MLB Draft Preview & Predictions: Position Players

 

Johnny Eierman, SS, Warsaw 

College: LSU

 

Eierman is easily the most distinguished prospect in the thin 2011 Missouri draft class. At 6-foot-1, 195-pounds, his size and overall athleticism garners plenty of attention by itself. But the fact that he flashes all five tools as a shortstop makes him all that much more intriguing.

 

Clocked at 6.41 seconds in the 60, Eierman’s speed is his best tool, although his low-90s arm isn’t too far behind. It appears that most Major League teams seem interested in drafting him as an outfielder, where they believe his abilities are a better fit.

 

 

Eierman helped his case by having a strong spring (.571-10-33) with Warsaw, a team that cracked Prep Baseball Report Missouri’s Top 25. While a bit more fluidity in his swing would be preferred, he possesses tremendous raw bat speed and has the potential for much more power to all fields.  

 

Prediction: Eierman will be the first Missouri player off the board and could be drafted anywhere from the supplemental first-round to the late second/early third round.

  

 

 

College: Iowa Western CC

 

Don’t let Jeffries' size deceive you -- all the tools are there. For what Lance lacks in size, he more than makes up for with his plus natural bat speed, arm and speed. At 6-foot, 205-pounds, he is a smooth defender in center field who has been clocked at 6.6 in the 60. His speed makes him an inexhaustible threat on the base paths, evidenced by his perfect 46-for-46 in stolen base attempts this season. At the Super 60 Showcase, Jeffries displayed the best and arguably the most accurate arm from the outfield at 91 mph.

 

Although he doesn’t have the most refined mechanics at the plate, there is a lot to like about the right-handed hitter’s bat speed and raw power.  His hands and wrists are fast and fluid, and he isn’t afraid to back-leg the ball. Because he has so much power, Jeffries hit tool lags behind his others, but it’s not something that can’t be adjusted.

 

Jeffries had an absolutely monster season for McCluer, and ranked towards the top of the state most offensive categories. His spring slash line of .457/.587/1.057 reads like something out of a video game. And bundled with his raw power that produced eight doubles, two triples and ten home runs – while drawing 17 walks – it’s not surprising that Lance’s stock has climbed steadily this season.

Prediction: Jeffries' tools and athleticism are tough to pass on, and considering that there are no concerns regarding his signability, he could easily be selected ahead of where many are expecting. Look for Jeffries sneak in between the sixth and ninth rounds.

 

 

 

College: Maplewoods CC

 

Like Jeffries, Embree is a player who seen his stock rise over the past year. At 6-foot-3 and 218-pounds, he has a big-league frame and shows surprising athleticism. At Prep Baseball Report’s St. Louis Prospect ID Showcase in February, Embree opened a lot of eyes with his 91-92 mph throws from the outfield, all of which had great carry and were accurate. He also ran a 7.5 from home to second at the event.

 

 

At the plate, the right-handed hitting Embree already showcases significant power to all fields, and there’s only more to come once he truly starts to utilize his back-side. Perhaps what’s most impressive about his swing is his direct hand path and ability to square up pitches with consistency. Compared to most prep players, the ball sounds different coming off his bat. Although he faces a fair amount of small-school pitchers due his location in Moberly, it’s not a sufficient knock against his absurd .683/11/30 season.  

Prediction: Considering that he’s set to attend Maplewoods Community College next season, signability shouldn’t be an issue with Embree. His size, raw power and strong outfield arm make him an intriguing big league prospect, so look for him to go somewhere between the 7^th-10^th round.

  

 

College: University of Arkansas

 

Outside of Eierman, there are very few infield prospects in the 2011 draft class. Masters, however, has emerged as a legitimate option due to his 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame and consistent bat. Although he does not possess outstanding speed, Masters has true instincts at shortstop and, in general, all over the field. Although he possesses a strong enough arm to handle shortstop, he might be better suited for either third or second base at the next level.

 

His swing is short and compact, which allows him to spray the ball from gap-to-gap with consistency. This spring, Masters hit .436 with 44 hits, 15 doubles and 35 RBI. Despite not hitting a home run, scouts see power potential in his swing, and believe that the doubles might evolve into home runs over time.

 

Prediction: Frank Masters, David’s father and also Timberland’s head coach, recently mentioned that his son is pretty intent on attending Arkansas. Whether he said it to gain leverage in the draft or is being sincere is obviously yet to be determined. But due his frame and above average hit tool—and some organization’s desperate need for infielders—Masters could edge his way up the draft board. Look for him to be selected between the 10^th and 13^th rounds.

 

 

 

College: Uncommitted

 

Geisinger was another player who put himself on scouts’ radars at the Prep Baseball Report’s Super 60 Showcase last February. Just because he doesn’t necessarily look the part does not mean he lacks the tools. In the outfield, he demonstrated the ability to get to the ball quickly, and wasn’t afraid to show off his above-average, accurate arm. He recorded the third highest velocity from the outfield at 89 mph, most of which were right on target.

 

Geisinger uses a tight, upright stance at the plate that allows him to unleash on the baseball. At 6-feet, 225-pounds, he is a pure power hitter who likes to use all fields. This spring, he hit .533 with 55 hits, 12 doubles, four triples, four home runs and 45 RBI for Staley. 

 

Prediction: A team that believes Geisinger can sustain his power at the next level might want to take a late-round flyer on him. With an above average arm and average speed, and presuming his power plays at the next level, he could be a steal for an organization. Look for Isaac to be selected around the 25^th-35^th round.