The 2024 Major League Baseball Draft begins on Sunday night with rounds one, two, and the compensation rounds. Monday will have rounds 3-10 and then things wrap up on Tuesday with rounds 11-20. We’ve been providing some draft coverage and scouting reports on the players that are expected to be in that top tier group for the Reds 2nd overall pick in the draft, which you can read about here.
Today saw two different national publications chime in with their most recent mock drafts and while the two names are familiar one of them is a bit newer to the conversation than the other. Kiley McDaniel of ESPN has the Reds selecting first baseman Jac Caglianone in his mock draft from this morning.
Cincinnati has been mentioned this spring as being interested in him. While he’s been one of the best hitters in college baseball this year, he’s also been a so-so pitcher for Florida. He’s been a starter the last two seasons, and he’s got good raw stuff, but his control is iffy and he profiles more as a reliever than a starter when it comes to being on the mound. Still, even when he was mentioned in the past, it was more along the lines of “maybe they will take him if they want to try and save money in their pool to spend further down in the draft” kind of thing. Maybe that’s still true, but as we get closer to draft day it seems more likely that who they want further back in the draft might be there.
Over at Baseball America this morning it was Carlos Collazo sticking with Georgia outfielder Charlie Condon in their mock draft. I say sticking with because for a long time this spring the word has been that if Cleveland doesn’t take Condon that the Reds would. Caglianone is mentioned here as a possibility, as are two others.
With how the baseball draft works, with having limited “pool money” that you can spread out however you want as long as you don’t spend more than you’re given (which you can do, but the penalties get very harsh, quickly, and no one has decided to really push things and go beyond the first level of penalty since the new rules were implemented a little more than a decade ago), it’s not like other sports draft at the top. It’s tougher to know where a team is going to go on draft day, even at the first and second spots. Teams put out fake rumors to try and use them as leverage for lowering bonuses with the guy they want to select. Sometimes they just take someone who isn’t at the top of their board in order to save money to spend later – which seems insane, but it happens.
In about 53 hours from the time I hit publish on this, we’ll all find out together who the Cincinnati Reds select with their #2 overall pick in the draft. Until then we just get to deal with plenty of speculation on which direction they might be going and why.
All I know is the Reds better not screw this up.
Well, their last #2 was a complete screw up so I don’t doubt they’ll screw it up again.
I mean their last #2 pick was Hunter Greene…..
An All-Star at age 24, yet a screw-up.
Perhaps you meant Nick Senzel, but go on Basbeall Reference to review the first round of the 2016. That draft class was as bad as it gets. The first 5 guys taken have amassed a cumulative bWAR of 1.7. By contrast, the top 5 in the 2017 draft (Greene’s year) have a cumulative 16.0 bWAR; the 2018 draft (India at #5), 18.2; the 2019 draft (Lodolo at #7), 32.4 bWAR. The top 5 in the 2015 draft (Stephenson at #11), a year ahead of Senzel’s class, has produced 85.5 bWAR.
You can fault the Reds for a lot, including specifically its dismal scouting/signing of Latin hitters from 1968 to 2018, but not for taking a mediocre player with the #2 pick in 2016 or 2017.
Doug with the mic drop.
If Hunter Greene was a “complete screw up”, we clearly have different standards for what qualifies a quality draft pick.
They need a power hitter…period. it has to be Condon or Bazzana
I want an outfielder; I know it takes a few years but it seems like an area of weakness in the minor leagues right now. Pitching is always good no matter what so that would be a fine pick too. Honestly anything besides a SS or 2b would be pretty good.
Just reading about Charlie Condon in the MLB draft tonight. Just a great back story on the kid. After reading th e article I am all in…hoping the Reds take him at #2
https://www.mlb.com/news/charlie-condon-mlb-draft-prospect-2024?partnerID=web_article-share
Our last Number 2 pick just got released by the Nationals.
The Nationals released Hunter Greene?! I didn’t even know the Reds traded him. What did they get back?
OOPs. Forgot about that one. So if we combine the last two we will have an average Major League player.
That’s better than most teams…. that 2016 1st round was miserably terrible. Worst 1st round of all time.
A hitter, which is what we need most, who is as talented as Hunter Greene would be awesome. Just curious when was the last time someone was drafted and went straight to the majors the same year? haha Not that we need any help right now. 🙂
Actually guys, Reds last number 2 is playing in the All-star game next week. I think Reds did ok
Our last #2 pick was actually Hunter Greene, who is an all star starting pitcher for the Reds.
It is amazing how much mileage the writers get from juggling the chairs on the Titanic. From the end of the college season through the draft none of these players play any baseball, at least not the ones at the top of the draft heap, assuming they are smart. And yet it seems that every other day somebody is coming out with new projections, and sometimes the somebody has already come out with a draft projection or two and is making his/her second or third adjustment.
I’m not referring to the individual player evaluations that Doug does, one per day and not every day. Rather its the whole first round projection.
Now, are any of these guys actually getting new information, or are they just the unwitting gossip spreaders from teeny little dropped hints from club officials, or are they all sitting around saying, “yesterday I had so and so first so today I’ll flop him to third so you can put him first, then tomorrow it is somebody else’s turn to have him first.” Rarely has so much ink been written with so little information.
Now if news came out that the draft was being moved back to just after the CWS so these guys could actually play some before the year is out rather than lose a half a season, that would be news worth reading. By the time these guys hit the field again I will have forgotten who they are and why their names sound familiar!
I’ve seen some weird things be juggled, but juggling chairs on the Titanic (as it was sinking?) would be a new act 😉
Joe Katuska , head of Reds amateur scouting gave this quote to Mark Sheldon.
““We always try to put together the best class, and it always starts with getting the best player at the top of the board,” Katuska said. “The money is important in the whole process because it allows you flexibility to do things later in the Draft. But we’re going to go after the best guy.
I do think that the Reds have generally gone with the top guy on their board for a long time now. Not everyone does that, though. And when those in front of you don’t it opens things up.
Good – take Condon/Bazzana and then save pool money from the 2nd or 3rd picks (picking college seniors pitchers?) to entice HS players in the later rounds – believe they did so last season, if not earlier.
That’s good. Why have the #2 pick if you’re not going to get the best player?
Actually Callis (MLB) has the same scenario as Baseball America. Condon but Caglianone if Cleveland takes Condon. Which makes sense to me. According to the insider chatter Reds aren’t as enamored by Bazzana as most red leg nation commentators. But who knows maybe it’s all smoke screens but at 2 pick not really necessary to fool people.
I like Bazzana as a prospect but not for Reds. When he’s ready possibly next year where do you hit another leadoff hitter. Reds would have Friedl, McLain, Bazzana, and India along with Elly to set the table for a bunch of average to below average middle order hitters. That’s not lineup balance.
The obsession is with Caglianones chase rate (despite his huge offensive numbers) but I think like Elly he can improve it and the overwhelming physical tools will be on full display and Reds have a potential Shohei bat protecting Elly.
Positionally I’m unsure what happens. Is he a closer/DH, right fielder, or strictly 1st base? Time will tell. It would be great to see them at least give the 100 mph lefty a chance to contribute in the pen. If pitching is off the table, the guy looks like an NFL linebacker so I think he could handle right field to take advantage of his cannon. But even if he’s just a 1st baseman and becomes another Matt Olson. Is having a gold glove 1st basemen that wins homerun titles a bad thing to have?
Cags over Bazzana may go down as one of those Mottola over Jeter type of picks.
Cags seems like a guy who will be a 0.200 ~ 0.220 hitter in the majors, with all the power in the world, but not enough contact to make use of it.
I’d rather have the guy who can be a 0.300/0.400 BA/OBP type with 20-20 HR-SB potential.
Yeah Chad Mottola hit .331 with 23 homeruns in the Sun Belt Conference with Central Florida.
Jac hit .355 with 75 homeruns in the SEC with Florida.
Really no comparison but good try.
Bazzana also has a long way to go before he’s locker mates with Jeter in the hall of fame.
i would continue to draft pitchers with the high picks. we may never recreate the big red machine here in Cincinnati but maybe we can recreate the 1990 Braves with 5 cy young candidates as starters year in and year out.
we have done a wonderful job developing starting pitches over the past 10 years. not so much with the position players. so why nit draft to our strengths?
For me it’s Condon, Kurtz then Burns, so I’d be good with a SP in the draft if they feel he’s a better player. Good SP’s are also great trade bait if we get to a point where we are perceived to be “too deep”.
that is what i am thinking. maybe down the line we can trade a Greene or Lodolo for an established power hitter if we have enough depth at pitching to replace them
When was the last time the Reds traded prospects for an established major league hitter?
Scott Rolen? Lol
Actually Choo was later. Am I missing anyone else?
I go back and forth. I just want the best all around hitter. I will say if Bazzana is a little bit better “hitter” than Condon with a little less power I’d rather have Bazzana. Looks like this will be a very good draft at the top regardless. That’s why the Reds just can’t screw it up.
Maui, i want to meet you in the middle here.
Your scenario of Cleveland taking Condon and Cincinnati taking Cags over Bazzana makes a lot of sense. Given his power, i can easily comp him to a David Big Papi Ortiz or Jim Thome style masher.
I don’t think Cags transitions to the OF given his size (up to 250 from 215 in his freshman year) and already having below average speed. However … playing half of his games in (as the Cards announcers call it) the Great American Small Park, there might be a small degree of wiggle room. Question is why downgrade defensive range in RF. Having a big arm doesn’t negate lack of range and speed. It makes it (possibly) tolerable, but questionable, especially given he’s also already had TJ surgery. It’s OK if he isn’t Larry Walker in RF. As you state, 1B is fine.
As for chase rate, it really is an important scouting metric and red flag. Doug or others can speak to the macro of this (and I can’t), but ML pitchers carve up hitters with high chase rates. We saw this with CES this year and last (he also has an overly high chase rate, 40.5%, one he truly needs to correct). Given the increasing divide between AAA and ML play, including and maybe especially pitching, not to mention the divide between college and pro pitching, correcting high chase rates is just very important. And there us not a big track record of guys succeeding in ML baseball without correcting it.
As a parallel, we seem to have an ongoing ability to draft college catchers in high draft slots with known high swing and miss. The list is long and most recently includes Mat Nelson, Logan Tanner, & Conner Burns. Before them came Chris Okey andJoe Hudson. We just cannot seem to help ourselves.
As for Bazzana, i view him not as a leadoff hitter so much as a #3 hitter, one. Still a table setter, but if he is a better high contact, high on base, equal average power guy than we have currently, he will just take a spot on the field, including 1B. I view him as an Alex Bregman comp. as a hitter. Other than Elly, there is literally no one blocking him at 2B, 1B, or LF if he as good as is reported — we all love Matt McLain, but he has durability issues.
I’m warming to the idea of Cags at two, especially if he judged to be the best player available. I will not be pleased if the team goes under slot, as this is considered to be a very thin draft down the line, limiting who we get at 51 or whatever.
Condon is still my clear choice. But i’m going with Cleveland taking him at one, and all the talk of a pre-draft, under slot deal being them blowing smoke up you know where. Same with the Reds, actually. I’ll be disappointed not to get Condon, but realistic. Bazzana or Cags are the next best (and healthy) hitters.
Some pretty good points. I agree that chase rate is a red flag. But I don’t make as much a big deal about it as others. I think a 21 year old player can improve it. How many people on here would be saying Bazzana over Elly right now if Elly was in the draft due to chase rate?
Most of the games I watched Jac were the regionals and super regionals and he is way more selective than CES. CES never takes a walk and is ultra aggressive. I don’t think Cags is on that level.
If they take Bazzana they will have a great prospect but I think Cags is really undersold on this site. Maybe because the mock draft analysts have been for awhile. But now all of a sudden he is moving up on the draft boards.
You’re comparing Cags to Elly?
Elly debuted in the majors at a younger age than Cags is right now.
Elly has elite speed and is considered a plus defender at a premium position (SS). Cags is slow and is positionally limited.
Elly is one year older than Jac.
Yes I’m making a comparison between the two since the constant knock on Jac is chase rate. A year ago the same thing was being said about Elly when he was in the minors. Elly is faster. That doesn’t mean Jac isn’t an elite hitting prospect. Don’t confuse yourself.
Please try reading that again. It’s not that difficult. 🙂
“Elly DEBUTED in the majors at a younger age than Cags is right now.”
Elly made his debut at age 21 years & 146 days
Cags is currently 21 years & 154 days old
So what dude get a grip. Try reading your self. Ellys minor league season last year was at the same age as Jac’s season this year. That’s what I’ve been comparing this whole time. His chase last year compared to Jac this year at the same age. You’re talking about something I’m not.
Valid question. What was Cags chase rate this year compared to last year? Remember, he had more home runs (not just walks) THAN strikeouts this year. He came to FLA as a pitcher and really has not focused on hitting except for the last couple of seasons. He really grew as a hitter from last year to this year. He’s my choice!
That’s a good point. We are talking about a two way player. So he was only focusing half his attention towards hitting and still dominated and taken his game to a new level each year. This guys potential is off the charts.
37.6%
Contact rates
Bazzana: 85.4
Condon: 82.7
Wetheholt: 82.7
Cags: 79.9
Also, 90th% Exit Velo:
Condon: 112.3
Cags: 110.4
Bazzana: 108.9
Wetherholt: 106.8
Chase Rate
Wetherholt: 15.1
Bazzana: 15.4
Condon: 21.6
Cags: 37.6
Vladimir Guererro Sr. had a pretty high chase rate. Incredible bad ball hitter.
Yeah Dave. But I think Randy was wondering how much his chase rate improved from last year to this year?
Remember last year as a sophomore was his 1st year as a full time hitter.
Regarding his speed and potential to play outfield. He is called slow alot and he’s not. He’s not a burner but he’s definitely not slow for his size. There’s a video of him making a ridiculous running catch from 1st to right field. Check it out. He’s roughly the same size, power, and arm strength as Josh Hamilton. Hamilton was fast but not a burner either. Never had more than 9 steals in a season.
Hopefully the Reds remember they’re playing half their games in a tiny ballpark and draft somebody who can get the ball out of the infield.
The flip side is that there is no point in hitting 440-foot homers, when 404-foot homers are easier to hit and count exactly the same. (Adam Dunn and Junior had a running conversation about this.)
Power is sometimes wasted in GABP, just like it used to be in Fenway Park before they built up the structure behind home plate. I’m in favor of fewer strikeouts myself.
@OBE
I usually agree spot on with your informed insights… but power guys who can mis-hit balls and still get them out are extra value in gabp
Ask Homer Bailey.
Dunn Duvall Suarez could still hit long fly balls that werent barreled but became GABP home runs. Yes. Their barrels were majestic too
I just want a good hitter so ill take OBP and plate discipline first always- whoever that is.
BTW, Bazzana had a poor Regional and Super Regional. May want to go with someone more likely to deliver.
I’m pretty sure Bazzana had a 0.435 OBP in the Regional and Super Regional.
How is that a “poor” performance?
So there’s this narrative that Bazzana is a far superior hitter than Caglianone but when I compare their college career stats I have trouble buying into that. Bazzana is called the best hitter in college and Caglianone is labled as a one dimensional, slow, chase monster.
Jac played 165 games at Florida
Bazzana played 184 at OSU
Jac career batting avg .355
Bazzana career batting avg .360
Jac career OBP .447
Bazzana career OBP .497
*this one stands out. the claim is that Bazzana is an on base god and Caglianone just swings at everything so you would think there would be alot bigger gap here.
Jac career slugging .760
Bazzana career slugging .660
Jac career OPS 1.207
Bazzana career OPS 1.157
Jac career homers 75
Bazzana career homers 45
Jac career extra base hits 105
Bazzana career extra base hits 108
*here’s another fallacy. Bazzana knocks the ball all around the park and Jac is one dimensional. Yes he hits the ball out of the park much more but are we now punishing hitters because too many of their extra base hits are homeruns?! They are both exta base hit machines.
Jac career K’s 105
Bazzana carrer K’s 146
*How many people have pointed out chase rate. Meanwhile Bazzana literally strikouts more.
Caglianone walked 100 fewer times in college. That’s where the “chase rate” issues start. And the concern is that if college pitchers, who by and large aren’t all that good even in the SEC, can get him to chase that much, then professional ones may be able to have their way with him.
Now, this year Caglianone was intentionally walked 31 times. That makes up 39% of all of his walks in college. I read something the other day where a scout was quoted about Caglianone and essentially said you need to talk to him to try and figure out what he’s thinking with his approach. Was he expanding the zone because he felt he had to in that offense, or was he doing so because he couldn’t react to pitches quick enough?
It’s an important question and point with him. One situation is probably easy to fix. The other one most definitely is not.
Ok again. If we are just focusing on chase rates. I wonder what was Ellys chase rate last year at the same age? I think SEC is comparable to AA and AAA
The SEC is in no way, shape, or form, remotely close to Double-A or Triple-A.
Well good job sidestepping the question about Ellys chase rate. The typical response in the Bazzana boosters and Jac detractors. Focus on chase rate and ignore the actual results. Bazzana is a leadoff guy with better speed and on base skills than Jac. Jac is a middle order slugger with better power than Bazzana. It’s a wash in talent when it comes to actual results.
Maui, see below.
Not sure what you mean Dave. Are you implying that chase rate and exit velocity is a result?
Because I don’t. I think hits, slash line, homers, and runs are results.
Maui, just my post below which i d screwed up on posting in the right place.
I mean I sidestepped the question because it’s based on a flawed point of comparison for a few different reasons.
It’s not easy to look up EDLC’s chase rate in the minors last year. One would have to hand calculate it and I’m not going to spend the time doing that.
What I do know is that he walked at Joey Votto levels in Triple-A last year and it wasn’t due to intentional walks. I know that I also watched all of his Triple-A games and after that first like 10 game stretch when he returned from the injured list and began his season, he was beyond locked in with regards to the strikezone.
As noted below – the scout had a good question about Caglianone. But the only reason that question is even being asked is because a lot of people are understandably concerned about how often he’s expanded the strikezone in college.
Also playing in Bazzana’s favor is his domination of the Cape Cod league (1.037 OPS)
Shohei has a 28.4 career chase rate. Even topped 30 when he was 24 years old. He seems to be a pretty solid hitter.
Huh? What does Otani’s chase rate have to do with Bazzana’s performance in the Cape Cod league?
Nothing. I posted in the wrong spot.
Elly’s chase rate this year is 25.1. Last year, his ML chase rate was 32.8.
Also, chase rate is not strikeout rate. It’s a red flag for guys swinging at balls out of the zone and thus can contribute to strikeouts. Contact rates are equally important in this.
So, chase rate in the ML’s the last ten years (100 plate appearances).
2015 29.3%
2016 28.7%
2017 27.3%
2018 27.9%
2019 29.0%
2020 27.5%
2021 27.8%
2022 29.5%
2023 28.9%
2024 27.7%
The ten year total is 28.4%.
The Reds team rate is 26.8% this year.
I think in the most moderate critique of Cags possible, there is risk of higher swing and miss and K’s than you’d want. So, if we take him, we should be confident that the hitting and power will play, in spite of these higher rates. It may be, if he’s a gifted as you and others say. And, if the Reds jump all over him at the second pick, I’d say they feel that confidence.
And, by the way, no one is painting Cags is as a one dimensional, slow, chase monster. It’s just if we take him, RLN should understand there could be a pretty tall order or two (no pun intended) to overcome. But there’s always risk.
So Elly improved his chase rate 8% since he was 21. So there is evidence kids can get better.
Meant to post this here
Shohei has a 28.4 career chase rate. Even topped 30 when he was 24 years old. He seems to be a pretty solid hitter.
Well, there is evidence *EDLC* can improve, and can do so at the highest level of baseball in the world.
Elly is also 6th in ML WAR this year as a 22 year old with just over one full year of MLB, trailing some guys named Henderson, Judge, Witt, Jr., Soto and Ohtani, without a BECOR bat facing college pitching.
I get your point and agree. I argue it constantly at RML. But comparing an amateur with Elly isn’t a fair comparison. There just is no evidence Cags can make those same improvements as a pro if he hasn’t as an amateur. All we can do is project, and that’s where scouts come in.
Again, if he’s the pick, and it isn’t an underslot deal, I’m all for it.
Fair enough. The only comparison between Elly and Jac is im saying look at Elly age 21 chase rate and Jac chase rate. Nothing else. And I’m more referencing his time minors last year.
And who knows wherever Jac plays he could become an all star in his sophomore year too. I think Jac’s star has a lot of ascending left.
He’s basically the Babe Ruth of college baseball. He was recruited as a big hard throwing lefty starting pitcher. Only because he had to have tommy John and had done some hitting, Florida gave him a shot to hit his freshman year instead of red shirt. He showed such promise in his 1st year, they decided to let him hit and pitch full time. In his second year (1st full time hitting) he broke the college homerun record and was arguably the best hitter in the nation. This year he was even better.
“Was he expanding the zone because he felt he had to in that offense, or was he doing so because he couldn’t react to pitches quick enough?”
That’s a valid question and I think it’s probably a little of both. He was literally a one man juggernaut carrying his team to the college world series. He’s was also a pitcher that happened to hit on the side going into college. And in two years while continuing to pitch he has learned to be more of a hitter. There’s still growth there.
Has there ever been a sure fire star picked in the MLB draft? Maybe Griffey Jr., Paul Skenes? The Reds have had some solid First picks recently it seems with India, Mcclain and Collier. I’d definitely go the College route. I don’t know, I can’t get too excited about the MLB draft, so many guys in the first round never make it to the Bigs, a lot different than like the NFL and NBA draft.
It seems maybe it’s a little easier though than it used to be as younger athletes seem more ready than they used to be to enter the Pros. The Reds are in a good spot to pick one of the elite College Hitters.
“Has there ever been a sure fire star picked in the MLB draft?”
Huh? Aaron Judge? Mike Trout? Bryce Harper? Trae Turner? Mookie Betts? Clayton Kershaw? and that’s just current players, not including the last 50+ years. Not getting what you are saying.
PT sorry I didn’t write that out clearly…I meant like a number 1 pick or maybe #2 pick where it was like no doubt that the guy was going to be good. Kind of like Lebron James in Basketball, Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, could say Joe Burrow in Football I think too.
Harper is a good example, almost no doubt he was going to be really good. I didn’t realize Judge and Trout weren’t picked too high actually, late first round.
It’s exciting they have the #2 pick, but it’s just different than NBA, NFL, etc.
gotcha
No, there hasn’t been and there never will be. Baseball just isn’t the same kind of sport that basketball and football are. Everyone drafted in those sports almost immediately become starters in the league on day one.
In baseball, even the best college guys tend to spend a year plus in the minor leagues. The development is just different.
Reggie Jackson
Dave Winfield
Stephen Strasburg
Daryl Strawberry
Ken Griffey JR
Bryce Harper
Alex Rodriguez
Chipper Jones
Josh Hamilton
Joe Mauer
David Price
Adley Rutchman
Paul Skenes
I’d say there were a few sure things in the draft
I recall when Brien Taylor was the next great generational talent, and the Yankees paid him a fortune at the time to sign him after selecting him 1-1.
Chase Burns has a great slider, but has a very hittable fastball which had a low swing & miss rate, and explains why he gives up so many HR’s last year.
His HR allowed rate was more than 2x as high as the group of top drafted college pitching prospects over the past half dozen years (C Mize, N Lodolo, G Cole, P Skenes, M Appel).
His walk rate was also over 60% higher than that group.
It’s great he can hit 100 on the radar gun, but he’s throwing a straight, hittable fastball, he seems destined for the bullpen (which is what happened to him his sophomore year).
Just to chime in here – Paul Skenes fastball “has bad shape” was a real big thing people were talking about a year ago today.
Sounds like another overblown false flag like chase rate.
One thing is verifiable (chase rate). Doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed, but it’s an either “did” or “did not”. There’s no real wiggle room here.
The other thing simply isn’t. Having the right “characteristics” ignore a whole lot of stuff that isn’t picked up on the spreadsheet that the cameras are picking up like can the guy hide the ball well, does he locate it where he generally needs to (this can sort of be quantified, but not entirely), mixing/matching with other stuff/sequencing.
If the Reds pick some one other than Condon or Bazzana in order to save slot money for their next pick at #51, then I have lost all hope for this organization. Because you are essentially saying we can’t afford impact free agents, we can’t afford to keep the good players we develop and now we can’t even afford to draft the best players. I
It’s not that they can’t afford the draft guys – the Reds have spent nearly every single penny they can before going to the second level of draft penalties (which is losing the following year’s 1st round pick) since these rules were put in place.
No matter who they draft, they aren’t going to be paying that player slot money. That would set a new draft record and by a good margin. But if they take someone way below slot to try and get a guy at 51 it would, rightfully in my opinion, bring up reasons to have questions about what’s going on with their “plan”.
Strasburg was mentioned as a can’t miss and lived up to it until I juries ended his career. If Condon is there hopefully Reds pick him. They need OFs and power bats. They need to start building a team that can win in GABP. To do that you need some big time POP in your lineup…
Looking at the ISO for each of the top college hitters last year:
Condon 0.576
Bazzana 0.505
Kurtz 0.457
Cags 0.456
Wetherholt 0.258
Both Condon & Bazzana got 30~40% more extra base hits per AB than Cags, and Wetherholt’s ISO plummeted playing w/the hamstring injury.
Very interesting and–mostly–civil conversation. Thanks, everybody.
Welcome back GMR- your voice has been missed.
How’s the summer up there?
Hi, Old-School: Summer has been disturbingly like summer in the deep South–hot, humid and tornado watches and warnings– and we had serious flooding in some parts of the state on the one-year anniversary of last year’s catastrophic flooding. I’ve been reading RLN daily and keeping up, but I’m also attempting to damp down my argumentative nature, so how often I’ll take metaphorical pen in hand is an open question. How are you doing? As always, I enjoy your comments.
Great- although I am 0-4 in Reds games attended so I may be part of the problem!
Don’t believe it, O-S: The problem wasn’t you; it was the number of AAAA hitters on the team.
Hola, GMR. Wondered where you’ve off to.
My brother lives in NW Connecticut, a very similar climate to VT and NH (oh, them). Even still, he’s been begging for mercy from the humidity.
I have found RLN timeouts are frequently required. I will say, though, how great is it to see out two young stars make the All Star team? Fighting the good fight, right?
Be well. And no homemade rafts in those flood waters.