Sunday, June 3, 2018

Draft 2018: Post-1st Round Options

Unfortunately, the Reds do not have either a Compensation Round pick or a Competitive Balance Round A pick, so their second pick is in the second round, pick #47 overall.

There are a few names worth considering, if they'll only slide that far.


Seth Beer - 1b/OF
University of Clemson
Junior
6-2; 195 lbs

Beer exploded into the collective baseball conscience during his freshman season, wherein he raked to the tune of .369/.535/.700/1.235. His follows up efforts were slightly less impressive (realistically, how could they not be?) than his freshman season, but Beer can really hit. Here are his collegiate numbers:

2016: .369/.535/.700/1.235 with 21.8% BB%, 9.5% K%, and 18 homers
2017: .298/.478/.606/1.084 with 21.4% BB%, 11.7% K%, and 16 homers
2018: .316/.471/.656/1.127 with 18.8% BB%, 11.2% K%, and 20 homers

Fortunately for us, he lacks defensive value and speed, so he may slide down to the 47th overall pick. MLB.com rates him as the 46th best prospect, while Keith Law rates him at 31st overall. Unfortunately, I think his profile is too high to slide that far, but you never know.

Here's a look at Beer in action, courtesy 20-80 Baseball on YouTube:





If Beer is on the board at pick 47, he'd better be on the short list for the Reds.



Griffin Conine - OF
Duke University
Junior
6-1; 195 lbs

Conine is the son of Jeff Conine, who had a lengthy MLB career. The son is an outfielder with Duke who possesses prodigious power. Like Beer, he's largely a bat-first player, who will go as far as the lumber takes him.

Conine has a swing that generates a tremendous amount of force. Prior to the season, he was a trendy choice for being drafted among the top 15 picks in this draft. However, he struggled early in the season and, as a result, has slide down the rankings. MLB.com rates him at 51st overall, while Keith Law slots him in at 50th. There's a reasonable chance that he'll be available when the Reds select at 47.

His collegiate track record is less impressive than Beer, but he still has good production. Here's a look at his three seasons at Duke:

2016: .205/.306/.247/.553 with 12.9% BB%, 18.8% K%, and 0 homers
2017: .298/.425/.546/.971 with 15.3% BB%, 16.8% K%, and 13 homers
2018: .277/.402/.585/.987 with 15.5% BB%, 25.5% K%, and 15 homers

If Conine had taken an additional step forward in 2018, he'd be in line for a substantial bonus, but now he'll settle for less in the compensation rounds or the 2nd round.

Here's a look at Conine in action, courtesy of 20-80 Baseball on YouTube:




While his offensive production is less consistent and impressive than Beer, he provides more value on defense. He's a legitimate corner outfield option with a strong arm. So, while his offense is less likely to exclusively carry him to the majors, he has a more diversified set of value-drivers.

Conine is an intriguing option and one the Reds should heavily consider with pick 47.



Garrett McDaniels - LHP
Pee Dee (S.C.) Academy 
6-2; 170 lbs

McDaniels is a projectable lefty featuring a 3-pitch mix, including a fastball, curveball, and changeup. His fastball only sits in the upper 80s, but he has projection to his game and he could add velocity as he fills out. He has a good feel for pitching and good athleticism.

He has very clean mechanics, good tempo, and a repeatable delivery. Here's a look at McDaniels in action, courtesy of  Perfect Game Baseball:




McDaniels is very fundamentally sound, but he'll need to improve his offerings in the professional ranks. Still, the raw materials are there and he has the type of foundation on which you can build.

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