#adley davis

[moregraceful]

I name all of my snake plants after Baltimore Orioles players because...I don't know why I do that.....anyway Adley (she/her pronouns according to my parents) and Adam Jones are making the trip with me but Chris Davis is TOO BIG FOR THE CAR and I'm so sad now. That was my emotional support snake plant through my FMLA leave. He has seen the worst of me (mental illness, forgot to water him for a month) and survived. Now he's like four feet tall and I have to leave him behind because he is so big that he takes up more than a third of my luggage space in the car 🥲 I took such good care of him that now he has to live independent of me. Goodbye Chris Davis I will think of you fondly as I encourage Adley to grow big and strong.

[ramblingsmlb]

The Awe-Inspiring Potential of the Baltimore Orioles (And how the front office can mess it up)

As the 2022 season winded down to a close, the annual clinching of postseason berth time began. The Dodgers, who went to win 111 games, the most since the Mariners won a record 116 games in 2001, clinched on September 12th. Next, the Houston Astros clinched on September 16th, and the New York Mets clinched the postseason on September 20th. These, of course, were not shocking. The Dodgers, Astros, and Mets ranked 2nd, 9th, and 1st in overall payroll.

And on September 30th, with the Mariners clinching postseason berth and ending a 21 year playoff drought, the Baltimore Orioles were eliminated. No one expected the Orioles to get this far, the Orioles, whose payroll ranked 28th out of 30 MLB teams, a third of which was going to Chris Davis, who was being paid to not play as a result of one of the worst contracts in the modern era, in what was the best division in baseball.

No one expected this Orioles team to be competitive, but now they've forced the front office's hand in the matter. This team's young talent that comes up in the next two years is unparalleled, after picking 11th, 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 1st again in the Draft the last five years, the Orioles have the ability to build a true juggernaut in the next couple of years.

However, as much as I'd like to have the Orioles succeed, I do have concerns, concerns that link up to the very top of the organization.

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MLB LEVEL

On the major league roster, the Orioles have managed to unlock some key players that they project to keep for a while. Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, Ramon Urias, and impressive developments in the bullpen all give me hope for the team's development at the major league level.

None of the pieces mentioned are excellent players. The best is probably Cedric Mullins, and none of these players are stars, but they're all average to above-average players that came into the season with little to no real expectations, and showed that they can be serious contributors to this team.

In the outfield, it seems to be held up by Anthony Santander, Cedric Mullins, and Austin Hays. Santander has had a couple good offensive years now, hitting 33 HRs in 2022 with a 120 wRC+. Santander has an average hit tool, and isn't a great athlete or defender, but his bat gives him enough power to be a significant contributor, and he doesn't strike out much.

Austin Hays is boring, but good. Hays is about average with everything, hit tool, power, arm, speed, and field, but he's a solid contributor in the league's weakest position of left field.

I don't know what Cedric Mullins is. I think it's pretty clear he's a very good player. Plus speed, plus glove give him a very high floor, and he's proven that he can buoy that with at least average offensive prowess, but is there more there? Mullins was a 136 wRC+ and 6 fWAR player in 2021, with plus power and a plus hit tool. In 2022, the power and the hit tool regressed back to a 106 wRC+, though he still posted a 3.4 fWAR. In all likelihood, Mullins will never have a season like 2021 again. That being said, can he be a consistent 4 WAR player and his offense becomes more 110-120 wRC+ rather than 95-105 wRC+? We'll see. I don't have a confident opinion in favor of one side or another.

In the infield, the starters project to be Ryan Mountcastle at first base, Adam Frazier at second base, Jorge Mateo at shortstop, Gunnar Henderson at third base, and Adley Rutschman at catcher.

I really like Ryan Mountcastle. Another player who seemingly came out of nowhere, Mountcastle was a pretty good offensive player who was negatively impacted by the wall getting moved back in left field. Mountcastle projects to be an average to above average offensive performer, and about an average first baseman.

Adam Frazier is a decent player, a slap hitter with average defense, average run tool, and no power. Frazier hit .309 with a 113 wRC+ on 2021 split between the Pirates and the Padres, but struggled with a 81 wRC+ in 2022 with the Mariners. I do expect Frazier to bounce back from his dismal 2022 season, I don't expect much offensively, maybe 95-105 wRC+, but not amazing potential or upside. He's solid, that's it.

Jorge Mateo is a weird shortstop. Defensively, he's nasty, and his speed and base running is top notch, but he doesn't have a bat. Mateo's career high in wRC+ is 83, he strikes out 26-30% of the time, and doesn't walk. He'll have bursts of power, but he strikes out and struggles to make contact too much to the point when he's unable to maintain hot streaks. Mateo is a stopgap until the Orioles find someone better at the very least. I would personally be shocked if he started 2023 with the Orioles, and I would be pleased if he wasn't starting after the Trade Deadline because they traded for a better shortstop.

I'll save Gunnar Henderson for the farm system overview, so I'll move on to Adley Rutschman. The common pattern with the Orioles is that there's a lot of average players, offensively and pitching-wise, but that ends with Adley Rutschman, who is a top three catcher as of this moment. Personally, I do think that Adley Rutschman was a better prospect than Julio Rodriguez coming into 2022, and he lived up to expectations for me. Gold Glove caliber defense behind the dish with a plus arm, his defensive value is immense. Offensively, the ceiling is MVP-level. A certified 60-65 hit tool, plus power, and incredibly impressive plate discipline for a rookie, with a 13.8% walk rate that ranked 11th of all major leaguers, an 18.3% strikeout rate that's 4% below league average, his wRC+ finishing at 133. Adley Rutschman is a top thirty player in the league, and if he taps into his plus power more, that's a certified 6+ WAR player and a perennial MVP candidate. This is the guy. This is the kind of guy you build around. This is a star.

Offense (20-80 Scale): 53

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On the pitching side, there is genuine concern. Kyle Gibson, a 35 year old pitcher coming off a bad year, is their ace. I do think Gibson isn't bad, but he's a #4. Beyond that, it's Kyle Bradish, who's a #5, Dean Kramer, who's a #5, Tyler Wells shouldn't be in the rotation, and then there's two wild cards in DL Hall and Grayson Rodriguez, who I strongly believe they should both start 2023 in the rotation. Grayson Rodriguez does not need conditioning in Triple A. He has nothing to prove in Triple A. DL Hall has nothing to prove in Triple A. Both are Top 100 Prospects who you need to build the weakest part of your team around.

Rotation (20-80 Scale): 44

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The bullpen is actually surprisingly good. I like Felix Bautista, I like Dillon Tate, I like Cionel Perez, I like Bryan Baker. We'll see with Mychel Givens. I'm more middle of the pack with the other guys who start in the bullpen, but they developed those four in 2023 and made them the focal point of the bullpen, which is typically a very healthy sign for an organization. If you can find and develop bullpen players one year, you can typically do it again.

Bullpen (20-80 Scale): 54

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THE FARM SYSTEM:

As of right now, the Orioles have a consensus top three farm system in the game, with, at least I believe, eight top 100 prospects: Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez, Jackson Holliday, Colten Cowser, Jordan Westburg, DL Hall, Coby Mayo, and Heston Kjerstead.

Gunnar Henderson is the one player I didn't mention on the 2023 opening day roster, their projected third baseman. Gunnar Henderson, in my opinion, is my #1 prospect in MLB. A certified plus hit tool, plus power, plus speed, plus arm, and plus defense, I view Gunnar Henderson about as good of a prospect as Bobby Witt Jr. was entering 2022, maybe a touch worse, who I saw as the #3 prospect in 2022. Henderson flashes incredible athleticism and shocking speed for a guy who's getting 45-50 grades from public platforms. Henderson also flashed a top notch arm and raw defensive potential at three positions. While he's a plus third baseman, could he be an adequate shortstop, or an adequate second baseman? We'll see about that, but he has a decent chance of either of those working out. The ceiling with him is a bona fide star, and maybe there's a five tool player. Again, with Rutschman and Rodriguez, these are all star-level players you build around.

Grayson Rodriguez would have an excellent argument for #1 prospect in baseball if he hadn't gotten an oblique injury that wiped out three months from his 2022. Grayson Rodriguez has gotten legitimate comps to the likes of Gerrit Cole, with four pitches at least plus. His fastball projects as plus to double plus, his slider plus to double plus, his changeup plus to double plus, his curveball as plus, with premium command you simply don't find with this kind of stuff. To put it simply, Grayson Rodriguez is a raw, generational pitching talent, who's proved it at every level. There's zero reason to keep him in Triple A to begin the year with the Orioles' mediocre rotation pieces. Grayson Rodriguez has the ability to establish himself as a top pitcher in the league if given the choice by his team.

Jackson Holliday was the most recent #1 pick in the draft, a high school shortstop with incredible helium and upside, with strong bloodline connections to All-Star and borderline Hall of Famer Matt Holliday. Holliday's tools are hard to quantify at this point, but there's massive upside that comes with the fact that he likely won't make an impact at the major league level for at least three years.

Colton Cowser is a former top college performer, a real offensive force who's rocketed through the minors since his Drafting in 2021, reaching Triple A in 2022. Cowser was initially a hit-over-power outfielder with good tools across the board who turned into more of a power-over-hit guy in 2022, striking out 25% of the time, but hitting 19 HRs in 138 games. Overall, a very good prospect who probably moves to left or right field, where he projects to be average to above average defensively.

Jordan Westburg is a strong offensive performer with a low-ceiling, high floor projection. I view Westburg as a budget Gunnar Henderson, a certified infielder who splits time evenly between second base, third base, and shortstop. Westburg projects to be a solid offensive contributors, but doesn't scream "impact." Westburg flashed plus power and spent significant time at Triple A, which he succeeded in, though his hit tool may be squarely average.

DL Hall is an intriguing prospect, a small lefty arm with big stuff, whose ceiling projects as a strong #3, while his floor is a high-leverage reliever. DL Hall is a fairly divisive prospect who some label as a potential middle of the rotation starter, while others say that he's a multi inning or high-leverage reliever. I don't lean either way, but he pitched 13.2 innings in 2022, with a big fastball, big curveball, and intriguing changeup. His 5.93 ERA is contested by a 1.65 FIP, a 2.57 xERA, a 2.84 xFIP, a 29.7% K rate, and a 46.2% GB rate, though those numbers are from a small sample size where he pitched out of the bullpen most of the time. There is command concerns (5.1 BB/9 in the minors, 9.7% BB rate at majors), and injury concern, given how he's never pitched over 100 innings in a major league season, but if he's healthy, there's no reason not to start DL Hall in the rotation to the begin the year.

Coby Mayo is a high upside, low floor third base prospect who got people excited when he mashed in 2021 after getting drafted. While Mayo has big power and a big arm, the athleticism is below average, which may force him to first base in the future if it continues to trend downhill. Coby Mayo has maxed out at Double A, meaning I would personally be surprised if he made significant impact to the Orioles in 2022, also given that the Orioles have quite a lot of third base depth with Ramon Urias, Gunnar Henderson, and Jordan Westburg all in front of Mayo on the depth chart.

Heston Kjerstead is an intriguing outfield prospect. Selected #2 underslot in the 2020 draft, Kjerstead was projected to be a big power, high upside outfielder that would rush to the majors. However, Heston Kjerstead didn't play in 2020 due to the shortened COVID season, and suffering from myocarditis, a heart inflammation issue, he didn't begin playing until June 2022, and the Orioles want to take it slow with him, ease him back into earning back valuable development time. Kjerstead mashed in Single A, but struggled in a 43 game stint in High A, all of which shouldn't be taken too seriously. Kjerstead is at least a year and a half from the majors on the low end, and all now is being used for is regaining the time he lost.

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FARM SUMMARY:

To be frank, I believe this is the best farm system in the league, with an incredible mix of high-end talent, upper minors talent, outfielder, infielder, lefties, righties, and pitching talent.

When it comes to development, I'll admit it, I'm truly impressed. The Orioles' strategy of going under slot in the draft has certainly paid off. While the Orioles have had their success with their first round talents, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, and Coby Mayo are all prime examples of talent they've properly developed outside of the first round. The Orioles have the best position player prospect, and the best pitching prospect in the league, which, to be honest, is all they really need if the front office is open to augmenting the roster with major free agency upgrades, but the depth just provides more floor and more ceiling at the same time.

However, management of this depth and their prospects is where I could possibly see a disconnect between me and the front office. I project that Gunnar Henderson, DL Hall, Grayson Rodriguez, Colton Cowser, and Jordan Westburg will make impact at the major league level, unless any of them deal with significant injury. As of right now, though, I would start Henderson at third base, and start both DL Hall and Grayson Rodriguez in the rotation, while giving Cowser and Westburg just a touch more developmental time in Triple A before getting called up in May or June. That being said, I'm not sure either DL Hall or Grayson Rodriguez start on the roster to being 2022, which would make me furious.

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HOW THEY CAN FAIL:

This is as good of a foundation as you can draw up, to put it simply. It's a better foundation than the Mariners had after 2021. The Orioles have a star at the major league level right now in Rutschman. The Orioles have literally no payroll on the books. The Orioles have waves set up to impact the majors right now. Now is the time to be aggressive, to start your guys, Hall and Rodriguez, in the rotation. Why not? This is your window! You have four pieces I consider significant enough to keep at their respective positions, Rutchsman (Catcher), Mullins (Center Field), Santander (Right Field), and Henderson (Third Base), with Cowser ready to supplant Hays in left field if necessary, and Westburg ready to man any of second base, third base, or shortstop.

These are your guys. This is your basis. This is what you rely on. This a perfect storm that can begin the creation of a true powerhouse. You have every tool at your disposal.

However, I'm deeply disturbed by a couple aspects of this plan. First, why haven't you tried to signed Rutschman to an extension? Now is the perfect time to do it. There's not concern about whether he'll succeed or not. He will. Where's the downside with a Rutschman extension?

Secondly, why are you playing passive in free agency? You have the second lowest payroll in baseball, only ahead of the pit of depression and endless famine that is the Oakland Athletics, and you've spent $140M+ in payroll in the past, which means that you're more than capable of spending $170M+ in payroll now. I don't want $170M in payroll in 2023. That would be rash. That being said, just raise it past $100M. Why weren't you aggressive with Carlos Rodon? Why weren't you aggressive with Chris Bassitt? Jose Quintana? Taijuan Walker? Jameson Taillon? Crying cheap isn't getting you any sympathy here.

Am I supposed to believe that you're satisfied with your rotation being a #4, three #5s, and a guy who shouldn't be pitching in a major league rotation in Tyler Wells? What are you really doing with an Adam Frazier signing? Why are you radio silent in the trade market? There's plenty of second base options on the trade market. Kolten Wong was available. Jorge Polanco is likely available. Both are better than Frazier, who got the same deal as Rich Hill, which would've been a significantly better signing than Frazier.

Why weren't you invested in the shortstop market more? Am I really supposed to believe that you were priced out of Dansby Swanson, a 2-3 WAR better option than Jorge Mateo? Hell, why not Jacob deGrom or Justin Verlander? It's aggressive, but you have more than enough payroll space where that doesn't hurt you. Am I supposed to believe that your spending ability has DECREASED since 2018?

To put it bluntly, I love this Orioles team's future. I like the players who're at the major league level. I like their general development, from fringe starters to top prospects to relievers. That being said, I hate how this team is crying cheap, and how they're playing this incredibly passive. In my opinion, this shows that this front office isn't committed to winning in 2023. They're trying to see if this team's good before spending on it. That's the wrong way to go about it. You have your team. You have your system. You know your strengths, you know your weaknesses, and your weakness is clearly lying in offensive impact and the starting rotation. You do not need another average player in Adam Frazier. You need a guy who'll give you a 120 wRC+, or a #3's production in the rotation.

That being said, is the offseason over? No. Can they do more? Of course. Do I expect them to? "I'm not sure" is the unfortunate answer. I think this team has a wonderful foundation, but we'll see whether the front office wants that to blossom in 2023 or not.

[dritacircle]

Jacob nottingham

Power was his known calling card, and the high batting average was just a bonus. In 2015, Nottingham put up a monster season in High-A with Oakland, finishing with a. But he’s still young and has the potential to be a quality big league backstop soon enough. Things haven’t quite gone as planned for Nottingham. He seemed to be a fast riser, primed for the big leagues sooner rather than later. Hopes were high for the then-20 year old backstop who had already reached Double-A. 9 prospect, catcher Jacob Nottingham.īack in February 2016, the Milwaukee Brewers traded slugging outfielder Khris Davis to Oakland for pitcher Bubba Derby, and catching prospect Jacob Nottingham. Reviewing the Brew is ranking the Top 15 Milwaukee Brewers prospects heading into the 2019 season. 150/.222/.400, with a strikeout rate of 44.4% in that tiny sample size.By David Gasper 3 years ago Follow Tweet In 2021, amidst all that traveling, he got 45 plate appearances over 15 games. Over the past four seasons, Nottingham has only gotten into 53 games at the big league level, hitting eight home runs and slashing. In the middle of June, he finally cleared waivers and was outrighted. He was claimed by the Mariners a second time and then, just over week later, designated yet again. Seattle traded him back to Milwaukee, who designated him yet again after less than two weeks. He was claimed by the Mariners and then designated for assignment again a few days later. Having exhausted his option years, he was designated for assignment by the Brewers in April. He made his MLB debut in 2018 and spent three years as a frequently-optioned depth catcher, appearing in 38 total games over the 2018-2020 campaigns.Ģ021 saw Nottingham be the centerpiece of a game of hot potato between the Brewers and Mariners. A few months later, Oakland sent him to Milwaukee as part of the Khris Davis deal. In 2015, he was shipped to the Athletics as part of the trade that sent Scott Kazmir to Houston. Nottingham, 26, was selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2013 draft. That means Nottingham has a decent path to some playing time in the big leagues next year. However, they will need some other catching options on hand to cover the position until his call-up, or to act as backup to Rutschman later in the year. The club has the consensus top prospect in baseball, Adley Rutschman, set to debut at some point in 2022 after he finished this year in Triple-A. Austin Wynns and Nick Ciuffo, who were also in the mix, were both outrighted off the roster at the end of the season. Chance Sisco got some playing time in the first half of the year but was claimed on waivers by the Mets in June. In 2021, most of the time behind the dish went to Pedro Severino, who was outrighted at the end of the season and has since signed with the Brewers. They don’t currently have any catchers on their 40-man roster. Nottingham spent some of 2021 in the big leagues with the Brewers and Mariners but was outrighted in June, thus making him eligible to sign a minor league deal during the ongoing lockout.Īlthough it’s a minor league deal, it’s noteworthy for the Orioles given their catching situation. The Orioles have signed catcher Jacob Nottingham to a minor league deal, according to Roch Kubatko of. Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022.

[crystaldwightsworld]

Adam, post surgery, on medical leave...

So... I’ve got this whole, weird, crazy, obviously non canon idea in my head for something I wanna do.

It’s obvious that Adam is struggling even after the 6 months of medical leave Sarif has given him but what’s been on my mind is, what’s he been doing in the 6 months prior?

Surely, drinking up a storm, smoking and eating massive amounts of cereal to try and manage to cope but I can’t imagine the amount of pain he must have been in in adjusting to his augmentations. I mean, severe pain, agony and anguish. Not to mention the clear breakdown he has the first night he gets home from the clinic. I’m talking a severe breakdown, crying, beating on the wall of his shower, wailing, angry and pained tears. It’s all he can do on most days other than get out of bed. He’s fallen to the bottom pit of a depressive state that he can’t even be bothered to clean up after himself (i.e. the piles of empty cereal bowls strewn about counter tops and tables, unpacked belongings, etc), let alone look at himself (the first broken mirror). Adam loathes his augs, suffers greatly with body dysphoria now that more than half his body is gone and replaced with mechanical limbs he never consented to but on top of all of it, his ex-girlfriend is gone, whom he was really good friends with even after the break up. Even his dog is gone.

He’s become aware of how serious his neglect is getting. As much as he’d like to handle it on his own and as much as he prefers being a loner, there’s a big part of him that knows he can’t, especially when he has more days where he just wants nothing more than to lay in bed. So, he hires somebody. A maid in such words but she’s more like a house sitter but also called on to be a caregiver for Adam, to Adam. Her name is Adley and even though Adam isn’t quite sure at first with how young she is (she’s 24, yes, major age difference, if that bothers you, then I understand) she adheres and abides by his politely requested rules in keeping his apartment tidy and kempt following in keeping an eye on him, his health and his daily exercises in adjusting with his augs. It’s a long, grueling six months for them both but she’s been better than he would have ever asked for. She’s extremely mindful in keeping his privacy in mind, knocks on the door before entering, doesn’t touch anything she’s not supposed to or rearranging his possessions, keeps his extensive collection of cereals in stock, makes sure he takes his medicine and eats all while being even as quiet as he is, unless she’s playing music that she politely asks to play while she works on her surroundings, trip-hop she called it, some bands he’s never heard of, massive attack and unkle (to which he’s caught her on more than one occasion dancing to while she worked, and yes, he finds it rather cute). He appreciates her but doesn’t quite know how to show or tell her. She does more for him other than provide a service.

Adley, on the other hand, likes Adam, has grown to admire him. Like, really likes him although it’s something she’d never admit to anyone. She genuinely cares for him and his well being and has shown it to him, even in his supposed unawareness of it (i.e. covering him with a blanket after he’s fallen asleep on the couch or in his bed, closing the door and hardly bothering him on days where his pain levels are too much to handle, chatting with him in the early hours of the morning through messenger or skype when he can’t sleep, sending him memes she knows he’d find funny). Adam’s augmentations don’t bother her but when she shows up one afternoon after Adam’s taken off to an appointment at a LIMB clinic, she discovers just how serious his self loathe really is when she finds the mirror in his bathroom shattered to pieces, cracked and broken with one perfectly shaped impact of what she thinks is his fist. It’s not hard for her to put two and two together. Adam hated himself and would rather destroy a reflective surface than catch a glimpse of himself in it. It breaks her heart, especially since she found him more than attractive, augs or no augs, she’d feel the same. She’d worked hard to gain Adam’s trust and now that she has it, she feels that she might be jeopardizing it by bringing up concerns.

It bothers her immensely to the point where her bother shifts quickly in worry with a desperate need to tell him, to show him that he shouldn’t... when he does. She brings it up after he arrives back, genuine concern laced in her voice when she questions him about it.

“The mirror... did you- did you break it?”

But, alas, the stoic that he was, he brushes if off immediately and claims that it was nothing. Claims that he’s fine. Retreats to the confines of his room with nothing more than a peep uttered, leaving Adley to her thoughts, confused and conflicted. She knows better than to push him on it.

It’s the third one he’s broken. He hadn’t meant for her to find it. Had forgotten completely that it was one of those days where she made her routine visits. But even then, the mirror still would have been there, she still would have noticed it. He spends nearly the rest of the evening, glaring and gawking at his handiwork, reflecting on the force of his punch, the anger in what was left of his veins, the ache still hiding behind his steel heart (literally). He doesn’t realize just how long he’s been sitting there lost in a daze until she knocks on the frame of his doorway, announcing that she was about to leave for the evening and asking if he needed anything. That was Adley. Always so sweet and kind, worried about him way before she’d be worried about herself. With shoulders still slumped and his back still to her, he finally manages to speak, the first words he’s spoken to her in hours.

“Adley, can I talk to you for a minute?” His raspy low voice asks to her. There’s absolutely no lilt or fall to his tone but her heart nearly sinks to her feet, so certain that this was going to be the last time she’d ever see him, that he was going to fire her. Either way, she steps into the room and makes her way over to him, standing a few feet away from him in waiting for his dismissal, her fingers anxiously fidgeting in her nervousness.

It’s a long, empty and barren silence between them before he finally turns to match her gaze. There was no point in ignoring it any longer.

“I broke the mirror.” He admits. His confession surprises her.

“You’re not firing me?” She asks, to his surprise.

“Of course not, why would I?” He asks, genuinely confused.

“I thought I- I-I don’t know, maybe I had over stepped a line or something.” She brings up, her voice breaking and cracking. She’s nervous, Adam senses. “Why did you break the mirror?”

Adam inhales and sighs heavily, stretching his lengthy legs out in front of him and combing his fingers through his hair. He takes one last quick glance at his destroyed mirror before reminding himself not to look at it and shifting his gaze back to Adley. She’s not expecting it when he retracts his eye shields. She’s never seen him without them.

“Because... because I hate these fucking augs, I hate looking at them, what they make me. They’re apart of me now and there’s nothing I can do about it. I almost died on that table, Adley. They say they saved my life but... with what they had to do to do it, with what they gave me... sometimes I wonder if I’d be better off dead. Should have let me die there. I can hardly stand to look at myself because that’s not me, that’s not... Adam. I- for fuck’s sake, I can’t even jack off, cannot get my goddamn rhythm back- I-” He pauses, realizing what he just said with his mind running rampant with thoughts, he hadn’t even thought twice about what he was saying. Adley still stood there, waiting and listening to him although was now doing a horrible job to hide the smile that had appeared on her lips.

It’s faint, hardly there at all but even in the dim light seeping through his blinds that was the Detroit night, she catches the grin that appears just ask quick as it vanishes, watching Adam close his eyes against the embarrassment.

“I-I’m sorry Adley, I’m sure you don’t wanna listen to me vent and rant.” Adam breaks the awkward silence.

“N-no Adam, it’s okay, really. I don’t mind.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to keep you, if you need to leave-”

“No, I don’t but... Adam.” She says, her gaze lifting towards the bathroom where his broken mirror resided. He catches her glimpse. She has no idea how to put it into words, that his augmented limbs didn’t scare her, how much she adored him, how much she pondered and thought about him, immersed in fantasies and scenarios that would never happen...

“Can I try something? I mean, show you, I don’t know.” She asks him, wanting his permission. He nods. She wastes no time in making herself comfortable in front of him, between his now pulled up knees and... on hers before him. This is, this was highly, highly suggestive but he waits for her, enamored in her tiny frame in the darkness of his bedroom.

Her lacquered fingers lift cautiously and reach for his alloy plated hands. Augmented hands didn’t sense touch the exact same way skin did but either way, he could still feel her hands in his, her flesh chilled but cradling his carbon black fingers with a tenderness he had all but forgotten. She has no idea where this new found confidence was coming from but with her trust that she held with him, she’s not afraid to let her hand explore his forearm, letting his other touch her face as she pushes her cheek against his palm, almost lovingly all the while a gawking Adam stared at her, mouth slightly agape, his heart, artificial or not, thudding rampantly against the steel wall of his chest cavity. She... had no idea what this meant to him, what it felt like to be touched again. He’s so overwhelmed and fixated on her hands on him that he has to remember to tell himself to breathe.

“I don’t see the augs, Adam. I... only see you. Yes, apart of you may be gone, may have been taken from you but... this is still you, this is the Adam I know. Augs or no augs, I’d feel the same way. Trust me when I say that I don’t let just anybody near me like this, let alone touch. I don’t see a machine, a product. I see you, a man, my um- well my friend, I guess, if I’m being honest.” She tells him. Of course if she were really being honest, she’d tell him he was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, that no one compared to him.

He may not show the emotion on his face but it’s written well in his eyes, glimmering in the low light and contracting in taking her in. They’d been close before but nothing like this, nothing intimate. Her hands move to his face, her skin grazing against his and goddamn, he could almost melt with the tiny brushes of her pinky fingers invading into his hair line.

“I can’t change the way you think or feel Adam but... next time, come to me maybe? You know I’m always okay to talk if you need to. A three in the morning skype call has never stopped you before, don’t let this stop you now. Not because you’re paying me but because I want to. That’s what people do when they care for each other. They help the other.”

He’s speechless, has absolutely no idea what to say but he words have touched him somewhere deep down in the wallows of his broken mind. And her hands on his face, he had forgotten what it was like to be touched again. As much as he’s fighting to hold them back, he can’t help the stray tears that roll down his prominent cheeks, Adley’s skinny long fingers brushing them away as she still cradled his face in her hands.

It’s quiet for some time between them, nothing but the sound of Adam’s breathing filling the empty silence. She’s not expecting anything, especially from Adam, he’s always been so guarded and blocked off and she’s more than used to it by now. It nearly knocks the breath out of her lungs when he pulls her to him, his arms hooked underneath her shoulders as he clung to her. She’s more than happy to reciprocate the hug, her arms wrapped around his waist and holding him close, this moment, she had played over so many times in her head yet it had never went this way. Adam was quiet as he held and hugged her to him but she doesn’t mind, even when his hold on her tightens. She’d stay there for as long as he needed her to.

“Stay with me.” His low voice whispers to her in the pregnant silence. Her eyes widen at his request. “Stay with me tonight. Please?” He pleads, his voice longing and desperate.

“Adam, I- I don’t have any clothes with me.” She reminds him.

“You can wear mine.” He offers. She smiles.

“I-I need to shower as well, I should really get going.”

“You can use my shower.” He assures her. Again, she smiles, huffing out a laugh. He pulls away to look at her, his fingers tangling and intertwining with hers. “Please, stay with me. I don’t want you to go.”

She can’t say no to that.

“Alright, Adam. I’ll stay.”

As much as he preferred being alone, he felt comforted to know that she’d be there in the morning with him. Maybe they could cuddle in bed together until noon, get up and make breakfast together. Well, she could teach him, at least.

“Well, if I’m gunna be staying here, we need to figure out the food situation. I don’t know about you but I’m starving. You wanna order take out?” Adley suggests, pulling away and standing.

“What, no cereal?” Adam chides.

“Adam, I am not eating cereal for dinner!” Adley whines as she makes her way back out into his kitchen.

“Why not? It’s good!”

“Adam!”

He joins her back out in the kitchen, looking and searching through the massive collection of restaurant menus he had stockpiled. It’s the happiest he’s felt in months. He couldn’t wait to wake up next to her in the morning.

[nia1sworld]

Hey I did a draw the squad with my Ocs this time!

[reportwire]

The Orioles have officially posted their first winning month in almost five years

The Orioles have officially posted their first winning month in almost five years

Congrats to these men for (checks notes) finishing the month with a winning record for the first time in five years.Image: Getty Images The Baltimore Orioles haven’t been good for several years now. The last time they reached the playoffs was 2016. The last time they reached the ALCS, they got swept by the Royals and they’ve finished last in their division in four of the last five seasons. Being…

[themlb]

#MLBVideos: "See ya ball! See ya! Bye bye!" | MIC'D UP Futures Game with Adley Rutschman, Jarred Kelenic & more!

rawchili.com

[conlasbasesllenas]

Así sería el lineup de los Orioles de Baltimore para la temporada

Así sería el lineup de los Orioles de Baltimore para la temporada Por Kevin Mora (@kevinmoraf) #Orioles #Baltimore #BaltimoreOrioles #RenatoNuñez #AnthonySantander #HanserAlberto

Los Orioles de Baltimore se preparan para otra temporada gris en la División Este de la Liga Americana si llega a jugarse la temporada.

No solo por el equipo que tienen, se le suma que en tú misma división están los Yankees, Tampa Bay y los Medias Rojas, por lo tanto el sueño de clasificar, por ahora es solo eso, un sueño.

Latinos comandarán a los Orioles durante la campaña

Los latinos serán la…

[twins2994]

MLB Futures Game 7.11.21

American League Lineup National League Lineup

1.) Bobby Witt Jr. SS      1.) Alex Thomas LF

2.) Jarred Kelenic LF     2.) Jose Berrero SS

3.) Julio Rodriguez RF   3.) Nolan Gorman 3B

4.) Adley Rutschman C  4.) Luis Campusano C

5.) Nick Pratto 1B           5.) Michael Harris CF

6.) Yoelqui Cespedes DH 6.) Brennen Davis RF

7.) Riley Greene CF         7.) Ryan Vilade DH

8.) Spencer Torkelson 3B  8.) Bryson Stott 2B

9.) Xavier Edwards 2B       9.) Michael Toglia 1B

SP Cole Winn RHP          SP Matthew Liberatore LHP

(2-3) 2.49 ERA                (3-5) 3.79 ERA

(2021 AA Stats)               (2021 AAA Stats)

-Chris Kreibich-

[insidethegiftbasket]

Yankees (9-12) at Orioles (9-12)

Game One – Monday at 705pm on YES: Deivi Garcia (first start) vs Matt Harvey (1-1, 5.12 ERA)

Game Two – Tuesday at 705pm on WPIX: Corey Kluber (0-2, 5.40 ERA) vs Bruce Zimmerman (4.57 ERA) Game Three – Wednesday at 705pm on YES: Domingo German (1-2, 6.23 ERA) vs TBD (Likely Dean Kremer, who is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA)

Game Four – Thursday at 105pm on YES and MLBN: Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 4.57 ERA) vs Jorge Lopez (1-3, 8.15 ERA)

Orioles Injury Report

RHP Mac Sceroler – On the 10 Day IL with shoulder tendinitis, no timetable for return

RHP Hunter Harvey – On the 60 Day IL with a strained oblique, no timetable for return

OF Anthony Santander – On the 10 Day IL with a sprained ankle, expected back in the middle of May

DH Chris Davis – On the 60 Day IL with a strained back, no timetable for return

Orioles Pitching

Baltimore’s pitching is similar to the Yankees in a few ways—they are 15th in baseball in ERA, don’t walk a lot of guys, their bullpen has been pretty strong, but their rotation is one really good pitcher and four meh ones. Luckily for the Yanks, their really good pitcher (Means) started on Sunday and will miss the series.

Tuesday’s starter is Matt Harvey, who is someone I’m not sure why he continues to get opportunities to be a starter in Major League Baseball? Harvey has his best ERA+ since his heyday in 2015 this year, at a whopping 84 ERA+. The one thing he’s been really good at the last few years is his walk rate, which this year is all the way down to 3.4%. However, his walk rate being that low is honestly a really bad thing:

Throwing a 93mph fastball in the middle of the zone over and over again is a really easy way to get lit up, and people aren’t exactly missing on the fastball—it has a 14.7% whiff rate and a 42.9% hard hit rate.

On Tuesday, the Yankees face Bruce Zimmerman, a lefty who employs a 4seam, a change, a curve, and a slider. His pitches all have below average movement, his fastball is only 91mph, but he does a decent job of nibbling on the corners—Zimmerman is in the 89th percentile in chase rate, which helps keep his hard hit numbers relatively low at 39.5% despite his bad stuff.

Orioles bullpen has been pretty good this year, led by “We have Darren O’Day at home” Cesar Valdez. Valdez, who’s played all over the world before coming back to the Orioles last year at 35 years old, mixes in a lot of junk from a weird angle and gets good results.

From his last appearance vs the Yankees (where he went 2.1 innings, with just 2 hits, no walks, one unearned run, and got three strike outs to get the win):

He’s gone to using his change up 81.6% of the time, and that’s a 78 mile per hour pitch with 50.3 inches of drop. That change up has an average exit velocity of 88.5 mph and an average launch angle of 2 degrees, which helps get him his 61.5% ground ball rate. He’s only walking 2.6% of batters and hasn’t allowed a single barrel this season. He’ll mix in an 85mph sinker and a 77mph slider every now and then, but he’s just giving a different look than what anyone else is doing and it’s been successful for him.

Orioles Lineup

Baltimore hasn’t exactly been laying the lumber this year—they are 29th in OPS+ at 81, t26th in homers with 17, t28th in walks with 48, and have the sixth most strikeouts at 199.

They’ve had some good performers this year, especially Cedric Mullins, but their best hitters this season have been falling off over the past couple weeks.

Worrying for the O’s however is that the prospects that they’ve had called up this year have not been hitting well at all. They have four players on their current team that could be thought of being parts of the next good Orioles team: Ryan Mountcastle, Austin Hays, Anthony Santander, and Ryan McKenna. Of those four, McKenna (the lowest ranked prospect of the group) has the best OPS+ at 59 so far this season. The Orioles do have Adley Rutschman as one of the best prospects in baseball in a couple years to be their everyday catcher, but they don’t really have any top end prospects that should be up this season, and it could be a couple more really rough years in the Charm City.

Yankees Breakdown: Clint Frazier and Brett Gardner

Those are not exactly some good numbers by the potential starting LF for the Yankees. Clint is currently tied for the 9th worst player in fWAR this season at -0.3, and despite being in the 89th percentile in walk rate (16.1%) he’s been pretty bad at about everything else.

Clint has had 28 balls in play this season in 56 PA—those six balls in play are the only ones with at least a .500 xBA. Of his seven hits, three of them are bloop hits, three of them are infield grounders he beat out, and one was a sharp hit double along the line. He’s swinging at 65% of meatballs and at 53.8% of pitches in the zone. 

He’s taking too many pitches, and when he does get something to drive he’s either hitting it weakly (77.6mph average exit velocity) or hitting it straight up:

He’s also been awful at fielding with a -3 OAA, catching only 76% of the expected 87% of one to three star catches he should have made. He’s getting -4.6 feet of jump vs the average player, which is far and away the worst of any qualified outfielder (he’s over a foot worse than the second worst outfielder.)

Gardner unfortunately hasn’t done much better- despite the hot start, he has just one hit since April 11th and only two walks. His strikeout rate has continued to increase year over year (up to 25% now) and he’s not doing exactly putting the ball in play a lot either:

Luckily for Gardner’s sake, he’s at least been a good outfielder—0 OAA (which for the Yankees is actually good) and is making 2% more plays than expected. He’s lost some speed, but his reaction time has been really good to keep him as a viable defensive option.

[444names]

american names starting with letters from "a" to "m" BUT excluding "c"

Adley Adrenn Adrey Aggilex Alaryan Alberla Aldawn Aldrine Aleene Aleigh Alernah Alexany Alfrette Alianny Alifton Allaris Allie Almant Alvie Alvine Alvirett Amabeunie Ambery Amirennie Amyrol Anarinda Andebona Andon Andran Andys Angeoree Anger Anifer Aniftonie Annaria Annielsan Anordany Apris Aprista Apristal Argarla Arlose Arria Artien Asona Audele Auristie Bardo Barlah Barlan Belie Bendra Benrie Bered Berentony Berisy Berite Berithan Bermayl Berna Bernettie Berrystie Bette Bever Bielmamie Billiandy Bladral Blaudie Blene Bobbille Bobbyrta Bonie Bonna Borena Borey Brandan Brannie Brantona Bredix Bremireen Brena Bristinge Bristy Brita Brudrea Daight Dailba Daill Daithel Daleennie Dalel Danez Darine Darleoren Darrise Davel Davie Debby Debob Debrald Debrie Debrise Delarly Deloina Dentona Deren Derne Dethan Dolannie Donie Donstanne Dorek Duadange Dwarbarle Dwarlie Dwartia Eannanda Ebobbilla Eddiamy Edebra Edgaron Edgay Edine Eduara Edwarrie Edwig Eitalvine Elada Elandsa Eleene Eleorgia Elifforea Ellie Ellin Ellio Ellion Elsayle Elvinto Emmarana Emmildi Erbette Erestine Erles Erletty Errew Esirk Euliste Eunie Evelillix Everna Everne Faine Floistin Flolix Flord Flore Floret Florry Flose Flosey Flothy Fralyney Frangen Frann Fredia Fredo Freen Freght Frethry Gabetta Ganard Garandary Garlan Gaytonie Gelie Gendawn Gendora Gennetta Genny Genryn Geris Geriste Giela Gielles Gilia Ginnie Glathy Glauria Gleene Glene Glorgandy Gored Gorgin Granna Greenny Gregha Grenryl Greslian Gwena Gwenne Gwennie Gwenton Hadregora Halvine Hanna Harlan Harlen Harna Harra Haryan Hazela Heate Heliltona Helle Henna Henrya Heranne Hermant Herna Heroyd Herree Herth Hewight Hewiste Holorgin Howarlor Howaytope Huarrysty Huren Iredia Irmaurti Jaildie Jaimmy Jaith Jamber Jambette Janan Jantona Javey Javineve Jealbevey Jeanny Jeargay Jeatte Jeffelory Jeffer Jefforie Jefin Jefinth Jenjany Jenryl Jerian Jerne Jerollen Jerrie Jertrudia Jessayn Jeste Jestianne Jestinth Jilbet Jille Jimberome Jimberti Joandana Joandsa Joanie Joant Joelin Joelis Johnn Johnna Johnne Jorolaree Joromel Josea Josey Joyan Juanoly Juarisey Judebon Judendo Judingene Julany Julianie Julin Julindse Junette Justi Karia Karisonne Karley Karold Karookeve Karryste Karyla Katene Katerlarl Katheline Kathes Kathlen Katrudel Katte Kattiany Kattin Kattisa Kayton Keilyssie Kelie Kelin Kelyn Kendored Kendy Kenetta Kenista Kenne Kennie Keresus Kimmine Kirion Kriantony Krielise Kristh Krithelin Ladena Ladleank Laine Landony Landra Lanie Lanna Lathad Laudelia Laudy Laver Laverene Leanie Leenda Leenniert Leiguad Leitt Lelestie Leonna Leord Leoren Leslielan Lesta Lianna Lianne Liell Liette Lillay Lizabette Loine Loinessa Loisabean Loisaye Lolia Lololy Loran Lorann Loreddia Loreendy Loren Loresie Loria Lorrie Losephia Losey Loshart Lotte Lottelan Lotty Luison Lulia Lulionne Maberi Mabra Mabreth Mabria Madle Maelathia Maggill Magne Manna Manthery Marene Marin Maris Marlauri Marle Marlennad Marleonne Marly Marne Marold Marottana Marre Marri Marrie Marris Marry Marryley Marthy Martle Marvina Matera Matherne Mathy Matrie Matrin Maured Maxie Maxis Maxistie Megorey Melbenris Melen Melina Meliste Mellen Mellene Melley Mellix Mellored Melvidane Merna Mertrudia Mikarie Mikathen Mikattie Milbestin Millie Millyd Minessira Mineva Miradley Molor Monite Monne Morana Muraly Murth Myrold

[nia1sworld]

More BATIM ocs

Yes I'll be making more so let me do it

Names:

In part 22:

Isaac Jaxon (50')

Angeline Alayna (13)

Blake Nadler (11)

Alexandera "Cali" Evangeline (47)

In part 23:

Cora Piper (31)

Benjamin Washington (41)

Adley Stone (15)

Penny Zya (22)

Cameron Colton (22)

Flora Maybelle (43)

In part 24:

Mitcher Goodards (6)

Gottlieb Ahmed (8)

Lisa Davies (33)

Jasmine Rivera (36)

Hanna Bell (25)

[milehighdad]

2021 MLB Prospect ranking #1.

Adley Rutschman(#25 Baltimore Orioles Prospect #1).  C.  2019 MLB Draft Overall #1.  2021 MLB All Star Futures Game.

2021 プロスペクトランキング#１。

アドリー・ラッチマン(#25 ボルティモア・オリオールズ・プロスペクト #1 )。捕手。23歳。2019年ドラフト全体１位。2021 メジャーリーグ・オールスター・フューチャーズ・ゲーム。 コール・ウィン(Cole Winn Rangers#3)。バッター、ホセ・バレロ（Jose Barrero MLB#83, Reds#2)。一塁手、マイケル・トグリア（Michael Toglia Rockies#3)。

アメリカンリーグ・ベンチ、ボビー・ウィット・ジュニア(Bobby Witt Jr. MLB#5 Royals#1)、スペンサー・トーケルソン(Spencer Torkelson MLB#2 Tigers#1)、ジャレッド・ケレニック（Jarred Kelenic MLB#4 Mariners#1)。 メジャーリーグドラフト歴代全体１位。

2021 ヘンリー・デービス（C Henry Davis パイレーツ)、2020 スペンサー・トーケルソン（3B Spencer Torkelson タイガース)、2019 アドリー・ラッチマン(C Adley Rutschman オリオールズ）、2018 ケイシー・マイズ (RHP Casey Mize タイガース)、2017 ロイス・ルイス（SS Royce Lewis ツインズ）、2016 ミッキー・モニアック(OF Mickey Moniak フィリーズ）。 2021時点でメジャーリーグでも活躍できたドラフト歴代全体1位。 2015 ダンスビー・スワンソン(SS Dansby Swanson ブレーブス）。2012 カルロス・コレア(SS Carros Correa アストロズ）。2011 ギャリット・コール（RHP Garrit Cole ヤンキース）。2010 ブライス・ハーパー（OF Bryce Harper フィリーズ）。2009 スティーブン・ストラスバーグ（RHP Stephen Strasburg ナショナルズ)。2008 デビッド・プライス（LHP David Price ドジャース）。2005 ジャ���ティン・アプトン(OF Justin Upton エンゼルス）。2001 ジョー・マウアー(C Joe Mauer ツインズ）。2000 エイドリアン・ゴンザレス（1B Adrian Gonzalez ドジャース＆パドレス）。 1999  ジョシュ・ハミルトン(OF Josh Hamilton レンジャース）。 1998 パット・バレル（OF Pat Barrell フィリーズ）。 1995 ダリン・アースタッド(OF Darin Erstad エンゼルス）。 1993 アレックス・ロドリゲス(SS Alex Rodriguez マリナーズ）。 1990 チッパー・ジョーンズ（3B Chipper Jones ブレーブス） 1988 アンディ・ベネス（RHP Andy Benes ダイアモンドバックス）。 1987 ケン・グリフィー・ジュニア(Ken Griffey Jr. マリナーズ）。1980 ダリル・ストロベリー（Darryl Strawberry メッツ）。1978 ボブ・ホーナー(Bob Horner ヤクルト）。

[your-dietician]

2021 MLB Mock Draft: High school shortstops, Vanderbilt arms among the top prospects

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/mlb/2021-mlb-mock-draft-high-school-shortstops-vanderbilt-arms-among-the-top-prospects/

2021 MLB Mock Draft: High school shortstops, Vanderbilt arms among the top prospects

The MLB Draft is just over a week away, and unlike in past years, there is no slam dunk pick for No. 1. 

In past years, it was just a question of how fast the Orioles could announce the pick of Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman (2019) or whether the Tigers would start playing Arizona State hitter Spencer Torkelson at first base or third base (2020). 

This year, there is a strong group of high school shortstops, a pair of exciting Vanderbilt pitchers and a few college bats that could generate some buzz anywhere in the top 10. 

We’re taking our best shot at what the draft will look like when the commissioner reads the first-round picks on July 11. 

MORE: Who is confirmed to swing in the Home Run Derby? 

Here’s our latest projections for a 2021 MLB Draft first round. 

1. Pirates — Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake High (Chula Vista, Calif.)

The discussion around this draft has been that there is no consensus No. 1 pick as there has been in previous years, but the Pirates have been linked to Mayer for a long time. The high school shortstop has one of the best hit tools and some raw power that excites many scouts, especially when combined with his above-average defense at shortstop. 

2. Rangers — Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep (Dallas)

The Rangers are going with the local product second overall here. Lawlar is perhaps a more dynamic talent than Mayer with his speed and power combination, but his hit tool and defense are behind the California product. A shortstop with tons of upside and a home just a few miles from Globe Life Park? It feels like a perfect fit for the rebuilding Rangers. 

3. Tigers — Brady House, SS, Winder-Barrow (Ga.) High

Prep shortstops now round out the top three as the Tigers opt to go for the upside in House’s bat over the dynamic arms of Jack Leiter and Jackson Jobe. House might have to move off shortstop eventually to play third base as he is not the most agile, but his bat will play anywhere on the diamond. House and Spencer Torkelson could make for an enviable middle-of-the-order combination down the road. 

4. Red Sox — Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

The run on high school shortstops finally comes to an end at No. 4 with the Red Sox landing the son of former big leaguer Al Leiter. Vanderbilt’s ace has reportedly wanted to land in Boston and he’ll have the leverage himself down to the Red Sox as the top college arm. He’s so refined on the mound that he might not take long in the minors and could help the resurgent Red Sox earlier than many other prospects in this year’s draft. 

5. Orioles — Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College

The Orioles might be tempted to take the best talent off the board left in catcher Henry Davis of Louisville, even with top catching prospect Adley Rutschman in their system, but Baltimore is saving money and taking the Boston College outfielder early. Baltimore made a similar move last year in reaching to take Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad second overall, but this time instead of power upside, the Orioles go for Frelick and his hit/speed combination. 

6. Diamondbacks — Henry Davis, C, Louisville

Arizona has been linked to other names like Kahlil Watson and Jackson Jobe, but if Davis is available here, the Diamondbacks would probably jump at the chance to take him. He’s a college catcher with a refined hit tool and plus power who should be able to stay at the position as he’s continued to improve behind the plate. Even if he can’t hold up there defensively, Davis offers plenty in the bat to make him worthy of a high pick. 

7. Royals — Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt

With recent high-round picks of Brady Singer, Jackson Kowar and Asa Lacy, the Royals have established they’re big on SEC pitching. It just so happens that a dynamic SEC hurler is available for them to take at this spot. Rocker was already coveted out of high school, and he’s gotten even better with improved command and refined secondary offerings. He might have the most upside of any of the college arms taken by Kansas City in recent years. 

8. Rockies — Kahlil Watson, SS, Wake Forest (N.C.) High

Watson has generated a lot of buzz to go higher than No. 8 and could be a potential pick to go as high as No. 2 to the Rangers, but here, he’s falling to the Rockies. He has flown up prospect rankings of late due to his complete game, with the ability to hit for average and power, his speed and his slick defense at shortstop. The Rockies reportedly want a hitter, and they’d be more than happy with landing Watson. 

9. Angels — Jackson Jobe, RHP, Heritage Hall High (Oklahoma City)

Another team very happy to land a high upside prep player, the Angels watch as Jobe falls to them at No. 9. Evaluators have said Jobe might have the most upside of any pitcher in this class — yes, even higher than the Vandy arms — with premium velocity and the best slider in the draft. Jobe has ace potential and the Angels would welcome the chance to work on developing him into that arm.  

10. Mets — Matt McLain, SS, UCLA

The Mets have been linked to several college bats, as well as prep third baseman Colson Montgomery as a bonus-saving pick, but here they’ll take the top college infielder in this year’s class. McLain came into the 2021 year ranked much higher by evaluators, but got off to a slow start. He put it together near the end of the season and his plus hit tool, speed and the potential to add power could make him an enticing prospect. 

11. Nationals — Ty Madden, RHP, Texas

The Nationals would love it for Jobe to fall to them, but it’s not happening in this mock. Instead, they’re going to draft the top college arm left in Texas’ Ty Madden. The right-hander has mid-90s velocity, a sharp slider and above-average control that makes him a refined pitching prospect and a pitcher many see as being a potential front-of-the-rotation starter. 

12. Mariners — Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston

An outfield of Jarred Kelenic, Kyle Lewis and Taylor Trammell already sounds pretty good. Do the Mariners need more? Well, it’s always best to take the most talented player left and that’s the case with Cowser still on the board. Seattle wants a bat to draft, and Cowser offers one of the best college hit/speed combinations in this year’s class. 

13. Phillies — Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land High (Lewisberry, Pa.)

The Phillies have been consistently linked to the central Pennsylvania product, who might have the most upside of any player in the draft. The hit tool has drawn questions from scouts, but he’s one of the fastest players in the draft, offers tons of raw power and can play above-average defense in center field. 

14. Giants — Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State

After Cowser and Frelick are off the board, San Francisco will probably be looking at Wicks as their pick. Far and away the best left-handed college pitcher in the draft, Wicks has perhaps the class’ best changeup and above-average command. He could be a quick riser in the minors given his advanced feel for pitching and well-rounded repertoire. 

15. Brewers — Harry Ford, C, North Cobb High (Kennesaw, Ga.)

Ford is one of the most interesting players in the draft as a catcher with an above-average run tool and the ability to play any position on the field, including center field. The Brewers have been linked to Ford and would love to add the athletic backstop with the lightning fast bat to their farm system should he fall to them at No. 15. 

16.  Marlins — Will Taylor, OF, Dutch Fork High (Irmo, S.C.)

Reports have indicated it will take a lot to pry Taylor from a dual commitment to play football and baseball at Clemson in the 2021-22 school year, but here, Miami is going to count on being able to sign him away from the Tigers. He’s one of the most athletic players in this year’s draft with one of the best run tools and the ability to develop some more power with more development. 

17. Reds — Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee High (Bogart, Ga.)

The Reds have loved picking dual-threat talents in previous years, with Michael Lorenzen showing off his prowess with the bat as a bonus to his pitching skills and Hunter Greene getting the chance to bat before focusing full-time on pitching. Cincinnati will try the experiment out again with Chandler here, looking to see if the tooled-out shortstop makes more of a statement with the bat or if his lights-out fastball/curveball combo forces the team to look more at his arm. 

18. Cardinals — Will Bednar, RHP, Mississippi State

After a dazzling outing in the final game of the College World Series to help deliver his team the win, Bednar is certainly going to be continuing his rise up prospect rankings. The Cardinals have been linked to several college arms and Bednar with his plus command and standout array of pitches would fit the team’s desire in this draft nicely. 

19. Blue Jays — Sam Bachman, RHP, Miami (Ohio)

Bachman’s slide down the board stops here. The Blue Jays have found success with hard-throwing college arms in the past like Nate Pearson and Alec Manoah, and they’ll jump on Bachman if he’s available in this spot. The Miami (Ohio) product already hits triple-digits and has one of the hardest fastballs in the draft. On top of that, he offers a wipeout slider and above-average changeup to give him a well-rounded repertoire. 

20. Yankees — Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mississippi

Before he went down with Tommy John surgery, Hoglund was viewed as a possible front half of the first round talent. If the Yankees are willing to wait on him to come back from surgery, as they did with South Carolina hurler Clarke Schmidt back in 2017, who also underwent surgery before the draft, they could be getting a steal. His control is among the best in the draft and his repertoire is deep with a plus fastball and slider. 

21. Cubs — Michael McGreevy, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Chicago has also been linked with Florida outfielder Jud Fabian, a risky gamble on a player with upside, but here the Cubs are going the safe route with a pitcher that has drawn comps to fellow Gaucho Shane Bieber. McGreevy draws positive marks for his well above-average control and his fastball/slider combination that could see an increase in velocity with some more development in his 6-foot-4 frame. 

22. White Sox — Colson Montgomery, 3B, Southridge High (Huntingburg, Ind.)

Some rumors have had Montgomery going higher in the draft as a chance for a team to cut a deal and save money for later, but he’s falling down to No. 22 here to the White Sox. Chicago has been linked to the 19-year-old slugging third baseman, who would give the farm system a big upside play as a potential middle-of-the-order bat. 

23. Indians — Jud Fabian, OF, Florida

The Indians have shown a willingness in previous drafts to gamble on upside early over the higher floor players, and that’s what Fabian offers them. A tough 2021 dropped Fabian in rankings from potentially being the first college bat taken to possibly even a second-rounder, but he has tons of raw power and offers the speed needed to play all three outfield positions. If Cleveland can get him to click, it could be getting a steal late in the first. 

24. Braves — Ky Bush, LHP, Saint Mary’s

Atlanta is seemingly linked to arms every year in the draft and have done well with several recent high picks like Mike Soroka and Max Fried having positive impacts on the team. Here, they’re taking the hard-throwing lefty from Saint Mary’s, Ky Bush. If the Braves want to speed him to the big leagues, he could be a weapon out of the bullpen quickly with his fastball/slider combination, or they could work him as a starter over time. 

25. Athletics — Alex Mooney, SS, St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake Village, Mich.)

Mooney has made quite a rise up prospect rankings with his quick swing and a well-rounded game at shortstop. Oakland has been linked to a number of different bats and Mooney could fit what the A’s are looking for as a player that offers some upside at an up-the-middle position while also providing a high enough floor as a player already displaying impressive tools. 

26. Minnesota Twins — Adrian Del Castillo, C, Miami

Del Castillo was an early favorite among evaluators as a catcher with an exciting hit tool and some pop with the potential to stay behind the plate. Struggles in the 2021 campaign have taken him out of the conversation as the first catcher taken, but the Twins have been linked to him with the belief they could still tap into that potential and have a bat-first backstop. 

27. San Diego Padres — Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

The Padres have not shied away from taking tooled-out players early in the draft in the past, and they’ll nab one of the highest-upside pitchers in the class with Andrew Painter falling to them at No. 27. Painter has an explosive arm with three plus pitches and above-average control, and at 6-foot-7, there could be room for adding more velo. He could go much earlier than this spot when draft day comes. 

28. Tampa Bay Rays — Trey Sweeney, SS, Eastern Illinois

In a short amount of time, Sweeney has improved his draft stock by showing off one of the best hit tools in college and some pop that could grow to be an average or better tool for him. The Rays have shown in the past they can do a lot with high floor batters and Sweeney fits that mold well. His defense at short isn’t great, but the bat would play in the outfield or at third base if needed. 

29. Dodgers — Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland (Linwood, N.J.)

Few teams have the track record of successfully developing high upside prospects like the Dodgers, and they’re banking on getting the most out of Petty in this year’s class. Perhaps the owner of the best raw stuff of any high school pitcher, Petty throws in the upper-90s with a fastball in the triple-digits and can spin a plus slider and average to above-average changeup. Some teams have concerns over reliever risk, but here, Los Angeles sees front-of-the-rotation potential.

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