MLB 2020 Draft Breakdown: Top 10 Overall Drafts pt. 4

Up to this point we have reviewed:

10. Padres 9. Nationals 8. Rockies 7. Reds 6. Diamondbacks 5. Orioles

Today coming in at #4 and #3 we have the Dodgers and Blue Jays

4.       Los Angeles Dodgers – 6 draft picks

What can’t the Dodgers do? They have a winning perennial powerhouse and a top farm system. They have two of the best prospects in baseball and just raked in some serious talent from the back of each round. The Dodgers played the draft well saving money in certain rounds so they can go over value in others. We are also higher than the industry on a couple of the arms taken.

Bobby Miller was taken in the 1st out of Louisville and I would not have been shocked if he went in the Top 15 picks. Miller possesses a 96+ mph FF and FT. Both offer unique shapes and create premium velocity. He has a sharp SL with good sweep and the ability to give RHH fits. His CH has a lot of horizontal break and is a swing and miss pitch to a LHH. Miller has a 6-5 frame and a good collegiate track record. There are issues that give the industry concerns but this is a Walker Buehler level pick. For us, it looks like the Dodgers hit big again and added to their big-league rotation.

I have not been high on Landon Knack throughout the process, but he has slowly grown on me. He has an above avg CH and has shown to maintain higher velocities. He also has great control and would have fit in the 3rd but the Dodgers went ahead and got their guy. I am fine with the move because of who they went on to get in the next two rounds. The CBB provided the Dodgers with another player we had a 1st round grade on in Clayton Beeter. He may have the best combo in the draft with his FF/CB. His FF has an impressive amount of rise and produces swing and misses at a high rate. He has premium velocity and a hammer CB that has spin for days. We would like to see Beeter develop his SL more and differentiate the CB and SL.

The Dodgers selected Jake Vogel in the 3rd round and look to go over slot to real him in from his UCLA commitment. He has premium speed and looks to be an above avg defender at a premium position. This is a major value if they can get the deal done and develop him in the weight room. Carson Taylor went in the 4th as was a draft eligible sophomore. He plays yet another premium position of catcher and offers great potential with the bat. Good swing decisions have helped him and allowed him to hit .431 on the short season. He is also a SHH and slowed during his freshman season after starting hot. Will need to maintain body over the long rigors of a season.

The Dodgers finished with a below slot value pick in Gavin Stone. He is undersized but produces mid 90’s FF and a high spin SL. He is a good value pick at the end of the draft that will also allow them to sign Vogel.

The 2020 draft class provided the Dodgers with two Top 10 prospects and some young talent that they can develop over the next few years. None of these players need to be in a rush and can provide trade bait down the line as well.

3.       Toronto Blue Jays – 5 draft picks

The Blue Jays have a lot of 18-20-year old’s at the top of their prospect list. They have also graduated all star level talent in the last year. The Blue Jays did a phenomenal job of letting players fall into their laps and pulling the trigger. They are set on the INF for the near future, however, if Austin Martin is there at five you worry about his position later. They also have two more high level INF prospects in the system. This creates a problem a lot of clubs would like to have.

In the 1st round the Blue Jays were able to get potentially the best player in the draft with Austin Martin out of Vanderbilt. He will require over the slot bonus, but it is well worth it to get his bat in the system. He can also climb the system quickly to meet Guerrero and Bichette. Martin creates favorable launch angles with good amount of exit velocity on average. He immediately becomes the Blue Jays top prospect in 2020.

The Blue Jays next went with great value picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds with CJ Van Eyk and Trent Palmer, respectively. We had a 1st round grade on Van Eyk and liked his ability to climb quickly through the minors. He put together a great career at FSU in the ACC and produced every year. He has a CB with a lot of depth and a sharp SL. He also has a CH that creates swing and misses and will get outs to a LHH. His FF has some elite reps and sits 93+. However, it does not create a lot of swing and misses. He looks to be a #3/4 starter with a higher ceiling if improved FF pitch shape.

Trent Palmer is another great value who has a FT that produces large number of groundballs. It is not a swing and miss pitch but he can get those at a high level with his SL. It has a large amount of sweep and can be thrown to a RHH and LHH. His CH has a large amount of horizontal break but is predominantly thrown out of the zone. He is another guy with a #4 starter arsenal. He looks to eat innings and provide the system another collegiate arm.

Nick Frasso was the 4th round selection and had Team USA success. We were not as high on him as others but he is a good system fit with a FT/CH combo. His CH produces a lot of swing and misses and a massive amount of horizontal break. Zach Britton was taken in the 5th and offers a LHH/OF combo. He is a bonus saving pick so that they can reach a deal with Martin. He is a good player to snag when saving money as he has tools that can be developed.

This was a tremendous draft with just Austin Martin but then they pulled in two high floor arms in Van Eyk and Palmer. I think they are quick moving collegiate arms that have areas of improvement and the ability to play up in the dome.