Pitcher List Dynasty Mock: Shelly Verougstraete’s Picks

Mock draft season grinds on with Pitcher List’s 12-team dynasty run-through. Check out Shelly’s picks below:

 

1.12 Carter Kieboom – 2B/SS – WSN

 

I was surprised that Carter Kieboom fell to the 12th overall pick. He played in 11 games in his first cup of coffee in Washington and struggled. I am not concerned in the slightest, as Kieboom has typically struggled whenever he moved to another level. However, once he gets his feet wet, watch out! He hit .302/.409/.493 with 16 home runs in his 412 plate appearances in Triple-A this season. While Kieboom is not much of a runner, he chipped in five steals; that is important to keep in mind because the Nationals tend to let guys run if they need to generate offense. Kieboom also improved against lefties. In 162 plate appearances, he hit .377 with five home runs, and his K% decreased from 22.7% in Double-A to 16.7% in Triple-A. It will be interesting to see where the Nationals use Kieboom next year. He could replace Anthony Rendon at third or could shift over to second base if Rendon returns.

 

2.13 Matt Manning – RHP – DET

 

This pick might have come as a shock to the rest of the draft, but Matt Manning is the second-ranked pitcher in my personal Top Prospects list. The 6’6″ righty looks like a starter, and it is not very difficult to see why Detroit took him ninth overall in the 2016 draft. Manning spent the 2019 season at Double-A and tore apart the league. In 133.2 innings, he had a 2.56 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 148 strikeouts, and 12.0% swinging-strike rate. I was able to watch him late in the season and loved what I saw. Not only was he carving up the Double-A Giants squad that included Joey Bart and Heliot Ramos, but his mound presence was very impressive. Unlike Casey Mize and Jesus Luzardo, Manning has never had a major injury and has stayed on the mound. He has thrown 50.1, 116.2, and 133.2 innings the past three seasons.

https://gfycat.com/ScaredDigitalFowl

 

3.36 George Valera – OF – CLE

 

George Valera has an interesting life story. He was born in New York. His family moved the Dominican Republic when he was younger because his father had metal rods inserted into legs after being hit by a car and the warmer temperature was easier on him. He missed most of the 2018 season due to a broken hamate bone. The Indians assigned him to the New York-Penn League, where the 18-year-old was about two years younger than the competition. The strikeouts were up but the walks were also up. He started to hit the balls to all fields. With an above-average hit tool and power potential, I’m pretty sure we will see him manning one of the corner outfield positions in Cleveland in a couple of years.

 

4.37 Heliot Ramos – OF – SFG

 

Ramos was the first-round draft pick of the Giants in 2017. His first taste of professional ball was successful, but he struggled in 2018 at A-ball. Even with the struggles, the Giants trusted in the talent assigned him to High-A ball to begin the season. You can tell Ramos is starting to become more selective at the plate. His walk rate has jumped from 6% to 9% this season. His strikeout percentage has hovered in the 25-30% range, but his swinging-strike percentage has decreased at each stop. His plays an excellent center field and his above-average will be needed when he is patrolling the position in San Francisco.

 

5.60 Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B – PIT

 

Just looking at Ke’Bryan Hayes‘ 2019 stats, you might be wondering why I selected him with the 60th pick. Hayes brings a mix of above-average hitting and speed with elite defense at the hot corner. He had a left finger injury in July that kept him on the shelf for about a month. Once he returned, he killed it. He hit .327/.379/.452 with three home runs in August. The power boost he saw in 2018 has stuck around

I’m pretty sure we will see Hayes in Pittsburgh soon, especially with all the turnover the Pirates front office saw this offseason.

 

6.61 Tarik Skubal – LHP – DET

 

Tarik Skubal’s 2019 season was a breakout campaign for the 22-year-old lefty. He was drafted in the ninth round in 2018 due to injury concerns. Using an excellent fastball and curveball combination he has moved quickly through the minors. He started the 2019 season in High-A, where he struck out 97 batters in 80 innings. After being promoted to Double-A in July, his K% increased to an eye-opening 48.2%. In his 42.1 innings, he struck out 82 batters, so it is no surprise to see his ERA at 2.13 with a WHIP of 1.02.

 

7.84 Tyler Freeman – SS- CLE

 

I have been impressed with Cleveland’s system for a couple of years now. The Indians are known for drafting some of the youngest available players. They picked Tyler Freeman in the comp round at 71st overall in 2017. Freeman has a FV 60 Hit with average speed and field. His strikeout rate has hovered around 8-10% with swinging-strike percentage around 3-5%. I am not sure the over-the-fence power will ever come, but his hit tool and baserunning skills should play at the top of the lineup where runs will be plentiful.

 

8.85 Daniel Lynch – LHP – KC

 

Kansas City had one of the best drafts in recent memory in 2018. It went pretty heavy with college arms, with Brady Singer, Jackson Kowar, Daniel Lynch, and Kris Bubic all being drafted in the first round. Lynch as all the looks of a starter. He is a 6’6″, 190-pound southpaw with an above-average fastball, slider, and curve. He did not pitch the entire season, has he had an arm injury that put him on the shelf for a bit. Don’t let that scare you away; once he returned he looked better than ever, and he also said he felt the best he had in a long time. Our very own Alex Fast got to interview him at the AFL, so take a listen here.

 

9.108 Noelvi Marte – SS – SEA

 

Noelvi Marte was one of the big-name international prospects drafted in the 2018 July 2 signing period due to his potential for plus power and hit tool. He might have to move off shortstop due to his lack of range, but moving over to third is nothing horrible. His power showed this year in the Dominican Summer League. In 65 games, the 17-year-old (!!!) smacked nine home runs and 31 extra-base hits. The most surprising thing, and it could be the level he played at, was Marte’s 17 stolen bases. I am not sure we will see many swipes from Marte in the future, but if we get 25 home runs with 10 steals, that is perfect.

 

10.109 Kris Bubic – LHP – KC

 

I went back to the Kansas City well to pick another pitcher, Bubic. He, just like Lynch, was drafted in 2018, but unlike Lynch, he pitched the entire season. It is pretty impressive to see a team give a young pitcher almost 150 innings. In those 149 frames, Bubic rung up 185 batters while only walking 42. His swinging-strike percentage is also pretty impressive at 19.4% and 12.3% between Low-A and High-A this season. With three 50-60 FV pitches, (fastball/curve/change), Bubic has everything needed to be a starter in the majors.

 

11.132 Ethan Hankins – RHP – CLE

 

Another pick, another young Cleveland Indians prospect, Ethan Hankins. The Indians drafted Hankins in the supplemental first-round (the round between the first and second) and 35th overall out of high school. Hankins is a 6’6″, 200-pound righty with a fastball/slider combo. He only threw three innings after being drafted, but that is typical for prep arms. Between Short-A and Low-A this year, he was able to strike guys out (71 Ks) and keep the ball on the ground (59 GB%) in 60 innings. He has struggled with walks, but I trust in the Cleveland development staff. Hankins should be a mid-rotation and work horse-type starter.

 

12.133 Jeremiah Jackson – SS – LAA

 

Jeremiah Jackson had a breakout season in the Short-A this year. The athletic shortstop smacked 23 balls out the park in 65 games but the over 30 K% is very concerning. It is a bit surprising to see this much power so early in his career. I would love, and I bet the Angels would as well, to see Jackson work on using his amazing bat speed to concentrate on hitting instead of the long ball. At age 19, he still has time to work that into his game.

 

13.156 Clarke Schmidt – RHP – NYY

 

Clarke Schmidt was not drafted out of high school, but after his college career at South Carolina, the New Yankees took him 16th overall in the 2017 draft. He did not pitch until 2018 as he had Tommy John surgery in April 2017. In 2019, Schmidt threw 90.2 innings and struck out 102 batters, and he made his way to Double-A. Schmidt has flashed four pitches while hitting 96 mph on the radar gun. He struggled a bit early in the season with walks, which wasn’t surprising since it was his first big test after the surgery. Don’t be surprised if Schmidt makes it to the major leagues this season, even before teammate Deivi Garcia.

 

14.157 Canaan Smith – OF – NYY

 

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: 2020 will be the year Canaan Smith gets the respect he deserves. After a dreadful 2018, Smith exploded in 2019 to become one of the best players in Low-A. Smith hit 11 home runs but had an impressive 32 doubles to go along with a .307 average and 16 steals. He decreased his K% from 30.4% last year to 20.5% in 2019 while increasing his BB% from 11.1% to 14%. He has tremendous bat control and can wait for his pitch and lace it the other way for a double. Just for fun, take a look at his home run spray chart.

Mr. Smith is going to love the short porch in Yankee Stadium.

 

15.180 – DJ Peters – OF – LAD

 

DJ Peters is a prototypical slugger: many home runs but also many strikeouts. After struggling in Double-A in 2018, he was assigned to Double-A to begin the 2019 season. He performed well enough and was promoted to Triple-A in late June. After the call-up, Peters hit 12 home runs between late June and July. However, in August, Peters tailed off; no home runs and 35 strikeouts in 85 at-bats. This is a boom-or-bust pick. I’m banking on a call-up to the majors with some quick power production, a-la Austin Riley in 2019.

 

16.181 – Mickey Moniak – OF – PHI

 

I was super excited to see that Mickey Moniak was still available in the 16th round. Moniak was a first-round pick for the Phillies in 2016. He performed well in his first taste of professional ball but massively struggled in Low-A and High-A the past two seasons. However, the Phillies have stuck with the young prep player, moving him up a level each year. He finally reached Double-A in 2019 and performed well.

One of the biggest jumps for prospects is the one from High-A to Double-A, and Moniak excelled. He hit double-digit home runs (11) and stole 15 bases. I think the No. 1 pick will forever hurt his value; Moniak is a major league player. He profiles as a second-division regular. While he will not win you your league, he most certainly won’t be the reason you lose.

 

17.204 – Daniel Johnson – OF – CLE

 

Just like the selection before, I was surprised to find Daniel Johnson was still available after pick No. 200. Ever since he was drafted in 2016 by the Nationals, Johnson has always hit. He projects to have a 50 FV Hit with 55 Raw Power. He has a laser arm, so sticking in right field should be easy for him, especially when Cleveland has Greg Allen and Jordan Luplow manning right field. After moving from Washington to Cleveland this past offseason, he started to pull the ball more, up to 42-44% of the time. It seemed to work for him as we saw his doubles and home runs shoot up to 34 and 19, respectively. Hopefully, Cleveland learns its lesson when it did not begin the year with Oscar Mercado in the outfield and we see Johnson as the season begins.

 

18.205 – Misael Urbina – SS – MIN

 

The Twins signed Misael Urbina in the July 2 signing period in 2018. The 17-year-old played this year in the DSL and did not disappoint. Urbina hit .279/.382/.443 with 19 stolen bases. He also walked more than he struck out, 10.6% to 6.5%. Urbina should be an all-around contributor with his 55 FV hit and 50 FV Power. I’ll take a gamble here with a high-ceiling/low-floor shortstop.

 

19.228 – Mario Feliciano – C – MIL

 

I know investing in catchers in a keeper/dynasty league is difficult, but hear me out here. After missing most of 2018 to injury, Mario Feliciano returned to High-A where he smacked 19 home runs to go along with his 25 doubles. It is pretty impressive to see a 20-year-old catcher moved quickly through a system with very little struggle. With a 55 FV Hit, Power, and Arm, we are looking at the Brewers catcher of the future.

 

20.229 – Ryan Jeffers – C – MIN

 

Going back-to-back catchers is a bit bold, but with these two offensive-minded catchers should be on your radar if you play in dynasty/keeper leagues. Ryan Jeffers was signed by the Twins in the second round of the 2018 draft and has performed at every level. Coming into 2019, there was a lot of talk around amateur scout circles that Jeffers was a good hitter but his receiving skills were less than ideal. Well, he worked on those skills in the offseason, and they have paid dividends. Now, most scouts believe he can stick behind the plate. I am not sure what the Twins are doing, but they have produced a bunch of fantasy-relevant catchers in recent years in Mitch Garver and Willians Astudillo. Jeffers hit 10 home runs and 11 doubles in the pitcher-friendly Florida State league and then hit another five with the bump up to Double-A.

 

21.252 – Daulton Jefferies – P – OAK

 

Daulton Jefferies was drafted by the Athletics in 2016 but has only pitched 20.1 innings due to injuries. He was healthy in 2019, and the A’s were very aggressive in promoting the young right-hander. What is most impressive is that Jefferies was able to keep his walks to 3.5% and 2.7% in High-A and Double-A, respectively. If Jefferies can stay on the mound, expect to see him in Oakland sooner rather than later.

 

22.253 – Francisco Morales – P – PHI

 

Francisco Morales signed with the Phillies during the 2016 July 2 signing period. The 6’4″ righty has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s with a mid-80s slider. He has moved up a level at a time and finished the season in Low-A, where he threw 96.2 innings with 129 strikeouts and a 3.82 ERA. There is major relief risk here as his walk rate has been in the double digits at every stop. However, his walk rate did decrease in Low-A and his swinging-strike percentage increased to 16.3%. I’ll take a flyer on the 20-year-old and hope he reaches close to his ceiling.

 

23.276 – Pavin Smith – 1B – ARI

 

I’ve been a Pavin Smith fan since his days playing for the University of Virginia and, to be honest, was surprised to see the Diamondbacks select him No. 7 overall in the 2017 draft. If you have read some of my past work, I have a thing for first basemen with an above-average hit tool, and that is one tool that Smith has. After drafting him, the Diamondbacks assigned him to Short-A where he hit .318 in 51 games. He struggled in his first full year in High-A, only posting a .255 batting average with 11 home runs in 120 games. Even with the lower batting average, Smith’s above-average plate skills were still on show. He has posted BB/K of 1.13, 0.88, and 0.97 in all three stops of his professional career. Smith is not known as a power hitter, but he has steadily been increasing his average fly-ball distance.

Smith plays a decent first base but saw more time in the outfield this year. It will be interesting to see what he can do in the PCL with the major league balls next year. With his excellent contact skills, building power, and high-OBP possibilities, we could be looking at a valuable player and sneaky dynasty league grab.

 

24.277 – Jerar Encarnacion – OF – MIA

 

Jerar Encarnacion has been with the Marlins since 2015 when he signed for less than $100 K during the July 2 signing period. Encarnacion had a breakout season where he saw his swinging-strike percentage and overall K% decrease. Because of that, he was able to tap into his huge raw power. He hit 10 home runs in 68 games in Low-A, and then another six home runs in 67 games in High-A. He has the arm strength and power to stick in right field, but it will be interesting to watch him in Double-A with more developed pitchers. I am hoping the decrease in strikeouts holds out. If it does, we could see a 30+ home run hitter in the majors.

 

25.300 – Jairo Pomares – OF – SF

 

The Giants have a pretty good system of young bats with Marco Luciano, Heliot Ramos, Joey Bart, and Jairo Pomares. The Giants signed Pomares last year, and he made his professional debut in 2019 in the Rookie Arizona League. He showed off his FV 55 hit tool by hitting .368 in 37 games. The then-18-year-old’s advanced bat impressed the Giants enough to promote him to Low-A where he struggled. Scouts are a bit unsure if the power will come around, but at only being 185 pounds, maybe we see him bulk up and get the power grade to at least a 50 FV, as it sits at 45.

Graphic by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)