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I'd like them to draft Witherspoon under slot if possible and then spend the next pick on an overslot, fringe HS slugger

Here's the quote from Callis on the Angels' target at #2 in the draft.

"Whomever the Angels take here will be a favorite to be the first player from this Draft to reach the big leagues. They've been linked mostly to the top trio of college left-handers and Doyle in particular."

I'm thinking of running a Poll with a link provided here with the Top 10 or so draft prospect talents .

It'll be a clean link, you'll vote for who you want to draft in the #5 spot of the draft.

We're 2 months out from the draft, and I'd like to do 2nd poll in a month, and then like we did last season a right before draft day poll.

That was fun...and I think we can fun again with this one. It's a different draft this year, so I expect alot of players will receive votes.

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Tell me what you think below if you're interested or not!!!

I'm off the LaViolette train, for now. Though the Cardinals could really use a slugging outfielder. For me, realistically, it's 1) Arnold 2) Hernandez on the wish list.

craviduce wrote: ↑08 May 2025 21:26 pm I'm thinking of running a Poll with a link provided here with the Top 10 or so draft prospect talents .

It'll be a clean link, you'll vote for who you want to draft in the #5 spot of the draft.

We're 2 months out from the draft, and I'd like to do 2nd poll in a month, and then like we did last season a right before draft day poll.

That was fun...and I think we can fun again with this one. It's a different draft this year, so I expect alot of players will receive votes.

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Tell me what you think below if you're interested or not!!!

I'll create the poll Saturday morning on a different thread. I'll have links to each player so you can access their stats for the year and career.

weekend schedule for the Top Draft Prospects


LHP Arnold ~ FSU @ Cal

LHP Doyle ~ Tenn vs. Vandy

2B/SS Kilen ~ Tenn vs. Vandy

RHP Witherspoon ~ OK U @ Kentucky

LHP Anderson ~ LSU vs. Arkansas

SS Aloy ~ Arkansas @ LSU

OF LaViolette ~ A&M @ Mizzou

SS Arquette ~ Oregon St. @ Iowa

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some players have easier tests...Arnold, LaViolette, Arquette. Mizzou hasn't won a single SEC game this year, so I think LaViolette should improve on last weeks' 1-18 showing

LSU vs. Arkansas powerhouses.... Great pitching on both sides, hitting is superb for both with Arkansas' graded a bit better. Which will prevail? Offense or Pitching?

Tennessee should be favored over Vandy, but the Vols have scuffled the last 2 weeks.

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Conference play is winding down, I believe Conference Tourneys start next week/weekend.

craviduce wrote: ↑09 May 2025 10:48 am weekend schedule for the Top Draft Prospects


LHP Arnold ~ FSU @ Cal

LHP Doyle ~ Tenn vs. Vandy

2B/SS Kilen ~ Tenn vs. Vandy

RHP Witherspoon ~ OK U @ Kentucky

LHP Anderson ~ LSU vs. Arkansas

SS Aloy ~ Arkansas @ LSU

OF LaViolette ~ A&M @ Mizzou

SS Arquette ~ Oregon St. @ Iowa

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some players have easier tests...Arnold, LaViolette, Arquette. Mizzou hasn't won a single SEC game this year, so I think LaViolette should improve on last weeks' 1-18 showing

LSU vs. Arkansas powerhouses.... Great pitching on both sides, hitting is superb for both with Arkansas' graded a bit better. Which will prevail? Offense or Pitching?

Tennessee should be favored over Vandy, but the Vols have scuffled the last 2 weeks.

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Conference play is winding down, I believe Conference Tourneys start next week/weekend.

Very helpful list. Hope to see LaViolette against Mizzou. Arnold seems fairly comparable to Hagen Smith last season as a high draft pick. Hope Arnold slides to the Cardinals.

This draft is starting to look alot better at the top. There are no high end college bats like last year but the pitching is shaping up nicely. The prep side looks very strong. Holliday, Willits, Carlson and Hernandez are all elite prep prospects.

I was worried that we'd not find a worthy prospect at 5 and go major underslot but I dont think that's a possibility anymore

billybaseball wrote: ↑11 May 2025 20:48 pm This draft is starting to look alot better at the top. There are no high end college bats like last year but the pitching is shaping up nicely. The prep side looks very strong. Holliday, Willits, Carlson and Hernandez are all elite prep prospects.

I was worried that we'd not find a worthy prospect at 5 and go major underslot but I dont think that's a possibility anymore

Arnold or Hernandez at 5 would be oh so fine.

billybaseball wrote: ↑11 May 2025 20:48 pm This draft is starting to look alot better at the top. There are no high end college bats like last year but the pitching is shaping up nicely. The prep side looks very strong. Holliday, Willits, Carlson and Hernandez are all elite prep prospects.

I was worried that we'd not find a worthy prospect at 5 and go major underslot but I dont think that's a possibility anymore

BB, what's your take on the Carlson vs. Willits debate? I'm fine with either, but if you had the choice at #5, who would you take?

Congrats to Mizzou, they came into this weekend's series with Texas A&M without a win in SEC play... 0-24, they left College Station, 3-24...Weekend sweep.

They held LaViolette hitless the last 2 days, but he touched up the Friday Night Starter for 2 HR's.

last year the NCAA granted 11 post season berths from the SEC...a Record. The SEC added 2 teams (OU and Texas) to move to 16 team conference. A&M is in a bit of trouble if they want to make it beyond the SEC Tourney. They sit 14th in the conference heading into the last series with Georgia (Top 10 Nationally) before the SEC Tourney.

Baseball America Mock Draft 3.0 ~ Carlos Collazo

1. Nationals ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS, Okla
2. Angels ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
3. Mariners ~ Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS, Calif
4. Rockies ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
5. Cardinals ~ Jamie Arnold, LHP, FSU
6. Pirates ~ Eli Willits, SS, Ft. Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla
7. Marlins ~ Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, OU
8. Blue Jays ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
9. Reds ~ Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M
10. White Sox ~ Billy Carlson, SS, Coron HS, Calif

craviduce wrote: ↑12 May 2025 08:17 am Baseball America Mock Draft 3.0 ~ Carlos Collazo

1. Nationals ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS, Okla
2. Angels ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
3. Mariners ~ Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS, Calif
4. Rockies ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
5. Cardinals ~ Jamie Arnold, LHP, FSU
6. Pirates ~ Eli Willits, SS, Ft. Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla
7. Marlins ~ Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, OU
8. Blue Jays ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
9. Reds ~ Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M
10. White Sox ~ Billy Carlson, SS, Coron HS, Calif

I like it.

craviduce wrote: ↑12 May 2025 08:17 am Baseball America Mock Draft 3.0 ~ Carlos Collazo

1. Nationals ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS, Okla
2. Angels ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
3. Mariners ~ Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS, Calif
4. Rockies ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
5. Cardinals ~ Jamie Arnold, LHP, FSU
6. Pirates ~ Eli Willits, SS, Ft. Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla
7. Marlins ~ Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, OU
8. Blue Jays ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
9. Reds ~ Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M
10. White Sox ~ Billy Carlson, SS, Coron HS, Calif

I am on the Hernandez train, but mostly because I figured Arnold would be gone by the time we pick. I would be VERY happy with this.

craviduce wrote: ↑11 May 2025 21:03 pm

billybaseball wrote: ↑11 May 2025 20:48 pm This draft is starting to look alot better at the top. There are no high end college bats like last year but the pitching is shaping up nicely. The prep side looks very strong. Holliday, Willits, Carlson and Hernandez are all elite prep prospects.

I was worried that we'd not find a worthy prospect at 5 and go major underslot but I dont think that's a possibility anymore

BB, what's your take on the Carlson vs. Willits debate? I'm fine with either, but if you had the choice at #5, who would you take?

I don't have anything to go off of besides scouting reports and average draft rankings. From what I can tell is Willits is ahead of Carlson. Carlson is said to be a slam dunk SS with elite arm strength and probably tops in the class but his bat has far less certainty to it.

Willits can probably play anywhere on the field but probably is a grade below Carlson at SS. His bat is what really sets him apart. He's a true switch hitter with plus to elite hit tool. Pre season reports said that he was much stronger batting LH but he's been much better RH this season. Probably why he's vaulted to the top of the draft. Plus to elite speed also.

Willits is a year and a half younger than Carlson and is already showing better power from what I've read. There was talk preseason that Carlson could comp to Bobby Witt with improvements to power production but that hasn't shown up this year. I think he comps well with Winn actually. Willits comps are Jose Ramirez and Fransisco Lindor. I know that's lofty praise but there really aren't many true switch hitters with an elite hit tool, projectable power and elite athleticism like Willits.

Honestly I think Willits should be the slam dunk 1/1. Holliday's current power is likely two grades above Willits but Willits has much louder tools everywhere else.

craviduce wrote: ↑12 May 2025 08:17 am Baseball America Mock Draft 3.0 ~ Carlos Collazo

1. Nationals ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS, Okla
2. Angels ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
3. Mariners ~ Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS, Calif
4. Rockies ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
5. Cardinals ~ Jamie Arnold, LHP, FSU
6. Pirates ~ Eli Willits, SS, Ft. Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla
7. Marlins ~ Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, OU
8. Blue Jays ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
9. Reds ~ Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M
10. White Sox ~ Billy Carlson, SS, Coron HS, Calif

thx Duce for posting that
gotta like that pick