Oscar Mercado How Much Power is Enough?
Oscar Mercado is a defensive whiz of a SS from Florida who plays for Gaither High School. While most rave and rave about his glove and how great he is on that side of things. Most are also concerned with just how much the bat is really going to play at the next level. He’s actually 6’2 175 and that’s where alot of the talk stems from of how much projection he has. The problem I think for most is not so much if the bat will produce because I’m pretty comfortable in saying he should be a very good average hitter at the top level but how much strength or power is he going to have.
At the plate his swing is simple he’s got very good bat speed and I think the power issue derives from the fact that he has a swing really geared towards just making contact and not so much trying to take it to the fences. He’s got really quick hands that helps him at the plate as well as in the field. On the basepaths he has a chance to be a pretty good baserunner and in High School at the moment he already has 13 SB. Being a SS who most feel guranteed will stick there he doesn’t actually need to have a bunch of power. But look at Hak-Ju Lee for example great speed probably even better then Mercados and most think he’d be a solid average hitter but without as much as doubles power people really question what he’ll become. I do think Mercado is a bit stronger or will be but the point I’m trying to make is it leaves room to be concerned because at the end of the day Projection is just that it’s not written in stone he will do those things. It’s like saying a SP projects to add some velocity there’s no written in stone thing that gurantees he will it’s more of a hunch based on their size and such things of that nature.
On defense I don’t even really need to say much just watch some footage on him and you’ll realize why he’s so revered defensively. He’s got a good quick release plus arm and very good footwork. He’s a smart kid and he puts himself in the places to make the hard plays look easy.
So when looking at his Draft status it’s fair to say he’ll get drafted and fairly early for that matter. I have him as a late 1st round talent at the moment and I think that’s a pretty general opinion on him. I remember awhile back I was one of the first to come out and say that JP Crawford was the #1 SS in this class. While at the time I took some slack for it in the present that actually appears to be the concensus and the reason being that while Mercado has an edge defensively I think Crawfords bat is head and shoulders better and he’s got some power to boot or will. Don’t get me wrong I expect Mercado to have a pretty long MLB Career based on the glove but that could be more as a defensive utility guy if the bat falls on the short end of projections. Again don’t take what I’m saying here the wrong way he has a very nice swing and I do expect solid averages but he deffinately needs to bulk up a tiny bit and add some big boy strength at which point if he could hit like 280 with 5-8HR and 30-402B 103B I think most people would jump for joy knowing their SS will produce that.
If your talking about risk he’s the type of kid a team playing it safe but also looking for a HS talent will want. No makeup concerns you know he has a very good package to rely on that if things go wrong at least you’ll get something out of your investment. So with that said I don’t expect him to drop much more he should stay in that 20-35 range and go on to plenty of success at the MLB. I just hope he adds a bit of that strength so he could be an All Star as opposed to a utility guy.
Looks like Mercado might be dropping into the high 20′s range in the draft. I would be happy if the Giants took him at #26. SS is a thin position in their system, especially if you believe, like I do, that Panik is really a 2B.
I’ll agree I don’t think Panik is a SS. I think it makes sense to think they might because he should be around in that area as well as the fact they need some kind of offensive player. Can never go wrong taking a SS who can stick there and has even the slightest potential with his bat I think Mercado has more then “slight potential”
I’m also of the belief that they don’t want Buster playing C a whole bunch moving forward and will gradually make that happen so it might make sense for them to grab a guy like Martinez or Okey or Ciuffo.
Honestly if I was a Giants fan I’d hope they try to aim a little more for upside in this 1st round and grab an offensive player of any kind with SS,OF,C being the 3 positions I’d think make the most sense given the field of talent and where there positioned.
Kevin:
Morning.
The Giants, like every other team, pick the best player available (on their board) regardless of position. A team’s immediate needs has nothing to do with a player 3-5 years off. In addition, some teams develop multiple prospects at one position (2012 Toronto – catcher) which gives them the opportunity to work out a trade for the position player they need… NOW (Dickey).
Mercado is now projected as a late first round pick and I called a scout friend of mine to help this story out. He said that J P Crawford and Andy McGuire are getting all the press right now, but all three could still be first round picks.
He also said that Chris Rivera is projected in the 3rd and Drew Ward early two.
Thought this would help.
Mack
Mack I don’t know where I said they would take a player based on an immediate need. Considering it takes a few years to develop these guys common sense would tell you that’s a stupid idea.
I’m saying because the system is so weak in positions like SS and C and OF and just offensive talent in general because they’ve got a good amount of quanity and quality at the SP position in the their system it’d make sense to take a position player off the board. Why wouldn’t you do that with the 1st round pick which would conceivably be your best shot to get the most talented therefore also the most likely to succeed at the MLB level.
Buster Posey is moving off C in the near future I don’t really care what anyone tells me. So being that’s the case they’ll have solid veteran backups hold it down while (Assuming they Draft One of the C I Named) Develops and Hopefully takes over the reigns in a few years. Buster is still young so conceivably in the 3 or so years it’d take for him to get somewhat close to the MLB the timing would make sense where Buster has gradually worked and worked his C load down and is now more a primary 1B.
Obviously things could change in the future making my arguement seem less valid and to that I say. Wouldn’t it still make sense to take advantage of the rare circumstance of this class being so unbelieveably stacked at the position of C to take one to develop since there so hard to find.
Developing Multiple Prospects at 1 Position I have no idea what that does to further anyones point. Yes obviously it’s a big system so I’m asssuming they’d have more then 1 guy at a given position that they like.
Kevin:
I never said you had a stupid idea.
I also would never use the word ‘stupid’ in any professional conversation about baseball.
You and I don’t agree about how people draft which is fine. I was just trying to help and also offer my opinion. I know nothing of your background. Me? I’ve done this ‘for awhile’ and I tend to just pass on what other do and tell me they are doing.
Regarding the draft, EVERYTHING I write about it comes from scouts and team personnel. I never try and figure out what they do. If I did, the Mets would have Courtney Hawkins in their organization
I’m not trying to fight with you, but I ask you to not fight with me either. I’m here as a favor to Matt and, in this world, writers are suppose to have respect for each other on a site.
As they say, we’re suppose to have each other’s back.
You have crossed over from a comment maker to a contributor. We’re now sitting next to each other in the news room.
I’m just saying…
Gaither HS (FL) SS Oscar Mercado over 13 games: .333, 4 2B, 3B, 11 RBI, 13 SB, 8 BB, 1 K, .478 OBP
As a Gints fan, I would be very happy picking off a SS with the first round pick. True SS’s are rare as hen’s teeth.
At the start of the year Mercado had the hype, Crawford/Rivera were more in the same breath and McGuire was an injury question.
I’d rank them McGuire, Crawford, Mercado then Rivera. I’d be very happy with the first 3, any of them. McGuire seems to have the best chance to hit, but the worst glove.
The Giants shouldn’t draft for anything but best player. It’s worth noting they go off the reservation from conventional wisdom quite often when it comes to drafting. Tons of pitching, their bread and butter, is available. But the rarity of shortstops that can stick at the position might be very tempting.
I don’t think them Drafting Mercado at 26 would be considered anything but taking the best player available. He’s a great SS who has a shot to have a solid bat and the chance to have be an all star if things really click right for him.
I mean it really depends on the circumstances leading up too their position I wasn’t trying to say they should reach for a position player or anything I think if there’s one in that area that makes sense to pick they should considering there pretty stacked on the SP front and just arms in general in their system.
I do believe the Giants take who they think is the best player available, at least in the top rounds of the draft, but they definitely do put position scarcity into the equation that tells them who that best player is. Under Brian Sabean, historically, they have always taken either a pitcher or an up-the-middle position player with first round picks.
I want to be clear here. When I said that SS was the thinnest position in the organization, I was not referring to immediate need. Brandon Crawford is doing just fine as the starting SS with the MLB club, thank you. I agree that organization should never draft for immediate need but I do think that if a position is thin throughout their minor league system, that it should tip the scales between two players of approximately equal value.
I agree with Kevin that if they did draft Mercado at #26, there is no way it would not be seen as taking the BPA.