Baseball America’s way-too-early 2018 MLB Mock Draft: Tampa Bay Rays select RHP Logan Gilbert

The Tampa Bay Rays will draft 16th overall in 2018, and if you’re in need an extremely too early mock draft, Baseball America has one with the top 30 picks.

In that first mock draft of the off-season, the Rays take a Cape Cod League stand out RHP Logan Gilbert, from Stetson University.

Stetson has a strong pipeline of talent through Cape Cod, and among the multiple Florida-bases college pitchers that shined in the league in 2017, at 16th overall League All-Star Logan Gilbert looks like a decent bet.

2080 Baseball followed Gilbert in the League and had the following report:

Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson Univ.
Ht/Wt: 6’6”/210 lbs. B/T: R/R Age (as of 2018 MLB Draft): 21y, 1m

Background: Gilbert enjoyed a stellar season in the Cape Cod League, earning a spot on the East All-Star Team and finishing the regular season with a 1.72 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over seven starts. The Stetson standout struck out 31 and walked just 4 in 31 1/3 innings of work. In his lone playoff start for Orleans, Gilbert earned a win against Chatham, throwing five strong innings in which he struck out 6 and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks. Gilbert’s impressive summer comes on the heels of a strong Spring at Stetson that saw the right post a 10-0 record with a 2.02 ERA over 89 innings. Gilbert racked-up 107 (10.82 SO/9) strikeouts to just 26 walks (2.69 BB/9) and held opposing hitters to a paltry .202 batting average.

Notes: Tall, lanky frame with long arms and room for growth; no windup, minimal step-in to motion; long-armer through a 3/4’s slot; loose, live arm and he throws free and easy; ball explodes out of his hand; double-plus fastball (93-to-97 mph), comfortably sitting 95 mph with plus movement, explosive late life; heavy sink action with hard run and tail; true swing-and-miss pitch; projectable, plus curveball (74-to-76 mph) with two-plane action and solid depth; must stay on top of curveball more consistently; seldom used changeup (84-to-85 mph) with solid fade; plus performance seen on July 18, where he worked five innings giving up two hits, one walk and eight strikeouts. Will be one of the premier right-handed college pitchers for the 2018 Draft.

[2080 Baseball]