The Carolina Triangle has a reputation for being one of the most robust talent pools each and every year in terms of premier draft talent. This year is not different. Let’s ride.
The 2021 World Wood Bat Championship - Names To Know
It’s that time of year again. It’s time for the premier high school wood bat tournament the year has to offer. It’s World Wood Bat Championship time.
We’re back in Jupiter, and we are loaded with talent. The best travel teams in the country all at one facility for five days of baseball heaven. While there is likely going to be plenty of surprises during pool play, We wanted to bring you eight squads we believe have a chance to walk away on Monday with the 2021 WWBA Trophy.
A "Why So Soon?!" 2022 MLB Mock Draft
Cape Cod League - Punch Leaders
We curated our own metric for evaluating pitchers as the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) does not provide enough sample size for Stuff+ to be used on each of a pitcher’s pitches. We ended up creating a score to evaluate how a pitcher uses their arsenal to execute pitches, essentially evaluating their pitchability.
2022 MLB Draft - Top 150 Prospects
We’ve got some big changes since the Top 100 originally dropped.
This college crop of hitters is good. Really good. And deep.
The high school pitching in this class has the potential to be one of the stronger groups in recent memory.
While college pitching isn’t particularly top-heavy, there looks to be some pretty good value plays in the second and third round region this year.
Live Looks: Team USA 18U
You’re not going to believe this, but I hit some more baseball games over the weekend. Yes, I know, you’re shocked. Someone please let my fianceé know that I’ll be home before the wedding… probably.
Anyway, after hitting Pirate City (yes, it’s really called that) Saturday morning in Bradenton, I ventured to Sarasota on Saturday afternoon and made the trek again on Sunday to catch some of Team USA 18u and Team Canada 18u’s 7-game Friendship series. Hey, they named it, not me. Obviously, the 18u national team is loaded with top prospects from the 2022 class, so I can only really highlight the top performers here without writing a novel. So, here are the four best bats and arms from the two games I caught.
Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy (FL)
The man, the myth, the legend, am I right? Elijah Green did Elijah Green things on Sunday evening as he hit a couple of home runs into the stratosphere. The first went just to the right of dead center (which is 400 feet, by the way) and the second, a true moonshot, was blistered high into the night sky, over everything in left field and out of the stadium. It was one of the furthest hit balls that I’ve ever seen in person -- and keep in mind this is with a wood bat, not metal. So, yeah, the power is pretty real. He patrolled center field but didn’t have many opportunities to flash his great speed since Team USA’s pitching was so dominant (and because he kept hitting the ball out of the ballpark). There was a little swing and miss and chase below the zone, but it’s not anything I’d truly be concerned about yet, especially when you consider how deafeningly loud the other tools are.
Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays HS (GA)
If Elijah was doing Elijah things, then Termarr was definitely doing Termarr things this weekend, too. After casually flicking a grand slam to the opposite field on Saturday afternoon, Termarr proceeded to draw 5 — yes 5 —- walks on Sunday as Team Canada’s pitchers simply refused to give him anything to hit. He showed great patience and knowledge of the strike zone, forcing pitchers to either give in and give him something to hit or give him his free base. They all chose the latter. Defensively, he lined up at 3rd base both days where his great hands and quick actions certainly play. The only real question here would be whether the arm is strong enough; 2nd base is still his most likely long-term fit.
Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan School (GA)
Of all the batting practice I saw, Druw Jones’ rounds stood out as the most impressive for me. The ball just seems to jump off his bat and carries further than you think it will. He cleared the bleachers pretty easily in left field and was challenging the wall in the pull-side power alley more than once. In-game, he smoked a high curveball deep to center that hopped over the wall for a ground-rule double. Not only is there feel to hit, but his quick, line-drive stroke is producing good bat speed and real power that should only improve as his frame fills out. Jones is a terrific athlete with excellent speed and should be a no-doubt center fielder his whole career -- and he’s got the Gold Glove-winning bloodlines to back it up (son of former Braves CF Andruw Jones).
Paxton Kling, OF, Central HS (PA)
Kling, who we didn’t get to see at PG National, may have had the best overall performance by a hitter while I was in the stadium this weekend. The BP was very solid, but the power was really on display during game action when he launched a big, no-doubt home run to the pull-side both Saturday and Sunday. He was able to get to big power in-game without having to sell out for it and that’s something that not a ton of prep kids can do. Overall he managed 3 hits and 2 walks during the 2 games while striking out just once. Kling also showed some solid defensive chops in right field with a solid arm and speed to round out the profile.
Jackson Ferriss, LHP, IMG Academy (FL)
Ferriss was a little rusty in the 1st and gave up some hard contact as he found the feel for his stuff, but dominated once he settled in, striking out 6 over 3 innings while allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs. He sat 89-92 with the change at 83-84 and curveball at 70-71. The whole arsenal was much sharper in innings 2 and 3 with his big curveball really giving hitters fits with its good depth and sharp movement.
Louis Rodriguez, RHP, St. John Bosco HS (CA)
Rodriguez absolutely mystified the Team Canada hitters as he struck out 10 over 5 innings without allowing a baserunner. It was incredibly impressive and the best performance I saw from any player over the 2 days. Rodriguez features a cutter and two-seam that work in the 82-85 range with a truly nasty breaking ball at 74-77 that tunnels beautifully off the cutter. He sequenced very well and kept hitters completely off-balance. Like I said, very, very impressive performance.
Joe Allen, RHP, Winnacunnet HS (NH)
Cold-weather arm alert! (Sorry, I’m from Maine and spent 30 years of my life in New England, I get excited about anyone from that region). The New Hampshire native kicked Sunday’s action off with 3 scoreless innings while striking out 5 and giving up just 1 hit and 1 walk. He featured what appeared to be two fastballs: a four-seamer that he ran up to 92 and used when elevating and a two-seamer/sinker that was 86-89 with good run that he used to dot the glove-side edge and induce weak contact. His breaking ball flashed tight vertical movement with sharp break at 74-77 that played pretty well off the two-seam. He lost the release a little toward the end of his outing, but battled well and escaped without allowing a run.
Jack O’Connor, RHP, Bishop O’Connell HS (VA)
O’Connor was a bulldog out of the pen who came right after guys and struck out 4 over 2 scoreless frames. He has a very short, compact arm action that hides the ball well and makes it really jump on hitters. The fastball sat 90-93 with good carry; he challenged hitters with it and got swings and misses in and above the zone. His breaker was tight throughout the outing with sharp vertical break and 11-5 shape. He landed it for strikes and used it for chases, as well. Very good showing.
2021 Cape Cod League - Plate Approach Efficiency Profile
While the distribution of hitter classifications isn’t equal through the plot, it is clear to see that there were different profiled hitters in the CCBL. This article shows that we can distinguish players with clearer offensive profiles based upon their competition and therefore can generally assume what kind of hitter they would be in pro ball.
2021 Cape Cod League Top 50 Prospects
PODCAST: The MLB Draft Show - Perfect Game All American Recap
2022 MLB Draft Top Prospects - Canada
As we roll full speed into the 2022 draft cycle, it's time to take a preliminary look at some potential Canadian draftees. Since we're still just under a year away from the draft, this list will be evolving through the draft cycle, but we'll use it as a launching point to take an early peek at some Hosers out there. As is tradition, grab a bevy of your choice, throw some smoked meat on your poutine and let's dance.
The 2021 Prospects Live Cape Cod All-Star Teams
With the 2021 Cape Cod League in the books, it felt only appropriate we doll out some postseason awards for those who impressed. The Cape Cod League can be a pretty good preview into what players to keep an eye on for the following MLB Draft. It’s a wood bat league and, in a lot of cases, the first chance scouts have to see draft prospects with lumber in-hand.
Perfect Game All-American Classic Recap - Pitching Reigns Supreme
Returning to Petco Park in San Diego, California after an unconventional 2020, the Perfect Game All-American Classic was highlighted by some dynamic pitching performances by a crop of kids sure to hear their names called next July. The arms were so good in fact, the West squad didn’t tally a single hit. The East squad handled their business from wire to wire, winning 8-1.
2022 MLB Draft MailBag -- 8/19/2021
PODCAST: The Field and Stream - Episode 5
2022 MLB Draft Top Prospects - Midwest Preps
Over the last few draft cycles, the Midwest itself has produced several notable draft names, college products, and upper tier prospects in the professional ranks such as Jarred Kelenic and Gavin Lux. With eleven months to go, it’s still awfully early to project anything concrete, but some early live looks suggest a potential big year for the region in 2022.
2022 MLB Draft Top Prospects - Pacific Northwest
5 Sleeper Breakout Candidates for the 2022 MLB Draft
Alabama Shortstop Jim Jarvis is a sight for sore eyes
The 2021 MLB Draft was bursting at the seams with guys whose strikeout rates had big league scouts keeled over and nauseated. Too many “premier” bats in last year’s class were plagued with extreme swing-and-miss concerns. Batted-ball data doesn’t matter if the ball isn’t, well, batted. The 2022 class appears much healthier in that respect. Leading the charge may be Alabama shortstop Jim Jarvis, a sight for sore eyes and a throwback to yesteryear.
