Guardians Baseball Insider

IBI 2021 MLB Draft Board part I
IBI 2021 MLB Draft Board part II
IBI 2021 MLB Draft Board Part III
IBI 2021 MLB Draft Board Part IV
IBI 2021 MLB Draft Board Part V
IBI 2021 MLB Draft Board Part VI

2B Connor Norby
East Carolina

Age: 21.1
Height: 5’10; Weight: 187
Bats: Right; Throws: Right

Notes: The Pirates’ second bagger is mostly an average player all around. At the plate, he shows an above-average bat with the ability to hit for a high average. The right-handed-hitting Norby displays average power potential and the ability to draw walks. Defensively, he goods hands and enough arm to man second daily. On the bases, he’s an average runner with a knack to steal bases. Norby could go in the back half of round two but seems more likely to be drafted in round three, where he should provide whatever team selects him a relative solid return.

Projection: Round 2-4.

SS Cody Morrissette
Boston College

Age: 21.5
Height: 6’0; Weight: 175
Bats: Left; Throws: Right

Notes: The versatile Golden Eagles star offers a wide array of average tools. While it’s not an exciting blend of tools, the left-handed-hitting Morissette can play shortstop, second base, and third base. He’s a solid defender at all three but lacks the typical arm strength to be a regular on the left side of the infield, but he can play third and shortstop adequately. At the dish, he displays an average hit tool with similar power potential. On the bases, he’s an average runner with the potential to snag a few bases. His versatility gives him an excellent floor as a quick-moving utility piece with the potential to handle a daily workload.

Projection: Round 2-4.

SS Maxwell Muncy
Thousand Oaks HS, CA

Age: 18.8
Height: 6’1; Weight: 180
Bats: Right; Throws: Right

Notes: No relation to the Dodgers infielder by the same name, Muncy is an Arkansas commit that could go off the boards in the first few rounds of the 2021 Draft. The California native is an average hitter with some pop in his bat. He’s currently a shortstop and shows enough arm to stick there for now, but he could move to third base as he continues to mature physically. It seems likely Muncy will receive a healthy signing bonus to forego his commitment to play with the Razorbacks.

Projection: 2-4

RHSP Sean Burke
Maryland

Age: 21.5
Height: 6’6; Weight: 230
Bats: Right; Throws: Right

Notes: The big framed right-hander has the stuff to become a middle-of-the-rotation workhorse, but his 2019 Tommy John surgery delayed his collegiate career. On the mound Burke sits low-to-mid-90’s with an above-average projecting curveball and slider. His changeup is the least of his four-pitch mix and will require continued refinement. While Burke has second-round arm talent, his control hasn’t come around as he would like. Unless he makes gains in that regard, he could be stuck in the backend of a bullpen. In the meantime, watch for a team that believes they can round out his control issues to pluck him somewhere in the third-round range.

Projection: 2-4.

LHSP Frank Mozzicato
Eastern Catholic, CT

Age: 18.1
Height: 6’3; Weight: 175
Bats: Left; Throws: Left

Notes: A cold weather, young for the draft class lefty, Mozzicato has grabbed scouts attention this spring with a no-hitter streak across four games. The UConn commit has a low-90’s fastball and with physical projection remaining teams forecast velocity gains in the future. He’s a strike-thrower with a plus projecting curveball. His changeup rounds out his three-pitch mix. The lefty has plenty of helium late and may slip into the Comp A range when the draft arrives.

Projection: Round 2-4.

SS Noah Miller 
Ozaukee HS (Wisc)

Age: 18.7
Height: 6’0; Weight: 180
Bats: Switch; Throws: Right

Notes: Similar to his brother Owen, Noah displays an advanced hit tool and solid power potential. He’s a cold-weather player from Wisconsin with a commitment to play college ball at Alabama. Miller is an average runner with an above-average arm and could stick at shortstop long-term. He’s not a flashy player, but one that relies on his understanding of the game. The Wisconsin native should be selected between mid-round two or by the end of round three. Watch for a team that likes switch-hitting infielders and major league bloodlines to grab the talented shortstop.

Projection: Rounds 2-4.

SS Trey Sweeney
Eastern Illinois

Age: 21.2
Height: 6’4; Weight: 200
Bats: Left; Throws: Right

Notes: The Panthers shortstop will need a position change in the future, profiling better at the hot corner where he is a more natural fit. He has a strong arm suitable for third base or right field if moved to the outfield. Sweeney has an advanced bat with excellent bat-to-ball skills and a sharp eye at the plate. The left-handed-hitter shows above-average raw power potential. On the diamond, he lacks the foot speed to stay at shortstop long term. Sweeney has late first-round hype as the draft approaches.

Projection: Round 2-4 has late-round one hype.

SS Colson Montgomery
Southridge HS, IN

Age: 19.4
Height: 6’4; Weight: 200
Bats: Left; Throws: Right

Notes: Another multi-sport athlete Montgomery has been rising up draft boards as July 11th approaches. At the dish, he has an average hit tool with the ability to spray the ball around the field. Displaying above-average raw power has garnered the left-handed swinging shortstop attention from numerous scouts. Montgomery is athletic on the field but could be a better long-term fit for third base, where his above-average solid arm would play. It seems unlikely the Indiana commit makes it to campus.

Projection: Rounds 2-4 has late-round one hype.

3B Wes Kath
Desert Mountain, AZ

Age: 18.9
Height: 6’3; Weight: 200
Bats: Left; Throws: Right

Notes: The Arizona native has an above-average hit tool with the ability to put the bat on the ball. The left-handed-hitter shows off average power potential. He has a strong arm and will be solid at third base defensively. An Arizona St. commit, it seems unlikely he makes to campus to play ball. Kath should be drafted somewhere in the second or third-round draft range.

Projection: Rounds 2-4.

2B Tyler Black
Wright State

Age: 20.11
Height: 6’2; Weight: 190
Bats: Left; Throws: Right

Notes: The native Canadian displays an advanced approach at the plate with average power production. He displays a keen eye at the plate and will take walks, and works counts in his favor. Black is athletic with good hands, an average arm, and averagish speed but will likely be limited to playing second base after 2020 shoulder surgery. He could be the best of a group of talented collegiate middle infielders in the same range. Look for the Raiders infielder to go towards the middle of round two to round three.

Projection: Round 2-4.