2024 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

[Bertz]

3 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Looks like he was invited to the combine, and according to some AI Slime/Sports Illustrated blogger he's clocked 107 exit velos.

That would be quite a lot of juice for a 17 year old.

HS players aren't usually underslots but given his rankings have to wonder here.

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

He's a prep guy so I can't even imagine the savings would be all that substantial. Why take this huge risk?

We're in the third round of a draft that is largely felt to have a huge drop off After picks 50+. Cruz offers pretty huge upside. EV of 108 at the combine. Major power. 17, so you get him super young and hope you can work on the approach. 

Round 3 in the MLB draft is always a risk. I'd rather chance it on a 17 year old than a middling college performer at this stage. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

7 minutes ago, Hrubes20 said:

Weird pick. Usually you see a guy like that taken in round 11

Ehh, they took Alfonsin Rosario and Yahil Melendez in the 6th and 7th round on day 2 last year. 

[Jason Ross]

I really like the Cubs strategy here in 2024. This draft is top-heavy. So what have the Cubs done with picks 1, 2, and 3? They went big game hunting. Guys with pop, bat speed, and high EV. We'll see how it plays out, but it's interesting and I'm not against the concept. I suspect they feel confident on the depth of the organization. And we've talked about how they've been missing star power. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Bertz]

 

107.9 would be a 21st percentile max exit velocity in the bigs.  Again as a 17 year old that's some real pop.

[Post Count Padder]

That's some insane EV and there's power projection there. I guess what we're wondering is why he was unranked or ranked so low if he has these intangibles? College commit? Too raw? Questions about defense?

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, Post Count Padder said:

That's some insane EV and there's power projection there. I guess what we're wondering is why he was unranked or ranked so low if he has these intangibles? College commit? Too raw? Questions about defense?

My guess is a couple of things:

1. It's hard to nail down these prep guys. The Padres took another prep SS right before who was "unranked". There's so  many prep guys from so many corners of the planet, deciding who's #387 and who's #543 is basically a guessing game. 

2. There's concerns with the approach here. He's a big swinger and it's not always pretty. He's very young and toolsy. These things generally go hand in hand. It creates greater uncertainty moving forward.

3. He's unlikely to stick at SS. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

5 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

That's some insane EV and there's power projection there. I guess what we're wondering is why he was unranked or ranked so low if he has these intangibles? College commit? Too raw? Questions about defense?

Signability/college commitment is not considered in these draft rankings.

[Bertz]

2 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

My guess is a couple of things:

1. It's hard to nail down these prep guys. The Padres took another prep SS right before who was "unranked". There's so  many prep guys from so many corners of the planet, deciding who's #387 and who's #543 is basically a guessing game. 

2. There's concerns with the approach here. He's a big swinger and it's not always pretty. He's very young and toolsy. These things generally go hand in hand. It creates greater uncertainty moving forward.

3. He's unlikely to stick at SS. 

I'll add a #4

4. For logistics reasons most of these outlets have their lists more or less done before the draft combine where Cruz broke out

[Outshined_One]

Dakota Jordan to SF.  They didn't have any picks between 13 and now, so, uh, good luck signing him I guess.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Bertz said:

I'll add a #4

4. For logistics reasons most of these outlets have their lists more or less done before the draft combine where Cruz broke out

That too! 

I really try to ignore the overall rankings. Especially when we get this deep in the draft. It's personal preference and even at that there's minute margins between most guys. And it's a lot easier to rank a 21 year old who we all saw pitch in the ACC the last three years versus a 17 year old who's only even recently gained US citizenship who played prep-ball outside of the public sphere. Many of these rankings are relying on a few games and you're right, they might have been games early in the year. 

Overall, I think the profile here is interesting. He's a kid with a frame he can grow into. He's already showing insane EV. You get him to buy into an approach switch, you build him out at 3b...there's upside to dream on here. 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Outshined_One said:

Dakota Jordan to SF.  They didn't have any picks between 13 and now, so, uh, good luck signing him I guess.

I'm sure they'll get him under. Guys don't get picked in the top-10 rounds if they won't sign. Good for them; nice pick.

[Outshined_One]

1 minute ago, 1908_Cubs said:

I'm sure they'll get him under. Guys don't get picked in the top-10 rounds if they won't sign. Good for them; nice pick.

I agree whole-heartedly; getting him and Tibbs would be a fantastic outcome for a team with only one pick in the Top 100.  I'm just curious to see how they make it work.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs 4th rounder is prep SS Ty Southisene from Nevada

[Tryptamine]

I feel like they just picked Ryan Theriot

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That 2030 infield of Smith/Cruz/Southisene/Mathis is going to be the something

[CaliforniaRaisin]

MLB Pipeline ranked Southisene 111th:

Quote

 

The top player in the state of Nevada for the 2024 Draft, Southisene has consistently performed well at showcase events, raising his profile by playing on USA Baseball's 18U team in 2022 and participating in MLB events like States Play in 2022 and the 2023 Dream Series. His twin brother, Tee, is also a decent 2024 Draft prospect, while younger brother, Tate, might be one of the better prep options from the Silver State in 2025. Southisene is undersized at 5-foot-9, but that won't keep teams from being interested in his solid all-around toolset. He might be a plus hitter in time, showing an ability to make hard contact with an advanced approach at the plate and an affinity for breaking down his at-bats and swing. He can try to get big and sell out for power at times, but when he stays within himself he finds the barrel against all kinds of pitching with excellent bat speed and should naturally get to solid power. A quick-twitch athlete, Southisene's plus baseball IQ and instincts enable all his tools to play up. His arm might traditionally be a little short, but because of his release, his hands and footwork, he has every chance to stick at shortstop. Teams willing to look past the Tennessee recruit's size could help him follow in the footsteps of such Nevada prep bats taken in the top three rounds as Justin Crawford and Tyler Whitaker.

BA ranked him 191st:

Quote

191. Ty Southisene

SS

Ht: 5'9" | Wt: 157 | B-T: R-R

Age: null

School: Basic HS, Henderson, Nev. Commit/Drafted: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 19
BA Grade: 45/Extreme
Tools: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Run: 55. Field: 55. Arm: 45.

Southisene is a standout performer with a polished and well-rounded game but smaller stature and no clear carrying tools. At 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, Southisene earns comparisons to current LSU second baseman Steven Milam thanks to his size, West Coast background and standout performance track record. He finds the barrel and collects hits consistently with strong pure bat-to-ball skills and a solid batting eye at the plate. He has leadoff traits that were on full display when he played in that capacity for the Four Corners-based Reds team at the Area Code Games, where he went 6-for-12 (.500) with a double, three walks and two strikeouts. There are some moving parts in his setup including a bat waggle with a high handset that leads to a deep hand press and big leg kick, but he still gets on plane with a level path that leads to more line drives into the gaps than homers. He’s a reliable defender at shortstop with clean hands, nice footwork and middle infield actions, though his arm strength might lead to him moving to second base where he will be less challenged when deep in the hole. Southisene will be 19 on draft day and is committed to Tennessee, along with several other prep shortstops in the 2024 class including Trey Snyder and Manny Marin.

 

[Tryptamine]

With that said, it sounds like the only reason Ty isn't much more highly regarded is that he's small.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

1 minute ago, Tryptamine said:

I feel like they just picked Ryan Theriot

It's pick 120, the best all-time pick at that spot was Mickey Morandini

[Outshined_One]

Fenwick Trimble sounds like the name of the villain in a teen rom-com about an evil corporation trying to shut down a beloved ski resort in small town Colorado.

[Bertz]

McDaniel has him in the same range at 132

I assume Cruz needs to spend a year in Arizona, but Southisene sounds like a guy who can open next year in Myrtle?

[Jason Ross]

Sounds like there's solid barrel ability here. Good bat to ball. Not very big. UT Commit, so not only is that a good thing because they're a good program, it's a good thing because it cuts their legs out (Sorry, had to throw a jab in!). 

Probably the least upside-y pick so far, but kind of a cool player. 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Bertz said:

McDaniel has him in the same range at 132

I assume Cruz needs to spend a year in Arizona, but Southisene sounds like a guy who can open next year in Myrtle?

Yeah, I'd say he's a Myrtle guy. Already 19. Has a barrel feel. 

[Rob]

Just now, Outshined_One said:

Fenwick Trimble sounds like the name of the villain in a teen rom-com about an evil corporation trying to shut down a beloved ski resort in small town Colorado.

I was thinking of him more as a hobbit with a penchant for ancillary involvement in the adventures of others.