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Miami’s Kayfus, college players lead…

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Saturday, January 20th 2024

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Miami’s Kayfus, college players lead Guardians’ second-day draft picks

Miami’s CJ Kayfus is shown during a June 2 game this season. Doug Murray – The Associated Press)
Miami’s CJ Kayfus is shown during a June 2 game this season. Doug Murray – The Associated Press)
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A look at the Guardians’ picks on Day 2 of the MLB Draft:

OF/1B CJ Kayfus

Pick: Round 3, Pick 93

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 192

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Position: OF/1B

College: Miami

Year: Fourth-year junior

Stats (2023): .348/.464/.581, 14 2B, 13 HR, 46 BB/44K

Kayfus is a left-handed hitter and thrower who mostly played first for Miami in 2023 and has played some outfield previously, but Cleveland announced him as an outfielder. He hit for average and drew walks in the Cape Cod League in 2022 and improved his power output some in his junior year at Miami.

C Cooper Ingle

Pick: Round 4, Pick 125

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 190

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Position: C

College: Clemson

Year: Fourth-year junior

Stats (2023): .328/.417/.461, 16 2B, 6 HR, 39 BB/29 K

Ingle was primarily a catcher at Clemson but did spend some time in left field and a little in right field. He’s a high-contact, good-approach type hitter with below-average power but is a good athlete with solid receiving skills. He was announced as a catcher. He showed good contact and approach skills in the Cape Cod League in 2022, and will likely spend most time at catcher as a pro but might see some time in the outfield to enhance his versatility, but he might only have the arm for left.

INF Christian Knapczyk

Pick: Round 5, Pick 161

Height: 5-9

Weight: 165

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Position: SS

College: Louisville

Year: Fourth-year junior

Stats (2023): .331/.455/.408, 8 2B, 1 HR, 19/25 SB/CS, 21 BB/19K

Knapczyk started at short on Day 1 as a freshman at Louisville and has posted strong batting averages each year, then walked more than he struck out his last two seasons there. He played on the Cape Cod League at age 19 in 2021 and hit for a high average and got on base there. He’s an aggressive hitter that makes contact at high rates, runs well, and has little power, and will work to stay at short in the pros with sold skills there, but might profile better at second or as a utility infielder type.

OF Tommy Hawke

Pick: Round 6, Pick 188

Height: 5-8

Weight: 155

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Position: OF

College: Wake Forest

Year: Draft-eligible sophomore

Stats (2023): .351/.459/.506, 19 2B, 7 HR, 14/15 SB, 51K/51BB

Hawke has a high-motor, and high speed as an outfielder that can draw walks, run the bases and patrols centerfield solidly. He is a slasher type player that looks to disrupt the game at the top of the lineup. Power won’t be part of his game, but he can yank a ball down the right field line on occasion. He was the Demon Deacons table setter for their run to the College World Series in 2023 and will look to emulate that at the pro level, and might settle in as a speed, defense, contact fourth outfielder as his floor.

INF Alex Mooney

Pick: Round 7, Pick 218

Height: 6-1

Weight: 195

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position: SS

College: Duke

Year: Draft-eligible sophomore

Stats (2023): .315/.434/.504, 20 2B, 8 HR, 21/26 SB, 43K/36BB

Mooney was draft eligible in 2020 but went undrafted due to a possibly strong commitment to Duke, where he improved his stock in 2023 as a draft eligible sophomore cutting down on his strikeouts and showing more pop in his bat. Mooney is a gamer type infielder that does a little bit of everything well, though overall his power may be below average. He could handle short but may be better at second in the pros. He’s an energetic, high motor and character type player that might play above tool grades.

OF Jonah Advincula

Pick: Round 8, Pick 248

Height: 6-1

Weight: 197

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Position: OF

College: Washington State

Year: Fourth-year junior

Stats (2023): .350/.455/.565, 20 2B, 5 HR, 24/26 SB, 28BB/19K

Advincula transferred to Washington State from Division III University of Redlands for his redshirt-COVID junior year, was his freshman season was 2020. Advincula is a speedy, left handed hitting centerfielder that had good success in his only season playing in the PAC-12, walked more than he struck out and made plenty of contact. He’s another speed, contact, defense type profile for the Guardians that projects as a fourth outfielder.

RHP Jay Driver

Pick: Round 9, Pick 278

Height: 6-3

Weight: 195

Throws: Right

Position: P

College: Harvard

Year: Fourth-year junior

Stats (2023): 67.1 IP, 69K/29BB, 4.41 ERA

The Crimson pitcher can throw a fastball up to 97 mph in relief, but settles at 91-93, touching 95 as a starter, and stuck out 39 hitters in 23 2/3 innings on the Cape Cod League circuit in 2023 for Hyannis. He struck out over 10 batters per nine innings in two years at Harvard, but was a starter for the first time in 2023. His fastball, curveball combo might work better as a reliever as his velocity plays up with his funky low slot delivery.

LHP Matt Wilkinson

Pick: Round 10, Pick 308

Height: 6-1

Weight: 170

Throws: Left

Position: P

College: Central Arizona College

Year: Second-year JUCO

Stats (2023): 84IP, 136K/19BB, 1.07 ERA

A native of British Columbia in Canada, Wilkinson is a big bodied lefty that works in the high 80s, low-90s and has missed bats both years at the JUCO level. He throws from a higher three-quarter type arm slot and has a good breaking ball with good pitchability. He was committed to Arizona State after his two years at Central Arizona College. He threw nine innings on the Cape Cod League circuit this summer so far, striking out 10 batters and walking one over two appearances

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