Dandy Dozen: Prospect Pillars of Stability
April 21, 2020
While Draft Risers typically receive well-deserved attention for their strong performance which allows them to jump up Draft Boards, our Dandy Dozen: Prospect Pillars of Stability represent a different dynamic. These prospects put themselves on the map early and continued to shine at a steady level throughout the past year or better.
For this list, we’re going beyond the slam dunk first-rounders that we’ve evaluated and highlighted throughout the year (Spencer Torkelson, Austin Martin, Asa Lacy, Emerson Hancock, Nick Gonzales, Reid Detmers, Garrett Crochet, Garrett Mitchell, Patrick Bailey, Heston Kjerstad, Tanner Burns). This list includes prospects valued more in the supplemental first, second and third rounds, though a couple do have a chance to go inside the top 30 picks.
Trei Cruz, SS, Rice
Current College Rank: 34 Rank on 2/13/20: 33 12/20/19: 34
A switch-hitter with very good hand/eye, Cruz has confidence and a good feel to hit from both sides. The Rice standout has a small hitch from the right side which adds length to his swing, and a more natural cut from the left side, albeit with a bit less raw power. He can rush his swing at times with a late stride, but he is confident and has a good feel to hit from both sides of the dish. Through 16 games and 58 at bats this spring, Cruz showcased his offensive prowess, slashing .328/.487/.500 with seven doubles and a home run, as well as more walks (18) than strikeouts (17). This follows a solid summer with Cotuit of the Cape Cod Baseball League, for whom he slashed .307/.384/.429. Cruz is also an aggressive defender with...