High school shortstops tend to be one of the most sought-after commodities in the MLB Draft. Usually solid fielders with an athletic build and room to add power, a young shortstop can fill a variety of needs for many teams in baseball. Nander De Sedas, a shortstop out of Montverde Academy in Florida, definitely fits that bill and is a tantalizing prospect for the 2018 draft.
Nander De Sedas 2018 MLB Draft Profile
MLB Pipeline has De Sedas listed as the No. 52 overall prospect in the draft, but it certainly feels like he could go quite higher than that ranking. He has the athletic build and raw power that get teams excited. He also has a strong enough arm to play any position and solid speed and range in the field. De Sedas has given a verbal commitment to play at Florida State, but he would likely sign a pro contract if taken early in the draft.
Strengths
Perfect Game lists De Sedas at 6-foot-2 and 190 lbs., a frame that is already lean and athletic enough to compete at any level. Those who have watched De Sedas see a fluid defender with an arm capable of playing third base or shortstop at the next level. In all likelihood, his eventual position will probably be determined by how his bat progresses. Perfect Game gave De Sedas an honorable mention for 2018’s “Finest in the Field” behind fellow Florida shortstop Xavier Edwards and Alabama product Jeremiah Jackson. Speed, range, instincts, and arm strength will not be a problem for De Sedas.
Offensively, De Sedas provides a switch-hitting bat with top potential. His profile on Perfect Game notes that he is more fluid with better bat speed from the left side of the plate, but he is also not a liability from the right side. He has shown enough raw power and should improve in that area as his body continues to mature.
Weaknesses
For those scouts that are fans of De Sedas, there are no discernible weaknesses. However, Adam McInturff at 2080 Baseball noted that there are some scouts that have never believed the first-round hype surrounding the young shortstop. Detractors of De Sedas would likely point to the fact that he has been competing in high school against lesser competition.
Another argument is that his bat does not project to the next level. While he has only seen high school pitching to this point, De Sedas likely has enough tools to make the risk worth a high pick. It is possible his bat may struggle while he adjusts to better competition, but his defense should translate right away as he settles in.
(Video by The Prospect Pipeline.)
MLB Comparison
De Sedas looks to be a cross between Francisco Lindor and Manny Machado. De Sedas is a switch-hitter like Lindor but is taller and built more like Machado. Both players are strong defenders who entered MLB with solid power and gradually added more. Additionally, Lindor hails from the same school as De Sedas in Montverde Academy. While De Sedas will likely not go as high as when Lindor was taken No. 8 overall, the team that does draft him will be ecstatic if he is anywhere close to the player Lindor has become.
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