Now that the draft is over and organizations are ending the method of signing their picks, I wished to share notes on some current draftees right here within the Midwest who I’ve been in a position to scout in-person a number of occasions over the previous couple of years. I’m going to focus totally on gamers who aren’t but family names, however who’ve a talent set or instrument that caught my eye. This bunch of notes will cowl some not too long ago drafted excessive schoolers, whereas the following batch will cowl gamers from the faculty ranks.
Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS (NE)
Staff: Reds Spherical: 2 General Choose: 51
Lewis was my favourite highschool place participant within the Midwest this yr regardless of believing that he’ll slide over to second base long-term. Lewis swings it from the left aspect and has a well-rounded offensive talent set that provides you cause to challenge on each his hit instrument and sport energy. Lewis’ swings are aggressive however beneath management, and his path retains his bat within the zone for an prolonged time period whereas additionally having sufficient loft to raise; he reveals solid-average uncooked energy throughout batting follow presently and it initiatives to be plus sooner or later. There are occasions when Lewis’ swing will get longer and extra liable to swing-and-miss, particularly towards plus velocity up within the zone. When Lewis goes effectively, he whips the bat by means of the zone with above-average bat velocity and reveals the power to govern the barrel to cowl a number of quadrants, although pitches down within the zone are those he does probably the most injury towards.
He has a mean arm and his lateral agility would doubtless be sufficient for shortstop, however his fingers are liable to stiffness and don’t challenge to be dependable sufficient to deal with brief. I’m excessive sufficient on Lewis’ bat to suppose he’ll hit sufficient to climate the slide down the defensive spectrum if/when he does transfer off brief. The Reds are clearly excessive on Lewis too — they not too long ago signed him for $3.05 million, which is effectively above the $1.80 million slot worth.
Trey Snyder, SS, Liberty North HS (MO)
Staff: Mets Spherical: 5 General Choose: 144
Snyder is a stable athlete with a projectable, medium body who went to highschool within the Kansas Metropolis space. He’s a essentially sound participant with bat-to-ball chops, however he lacks an impression instrument. Snyder has a easy and repeatable operation within the batter’s field, and may manipulate the barrel within the zone, however he not often elevated with authority throughout a number of in-person appears over the previous couple of years. His bat path throughout batting follow options extra loft than his sport hacks do, and it’s a secure guess that his hit instrument will all the time far outpace his energy manufacturing.
His fingers work effectively on the filth and Snyder has a mean arm that may play up attributable to his fast launch. Snyder has adequate defensive chops to have a shot to remain at shortstop long-term, which is vital as a result of his offensive profile will doubtless be too mild to warrant him enjoying a non-premium place. I’ve Snyder, who not too long ago signed for $1.32 million, as having a bench utility ceiling.
Eddie Rynders, 3B, Wisconsin Lutheran HS (WI)
Staff: Pirates Spherical 4 General Choose: 112
Rynders was a shortstop in highschool and was introduced as one by the Pirates once they drafted him, however he’ll most likely come off that place in professional ball, along with his long-term defensive dwelling doubtless third base or a nook outfield spot. He has the arm energy for the left aspect of the infield, however his lateral vary isn’t going to permit for common vary at brief. In the end, you’re shopping for the bat with Rynders. His easy left-handed swing already options above-average uncooked energy, largely to the pull aspect. There’s loft in Rynders’ bat path with out sacrificing the period of time it stays within the hitting zone. He has a mean hit/above-average energy ceiling, however he hasn’t constantly been stress examined towards high-end pitching. Rynders managed the strike zone effectively all through his prep profession, and his skill to translate that talent towards skilled pitching shall be very important to him maximizing his intriguing profile. Rynders and the Pirates agreed to a slot deal ($649,700).
Kale Fountain, 1B/LF, Norris HS (NE)
Staff: Padres Spherical: 5 General Choose: 151
Fountain is a long-levered plus athlete who already reveals plus uncooked energy to the pull aspect and has a bat path geared for elevating. As a result of his rangy limbs, Fountain’s swing does have some size to it, which is able to doubtless trigger him to run higher-than-average swing-and-miss charges in professional ball. Whether or not or not he’s in a position to get to his loud energy usually sufficient would be the predominant factor to look at with Fountain.
Defensively, Fountain was drafted as a 3rd baseman however he’s removed from a positive guess to remain there long-term, and I feel he’ll find yourself at first base or in a nook outfield spot. He has solid-average arm energy however below-average accuracy. Each his fingers and his total defensive actions have some rigidness to them, however I’m assured he’ll be at the very least a mean defender at first base or in left subject contemplating the general athlete he’s.
Fountain brings each important upside and danger. He’ll want the juice in his bat to be his carrying instrument, and he’ll should watch out to keep away from letting the swing-and-miss overtake his profile and lower into how usually he will get to his energy in video games. A plus energy/below-average hit instrument is a sensible ceiling to hope for given Fountain’s profile. The slot worth for this choose was $444,200, however the Padres are excessive sufficient on Fountain to have paid him a $1.7 million bonus to lure him away from his LSU dedication.
Eli Lovich, OF, Blue Valley West HS (KS)
Staff: Cubs Spherical: 11 General Choose: 332
Lovich’s lengthy and rangy 6-foot-4 body affords important projection, as he nonetheless has a really skinny construct at current. His operation within the left-handed batter’s field may be very rhythmic and he makes use of an abbreviated leg kick to generate leverage. It’s not a really steep path, nevertheless it does have pure loft to it together with some adjustability within the zone. Lovich is more likely to find yourself in a nook outfield spot. His above-average arm energy is enough to profile in proper subject, the place he might be a mean defender. The Cubs are betting that as Lovich’s wiry body develops, energy that’s able to carrying a nook outfield defensive profile will come too. Lovich not too long ago signed for $650,000 and can begin his growth within the Cubs system quickly.
Anson Seibert, RHP, Blue Valley Southwest HS (KS)
Staff: Tigers Spherical: 16 General Choose: 476
Seibert isn’t going to signal with Detroit and can as a substitute head to Knoxville to start his school profession. He got here into the 2024 season with a really excessive profile for a Kansas highschool pitching prospect attributable to each how tall he’s and the way arduous he was throwing at a younger age. He’s undoubtedly value maintaining a tally of at Tennessee.
I first noticed Seibert as a sophomore, when his 6-foot-8 body was very thick, gradual, and unathletic. Whereas Seibert continues to be a fringe athlete total, each his body and athleticism have trended in the precise path. Seibert left a begin late in the highschool season with an arm challenge and by no means returned, which was doubtless a giant a part of him falling to the sixteenth spherical. Previous to shutting down on the finish of the season, Seibert would sit 95-97 mph along with his fastball within the first couple of innings earlier than settling in at 92-94 mph. The fastball is the inspiration of Seibert’s enchantment. Each his breaking ball and changeup challenge to be common choices, with the changeup the likelier of the 2 to maybe grow to be an above-average pitch. There are nonetheless questions in regards to the severity of the arm damage that lower Seibert’s highschool season brief, in addition to his long-term prognosis.
