Kevin McGonigle - SS - Monsignor Bonner HS (PA)

I skimmed this, then after the description I went back to see what his name was. For about 5 seconds I thought Monsignor Bonner was a fantastic player name.

Nothing of substance to add until after the draft, except that I suspect the HS hitter route is not a temporary thing. I wouldn't expect HS hitters to be more projectable as prospects than college hitters, but I think that for the best of them you have a decent chance at extending them before they've already gotten expensive. College players will already be expensive by the time you can extend them, so the value window is narrower.

Kevin McGonigle - SS - Monsignor Bonner HS (PA)

Fun fact: I student-taught at this school many, many moons ago. The experience cured me of my desire to be a HS teacher.

I didn't think Philly Archdiocese schools were considered baseball hotbeds, but admittedly I don't pay attention to such things.

Red Sox first pick is a college catcher; Kyle Teel. MLB.com had him the 7th best prospect on their list and had this to say about him.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 65 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Teel was a very good high school prospect in New Jersey, one who was considered a Top 100 talent, until he removed his name from Draft consideration during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in order to honor his commitment to the University of Virginia. He’s been a full-time starter since he arrived in Charlottesville, putting up better numbers as a freshman than he did as a sophomore and is generally considered to be the top college backstop in the class of 2023.

A left-handed-hitting backstop, Teel has the chance to hit for average and power, though he’s gotten caught a bit in between trying to be a hitter with some pop or a power guy. He was more hit over power in high school, but he has been trying to show off the pop more, perhaps a reason why he hit just .276 in 2022, though he’s found the right balance this spring. He does have an advanced approach, walking more than he struck out last year, and while struggles in the Cape Cod League and with Team USA last summer led some to worry about the hit tool, he’s answered them during his junior year.

Extremely athletic, Teel has seen time in the outfield and probably could handle playing second or third, but he has every chance to stick behind the plate. He has an easily plus arm and his athleticism helps his overall receiving. He gets high marks for his baseball IQ and leadership skills, and with his bat showing up more consistently, his name is floating up Draft boards.

Fwiw, I really didn’t like Teel. I don’t think he’s got enough power with a wood bat.

This draft was really 4-5 deep and then a dropoff. Teel is good value for where he was picked. If he was any better, he wouldn't have been available (as is, he should have gone earlier anyway).

He’s been a full-time starter since he arrived in Charlottesville, putting up better numbers as a freshman than he did as a sophomore and is generally considered to be the top college backstop in the class of 2023.

A left-handed-hitting backstop, Teel has the chance to hit for average and power, though he’s gotten caught a bit in between trying to be a hitter with some pop or a power guy. He was more hit over power in high school, but he has been trying to show off the pop more, perhaps a reason why he hit just .276 in 2022, though he’s found the right balance this spring.

When was that blurb written? He hit .400 this year as far as I can tell.

This draft was really 4-5 deep and then a dropoff. Teel is good value for where he was picked. If he was any better, he wouldn't have been available (as is, he should have gone earlier anyway).

Agree. But if you’re taking second tier talents, I’d rather have the guy who has a chance to be an above average MLB hitter. I don’t think Teel has much of a chance without a major S&C transformation because he is just wailing the #### out of it with his swing and still not generating the sort of pop that translates to a wood bat. He’s got this big long swing that I suspect is vulnerable to pro velocity up, and his body as is is really narrow. Becoming a good pro hitter requires two things to hit: (1) gotta make contact and (2) when you do make contact it has to be hard enough contact so that pro level defenses can’t turn it into outs. I can buy that Teel has a decent shot on hitting on (1) - he’s got fantastic eye-hand - but (2) seems like an impossibility without some crazy gym work.

I don’t think Teel has much of a chance without a major S&C transformation

So you're suggesting Teel is a bit green without some extra work?

So you're suggesting Teel is a bit green without some extra work?

Quotes like this, which speculate that Teel may actually be a little green, are making me feel a little blue.

Regardless, when his agent approaches the Red Sox about a contract, he'll likely start by saying, "Teel? Pay, pal."

Dumb puns aside, I do like that MLB is trying to make the draft more accessible and interesting to fans. It's never going to be like the NBA or NFL draft, where we've seen a lot of the best prospects play already, and where one guy can change the fortunes of a franchise. It does seem there is more pre-draft information readily available than ever before, and last night was probably the first time, besides the Mayer pick, that I've been keeping an eye on who would be available for the Red Sox.

Second rounder was Nazzen Zanatello. 52nd on MLB's predraft list;

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Zanetello climbed up Draft boards with a strong showcase circuit, beginning with MVP honors at the Breakthrough Series in June. He stood out in athletic testing at the PDP League in July, raked at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in October and led Team USA in hitting (.429) at an 18-and-under World Cup qualifying tournament in November. Scouts love his five-tool potential as well as his makeup.

Zanetello has a wiry 6-foot-2 frame with room to add more muscle, and his strong hands and wrists produce plenty of bat speed and 25-homer potential. He doesn't have the prettiest right-handed swing but makes a lot of hard contact. He also shows good control of the strike zone and produced against quality pitching throughout the summer.

While Zanetello has clocked run times that earn grades from anywhere from 45 to 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, the consensus is that he'll probably have solid speed once he's physically mature. His athleticism and strong arm help him make plays at shortstop, where he projects as an average defender. The Arkansas commit has looked solid in stints in center field and should provide similar glovework if he shifts to third base.

Agree. But if you’re taking second tier talents, I’d rather have the guy who has a chance to be an above average MLB hitter. I don’t think Teel has much of a chance without a major S&C transformation because he is just wailing the #### out of it with his swing and still not generating the sort of pop that translates to a wood bat. He’s got this big long swing that I suspect is vulnerable to pro velocity up, and his body as is is really narrow. Becoming a good pro hitter requires two things to hit: (1) gotta make contact and (2) when you do make contact it has to be hard enough contact so that pro level defenses can’t turn it into outs. I can buy that Teel has a decent shot on hitting on (1) - he’s got fantastic eye-hand - but (2) seems like an impossibility without some crazy gym work.

Keep in mind noted hulk Mookie Betts is hitting in the HR Derby this year. Not saying Teel will be anywhere close to Betts, but size isn't everything.

Size isn’t everything but bat speed is. Ted Williams was narrow as they come but the way his bat whipped through the zone was incredible. Teel’s swing is different - high effort, long, loopy. He is absolutely maxing out what he can do with his current build with his mechanics. Meanwhile just within the ACC, that guy on NC State - groover? - hits the ball harder with much less effort. He doesn’t have the loft yet but I think you can see the clay to mold a big league hitter there.

IMO Teel’s draft stock is mostly a gamble that he can stick at catcher. I hate drafting like that - the assumption, especially at catcher, should be that the guy won’t stick and would the bat play at a corner.

I'm obviously rooting for Teel to be successful, and I don't know #### about him except for what has been put out there the last few days.

Over lunch, I took a few minutes to try to answer a question: How often do college catchers get drafted, and then become successful as catchers? I didn't have time to dig in, so I didn't look at high school draftees, or obviously international signings - this isn't meant to be definitive in any way.

However, since the common draft started in 1965, there are 33 players who were drafted as catchers, and end up with at least 10 career WAR:

Craig Biggio 65.4
Josh Donaldson 46.8
Thurman Munson 46.1
Buster Posey 44.8
Jim Sundberg 40.5
Mickey Tettleton 29.3
Jason Varitek 24.2
Scott Hoiles 23.5
Charles Johnson 22.6
Terry Kennedy 21.6
Yasmani Grandal 20.2
John Stearns 19.7
Kurt Suzuki 19.5
Don Slaught 19.4
Todd Zeile 19.3
Brandon Inge 19.2
Yan Gomes 18.7
Matt Wieters 18.3
Paul DoLuca 17.9
Matt LuCroy 17.7
Alex Avila 17.1
Ted Sizemore 16.1
Chris Iannetta 15.0
Ron Hassey 14.7
Mike MacFarlane 14.7
Paul DeJong 14.1
Will Smith 13.6
Dan Wilson 13.0
Jason Castro 12.4
Sean Murphy 11.6
Scott Hatteberg 10.0
David Ross 10.0
Kyle Schwarber 10.0

There are a few more recent draftees who will likely join this list, including Adley Rutschman (7.4), Mitch Garver (8.2), and a few others.

But if you look at that 33, several were clearly not career catchers, including Schwarber, Donaldson, Biggio, and Zeile.

So when you at the remaining 29 or so:
1) There are so many more college catchers who have been drafted, including high in the draft, that never made it, or who got a cup of coffee, or who were career backups who ended up with between -5 and 5 WAR, etc. Only 15 of these players are in the top 1000 in career WAR, and at least four of them can't really be considered career catchers. Only one is a HOF (Biggio), and one other will likely be in the HOF (Posey).

2) Question for you: If I told you that any of these 33 players had been taken #1 overall in a draft, and ended up being exactly what they were, would you be pleased that your team drafted them? If not, how many would you be pleased your team drafted #1 overall?

3) If I told you that Kyle Teel ended up having Ron Hassey's career, would you feel good about it, as a Red Sox fan? How about John Stearns? I think a lot of Orioles fans would probably say Matt Wieters was a bit of a disappointment relative to massive expectations...but if you at this context, there are only about 15 true catchers in the last 55+ years drafted out of college who did more than him. That sounds pretty successful.

4) Maybe I'm wrong, but it seemed like the list of non-four year college players drafted included more high-ceiling careers (Bench, Carter, Mauer, Fisk, etc) than this list.

I think I kind of agree with #13, that if you are going to draft a catcher, you better feel good that the bat can translate to a position switch, or else it is a high-risk pick.

Atlanta based high school shortstop Antonio Anderson becomes a Red Sox in the third round. The Sox get the 77th ranked player at #115.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45

Jay Austin went in the second round of the 2008 Draft to the Astros, and 15 years later, Anderson could match him as the highest pick in North Atlanta (Ga.) HS history. He has a chance to hit for power and average, though his future defensive home remains in question. The consensus is that his offensive prowess alone will get him drafted high enough to divert him from a commitment to Georgia Tech.

Scouts prefer the switch-hitting Anderson's left-handed swing because he turns it loose more often than his right-handed stroke. He has a balanced approach, shows the ability to make adjustments and can handle breaking balls. With his bat speed and projected strength gains, he should develop at least 20-homer power.

Anderson is a fringy runner and lacks the twitchy athleticism to remain at shortstop, his high school position. The best-case scenario is that he becomes an offensive second baseman, though he may not have enough quickness to play up the middle. He does have a strong arm that has clocked fastballs up to 91 mph on the mound, so third base is his likely destination.

Fourth round pick is RHP Matt Duffy. Folks, we have our first signability pick!!!

Shortstops Kristian Campbell (5th) and Justin Reimer (6th) are next picks. Sox are going the signability route here.

LHP Connolly Early goes in the 7th round. Another signing pick. Wonder if they had a deal with Anderson.

I would've gone with Hurston Waldrop from Florida at 14, he's going to be a really good starter.

3) If I told you that Kyle Teel ended up having Ron Hassey's career, would you feel good about it, as a Red Sox fan? How about John Stearns?

Good? No. More like thrilled. Well above average return for the #14 pick and around to 10 all time for that slot. All at position where WAR is hard to accumulate.

The info in #14 is interesting but hard to interpret without context about how players from other positions fared.

He’s got this big long swing that I suspect is vulnerable to pro velocity up, and his body as is is really narrow.

Are these your observations or is this from a shooting source?