2013 MLB Draft: 15 Prospects Set to Plummet on Draft Day
Which Players Are About To Drop?
There is only one week to go until the 2013 MLB Draft and teams are getting ready to make their selections for which high school and college players they want. There is going to be players who get picked higher than they should and other players who will slip a little farther than they would ever envision. I’m focusing on the players who could slide in this year’s draft.
I know that there are some players on this list who are very highly-regarded and will likely get drafted in the first round no matter what. I see a problem here and there that could hamper these players, though. It could be their ability or an injury or just the agent they have. It is going to be a very interesting three days beginning on June 6 to see where these players end up going. It is one of those drafts that seems to go on forever since it is 50 rounds. It can be a very time-consuming activity.
I wouldn’t discount any of these players becoming the next big thing before all is said and done, though. I see a lot of talent out there even if there are some experts who think that this year’s draft is a bit down. I’ve said this before about the MLB Draft, you have no clue if you are going to find a player in the first round or the 20th round that becomes a success. We shall now wait and see what happens with each of these players. Here are my 15 players who could plummet in the 2013 MLB Draft.
Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.
15. Tony Rizzotti, P, Tulane
Rizzotti has injury problems and that may not allow him to be drafted very high. It could be the seventh round before he gets picked.
14. Michael O’Neill, OF, Michigan
O’Neill has decent gap power and probably isn’t going to improve much more. There are experts who have him going in the third round. I see it more being closer to the sixth round.
13. Colby Suggs, P, Arkansas
Suggs is a closer by trade and teams usually don’t go after a pitcher who is strictly a closer early on. It could be a long wait until he gets drafted.
12. A.J. Puk, P/1B, Washington HS (Iowa)
Everyone loves a left-handed pitcher but even at 6-foot-6 may not break the first two rounds of the draft. The fact he is from Iowa will hurt him here and he won’t hear his name until the fourth or fifth round.
11. Carlos Salazar, P, Kerman HS (California)
Salazar committed to Fresno State and loves the school. That should scare a lot of teams from wanting to pick him high because he may never sign.
10. Travis Demeritte, 3B/P, Winder Barrow HS (Georgia)
Demeritte has the potential to be a player who can play either second or third base. He is committed to South Carolina, though, and I think he is going to decide to go there instead.
9. Chad Pinder, 3B, Virginia Tech
Pinder is a very solid third basemen. He has been looked at as a second-round pick by many observers, but I get the feeling that he won’t hear his name until closer to the fourth or fifth round.
8. Ryan Boldt, OF, Red Wing HS (Minnesota)
I like the talent that Boldt possesses but unless a team is looking for a player that can just be a platoon player at the next level in the first two rounds, he just isn’t as top of a prospect.
7. Eric Jagielo, 3B/OF, Notre Dame
Jagielo can play at third as well as outfield, but his value would be much higher if he could prove he would be able to stick as a third baseman.
6. Austin Wilson, OF, Stanford
Wilson is a good outfielder, but nothing great in all honesty. He should be looked at more of a late second or third-round selection instead of the first round.
5. Phil Bickford, P, Oaks Christian HS (California)
There is a lot of potential with Bickford, but he has so much to work on that I don’t believe teams will go after him right away.
4. J.P. Crawford, SS, Lakewood HS (California)
Crawford is a solid shortstop, but he isn’t the best hitter out there and that should send him tumbling out of the first round.
3. Reese McGuire, C/3B, Kentwood HS (Washington)
Everyone loves a left-handed hitting catcher, but my fear is that he will decide that college is the best option since he is committed to San Diego.
2. Kohl Stewart, P/OF/3B, St. Pius X HS (Texas)
Stewart is one of the best football prospects as well, and that will probably make some teams shy away from him. If he were to come out and decide on baseball, he would be drafted higher. He could fall right out of the first round now in my opinion.
1. Mark Appel, P, Stanford
Appel is being looked at as the No. 1 pick overall, but the problem is his agent. The Scott Boras factor is going to cause Appel to drop deeper into the top 10, I figure. It isn’t right, but it is a big deal.
