Who’s # 2 – Pitchers
Second round mocks are hard to find so I’ll run through a few suspects… prospects.
He looks a lot like a right handed Randy Johnson and at 6′ 11″, BA’s #30 ranked prospect Sean Hjelle is clearly the tallest. A junior at Kentucky, Hjelle began his college career as a closer and moved to starter as a sophomore.
His fastball sits in the low 90s but generates lots of swing and miss because he locates it so well. His throws his 12-6 curve at 84 mph, harder than the usual hammer while his change sits in the same area.
Close behind him in 6’5” BA#18 Ethan Hankins. A lefty out of Forsyth Central High School in Cumming, Ga entered the year as a highly sought after prospect. He flashed a 70 grade curve and high 90s fastball until a shoulder injury intervened.
He returned without the speed on his heater causing some scouts to back off. As much as shoulder injuries worry me, this looks like someone who tried to hit triple digits for the scouts and suffered for it. That he’s not back to normal now wouldn’t stop me if I thought that 70 grade curve was still viable.
Who’s # 2 hitters
Interesting hitters are plentiful in this draft but most of the best will go early.
Highs school shortstop Osiris Johnson checks in at #95 on BA’s top 100 list and #103 on pipeline. Johnson’s dad Marcel played for the Mets but you probably know his cousins Jimmy Rollins and former Brave Tony Tarasco better,
Johnson’s bat improved and displayed increasing power this spring. That should continue as he gets older and stronger. He’s okay at short but his defense looks like a move to second or third is probably in his future. He’s a good looking player who could well be a Braves target. After all, who wants to upset the Egyptian god of the afterlife?
Parker Meadows is a 6’4″left handed hitting outfield out of Grayson High School in Grayson Georgia. If the name rings a bell it should, he’s the younger brother of Pirates rookie Austin Meadows.
His bat isn’t as far along as his brother when he was drafted but his plus raw power is tempting for those who believe they can shorten his swing. He shows plus to well above-average speed and a string arm that should allow him to play anywhere in the outfield.