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I haven't looked around much to see if there are any locals (including UC) with a shot at going early in the draft but the lack of noise about any makes me think there aren't many.

The Reds, on the other hand, are looking at another top 5 pick. If you buy the word on the street, they seem to have a pretty clear top 4 of college pitchers Mize and Singer and college bats Bart (Catcher) and Madrigal (2B/SS) not necessarily in that order. By most accounts then and now, there's very little chance of Mize or Bart lasting until #5, but it seemed likely for the last few weeks per the mocks that one or both of Singer or Madrigal would be there for the Reds at 5. Unfortunately, that's gotten a lot cloudier as the Phils at #3 may have cooled on college 1B/3B Bohm and might take one of the Reds' top 4. On the other hand, some think one of the top 3 teams might give an underslot deal (perhaps to a HS pitcher hoping to have extra money to pay overslot in the later rounds) which would push back at least one of our top 4 to us.

Personally, I'd take Mize if he's there but he still seems slated to go #1. I'm also very open to Bart but I'm not sure how I'd rank him relative to Singer or Madrigal we had our choice of the 3. But again that seems very unlikely. More realistically I'm hoping Singer and/or Madrigal is around at 5. I guess I'd slightly prefer Singer just because of position need and possible nearness to the majors, but I'd be very happy with Madrigal as well.

Things get much more dicey if they are both gone. I don't think they'd go with Bohm as he projects to 1B or DH. If I had to guess, I think they'd go with a HS picher although they've also been mentioned with college 3B India. If they go HS pitcher I think they'd target lefty Matt Liberatore He sounds like fine prospect, but man are HS pitchers risky and we just took one last year. HS Hitters are risky too, but a wildcard that I find intriguing is HS OF Jarred Kelenic.

I keep reading they are projecting to take India.

The way most mocks look, it seems like the Reds will be selecting the 5th best college player vs whoever they view as the best HS player.

(06-04-2018 07:12 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  I keep reading they are projecting to take India.

Yeah, I saw the 2 mlb.com guys today both mock India (both also have Madrigal off the board at 3 and Singer off the board at 4). Not that I know anything, but I'm not a big India fan right now. The fact that he really didn't hit anywhere near like this his previous seasons at UF make me nervous. He also strikes out a lot, although his many walks (which I love) help offset that.

Keith Law for espn says Madrigal but also mentions India. He goes on to say late rumors are that the Reds are also shopping underslot deals to HS pitchers. Just my speculation, but maybe Reds want Madrigal but if he's gone they might prefer the HS pitcher underslot deal (if they can find the right one) to taking India. If they can't find such a deal, they go with India as best available.

Boom - Phils take Bohm. Reds will have a shot at either Madrigal or Singer - if those are indeed the guys they want.

India it is.

Well dang, India it is. I really thought Singer would be too good to pass up, but maybe there was something they didn't like. I also preferred Madrigal (who went #4) over India in part because it sounded like he had a better shot at playing SS than India. But he was gone and the Reds clearly like India. I hope they are right. Can't argue with his 1.237 OPS for an SEC team - that's for sure, especially if he can play SS.

Keleniac goes 6th. He was a guy I found very intriguing but it sounded like he might not go this early.

7th is David "Stormy" Weathers kid - good for him and his pop. Singer seems to be sliding - maybe something is up with him...

At #18 and still no Singer. Something's definitely up.

(06-04-2018 07:52 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  At #18 and still no Singer. Something's definitely up.

I was hoping for Madrigal...just a pure contact hitter who rarely strikes out. The antithesis of most reds bats for years.

India seemed to get good reviews from the ESPN panel during the pick review. He really came on this year. I think this was the right pick at that spot.

Singer read concerns about his arm position and delivery. Not sure if that was reason for slide.