by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
The A’s stuck strictly with experienced college players for their first two picks on day one of this year’s amateur draft.
The team made switch-hitting college shortstop Logan Davidson their top pick with the 29th overall selection on Monday. The 21-year-old Clemson junior was the 19th-ranked prospect by Baseball America and the 22nd-ranked prospect MLB Pipeline.
A’s scouting director Eric Kubota said the A’s were “pleasantly surprised” that Davidson was still available when the A’s picked and that they were “extremely happy” to get him. Kubota added that the North Carolina native had been on the A’s radar since high school.
The 6-foot-3 infielder is considered to have above-average speed and defense abilities as well as a strong arm to go along with some real power potential. And that clearly was a combination that appealed to the A’s.
Kubota said the A’s liked the fact that he was a shortstop with power. And he claims that the organization is hoping, if everything comes together, that Davidson will prove to be a productive middle-of the-order hitter. “He brings value both at the plate and in the field,” Kubota said.
Davidson slashed .291/.412/.574 with 15 home runs, 18 doubles and 17 stolen bases in 61 games this season, and his power numbers have increased in each of his three seasons at Clemson.
The switch-hitter said he feels he has a similar swing to Christian Yelich from the left side and compared himself to Corey Seager, another over-sized shortstop from North Carolina.
Despite his success in the college ranks, Davidson struggled during a couple of summers in the Cape Cod League which, unlike the college game, uses wood bats. But Davidson and Kubota both professed their confidence in his ability to hit with wood bats.
Davidson said he feels that his greatest strengths are his makeup and his work ethic. He said, “When I put my mind to something, I make it happen.” And he added, “I think I have what it takes.”
With their 2nd-round selection on Monday, the A’s went with a college pitcher, 21-year-old right-hander Tyler Baum. The University of North Carolina junior was the 77th-ranked prospect by Baseball America and the 100th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Baum notched 92 strikeouts in 86 2/3 innings while posting an ERA of 3.95 for North Carolina in 2019. The 6-foot-2 Florida native has a plus fastball, a good curveball and a serviceable changeup and showed improved command and control this season.
Kubota said about Baum, “He’s very athletic. He’s got plenty of arm strength.” He claimed that A’s scouts have clocked his fastball as high as 96 mph and said he’s also got a hard power-type curveball that has the potential to be a real “out” pitch for him. Kubota wrapped up his assessment of the A’s 2nd-round pick by saying, “We love the combination of athleticism, instinct, and stuff.”
1st Round
Logan Davidson
Shortstop
Clemson
Age: 21 / Height: 6’3″ / Weight: 195 lbs.
Bats: Both / Throws: Right
2019 College: 237 AB/15 HR/45 BB/61 K/.291 AVG/.412 OBP/.574 SLG
2nd Round
Tyler Baum
Right-Handed Pitcher
University of North Carolina
Age: 21 / Height: 6’2″ / Weight: 180 lbs.
Bats: Right / Throws: Right
2019 College: 86.2 IP/90 H/38 ER/25 BB/92 K/3.95 ERA/1.33 WHIP
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