Potential 2013 Twins draft picks: Clint Frazier & Austin Meadows

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Clint Frazier- OF, 6" 190 lbs, Loganville (Ga.) HS

 

Expert take - "Frazier has some of the best pure bat speed I have ever seen on an amateur player, and he controls the bat head well to. That bat speed means hard contact which, given the hip rotation and loft in his finish, means plus power too, particularly to pull. On defense, Frazier profiles as a corner outfielder, with adequate range in center for the high school level or perhaps a college team, but not for pro ball. His arm was plus before a bout of tendinitis in the fall and is now just average, good enough for right field but with the hope that it can get back to where it was a year or so ago." Keith law

 

Pros- Quick bat speed, sound hit mechanics, good arm, high character, could move quick in the minors, plus current power, plus defense for RF

 

Cons- Lack of projection, future corner OF, questions about arm

 

Austin Meadows, CF, 6'3" 200 lbs, Grayson (Ga.) HS

 

Expert takes- "Sound left-handed swing with plenty of bat speed and hip rotation for above-average power, although I'd like to see more loft in his finish, as a player of his size and strength should project to 70-grade (or better) in-game power.Meadows is a plus runner with a fringy arm, one that will play in center but, if he outgrows the position, would make right field impossible." Keith Law

 

Pros- Potential plus power, CF, projection, good bat speed, plus runner

 

Cons- fringy arm, could out grow CF, more projection than finished product

 

Expert comparison- "If a club wishes to take the upside route on a high school bat, choosing between Grayson (Ga.) High School's Austin Meadows and Loganville's Clint Frazier may be the No. 1 task on their docket. Meadows has advantages in terms of long-term defensive profile -- center field, versus a likely corner outfield role for Frazier -- and the higher ceiling at the plate, but Frazier has a jump start on him in terms of present skills.It's also noteworthy that Meadows is the more physically projectable player and bats left-handed. Both players have a shot to be selected in the top 10, but in terms of pure talent, Meadows is more likely to remain on the draft boards of those selecting in the top five." Christopher crawford

 

Links:

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/mlb_draft/id/9160412/austin-meadows-clint-frazier-mark-appel-jonathan-gray-other-draft-dilemmas-mlb-draft

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/mlb_draft/id/9134126/austin-meadows-shows-tools-stick-center-field-top-five-pick-mlb-draft

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/mlb_draft/id/9125153/clint-frazier-shows-top-10-talent-their-questions-projection-mlb

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I hope to get a Denney, McGuire, and Stewart post up sometime next week so we can have threads for all the "main" guys. Typing these up on my phone takes forever. If my expert takes are too long let me know and I can edit them appropriately.

[maxisagod]

I hope to get a Denny, McGuire, and Stewart post up sometime next week so we can have threads for all the "main" guys. Typing these up on my phone takes forever. If my expert takes are too long let me know and I can edit them appropriately.

 

They look good!

[Mike Sixel]

KLAW had neither going in the top five in today's chat.....

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KLAW had neither going in the top five in today's chat.....

 

Haha, I just posted the exact quote you are talking about in the Moran/Bryant thread. While I tend to agree that they would be better options, we all know how the Twins love tool shed outfielders!

[TwinsFanInPhilly]

J Mayo has them at 4 and 5 currently. Thanks for writing this up. Very helpful

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Very nice write-up. These two guys will be forever linked. I prefer the fiery competitor in Frazier, but last I checked, the Twins prefer Meadows. Neither has the ceiling that Buxton has, however, but it's entirely conceivable both of these guys are near the top of the Twins draft board.

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I'm glad that these write ups are helpful. Hopefully Monday I will finish the others up.

 

Jeremy when do you plan to post your updated draft board? I can't wait to see it and compare it to mine. I might post mine next Friday for the hell of it.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm sorry, but I'd rather have Manaea, Appel, or Gray. Hopefully one of these OFers go in the top 3 so we can get one.

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I'm sorry, but I'd rather have Manaea, Appel, or Gray. Hopefully one of these OFers go in the top 3 so we can get one.

 

As of right now I see there being a zero percent chance either Appel or Gray falls to us at 4 with the way they are pitching. While Manaea wouldn't be a bad pick at 4 I personally have several guys above him. How much fun would having two guys who can throw 100 in Gray/Meyers be though?

[kab21]

I'm glad that these write ups are helpful. Hopefully Monday I will finish the others up.

 

Jeremy when do you plan to post your updated draft board? I can't wait to see it and compare it to mine. I might post mine next Friday for the hell of it.

 

these write-ups are pretty awesome.

[drjim]

I'm sorry, but I'd rather have Manaea, Appel, or Gray. Hopefully one of these OFers go in the top 3 so we can get one.

 

Sure, but what if they are the first three picks?

[cmb0252]

these write-ups are pretty awesome.

 

I'm glad you like them! Always like starting up good draft/prospect conversation

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Jeremy when do you plan to post your updated draft board? I can't wait to see it and compare it to mine. I might post mine next Friday for the hell of it.

 

Tomorrow night, if all goes according to plan.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Sure, but what if they are the first three picks?

 

I think my plan in this case would be to take an underslot pitcher and then draft a tough sign highschooler later in the draft and throw the savings at him.

 

If all 3 are gone, elite talent is essentially gone too and the difference between Meadows and say a Chris Anderson/Stanek is going to be pretty minimal. While Anderson/Stanek might have number 1 ceilings, they are likely more going to be a 2/3 pitcher, which the Twins desperately need and could start at Fort Meyers yet this year.

 

Meadows might be slightly better, but given org needs, if that pitcher could sign for 2M and then the Twins went after a guy like Joe Martarano (3B) or Kohl Stewart (P) (football commits who could very well go undrafted), I think you do it. Both of those guys profile as first round talent, so you are essentially trading number 4 overall for say number 10 and number 15 (or something like that). The difference in talent is fairly miniscule, and both of those HS guys have pretty high ceilings (though there's risk there).

 

To me, this is the BPA, as you get two very good prospects for the price of 1.

[kab21]

The problem is that there is no guarantee that those guys will be there or that they will sign. I think there is a substantial step down from Meadows/Bryant/Frazier to Anderson/Stanek.

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The problem is that there is no guarantee that those guys will be there or that they will sign. I think there is a substantial step down from Meadows/Bryant/Frazier to Anderson/Stanek.

 

I completely agree. This is a top 5 pick! Use it on the best player you can. This draft is deep in arms. Just because you don't get one at 4 doesn't mean you can't grab one later. Kind of like last year.

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From Christopher Crawford when talking a scout about Frazier-" The [bat] speed is plus-plus," said an AL West scout. "He gets the bat through the zone faster than anyone in this class. It's really a numbers game, though. If you think he's a center fielder, there's no reason to think he's not a top-five pick. If you think he ends up in a corner, then it's a lot tougher to justify taking him that high. Ultimately, I think he goes in the first dozen or so picks, but it's going to be tough for a lot of teams to pass on that offensive ability."

 

Frazier hit his 13th hr of the year this weekend.

[nicksaviking]

If another OF is considered, I'd hope the Twins take into account the favorability Target Field seems to hold over right-handed sluggers as opposed to lefties.

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From Jim m call is chats today:

 

• Clint Frazier or Austin Meadows...who do you take and why? Thanks
  

Jim Callis: I'm in the minority at Baseball America, but I like Meadows slightly more. Frazier has the more explosive bat but I prefer Meadows' all-around package a little more.

• 
  Jim, who are your personal favorite future impact hitters in this draft class?
  

Jim Callis: If I can pick one each from high school and college, I'll say Georgia HS outfielder Clint Frazier and San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant.

• 
  Are the Twins destined to take a college pitcher at #4 or will they take the best player available, even if that means another high school outfielder out of Georgia? I've followed the draft long enough to believe they should take the best player available, regardless of position.
  

Jim Callis: I think they'd like to go BPA, but I can't see them taking another young outfielder when they have so many and need pitching so desperately.

[Mike Sixel]

Take kris bryant if you don't believe in teh pitchers.....

[nicksaviking]

 

 

• Clint Frazier or Austin Meadows...who do you take and why? Thanks
  

 

Jim Callis: I'm in the minority at Baseball America, but I like Meadows slightly more.

• Jim, who are your personal favorite future impact hitters in this draft class?
  

Jim Callis: If I can pick one each from high school and college, I'll say Georgia HS outfielder Clint Frazier...

 

Um what?

 

Is he really saying that although Frazier has a better bat, he likes Meadows better? Why because Meadows has a slight chance of sticking at CF? I'd take the guy who profiles as a better hitter everyday.

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I have Frazier one spot ahead of Meadows on my own list but i understand where cf vs corner OF come into plays. As Twins fans we have been so spoiled with great CFers that we forget how rare they are.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

What Callis said was in line with what he's been saying all along, and yes, it has to do with defense.

 

I think Meadows is the safer pick (closer gap in ceiling/floor) than Frazier, who may have a slightly higher ceiling. I talked to someone who called Frazier a great "mistake hitter". I wonder how that plays out when mistakes become far less frequent. Meadows has the "professional hitter" makeup right now.

 

Defensively, Meadows has a better chance to stay in CF. Frazier has a cannon.

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From Christopher crawfords chat:

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Comment From Ryan

Why Meadows over Frazier?

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Personal preference of the guy who I know can play centerrfield over the guy that I'm leaning towards can't. Frazier can hit -- that bat speed is insane -- but I don't think he's as project-able as some of the other guys in this class.

 

 

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Comment From Kelly

Is it just me, or does Meadows' swing just not look very fluid?

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It's not the prettiest thing in the world, but his hand-eye coordination is fantastic and I think he'll respond well to coaching.

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Frazier and Meadows regular seasons are over. Frazier ended last weekend while Meadows ended this past weekend and went 2-for-4 with two doubles, and finished his season with a .554/.655/.944 line.

[nicksaviking]

These guys but up some pretty nice numbers but no one is raving about them despite the stats. I don't think the Twins will be picking from this group.

[cmb0252]

If Manaea is injured and Appel/Gray/Bryant go 1-2-3 like some believe we might be stuck. I have Stewart at 3 on my board so I prefer him to either Frazier or Meadows but neither would be a bad pick at 4. Like Buxton last year....talent is talent!

[nicksaviking]

It just seemed to me the biggest question mark with Buxton was his competition, while scouts are picking apart these guys' swing and defensive abilities. The numbers are pretty eye-popping but fair or not, these guys are getting more criticism than Buxton did last year.

[kab21]

I also feel that Frazier and Meadows have lost a little buzz. Bryant is pretty much locked in at #3 for me while the two pitchers, the two prep OF'ers and a wild card (prep catcher) are trying to make a case for #4. I'm trying to force either of the pitchers into that spot but I feel a little uneasy with Manaea and Stewart is pretty risky and is a project.