Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
Around the League Thursday, June 4th, 2020
A trade involving the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox occurred today. The Padres acquired 2019 All-Star catcher James McCann, who has an .830 OPS in only 11 games this season, for relief pitcher Kyle Barraclough, who has struggled so far in AAA, posting an 8.16 ERA and 2.16 WHIP in 14.1 IP. McCann will likely start for the Padres, who have received dismal production behind the plate thus far from Austin Hedges and Francisco Mejia, who are slashing .170/.255/.250 in 28 games and .176/.220/.296 in 41 games, respectively. In corresponding moves, the Padres sent Mejia to AAA and the White Sox recalled their 10th overall prospect Zack Collins to assume McCann’s role as backup catcher.
Mariners Draft Recap Thursday, June 4th, 2020
1st Round (6th OVR): RHP Sean Lacey, Texas
The 19-year old Texan shows advanced command for his age, which allows him to throw strikes consistently and limit the number of walks he gives up. While he does not generate a lot of velocity from his stocky frame of 6’2” and 220 lbs, he offers a four-pitch mix including a 4-seam fastball that tops out at 92 MPH, a cutter, a changeup, and a slider. His delivery is clean and repeatable and he exhibits elite stamina which will allow him to pitch deep into games. Lacey projects as a frontline starter and should move quickly through the Mariners farm system.
2nd Round (43rd OVR): OF Won-Yong Park, South Korea
Park, at 22-years old, produces immense power from the right side of the plate. In addition, he possesses above average arm strength and speed, which enables him to play anywhere in the outfield. He has an aggressive playstyle which may result in a lot of strikeouts and injuries, but if he can refine his approach, he will produce All-Star numbers.
3rd Round (78th OVR): RHP Antwan Riley, California
Riley wields a devastating pitch-mix consisting of a 4-seamer, slurve, 2-seamer, changeup, and curveball. His 4-seam and 2-seam fastballs regularly touch 97 MPH and 94 MPH, respectively, while his slurve is thrown 10 MPH slower than his primary fastball and his changeup and curve are thrown 10 MPH slower than his secondary. The speed disparity between his offerings coupled with his above-average control result in elite strikeout potential. The 21-year old’s stamina could be considered above-average for a reliever or below-average for a starter, but the Mariners may envision him as a late-inning, high-leverage reliever, where his swing-and-miss stuff will flourish.
4th Round (107th OVR): IF Vicente Hernandez, Venezuela
Hernandez is a bat-first prospect who, at 20 years-old, has plenty of time for his glove to catch up, wherever that may be. A shortstop by trade, his weak arm and subpar fielding abilities are somewhat mitigated by his blazing speed. Whether he plays middle-infield, or even center field, his advanced contact ability, approach, and base-stealing prowess profile him as a classic leadoff hitter whenever he can reach the big leagues.
5th Round (137th OVR): C Billy Huff, Illinois
The antithesis of a bat-first prospect, Huff’s value lies solely in his glove, where he already possesses elite reflexes, arm strength, blocking, and fielding abilities behind the plate. At 20-years old, the switch-hitting Huff has plenty of time for his lesser tools to catch up to his more advanced ones. If his bat never improves, Huff may still enjoy a long career as a defensive-minded catcher.
6th Round (167th OVR): LHP Edgar Palmeiro, Dominican Republic
A big southpaw at 6’4” and 228 lbs, Palmeiro will not overpower hitters with his 93 MPH 4-seam fastball, but will limit contact due to the well above-average break on his 79 MPH sweeping curve, 84 MPH changeup, and 85 MPH slider. The 21-year old projects as a back of the rotation starter who can pitch a lot of innings.
TRUE TO THE BLUE
2020 Seattle Mariners (25-39)
2020 Seattle Mariners (25-39)
Around the League Thursday, June 4th, 2020
A trade involving the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox occurred today. The Padres acquired 2019 All-Star catcher James McCann, who has an .830 OPS in only 11 games this season, for relief pitcher Kyle Barraclough, who has struggled so far in AAA, posting an 8.16 ERA and 2.16 WHIP in 14.1 IP. McCann will likely start for the Padres, who have received dismal production behind the plate thus far from Austin Hedges and Francisco Mejia, who are slashing .170/.255/.250 in 28 games and .176/.220/.296 in 41 games, respectively. In corresponding moves, the Padres sent Mejia to AAA and the White Sox recalled their 10th overall prospect Zack Collins to assume McCann’s role as backup catcher.
Mariners Draft Recap Thursday, June 4th, 2020
1st Round (6th OVR): RHP Sean Lacey, Texas
The 19-year old Texan shows advanced command for his age, which allows him to throw strikes consistently and limit the number of walks he gives up. While he does not generate a lot of velocity from his stocky frame of 6’2” and 220 lbs, he offers a four-pitch mix including a 4-seam fastball that tops out at 92 MPH, a cutter, a changeup, and a slider. His delivery is clean and repeatable and he exhibits elite stamina which will allow him to pitch deep into games. Lacey projects as a frontline starter and should move quickly through the Mariners farm system.
2nd Round (43rd OVR): OF Won-Yong Park, South Korea
Park, at 22-years old, produces immense power from the right side of the plate. In addition, he possesses above average arm strength and speed, which enables him to play anywhere in the outfield. He has an aggressive playstyle which may result in a lot of strikeouts and injuries, but if he can refine his approach, he will produce All-Star numbers.
3rd Round (78th OVR): RHP Antwan Riley, California
Riley wields a devastating pitch-mix consisting of a 4-seamer, slurve, 2-seamer, changeup, and curveball. His 4-seam and 2-seam fastballs regularly touch 97 MPH and 94 MPH, respectively, while his slurve is thrown 10 MPH slower than his primary fastball and his changeup and curve are thrown 10 MPH slower than his secondary. The speed disparity between his offerings coupled with his above-average control result in elite strikeout potential. The 21-year old’s stamina could be considered above-average for a reliever or below-average for a starter, but the Mariners may envision him as a late-inning, high-leverage reliever, where his swing-and-miss stuff will flourish.
4th Round (107th OVR): IF Vicente Hernandez, Venezuela
Hernandez is a bat-first prospect who, at 20 years-old, has plenty of time for his glove to catch up, wherever that may be. A shortstop by trade, his weak arm and subpar fielding abilities are somewhat mitigated by his blazing speed. Whether he plays middle-infield, or even center field, his advanced contact ability, approach, and base-stealing prowess profile him as a classic leadoff hitter whenever he can reach the big leagues.
5th Round (137th OVR): C Billy Huff, Illinois
The antithesis of a bat-first prospect, Huff’s value lies solely in his glove, where he already possesses elite reflexes, arm strength, blocking, and fielding abilities behind the plate. At 20-years old, the switch-hitting Huff has plenty of time for his lesser tools to catch up to his more advanced ones. If his bat never improves, Huff may still enjoy a long career as a defensive-minded catcher.
6th Round (167th OVR): LHP Edgar Palmeiro, Dominican Republic
A big southpaw at 6’4” and 228 lbs, Palmeiro will not overpower hitters with his 93 MPH 4-seam fastball, but will limit contact due to the well above-average break on his 79 MPH sweeping curve, 84 MPH changeup, and 85 MPH slider. The 21-year old projects as a back of the rotation starter who can pitch a lot of innings.
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