Draft Preview: Shortstops #PersonalCheeseballs

[Jeremy Nygaard]

We’re back for another #PersonalCheeseballs installment. This time focusing on some shortstops, which may be the most interesting position as it usually includes premium athletes who could easily make a position-change.

Many second and third basemen go through high school and/or college as shortstops. It’s not uncommon for a pro centerfielder to have spent many innings playing shortstop as he developed. 

The term “personal cheeseball” (better represented by #personalcheeseball) originated over twenty years ago in the Baseball America offices when former writer and current Twins scout John Manuel started using it as “shorthand for a personal favorite that does not reflect the popular consensus.” 

And that’s what you’ll see here. If the first two installments, we covered players from the midwest and catchers. This list will look at present-day shortstops. And, again, as a warning, my radar isn’t reflective of any single team’s preferences or draft board. 

Arjun Nimmala, SS, Florida prep (committed to Florida State): Nimmala is one of the highest-ceiling-but-comes-with-questions prospects in the draft and that’s evident by where you see him in different rankings. If you believe in the hit tool and that he can remain at shortstop, he’s a potential top 10 pick. If you have doubts about the hit tool or think he’s destined for a corner, those questions drop him down the board. Nimmala, who will still be 17 on draft day, has impressive raw power and an arm that will work on the left side of the infield.

Nimmala is the type of player I can see the Twins being infatuated with.

Antonio Anderson, SS, Georgia prep (committed to Georgia Tech): The Georgia prep-to-pro pipeline is alive and well and Anderson has a chance to be another success story from the southern hotbed. Those that don’t love his swing view him as a lesser project than those that do. The switch-hitter has plenty of power, but not a ton of speed. He’s a shortstop for now, but plenty of arm if a move to third base (or right field) is needed. 

Below is a video of Anderson, which feels like what it would look like watching Byron Buxton bat through a mirror. 

Jose Luis Ortiz, SS, Puerto Rico prep (committed to Houston): Ortiz is a smooth defender with a cannon arm. The bat, well… that’s a different story. It just takes one team to believe they can develop the bat and that is a much easier task that developing a guy who can hit into a shortstop.

Sam Antonacci, SS, Illinois JC (committed to Coastal Carolina): Antonacci will be a great value pick for someone. He’s a very good hitter and that’s his best tool, but there’s plenty else there to work with as well. If a team can get him out of his college commitment, they will be getting a solid prospect who could continue to develop. 

Braylen Wimmer, SS, South Carolina: Wimmer is the only four-year college shortstop on the list and is unique in that he’s back at South Carolina for his senior year and not signing as an 18th-round pick last year. Wimmer is a tall (6-4) shortstop and that doesn’t always work out, but it’s worked out so far this year in the SEC. He’s got some pop in his bat and has shown a much better eye at the plate. A team may overdraft him to pay him underslot, getting some financial wiggle room while adding an older, solid prospect. 

Wimmer has had some success against really good pitching too.

Next week, we will take a closer look at third basemen, but not before you get a look at the initial Consensus Big Board.

There are plenty of others that could have been listed here. This isn’t to say anyone is or isn’t going to be a good draft or baseball prospect. If you have your own local #personalcheeseball, leave in the comments!

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[Dman]

No thanks for me on Nimalla at number 5.  Better off going for bat first players when picking high.  I have seen too many 4 tool players with all the physical skills except the bat never make it.  Latest example would be Cavaco.  Hitting the stuff pitchers throw today is hard enough that even bat first prospects can struggle. If they want to take a chance in latter rounds I could see it but I am hoping they go with more pitching in the higher rounds this year.

[jishfish]

I'm curious if anyone has any strong feelings on Tommy Troy out of Stanford? I don't think he sticks at short at the next level, but lately I've come around on either him or Kyle Teel as slightly underslot guys who I think will be extremely strong/stable performers at the next level, even if they don't become super stars. 

I tend to agree with @Dman regarding Nimmala. If we had stuck at 13 I would be all for it, but when we're picking in the top 5 I really feel like you need to have some security in the hit tool, which seems to be his main sticking point. On the other hand he is only 17, and if the Twins believe the hit tool will come around, a 70-power SS and cannon arm is certainly intriguing!

[Doctor Gast]

Thanks again Jeremy for this list to look at. There's a ton of SSs in this Draft. Of course many won't stick. As I've stated before My priority list is 1st catcher if Kyle Teel stock rises to #5, otherwise my #2 a SP (Dollander or Skenes) then go w/ Carrigg (C), which would cover our round 1 pick & compensation pick, so our 2nd or 3rd round picks, I'd consider the best available preps CFer or SS, that'd stick there. 

[weitz41]

#5 seems a bit high for any of these. Comp or 2nd round maybe. I'd like to see Max Clark or Langford @5. IDK about Dollander..He nowhere near as dominate so far this season. Skenes I think will be gone by #5 if he continues what he's done so far. Hoping for a catcher or two in the 1st 3 rounds.

[farmerguychris]

I'm just starting to really get into the draft stuff overall - mostly I do look at SS, CF and SP as figure those players are often the best players on an individual team (like I said, I'm learning), but I have to think we seriously need a stud C in this draft.  Hope there are some out there as our long term cupboard for the future of this position is not great.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

4 hours ago, weitz41 said:

#5 seems a bit high for any of these. Comp or 2nd round maybe. I'd like to see Max Clark or Langford @5. IDK about Dollander..He nowhere near as dominate so far this season. Skenes I think will be gone by #5 if he continues what he's done so far. Hoping for a catcher or two in the 1st 3 rounds.

Nimmala would be the only guy that gets top half of the first round consideration of these five.

The rest probably slot somewhere on Day 2 or 3. 

My best guess (right now) is Crews and Skenes go 1 and 2 and the Twins take whichever of Langford, Jenkins or Clark that is available (in that order). 

[terrydactyls]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Thanks again Jeremy for this list to look at. There's a ton of SSs in this Draft. Of course many won't stick. As I've stated before My priority list is 1st catcher if Kyle Teel stock rises to #5, otherwise my #2 a SP (Dollander or Skenes) then go w/ Carrigg (C), which would cover our round 1 pick & compensation pick, so our 2nd or 3rd round picks, I'd consider the best available preps CFer or SS, that'd stick there. 

I looked at the top 300 prospects at Prospectslive.com.  There are only 6 catchers in the top 100 and they only project 2 to remain at catcher (and one of them is questionable because he is also a pitcher that throws in the upper 90's).  

#26 Mitchell - HS - stays at catcher but if he doesn't develop, he can pitch

#37 Teel - Virginia - catcher with a weak arm

#38 Carrigg - San Diego State - Probably move to corner outfield

#44 Velazquez - HS - Probably a corner OF

#66 Dickey - Tennesee - Probably a corner OF

# 78 - Carico - Davidson - Probably a corner OF

 

With these as the choices for the Twins, only Mitchell and Teel project as future catchers - one might pitch and the other has a weak arm.  So unless Mitchell is still available for the compensation pick, catcher should not be a priority.  They might as well wait until later rounds to pick up some players they can use as "lottery tickets" for potential trades for a catcher.