I wanted to do a little something for day 3, but didn’t know where to start. So I sat down, fired up a few old Word docs, and simply began writing. I left out HS prospects because of the unknowns of signability. So here are the top college names to know as we kick off day 3…

Catcher

Signability questions about Elvin Soto (two remaining years of eligibility), Ty Ross and Spencer Navin (leaving clubs like LSU and Vandy early when not a premium pick isn’t easy), and Jeff Keller (education often trumps all in the Ivy League) make this a tough list to figure. The multi-position versatility of both Jake Rodriguez and Dairo Gonzalez would probably get them the nod as my top remaining targets, if signable. As a junior college prospect without a listed college commitment for next year (that I could find), you’d think Gonzalez may be more amenable to signing than most. Same could be said for potential juco steals Marcus Greene and Hunter Lockwood.

Oregon State JR C/2B Jake Rodriguez: strong hit tool; good approach; solid defensive tools; definite utility future; good speed; plus arm; converted infielder; can also play some OF; gap power; has improved behind plate a great deal; Chace Numata comp by me; 5-9, 200 pounds (2011: .333/.400/.467 – 5 BB/8 K – 75 AB) (2012: .295/.379/.375 – 13 BB/33 K – 176 AB – 4/5 SB) (2013: .306/.420/.401 – 30 BB/27 K – 2/3 SB – 147 AB)

Kirkwood CC SO C/3B Dairo Gonzalez: strong arm; interesting bat; average speed; 6-2, 200 pounds (2013: .413/.522/.699 – 30 BB/18 K – 4/6 SB – 143 AB)

New Mexico JC FR C Marcus Greene: strong; strong arm; improved defender; good athlete; intriguing bat; FAVORITE (2013: .384/.465/.727 – 21 BB/32 K – 16/21 SB – 172 AB)

Weatherford JC SO C/1B Hunter Lockwood: strong hit tool; might not stick at catcher; I like his defense enough; good arm; good speed; defense improving; plus power upside; might be able to stick in OF; still rough behind the plate; Oklahoma transfer (2012: .227/.283/.459 – 14 BB/63 K – 6/10 SB – 185 AB) (2013: .333/.423/.559 – 21 BB/32 K – 6/8 SB – 177 AB)

First Base

My initial top 11 college first basemen are all gone, so it goes without saying the pickings are slim at the position heading into day 3. The same junior college/no 2013 commitment logic from the catching portion applies to Brandon Dulin. Chris Marconcini (two years eligibility remaining) might not be signable, but should be worth a look for his power upside and impressive ability to work himself back from a torn ACL. My favorite senior on the board is Danny Hayes, a guy who gives you a little positional flexibility and consistently strong at bats. He’s also the kind of person you want in your organization, something that matters at this point in the draft maybe more so than it does early on.

Longview (MO) CC FR 1B/OF Brandon Dulin: physically strong; strong arm; good defender; average speed; well above-average power upside; might be able to hang in LF; 6-3, 230 pounds (2013: .378/.449/.756 – 19 BB/25 K – 4/5 SB – 156 AB)

Wake Forest rJR 1B/LHP Matt Conway: plus power upside; solid approach; potential plus bat; 6-7, 240 pounds (2011: .272/.361/.451 – 27 BB/31 K – 195 AB) (2013: .383/.435/.543 – 18 BB/19 K – 4/4 SB – 188 AB) (2013: 7.88 K/9 | 2.17 BB/9 | 4.79 FIP | 45.2 IP)

Duke rSO 1B Chris Marconcini: out in 2012 with torn ACL; good raw power; solid defender; 6-5, 230 pounds (2011: .301/.404/.490 – 24 BB/38 K – 206 AB) (2013: .326/.420/.611 – 29 BB/39 K – 8/10 SB – 190 AB)

East Carolina JR 1B Chase McDonald: like his approach; plus raw power; average at best defender; super slow; bat will carry him; little righthanded Preston Tucker vibe; 6-4, 260 pounds (2011: .314/.398/.436 – 24 BB/29 K – 188 AB) (2012: .283/.339/.395 – 13 BB/18 K – 152 AB – 0/0 SB) (2013: .318/.410/.574 – 28 BB/30 K – 0/0 SB – 176 AB)

Oregon State SR 1B Danny Hayes: natural hitter; doubles power with chance for more; has also seen time at 3B, where is generally regarded as below-average at the moment; give him a lot of credit for playing through torn labrum in shoulder; 6-4, 210 pounds (2011: .286/.423/.443 – 32 BB/34 K – 140 AB) (2012: .316/.467/.553 – 33 BB/21 K – 0/1 SB – 114 AB – 0/1 SB) (2013: .293/.393/.437 – 28 BB/20 K – 2/2 SB – 167 AB)

Second Base

Second base wasn’t a particularly deep position at the onset of the draft — a shocking development in the world of prospects, I know — but it has taken on a much deeper look as other positions have gotten picked over. Carlos Asuaje is the walking, talking, living, and breathing embodiment of a day 3 sleeper. This isn’t a real comp per se, but the fact Houston has the first pick of the 11th round pretty much forces me to implore them to take the slightly bigger Jose Altuve to kick things off today. JT Riddle, Grant Kay, and Frankie Ratcliff — all quite signable based on what I’ve heard, with Riddle being the only iffy one of the trio — all represent significant value this late, as will either of the Clemson boys (Shane Kennedy and Steve Wilkerson). Worth pointing out that not a single player mentioned above is 100% locked in to being a 2B only as a professional. All have history at other positions. That’s big. Draft one or two of these guys today and I’ll be happy.

Nova Southeastern (FL) JR 2B Carlos Asuaje: strong hit tool; quick bat; surprising power; good speed; good defender at both second and third, playable at SS; patient approach; could be plus at 2B; FAVORITE; great athlete; good range at 3B; such a smart hitter; level swing plane; line drive machine; 5-8, 165 pounds (2011: .355/.432/.498 – 28 BB/15 K – 13/16 SB – 211 AB) (2012: .389/.480/.611 – 30 BB/18 K – 15/18 SB – 190 AB) (2013: .320/.441/.449 – 38 BB/13 K – 32/35 SB – 178 AB)

Kentucky JR 2B/RHP JT Riddle: good approach to hitting; gap power; could be good defender at 3B; good speed; pretty swing; good arm; 86-87 FB with sink; SL; some like him best at SS or CF; 6-3, 180 pounds (2011: .294/.369/.405 – 17 BB/31 K – 163 AB) (2012: .279/.350/.407 – 17 BB/25 K – 226 AB – 3/4 SB) (2013: .327/.408/.399 – 23 BB/13 K – 6/9 SB – 208 AB)

Iowa Western SO 2B Grant Kay: good defensive tools; good power; all he does is hit; uses whole field; above-average speed; can also play 3B; average at best arm; can get too aggressive; good athlete; Louisville transfer; FAVORITE; 6-0, 185 pounds (2013: .381/.447/.619 – 7 BB/10 K – 10/12 SB – 97 AB)

Austin Peay State JR 2B/C Jordan Hankins: strong hit tool; some pop; average defender; above-average arm; could also play 3B; FAVORITE; 5-10, 190 pounds (2011: .303/.394/.447 – 26 BB/22 K – 188 AB) (2012: .292/.406/.480 – 37 BB/16 K – 3/5 SB – 250 AB) (2013: .322/.432/.505 – 37 BB/22 K – 7/9 SB – 214 AB)

Houston JR 2B Frankie Ratcliff: plus runner; some pop; good defender; kicked off Miami team; Pensacola JC transfer; 5-9, 185 pounds (2013: .311/.426/.490 – 38 BB/33 K – 11/12 SB – 196 AB)

Clemson JR 2B Shane Kennedy: strong hit tool; emerging pop, really impressive power upside; 55 speed; can play anywhere in infield; 6-3, 190 pounds (2013: .358/.453/.487 – 38 BB/44 K – 19/24 SB – 193 AB)

Clemson JR 2B/SS Steve Wilkerson: above-average speed; great athlete; good defensive tools; really good at 2B; power hasn’t come on; strong arm; FAVORITE; 6-1, 190 pounds (2011: .192/.333/.192 – 11 BB/13 K – 52 AB) (2012: .310/.369/.399 – 23 BB/37 K – 258 AB – 11/13 SB) (2013: .348/.428/.490 – 28 BB/44 K – 10/14 SB – 198 AB)

Shortstop

This is a really easy one for me: draft Pat Blair. Unless he’s said that he wants to go to med school, or run off and join the circus, or pursue a lifelong ambition to be the first man to walk on Mars, draft Pat Blair.

Wake Forest SR SS/2B Pat Blair: great approach; steady glove has grown into more than that, very dependable up the middle; average arm; some pop, mostly to gaps; above-average speed that plays up due to smarts; like his upside as utility infielder; old BA comp: Steve Lombardozzi; 5-10, 180 pounds (2011: .275/.453/.410 – 55 BB/39 K – 178 AB) (2012: .288/.416/.389 – 48 BB/30 K – 23/28 SB – 226 AB) (2013: .293/.473/.440 – 60 BB/38 K – 20/22 SB – 191 AB)

Third Base

If you haven’t gotten a college corner infielder yet, you’re in a little bit of a bind on day 3. The two best guys who can help you out are Zach Houchins and Erich Weiss. My appreciation for Houchins as a prospect has gone back almost two years, and I continue to be puzzled as to why nobody else has caught on. Weiss’ year-to-year regression is obviously a concern, but at this point in the draft I think it is more than alright gambling on any hitter who once did what he did (see 2011) to college pitching. I’ve heard Houchins is signable while Weiss maybe a little less so, for what it’s worth.

East Carolina JR 3B/SS Zach Houchins: strong hit tool; strong arm, plus for many; some power upside, but mostly to gaps; quick bat; love his approach, but can get too aggressive at times; average at best speed; Louisburg JC transfer; 6-2, 185 pounds (2012 at JC: .394/.471/.587 – 26 BB – 218 AB – 16/18 SB) (2013: .333/.385/.548 – 17 BB/16 K – 1/1 SB – 177 AB)

Texas JR 3B/OF Erich Weiss: plus hit tool; little bit of pop; solid defender, but nothing special; professional approach; not afraid to hit behind in count; good athlete; pro frame; average at best speed; average arm; could be outfielder in pros; 6-3, 200 pounds (2011: .384/.514/.558 – 55 BB/36 K – 224 AB) (2012: .409/.481/.635 – 23 BB/41 K – 203 AB – 10/12 SB) (2013: .333/.431/.424 – 25 BB/41 K  – 7/7 SB – 177 AB)

Outfield

There are so many damn outfielders that it should come as no surprise there are still a ton of quality guys left on the board. I hopped around my board a bit to put together this quick wishlist, though I recommend going back to the original OF ranking for a more complete picture of things. Marcus Davis’ power and approach are above-average, Coty Blanchard’s tools are some of the best in all of college ball, Julian Ridings has the power/speed/defense blend in CF that should work in pro ball, Mark Payton continues to outperform skeptics who claim his tools come up short, and Louie Lechich could be in line to put it all together at any given moment…and you want to be on the ground floor if/when he does. Heck, draft all five and, boom!, you’ve got a new Low-A outfield group all for the low, low price of a handful of day 3 picks.

Florida State JR OF/1B Marcus Davis: great approach; below-average arm; average speed; change in swing unlocked some power, more there; either LF or 1B in pros; FAVORITE; 6-2, 220 pounds (2013: .289/.371/.477 – 26 BB/30 K – 5/7 SB – 218 AB)

Jacksonville State JR OF/3B Coty Blanchard: lots of upside yet to be tapped; plus athlete; leadoff profile, but raw power is impressive; can also play some SS; upside play that is still quite raw; good bat control; good speed; strong arm; little bit like a less heralded JaCoby Jones; 6-2, 185 pounds (2011: .322/.410/.425 – 32 BB/35 K – 233 AB) (2012: .225/.312/.299 – 22 BB/33 K – 187 AB – 5/7 SB) (2013: .309/.406/.486 – 30 BB/34 K – 15/19 SB – 220 AB)

Western Carolina JR OF Julian Ridings: good athlete; plus speed; gap power; strong hit tool; way too aggressive at plate, but has improved; good bunter; easy CF range; good arm; 6-2, 175 pounds (2012: .300/.323/.413 – 5 BB/25 K – 12/15 SB – 160 AB) (2013: .362/.427/.628 – 21 BB/30 K – 14/14 SB – 199 AB)

Texas JR OF Mark Payton: above-average speed; above-average range in CF; above-average arm; good pop; gifted natural hitter; 5-8, 180 pounds (2011: .288/.377/.354 – 32 BB/33 K – 240 AB) (2012: .370/.461/.567 – 33 BB/26 K – 208 AB – 8/13 SB) (2013: .416/.505/.573 – 29 BB/22 K – 3/6 SB – 178 AB)

San Diego rSO OF/LHP Louie Lechich: good speed, plus for some; above-average arm, plus for me; great athlete; strong; quick bat; can hang in CF, could excel in corner; plus raw power; 85-88 FB, 92 peak; transfer from Cal; old Jim Edmonds comp; FAVORITE; 6-4, 200 pounds (2011: .321/.387/.393 – 6 BB/11 K – 56 AB) (2011: 6.86 K/9 | 19.2 IP) (2012: .302/.360/.378 – 21 BB/33 K – 225 AB – 7/13 SB) (2013: .290/.369/.409 – 21 BB/32 K – 1/3 SB – 176 AB) (2013: 6.85 K/9 | 2.93 BB/9 | 4.02 FIP | 46 IP)

Pitcher

Even when ignoring the two name signability questions — Karsten Whitson and AJ Vanegas — there’s still a load of pitching depth to be found. Like the outfielders, it is probably best to work off the big list than this little one, but the names provided stood out to me as some of the best hanging around. Christian Jones’ fall is likely due to his health and/or signability, but I can’t figure out why names like Michael Wagner, Jon Maciel, and Jordan Mills are all still on the board. Huge value with any one of those three. I wonder if Aaron Brown and Tony Rizzotti each having two years of eligibility has scared some teams away by now. At the Villanova/Louisville series I attended last month, the scouts chatting behind home plate were nearly unanimous in their support for Pat Young (yet to be drafted) over Jeff Thompson (94th pick).

Oregon rJR LHP Christian Jones: 88-91 FB with plus life, 94 peak; good command; biting CB with SL action is plus pitch; average 84 CU; missed 2013 (TJ surgery); 2013: 93 peak; 6-3, 210 pounds (2011: 8.81 K/9 | 77.2 IP) (2013: 8.22 K/9 | 2.74 BB/9 | 3.98 FIP | 23 IP)

San Diego JR RHP Michael Wagner: 88-92 FB, 94-95 peak; above-average 78-83 SL; shows CB; improving 81-82 CU, flashes plus; good command; 2013: 87-91 FB, 93 peak; very good FB command; good 81-84 SL; underrated 80-83 CU, continues to flash plus; 6-4, 185 pounds (2011: 8.60 K/9 | 30.1 IP) (2012: 8.19 K/9 | 3.03 BB/9 | 3.33 FIP | 59.1 IP) (2013: 8.80 K/9 | 3.13 BB/9 | 4.07 FIP | 89 IP)

Long Beach State JR RHP Jon Maciel: 88-92 FB with sink, 94 peak; FB moves a ton, helps him get groundballs; 80-84 SL with average upside; emerging upper-70s CU; emerging CB; good command; good deception; great athlete; 6-2, 225 pounds (2011: 9.14 K/9 | 21.2 IP) (2012: 4.33 K/9 | 4.08 BB/9 | 4.17 FIP | 35.1 IP) (2013: 8.87 K/9 | 2.96 BB/9 | 3.58 FIP | 45.2 IP)

Pepperdine SO LHP/OF Aaron Brown: 88-92 FB, 94-95 peak; average 82-86 SL, flashes plus; good 80-82 CU; CB needs work; too aggressive at plate; average speed, but great instincts – plays up for sure; easy CF range, gets great jumps; plus raw power; average hit tool; plus arm; 6-2, 220 pounds (2012: .282/.344/.368 – 6 BB/30 K – 117 AB – 3/4 SB) (2012: 8.44 K/9 | 8.44 BB/9 | 4.36 FIP | 21.1 IP) (2013: 6.19 K/9 | 3.72 BB/9 | 4.45 FIP | 72.2 IP) (2013: .313/.340/.479 – 1 BB/13 K – 2/2 SB – 48 AB)

Tulane rSO RHP Tony Rizzotti: 87-93 FB, 94-96 peak; good 81-82 SL, flashes plus; 78-81 splitter; TCU transfer; 2013: 89-93 FB, 95-96 peak; plus 78-83 SL; inconsistent 78-81 splitter/CU; 6-4, 225 pounds (2013: 6.44 K/9 | 2.56 BB/9 | 3.85 FIP | 81 IP)

Lee rJR RHP Andy Hillis: 94-95 peak FB; Tennessee transfer; 2013: 95-97 FB, 99 peak; good SL; much improved command; 6-7, 220 pounds 

St. Mary’s JR LHP Jordan Mills: 85-90 FB with plus movement, 92 peak; funky delivery; potential plus upper-70s CU; rapidly improving SL that is now a weapon; good command; control an issue; 6-6, 210 pounds (2011: 6.99 K/9 | 46.1 IP) (2012: 6.67 K/9 | 4.92 BB/9 | 3.32 FIP | 56.2 IP) (2013: 8.28 K/9 | 2.26 BB/9 | 3.79 FIP | 83.2 IP)

Villanova JR RHP Pat Young: 92-95 FB with good sink; 78-82 SL with average upside; occasional CU; 6-7, 210 pounds (2012: 6.59 K/9 | 3.62 BB/9 | 4.13 FIP | 82 IP) (2013: 8.42 K/9 | 3.61 BB/9 | 3.12 FIP | 82.1 IP)