2012 MLB Draft Scouting Reports, Vol. 2

Hey, everybody! I am back again to take a look at some more players. In case you missed the first one, all you have to do is scroll down the page a little bit and you will find it. Again, these players aren’t going to be the top players in the draft. One, the Tigers aren’t getting them, and two, even if they fell, the Tigers don’t have the money in their bonus pool to spend on them.

Here we go…

Tony Renda, 2B, California

Renda fits what the Tigers might be looking for to a tee. Physically, Renda isn’t a gifted athlete by any stretch, though he isn’t a plodder. He is also short, but has some muscle on his frame, and draws comparisons physically to Dustin Pedroia. You know, the same Dustin Pedroia that was drafted by Tigers special assistant David Chadd. So there is some reason why the Tigers might select Renda.

A couple other reasons. One, he can hit. Renda shows good bat speed, consistently barrels balls, driving them into the gaps. He shows good speed, but isn’t considered a plus runner. He probably won’t develop a ton of power, but should hit for a good batting average at the big league level. Defensively he is solid, and has improved quite a bit over his career at Cal. He isn’t going to win a bunch of awards for his range, but he makes most of the plays and can perform the turn at 2B just fine.

He also fits with the Tigers because he should be affordable for them, is likely to be a fast mover, and plays a position in which they have limited prospects. All that adds up to a potential pick in my book.

Luke Bard, RHP, Georgia Tech

Bard is the brother of current Boston Red Sox pitcher Daniel Bard, and while he doesn’t have quite the arm strength of his brother, his isn’t bad in his own right.

Bard is essentially a two pitch pitcher that profiles at the back end of a bullpen in the majors. I know, not what you wanted to hear, but I’m trying to deal in reality here for you folks. His fastball sits comfortably in the mid 90’s, working 93-95 most of the time, though it isn’t with a ton of life. His breaking ball reacts like a combination of a curve and slider. It’s a power breaking ball that, when at it’s best, has late sharp break, but it’s inconsistent and flattens out on occasion. If Bard can get his breaking ball to a point where he throws it consistently with good break and for strikes, he will have the ability to get outs in the big leagues.

However, Bard did tear a lat muscle this season, so injury is a concern, though he is expected to make a full recovery.

D’vone McClure, OF Jacksonville (Ark.) HS

Here is another player from the neck of the woods the Tigers like to draft from. McClure is a pretty athletic CF prospect, who at 6’3″ and 200lbs has a frame that scouts tend to like. He also is a guy that has performed well against top competition in the past.

Offensively, McClure projects to hit for some power, as he generates good bat speed through the zone. He also shows good quick hands, though he does have a bit of swing and miss in his game right now. On the base paths, McClure doesn’t show to be much more than an average runner, due to slow jumps, but is just fine when he is underway. Defensively, there is some solid arm strength for CF, and while he isn’t the most instinctual, he does go and get the ball in center with reckless abandon once he tracks it.

McClure is reportedly a hard worker, and with some raw power, and upside ability at the plate, he should go in the top 3 rounds.

Mason Melotakis, LHP, Northwestern State

Melotakis is an interesting pitcher that if he is still around at 86, the Tigers definitely have to consider him. At 6’3″ and 205 lbs, this lefty has a quality pitching frame, and has seen a spike in his velocity from when he was coming out of high school in Texas.

Melotakis has plenty of arm strength, and typically sits in the mid 90’s with his fastball. He is known for quality command, and uses both sides of the dish, not afraid to go inside on hitters. The big question with Melotakis is whether or not he is going to be a starter, as he has relieved in college most of the time. There is some effort to his delivery, as he utilizes a big leg kick, but he does repeat it well. He has shown well against good competition in the Cape Cod League, posting a 22/2 K/BB rate. His best secondary is a slider which flashes as plus quite often, showing good bite and generating a good deal of swings and misses. He reportedly throws a change as well that is improving, though he doesn’t need it a lot because of the quality of his other two pitches.

A lefty with his kind of arm strength makes him intriguing right off the bat, and the fact the he could potentially start makes him even more intriguing. At worst, if he can’t start, there is a potential high leverage reliever, a la Phil Coke.

Dylan Baker, RHP, Western Nevada CC

Baker has been a somewhat under the radar prospect, due to his origins from Alaska. However, more people are taking notice of the solidly built right-hander, as his stuff has seen an uptick this spring.

Baker now sits in the low to mid 90’s comfortably with his fastball, and it’s a pitch that he commands relatively well despite a delivery that takes a little bit of effort. Baker shows a willingness to pitch inside, and uses his fastball to set up a slider that can be wicked. His slider is a true swing and miss pitch that has been showing quality on a more regular basis this spring, and should give some team options if Baker can’t develop his change up, which he uses as a show me pitch for the most part.

Scouts may differ on his future, whether it’s in the pen or as a starter, but the frame and arm strength gives him upside in the 2nd round.