Druw Jones, CF, Wesleyan HS (GA): Jones, whose father Andruw is a borderline Hall of Famer, was in the running for the top spot entering the spring. He’s since emerged as the industry’s preferred choice. It’s not hard to understand why. He’s a good to great defender at a premium position who could finish his development arc with five plus or better tools, including both components of his bat. Indeed, he has the kind of projectable frame and handspeed that should allow him to add muscle and power as he matures. Jones might end up losing a little speed as a result, but he’s believed to have the instincts and innate feel for the position that should enable his game to remain lush with secondary value. There’s legitimate All-Star potential here.
Kumar Rocker, RHP, Tri-City Valleycats: Rocker, who previously suffered from overexposure, was absent from most of this year’s cycle after the Mets failed to sign him following his selection at No. 10 overall in last year’s draft. He resurfaced recently in the Frontier League, running his fastball up to 99 mph and overwhelming indy-league hitters with a 70-grade slider. Heraclitus said that no man steps in the same river twice, for neither he nor the river are the same. Even if Rocker was the same — and he’s not, if only in age — the river has changed. The industry was already skeptical about him because of his lagging changeup and the potential command and durability concerns created by his mechanical deficiencies; now, there’s also the matter of last summer’s post-draft physical that caused the Mets to bail. We have to write that it does feel silly to obsess over what could go wrong with Rocker’s arm in a draft where almost every other top pitcher already has an elbow zipper.
Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays HS…