MLB Draft Names to Know: College Power Hitters
This year’s MLB draft has a plethora of big power hitters. How many of those bats will translate to the pros?
One of the constant things in the MLB draft is evaluating power. Guys like Michael Conforto, Kyle Schwarber, and Kris Bryant have come quickly to the big leagues and succeeded as power hitting college players. Could someone in the 2016 draft follow their path and move quickly to the major leagues?
Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer University
Who Is He?
A guy from tiny Mercer may not typically garner big headlines, but Lewis has definitely been doing exactly that all season long. He ended up near the top of the heap of all D1 college hitters with 20 home runs on the season. This followed up a big season in the summer Cape Cod League, a league using wood bats, so Lewis has shown an ability to drive the ball with wood bats as well as the aluminum bats.
Lewis has very solid skills in the outfield, showing solid range in right field and a very good arm, but teams won’t be calling his name on June 9th due to his defensive abilities. Lewis will be an early selection because he’s a guy who can drive the ball 450 feet without a ton of effort. His swing does have some noise in it, and he could work on a consistent swing path, but he’s done tremendous work on pitch recognition this year, which should go a long way in his early development in the major leagues.
Where May He Be Picked?
If you’re tuning into the draft to hear Lewis’ name called, you’ll need to tune in quite early. He’s rumored as high as #1, and he’s almost certain to go in the top 5 selections in the draft.
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Next: Samford Big Bat
Heath Quinn, OF, Samford University
Who Is He?
Quinn is yet another small school guy, and he might actually be a guy that goes in the first round without many people having really heard his name. Quinn has hit 44 home runs in his three seasons at Samford, and he’s going to turn 21 just 2 days before draft night, so he’s very young for a draft eligible player.
Quinn is a right handed hitter that profiles best as a right fielder with not the range of Lewis, but possibly even more of an arm from right. He does have a bat that may possibly be more of a .250ish average bat with power, but the power swing is pure and should move quickly through the minors for the team that selects him.
Where May He Be Picked?
Quinn is the type of guy that a team could fall in love with and go at the back of the regular first round (around pick 20-24), or he could be a guy that ends up slipping as teams clamor for high school arms in the late first and early second. I’d be very surprised, though, if Quinn lasts past the end of the second round of the draft.
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Next: ACC Power Bat/Arm
Will Craig, IF, Wake Forest
Who Is He?
Craig very well could be the second guy picked off of this list after Lewis. He’s got the least viable defensive profile, however. He’s probably a first baseman only at the big league level, but as a right-handed hitter and thrower, he’s not likely to be more than a platoon first baseman as teams typically prefer a lefty first baseman.
Craig has hit 34 home runs in his three seasons at Wake Forest as really the only threat in their lineup. He’s also a very talented closer, being clocked up to the mid-90s with his fastball.
Where May He Be Picked?
Craig is the type of guy who has moved up draft boards in recent years as teams pursue college players, hoping to save money, and college guys with his stat line tend to really fly up draft boards. Craig is a certain first round selection, going as high as the back of the top 10, but almost certainly off the board by the time pick #20 comes around.
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Next: Jacksonville Junior Boomer
Austin Hays, OF, Jacksonville
Who Is He?
Hays is another small school guy who used a big summer at the Cape Cod League to launch into a big time season this year. Hays put up a total of 25 home runs in his 3 collegiate seasons, but 16 of them came this year. Hays fits the profile of a right fielder with a very good arm and solid range in right field.
Hays does bring a solid contact bat, but the major thing he brings that others on this list don’t is athleticism. He stole 15 bases in college this season, and while he won’t likely be a stolen base champ in the pros, he could be a guy who steals double-digit bases as a pro, and that’s not likely going to be in the skill set of others on this list.
Where May He Be Picked?
Hays is an interesting guy. If you read rankings lists and scouting reports, he’s right in line with guys like Quinn and Craig, but mock drafts haven’t even mentioned his name as they get even into the second round at this point. I think he could be a guy who sneaks up on people in the compensation picks after round one all the way to round three.
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Next: Switch-Hitting Catcher
Brett Cumberland, C, California
Who Is He?
Cumberland is the youngest guy on this list, and he probably plays the most difficult defensive position. Cumberland also brings the skill of being the only switch-hitter on this list. He is a redshirt sophomore, and in his two seasons, he’s hit 23 home runs, 16 of them this season.
Cumberland has ideal build for a catcher at 5’10-6′ (depending on where you read) and 185-200 pounds, but he’s fairly raw behind the plate, so many believe that he’ll either move off the position to move quickly or take some time moving up to the majors as he has to work on his catching skills.
Where May He Be Picked?
Cumberland is part of a very deep group of catchers, and I could see him going anywhere from the early 2nd round through the 4th round, all depending on whether a team believes he could stick behind the plate.
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Next: A Big Group Of Big Bats
The Long List of Who Is Left
This obviously isn’t going to be an extensive list by any means, but I want to highlight a number of the big bats who will also be highly sought after on draft weekend.
J.B. Woodman, OF, Mississippi – Woodman has been Ole Miss’ right fielder the last two seasons, and though he has been working out as a center fielder for teams, it’s most likely that he ends up profiling as a right fielder. Woodman had a rough Cape Cod League last summer, so there’s some concern about his ability with the wood bat, so he refocused on pitch selection and actually generated more power as well as contact this year.
Gio Brusa, OF, Pacific – Brusa is a senior that put out 14 of his career 25 home runs this season. He also had a big summer last summer, putting out 8 home runs during Cape Cod League. He’s got quite a bit of swing and miss and could be a guy who ends up not making it due to a lack of discipline, but the raw power is there.
Darick Hall, 1B, Dallas Baptist – Hall has pulled double duty as a power hitting first baseman and a starter for Dallas Baptist this season. With the bat, he’s put out 18 home runs and flashed big time power potential, but at 6’4 and 230+ pounds already, he’s likely stuck at first base, so that could limit his appeal to teams.
Alex Call, OF, Ball State – Call is a “cold-weather” guy, coming from Wisconsin high school before going to Ball State. He’s put up solid power/speed numbers and had a decent time last summer in the Cape Cod League. His 2016 saw him put up 13 home runs and, more notably, 43 extra base hits over 58 games. Call is more of a late-round guy, likely going after the 10th round, but he could be the type of guy who has an untapped potential.