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I think figuring out how an 18 year old will fill out and develop power with a wood bat in his hands is tricky business.
At least with the college guys they've already hit 21-23 years of age and you can guess better.
It's even harder with the 16 year old crops of international FAs, which is one reason why the bonus babies flop all over the place.
It's also not good to draft a prep SS and hope to keep him there - not if you plan for him to be an All-Star.
From http://www.camdenchat.com/2010/5/12/1457553/and-with-the-third-pick-part...
Obviously, the sample size of shortstops selected in the first round in recent years is small, and few of these players are really similar to Machado or Colon.  But while the sample size of recent history is small, some trends are clear.  College shortstops are a lot more likely to contribute in the majors then high school shortstops are.  The majority of high school shortstops change positions, and a large number of them fail to capitalize on their tools.  Meanwhile, not only do the college shortstops taken in the first round have several who have shown impact talent at the major league level, but most have enjoyed elevated prospect status.  As trading assets, they are probably the equal even from the low minors of the rawer, more toolsy prospects who will pay off bigger if they turn out.
Most alarming is not merely the bust rate of prep shortstops, but how rarely they manage to reach the fullness of their potential.  The last prep shortstop selected in the first round who went on to make an All-Star game appearance at short was Alex Rodriguez, part of the draft of 1993.  Before A-Rod came Jeter in the class of 92.  Before Jeter was Royce Clayton, a prep shortstop taken 15th overall in 1988, and while Clayton made an All-Star team, he is no one's idea of an impact player.
This is related to my drafting rule of "Don't take Non-Mauer catchers in the first round" mantra.  Just because SS is the premier athletic position, don't draft a first-round HS shortstop and expect him to stay at SS and be awesome for you - he very likely won't be.
If your scouts can make a call on high-school Tulowitzki and talk the brass into signing him as a teen, they're doing very well indeed.  Did we do that with Franklin?  Were we that lucky/good? We get several more years to debate it and find out.
His power right now is LH power.  He's crushed RH pitching, and is improving against LHPs from the right side.  He talks in that article about how he's taking a look at what he does from the left side and is working on mirroring it from the right side, and that it's leading to improving RH hitting numbers.
He's taking plays at 2B as well, because we want him to be flexible.  He calls it way easier.  *laughs*  He's a SS at heart through and through, and should be on the field as well.
I want him to see more breakers, to face better pitching.  He should face it soon as the college draftees flood the MWL even if he doesn't get that promotion to High-A. 
But there's no need to rush him.  I think he'll force his way up if he's ready.  This is about the most auspicious entry into the pros we could have hoped for, though.  Whoever the scout is who told Jack to bet on Franklin looks like he could use a raise.
Now just keep it up, kid...
~G

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