Yes it may seem like the 2019 draft is a long time away, but the reality for MLB organizations is that the preparation began immediately following the 2018 draft.
Area scouts have had workouts and will continue to monitor their high-follows very closely from now until June. Below is a list of the eight players I believe have a chance to get drafted next year, and how they have evolved since I first watched each of them.
Jason Diaz, RHP, Kellenberg
Jason Diaz set such a high standard for himself that it was always going to be difficult to continue to outperform expectations. Having a 94 MPH at 16-years-old can be a blessing and a curse. From my perspective, I was blown away with him as a sophomore. His natural stuff, his composure, the similarities to Marcus Stroman, etc, put himself in elite company in terms of the top amateur players in the country. As a sophomore, he fired a complete game shutout to clinch the CHSAA championship and he was already making a case to get drafted in the top-10 rounds of the 2019 draft. it His 2018 season did not match the previous year, though, and that no longer appears to be likely to happen. He is still dominant and still has an opportunity to get drafted next year, but he will need to return to the dominant form of 2017. Over the past year, he has relied more on his change up and also has pitched more in the 88-90 MPH range which does not mean what it did 10 years ago. I think he’s mentally tough enough to re-establish his status as a premier pitcher in the country, and I’m willing to bet on him but it is not the slam dunk it was last year at this time.
Tim McHugh, RF, Commack
Standing at 6’3 210 lbs, McHugh is the prototypical power hitter. It’s been described to me by one scout that he has the best body out of anyone in the 2019 class in the country. That said, he could get drafted off that alone. Factor in that he has an October birthday and he’ll be one of the younger players in the draft at 17 and 8 months. That matters, believe it or not. The goal is to get young players in your system so you can mold them before they form bad habits and they can immediately begin their quest to the big leagues. He has a strong commitment to TCU, but something tells me getting drafted in the top half of the draft will supersede that. His power is insane, he won the Silver Slugger Award this season, I watched him hit a game-winning grand slam at Connetquot and another that would’ve hit the cafe at Baseball Heaven. He has an incredibly strong arm and his foot speed is good enough, although it doesn’t look as natural as a player like Rausch or Lazzaro. He is a low-ball hitter, as many power-hitters are because they like to extend their arms, but again the biggest thing is his age and size and for that reason I think any organization would love to have that.
Joe Savino, RHP, Connetquot
Final: Connetquot 3, Newfield 0
WP: Joey Savino (2-hit shutout, 5 K) pic.twitter.com/RvAdDSwhUZ— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 14, 2018
Of all the talented pitchers in this class, Savino is my favorite. I’ve watched him pitch three times (early April against Commack, playoffs against Newfield and the New York State games) and he was lights-out each time. The velocity, which was 86 in early April, was 92 in June. His 6’4″ height is just about perfect for a pitcher, he is well-built and very athletic. He threw a 72 pitch complete game in the playoffs so he clearly understands how to pitch and the value of attacking the strike zone. He has ridiculous tail on his two-seamer which he uses to start off the outside corner and dart just across the outer third of the strike zone. The arm action works, he works at the knees and he has a devastating slider. To me, he’s everything a professional pitcher should be. If I was running an organization, I would make it my point to draft him.
Roman Dorosh, RHP Sachem East
Dorosh is definitely one of my favorite players to watch. He took the leap into ace status right away this season by flirting with a no-hitter on Opening Day against Pat-Med. It was clear he wasn’t fooling around this season. He basically maintained that level, and it took a heroic outing by Bobby DiCapua to beat him in the playoffs, 1-0. He is so tough to hit because hitters are not accustomed to facing a low 3/4 delivery, especially with pinpoint command, a razor blade slider and a fastball that touches 91 MPH. He doesn’t have the size of Savino or Falco, but he has the competitive nature to match anyone. He is also a talented infielder and top-of-the-order hitter.
Jake Lazzaro, SS, Oceanside
I think at this point I would put Lazzaro as the top position player based on his athleticism, continued production and the fact that he plays a premium position with the ability to stay there. He is a 1st-team All-State wide receiver for a county championship winning program and 1st-team All-State shortstop, he has an insanely calm demeanor and no discernible weaknesses in his game. Simply put, he brings everything to the table. I think he doesn’t get nearly enough attention because he hasn’t won the championships that Massapequa has won, but it’s certainly to no fault of his own. He has performed well in every playoff game, just barely missing hitting for the cycle in the counties, putting a ball to the deepest part of SUNY Old Westbury, which would’ve been a fitting way for him to get the cycle and it would’ve given them the lead. He batted .412 with a .576 SLG, 34 runs scored and 22 stolen bases last season.
Lazzaro grew from 5’9 as a freshman to 6’2 in the past year which is part of the reason he was relatively unknown. Not many 5’9 players generate buzz. Additionally, he appears to be on a mission since his father passed away last year. I wouldn’t bet against him not only getting drafted but progressing through a minor league system relatively quickly a la Bobby Honeyman.
Kyle Rausch, CF, Longwood
Rausch capped an insane hot stretch early in the summer by committing to Navy. I think it says a lot about his integrity and work ethic that he would make that choice over simply focusing on baseball. He must serve in the military following graduation and he happens to quite a hitter too. He has prodigious power and he went on an 8-for-13 stretch in the postseason (including a game-winning home run against Hills East) and followed that with 4 home runs in two games down in East Cobb. He didn’t put any out in our Home Run derby, but in some ways he was the most impressive high school hitter. Some of the players took advantage of the 315-foot fence in left by getting under the ball and benefiting from the humidity to push the ball out. Rausch hit screaming line drive after line drive that would’ve been extra bases, possibly triples with his speed. Being that he is also a football player, you can see his intensity on the field. He is not the size of McHugh, but still well-built and tremendously athletic. He’s definitely on the radar and I think another huge season can get him drafted.
Max Nielsen, LHP, Ward Melville
It’s impossible not to compare Nielsen to the trio of pitchers previously drafted from Ward Melville. It does place an insane amount of expectations on the young man but it’s the world we live in now. As soon as I saw him as a freshman, I knew he had a chance to be in that category. He has lightning-quick arm action and he generates tons of swings-and-misses. He made the jump into prospect status when he increased his velocity from the low to upper 80s last year. His playoff start against Sachem East notwithstanding, he has a chance to get drafted next year. He is intense, he has command, durability and he has a three pitch mix. If it happens, it would be the fourth pitcher that Lou Petrucci has gotten drafted in a decade, an unprecedented feat for a Long Island program.
David Falco, RHP, Center Moriches
I have not watched Falco in person but I will this year. He is a tall, flame-throwing RHP that touches 94 MPH. In short spurts he is dominant. In this age of power-pitchers, he certainly fits the mold. He is in the mix like the rest of the players, I just haven’t seen it in person.
