Bren Spillane, OF/1B, College(Illinois). B-R, T-R. 6'5", 210 lbs.
2018: .457/.540/.1.038, 15 2B, 2 3B, 14 HR, 12 SB, 17 BB, 37 K, 105 AB.
2017: .295/.378/.500, 6 2B, 1 BB, 5 HR, 14 BB, 32 K, 112 AB.
Bren Spillane is a story as he is the first-half NCAA Player of the Year due to a huge breakout for University of Illinois. He did not come completely out of nowhere as he was a star in HS and drafted in Round 34 in 2015 by the Pirates. He's a late bloomer in college as power hitters sometimes are. Strictly a corner player and mainly a 1B in college, he shows enough speed to possibly play LF in the pros. Warning signs are a lack of a multi-season track record in college and a high K rate. The obvious comp is Brent Rooker who as drafted in the Competitive Balance Round by the Twins last year, got off to a hot start to his pro career, but is struggling early in AA this season. The Giants like to draft corner mashers in round 2 and 3. Spillane is someone they may want to take a chance on as high as round 2.
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DrB's Updated 2018 Draft Board(top tier):
1. Casey Mize, RHP, College(Auburn).
2. Matthew Liberatore, LHP, HS.
3. Travis Swaggerty, OF, College(Univ. of South Alabama).
4. Kumar Rocker RHP, HS.
5. Jarred Kelenic, OF, HS.
6. Brice Turang, SS, HS.
Comments: I've seen reports that Nander De Sedas has thickened up and is not looking like a SS while I've seen positive reviews of Turang's overall game and his ability to stick at SS. The only thing keeping me from ranking Turang higher is a puzzling lack of hard information on him for such a highly ranked draft prospect. Where are the radar gun readings and 60 yd dash times? I know we are not selling jeans here, but those numbers do mean something.
I am hesitant to rank pitchers so high, but the 2018 crop of hitters is weak. Mize is the obvious and safest pick at 1-1 for the Tigers. The Giants are rumored to be in on Liberatore and he does seem like a very Giantsy pick. He's a high ceiling lefty with advanced skills who should move fast and can be compared to Madison Bumgarner. I love Kumar Rocker's physicality, but I see Liberatore as being a more Giants type guy.
The wild card in all of this is John Barr and whether he's identified a hitter he is confident enough in to take at #2 overall. I could see that being Turang who checks off quite a few boxes the Giants historically like in a player.
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Ok, I was literally JUST looking at video of Spillane. Still have the tab open and everything! I saw your post and thought it was from earlier in the month and I'd missed it. Didn't realize it was hot off the press. Great minds think alike I guess!
ReplyDeleteI really liked Brent Rooker, as I know you did too. I would gladly see the Giants use a 2nd or 3rd round pick on Spillane. I saw that he's played some 3B and OF in summer ball, but the Illinois program puts seniority first when it comes to positional playing time. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but it sounds as if 1B was Spillane's "spot" this year, if that makes sense.
DrB, have you looked at Alec Bohm? With all the attention he's getting lately, I figure he has to be on the Giants short list of players in consideration for the #2 pick, along with most if not all of the players on your list above. I hope they've been looking at Kelenic as well, who Kiley McDaniel says is being considered for #1 overall.
Cove Chatter
Doc, would the rumors of the Giants linked to Marco Luciano have any baring on who they pick? Maybe they would avoid Turang or De Sedas since they already have an elite SS prospect apparently on the way.
ReplyDeleteThe Giants should, and I think will, take the best available player regardless of who they may already have in the organization or who they may sign on the international market. If they end up with 2 top SS prospects, one can move to another position or they can trade one.
DeleteWho is the Giants elite SS prospect on the way?
DeleteNobody. They are rumored to be in on an elite SS prospect in the upcoming international signing period that starts July 2.
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