Prep Baseball Report

MLB Draft Day One


PBR Scouting Staff

Day One of the MLB Draft has come to an end. Let's take a look at where players from California landed, and how the MLB teams in the state fared.

California Players

RHP - Cole Winn - Orange Lutheran HS - Rangers - Rd. 1, Pick 15

The top prep arm in the state was rumored to have had a deal in place to go earlier but will instead settle with the 15th pick. Winn has been as advertised this season and is rewarded with becoming the highest draft pick out of Orange Lutheran High School. The righty put up dominant numbers this season for the Lancers going 8-2 0.21 ERA, 65 IP, 2 ER, 25 H, 114K, 11BB, OPP BA .113, 0.55 WHIP which included a 38 inning scoreless streak and six straight wins to close the season.

SS - Brice Turang - Santiago HS - Brewers - Rd. 1, Pick 21

The top prep shortstop in the state faced some harsh observation his senior year with questions about his lack of power and inconsistencies with the bat. The one thing that never wavered was his defense, his speed, or his athleticism at shortstop. Many feel Turang will hit for power eventually and that his bat speed and current tools will suffice in pro ball while staying at shortstop where his tools shine.

SS - Nico Hoerner - Stanford - Cubs - Rd. 1, Pick 24

Hoerner is an athletic, medium framed infielder with good bounce and energy to his game. Always seemed to be in the middle of the action whether it was turning a double-play, squaring up a base hit or stealing a base. Offensively, he shows a mostly balanced approach with a loose swing. Gives the appearance of a doubles/gap power type with maybe 10-12 home runs a year in pro ball. He has contact and pitch recognition skills that should allow him to also hit for average, as well as take his share of walks.

SS - Matt McLain - Beckman HS - Diamondbacks - Rd. 1, Pick 25

Talk about a whirlwind 10 months. Since McLain showed he more than belonged at the Area Code Games last year nobody has risen faster in the state. Since August of last year McLain has seen his stock from potential pick to first rounder thanks to his consistent, powerful bat and plus defensive skills. McLain is also a plus runner from the right side; we had him 3.93 home-to-first in Saturday's CIF Championship Game. With a present above average to plus arm, McLain shows the defensive tools to stay at shortstop.

LHP - Kris Bubic - Stanford - Royals - Rd. CBA, Pick 40

Durable built, three-pitch lefty. Throws from a high three-quarters slot with a deep, plunging arm action on the backside. Overcomes his less than ideal arm action to consistently throw strikes to both sides of the plate. Lands on-line with a soft mid-foot plant, showing very good balance throughout his delivery. Uses his lower half well and has good extension out front. Shoulder tilt, a short pause at balance point and his arm action all add deception to his delivery. Fastball ranges from 88-93 mph. Throws an above average changeup with fastball arm speed at 77-81 mph that generates some swing/miss. Curveball showes average early, ranging from 75-79 mph with good shape and average depth. Loses some effectiveness and velocity, falling to 71-74 late in games.

SS - Osiris Johnson - Encinal HS - Marlins - Rd. 2, Pick 53

Cal State Fullerton signee. Lean and strong body type at 6-foot-1 185-pounds, well-proportioned throughout but with noticeable strength in his lower body. Bat speed and torque are not an issue for Johnson. Swing has whippy life and there will be some power as he ages. Despite big swings he shows an acute ability to get the barrel to the baseball. As a runner he accelerates easily, good pop-up slide and ready to take the extra base on a bad throw. Certainly has tools that draw attention, refinement of them will determine what kind of baseball player he will become.

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RHP - Tanner Dodson - California - Rays - Rd. CBB, Pick 71

Dodson was the 50th ranked player and 21st RHP overall in the PBR Draft 200. A centerfielder by day, Dodson doubled down as the CAL reliever this season collecting 11 saves in 19 appearances for the Golden Bears. With a fastball that has been clocked at 98 the Rays selected Dodson as a pitcher despite his .320 batting average for CAL last season. Dodson was recently named a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year award. 

OF - Cole Roederer - Hart HS - Cubs - Rd. 2C, Pick 77

Roederer, a UCLA commit and early season PBR Top 100 HS Player, was jumping up draft boards before a non-throwing shoulder injury knocked him out of commission for the last third of the season. The left/left outfielder shows a unique power/speed combo from the CF position and was seeing comps like Andrew Benintendi from scouts. Showing a lean, wiry-athletic build with explosiveness in his lower body and core, Roederer has above average bat speed with a compact swing finishing with loft. His speed shows up all over the field with the ability to go get the ball in Center and flashes of above average speed on the base paths. From the outfield, it’s an average arm with the ability to use his long gait to get to the ball quickly and get it inaccurately.

RHP - Paul Richan - University of San Diego - Cubs - Rd. 2C, Pick 78

A former standout at Hart High School, Richan moved on to USD where he along with the rest of the team struggled this season. Richan finished 4-6 with a 4.62 ERA. Despite that, Richan has stuff that will play in pro ball. 

MLB TEAMS FROM CALIFORNIA

San Francisco Giants

C - Joey Bart - Georgia Tech - Rd. 1 Pick 2

RHP - Sean Hjelle - University of Kentucky - Rd. 2 Pick 45

San Diego Padres

LHP - Ryan Weathers - Loretto HS (TN) - Rd. 1, Pick 7

SS - Xavier Edwards - North Broward Prep (FL) - Rd. CBA, Pick 38

OF - Grant Little - Texas Tech - Rd. CBB, Pick 74

Oakland Athletics

CF - Kyler Murray - University of Oklahoma, Rd. 1, Pick 9

CF - Jameson Hannah - Dallas Baptist - Rd. 2, Pick 50

SS - Jeremy Eierman - Missouri State - Rd. CBB, Pick 70

Los Angeles Angels

OF - Jordyn Adams - Green Hope HS (NC) - Rd. 1, Pick 17

SS - Jeremiah Jackson - St. Luke's Episcopal School (AL) - Rd. 2, Pick 57

Los Angeles Dodgers

RHP - J.T. Ginn - Brandon HS (MS) - Rd. 1, Pick 30

RHP - Michael Grove - West Virginia University - Rd. 2, Pick 68

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