This is why for MLB Draft, teams will focus more on college talent and not prep seniors
With this year’s MLB Draft cut from its usual 40 rounds to just five, there’s a chance that a record will be set for the highest percentage of college players selected.
Theoretically, college players offer safer draft choices. They are older, and there’s more to evaluate in their body of work.
In addition, this year’s draft — set for June 10-11 — projects as a great one for college pitchers, including a pair of Miami Hurricanes right-handers (Chris McMahon and Slade Cecconi) and an FIU lefty (Logan Allen).
MLB.com projects college players getting selected in nine of the top 10 selections, and that includes the players expected to go in the top three picks: Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson, Vanderbilt outfielder Austin Martin and Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy.
“It’s a strong group of college pitchers, especially compared to recent years,” said Aaron Fitt, the co-editor and national writer for D1Baseball.com. “The first round is going to be dominated by these big arms, and Torkelson is a special bat at the top of the draft.”
But despite that domination of college talent, there are still some elite prep players in this draft.
From South Florida, the top five prep players — according to Baseball America’s rankings — are right-handers Victor Mederos (Westminster Christian, Miami recruit) and Alejandro Rosario (Miami Christian, Miami recruit), center fielder Enrique Bradfield (American Heritage, Vanderbilt recruit), shortstop Yohandy Morales (Braddock, Miami recruit) and third baseman Coby Mayo (Douglas, Florida recruit).
All five are ranked among the top 80 draft-eligible players.
Then there are three more Dade/Broward players ranked among this draft’s top 160 prospects: lefty Timmy Manning (Cardinal Gibbons, Florida recruit); catcher Carlos Perez (Florida Christian, Miami recruit); and shortstop Sammy Infante (Monsignor Pace, Miami recruit).
Manning, who was on the Gibbons varsity since the eighth grade, went 4-0 this past season with a 1.17 ERA, striking out 38 batters and walking only seven in 24 innings. For his career, he went 20-14 with a 2.53 ERA, eight complete games, five shutouts and four saves.
“I’d love to hear my name called in the draft,” Manning said. “It’s an exciting time — everything I’ve worked for since I first picked up a ball.”
Perez, who transferred from Brito to Florida Christian for his sophomore year, has plus-arm strength, impressive hands and above-average blocking and receiving ability, according to Baseball America. But, Perez, a switch-hitter, is not as advanced as a hitter, and there’s a chance he could play for UM next year.
“I’m biased, but, to me, Carlos is the best defensive catcher in the state and one of the best in the country,” Florida Christian coach Chris Brigham said. “He’s been calling his own game since sophomore year.”
Perez hit .174 in an abbreviated senior year. In 205 career at-bats, he hit .327 with 16 doubles, three triples, four homers, 50 RBI and a .927 OPS.
Infante, a three-year starter at Pace, hit .441 with 16 doubles, five triples, nine homers, 56 runs scored and a 1254 OPS in 195 career at-bats.
As a sophomore, Infante played third base and helped Pace win a state title, slugging a career-best five homers. And in the past two years, Infante moved to shortstop and stole 19 bases in 20 attempts.
“He has great speed,” Pace coach Tom Duffin said. “He always has a smile on his face and plays with great passion. He has put on muscle [6-1, 185 pounds] and has power to all fields.”
Baseball America notes that Infante has a “nice collection of above-average tools” while lacking one skill that stands out over the others. If he chooses to play for UM, he could become a pro in 2022 as a draft-eligible sophomore.
Two other South Florida collegians ranked in the top 160 and thus expected to get drafted this year are Hurricanes teammates: shortstop Freddy Zamora and first baseman Alex Toral.