Beltre and that caliber of guy are phenoms. The trend has been toward drafting college players lately over HS
“Funny?”
Dont be fooled, the pro system is like raising and trading cattle.
HS Pitchers at the elite level buck the trend towardCollege players
The recent post that someone made in another thread about the % of those “elite HS” pitchers who actually make the MLB was shocking. The trend still is what it is. If we are parsing that finely, then why not say elite left handed pitchers who are 6’3” or taller, weigh 170 or more and who haven’t had TJ yet?
Ultimately it comes down to can you get the job done or not. But there are body types who have to prove they can’t get it done versus body types who have to prove they can.
My son’s junior year high school team had three players go P5 and eleven total play college ball. But if you walked up to the field and was told to pick the top prospect there was a 6’4” 200 pitcher who looked the part. He even carried himself with false confidence. He got four years to prove he couldn’t do the job. Senior year he finally made varsity. He never finished an inning.
He wasn’t a very likeanle kid. Behind his back he was called One-third.