Bumping…
Astros go with Drew Gilbert.
21.6 y/o||5’9” 185 lbs||CFer who whacked at a .362/.455/.673 clip this spring
From BA:
Gilbert might be a smaller center fielder at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, but in 2022 he’s been the best hitter on the best team in college baseball, and he’s got the physical tools to back it up. Through 54 games during his junior season, Gilbert slashed .380/.474/.696 with 10 home runs, 20 doubles and as many walks (32) as strikeouts (32). Gilbert controls the zone well. He rarely chases at pitches outside of the zone and he also makes plenty of contact, with low whiff rates across all pitch types. He’s a twitchy, lefthanded hitter with bat speed and strength—with some of the louder exit velocity numbers among the top college hitters in the class. Most of his in-game power came to the pull side this spring, but he has shown enough juice to homer to left and left-center as well, though some scouts wonder if he’ll maintain that power at the next level with a wood bat. Gilbert has played a strong center field and should stick at the position at the next level. He’s turned in plus run times and he also has a strong, plus throwing arm that will be an asset for him regardless of the position. There’s a lot of safety in Gilbert’s profile given his up-the-middle defensive role and solid tool set across the board. The industry may be split on his overall upside potential, however, with some scouts more skeptical because of his maxed-out frame with little physical projection remaining. For teams who think his power and exit velocity numbers are more a product of aluminum bats and a good hitting environment in Knoxville, he could be viewed as more of a second-round pick, but his contact ability, performance and well-rounded tool set certainly has others interested in the second half of the first round.
Chris Burke on ESPN touting first round U of Tennessee guys for some reason.
Gilbert did hit .342/.433/.586 in SEC play so that ain’t shabby.
Shocking that the Astros would pick a power/contact guy.
McDaniel had him at #11 on his ESPN draft board and raves about him saying among other things that Gilbert “is going to be the first non-reliever to the big leagues in this draft, and I think he’ll stay there for a decade”.
Other boards: BA (#24), MLB Pipeline (#32), Law (#18), Longenhagen (#16).
Like.
“Bat speed, bat flips, and bombs”
1 Like
He acted like a superdouche in the few games I saw him, especially in the postseason, especially toward the umpires.
He’s a hell of a player though.
2 Likes
Is this the cocky guy that got kicked out of the super regional bitching about a call?
1 Like
Sort of my impression also (assuming he’s the guy I recall). Did look good in the few ABs I saw though.
yes
Man, I’m really unimpressed by this pick.
OF Sterlin Thompson to the Rockies at #31.
OF Dylan Beavers to the Orioles at #33.
RHP Landon Sims to the D-Backs at #34
RHP Justin Campbell to the Indians at #37
OF Jordan Beck to the Rockies at #38
C Dalton Rushing to the Dodgers at #40
3B Max Wagner to the Orioles at #42
1B Ivan Melendez to the D-Backs at #43
LHP Connor Prielipp to the Twins at #48
SS Peyton Graham to Tigers at #51
RHP Blade Tidwell to Mets at #52
RHP Peyton Pallette to White Sox at #62
Some of the top-ranked Texas HSers. I doubt the Astros pick any of these guys but I am curious to see where they might go…
- SS Jett Williams, Rockwall-Heath HS–18.7. 5’8” 175 lbs. May not stick at short. Miss. St commit Mets (#14)
- RHP Cole Phillips, Boerne HS–19.1. TJS in April ‘22. Up to 99. Arkansas commit Braves (#57)
- OF Jeric Curtis, Tomball Memorial HS–18.6. Burner w/80 speed. Plus CFer. Texas Tech commit
- RHP Chase Shores, Midland Lee HS–18.2. 6’8” 221 lbs. Up to 96. LSU commit
- SS Jalin Flores, SA Brandeis HS–18.9. Texas commit
- SS Anthony Silva, Plano Clark HS –19.0. TCU commit
OF Jacob Melton, OF Brock Jones and LHP Carson Whisenhunt were all mocked to the Astros in the 1st round at various times are still available as pick #64 approaches.
And the Astros pick Melton at #64.
21.8 y/o||6’3” 208 lbs||lefty hitter went .360/.424/.670 this spring and was PAC 12 player of the year||can play CF
Where the draft boards had him: BA (#25), MLB Pipeline (#39), McDaniel (#26), Law (#25), Longenhagen (#68).