10 Early Flops of the 2013 MLB Draft Class

Being a draft pick in any sport can be an exhilarating moment, but it also comes with the unfortunate burden of hype and expectations. 

Something that we (fans and media) often fail to realize is that these are young adults still trying to figure out their place and how to adjust to the world that they are being thrust into.

The 2013 MLB draft class is still in the very early stages of development. Saying that a player has improved or dropped his stock at this point isn't entirely realistic given such small sample sizes, but there are certain signs to suggest some could be better or worse than initially thought. 

Since it is so easy to praise the successful draft picks, especially considering some of them start at a level designed for them to succeed, we want to focus on some of the players having serious issues, or at least showing significant flaws, at the start of their careers. 

Note: Stats courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted. 

Lead image courtesy of espn.com.

Colin Moran, Miami Marlins (No. 6 Overall Pick)

There was a time when it seemed like Colin Moran would slide into that top-tier category of prospects taken in this year's class (Mark Appel, Kris Bryant, Jonathan Gray, Kohl Stewart) because of his natural ability to hit. 

But there were some warning signs with Moran, mostly tied to his future position and how much power would come from his bat. So far that has really held true, with him having a respectable 13-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 74 at-bats but just a .405 slugging percentage and six extra-base hits. 

Of course, Moran also isn't hitting for average at the level it seemed like he would (.257). The Marlins did start him off in High-A and have him listed at shortstop, which is really strange because he was a fringe-average defender at third base in college. 

I gushed over Moran before the draft because his approach at the plate seemed so far beyond anyone else, but I could have paid more attention to tools that weren't showing up in games. 

Braden Shipley, Arizona Diamondbacks (No. 15 Overall Pick)

Braden Shipley was an excellent value pick for the already pitching-rich Arizona Diamondbacks when he dropped to 15th in June's draft. He did have some catching up to do compared to your typical college junior because he played shortstop through his freshman year at Nevada. 

Shipley's stuff is electric when he is firing on all cylinders, showing a superb fastball, plus curveball and average changeup. But the off-speed stuff and command are lacking because of that inexperience on the mound. 

Thus far, Shipley's performed to his reputation. He is still missing bats at an excellent rate (18 strikeouts in 15 innings) but is also allowing nearly two base runners an inning (28 in 15 innings) and has given up 24 hits. He has a 7.80 ERA. 

On the positive side, Shipley is around the strike zone enough (just four walks) to make you think that an offseason of work will help cure what ails him. Plus, given his command and quality stuff, he could end up as a late-inning reliever if all else fails. 

Tim Anderson, SS, Chicago White Sox

One of the best things the White Sox have done in recent years is go after "athletes" in the draft. It is a stark contrast from the low-ceiling players they once would fish for as a way to save money. 

Tim Anderson certainly fits Chicago's mold as an athletic, toolsy player with a high ceiling, but the odds of him reaching that potential have been long from the start. Opponents of East Central Community College wasn't exactly overflowing with talent. He doesn't hit for power, and he's a fringe defender at shortstop, though he has the speed to be a center fielder. So a position switch could accelerate his development.

Fast forward to the present, Anderson is hitting .264/.332/.343 with eight doubles, three triples, no homers and 51 strikeouts in 178 at-bats. The White Sox, as they tend to do with their top prospects, were aggressive in pushing him to Low-A Kannapolis right out of the gate.

That does give some hope for the future, but the questionable defense and the lack of pop are still problematic, and there has not yet been any sign of improvement.

Eric Jagielo, 3B, New York Yankees (No. 26 Overall Pick)

Of all the first-round picks off to slow starts, Eric Jagielo's is the most troubling.

And for two reasons. First, he was supposed to be a low-risk college hitter with some pop and average defense at third base. Yet thus far, the Notre Dame product is hitting an uninspiring .268/.376/.375 in 33 games. 

If the raw tools suggested there was more to be had, Jagielo wouldn't warrant concern. But he is a player with above-average bat speed, a solid-but-not-great approach at the plate and average power for a third baseman. 

Second, the Yankees have started Jagielo out slowly by putting him in the short season New York-Penn League against players his own age or younger.

With just one home run and 24 strikeouts in 103 at-bats, Jagielo looks overmatched right now. The Yankees likely had designs on him moving through the organization quickly, but so far they can't be thrilled with what they have seen. 

Josh Hart, OF, Baltimore Orioles (No. 37 Overall Pick)

A player with a specialized set of skills like Josh Hart is tough to gauge.

On the one hand, with excellent speed and plus defensive ability in center field, it is easy to see him profiling as a leadoff hitter in the future. 

But Hart appears to be saddled with an unfortunate discrepancy between foot speed and bat speed. We are seeing a similar issue with Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton, who is the fastest baseball player in the world but struggles with the bat because he doesn't have enough bat speed or raw strength to drive the ball. 

Hart falls into that Hamilton category (though obviously not as fast). He possesses a contact-type swing, but one that lacks sufficient bat speed and power, which forces him to rely on foot speed to beat out hits. He has 16 hits in the Gulf Coast League, but just two have gone for extra bases (both doubles). 

Speed-only players have a difficult time making it out of the minors, much less succeeding in the big leagues. 

Cody Reed, LHP, Kansas City Royals (No. 46 Overall Pick)

Cody Reed was a late pop-up prospect in the 2013 draft after showing better-than-expected velocity on his fastball. He also has a decent slider, but one that doesn't yet have the sharp break you want to see.

So far the results have been middling, to say the least. Reed has a 14-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has allowed 18 hits in 19.1 innings. His stuff is what got him drafted in the second round, but his control was going to determine what his ultimate role would be. 

Reed is 20, a little old for rookie league ball, but about where his talent level suggests he should be. He will have to prove himself capable of throwing strikes with the fastball and being able to get his slider by hitters.

Andrew Knapp, C, Philadelphia Phillies (No. 53 Overall Pick)

College catching was a wasteland in the 2013 draft, but Andrew Knapp did have some value as a no-hit, defense-first prospect, who could turn into a big league backup for a long time. 

But so far the bat has been worse than expected. Knapp is hitting just .246/.318/.391 with 40 strikeouts in 138 at-bats at a level he should be able to handle as a polished catcher from a major-conference school.

The one saving grace for Knapp is that his defense doesn't appear to be suffering. He still has good blocking and receiving skills, an above-average throwing arm and solid game-calling ability. But the bat has to play better for him to have a chance at starting.

Oscar Mercado, SS, St. Louis Cardinals (No. 57 Overall Pick)

Like Knapp, Oscar Mercado was lauded for his defensive prowess at a premium position before the draft. He was a bit inconsistent during his senior year of high school, but the raw tools are there with plus arm strength, solid footwork, soft hands and quick actions. 

That is why the Cardinals took him with the 57th overall pick because it is rare to find a premium defender at shortstop, especially at the high school level. 

But Mercado's anemic offensive ability continues to be problematic. He has never had any strength thanks to a lanky 6'2", 175-pound frame, but his swing is also an issue because he has weak wrists and little bat speed and is therefore unable to drive the ball.

Mercado has put up a .200/.284/.316 line with 24 strikeouts, 11 walks and 10 stolen bases in 95 at-bats. Unless he is able to add muscle without sacrificing any range on defense, Mercado will have problems getting to Double-A. 

Jon Denney, C, Boston Red Sox (No. 81 Overall Pick)

Jon Denney was the steal of the 2013 draft as a true top-20 talent who fell to Boston with the 81st pick due to some concerns about signability and whether or not he could remain behind the plate. But his swing and power potential could play at first base, though that would lower his ceiling considerably. 

Thus far, Denney has been a bust. He is still adjusting to pitching in the Gulf Coast League as an 18-year-old with a .180/.333/.230 line and 23 strikeouts in 61 at-bats. His swing and raw power are still there, so it isn't quite panic time yet. 

This still has to be a disheartening start for Denney, who wanted to show that he could be an impact bat in the future, one worth a lot more than the 81st pick in the draft.

Cord Sandberg, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (No. 89 Overall Pick)

It is almost unfair to include a player like Cord Sandberg on this list because everyone expected him to struggle right out of the gate.

He is an incredible athlete who could have played Division 1 college football. 

In fact, because he was a football player in high school, Sandberg wasn't able to give full attention to baseball, and that's why his development is behind the curve. And his performance thus far suggests a player who has a long, long way to go. 

Through 31 games in the Gulf Coast League, Sandberg is hitting just .194/.328/.269 with two home runs. There are many things for him to work on, but just the experience of playing in Rookie Ball will work wonders for Sandberg's development heading into 2014. 

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