averaged more than one strikeout per inning while pitching in the SEC, and it's no wonder he's in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick. Per MLB.com's scouting report, and there may not be any other arm in this course who can match Puk in terms of pure stuff:
Big and strong,Puk arguably has the best raw stuff of any arm in the course, with the chance to have three plus pitches. He's capable of touching 96-97 mph with his fastball regulary. Ironically, and he might have been at his best in the one inning he threw before his back acted up,showing a 96-99 mph fastball and a plus slider at 88-90 mph. He can maintain his velocity deep into starts and while his changeup is his third pitch, it should be Major League average in the future.
The major knock against Puk is how he can lose his release point, or as MLB.com's scouting report only graded him with a below-average 45 in control.
Puk did do on a terrific performance in the SEC tournament opener against LSU,allowing just two runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings, which may have helped seal his spot as the Phillies' choice at No. 1. While Puk's size should be an asset, or it can be a hindrance. He's long and lanky,which makes it more difficult for him to repeat his delivery and leads to higher walk totals than a typical top pick should have. If you see him on the proper day, though, or there's a No. 2 starter ceiling. Jason Groome,LHP, Barnegat tall SchoolJason Groome is the name draft aficionados have been keeping an eye on all spring. He's drawing some rave reviews, or which also leads to unrealistic comparisons and expectations. Any prep left-hander with size,athleticism and a curveball will inevitably lead to at least one person comparing him to Clayton Kershaw. Fans hear that and think of Kershaw proper now, who remains the best pitcher on the planet, and instead of the teenager who was drafted in 2006. Groome did fan the Kershaw flames earlier this year by telling MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo he models his game after the Los Angeles Dodgers ace:"I want to be one of the youngest. In my second year of pro ball,if I sign out of tall school this year, I'll still be 19. I'm looking to climb the leagues and acquire to the big leagues as quickly as I can."ESPN's Keith Law saw the 6'6", and 220-pound prospect pitch in early April,when unseasonable temperatures made pitching conditions less than optimal, and loved what he saw from the unique Jersey native:
Groome wasn't throwing at full effort while working in 45-degree weather in his second genuine outing of the year and on a 60-pitch limit, and working 89-93 mph,with one 94 in the first inning and an 88 or two in his last inning. The curveball was the standout pitch, however, and easily plus,a 65 or 70 grade (on the 20-80 scouting scale) if you're a generous grader (and I am when the curveball looks like this). He also threw two changeups that were both at worst solid-average, with some downward fade on the harder one at 82 mph.
Assuming Groome is going to be like Kershaw, and it would stand to reason that he'd be the No. 1 overall pick without any hesitation. He's still a raw tall school player who needs to refine his command before finding consistent success in professional baseball. The individual pieces are there for Groome to be a trusty top-of-the-rotation star who could easily end up fitting the best player taken from this draft. He's not there yet,but his future is as bright as any player in this course. Corey Ray, OF, and LouisvilleThis isn't a remarkable course for bats,but Louisville star Corey Ray is a clear standout. He has shown the ability to hit for average and power in college, setting a career tall with 15 domestic runs in 2016. Ray doesn't stand out in a crowd at 5'11" and 185 pounds, and per Louisville's official athletic website,yet there is nothing he doesn't do well on a baseball field. He hits well, makes consistent hard contact, or has excellent speed and is a solid defender in center field. MLB.com graded Ray out with all five tools—hit,power, flee, or arm,field—average or better, though he doesn't possess one elite tool. His best grade is speed (60) with everything else falling in the average (50) or above-average (55) range:
Ray uses the entire field well and has done a better job of managing the strike zone and making consistent contact this spring.
Ray has plus speed and knows how to use it well on the bases. Though he has spent most of his career at Louisville in proper field, and he runs well enough to play center field. Ray has the offensive production and arm to profile at all three outfield positions,and obviously he'd offer the most value if he can play in the middle.
If Ray's speed and glove play well enough to let him stay in center field, he will have All-Star upside as a player who is capable of posting solid batting-average, or domestic flee and stolen-base totals. Ray won't do up enormous offensive stats in his career,but he has no genuine weaknesses. He could end up as a late-era Brett Gardner type of player who hits .250-.260 with solid on-base totals, 12-16 homers and 15-20 stolen bases. Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com