READ: Profiles of top 2017 MLB Draft prospects
READ: MLB Draft: Class deep with two-way players
READ: The3rdManIn.com’s MLB Draft prospect history
Every Sunday, I will answer questions about the MLB First-Year Player Draft. You can submit MLB Draft questions for the mailbag on Twitter (@DanZielinski3) or via email (danzielinski@the3rdmanin.com).
Florida catcher J.J. Schwarz is in freefall – What’s his approximate floor?
–Doc Herbert
Coming out of high school, J.J. Schwarz was a highly regarded draft prospect, but decided to attend college and develop for three years at the University of Florida before turning pro. After an impressive freshman year hitting 332 with 18 home runs and 73 RBIs in 2015, Schwarz hasn’t lived up to expectations the last two seasons.
Last year, he hit .290 with seven home runs and 60 RBIs, and this season Schwarz is hitting only .238 with two home runs and 19 RBIs in 28 games.
Schwarz has incredible offensive potential, but with a lack of track record at the plate in college, his draft stock if falling.
He isn’t a top 100 prospect and won’t go in the top three rounds. His floor is the sixth round because he still has huge potential that a team will gamble on.
Is North Carolina shortstop Logan Warmoth a first or second rounder?
–Francisco
The simple answer is yes. UNC’s Logan Warmoth is rising up draft boards and will likely be the first college middle infielder selected.
After hitting .270 in the prestigious Cape Cod League last summer, Warmoth is producing this spring in his junior season. A gap-to-gap hitter, Warmoth is hitting .315 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 27 games.
Warmoth has above-average arm strength and has good speed, but his first-step quickness hurts his range and could force him to move to second base in pro ball.
Regardless of what position he plays at the next level, Warmoth will not slip past the second-round in a draft that is thin with middle infield prospects.
Submit MLB Draft questions for next week’s mailbag on Twitter (@DanZielinski3) or via email (danzielinski@the3rdmanin.com).
Find more MLB Draft coverage here.
