re: Which baseball commits do we need to be on the lookout for in the MLB Draft?

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29. Blake Mitchell (18.9), C, Sinton HS (TX), LSU commit
Hit: 30/55, Power: 30/50, Speed: 35/35, Field: 45/50, Throw: 70/70
Mitchell has been up to 97 mph on the mound but is a superior prospect as a catcher, where he projects to stick long-term and his 70-grade arm is still a weapon. Teams are rightly nervous about the old-for-the-class prep catcher demographic -- some teams picking in the 20s told me they wouldn't take him there -- but there are multiple more traditional orgs on Mitchell in the top ten picks.

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61. Cameron Johnson (18.4), LHP, IMG Academy HS (FL), LSU commit
The good is very easy to get excited about: sturdy 6-foot-5 lefty up to 100 mph with a 55-grade slider and he throws it over the plate pretty well. He missed some time with arm soreness this spring, his command is below average, and at that velocity, he has an awkward finish to his delivery.

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134. Jake Brown (18.5), LHP, Sulphur HS (LA), LSU commit
Pitchability lefty with an above-average slider and starter profile.

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248. Ashton Larson (18.4), LF, St. Thomas Aquinas HS (KS), LSU commit

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254. Steven Milam (18.9), SS, Centennial HS (NM), LSU commit

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2. Dylan Crews (21.4), CF, LSU
Hit: 35/60, Power: 50/60, Speed: 55/55, Field: 45/50, Throw: 55/55
Crews lands here with one tick lower in-game power expectation and two ticks lower present speed. I think Crews will be an average defensive center fielder who becomes fringy later in his 20s. For a team with a plus defender at the position, he'll get moved to a corner immediately and if not, then I think he'll play his way there eventually. But since I think he starts his big league career there, I'll list him as a center fielder now.

3. Paul Skenes (21.0), RHP, LSU
Fastball: 65/70, Slider: 65/70, Curveball: 50/55, Changeup: 50/55, Command: 45/55
Skenes has a totally compelling case to be first on this list, but lands at third. I wonder how much he'll be able to pitch in pro ball this summer given his workload at LSU. I also wonder how aggressive the team that picks him will be with his assignment. If he's going an inning or two at a time, I think he'd be effective now in the big leagues, but it's another issue if tossing him in the deep end, only using two pitches, is best for his long-term development.
One more thing that most casual fans don't know is Skenes was a prospect as a catcher as recently as a year ago, with huge power. He could be a super fun pinch-hit option in extra innings.

42. Ty Floyd (21.9), RHP, LSU
Floyd blitzed up boards with a heroic Omaha performance that made clear the formerly faint whiff of Spencer Strider to his profile. Floyd has easy plus velo and the kind of flat approach that helps the shape of his riding fastball play up. As a strong athlete with an above-average slider, you can see him getting to the big leagues quickly, but he was eligible for last year's draft and didn't sign as scouts questioned his command.

91. Tre Morgan (20.9), 1B, LSU
Young for the class, can play an outfield corner, can hit, and has some pop; could be a candidate to be unlocked with more pull/lift to his swing.

98. Grant Taylor (21.1), RHP, LSU
Had big relief risk in high school and missed this spring with Tommy John surgery, but had late 1st buzz as a potential starter due to a strong summer

146. Jordan Thompson (21.5), SS, LSU

226. Christian Little (20.0), RHP, LSU

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