The 2020 MLB Draft is over and the Colorado Rockies have made their selections. The National League West club had six picks in the shortened draft this year and used them to address a variety of needs. Let’s go over the results and see what we should give for a draft grade.
Colorado 2020 MLB Draft Grade
Day One
Pick 9
The team was very fortunate when Zac Veen fell to this selection. He was considered the top high school outfielder in the draft pool. Veen was committed to Florida but Colorado should be able to sign him away from his college commitment. He has an outstanding frame at 6’4″, 190-pounds with one of the best hit tools in his class. He also has very good left-handed power and should be a good outfielder even if he moves to a corner. There is always more risk with a high schooler but this is an outstanding pick for an organization in need of serious talent.
Pick 35
The Rockies also had a pick in the Competitive Balance Round A. They chose to go with high school catcher Drew Romo from The Woodlands High in Texas. Scouts consider him an elite defensive catcher in this class with a very good arm. However, Romo does not project to make enough contact with his bat. He might have some power and draw walks but his hitting is suspect. His defense and arm might not matter in the future either with base stealing in constant decline and an automated strike zone on the horizon. There were much better options on the board over a high-risk high school catcher.
Day One Grade: B-
Day 2
Pick 46
The Rockies decided to go with their first college pitcher in Miami right-hander Chris McMahon. The 6’2″ junior had solid stats in his brief 2020 season but he isn’t the most efficient pitcher. McMahon profiles as a solid mid-rotation arm with a good fastball/changeup/curveball repertoire. A few seasons in Colorado’s minor league system should let him develop the curve into a more quality offering or even add a slider as a fourth pitch.
Pick 81
Colorado took another college pitcher in the third round with Clemson lefty Sam Weatherly. The 6’4″ southpaw threw as both a starter and reliever in college but he started all four games in which he threw in 2020 with excellent results. Weatherly ended the collegiate season with a 1.59 ERA and 43 strikeouts compared to 14 walks in 22 2/3 innings. There are real concerns about his control that could push him to the bullpen, but he has a starters frame. Some time with the Rockies’ development system could help make him more consistent and prevent him from shifting to relief.
Pick 110
Case Williams appears near the bottom of The Board at FanGraphs. He is a 6’3″, 210-pound right-handed pitcher from Douglas County High in Colorado. He also appears in a chat on Baseball America. That site describes Williams as a good thrower with a fastball that typically sits 88-92 mph. He also throws a good breaking pitching in the upper-70s but he has an unusual motion that needs smoothing out. Colorado is not a state that produces strong high school players in general so this is a wildcard from the Rockies. It’s especially odd when there were more developed college players still on the board. The one positive to note is that Williams has a good frame and experience pitching at altitude.
Pick 140
The team’s final pick in this year’s draft was Michigan infielder Jack Blomgren. The 5’11” Wolverine has the skills to stay at shortstop and can be a utility player all over if he reaches the major leagues. Blomgren slashed .286/444/393 with one home run in 72 plate appearances in 2020. His plate discipline is excellent as he only struck out 14 times compared to 11 walks. He also stole six bases. He has almost now power with a career .357 slugging percentage in college but he is an excellent value selection to round out 2020.
Day Two Grade: A-
Final Thoughts
The Rockies had a mixed first day taking the best high school prospect but following that up with a very uncertain selection given the history of high school catchers; Joe Mauer is the last high school backstop taken in the first round to accumulate at least a 5 major league WAR. Catching depth is something the Rockies system lacks but Romo was not the best player available. However, Veen is an outstanding selection that could be a future regular at a corner outfield position in the future.
Day two featured a strong collection of pitchers and at least one that could go any direction imaginable. Both McMahon and Weatherly will get chances to start given the lack of true starting depth in the lower minor leagues. Williams is a complete mystery but he is used to pitching in Colorado’s environment and could be an interesting prospect after several years of development; he will be a major project with upside. Blomgren fills a need for more middle infielders. There might have been room for another college pitcher in place of Williams but this was a respectable second day. It will look much better if McMahon, Weatherly, or Williams remain starters in the Rockies’ system.
Final Grade: B+
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