Men UConn and the 2022 MLB Draft

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[gtcam]

We here in UConn Nation already know this!!!!
If he can stay healthy the sky is the limit for Reggie

 

[ToolzieFan]

Here is Keith Law’s write up of Reggie Crawford from his top 100 draft prospects. This is a ranking of present and future ability, and not a mock draft. His concerns about Crawford aren’t wrong (not that being ranked #82 out thousands of prospects is a bad thing), but all it takes is one team to fall in love with his tremendous upside and take a chance on him earlier. I hope he finds a great landing spot.

82. Reggie Crawford, LHP, Connecticut

Crawford is the biggest wild card among the wild cards of the pitchers who’ve had Tommy John surgery in this draft class because he’s barely pitched, with just 20.1 innings in total across two springs with UConn, and two summers in collegiate leagues and with Team USA. He did strike out exactly half of the batters he faced in that span, sitting 94-97 mph and touching 99 mph, occasionally mixing in a fringy slider. He spent more time as a power-hitting first baseman for the Huskies who couldn’t hit a breaking ball, so the mound is probably his best bet for a big-league career. But even with the athleticism of the typical two-way player, how can you project him to start with just a huge fastball and very little track record?

2022 MLB Draft Top 100 prospects: Keith Law's final rankings ahead of Round 1

Everything you need to know about the best prospects for the 2022 MLB Draft.

theathletic.com

 

[dbmill]

Here is Keith Law’s write up of Reggie Crawford from his top 100 draft prospects. This is a ranking of present and future ability, and not a mock draft. His concerns about Crawford aren’t wrong (not that being ranked #82 out thousands of prospects is a bad thing), but all it takes is one team to fall in love with his tremendous upside and take a chance on him earlier. I hope he finds a great landing spot.

82. Reggie Crawford, LHP, Connecticut

Crawford is the biggest wild card among the wild cards of the pitchers who’ve had Tommy John surgery in this draft class because he’s barely pitched, with just 20.1 innings in total across two springs with UConn, and two summers in collegiate leagues and with Team USA. He did strike out exactly half of the batters he faced in that span, sitting 94-97 mph and touching 99 mph, occasionally mixing in a fringy slider. He spent more time as a power-hitting first baseman for the Huskies who couldn’t hit a breaking ball, so the mound is probably his best bet for a big-league career. But even with the athleticism of the typical two-way player, how can you project him to start with just a huge fastball and very little track record?

2022 MLB Draft Top 100 prospects: Keith Law's final rankings ahead of Round 1

Everything you need to know about the best prospects for the 2022 MLB Draft.

theathletic.com

It seems to me that the teams in the MLB draft often make their picks with future potential in mind. From last year's draft, former Husky reliever Andrew Marrero was the perfect example of this.

 

[HookC22]

Dont be surpised if a team like the Royals/Rays/A's take him much higher (which I almost expect to happen). Much like last year with Mozzicato. Reggie has plenty of upside so one of those teams could take him mid to late 1st but pay him the required 75% of slot value which would line up with 100% of slot of a later pick.

 

[UConnRock]

Dont be surpised if a team like the Royals/Rays/A's take him much higher (which I almost expect to happen). Much like last year with Mozzicato. Reggie has plenty of upside so one of those teams could take him mid to late 1st but pay him the required 75% of slot value which would line up with 100% of slot of a later pick.

I agree. Some team will take him earlier than expected but pay less of a signing bonus due to the health issues and lack of time on the mound.

 

[huskymedic]

 

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[dbmill]

A lot of attention being paid to Reggie Crawford and the draft, which is certainly no surprise. However, UConn has several other players who will get attention in the upcoming draft. Most notable would be Austin Peterson, Pat Gallagher, Erik Stock, Matt Donlan, and perhaps others as well. As always, the draft will be interesting.

 

[huskymedic]

A lot of attention being paid to Reggie Crawford and the draft, which is certainly no surprise. However, UConn has several other players who will get attention in the upcoming draft. Most notable would be Austin Peterson, Pat Gallagher, Erik Stock, Matt Donlan, and perhaps others as well. As always, the draft will be interesting.

UConn connections:

-> Reggie Crawford, LHP/1B, UConn​

The two-way star missed all of this past season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, making him one of the biggest mysteries in the draft. No doubt he has first-round talent, and teams haven’t shied away from Tommy John guys as high picks. Still, there’s a very limited track record on the 6-foot-4, 235-pound talent. He played just 64 games over two seasons for the Huskies, hitting .309 with 14 homers. On the mound, he threw just 7 2/3 innings two seasons ago as a sophomore, striking out 17, walking just three, and allowing five hits and two earned runs. In the Cape Cod League that summer, he dazzled with a fastball that sat in the mid-90s and touched 99 MPH, along with a plus slider in the mid-80s, before undergoing Tommy John last fall. He’s ranked the No. 59 overall prospect by Baseball America, No. 66 on ProspectsLive.com, No. 80 by MLB.com.

“If you pass on that kid in the first round, I just don’t know what you’re doing,” UConn coach Jim Penders said. “There’s so much upside there. And there’s so little mileage on the body. He’s played one college season, really. He’s going to explode when he gets into an organization.”

Still, if Crawford doesn’t get selected as high as he’d like, he has a fallback option: Earlier this week, he announced he was transferring to Tennessee, where he could boost his stock (and get some nice NIL money) next spring.

Keep an eye on: Los Angeles Angels. And not just because they boast the ultimate two-way star in Shohei Ohtani. Virtually every MLB team has contacted Crawford, but the pitching-starved Angels have been most ardent. Don’t forget, the Angels drafted all pitchers last year and are dying to get enough arms to help Mike Trout get back to the postseason someday. The Halos own the No. 13 overall pick. <-

-> Other potential Day 2 or 3 draft picks:

Austin Peterson, RHP, UConn: Righthander Set UConn single-season record with 147 strikeouts and tied for second in single-season program history with 11 wins.

Pat Gallagher, RHP, UConn: Leominster, Mass. producted was 11-3, 3.41 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 103 innings this season.

Matt Donlan, C, Guilford/UConn: Transfer from Stonehill is a defensive stopper, throwing out 22 runners and picking off five in 61 games.

Erik Stock, OF, UConn: Virginia native hit .371 in his career, third-best in program history.

David Smith, INF, UConn: LaSalle transfer hit .307 with 64 runs in 66 games. <-

 

[dbmill]

Hartford Courant article on the upcoming MLB draft.

UConn players figure to lead crop of state MLB Draft picks

There will be some intrigue and suspense during the first round of the MLB Draft, as both UConn and Tennessee baseball fans, and those who follow unique prospects, keep their eyes glued to see wher…

www.courant.com

Possible UConn picks beyond Crawford:

No. 1 starter Austin Peterson (11-3, 3.83 ERA), who had 147 strikeouts in 110 innings, and No. 2 Pat Gallagher (11-3, 3.47), who had 110 in 103 innings, should go in the middle rounds. Both are righthanders with an array of pitches.

Catcher Matt Donlan, from Guilford, who transferred from Division II Stonehill, blossomed with his ability to throw out runners (22 of 42), and also figures to be gone by Tuesday. Zach Bushling, Casey Dana, Ben Huber, and Erik Stock are Huskies position players who could get a call Tuesday, or shortly after the draft. Infielder Christian Fedko and pitcher Jimmy Wang could get pro opportunities, according to MLB’s Draft Tracker.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[WhereYouAt]

Has Crawford going last pick/30 overall to San Francisco...

2022 MLB Mock Draft 3.1: Kiley McDaniel gives final prediction for first two rounds

What will the Orioles do at No. 1 overall? Which prep outfielder could slide on draft day? And where will Kumar Rocker land? Here's the latest intel we're hearing hours before the 2022 MLB Draft.

www.espn.com

 

[Tmill15]

Has Crawford going last pick/30 overall to San Francisco...

2022 MLB Mock Draft 3.1: Kiley McDaniel gives final prediction for first two rounds

What will the Orioles do at No. 1 overall? Which prep outfielder could slide on draft day? And where will Kumar Rocker land? Here's the latest intel we're hearing hours before the 2022 MLB Draft.

www.espn.com

There’s a chance that Reggie could sneak back into the first round

 

[huskymedic]

 

[ThabeetDown]

Let’s go! Congrats Reggie. Announced as a two-way player too

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Tmill15]

REGGIE REGGIE REGGIE

 

[Tmill15]

Reggie will come through Hartford when he is with the Giants AA Richmond Flying Squirrels.

 

[navery12]

 

[huskymedic]

Has Crawford going last pick/30 overall to San Francisco...

2022 MLB Mock Draft 3.1: Kiley McDaniel gives final prediction for first two rounds

What will the Orioles do at No. 1 overall? Which prep outfielder could slide on draft day? And where will Kumar Rocker land? Here's the latest intel we're hearing hours before the 2022 MLB Draft.

www.espn.com

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Jbone]

Reggie will come through Hartford when he is with the Giants AA Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Possibly. Some North and South division teams no longer play each other home and away every year. Hartford visited Richmond earlier this year, Richmond does not visit Hartford. MLB trying to limit travel.