Tyler Stephenson is a HS catcher from Georgia who seems to be best known for his prodigious bat-flipping ability(look up some videos). He also has caught some serious helium and is even rumored to be under consideration for #1 overall pick by the D'Backs! Stephenson is tall for a catcher at 6'4", 210 lbs with huge present power which promises to only get bigger. He also pitches and has a 90 MPH FB.
Kiley McDaniel just posted a mock draft on Fangraphs and has Stephenson going at #10. Of course, the nice part about a player like this getting serious helium is that it pushes other highly ranked players down the list into the range where the Giants might be drafting. McDaniel's mock draft only goes to #13. Interestingly, Kiley has Covechatter's White Whale, Andrew Benentendi, going to the Rays at #13 a full 5 picks ahead of where the Giants draft. Players left on his board after pick 13 include Chris Betts, Ian Happ, Mike Nikorak, Kevin Newman and Justin Hooper. If Kiley's scenario were to play out, one of those 5 would be on the board for the Giants, which gives me confidence the Giants will get a good prospect when they pick in the first round.
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I hope the FO will still get the chance to pick Benintendi. Have come to love the guy as well. BA has Aiken as their pick which is pretty spotty due to Aiken's health records still yet to be released if I am not mistaken. Let's hope the other teams ahead of us will pick someone other than Benintendi. But if he ever goes ahead before our pick, there's some people to choose from.
ReplyDeleteI want to highlight Cornelius Randolph here. Kiley highlighted it as well in his article. He's somewhere in the 20ish range in my opinion but I feel he can be ahead of the consensus. He got a strong frame with a lot of muscle and a chance to add more. I love his stance at the plate. He is balanced at the box. At the start of his swing, he closes his swing with a little leg kick then in his swing, he leans forward slightly, which allows him to put his above-average raw power to all fields into use but makes him susceptible to sharp breaking balls inside the zone. His right foot also lifts on the ground like Bryce Harper but it is more controlled than reckless. MLB.com noted that he has a better pitch recognition than other HS players which is a great sign for a young guy. He will be an average runner with average speed at the bases. His defense needs work and could shift to third base in the future where his hands and above-average arm will play well.
My grades on his tools are Hit 55+ | Power 60 | Speed 45 | Arm 55 | Defense 50
I hope my thoughts on Randolph can help you guys.
Wrenzie
Thanks, Wrenzie. I wrote up Randolph on 2/26/2015. My write up pretty much agrees with yours here. I even comped him to Yoan Moncada! Maybe a poor man's version? Randolph definitely seems to fit into the general profile of Joe Panik and Christian Arroyo with possibly more power potential. I can see why the Giants might be showing interest.
DeleteWow, Benintendi at #13! I've got to go give that a look. Apparently the secret it out... although I haven't even seen him mentioned in any other "professional" 1st round mock drafts.
DeleteWrenzie, there are 5 prep players in this class whose swings I marvel at. Kyle Tucker, Alonzo Jones, Jahmai Jones, Mitch Hansen, and Cornelius Randolph. Very smooth, impressive bat speed from all of them. I don't think Tucker will be around when the Giants pick, and Alonzo Jones is injured (leading to speculation that he'll learn toward Vanderbilt). I would be very intrigued if the Giants went with one of the Hansen, Randolph, Jahmai Jones group.
I'll adjust my grades on Randolph's arm at 60 (clocked at 92 mph in the IF) and his defense at 45+.
DeleteDrB, I think the Moncada is pretty much what I'll compare to in terms of the bat. A powerful swing with close to plus power in the future if Randolph adds more muscle to his body (in which I think he will). The difference between the comparison is that Moncada is a much faster player on the bases and a better defender in the future in 2B (in which I think Moncada will suit) while Randolph's body is more suited at 3B. Both of them have pretty freaky bodies which impresses me because I am as old as Moncada. I think if the Giants are going to draft the guy, we'll maybe see the second coming of the Panda if he successfully pans out.
Mr. Covechatter, I agree with your top 5 bats from HS in this class but base from what I have read and watched, Randolph has more power projection than the two outfielders and Randolph also fits on the Giants mold of drafting infielders with average speed and a good hit tool while Hansen and Jahmai are more toolsy than Randolph. But make no mistake, Benintendi is still my guy to watch like you do. If Kiley's projection will hold true, I will be okay with the options we have since this is a wild draft especially at top. I can't wait for your next mock draft though.
Wrenzie
Thank you! I'm thinking about beginning work on another one this weekend, as the recent work from BA and Kiley is really helping me get a better idea of what's going on. It's still amazing to see how different everyone's opinions are, but I would say I have a pretty good handle on most of the top 200 prospects in the draft at this point. Took lots of work to get there though!
DeletePicking Aiken in the first round just doesn't fit the Giants MO. I'd be a bit worried about his future health anyway. Question for you Doc: If he had a congenitally short ligament I figure the surgeon would replace it with a longer ligament. But that would mean needing to find one or two new attachment points on bones, correct? Sounds like his might be a more complicated than normal TJ procedure.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time, the Giants took Kurt Ainsworth at #24 overall and I believe he had TJ prior. That was a long time ago, though, and Ainsworth had a whole series of injuries which derailed a promising career. The single most reliable predictor of future injury is prior injury, so I hope the Giants stay away from Aiken, Matuella and other injured prospects. It's OK to take a chance on them later in the draft, but you need to get something out of your first round pick.
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