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Vaughn continues Chicago’s run on college bats under Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn. We heard if they had cut at three (which they likely won’t with Vaughn), it would have been in anticipation of taking a prep arm at 45, and they got one in Thompson anyway. We were a bit lower on him, as his stuff that flashed plus over the summer was less dynamic this spring. Some clubs thought he may have plateaued. That said, he’s still a long-limbed teenager with a great delivery who has been into the mid-90s for years. ^ fangraphs writeup on Day 1.

I would like this, too. I also think Spencer Jones would be super interesting but talk about a guy I don't know if they org could develop

His BA writeup was so positive it was hard to understand why he was ranked 130 or so

With Sing not going day 1 I worry that means most expect him to serve (also Noah, thank you for serving)

Players I like Ryan Pepiot Edit: lost all my stuff wait a minute Notes: Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted Scouting Report: On the right day, Pepiot is a strike-thrower in complete command. But Pepiot also struggles with timing issues in his delivery at times and when that happens, his outings can go south quickly. Pepiot had a four-start stretch earlier this year when he struck out 39 and walked only one. He’d topped double digits in strikeouts five times by early May and ranked among the top 10 in Division I in strikeouts. But he followed that excellent stretch by walking seven in only 3.2 innings in his next start. A few starts later, he again walked seven while also hitting two batters. There is a minor head whack in Pepiot’s delivery, but he has long enough stretches of solid control to project that he may one day sort out his stretches of wildness with additional innings and maturity. Pepiot is a big-bodied righthander who can attack hitters with a 91-93 mph fastball that touches 95-96 mph. His changeup is a plus pitch as well, but one that multiple evaluators mentioned he relies on too often. It might actually be a little more effective in pro ball if he begins to use it a little more sparingly and uses his fringe-average, 80-82 mph slider and fringe-average, mid-70s curveball more often. Both will flash average or better as Pepiot shows a feel for spin, but he doesn’t use them all that much. That’s due, in part, because he doesn’t consistently locate them. Pepiot will likely go out in pro ball as a starter, but he has a solid fallback option as a power reliever with enough fastball, an ability to spin a breaking ball and a plus changeup. Ivan Johnson Commit/Drafted: South Carolina Scouting Report: Johnson ranked No. 473 on the 2017 BA 500 out of Kennesaw (Ga.) Mountain High after showing solid defensive actions at shortstop and performing well against some of the class’ top prep pitchers. However, he went undrafted and instead made it to campus at Georgia, where Johnson struggled, hitting just .239/.314/.283 with a 38 percent strikeout rate in 46 at-bats. Following that season, Johnson transferred to Chipola (Fla.) JC for the 2019 campaign, where he led the team in each triple-slash category—hitting .389/.500/.606 with nine home runs, 33 walks and 37 strikeouts in 55 games. Johnson looked more physical during the fall and that has shown up in his power production, which is at least average in games with plus raw power. Johnson’s swing works well from both sides, with quick hands that can catch up to velocity, although he sometimes struggles with offspeed offerings on the outer half of the plate as a lefthanded hitter. There is some length to his swing at times—and scouts will certainly not forget about the strikeout rate he showed during his brief look with Georgia—but most scouts grade his hit tool as a 50 after what he’s shown this spring. Johnson has split time at shortstop and second base for Chipola. He has the defensive actions to handle shortstop, but, as an average runner, he might be a more ideal fit as a second baseman. Johnson performed well in front of high-level decision-makers this spring and could go off the board early on Day 2.

I would love if Hampton took down his LSU tweet based off of a Sox commit but otherwise looking at likely college pitching I’d guess.

Everybody be nice

This is insane!

I am more bummed about this than anything else. God I love the brewers drafting.

NOOoOoOoOoOoOoooOoOOOoo

Valdes to Cleveland. he was interesting so that sucks.

Doxakis goes. Would have loved him in third.

Full on Antoine Kelly bandwagon now.

Fletcher gone

Maybe but I worry his number may be too high. edit: there you go, I loved hamptons skills but am fine going Thompson over him.

Too hard to tell. We don’t know how expensive Thompson was

I am fine in the third.

No Wyatt and No Tommy Henry so that’s progress

God, can’t Callis and Mayo just host? How many times do they lead into them asking if these guys are basically all stars?

Get me Antoine Kelly in the third.

I have no problem taking super athletic prep pitchers with good bodies and feel to spin.

I would have preferred Nunez fwiw. But Thompson is a big upside play and I’m for it compared to recent 2nd round picks.

uting Report: Thompson entered the year as the top prep pitcher in Texas and one of the most exciting pitchers in the 2019 class. He jumped onto national radars as an underclassman with big performances on the travel ball circuit thanks to his power fastball, feel to spin the ball and athleticism on the mound. All of those traits still exist for Thompson now, but his stock fell this spring as scouts saw his stuff come and go. His fastball has been 90-96 mph at times, but just as often he has thrown more in the 88-92 mph range, which concerned scouts who were already looking for him to improve his consistency from outing to outing. Thompson throws a mid-80s slider with sharp, late, two-plane break that’s one of the better sliders in the class. However, the pitch can at times blend into his curveball, which is typically in the upper 70s with more 11-to-5 shape than the horizontal bite of his slider. While Thompson has a fast, whippy arm action out of a high, three-quarter slot, scouts are concerned about his strike-throwing ability. Some teams would specifically point to a wrist wrap that Thompson has in the back of his arm stroke that could limit his control moving forward. While it hasn’t been the best spring for Thompson, he still has a projectable, 6-foot-2, 184-pound frame, excellent feel to spin the ball and natural, high-end athleticism that player development would love to see in an organization. Thompson is committed to Texas A&M.

Hell yeah, I like it

Here we gooo