2025 Guardians Amateur Draft - Part 7 - Finding 3rd Day Hidden Gems Part 1 - Power Hitters

 OK, now that we have completed the rationale for my mock draft of days 1 and 2 of the 2025 draft, time to look ahead to day 3 and gems we might find there.  

This year I want to do some Guardians-like and some anti-Guardians things.  So here is what I am looking for on the 3rd day>  

• POWER HITTERS - I want to look for HS and college power hitters.  Due to the 2022 and 2023 slap hitter drafts and how we handle international signings the lower part of our minors is scattered with guys who have, at best, 45 grade power. I might look for one college catcher in this group, as well, with some ability to play other positions.
• HS PITCHER FLYERS - While this is very Guardians' like I want to find as many guys like Jacob Remily (2024), Keegan Zinn 2023) and Jacob Bresnahan (2023) guys as possible.  Even the wonderful 2021 college pitcher draft has yet to produce, from rounds 11-20, a single guy who has got a foothold on AAA yet.  While that is unsurprising for guys drafted that low, it points out how difficult it is for guys drafted on the 3rd day to even make it
• HS CATCHERS - We have had so much bad luck with drafting college catchers and signing international amateur free agent catchers that I wanted to try something different.  Logun Clark (HS catcher, 16th round, 2023) is probably the most exciting catching prospect we have in the low minors.  He is not a great prospect, not even making top 30 lists for Cleveland and HS hitters take a long time to develop.  Still, I think it is time to draft a number of HS catchers on day 3 and let the developmental process sort them out.
• COLLEGE RELIEVERS - This is a great way to fill up the 3rd day of the draft as the Guardians, once again, showed in 2024.  In fact, 57.5% (23/40) of their day 3 draft picks in the past 4 years have been college relievers.  This year I would like to see 2/10 of those picks being college pitchers.  
• INJURED COLLEGE PITCHERS - The Guardians have gone down this path before. signing guys coming off TJ surgery or other arm injuries that kept them out mostly or completely, from competing in their draft year.  Coaxing 1-2 of those guys who would have gone in the second day of the draft if healthy would be a big win, especially toward the end of the 3rd day

As I am focused right now on college power hitters, here are some I would like to see the Guardians consider on the 3rd day.

POWER HITTERS

• Boston Smith, Sr.,  LHH, Wright State, C, INF, OF - Playing in a weak conference and catching full-time for the first time, he hit 26 HRs.  In the previous 2 years in summer ball and in college, he played every position except 1B and CF so he has some versatility.
• John Bay, Sr., CF, RHH, Austin Peay - Bay was one of my dark horses for the Guardians to draft late in the 2024 draft.  He went undrafted and returned to college where he just turned 24.  As a centerfielder who hit 24 and 22 HRs and stole 11 and 12 bases in 2024 and 2025, respectively, I think, as a 3rd day pick he makes a lot of sense, even if he did play in a weak conference. He also hit 4 HRs and had a .900 OPS in the Cape last summer.  I love that he stayed at Austin Peay instead of entering the portal last year.
• Judd Utermark, 2B/3B , RHH, Jr. Ole. Miss - Hit 22 HR this year but had 92 K in only 252 ABs so teams may be scared off from drafting him on the first 2 days due to the excessive swing and miss.  Might be a good 3rd day pick
• Eddie Madrigal, LHH,  1B, RF, C, RS-Jr., St. Mary's (CA) - Hit 21 HRs playing mainly 1B but has played RF, CF, LF and C in the past.  Missed a lot of time due to injuries and may just be rounding into form.
• Easton Amundsen, Sr., LHH, 1B/RF/LF,  Metro State University (Denver) - The DII HR leader (34) this spring, if the Guardians can sign him as a NDFA and just throw him out there and see what he has, it would be interesting.  The Guardians have a lot of slap hitters but not many power hitters so I would like to see them get as many as possible in the draft.

As far as college and HS pitchers and HS catchers go, I will cover them in a later post once I do a little more research.