Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2023 12:52:31 GMT -5
It is still 11 weeks away but I figure this will be a good time to start kicking around mocks and all news draft related.
To get it going & since it is a bit early I will just post the mocks from 3 sites (none are paywalled) and their # 13 pick for the Cubs except fangraphs.
1. MLB.COM - Yohandy Morales U of Miami, 6-4/200 lbs, 3B:
A former shortstop who outgrew the position and moved to third, Morales’ strong arm works very well from the hot corner and he has the defensive actions to stay there long-term. That combined with the power profile teams covet from infield corner types should have him in early-round conversations.
2. prospectspectslive.com - Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest
While the Cubs have targeted pitching early and often in the past couple of drafts, they will use the 13th pick this season to select an athletic middle-infielder, another profile they love. The last two hitters selected in the first round by Chicago both played shortstop— Ed Howard and Nico Hoerner— and Arjun Nimmala fits the mold. The athletic, super projectable shortstop from Florida posseses a great swing plane that offers a high power ceiling. Though the hit tool lags a bit behind the power, the Cubs take a shot on the overall upside with this pick.
3. fangraphs.com - Roch Cholowsky, HS, 6.2/185 lbs. Is the 13th rated pick but coming out of HS he may have position versatility.
Cholowsky is a broad-shouldered, projectable shortstop with a multi-sport pedigree (he also plays quarterback) and a baseball industry family (his dad played pro ball for nearly a decade in the minors and is now the Reds' Four Corners area scout, while his mom worked for the A's). He is the best defensive infielder in the 2023 draft class, with some of the slickest and flashiest defensive actions of the last half-decades' draft prospects. While Cholowsky's size and frame generate excitement about his long-term power, he also posted surprisingly good bat-to-ball data on the showcase circuit (per Synergy, a 2-to-1 BIP-to-Whiff ratio across 362 pitches on film in 2022). Most of that contact is concentrated down-and-away from Cholowsky, though he has flashed the ability to turn on inner-third heaters as well. While it's not a flush situational comp, Cholowsky will enter the 2023 varsity spring in a similar position to that of Jackson Holliday in 2022. He is one of the better high school shortstop defenders and has performed well from a bat-to-ball standpoint against elite peers. He'll be seen a ton early in 2023 as team personnel congregate in Arizona for spring training, and if he comes out of the gate showing more power, he could leap into the draft's top five as Holliday did.
To get it going & since it is a bit early I will just post the mocks from 3 sites (none are paywalled) and their # 13 pick for the Cubs except fangraphs.
1. MLB.COM - Yohandy Morales U of Miami, 6-4/200 lbs, 3B:
A former shortstop who outgrew the position and moved to third, Morales’ strong arm works very well from the hot corner and he has the defensive actions to stay there long-term. That combined with the power profile teams covet from infield corner types should have him in early-round conversations.
2. prospectspectslive.com - Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest
While the Cubs have targeted pitching early and often in the past couple of drafts, they will use the 13th pick this season to select an athletic middle-infielder, another profile they love. The last two hitters selected in the first round by Chicago both played shortstop— Ed Howard and Nico Hoerner— and Arjun Nimmala fits the mold. The athletic, super projectable shortstop from Florida posseses a great swing plane that offers a high power ceiling. Though the hit tool lags a bit behind the power, the Cubs take a shot on the overall upside with this pick.
3. fangraphs.com - Roch Cholowsky, HS, 6.2/185 lbs. Is the 13th rated pick but coming out of HS he may have position versatility.
Cholowsky is a broad-shouldered, projectable shortstop with a multi-sport pedigree (he also plays quarterback) and a baseball industry family (his dad played pro ball for nearly a decade in the minors and is now the Reds' Four Corners area scout, while his mom worked for the A's). He is the best defensive infielder in the 2023 draft class, with some of the slickest and flashiest defensive actions of the last half-decades' draft prospects. While Cholowsky's size and frame generate excitement about his long-term power, he also posted surprisingly good bat-to-ball data on the showcase circuit (per Synergy, a 2-to-1 BIP-to-Whiff ratio across 362 pitches on film in 2022). Most of that contact is concentrated down-and-away from Cholowsky, though he has flashed the ability to turn on inner-third heaters as well. While it's not a flush situational comp, Cholowsky will enter the 2023 varsity spring in a similar position to that of Jackson Holliday in 2022. He is one of the better high school shortstop defenders and has performed well from a bat-to-ball standpoint against elite peers. He'll be seen a ton early in 2023 as team personnel congregate in Arizona for spring training, and if he comes out of the gate showing more power, he could leap into the draft's top five as Holliday did.
Taylor numbers this year wouldnt blow you away because he had a rough first third of the season but hit in the 360s the rest of the way. He is good defensively at 3rd also. Gonzalez was a guy projected to go 2nd pick coming into the season. Had kinda a down year compared to his freshman and soph years. 
