/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59977967/129024681.jpg.0.jpg)
According to MLB Pipeline, Elijah Cabell carried a 101 ranking of those available for this year’s MLB draft. But he wasn’t selected until the Milwaukee Brewers chose him in the 14th round with the 425th pick.
A drop this far is most likely due to signability issues. Cabell is an LSU commit, and with no guaranteed bonus he can be viewed as likely to go there, unless the Brewers are willing (and able) to offer him enough of a bonus to convince him to go into the Milwaukee system.
Maybe the Brewers know something the other teams don’t. Or maybe Milwaukee is willing to sign Cabell at a bargain price, getting a steal in the 14th round.
Elijah is a product of TNXL Acadamy in Florida, a baseball-first school where the preps go to school on line. At 6’2” and 190 lbs he is viewed as a power hitter with swing-and-miss issues. He hits and throws right, and is a high school senior that will turn 19 in a few weeks.
Scouts say that he has tremendous power but has a “groove swing” - when the pitch is in that groove, it will go far. When not, well, Mark Reynolds, anyone? He’s young; with instruction he can perhaps harness that power into a real major league prospect. Part of his decision process could very well involve whether he can better learn how to hit like a major leaguer at LSU or in the minors.