by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
July 12, 2021
With the tenth round of the amateur draft having concluded at the end of the draft’s second day on Monday, it’s time to take a look at the A’s top ten picks of the 2021 draft.
The A’s had the 25th overall pick this year. And after selecting high school shortstop Max Muncy with its top pick on Sunday, the team took nothing but collegiate players with its next nine picks on Monday, selecting seven college hitters and just two college pitchers. Among the hitters taken on Monday were a pair of catchers, a pair of third basemen and a pair of shortstops.
We’ll be learning a lot more about all the A’s top picks in the coming days and should be able to get a chance to see much more of them in the Arizona Complex League, and possibly in Stockton, before the month is through. But let’s take a quick look at what we know about some of the team’s top new talent…
1st Round
Max Muncy
Shortstop
Thousand Oaks High School
Age: 18 / Height: 6’1″ / Weight: 180 lbs.
Bats: Right / Throws: Right
2021 High School: 96 AB/11 HR/24 BB/16 K/.469 AVG/.576 OBP/.947 SLG
The A’s held the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft and used it to select high school shortstop Max Muncy, who is no relation to former A’s infielder Max Muncy – though, oddly enough, they do share a birthday! The Thousand Oaks High grad, who was MLB Pipeline’s 38th-ranked prospect and Baseball America’s 43rd-ranked prospect, was named the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Daily News Baseball Player of the Year and was also the CIF Southern Section Division 2 Player of the Year. Muncy impressed scouts by going 45 for 96 with 24 walks, just 16 strikeouts, 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases while slashing .469/.576/.947 during his senior season for Thousand Oaks. Many consider him to be a high-energy player, including Muncy himself, who says, “I think my energy is my sixth tool.” A’s scouting director Eric Kubota categorized Muncy as “an above-average runner, an above-average thrower” and noted that he’s also got good power. The A’s envision Muncy as a power-hitting shortstop, and Kubota compares him to Dansby Swanson. As for signing with the A’s, the teenager himself, who’s committed to Arkansas, called it “close to a done deal.” Kubota says that Muncy’s likely to make his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League with the ACL A’s this summer and that he could even end up joining a full-season club before the summer’s through.
2nd Round
Third Baseman
University of Virginia
Age: 21 / Height: 6’3″ / Weight: 205 lbs.
Bats: Right / Throws: Right
2021 College: 260 AB/9 HR/32 BB/40 K/.312 AVG/.393 OBP/.485 SLG
With their second-round pick in this year’s draft, the A’s targeted college third baseman Zack Gelof out of Virginia, who was named the Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year in 2018 as an 18-year-old. His offensive potential is what appealed to the A’s. Scouting director Eric Kubota said the team believes that Gelof still has a lot of “untapped power” and has a chance to be “a really good hitter.” The 21-year-old, who was Baseball America’s 79th-ranked prospect and MLB Pipeline’s 86th-ranked prospect, also has decent speed for a big man, and Kubota noted that the team felt that he was very athletic for how big he is. Reports are mixed on his defense, and some have speculated that a move to a corner outfield position might ultimately be in the cards for Gelof. But wherever he ends up playing, Gelof’s bat is what’s likely to carry him.
3rd Round
Right-Handed Pitcher
Gardner-Webb University
Age: 22 / Height: 6’5″ / Weight: 200 lbs.
Throws: Right / Bats: Right
2021 College: 92.2 IP/73 H/34 ER/30 BB/121 K/3.30 ERA/1.11 WHIP
The A’s selected their first pitcher of the draft when they took right-hander Mason Miller out of Gardner-Webb with their third-round pick on Monday. Miller, who’s due to turn 23 next month, remade himself and remade his career when he was diagnosed with diabetes after his first two years in college. Miller changed his diet and his workout regimen and eventually added 50 pounds to his frame, and he dramatically improved his velocity. After compiling an ERA over 7.00 in his first two collegiate seasons, Miller put up an ERA of 1.86 and a 12.9 K/9 rate in his third college season. A’s scouting director Eric Kubota claims that Miller’s fastball has been clocked as high as 99-100 mph. And this season, he notched 121 strikeouts in 92 2/3 innings while posting an 8-1 record and a 3.30 ERA for Gardner-Webb.
4th Round
Outfielder
CSU Northridge
Age: 21 / Height: 6’5″ / Weight: 220 lbs.
Bats: Right / Throws: Right
2021 College: 142 AB/8 HR/26 BB/40 K/.324 AVG/.445 OBP/.570 SLG
With their fourth-round pick, the A’s selected power-hitting college outfielder Denzel Clarke out of Cal State Northridge. Many expected Clarke to go a little higher in the draft – he was Baseball America’s 86th-ranked prospect – so the A’s likely felt themselves fortunate to have him fall to them near the bottom of the fourth round. The 6-foot-5 Toronto native posted a slugging percentage of .570 while hitting eight home runs in just 142 at-bats for Northridge this season. But Clarke also possesses speed in addition to pop. The 220-pounder stole 15 bases in 17 attempts this season and has swiped 32 bases in 108 games in his college career. Clarke has primarily played center field and, despite his size, most feel that his speed could allow him to stick at the position. He’s also shown the ability to take a walk, but he can be a little strikeout prone at times too. And Clarke looks like he could be a bit of a “three-true-outcomes” player, compiling lots of walks, strikeouts and home runs – but his speed has the potential to be the added element that could make him a special offensive player.
5th Round
Catcher
Vanderbilt
Age: 21 / Height: 5’10” / Weight: 200 lbs.
Bats: Right / Throws: Right
2021 College: 185 AB/5 HR/36 BB/19 K/.249 AVG/.393 OBP/.378 SLG
The A’s targeted Vanderbilt catcher CJ Rodriguez, who was MLB Pipeline’s 235th-ranked prospect, with their fifth-round pick on Monday. While Rodriguez has never put up big offensive numbers, he’s drawn praise for his work behind the plate and his ability to get the most out of high-profile pitchers like Vandy’s Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker. Rodriguez is definitely viewed as a defense-first catcher who hasn’t shown a lot of pop in his college career and isn’t projected to hit much in the majors. But he has shown the ability to work the count and take a walk. The southern California native also doesn’t strike out much. So even if Rodriguez might not profile as a starting catcher in the majors, his defensive skills, his track record of working well with pitchers and his ability to find a way to get on base could still make him a useful big league backstop.
6th Round
Right-Handed Pitcher
UC Berkeley
Age: 21 / Height: 6’6″ / Weight: 250 lbs.
Throws: Right / Bats: Right
2021 College: 47 IP/50 H/20 ER/22 BB/46 K/3.83 ERA/1.53 WHIP
The A’s used their sixth-round pick to select just their second pitcher of the draft when the team targeted big right-hander Grant Holman out of UC Berkeley. Holman served as a two-way player for Cal before switching to solely serving as a starting pitcher for the Golden Bears this season. The southern California native missed the start of the 2021 season due to biceps tendinitis and only ended up throwing 47 frames, striking out 46 in the process. Holman has only thrown a total of 109 innings in his college career, but it’s easy to see how scouts can project legitimate big league potential for the big righty who was Baseball America’s 118th-ranked prospect and MLB Pipeline’s 138th-ranked prospect. A’s scouting director Eric Kubota noted that Holman is very physical, very athletic and throws hard. Holman’s fastball can hit 97 mph, and he also shows a slider, a splitter and a curve. The big man with big stuff certainly has big potential, but there’s some concern about his injury history and lack of consistent command. Some scouts believe Holman might profile better as a hard-throwing reliever, but Kubota claims the A’s definitely view him as a starter.
7th Round
Third Baseman
Gonzaga
Age: 23 / Height: 6’3″ / Weight: 208 lbs.
Bats: Right / Throws: Right
2021 College: 200 AB/6 HR/29 BB/26 K/.350 AVG/.482 OBP/.535 SLG
The A’s selected their second third baseman with their seventh-round pick on Monday, taking Brett Harris out of Gonzaga. Harris was named the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and has shown the ability to play both shortstop and second base in addition to his primary position at the hot corner. He’s also shown the ability to make contact and demonstrates plenty of patience at the plate, which has led to a low strikeout rate and a high on-base percentage. Harris notched 17 doubles this season, but it’s uncertain how much home run power he’ll ultimately be able to develop. The 23-year-old has been called the heart and soul of the Gonzaga squad due to his energy and leadership. And his makeup and versatility in the field could help Harris on his journey to the majors.
8th Round
Shortstop
Arizona State
Age: 22 / Height: 6’0″ / Weight: 165 lbs.
Bats: Right / Throws: Right
2021 College: 223 AB/6 HR/23 BB/50 K/.314 AVG/.380 OBP/.475 SLG
The A’s took their second shortstop of the draft when they selected Drew Swift out of Arizona State in the eighth round on Monday. Swift was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year this season, and the wiry infielder is clearly a defense-first player. Swift, who was MLB Pipeline’s 184th-ranked prospect, has shown a strong arm at short and has spent plenty of time holding things down at second base as well. He hasn’t shown much pop in his college career and isn’t projected to hit much in the majors. But if Swift can just manage to make enough contact with the bat, then his defensive abilities, his makeup and his versatility could be enough to help him move up the ladder.
9th Round
Catcher
University of San Diego
Age: 22 / Height: 6’0″ / Weight: 195 lbs.
Bats: Left / Throws: Right
2021 College: 176 AB/6 HR/28 BB/14 K/.278 AVG/.389 OBP/.483 SLG
The A’s selected their second catcher of the draft when the team took Shane McGuire out of the University of San Diego. The younger brother of Toronto backstop Reese McGuire is considered an average defender behind the plate and has also spent some time playing first base. The left-handed hitting catcher has shown the ability to take a walk, drawing 28 free passes while striking out just 14 times this season. The question is how much power he’ll ultimately be able to develop. But as a lefty-swinging catcher who’s capable of doing an adequate job behind the plate while getting on base at a decent clip, he could eventually find a role for himself in the team’s catching corps.
10th Round
Shortstop
University of San Francisco
Age: 22 / Height: 6’2″ / Weight: 185 lbs.
Bats: Right / Throws: Right
2021 College: 202 AB/7 HR/22 BB/42 K/.307 AVG/.382 OBP/.505 SLG
The A’s seem to love their shortstops, and the team took its third one of the draft when it selected Jack Winkler from the University of San Francisco with its final pick of the day on Monday. The Colorado native has plenty of speed and swiped 23 bases this season. He’s demonstrated solid range at short and has also seen some time around the infield. After not showing much power in his college career, Winkler finally started to flash a little pop this season, hitting 7 home runs in 202 at-bats. He has a tendency to strike out a little too much though for a player who hasn’t shown a lot of power. But if Winkler can show that he can hit enough, then his speed and versatility in the field could help him develop into a useful role player.
(Top photo by Hans Gutknecht/LA Daily News)
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