The first round of the MLB draft will be held on June 4. For the teams that have an early pick on day one, it is essential for them to get a player who can help the team quickly. While drafting a player is not an exact science, teams do their best to ensure they are getting a talented player who can move quickly up the system and help them reach the ultimate goal. College players tend to be more refined and closer to being major league ready. High school players can be taught by the organization’s own coaches but require longer time in the minors. Depending on a team’s needs and evaluation of talent, the draft picks tend to vary in age and maturity level.
Triston Casas 2018 MLB Draft Profile
Triston Casas is a power hitting 1B/3B for American Heritage HS in Plantation, FL, the same school that produced Eric Hosmer and Zack Collins. Casas is a big kid already at 6-foot-4 and 240 lbs. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. Some may say that drafting a player out of high school in the first round who profiles at first base is a stretch, but there is no doubting Casas’ hitting prowess. He has had an excellent two years on the varsity team at school. In 200 PA, Casas has a .416 AVG, 42-25 BB-to-K ratio, and has hit 11 HRs. He also has 52 RBI and 52 runs scored in 52 games.
Strengths
Casas is getting noticed for his power which he displays to all fields. He has shown a knack to barrel the ball up and his exit velocity has been quite impressive at a young age. Although many project him at first base long term, he has very good athleticism and some believe he could fit at third base in the short term. For a large man, he has some speed. He has seven steals and six triples the last two seasons. Casas has also impressed with his fluidity in the field, displaying good lateral movement and an above average arm.
Weaknesses
Casas has obviously produced extremely well at the high school level. Although he has a loose swing with easy power, some scouts feel he may get exposed in the upper levels. His swing is long and generates a lot of lift, but that type of swing also generally produces holes that can be taken advantage of by decent pitching. Another question is whether Casas will sign. He has verbally committed to Miami. Like many high school prospects, including Ethan Hankins, Casas may decide to go to college if he drops far enough in the draft.
Overview
MLB.com has Triston Casas at No. 20 on their prospects list. Fangraphs.com has him at No. 48. Baseball America has also mentioned Casas as a possible target for the New York Yankees at No. 23. The overall look is that Casas can hit for power and has a fairly good approach at the plate. His swing is loose, but it is long. If he can consistently drive the ball to all fields and limit the strikeouts at the upper levels, he can be a steal late in the first round. His athleticism and fluid movement can keep him at third base for a while which would make him more valuable. His upside comparison is Freddie Freeman. A more realistic comparison is Joey Gallo with the downside comparison being Lucas Duda.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
