STS Selects: Matt Adams, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals

The July 4th holiday weekend signals the start of a summer dynasty league draft in a league I participate in. Having taken over the franchise about this time last year, we find ourselves in the midst of a rebuild and working to add talent.

In this particular format, college players are eligible to be drafted so just about all of the major college talents are already taken. This leaves a draft pool full of high school talents and mid-level minor league prospects who are unowned.

Round 8, Pick 5: Matt Adams, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals

With the 89th pick in a draft where over 400 prospects are already rostered, we just could not overlook the impressive double-A numbers Cardinals prospect Matt Adams was posting any longer. With a .342/.393/.636 line, he was simply the best National League first base prospect left when we had none – Even if we’ve never seen him play.

Of course my comfort zone is picking and acquiring prospects I’ve seen in person, but I really have no opportunity to ever see Cardinals prospects unless it’s a guy like Maikel Cleto who was dealt into the organization. For me, the big selling point for Adams is the fact he is age appropriate for the level and is playing like a prospect who will be ready by the age of 24. Going by the general 22/24/26 rule for position prospects, this leaves Adams with a projection of at least an average regular.

Yes, there are certainly red flags in Adams’ game including his weight and the fact Springfield is a notorious hitters park. However, when Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt demands a king’s ransom in the format at 23 with a 1.058 OPS in double-A, a 22-year old Adams with a 1.029 OPS at the same level looks pretty damn good.

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