Remember Me: Joe Panik

Please don’t forget to vote….

While shortstops like Francisco Lindor, Julius Gaines, Trevor Story and Javier Baez dominate the high school draft game and college guys like Levi Michael, Brad Miller and Nick Ahmed all have the other half of the spot light. There is one guy continues to kind of be overlook. But over the last few weeks he’s been on the tip of just about every Baseball America college report out there.

His name is Joe Panik.

Besides having one of the coolest names out there. He is a 6’1, 180 lb shortstop from the northeast and bats from the left side of the plate. He maintains a bit of pop but his batting prowess comes from his sharp understanding of the strike zone and his ability to drive the ball to all fields displaying gap power.  His actions at short are smooth, he’s improved his foot speed/foot work to become a better defender and is a natural athlete.

The Mariners have loved diving into the Northeastern talent pool over the last few years. I have some of my own opinions as to why they are partial but I’ll save that until May. Just for now read a few of the other peoples opinions and let me know what you think.

MLBBonusBaby

"Panik has solid contact ability and has gap power. He has solid speed and should be able to stay at SS. He doesn’t have the bat for 3rd, so he’ll have to move to 2B if he has to move off the position."

Aaron Fit of BaseballAmerica

"I think he showed people this summer that he is one of the top shortstops in the college draft class for next year. I love his mature approach at the plate, his easy lefthanded swing, and I think he’s got a chance to stick at shortstop in pro ball. There aren’t a lot of players in this class who can say that. I bet Panik goes in the top 2-3 rounds."

Joe Panik YouTube by DiamondScapeScouting

DiamondScapeScouting

"The top collegiate shortstop in the class is Joe Panik (St. John’s Univ.), a top level bat with smooth actions in the field and a strong Cape showing under his belt. The prep ranks flank Lindor with a handful of high ceiling middle-infielders who also show big potential with the glove and the bat."

RightFieldFog.com

"The Red Storm shortstop hit .322 as a freshman and was even better this year. He hit .380 with nine home runs, 17 doubles and four triples. He earned third-team all-conference honors. In Perfect Game’s February preview of the New England/New York college landscape, he was tabbed as the best defender"

I expect him to be somewhere between the supplemental picks to as late as the third round. But if he’s available he’s currently my favorite college shortstop in the draft and I expect him to go earlier rather than later. I think he’s a dynamic player and could very well be quick riser through an organization.