Cardinals’ MLB Draft Preview: Round Four

It’s here! The draft is here! Today is the first day of the MLB First Year Player Draft. Today, is the day I also conclude my St. Louis Cardinals’ draft preview and the day I move into draft recap mode.

In the final edition of the draft preview, we will discuss three options for the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth round. The fourth round normally the first time the teams start taking players that fit in their organization more so that taking the best rated player in their pick range.

With that said let’s take a look who’s there for them to take.

Option #1 – Marquise Doherty 6’4 205 lb OF Winnetonka H.S. Kansas City, MO

Enter yet another local product for the Cardinals’ to take a look at. This is a player that could make up for any failure to draft offense in the first few rounds and could wind up being the gem of the draft for the team. Marquise is a two sport athlete at Winnetonka, as he is a really good RB for the football team as well, so good that he is actually committed to Mizzou to play both football and baseball. So, athletics wise this kid is very athletic and has good speed.

Doherty at the plate has a real good swing and will be able to use his bat speed to generate good power. Most say that Doherty will have good success at the plate as his offensive ability is that good. However, his defense is not as good as some would hope despite his good speed, he needs to bring that to shore as he develops throughout the minors.

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He also doesn’t have a great arm but it is something that is improving. So, if that improves and his positioning and footwork improves, Doherty could be a great player and a steal of a pick.

According to an interview done with Derek Helling of Outside Pitch, there is no concern about Doherty not signing and going to Mizzou to play Baseball and Football, “Doherty says that his preference is to be drafted by a MLB team next month and begin trying to work his way up through the minors”, that is a relief, as SEC football is not something you necessarily want to be competing with.

Option #2 – Jack Wynkoop 6’5 210 lb LHP: University of South Carolina

This would be a typical for the Cardinals. A college pitcher with good stuff and ability to throw strikes. Wynkoop doesn’t necessarily have one pitch to hang his hat on but what he has done at SC is be consistent. In three seasons he has amassed a record of 22-14 with an ERA of 3.08  with 180 K and 38 BB for a 5.14 K/BB. The only concern here is his H/9 being at 9.98, meaning again his stuff is not dominant.

The thing with Wynkoop that I like is he is ready to rise. He doesn’t need to learn how to pitch like most high school pitchers do, he needs maybe some fine tuning and a little advice here and there and he will be good to go and could move up fast if needed.

Option #3 – Joey Bart 6’2 215 lb C: Buford H.S. Buford, Georgia

Here we have another good catching option for the Cardinals. Bart has been dubbed by some scouts as having a better ability to hit than fellow high school catcher Tyler Stephenson.

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He has a nice swing from the right side that has the ability to make consistent solid contact and also shows good power. With numbers hard to come by for High School players I don’t have any statistics to back up Bart’s ability.

The only question for Bart is his defense and whether he can stay at C once he turns pro. I know, I know, I sound like a broken record at this point with all these players who may not end up at the position they enter the draft as. However, with Bart the only question is his pitch receiving as his arm power and accuracy are pretty good. Again, I reiterate that this is something the Cardinals’ staff is capable of helping Bart with if they believe in him as a C. If not, with the right teaching he could wind up as a solid corner IF/OF player. Almost in the mold of a Bryce Harper on the right handed side.