RRRR - MLB Draft Infielders to watch

Rick Someone said, and Nick Hostetler said it as well. They where surprised that a player the the White Sox are considering at #4 in the draft, is not getting a first round grade by any of the major services. When those statements are coupled with both men also saying they are looking at College pitching and High School infielders, I had to sniff around, and try to guess who that might be. My guess is.....

Position: C
Height / Weight: 6-0 / 195
Bats / Throws: L / R
High School / Canada

There are three high school catchers at the top of the draft this year. Will Banfield is the best and looks to go mid first round. Noah is most likely third best as far as catching tools. That said, he's pretty damn good. Here's the thing, he also plays 2nd, and 3rd very well, and has plus speed. 6.63- 60 yard. All of that plus one of the very best bats in the draft.

He was one of the two finalists in the HS Home Run Derby at the All Star game. He lost to Nolan Gorman. The fine print will tell you, the most home runs hit when the elimination rounds are included goes to Naylor. I guess what I am saying is, if he was just a third baseman, he would rank higher. His brother Josh was drafted by San Diego at #12.

If I was to offer a comp, I would say Craig Biggio.

So do I think he might be there at #45, and on the White Sox radar? Yes, and yes.

Since I said three catches at the top and Naylor has the third best catching tools, I should talk about the second best.

Position: C
Height / Weight: 6-0 / 190
Bats / Throws: S / B
High School: GA

He is fully ambidextrous in all areas on the baseball field. That includes pitching with both hands. His swing is the same from both sides of the plate. He's a scrappy player with a ton of positive energy. Loves to compete and is good at every aspect of the game. He's not on MLB's top 50, I'm sure he just missed, but he did make BA's. Anthony is sure to come off the board somewhere in the second round. He has a very good chance of being an every day MLB player. Something you would hope for with a second round pick.

Now just one more catcher that caught my eye.

Position: C
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 185
Bats / Throws: L / R
High School: La.

BA has C.J. at #145, Perfect Game likes him better about #108 (WS fourth round pick) He plays for the travel team EC Sox. in Louisiana, where he is the best player in the state. He has a deadly accurate arm and a best pop time of 1.84. He runs well for a big man 6.93/ 60yd. He also pitches and in addition C.J. plays First and Third Base, Christopher is also a star quarterback on his high school team. He has a loose, power swing from the left side, with big power, mostly pull side. The posted picture shows you how good he would look in a Sox uniform.

Anyway, I like him. I want him.

Lastly, I want to finish with something odd. Around the first of the year Perfect Game dropped the "pay wall" for a few days. It soon went back up but one player stood out. They ranked him as the fourth best High School SS. Just behind Turang, Gorman, and De Dedas. No place else shares that point of view. Still, the people at Perfect Game know their stuff. So let's take a look.

Position: SS
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 190
Bats / Throws: R / R
High School: GA

He has a third base future. Big, strong, quick, his throws to first have been clocked at 95 MPH. He punishes the baseball. Swing speed, exit velocity, impact, Acceleration all top of the top. Here's the twist. Baseball America seems to think he just a guy. They have him at #146. My guess is he falls somewhere in between. Third round if I were to guess.

So there you go. Four High School infielders. Naylor and Sigler would be an either/ or, in the second round. Both would represent very good value. The other two guys, I just find interesting, and I hope you do as well. It's time to start stocking players for a second wave at positions of scarcity in the system.

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