Brock Moore plays for the Oregon Ducks in college baseball CCed by Liscense 2.0
The 2024 MLB Draft, despite not featuring the best generational Big 5 talent last year, was one of the most loaded classes from top to bottom in recent memory. an unnaturally high number ended up in early-stage breakouts, as many forward-thinking organizations took advantage of depth to strengthen or replenish their farm systems.Between high-octane relievers and prep talent with endless upsets, the final rounds of the 2024 draft could present some unheralded success stories.
Brock Moore – RHRP, Seattle Mariners. Round 7, Pick 213
To say that Brock Moore’s 2024 season as a 23-year-old would be an understatement at the University of Oregon. than the average college prospect, Moore’s stock, particularly when it comes to model-oriented organizations, has plummeted due to becoming a pitching development powerhouse with the Mariners taking their chance in the seventh round.
In typical Mariners fashion, their scouting department put a lot of faith in a pitcher with abnormal release qualities and an advanced sense of spin. at about 98 MPH, as good as looking at clay for the lab to take to shape something for: special. Most notable for the situation, however, is Moore’s sweeper with 18 inches of horizontal movement, which fits the prototypical trait the Mariners look for when drafting. earlier with Ryan Sloan in the 2024 draft, Seattle often prioritizes crazy, outside arms with crisp, high-sweep break pitches. , and Moore is no exception.
While the relief profile limits his long-term value and age reduces his weight reserves, Seattle’s philosophy, especially when citing the track record of success with similar arms, is about as safe as a pitcher like Moore.
Rafe Perich – 3B, Texas Rangers. 7th round, pick 225
First of all, the fact that Rafe Perich fell to the 7th round is a borderline travesty when some of the most respected and knowledgeable public scouts in the industry posted an early round 3 grade on his profile.
With a relatively sizable frame and solid athleticism, he seems like a lock to stick at the hot corner with at least fringe-average defense. However, the main standout in studying Perich is his patient and progressive approach at the plate is the zone, and in the unlikely event that he does, his shooting skills are impressive, exemplified by his 5% inning rate, one of the lowest in all of college baseball history.
Perich also boasts an extremely high exit velocity, with his 109 MPH ranking in the top quartile of all players in the NCAA.When combined with his elite swing decisions and strong sense of contact, the offensive profile is about as instrumental as it gets EV’s true output has been lacking at times due to his inability to consistently elevate the ball, the above-average range is there, and the Rangers’ with the appropriate adjustments in offensive philosophies, there’s above-average pop long-term potential, and he clearly has all the tools to develop offensively long-term.
Conrad Cason – SS/RHP, Boston Red Sox. Round 8, Pick 237
Conrad Cason represents one of the loudest and most unusual skill sets in professional baseball. As one of the youngest players in the 2024 MLB draft, his tools were raw, but evident on both sides of the ball, sitting in the mid-90s on the mound, with advanced swing decisions. at the plate, especially his age, as well as what could become above-average power when fill in the circle.
As a pitcher, where most in the industry believe his future lies, Cason has shown some flashy stuff, most notably a fastball with moderate velocity and an upper 3/4s slot that sometimes touches 98 MPH. which gives the speed. 17 year old skeleton for a plus game. In terms of breaking balls, Cason throws in the upper 70s a hybrid infield that desperately needs some form of fine-tuning up front to become a viable long-term proposition. Cason’s initial struggles to maintain consistent form on the field or create a truly viable secondary at the high school level are likely due to his eighth-round decline, though in the organization. which is so focused on developing off-fastballs, Cason’s game should; see progress in the coming years.
The real wild card in Cason’s profile, however, is the upside he brings as a position player.Boston is believed to view him as a pitcher long-term, though they are giving him a chance to prove his ability as a two-way player, at least in his career. in the early going, and with the athleticism and draft ability that Cason possesses, it’s a stretch to think he has a short future.
Cason’s approach is progressive as he refrains from chasing too high while maintaining aggression on zoned pitches. While Cason’s swing is certainly more of a pinch than raw power at this stage, the potential for his frame is interesting to watch not on, Cason looks like a solid defender in short order, he’s exceptionally smooth and commits very few mistakes, and the arm is more than capable of handling position.
The profile as a whole is slim, and the footprint of developing two-way prospects on both sides of the ball is small, so it’s hard to count on Cason developing either way, despite a high rotation repertoire on the mound. which is a rare and desirable thing in the current state of baseball.
