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Rated one of baseball’s top pitching prospects

in Diskussionen Allgemein über die Kryptowelt 10.08.2018 04:57
von linzhihong18 • 160 Beiträge | 320 Punkte

Marvin Bagley III dominated at Duke [url=http://www.authenticsdallascowboys.com/cheap-dalton-schultz-jersey]Dalton Schultz Color Rush Jersey[/url] , while fellow freshman Michael Porter Jr. barely saw action at Missouri due to injury. Yet they’ll likely be the first forwards to hear their names called during Thursday’s draft.

Bagley is a possible No. 1 overall pick and double-double machine with a long frame. But many considered Porter to be the top NBA prospect in last year’s class as he works to prove he’s past the back injury that required surgery and limited his college career to just three games.

Here’s a look of the top forwards in the draft:

MARVIN BAGLEY III

Bagley lived up to all expectations, being named The Associated Press player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a first-team All-American .

STRENGTHS: The 6-foot-11 forward checks a lot of boxes: athleticism, inside-out ability, length. He averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the floor and nearly 40 percent from 3-point range. He has good touch around the rim, the ability to shoot over defenders and was a strong finisher.

CONCERNS: Bagley is still developing defensively, particularly when it comes with what is happening away from the ball. He also tends to be too left-hand reliant at times and needs to improve going the other way.

MICHAEL PORTER JR.

The injury creates plenty of uncertainty and makes the 6-10 forward a bit of a wild card, one who could return top-of-the-draft value for a mid-lottery price.

STRENGTHS: Porter was considered by many as last year’s top recruit with his scoring, playmaking ability and athleticism. He was a McDonald’s All-American in high school after averaging 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per game during his senior year.

CONCERNS: There’s little to evaluate with Porter against college competition considering he was hurt minutes into the season opener. He didn’t play again until the postseason. It’s unclear if the injury will limit his ceiling in any way.

MILES BRIDGES

Michigan State’s sophomore is a versatile lottery prospect in a pro-ready 6-7 body.

STRENGTHS: Bridges did a lot of things well last year while averaging 17.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He’s strong enough to both tussle with bigger players and overpower perimeter forwards. And he was excellent at the foul line (.853) to cash in when drawing contact.

CONCERNS: Bridges needs to continue honing his perimeter skills. He shot nearly 39 percent from 3-point range as a freshman [url=http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-preston-brown-jersey]http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-preston-brown-jersey[/url] , but slid to 36 percent last year.

MIKAL BRIDGES

The 6-7 junior swingman developed into a potential top-10 pick for national champion Villanova.

STRENGTHS: Bridges offers the desired combination of 3-point shooting and defensive ability, a valuable package in today’s NBA. Bridges shot nearly 44 percent from behind the arc. He also has the length to be a disruptive defender after leading the Wildcats with 61 steals.

CONCERNS: Bridges needs to add some more strength to a lean 209-pound frame. He also blended in offensively on a deep and efficient offense, so he didn’t need to show a lot when it came to creating his own shot.

KEVIN KNOX

The 6-9 freshman out of Kentucky brings a stretch-4 skillset with good size and shooting range, making him a possible lottery pick.

STRENGTHS: Knox has NBA shooting range, fluid offensive moves and the ability to get out in transition. He showed his high ceiling with 34 points on 11-for-17 shooting with five 3-pointers in a win at West Virginia in January.

CONCERNS: He was a bit of a streaky shooter at times who hit just 34 percent of his 3-pointers. He also could be a tougher rebounder; he had only two double-figure rebounding outputs in 37 games compared to 13 games with four or fewer boards.

OTHERS TO WATCH

– KOSTAS ANTETOKOUNMPO: The long 6-10 forward from Dayton aims to join his All-Star brother Giannis in the NBA, though he’s a project who needs time to develop and get stronger.

– KEITA BATES-DIOP: The Ohio State junior with a 7-3 wingspan made himself a possible first-rounder with a big season that included being named Big Ten player of the year.

– JUSTIN JACKSON: Maryland’s 6-7 sophomore could potentially play at small forward or as an undersized power forward with a 7-3 wingspan, though the likely second-rounder missed most of last season with a shoulder injury.

– MOE WAGNER: The 6-11 junior helped Michigan reach the NCAA championship game with his inside-out versatility . He’s a likely second-round prospect.



Clayton Kershaw is set to make a surprise return from the disabled list Saturday night, starting for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a marquee matchup against New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom.

Kershaw has been sidelined since June 1 with a lower back strain. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP originally was scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha, but heavy rain in the forecast caused the Dodgers to change plans.

”It’s probably the best thing for him and for us [url=http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/baker-mayfield-jersey]Baker Mayfield Browns Jersey[/url] ,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday. ”We don’t know how much he’s going to pitch. I don’t want to put a limit on him. Obviously, there is a limitation with Clayton, and I’ll make that decision.”

Roberts said rookie Caleb Ferguson (0-1, 7.59 ERA) will be ready in reserve. The 21-year-old left-hander had been slated to make his fourth major league start Saturday.

There’s rain in the New York forecast as well, but Roberts said the Dodgers took all that into account.

”From what I understand it’s going to be early and if there’s a delay, we have ample time to get him ready. But obviously, we’re not going to do anything to put him in harm’s way,” Roberts said. ”If there is something where we are shut down, having Caleb behind him [url=http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-arden-key-jersey]http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-arden-key-jersey[/url] , we have that coverage. So we can kind of combat that.”

Before the switch, Roberts had said Kershaw would throw no more than four innings and 60 pitches for Oklahoma City.

The 30-year-old Kershaw is 1-4 with a 2.76 ERA in eight starts this year for the defending NL champions, who have been riddled by injuries.

He was out for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. He pitched five effective innings in a no-decision against the Phillies, and then went back on the disabled list the next day with the back injury.

The ace left-hander threw a three-inning simulated Monday at Wrigley Field in Chicago and said he felt really good. The next day, Roberts said Kershaw returning against the Mets this weekend was considered, but the team opted for a minor league start to give him ”the best chance for success and health.”

Kershaw, a seven-time All-Star, missed about five weeks last season with a similar back problem.

Roberts acknowledged that Kershaw lobbied to pitch at Citi Field this weekend, rather than in the minors.

”He did play a little weather man [url=http://www.officialducks.com/authentic-adidas-isac-lundestrom-jersey]Authentic Isac Lundestrom Jersey[/url] , so with weather.com and Clayton, we were pretty abreast with the weather in Omaha,” Roberts said with a chuckle.

”Just the way he’s responded to all the tests and to get him with us, the weather over there in Omaha, we feel comfortable and confident,” the manager added.

Rich Hill will start Sunday for the Dodgers, followed by Kenta Maeda at home Monday against the Cubs.

In other injury-related news, shortstop Chris Taylor was out of the lineup because of a tight left hamstring. Enrique Hernandez started in place of Taylor, who exited Wednesday’s game in Chicago against the Cubs. He was available off the bench – probably just to hit [url=http://www.cincinnatibengalsshop.com/cheap-sam-hubbard-jersey]Sam Hubbard Color Rush Jersey[/url] , Roberts said.

”We’ll give him today and we’ll see about tomorrow,” he added.

Backup infielder Chase Utley was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list after missing 19 games with a sprained left thumb. A longtime New York nemesis and villain to Mets fans, Utley was on the bench for the series opener. He was batting .216 with a home run and 14 RBIs this season.

Utley has excelled as a pinch hitter, going 7 for 17 (.412) with five RBIs and two extra-base hits.

Los Angeles opened a roster spot for him by optioning catcher-infielder Kyle Farmer to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Rookie right-hander Walker Buehler is scheduled to throw 20 to 30 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday, the next step in his comeback from a right rib microfracture. He could return to the rotation without a minor league rehab assignment, Roberts said.

Rated one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, Buehler is 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in nine big league starts.



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