(Updated 7/13) 2021 MLB Draft and Roster Management Discussion Thread

#328
#328
Catbone said:
We should be pretty good again next year right? Probably expected to make it to post season again?
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I will make a very rough early season prediction that we will be picked 2nd in the SEC East Pre-Season, and will probably start the season ranked in the 15-20 range. We lose a lot, but we also bring in some great talent and return some key pieces (Beck, Gilbert, Tidwell, and Sewell).
 
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#329
#329
TheMookieMonster said:
I will make a very rough early season prediction that we will be picked 2nd in the SEC East Pre-Season, and will probably start the season ranked in the 15-20 range. We lose a lot, but we also bring in some great talent and return some key pieces (Beck, Gilbert, Tidwell, and Sewell).
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I think 15-20 is very conservative. I’ll buy the 2nd in the East pick, but this team is every bit as talented coming in as we had last year. Might be missing some of the moxy and stones from last years team, but we will 100% be upgrading from a batting average standpoint. We brought in one of the top high schoolers in the country in Burns. 1 of our drafted players didn’t even make it to April. 2 of our top signees were JUCOs who don’t factor into rankings. 1 of our 3 five star infielders will likely make it to campus. Adding the best hitting catcher in the league. Added a strong arm pitcher and potentially a freshman all American pitcher. Vitello has added elite talent to the players he has developed and this team is going to right at the top again.
 
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#331
#331
This from Baltimore Orioles official web site about their draft pick Connor Pavolony:

Notable Skill: Defense. Pavolony is a glove-first catcher with good receiving skills and a solid arm. He presided over the Southeastern Conference’s second-best pitching staff by ERA in 2021. Pavolony's offense is secondary here, but he did reach base at a .365 clip or better in all three seasons in Knoxville.
Fun Fact: Pavolony played a big role in Tennessee’s 2021 College World Series run, homering as part of a three-RBI day in the Volunteers' second Super Regional win over LSU on June 13. He’ll be reunited with former Tennessee battery mate Garret Stallings in the Orioles' system.
Quotable: “He’s a guy with a chance to be a pretty good pick this year,” MLB.com Draft reporter Jim Callis said. “Coming into the year, he could’ve been a third-round pick. [He] didn’t have a great year, so you get him in the seventh round. If you get him back on track, that’s some pretty good value.
 
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#332
#332
Zvols said:
I think 15-20 is very conservative. I’ll buy the 2nd in the East pick, but this team is every bit as talented coming in as we had last year. Might be missing some of the moxy and stones from last years team, but we will 100% be upgrading from a batting average standpoint. We brought in one of the top high schoolers in the country in Burns. 1 of our drafted players didn’t even make it to April. 2 of our top signees were JUCOs who don’t factor into rankings. 1 of our 3 five star infielders will likely make it to campus. Adding the best hitting catcher in the league. Added a strong arm pitcher and potentially a freshman all American pitcher. Vitello has added elite talent to the players he has developed and this team is going to right at the top again.
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Oh, I was definitely being conservative, but I also think the media will be a bit conservative with our ranking as well because we lost so much. Pre-season rankings are always a crapshoot as they favor teams that return a lot of experience. I think we'll probably be right around #15 in the rankings to start the year, but this team will undoubtedly have more talent IMO than last year's team. The only difference will be it's a bunch of new faces that need to learn to gel together and get on the same page. It's hard to say how long that will take, but once people get some game experience and get in a groove this team should have just as good of a shot at Omaha as this past year's team.
 
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#333
#333
This team will have to develop some leaders, Leadership is so important on a baseball team. Talent doesn't always bring Gamers and Clutch players. I hope this team gels but you never know...One thing the 2021 team has is leadership and grind. Time will tell but when I look at this returning team I am skeptical in that regard.
 
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#334
#334
TheMookieMonster said:
Oh, I was definitely being conservative, but I also think the media will be a bit conservative with our ranking as well because we lost so much. Pre-season rankings are always a crapshoot as they favor teams that return a lot of experience. I think we'll probably be right around #15 in the rankings to start the year, but this team will undoubtedly have more talent IMO than last year's team. The only difference will be it's a bunch of new faces that need to learn to gel together and get on the same page. It's hard to say how long that will take, but once people get some game experience and get in a groove this team should have just as good of a shot at Omaha as this past year's team.
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Our pitching should be a lot nastier this year for sure.
 
#336
#336
Volsbaseballfan said:
This team will have to develop some leaders, Leadership is so important on a baseball team. Talent doesn't always bring Gamers and Clutch players. I hope this team gels but you never know...One thing the 2021 team has is leadership and grind. Time will tell but when I look at this returning team I am skeptical in that regard.
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If Evan and Redmond both return for their extra COVID year, they will be able to provide some leadership.
 
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#338
#338
Noteworthy, LSU had a rough draft for such a young team. Jaden Hill and Marceaux were both drafted and expected to leave. Aj Labas sounds like he will sign as an UDFA. They lost their top 4 signees (2 RHP & 2 C). Hilliard and Fontenot are returning which isn’t ideal but they’ll have a weak, short rotation next year. May be the equalizer for the elite lineup.
Vandy obviously lost Leiter and Rocker. If CJ Rodriguez takes the signing bonus then that’ll be a major loss. I believe the backup C is in transfer portal. Also lost Lawler and Baez and the 6th pitcher signee. They got a lot to campus including Keegan and Thomas returning. Vandy probably had one of the best post-draft standings.
Florida had a very bad day 1 of the draft. Their top 3 signees were gone in the 1st round. They lost 2 Outfielders, 2 pitchers, and a catcher all in day 2. They lost as many starters as we did.
 
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#349
#349
TN_gal said:
*nods* I was surprised that Luc wasn't picked, but I bet he signs a free agent deal with a team.

All in all, a very impressive draft for our program!

Some stats:





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Luc didn't get drafted because he can't hit left hand pitching.
 
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