Article: Twins Daily 2019 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 11-20

[Andrew Thares]

It’s hard to believe that it is already Memorial Day, which means the 2019 MLB Draft is almost here. With so much attention being placed on the 1st place Minnesota Twins, it is easy to forget that they are in an excellent position to add to their organization via the draft. With the 13th pick it is likely that the guy the Twins take is featured in this edition of the Twins Daily Top 50 Draft Prospects list.20. Kameron Misner | Missouri | Pos: OF | B/T: L/L | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 215 | Age: 21

 

Previously Drafted: 33rd Round, 2016 (KC)

 

Scouting Grades

Hit: 55 Power: 50 Run: 60 Arm: 55 Field: 60 Overall: 55

 

For teams interested in a college outfielder who brings the combination of both plus defense and a plus bat, Kameron Misner might be their guy. There are a couple other college outfielders higher up in my rankings (spoilers), but neither of them bring the defensive upside that Misner does.

 

Offensively, Misner is a well-rounded player. He is a career .300 hitter, and has shown some power this year, having hit 10 home runs. Misner is also an excellent base stealer, going 50 for 63 on stolen base attempts in his career. Another asset that Miser has is his excellent eye, as he has walked on more than 16 percent of his plate appearances in his time at Mizzou.

 

Misner is an excellent defender in centerfield at the college level. He has the skillset needed to stay in centerfield as a professional, but he can also serve a Max Kepler like role as a plus defender in right field for a team that already has an excellent defensive centerfielder.

 

19. Jackson Rutledge | San Jacinto JC | Pos: RHP | Height: 6’8” | Weight: 250 | Age: 20

 

Previously Drafted: Never

 

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 65 Curveball: 60 Slider: 60 Changeup: 50 Control: 45 Overall: 55

 

Jackson Rutledge is a player that I really struggled to find the right home for on my list. On one hand he has the stuff to be a top ten pick, and a future top of the rotation starter. On the other hand, I am concerned with the high likelihood that he will one day become a reliever. Given that scare, I decided to place him lower on the list that his talent would suggest.

 

Rutledge began his college career in 2018 at Arkansas, but he decided to transfer to San Jacinto JC after not getting much for an opportunity as a freshman. In his year at the JC level, Rutledge has absolutely dominated. His fastball has gained a ton of life, and now sits comfortably in the mid 90’s. He also features both a wipe-out slider and a wipe-out curveball. He rounds out his pitching repertoire with a decent changeup, but it is no where near the level of his other pitches.

 

A big problem that Rutledge has faced in his career has been with control. As is typically the case with young fireballers, Rutledge is more of a thrower than he is a pitcher. He will also need some work on his delivery, as his pitching motion is very short, much like how an infielder or catcher would throw.

 

18. Brennan Malone | IMG Academy (FL) | Pos: RHP | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 205 | Age: 18

 

Commitment: UNC

 

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 65 Curveball: 50 Slider: 55 Changeup: 50 Control: 50 Overall: 55

 

Our third and final IMG Academy product featured in the top 50 is right-handed pitcher Brennan Malone. This is Malone’s first season pitching for IMG, after spending his first few high school years pitching in North Carolina. He’s also pitched for Team USA, so he has plenty of experience pitching on a big stage.

 

What makes Malone special is his fastball that will sit 94 to 97 with some good arm side run. Additionally, Malone throws both a slider and a curveball, with the slider being the better pitch of the two. Malone has shown glimpses of a changeup, but it is still a work in progress.

 

Another encouraging factor about Malone is his delivery. He is very solid through his release and does an excellent job of letting his lower half generate most of his power. This is a great thing to look for in young pitchers as it is not only the best way to generate higher velocity, but it is much less stressful on the arm.

 

17. Shea Langeliers | Baylor | Pos: C | B/T: L/R | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 190 | Age: 21

 

Previously Drafted: 34th Round, 2016 (TOR)

 

Scouting Grades

Hit: 50 Power: 55 Run: 45 Arm: 65 Field: 60 Overall: 55

 

In an era where defensive catching metrics have become so prevalent, catchers like Shea Langeliers have become a dream get for organizations across Major League Baseball. Langeliers is unquestionably the best defensive catcher available in this year’s draft, and maybe the best we’ve seen in a few years.

 

Langeliers receives pitches in a very fluid matter, helping him become an excellent pitch framer. Though Langeliers best trait behind the dish is not his pitch framing, but rather his arm. Langeliers pop times are routinely measured in the low 1.9s and high 1.8s. For some perspective, there is only one catcher in Major League Baseball with an average pop time below 1.93 this season.

 

Offensively, Langeliers can be productive hitter as well. He struggled some during his sophomore year at the plate but has bounced back pretty well in his junior campaign. He will most likely never be an elite offensive catcher, but he should still hit well enough to become a starting catcher down the road. If he struggles to find success with the bat, Langeliers should still have himself a solid MLB career as a backup catcher.

 

 

16. George Kirby | Elon | Pos: RHP | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 205 | Age: 21

 

Previously Drafted: 32nd Round, 2016 (NYM)

 

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 55 Curveball: 55 Slider: 55 Changeup: 55 Control: 60 Overall: 55

 

While Elon isn’t a big name school in a big name conference, it is hard to ignore the impressive numbers that junior right-hander George Kirby has put up over his last couple seasons for the Elon University Phoenix.

 

Between 2018 and 2019, Kirby has combined to pitch 178 and 2/3 innings across 29 starts, posting a 2.82 ERA with 202 strikeouts to just 33 walks. It could be easy to just write this off as Kirby facing lower level competition, but there is a good track record of dominate small school starters having success at the Major League level, and I don’t see any reason why that can’t be true for Kirby.

 

Kirby has a solid four pitch mix, which starts with is his fastball that lives in the 92-94 MPH range with excellent command. He also throws both a curveball and a slider, which can be plus pitches when he’s on with them. Kirby also has shown that he has a changeup that is more advanced than most pitchers at this stage of their development.

 

15. Alek Manoah | West Virginia | Pos: RHP | Height: 6’6” | Weight: 260 | Age: 21

 

Previously Drafted: Never

 

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 65 Slider: 60 Changeup: 50 Control: 50 Overall: 55

 

Manoah first jumped onto my radar last summer while pitching in the Cape Cod League. In 9 starts for the Chatham Anglers, Manoah had a 3.57 ERA and struck out 68 batters to just 14 walks across 45 and 1/3 innings.

 

Back with the Mountaineers this spring, Manoah has built on that impressive Cape Code performance by compiling 135 strikeouts to just 23 walks over 102 1/3 innings. Additionally, there isn’t a single pitcher at the Division 1 level who has both pitched more innings and has a lower ERA than Manoah’s 1.85.

 

Manoah is a physical presence on the mound and uses his body well to pump his fastball in the mid-to-upper 90’s. Manoah also features a good slider that gives him a second plus offering. Manoah has done a great job this spring erasing the notion that he is destined to be a reliever at the next level, and as a result has vaulted all the way up to being an almost sure fire first round pick.

 

14. Zack Thompson | Kentucky | Pos: LHP | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 225 | Age: 21

 

Previously Drafted: 11th Round, 2016 (TB)

 

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 55 Slider: 60 Curveball: 50 Changeup: 50 Control: 50 Overall: 55

 

The biggest question mark around Kentucky’s talented southpaw, Zack Thompson, is can he stay healthy. These concerns were what caused him to fall in the draft out of high school, and inevitably sign with Kentucky. Thompson also missed some time in 2018 due to injury, but he showed that he is back and healthy again this year making 14 starts for the Wildcats.

 

Thompson has always been able to strike a lot of hitters out. For his career, he has struck out 12.3 batters per 9 innings, ramping that up to 13 batter per 9 innings this spring. While walks have been an issue for Thompson in the past, he has been much more under control this spring walking 34 in 90 innings.

 

Thompson gives you a respectable 4 pitch mix, highlighted by his low-to-mid 90’s fastball and his sharp breaking slider. If Thompson can maintain the health and command that he has shown this spring, he should be a quick mover through the minors, and could see himself as an MLB number 3 starter soon.

 

13. Daniel Espino | Georgia Premier Academy (GA) | Pos: RHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 190 | Age: 18

 

Commitment: LSU

 

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 75 Slider: 60 Curveball: 60 Changeup: 50 Control: 40 Overall: 55

 

I think it is fair to say that I am a big believer in Daniel Espino, and it might not be a coincidence that I have him ranked in the 13th spot, where the Minnesota Twins will be making their selection. A year ago, Espino might not have stood out, but with the lack of upside pitchers in this year’s class, Espino has the best stuff of anyone available.

 

We will start with Espino’s fastball which, in my opinion, is the best pitch in the class. Espino will sit 96 to 98 MPH with some serious arm side run and will occasionally reach triple-digits. Espino also has two excellent breaking pitches, that can be devastating for opposing hitters.

 

Espino is still a very raw talent. He has an elongated delivery that can make him a wild pitcher at times, but if he can get in with the right pitching coach (ahem Wes Johnson and company), he could learn to clean up his delivery and one day become a front of the rotation MLB starting pitcher.

 

12. Josh Jung | Texas Tech | Pos: 3B | B/T: R/R | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 215 | Age: 21

 

Previously Drafted: Never

 

Scouting Grades

Hit: 60 Power: 55 Run: 45 Arm: 55 Field: 50 Overall: 55

 

From a production standpoint, Josh Jung ranks up there towards the top of the class. In his three years at Texas Tech Jung has a .345/.453/.566 slash line with 29 home runs, 52 doubles and 9 triples.

 

Jung has the ability to hit for both average and power that should translate well to the next level. Perhaps Jung’s best feature offensively is his eye at the plate. Jung does a good job of working his walks, and won’t chase many bad pitches outside of the zone. This has helped Jung draw more walks in his career (124) than times he has struck out (114).

 

Of late, Jung has been seeing time at shortstop for the Red Raiders, but he will most likely move back to his natural position at third base as a pro. Jung has the steady glove and strong arm that are required to play the position, but his lack of high end agility will keep him from ever been an elite defensive thirdbaseman.

 

11. Nick Lodolo | TCU | Pos: LHP | Height: 6’6” | Weight: 180 | Age: 21

 

Previously Drafted: 41st Overall, 2016 (PIT)

 

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 55 Curveball: 50 Slider: 55 Changeup: 55 Control: 60 Overall: 55

 

Nick Lodolo has been a highly touted prospect ever since he came out of Damien High School in 2016. Despite being selected in the top 50, Lodolo decided to turn down the Pirates offer and instead try and test his luck at TCU. Three years later that gamble appears to have paid off as Lodolo could very well be the first pitcher off the board in this year’s draft.

 

In terms of pure stuff Lodolo isn’t blowing anybody away. He has a solid fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90’s. Lodolo also has both a curveball and a slider, but the latter appears to be the better pitch of the two. Finally, Lodolo has an effective changeup giving him a respectable 3 to 4 pitch mix across the board.

 

Lodolo has everything that you would want from a guy to project him as a starter in the long term. He has a big and projectable 6’6” frame, a consistent and repeatable delivery, 3 potentially plus pitches and excellent command of the strike zone.

 

 

Rest of the 2019 MLB Draft Top 50

Twins Daily 2019 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 21-30

Twins Daily 2019 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 31-40

Twins Daily 2019 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 41-50

 

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[Einstein1]

Good stuff.  Espino and Jung are the 2 that have really intrigued me the most for awhile now, glad to see them both around 13 on this list.  

[twins_89]

I don't see the Twins taking a HS pitcher with their first pick, the bust risk is just too high. My guess is the Twins end up picking one of Stott, Manoah, Jung, or Thompson.

[Dman]

 

I don't see the Twins taking a HS pitcher with their first pick, the bust risk is just too high. My guess is the Twins end up picking one of Stott, Manoah, Jung, or Thompson.

 

I agree, I don't see them taking a risk on a high school pitcher when Jung, Stott or Carroll might be there.  I also think they might try and cut an underslot deal for Langeliers if he falls that far. 

 

The first six picks feel like a lock.   After that it seems to be anyones best guess as to what order the players will fall in.  Personally I think a good bat will still be there at 13 and it will be hard to pass up.

 

This year is going to be tough to gain much of an advantage with bonus pool money as Arizona and lots of other teams will have more money to make deals. so I wouldn't get too cute trying to do underslot deals.  Just pay up if it means landing a solid prospect.  We have a solid farm so no need to take lots of risks.  Just go with your board and hope for the best.

[dbminn]

My guess is George Kirby, SP from Elon. Velocity and spin rate. Prototypical SP size at 6'4" and 210 lbs. Jung seems like the other good bet if he makes it to #13.

[NapoleonComplex]

If I'm making the decision and he's still there, Brennan Malone is the pick at #13. The ball comes out of his hand effortlessly. 

[RatherBeGolfing]

 

I don't see the Twins taking a HS pitcher with their first pick, the bust risk is just too high. My guess is the Twins end up picking one of Stott, Manoah, Jung, or Thompson.

 

Agreed, HS pitcher would probably be the bigger surprise from the four main categories to see them go with.