2022 MLB Draft Scouting Report for RHP Landon Sims
Elijah Green - MLB Draft Profile
Cole Young - MLB Draft Profile
2022 MLB Draft - Rank History
| Date | List | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 9/8/21 | Top 150 | 8 |
| 7/26/21 | Top 100 | 22 |
| 1/8/21 | Early Top 100 | 27 |
Interview - Sep 2021
Cole Young is one of the most talented shortstops in the 2022 class. Blessed with a good arm, fantastic barrel control and all the tools necessary to stick at the position, scouts are in love with the whole package. A Duke commit, Young is one of the best young prospects in the 2022 MLB Draft.
Aug 2021 ARTICLE
2022 MLB DRAFT MAILBAG -- 8/19/2021
Q: With PGAA this weekend, outside of Greene, Johnson and Lesko. Which guys are you thinking have best chance at going day one in 2022.
Sunday’s Perfect Game All-American Classic is always one of the brighter spectacles for draft talent each summer and this year will be no different. There’s a ton of guys in this years game that have a chance to go on day one next summer. Green, Termarr Johnson and Dylan Lesko are all fantastic candidates. Others to keep on who are currently inside the Prospects Live Top 25 include right-handed pitchers Brock Porter and Ian Ritchie Jr., as well as left-handed pitchers Tristan Smith and Brandon Barriera. On the position player side, we like infielders Cole Young, Cam Collier and Jayson Jones, as well as legacy outfielder Druw Jones Jr.
Truth be told there are countless other players who could ascend into day one and this is only a small snippet. Watch out for southpaws Jackson Ferris and Noah Schultz.
Oct 2020 ARTICLE
WWBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW: PART 2
You like loaded rosters? Well, Canes always provides that with not only their National squad, but their Prospects squad as well. The lineup is loaded with a ton of talented 2022 prospects, led by the power bats of Xavier Issac and Roman Anthony, followed by great hitters in Cole Young, Paxton Kling, Nathan Fink, and many more. The rotation is spearheaded by a tough combo of Tristan Smith and Brock Porter, with Tyler Gough joining to help lead a fantastic group of arms at WWBA.
Aug 2020 ARTICLE
2020 AREA CODES UNDERCLASS STANDOUTS
The state of Pennsylvania has produced plenty of exciting prep hitters over the past few years, with Austin Hendrick and Benny Montgomery. Cole Young is hoping to follow in their footsteps, in being a potential first round pick. And he's doing a great job with that, as he has the talent to stick at shortstop, with an arm that produces 90+ mph throws from the infield, with plenty of bat speed from the left side. His standout moment came when he hit a HR against the Brewers underclass team.
Bryce Hubbart - MLB Draft Profile
Interview - Sep 2021
Bryce Hubbart comes armed with a full arsenal of breaking balls, off-speed stuff and deceptive heat. He manipulates his pitches better than most in this draft class and presents some of the best pitchability at the top as well. He was one of the most impressive arms on the Cape in 2021 and figures to anchor an imposing Florida State staff in 2022.
Sep 2021 Article
CAPE COD LEAGUE - PUNCH LEADERS
Landed in top 15 pitchers with the highest Punch Scores.
Hubbart also has a very intriguing SP profile based on his Punch distribution. He demonstrates an innate ability to miss bats and execute pitches as shown by the near even BB Score and Whiff Score. Hubbart also shows the potential to further develop his arsenal as his Whiff Score still has room to grow.
Aug 2021 Article
2021 CAPE COD LEAGUE TOP 50 PROSPECTS
High spin FB/CB combination. FB has plus IVB and plays well at top of strike zone. CB has great depth and above average movement on two planes. Looks to attack hitters with FB and has great feel to throw CB in all counts. SL and CH are both developing secondary offerings. Needs to throw CH for strike more often, has good movement profile. Athletic pitchers’ body with room to add overall body strength. Could lead to an uptick in velocity. Profiles as a middle of rotation ML starter with ceiling of ML #2 starter.
Aug 2021 Article
THE 2021 PROSPECTS LIVE CAPE COD ALL-STAR TEAMS
Hubbart's performance on the Cape this year has generated a lot of big buzz. The Florida State lefty was the ace of the Brewster staff this summer, featuring a strong package of stuff. It starts with a low-90s four seam fastball, a big curveball in the low to mid-70s with usable shape manipulation, as well as a sweeping slider. Over 31 innings this summer, Hubbart posted a 0.87 ERA with a miniscule 0.710 WHIP. He punched out 45 batters in the process. There is some effort with his arm and lower half in the delivery, but Hubbart repeats well and lands his pitches where he wants to. It’s an extremely uncomfortable at-bat with a ton of deception. This could be the first college pitcher off the board in 2022.
Jun 2021 Article
CAPE COD NOTES: WEEK 1
Bryce Hubbart got hit around a bit in his debut start against Bourne, but if he held the Cape’s best offense scoreless he’d be an outlier. Coming off a good second year at Florida State, Hubbart features a low 90s four seamer with good carry and downer curve as his primary offerings, but can alter the tilt on the breaking ball to slurve it away from lefties. He was able to mostly overpower the Bourne bats and racked up seven strikeouts, but left a fastball belt high on the outer half for Braylen Wimmer that was deposited over the left field wall for all three of the runs he would surrender over four innings. Hubbart went five scoreless in his next outing, which dropped his ERA to 3.00 in two CCBL starts. Definitely an interesting arm to follow on the Whitecaps this year.
Jan 2020 Article
THE COMPLETE 2020 ACC BASEBALL SEASON PREVIEW
Made the Projected All ACC Freshman Team
Zach Neto - MLB Draft Profile
Interview - Sep 2021
Zach Neto looks an awful lot like Javier Baez at the plate. He's got the raw power and flare on the field to fit the label too. Neto was one of the best players in the country on the Cape this season, vaulting himself into first round chatter for the 2022 MLB Draft. The Campbell Camels are expecting big things from their shortstop this season.
Sep 2021 Article
2021 CAPE COD LEAGUE - PLATE APPROACH EFFICIENCY PROFILE
Landed in Top 25 with an ELITE profile.
Lastly the two players with the top overall profile balance were Zachary Neto (Campbell) and Chase DeLauter (James Madison). Both players came into the CCBL with small-school performance doubters but both players were arguably the two best overall offensive performers with their consistency to make an impact with their bat while being selective in the strike zone.
Aug 2021 Article
2021 CAPE COD LEAGUE TOP 50 PROSPECTS
High energy, super athletic SS. Above average bat to ball skills with power to all fields. Demonstrates a patient approach in the box and is consistently able to barrel balls in the zone. Ranges well at SS and has a plus arm. Movement in the box pre-load may be an issue long term if it begins to affect his timing. Has the tools to be a ML SS with a great power/speed combination.
Aug 2021 Article
THE 2021 PROSPECTS LIVE CAPE COD ALL-STAR TEAMS
Coming off a big year at Campbell, scouts were looking for Zach Neto to impress them against stiffer competition and impress he did. Neto showed at least above average power with advanced feel for hitting and projection. His .304/.439/.587 slash with three homers highlights a mature approach at the plate with plenty of thump. Neto was a consistent defensive performer with the arm and glove to be an asset at shortstop long-term at the highest level. He currently tracks as a first rounder in the 2022 draft and represents some of the highest ceiling on this list for my money.
Chase DeLauter - MLB Draft Profile
Interview - Sep 2021
Chase DeLauter is among the most physically imposing players you'll find in any draft. At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, DeLauter fills up a program and fills up the box scores night in and night out. He posts some of the most awe-inspiring exit velocities in this class, and was one of the best player in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2021. DeLauter has all the physical tools necessary to become a first round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.
Sep 2021 Article
2021 CAPE COD LEAGUE - PLATE APPROACH EFFICIENCY PROFILE
Landed in Top 25 with an ELITE profile.
Lastly the two players with the top overall profile balance were Zachary Neto (Campbell) and Chase DeLauter (James Madison). Both players came into the CCBL with small-school performance doubters but both players were arguably the two best overall offensive performers with their consistency to make an impact with their bat while being selective in the strike zone.
Aug 2021 Article
2021 CAPE COD LEAGUE TOP 50 PROSPECTS
Elite plate discipline and looking to elevate and do damage. Does not chase pitches out of the zone. Plus in-game power to all fields. Plus arm from OF due to his time spent on the mound at James Madison. Above average defender from the OF. Athletic, and moves well given his size in CF. Long-term profiles as a corner OF.
Aug 2021 Article
THE 2021 PROSPECTS LIVE CAPE COD ALL-STAR TEAMS
Much like Zach Neto, Chase DeLauter came to the Cape looking to prove himself as more than a big fish in a mid-major pond. The James Madison outfielder took a second to get himself acclimated, but once he did there was no doubt that this was a bonafide stud. At the plate, DeLauter has a controlled swing that covers both halves of the strike zone and relies on a strong lower half to drive the ball pretty much anywhere he wants. His monstrous .297/.397/.589 line with nine homers speaks to the impact he left on the league. Defensively, he started as Orleans' right fielder, but after an injury to Rhylan Thomas he moved to his more natural position in center field. With strong reads, good closing speed and a plus arm, he projects long term in CF. Make no mistake; this a potential top 10 talent in the 2022 draft with at least a puncher's chance of going first overall.
Jun 2021 Article
CAPE COD NOTES: WEEK 1
If it weren’t for the game saving heroics of Dukes’ softball pitcher Oddici Alexander, Chase Delauter would have an undisputed claim to being the best athlete on a diamond wearing a JMU uniform. Delauter is the 6’4”, 235 lb. starting center fielder for James Madison that had a comical 1.231 OPS in 121 plate appearances, though his right field assignment in Orleans looks to be his future home. He’s off to an uneven start with the Firebirds--which is understandable given the jump in competition from the CAA to the Cape--but does have a home run to his name during the first week of play.
Jun 2020 Article
AN INTERVIEW WITH FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN CHASE DELAUTER
Although the season was cut short due to COVID-19, Chase DeLauter was one of the country’s premier two-way freshmen for James Madison University this past spring. Hitting a robust .382 and reaching base safely in each of his first 15 games, the sturdy lefty also tossed 14.2 innings on the mound with 14 strikeouts on his way to being named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American.
Brady Neal - MLB Draft Profile
2022 MLB Draft - Rank History
| Date | List | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 9/8/21 | Top 150 | 110 |
Interview - Sep 2021
IMG Academy's Brady Neal will be one of the youngest players eligible in the 2022 MLB Draft. At 17 years, 10 months, Neal will certainly represent a ton of untapped physical potential for MLB teams. A talented catcher by trade, Neal has a big arm, a proven track record of hitting and an opposite-field approach with significant raw power. Learn more about him here!
Kevin Parada - MLB Draft Profile
2022 MLB Draft - Rank History
| Date | List | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 9/8/21 | Top 150 | 9 |
| 7/26/21 | Top 100 | 6 |
| 1/8/21 | Early Top 100 | 5 |
2020 MLB Draft - Rank History
| Date | List | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 5/25/20 | Top 101 | 55 |
Interview - Sep 2021
Kevin Parada is one of the most talented hitters in the entire country playing at a premium position behind the plate, no less. A decorated member of the Georgia Tech program, Parada spent him summer with the US College National Team after a loud 2021 true freshman campaign. He looks to build upon that success in 2022 and figures to be in the conversation near the top of the 2022 MLB Draft.
Sep 2021 Article
2021 CAPE COD LEAGUE - PLATE APPROACH EFFICIENCY PROFILE
Landed in Top 25 with an EYE profile.
Aug 2021 Article
2021 CAPE COD LEAGUE TOP 50 PROSPECTS
Offensive minded catcher with above average defense. Displays in game power to all fields. Plus receiver and thrower from behind the plate. Potential to move to corner OF due to offensive profile and potential of pitch framing to lose value in ML. Profiles as ML catcher.
Jul 2021 Article
2021 USA BASEBALL COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM PREVIEW
Georgia Tech has earned the moniker of “Catcher U” and they added another talent to their line of big catching prospects in Kevin Parada, one of the best bats to reach campus following the 2020 draft. In 52 games, Parada slashed .318/.379/.550 with nine home runs, showcasing an advanced approach at the plate. He’s got considerable pop in his bat, with gap-to-gap power and will utilize all fields at the plate. He’s got good framing abilities and has the tools to stay behind the plate defensively. He’s got good arm strength and moves well behind the dish. It’ll be interesting to watch him during the next year, especially as he will be one of the youngest players in the 2022 draft.
May 2021 Article
22 IN 22: SOME PREMIER NAMES TO KNOW FOR THE 2022 MLB DRAFT
It seems every other year we’re talking about a talented catcher coming out of Georgia Tech, and Parada certainly fits the bills as next in line. Scouts are in love with the whole package Parada brings to the table. He projects a plus hitter with plus power, maybe more. Behind the plate, he’s an above average receiver with a potential plus throwing arm and strong athleticism for the position. Parada burst onto the scene as a true freshman for the Yellow Jackets anchoring an impressive lineup that scored a lot of runs. Parada was a popular name in the 2020 draft, but with only five rounds and limited bonus pools, he went unselected, a mistake teams may regret for years to come. If history is any indication, Head Coach Danny Hall may let Parada call his own games in 2022, a luxury he provided to Joey Bart and Matt Weiters in their draft-eligible years.
Apr 2021 Article
LIVE LOOKS: EARLY SEASON ACC PLAY
Thanks to a shortened draft last summer, plenty of highly touted prep prospects walked onto campus in the fall and have made instant impacts. Parada is one of them. He’s been one of the more successful freshmen in all of college baseball and he could find himself getting a nice payday atop a loaded 2022 draft class.
Parada is a 6’1”, 197 pound athletic specimen with a strong frame and plenty of projection to come. For a 19 year old, he’s got a mature approach at the plate and sprays the ball to all fields. He’s got a wide stance at the plate and he has a fluid load and generates a lot of bat speed. There’s some decent separation in his operation and it’s all triggered by a moderate leg kick. Pre-swing is unique, as his lead elbow waggles in front of his face, which sets his hands high prior to loading up. He’s got some decent pop in his bat as well, which he utilizes to all fields.
Defensively, he can be a little stiff behind home plate, but moves adequately and shows good blocking and receiving skills. He’s got a strong, accurate arm and has produced above-average pop times, as well. It’s likely he will stay behind home plate at the next level. He’s not the fastest runner you will come across, and it won’t get any better for him. But, he’s an exciting 2022 prospect with aspirations of being a first rounder.
Mar 2021 Article
UNDERCLASSMAN WATCH LIST - MONTH ONE, 2021 COLLEGE BASEBALL
C Kevin Parada, Georgia Tech | Draft Year: 2022 | .473/.532/.745, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 7 2B, 13 R
It would be impossible to write this article without including the all everything freshman Kevin Parada. The hitting machine has only started his Georgia Tech career by earning the starting catcher job and then became instantly the best hitter on the team. His .473 AVG currently leads all freshmen in the nation and he’s doing it with thump, as he’s already notched 7 2Bs and 2 HR. Behind the dish, Parada is receiving a veteran pitching staff that has filthy stuff with relative ease. It’s early, but he’s already showing the making of an elite everyday backstop at the next level.
Mar 2021 Article
WHO'S THE SUPER-SLEEPER OF THE 2021 MLB DRAFT? -- MAILBAG
Q: Assuming the probability of staying behind the plate is the same, who has the higher FV, Henry Davis or Kevin Parada?
Henry Davis and Kevin Parada are certainly two of the best catchers in college baseball this season. When Parada’s signing bonus demands went unmet during the 2020 MLB Draft, most evaluators, including myself, were pretty pleased we were going to get the opportunity to see him blossom into a star at Georgia Tech. He looks well on his way.
As far as future value goes, I’d probably give Parada a half-grade edge in the projection department. But let’s keep in mind how early it is in his career.
Offensively, Davis has some similarities to a guy like Evan Gattis. It’s an above average hit tool with plus raw power. He doesn’t quite get to his full raw power potential yet, and some of that has to do with his flatter swing. That said, he gets very high marks for his discipline and approach at the plate.
Parada has a more conventional swing, although he’s tinkered with it a bit since arriving on campus. He’s got a fantastic feel for hit and power. He gets a little better extension than Davis does in his swing. Parada’s bat path is a little more prototypical than Davis’ as well. He looks every bit the next in the long line of super successful Georgia Tech backstops (Jason Varitek, Matt Weiters, Joey Bart).
Both players have fantastic throwing arms and are good bets to stick behind the plate moving forward, and that’s important in throwing a future value on a player, regardless of the parameters of the question.
Feb 2021 Video
Jun 2020 Article
MLB DRAFT: DATA INFLUENCED BIG BOARD
Kevin Parada, C, Loyola, Georgia Tech commit
A teammate of Hunter Greene in high school, Parada is one of Georgia Tech’s top recruits in the prep 2020 class and has some big shoes to fill in a program that has produced some premium catcher talent over the last couple years. He sports a strong, well-proportioned 6-foot, 190-pound build.
Parada swings from the right side and starts his stance with an exaggerated load into his back leg. It’s a short swing and his barrel stays in the zone for a long time, which is obviously a good thing. Parada has some easy power to all fields in his bat and consistently elevates the ball. His approach at the plate could use some refinement, but he has showed an ability to pick up spin out of the hand. He’s a bat first catcher that is a bit raw behind the dish. Right-handed hitting catchers that don’t excel behind the dish aren’t premium draft guys, so I’d expect him to find his way onto Georgia Tech’s campus.
Jul 2019 Video
Jun 2019 Video
Ian (JR) Ritchie Jr. - MLB Draft Profile
2022 MLB Draft - Rank History
| Date | List | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 9/26/21 | Top 150 | 20 |
| 7/26/21 | Top 100 | 12 |
| 1/8/21 | Early Top 100 | 10 |
Interview - Sep 2021
Ian (JR) Ritchie is one of the most exciting prep arms in the 2022 class. Armed with a 97 mph fastball, a wicked slider, a budding changeup with a developing curveball, and a two-seamer, Ritchie features one of the more formidable pitch mixes in the class. Ritchie is renowned for his mechanics and operation on the bump. He comfortably projects a starting pitcher at the next level. A UCLA commit, the Bainbridge Island, Washington product has all the makings of a potential first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. Get to know Ritchie here!
Aug 2021 Article
2022 MLB DRAFT MAILBAG -- 8/19/2021
Named as one of the names most likely participants of the 2021 Perfect Game All-American Classic to be called on day one of the MLB Draft .
Aug 2021 Article
2022 MLB DRAFT TOP PROSPECTS - PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Aug 2021 Article
STAFF IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PERFECT GAME NATIONAL SHOWCASE
Washington’s own Ian Ritchie Jr. has long been a name to know on the 2022 circuit, but he’s added some flair to his stuff this year. Last summer, he primarily featured a fastball, slider, and change-up, but he’s added a curveball and a two-seam fastball to his repertoire recently and showcased both of them at PG National. He primarily sat in the low-90’s, touching 94 MPH with late run on both fastballs. The curveball and slider have distinct shapes, with the curveball in the high-70’s with good shape and the tighter slider in the low-80’s with good bite. The change-up has gotten better, with the velocity in the low-80’s and has good fading action. It’s a projectable frame for the UCLA commit at 6’2”, 185 pounds, too. There’s likely more in the tank here.
- Tyler Jennings
May 2021 Article
22 IN 22: SOME PREMIER NAMES TO KNOW FOR THE 2022 MLB DRAFT
Right-Handed Pitcher, Bainbridge Island HS
In a deep prep pitching class, Ritchie stands out for a loud package of both pure stuff and control/command. The 2022 prep pitching class has more guys touching 97 at 17 years old than maybe any other class in history. But not all of them can find the strike zone with consistency. That is where Ritchie thrives. The fastball sits 92-94 on most days, up to 97 in the summer of 2021. He has a firm, tight slider up into the mid-80s with late two-plane break that he also commands very well. Jordan Lawlar called it the best pitch he saw all summer in 2021. Ritchie also features a changeup he’s shown feel for with good arm-side fade that he deploys primarily against lefties. Ritchie has an extremely quick arm with elite mechanics and lower half strength. He’s a very good bet to start long-term, and has the potential to be the best prep arm to come out of Washington since Blake Snell or Tim Lincecum.
Jan 2021 Video
Sep 2020 Article
WHAT METRICALLY MAKES AN ACE PART III: UNDER 17 DRAFT PROSPECTS WITH THAT "SPECIAL SOMETHING"
Ritchie, out of Bainbridge Island, Washington is one of the highest ceiling arms in the class of 2022. With a projectable frame, fantastic flexibility, and a very live fastball, Ritchie looks like a guy that could develop into a future fixture in a major league staff.
The first thing that makes Ritchie stand out as a top prospect is his fastball. Living in the low 90s and touching as high as 94, the two seamer plays really well; the pitch can showcase really hard run on occasion (flashes of elite stuff) and jumps on hitters surprisingly well. On top of that, he has a fantastic feel for the pitch, and can spot it up with ease. Ritchie’s offspeed pitches are still a bit of a work in progress, but have shown signs that point towards them being plus secondary options.
His best offspeed pitch is his changeup, which may tunnel better than any other prep changeup in the class. The pitch has a similar break profile to the fastball (not necessarily bad), though comes in nearly 10mph slower. As a result, hitters have struggled dealing with it as they recognize the pitch as a fastball (particularly in terms of flight path). It is worth noting that he tends to change his arm slot on the change, which can make it easier to read (the pitch has the profile to tunnel at an elite level with the fastball, but armslot difference currently makes that not the case).
Ritchie’s third pitch is his curveball, which is very raw and is still being developed. It shows signs of having plus vertical movement, but he consistently still slows his armspeed down on the pitch. The development of his secondaries over the next year and a half will determine if he is draft ready or not.
Mechanically (particularly on the fastball), there is a lot to like when it comes to Richie, though there are some adjustments that can be made. Ritchie has a pretty high leg kick, and stays very balanced post drive in his stress free delivery. As he comes forward, he sinks into his rear leg well, leading to his quality extension. His scap retraction is elite, which contributes to how well his arm comes through during delivery. While nitpicky, it is worth noting that his elite extension/low release comes more from his insane flexibility than it does him sinking into his glutes post drive or exploding downhill. In fact, he hardly sinks in at all after landing. With the profile of an elite velocity and spin fastball, he should want to lower his release as much as possible.
Given that he was blessed with athleticism and flexibility, priority number one in terms of mechanical development should be a focus on sinking lower after his drive, and potentially being more explosive coming downhill. This could lead to a little more velocity, but more importantly would allow the characteristics of his fastball (high rpm, high velo= lots of magnus force= perfect for low vertical approach angle) to be used in full. Ritchie throws from a low ¾ slot, which also contributes to a low release point. His arm is very whippy coming forward, though it is not consistent on all pitches; as mentioned prior, he can slow his arm down on the breaking ball. While still raw, he has a good mechanical foundation; with the right adjustments, we could see his profile skyrocket.
Overall, it is still to be seen if Ritchie will develop as desired over the course of the next year; he still has a lot of adjustments to make, but if executed he will be a first round pick. The fastball characteristics are undeniable, and when perfected his mechanics will be more than desirable. His body is extremely projectable, and with the flexibility he possesses, he has the potential to really become something special (elite elite extension, low release height with proper glute sink etc, fastball projects to potentially touch upper 90s). His raw pitches are already performing at a high level, and if he fixes his pitch tipping (arm slot and arm speed), he would be a borderline 1st rounder even without fixing the drive. He may come across as higher risk due to how raw he still is, but with proper coaching this kid could become a big league fixture down the road.
Aug 2020 Article
2020 AREA CODES UNDERCLASS STANDOUTS
Ritchie was the only underclass pitcher that was on the Area Code Games roster that pitched for the upper class team. Right away, I loved what I saw from him. As he has a nice, projectable frame, that will continue to add more velocity. But what impressed me the most, was how he did a great job of controlling the strike zone while not being afraid to challenge hitters. He did such a good job of keeping hitters off balance, that he was able to strike out a few of the big name hitters on the Rangers upper class team. Like Jordan Lawlar, Luke Heefner, and Creed Willems, while allowing zero runs across two innings. His fastball sat 90-93 and his slider sat around 81. He has a great feel for pitching, with stuff that already plays, which makes me think he has a great chance to be one of the first prep pitchers taken in the 2022 draft.