The 2022 MLB Draft will begin on July 17, 2022. We take a look at Luke Gold, an infielder who spent his collegiate days at Boston College.
Make sure to check out all of our other MLB Draft Profiles.
Luke Gold, 2B, Boston College
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 220 lbs.
DOB: 10/10/2000
Bats: R
Throws: R
Stats: 53 G, .309/.401/.557, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 24 BB, 28 K, 3 SB, 1 CS, 11 HBP
Scouting Grades
Hit: 55
Power: 45
Run: 45
Field: 45
Arm: 50
Overall: 45
Strengths
Gold’s best tool is his hitting ability, which he uses to drive the ball to all parts of the field. He has an impressive, fluid approach and compact swing. His discipline is also evident considering he nearly drew as many walks as strikeouts during his final season at Boston College. Perhaps most importantly, Gold hit .267 with six homers in the Cape Cod League, showing that he can provide offensive production with a wood bat.
Defensively, the Florida native has a solid glove, meaning he could survive at either second base or third base. These are his two likely positions in the pros, so his flexibility will help his draft stock. Once Gold has the ball in his possession, he throws to first with arm strength, providing further evidence that he could live at the hot corner for a while.
Weaknesses
Although Gold is a solid player, there are some holes in his game. From a physicality perspective, Gold has likely maxed out his frame. He can add strength in the weight room, but he won’t be growing any bigger. This correlates to his underwhelming power production, which will likely have him hitting around the league average number of homers (or fewer) each season.
Defensively, while Gold has a strong arm, he can deliver erratic, inaccurate throws. This is unfortunate, because while the strong arm translates nicely to the third base position, inaccuracy could force him to play second. (Gold’s below-average speed is another factor that limits his positional flexibility.) He has also shown occasional difficulty with mechanics when he goes from fielding to throwing; this process can get sloppy and certainly isn’t as fast and smooth as one would hope.
Pro Comparison: Wilmer Flores
It was tricky to find a comparison that fit like a glove, but we’ll settle for Wilmer Flores here. The 30-year-old infielder is just two inches taller than Gold and, just like the Boston College product, hits and throws right-handed. He has been consistently mediocre at the plate throughout his career, posting a batting average between .243 and .271 in eight of the last nine seasons. Power-wise, he’ll hit around a dozen homers each season, give or take a few. Meanwhile, looking at discipline, he’s drawing a decent amount of walks (10.2 percent walk rate this season) while not striking out too much (15.6 percent). Defensively, Flores is quite literally below average, posting negative dWAR in all but one season since 2015. He primarily plays third base but has also spent more than a dozen games at second and nearly two dozen at first. This feels like a good time to mention that Gold, while likely a second or third baseman to open his career, could shift to first base long-term if his glovework doesn’t improve.
Draft Projection: Third Round
Scouts surely feel relatively comfortable about the projectability of Gold’s hit tool, which is important. His value definitely drops when you factor in the defensive concerns, though. It’s no secret that being able to move around the field and play positions like shortstop or center field gives a prospect far more value than being relegated to the right side of the infield. Simply for that reason, Gold won’t hear his name called on Day 1. However, Gold has done enough at Boston College (and projects as someone whose power can be developed a bit more) to justify a team pulling the trigger in the late second or early third round.
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Main Image Credit: New England Baseball Journal
