Welcome to my scouting reports for the Top 90 draft prospects for this year with scouting reports.
1. Hunter Greene RHP/SS/3B
Greene's a tremendous athlete and it shows on both sides of his game. He's a first round prospect as a hitter with plus raw power and a decent feel to hit, good hands and tremendous arm strength to play on the left side of the infield.
On the mound however, he's on a different level. He's already hitting 102 MPH on his fastball and when he focuses on pitching full-time, he might be sitting at high-90s as he matures in his frame and with the ability to spot it thanks to his fairly easy mechanics and athleticism. I don't really dig his breaking ball ever since the PG All-American Classic due to its slurvy nature and I project his changeup better than his breaking ball due to his arm action and some late sink. At full maturity, both secondary offerings will be average to solid for him.
Greene is first overall pick worthy with his potential to have an 80 fastball with above average command of it in the starting rotation but there are some concerns with his offspeed pitches that needs attention and the obvious risk of taking a HS pitcher in the early going.
Grades (Hitter): Hit 50 | Power 60 | Speed 50 | Arm 65 | Glove 50
Grades (Pitcher): FB 75 | SL 50+ | CH 50+ | CMD 55
2. Kyle Wright RHP
Wright's season has been up and down on the get go but he really picked it up lately and has cemented his place as the top college pitching prospect.
Tall and athletic, Wright has all the pieces to be a frontline starting pitcher. The fastball has been consistently plus in terms of velocity, sitting at low to mid-90s with good running movement in it. His breaking balls has showed flashes of being plus offerings, with his power curveball being the more consistent than his slider with the latter morphing towards a late-breaking cutter at times. His changeup lags behind but I project it to be an average pitch. He has battled his fastball command for the first half of this season and that hurt his breaking ball projections but has picked it up back. He doesn't have the prettiest arm swing and I'm slightly concerned by it but with his athleticism and nice tempo on the mound, I project a solid command projection of his repertoire.
Wright had the same issues as former Commodore Tyler Beede during their junior seasons but masterful outings late has helped both of their draft stocks and Wright should be selected in the first 5 picks.
Grades: FB 60 | CB 55+ | SL 55 | CH 50 | CMD 50
3. Brendan McKay LHP/1B
Greene's counterpart in college, McKay is one of the most decorated college players and has been dominant on both sides of the ball. He might not be the most athletic guy you'll meet but he's a true baseball athlete.
As a hitter, he got tremendous feel for the barrel with a smooth swing and direct path to the ball that allows him to barrel balls consistently even though his bat speed is solid at best. His approach already looks like Major League-quality there and he can translate his above average raw power well. His strong arm is only a luxury to have at first base and even though he's a below average runner, his agility and body control translates well defensively.
As a pitcher, he can be just as well. If he focuses on pitching full-time, his velocity could hold up towards the later innings. He got a fastball is straight that sits in the high-80s to low-90s but plays up because he hides the ball in his body with his mechanics and with a short arm action, it jumps on hitters. His power curveball is his best pitch where it consistently has plus sharp, late break that will draw swings and misses. He repeats his easy mechanics very well and he can spot both his fastball and curveball wherever he wants when he's on. His change lags behind but given his pitchability and arm action, it projects as solid if not better.
McKay might not have the highest ceiling in the draft but there's a feel that what you see is what you will get from him if you draft him, a potential impact player on both sides of the ball. Choosing to give up one might be a difficult decision so the team that will draft him will need to choose wisely.
Grades (Hitter): Hit 60+ | Power 50+ | Speed 30 | Arm 60 | Glove 55
Grades (Pitcher): FB 55 | CB 60 | CH 55 | CMD 55+
4. MacKenzie Gore LHP
What I love about Gore the most is that he has the athleticism and the flexibility of a ballerina that every pitcher dream of. That gives him tremendous projection for his stuff and command.
Gore blasted off towards the top 5 due to the revelation of his curveball that's formerly a solid average pitch to a now plus pitch with shades of plus-plus. The fastball has some cutting and sinking action that sits in the low-90s that he has excellent feel. His slider has vastly improved and has showed flashes of an above-average pitch with tilt and a changeup that has been above-average all the way since last year. His mechanics needs TLC and some compared his situation to Tim Lincecum that his body might break down as he ages even with plus athleticism so Gore must be wary of that. Even though with a wacky mechanics, his feel for his craft is advanced for a HS pitcher and projects as above-average at maturity.
At the end of the day, teams that will take a look at Gore will see a potential frontline starter with above-average to plus tools across the board and will be a lock at the top 7 picks.
Grades: FB 55 | CB 60 | SL 55 | CH 55+ | CMD 55
5. Royce Lewis SS/OF
One of the most athletic guys that you'll see in the draft this year, Lewis can stick it in the dirt or fly in the outfield.
His plus-plus raw speed is his best asset as he can wreak havoc on the bases with the right coaching and that gives him a lot of range at short or in center. His arm strength isn't quite fit for the premium position in the diamond so a move towards center is a better opportunity to showcase his tools. His tremendous projection screams above average to plus raw power but the approach will limit on how much he can tap on. He's a contact hitter with a big leg kick that can be toned down to barrel balls better. His plus bat speed and loose swing are nice assets to have and look for him to hit for a good average with at least 10 homers a season and a lot of XBHs.
Lewis is a premium athlete playing two premium positions in the field with tremendous projection and hitting potential and should be taken within the top 5.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 45 | Speed 70 | Arm 50 | Glove 55
6. Austin Beck OF
Beck's meteoric rise from a torn ACL injury to a top 10 lock is due to his impressive set of tools.
Beck has top notch athleticism that reflects on both sides of the ball. His speed has lost a step after the ACL injury but he still looks plenty fast and plays with a lot of hustle. The arm is plenty strong and is a great fit at center but some are questioning his defensive instincts there and projecting him to move to right. I think he'll develop the instincts needed to become above average at center field. At the box, he kind of reminds me of Javier Baez. Beck got tremendous power potential in the right side with very strong wrists and 75 grade bat speed but there's still unnecessary motions that throws him off balance at times. There's also questions on his ability to hit against quality pitching with wooden bats.
If Beck reaches his ceiling, there's almost a sure bet he'll be a perennial 20-20 threat with good defense but there's still questions needed to be answered with his bat.
Grades: Hit 45 | Power 60 | Speed 65 | Arm 60 | Glove 55
7. J.B. Bukauskas RHP
Even though he's undersized and his mechanics scares off some, Bukauskas is downright nasty.
He got the best 1-2 punch in the draft class with a mid to high-90s fastball with good running action and a high-80s slider with very late and sharp two-plane break that some called his slide piece an 80 grade pitch. I don't really give 80s unless it's very loud but it's the best breaking ball in this draft class. The change is not too shabby and is a good enough third pitch for him. His mechanics scares some because he loads on his elbow and shoulders a lot but his low 3/4 release point reminds me of Max Scherzer and as long as he finishes his mechanics and doesn't get stiff on his latter half of his delivery, he's going to be fine. He has good feel for his mechanics to project an average command in his repertoire but he gets stiff sometimes and throws with more effort than usual.
Bukauskas lack of height and mechanics to pair with his fastball-slider may write him as a future elite closer in the sport but a team that's willing to take a shot at him as a starter will receive a potential frontline starting option.
Grades: FB 70 | SL 65 | CH 45 | CMD 50
8. Jordon Adell OF
The raw tools of Adell can be compared to a former five-tool prospect 6 years ago, Bubba Starling. Possibly the best athlete of this draft class, Adell brings athleticism and promise on all fronts.
There's plus raw power in his still projectable frame and he has the potential of being a quality defender at center field with an arm that pumps has hard as 97 MPH on the mound. His speed grades as plus-plus but there's still rawness in his baserunning that limits his potential on that side a little bit. The big question for Adell like Starling is whether he can hit for average. Adell looks like a special hitter with plus bat speed with natural loft in his swing with a chance for double digit homers in his pull side but sometimes, he looks lost and misses easy fastballs and chases bad balls.
Adell has plus tools across the board but his future impact will still rest in his questionable ability to hit. If he hits well enough, he's a special player but if he doesn't, he might not be heard again or at best, he'll be a defensive CF prospect.
Grades: Hit 45 | Power 55 | Speed 65 | Arm 65 | Glove 60
9. Adam Haseley OF
Nobody has risen this season in the college ranks than what Haseley has enjoyed with massive improvements statistically on all fronts.
His homers this season is almost twice the amount he hit in his first two seasons. He loads well in his swing from a crouched set-up. The bat speed's above average and the swing's more of an inside-out one with a big leg kick that doesn't make him out of balance. I'm pretty skeptical if he'll ever tap on more power in pro ball but he's a sure bet on hitting double digit homers. His eye at the plate has improved dramatically and has the potential to be solid or better hitter. He has above average raw speed but he is just starting to refine it after splitting his time between pitching and hitting and I expect him to steal at least 15 bases every season. His speed also allows him to tackle all three outfield spots and his capable of throwing high-80s to low-90s on the mound is suited more at center and left.
Haseley has all the ingredients to be an impact leadoff hitter with plenty of walks and double-double homer and steals with good average and solid defense at the outfield and he's just scratching the surface as he focuses on being a full-time hitter.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 45 | Speed 55 | Arm 50 | Glove 55
9. Adam Haseley OF
Nobody has risen this season in the college ranks than what Haseley has enjoyed with massive improvements statistically on all fronts.
His homers this season is almost twice the amount he hit in his first two seasons. He loads well in his swing from a crouched set-up. The bat speed's above average and the swing's more of an inside-out one with a big leg kick that doesn't make him out of balance. I'm pretty skeptical if he'll ever tap on more power in pro ball but he's a sure bet on hitting double digit homers. His eye at the plate has improved dramatically and has the potential to be solid or better hitter. He has above average raw speed but he is just starting to refine it after splitting his time between pitching and hitting and I expect him to steal at least 15 bases every season. His speed also allows him to tackle all three outfield spots and his capable of throwing high-80s to low-90s on the mound is suited more at center and left.
Haseley has all the ingredients to be an impact leadoff hitter with plenty of walks and double-double homer and steals with good average and solid defense at the outfield and he's just scratching the surface as he focuses on being a full-time hitter.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 45 | Speed 55 | Arm 50 | Glove 55
10. Alex Faedo RHP
There's some comparison between Bukauskas and Faedo in terms of stuff but the latter's stuff is underwhelming at the start of the season due to a minor knee procedure but has picked it up lately.
Faedo has the ideal size for a pitcher with a fastball that is now sitting at around 93 MPH with some sink and run thanks to his true 3/4 slot that dips down at times. His slider is another plus offering where he plays with it a bit, throwing a harder one in the low-80s with late horizontal break and a slightly softer one in the high-70s with more vertical break. He threw his slider more than he wants, reducing its effectiveness because of his diminished fastball velocity early. He throws a changeup with nice sink and projects as an average pitch. He fills the zone well but I only project him to have average command due to his athleticism and average arm speed generated by his slightly deceptive mechanics.
Faedo's strong second half of the season will launch him back towards the top 10 but there's doubts on whether he can command his pitches enough and is his fastball velocity for real right now to dream of a #2-3 starting option.
Grades: FB 60 | SL 60 | CH 50 | CMD 50
13. Pavin Smith 1B
11. Shane Baz RHP
Baz has undeniably the deepest repertoire from a HS pitcher this year and has risen thanks to an uptick in velocity and better curveball.
Athletic and very projectable, Baz has added a couple of ticks in his fastball and he's now touching 98 MPH. The fastball can run and sink at times but the hardball is fairly straight. The drop and drive in his delivery makes his fastball lose some life when up the zone and can get easy to be hit. His cutter is a legit plus pitch with late break in the high-80s to low-90s and morphs it to a slider that's a shade below in effectiveness. His curveball has been sharper this season, flashing plus. His changeup is behind but I project it to be solid due to his quick arm speed. He got good feel on all of pitches and the mechanics needs some polishing but has tremendous athleticism to repeat it easily.
Baz has the kind of ingredients that you look for a potential frontline starter with athleticism, stuff and feel for pitching.
Grades: FB 65 | CUT 65 | CB 60 | SL 55 | CH 45 | CMD 50
12. Evan White 1B/OF
It's rare to see a reverse first baseman, a defensive first baseman with plus run times, a good ability to swing the bat and just average power. It's even rare to see it in the college ranks but there's one right now in White.
White is wiry but has good raw strength and is a plus athlete. His swing right now is relatively flat is more geared towards making contact and hitting towards the gaps but there's some projection in his frame to think that he will produce more power. He has improved his ability to draw more walks and has good approach. He runs fast for a first baseman and looks like he can steal 20 bases once he has refined his base stealing and overall base running. He has the defense that will win him plenty of Gold Gloves at first with excellent range, first step, soft hands, and a luxury of a strong arm.
If White stays at first base, he will be a Gold Glover there defensively with a hit-first bat and solid all around tools but his skillset if a better fit in the outfield, specifically at center, and should be given plenty of consideration to play there in pro ball.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 50 | Speed 60 | Arm 55 | Glove 70
12. Evan White 1B/OF
It's rare to see a reverse first baseman, a defensive first baseman with plus run times, a good ability to swing the bat and just average power. It's even rare to see it in the college ranks but there's one right now in White.
White is wiry but has good raw strength and is a plus athlete. His swing right now is relatively flat is more geared towards making contact and hitting towards the gaps but there's some projection in his frame to think that he will produce more power. He has improved his ability to draw more walks and has good approach. He runs fast for a first baseman and looks like he can steal 20 bases once he has refined his base stealing and overall base running. He has the defense that will win him plenty of Gold Gloves at first with excellent range, first step, soft hands, and a luxury of a strong arm.
If White stays at first base, he will be a Gold Glover there defensively with a hit-first bat and solid all around tools but his skillset if a better fit in the outfield, specifically at center, and should be given plenty of consideration to play there in pro ball.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 50 | Speed 60 | Arm 55 | Glove 70
13. Pavin Smith 1B
One of the purest college hitters in the country and possibly the toughest out in the country, Smith enters top 10 consideration even though his profile is only limited at first base.
At the box, he already has the presence of a Major League hitter: his stance is balanced, the load is excellent, the swing path isn't short but isn't long, there's natural loft in the swing to dream for at least 15 homers a season, his eye is very good and the all fields approach is a positive even though there's some bad rep for being a Virginia hitter. He has tried left field before but doesn't have the raw speed to compete there but his skillset defensively at first base is good enough to dream of a potential solid defender with quick feet, soft hands, and good flexibility.
Smith kind of reminds me of Brandon Belt in a way that he's making an impact on both offense and defense at first base. Smith projects as a potential first baseman for a Major League team that can bat in the top or middle of the order and should be a fast riser.
Grades: Hit 60 | Power 50+ | Speed 35 | Arm 50 | Glove 50+
14. Jeren Kendall OF
The best tools from a college player this season, Kendall has showed his athleticism and looseness in his college career.
His plus-plus speed will make him an impressive defender at center field with great instincts and reads with a strong arm that fits well there. His speed will also allow him to steal 30 or more bases a year as long as he reaches first base. The problem with him is that his excessive swing and miss this season is a bad sign when he comes to pro ball. The swing is quick and he has showed more power this season but he swings and misses at too many pitches season raising my doubts with his eye and plate discipline at the plate.
Kendall has legitimate 1-1 potential if he's just not striking out a lot but I think he'll find a way to be a fringe average hitter with double digit homer ceiling and 30 steals every year.
Grades: Hit 45 | Power 55 | Speed 70 | Arm 55 | Glove 60
15. David Peterson LHP
When you have a massive frame, strong repertoire and showed massive improvements in his command during your draft-eligible season, teams will covet you and Peterson has done that.
With his size and frame, Peterson already has the feel of a future workhorse. His fastball sits low-90s and can reach 94 to 95 with tons of running movement, making it hard for hitters to square it up well. There might be more velocity in the tank because he doesn't load up in his legs a lot. His slider is solid to above-average and tends to back foot it on righties. His curveball is fringy to average and his changeup has improved greatly from below average to above average with very good fade. He fills the strike zone with his fastball but there's still some issues in terms of spotting his pitches but I can project him having an above average command at maturity.
Peterson has everything you need for a mid-rotation starting option with good stuff, workhorse frame and promising command and has the good chance to stay at the rotation for a long time.
Grades: FB 55+ | SL 55 | CB 50 | CH 55 | CMD 55
16. Sam Carlson RHP
Carlson is another pitcher that rose as he began pitching with an uptick in velocity as well as improvement on his secondaries.
His fastball now reaches 96 MPH and was often in the 94 MPH range while having the same nasty sink as he had last year. His slider showed sharper bite this season with more two-plane break with swing and miss ability. His changeup is still above-average with same sink and arm speed as his fastball. His easy mechanics with straightforward arm action, true 3/4 release slot and good athleticism warrants an above average command projection though there's some stiffness in his mechanics at times.
Carlson has above average stuff and command across the board and has higher floor than plenty of HS pitchers in this draft as well as having a higher ceiling.
Grades: FB 60 | SL 55 | CH 55 | CMD 55
15. David Peterson LHP
When you have a massive frame, strong repertoire and showed massive improvements in his command during your draft-eligible season, teams will covet you and Peterson has done that.
With his size and frame, Peterson already has the feel of a future workhorse. His fastball sits low-90s and can reach 94 to 95 with tons of running movement, making it hard for hitters to square it up well. There might be more velocity in the tank because he doesn't load up in his legs a lot. His slider is solid to above-average and tends to back foot it on righties. His curveball is fringy to average and his changeup has improved greatly from below average to above average with very good fade. He fills the strike zone with his fastball but there's still some issues in terms of spotting his pitches but I can project him having an above average command at maturity.
Peterson has everything you need for a mid-rotation starting option with good stuff, workhorse frame and promising command and has the good chance to stay at the rotation for a long time.
Grades: FB 55+ | SL 55 | CB 50 | CH 55 | CMD 55
16. Sam Carlson RHP
Carlson is another pitcher that rose as he began pitching with an uptick in velocity as well as improvement on his secondaries.
His fastball now reaches 96 MPH and was often in the 94 MPH range while having the same nasty sink as he had last year. His slider showed sharper bite this season with more two-plane break with swing and miss ability. His changeup is still above-average with same sink and arm speed as his fastball. His easy mechanics with straightforward arm action, true 3/4 release slot and good athleticism warrants an above average command projection though there's some stiffness in his mechanics at times.
Carlson has above average stuff and command across the board and has higher floor than plenty of HS pitchers in this draft as well as having a higher ceiling.
Grades: FB 60 | SL 55 | CH 55 | CMD 55
17. D.L. Hall LHP
One of the top lefty prep pitchers in this class, I am a little skeptical of Hall than the others.
Hall is undersized even for a lefty with some projection remaining in his frame but he it can mature. His fastball sits in the low-90s but has reached 96 MPH last season with some running movement and some sink. His curveball is his best pitch overall with sharp, sweeping break but he can roll it at times. His changeup is still improving but looks like an average pitch. What I am skeptical against him is that his mechanics needs cleanup especially with his arm action that can get long resulting to variation of release points and he throws often throws his curveball with more crossfire, giving some edge to hitters and should be cleaned up. He's not the loosest athlete in the world so the command will be limited to average.
Hall has been compared to Scott Kazmir and for good reason with his fastball-curveball combination but his mechanics needs work and he's not the tallest pitcher in the world so there's a lot of risk involved in him.
Grades: FB 55 | CB 65 | CH 50 | CMD 50
18. Nick Pratto 1B
While Pratto has the ability to pitch and pitch well as a HS lefty, his future and his destiny is to be a hitter as he's the best pure hitter from the prep ranks this season.
Pratto has the swing and approach of a season college hitter, with a textbook swing path and above average bat speed. While he's not big like a prototypical first baseman, his swing allows him to extract every power that he has in his still maturing frame with slight projection remaining. He has plus range, quick feet, soft hands and flexibility to be a potential plus defender at first base if he focuses on being a position player and his arm there is a luxury as he can throw high-80s from the left side. He's not a bad baserunner too as he can hustle out some infield hits.
Even though he's going to be a first baseman long-term, Pratto has the upside of a potential cornerstone player at the position with plus hit and defense and he got phenomenal makeup and competitiveness that a lot of teams dream.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 50 | Speed 45 | Arm 55 | Glove 60
19. Keston Hiura 2B/OF
Nobody has a better hit tool in this draft than Hiura. The lingering question is where he will play on the diamond in pro ball with his UCL injury.
Hiura has been praised by a lot by his ability to hit. His ability to make consistent hard contact due to his superb eye-hand coordination has been very pronounced this season. The swing may be sweepy at times but it isn't a concern because his bat speed is a tick below plus and his timing is excellent. He squeezes every bit of power in his frame and he projects to have at least average game power. His speed is fringy but he hustles well and gives him adqueate range at second base where his hands and athleticism plays well but his arm is still the biggest question whether he'll have good arm strength to fit at second or he'll go to the knife and possibly play in LF.
Hiura's stock will be fluctuating and teams that are wary of him will shy away while the teams that are optimistic will give him every chance to play at the dirt but one thing's for sure, he can hit.
Grades: Hit 65 | Power 50+ | Speed 45 | Arm 45 | Glove 50
20. Seth Romero LHP
One of the most enigmatic draft prospects this season, Romero's stuff has improved this season but off the field stuff has been his biggest deterrent this season.
In terms of stuff, Romero has some of the nastiest from the college ranks. Coming from the left side, his elite fastball and slider combination shows shades of Carlos Rodon as his fastball has plenty of movement and sits mid-90s and his slider has been as wipeout of a pitch as any this season with massive two-plane break. His changeup has improved with consistent sink and velocity separation. His command has been good until all of the off the field issues took control. The mechanics is a sight for sore eyes for me as he has high elbow and dangerous arm action but releases it in a low 3/4 slot that eases the pain to his elbow a bit.
Romero has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter or better with three above-average pitches with good feel and solid command projection but the off the field especially with his conditioning has him off the boards on plenty of teams.
Grades: FB 60 | SL 65 | CH 55 | CMD 50
21. Matt Sauer RHP
Reminiscent of Michael Kopech, Sauer's strong spring has helped him boost his stock with the draft fast approaching.
Tall and very projectable, Sauer has the ideal frame as a starting pitcher and he could add more velocity in his already very good stuff as he matures and fills his frame. Sauer's fastball has been more in the 93-96 MPH that can touch 98. His mechanics allows his fastball to have a consistent downhill plane but lacks very good movement. His best secondary pitch is his hard, mid to high-80s slider, with two-plane tilt and sharp break. He also got a curveball which has sharp vertical break as well. He doesn't have a very good changeup right now but projects as an average pitch at best. His mechanics needs plenty of cleaning especially with his leg kick and his drive that has some crossfire. Because of his present unclean mechanics and crossfire arm action, I only project him to have average command at best.
Sauer has the potential to have two plus or better pitches with his fastball and slider but his changeup and command are worrysome to project him as a future reliever in the Majors but when fully polished, his ceiling is as high as anyone's.
Grades: FB 65 | SL 60 | CB 55 | CH 40+ | CMD 45
22. Heliot Ramos OF
Expected to be the first Puerto Rican to hear his name in this year's draft, Ramos brings some solid tools to the table.
Big and strong, Ramos has plus raw power on his belt to go along with his solid athleticism. His swing has some questions to be answered. I see him as a guy with a potential average hitting tool with a plus bat speed and allows the barrel to travel in the zone for a long time. His wrists are also strong to put his raw power to good use. The issue I see for him is his raw approach at the plate which is unusual and his swing can get long at times. He got the tremendous speed to cover center field but I am not entirely sold with his defense in center but he got plenty of time to clean out his routes to pair with his plus arm.
Ramos is a bit polarizing offensively as he can show you his good side and bad side but he's athletic and strong and should be in the conversation at the end of the first round.
Grades: Hit 45 | Power 55 | Speed 65 | Arm 60 | Glove 55
23. Jake Burger 3B/1B
Burger has some of the best raw power in the draft class with some solid tools as well even though his frame is more on the stocky side.
Burger's body is pretty rounded with plenty of raw strength although his projection as he ages goes south so he need to maintain it. His swing isn't pretty but he has plenty of feel to hit for contact as well as having a natural loft in his swing to dream for north of 20 homers a year. His power comes from raw strength than his bat speed but could pull more often in pro ball. His eye at the plate also improved. His raw speed will diminish as he ages and projects more of a below average runner. His range and agility at third was questionable this season and he might transfer to first base where his soft hands fit well.
Burger is being compared to Hunter Pence because of his unorthodox play in the field but with his frame and potential plus power and above average ability to hit, he's more closer to Billy Butler more often than not.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 55 | Speed 35 | Arm 55 | Glove 45
25. Bubba Thompson OF
A dual-sport superstar in HS, Thompson focused on being a full-time baseball player and catapulted himself to the first-round conversations.
Thompson has oozing athleticism and projection that he can bring on all fronts. His best tool is his speed which is better than plus that allows him to have outstanding coverage in the outfield and be a potential 30 steal threat. He's not that raw as a hitter where his athleticism shows, with strong wrists that generate plus bat speed. I do have some pause on how he hits because he stops after leg kick and trusts his eye-hand coordination and wrists to generate hard contact. It is fine but it doesn't allow him to maximize his above average raw power. His arm is plenty strong and his defensive instincts will improve as he moves away from football, projecting him to be at least above average in center field.
Thompson has everything to dream on as an athlete but his baseball skills needs to improve to reach his ceiling as a potential All-Star.
Grades: Hit 50 | Power 45 | Speed 65 | Arm 60 | Glove 55
26. Logan Warmoth SS/2B
While Warmoth doesn't any tool that will jump on you when you see him, he does show an all-around skillset consistently in the field.
Warmoth got a good hitting ability at the plate, mixing his good athleticism with an ability to hit baseballs consistently in all parts of the field and a sound approach at the plate. He doesn't have a lot of load in his swing but his strong wrists and solid bat speed makes for double digit homer potential. He has solid speed but clearly knows how to use it in the field as a basestealer and as a defender at short where he improved as he got older. He can be above average at short with the glove but his arm strength might not be enough if he gets pushed by a better defender there and possibly move him to second base long-term.
Warmoth brings a good and mature ability to hit, steal and defend at the pro level and should move quickly in any farm system with a good chance to have an impactful Majors career.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 45 | Speed 55 | Arm 50 | Glove 55
29. Nick Allen SS
He's pint sized but Allen is a superb athlete and one that plays with a chip on his shoulder on the field and on the batter's box.
He may be 5'8" but he'll stay there at short long-term where he got the chance to be a Gold Glove-caliber player there where he has outstanding range, instincts and above average arm strength to do spectacular defensive plays. He's also a plus runner that allows him to be great in shortstop as well as a base stealing threat and will stretch singles to doubles. While he will never hit for more than a handful of homers per season, Allen got a line-drive swing, solid bat speed and improving approach to be solid offensively.
Allen reminds me a little bit of Ozzie Smith with the flair for the grand defensive play at the hole and be a solid or better table-setter at the top of any lineup.
Grades: Hit 50+ | Power 30 | Speed 65 | Arm 55 | Glove 70
30. Griffin Canning RHP
Canning is one of the safest bet in this draft class as he got the ability to pitch with four-pitches. Even though he's a little undersized as a pitcher, Canning has above average athleticism to bring on the mound.
Canning has all four pitches that you want from a starting pitcher headlined by his low-90s fastball that can reach 95 MPH with good sink and some cut. He command his fastball well from start to start and his mechanics that has unorthodox arm action but allows his fastball to jump a bit and has downhill plane. He loves his curveball as his best secondary pitch that flashes a tick below plus but is more solid as he loves to locate it in the upper half of the zone. His slider is more of a solid pitch for him as he uses it more as a chase pitch. His changeup is a promising pitch flashing plus but doesn't throw it that much. He's more control than command right now but his easy mechanics together with his athleticism screams above average to plus potential ceiling.
Even though he doesn't have the highest ceiling as a pitcher in this draft class, Canning is one of the safest bets around to move quickly and be a back-end pitcher with four potential above-average pitches in the future for strikes on a high level.
Grades: FB 55 | CB 55 | CH 50+ | SL 50+ | CMD 55
One of the top lefty prep pitchers in this class, I am a little skeptical of Hall than the others.
Hall is undersized even for a lefty with some projection remaining in his frame but he it can mature. His fastball sits in the low-90s but has reached 96 MPH last season with some running movement and some sink. His curveball is his best pitch overall with sharp, sweeping break but he can roll it at times. His changeup is still improving but looks like an average pitch. What I am skeptical against him is that his mechanics needs cleanup especially with his arm action that can get long resulting to variation of release points and he throws often throws his curveball with more crossfire, giving some edge to hitters and should be cleaned up. He's not the loosest athlete in the world so the command will be limited to average.
Hall has been compared to Scott Kazmir and for good reason with his fastball-curveball combination but his mechanics needs work and he's not the tallest pitcher in the world so there's a lot of risk involved in him.
Grades: FB 55 | CB 65 | CH 50 | CMD 50
18. Nick Pratto 1B
While Pratto has the ability to pitch and pitch well as a HS lefty, his future and his destiny is to be a hitter as he's the best pure hitter from the prep ranks this season.
Pratto has the swing and approach of a season college hitter, with a textbook swing path and above average bat speed. While he's not big like a prototypical first baseman, his swing allows him to extract every power that he has in his still maturing frame with slight projection remaining. He has plus range, quick feet, soft hands and flexibility to be a potential plus defender at first base if he focuses on being a position player and his arm there is a luxury as he can throw high-80s from the left side. He's not a bad baserunner too as he can hustle out some infield hits.
Even though he's going to be a first baseman long-term, Pratto has the upside of a potential cornerstone player at the position with plus hit and defense and he got phenomenal makeup and competitiveness that a lot of teams dream.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 50 | Speed 45 | Arm 55 | Glove 60
19. Keston Hiura 2B/OF
Nobody has a better hit tool in this draft than Hiura. The lingering question is where he will play on the diamond in pro ball with his UCL injury.
Hiura has been praised by a lot by his ability to hit. His ability to make consistent hard contact due to his superb eye-hand coordination has been very pronounced this season. The swing may be sweepy at times but it isn't a concern because his bat speed is a tick below plus and his timing is excellent. He squeezes every bit of power in his frame and he projects to have at least average game power. His speed is fringy but he hustles well and gives him adqueate range at second base where his hands and athleticism plays well but his arm is still the biggest question whether he'll have good arm strength to fit at second or he'll go to the knife and possibly play in LF.
Hiura's stock will be fluctuating and teams that are wary of him will shy away while the teams that are optimistic will give him every chance to play at the dirt but one thing's for sure, he can hit.
Grades: Hit 65 | Power 50+ | Speed 45 | Arm 45 | Glove 50
20. Seth Romero LHP
One of the most enigmatic draft prospects this season, Romero's stuff has improved this season but off the field stuff has been his biggest deterrent this season.
In terms of stuff, Romero has some of the nastiest from the college ranks. Coming from the left side, his elite fastball and slider combination shows shades of Carlos Rodon as his fastball has plenty of movement and sits mid-90s and his slider has been as wipeout of a pitch as any this season with massive two-plane break. His changeup has improved with consistent sink and velocity separation. His command has been good until all of the off the field issues took control. The mechanics is a sight for sore eyes for me as he has high elbow and dangerous arm action but releases it in a low 3/4 slot that eases the pain to his elbow a bit.
Romero has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter or better with three above-average pitches with good feel and solid command projection but the off the field especially with his conditioning has him off the boards on plenty of teams.
Grades: FB 60 | SL 65 | CH 55 | CMD 50
21. Matt Sauer RHP
Reminiscent of Michael Kopech, Sauer's strong spring has helped him boost his stock with the draft fast approaching.
Tall and very projectable, Sauer has the ideal frame as a starting pitcher and he could add more velocity in his already very good stuff as he matures and fills his frame. Sauer's fastball has been more in the 93-96 MPH that can touch 98. His mechanics allows his fastball to have a consistent downhill plane but lacks very good movement. His best secondary pitch is his hard, mid to high-80s slider, with two-plane tilt and sharp break. He also got a curveball which has sharp vertical break as well. He doesn't have a very good changeup right now but projects as an average pitch at best. His mechanics needs plenty of cleaning especially with his leg kick and his drive that has some crossfire. Because of his present unclean mechanics and crossfire arm action, I only project him to have average command at best.
Sauer has the potential to have two plus or better pitches with his fastball and slider but his changeup and command are worrysome to project him as a future reliever in the Majors but when fully polished, his ceiling is as high as anyone's.
Grades: FB 65 | SL 60 | CB 55 | CH 40+ | CMD 45
22. Heliot Ramos OF
Expected to be the first Puerto Rican to hear his name in this year's draft, Ramos brings some solid tools to the table.
Big and strong, Ramos has plus raw power on his belt to go along with his solid athleticism. His swing has some questions to be answered. I see him as a guy with a potential average hitting tool with a plus bat speed and allows the barrel to travel in the zone for a long time. His wrists are also strong to put his raw power to good use. The issue I see for him is his raw approach at the plate which is unusual and his swing can get long at times. He got the tremendous speed to cover center field but I am not entirely sold with his defense in center but he got plenty of time to clean out his routes to pair with his plus arm.
Ramos is a bit polarizing offensively as he can show you his good side and bad side but he's athletic and strong and should be in the conversation at the end of the first round.
Grades: Hit 45 | Power 55 | Speed 65 | Arm 60 | Glove 55
23. Jake Burger 3B/1B
Burger has some of the best raw power in the draft class with some solid tools as well even though his frame is more on the stocky side.
Burger's body is pretty rounded with plenty of raw strength although his projection as he ages goes south so he need to maintain it. His swing isn't pretty but he has plenty of feel to hit for contact as well as having a natural loft in his swing to dream for north of 20 homers a year. His power comes from raw strength than his bat speed but could pull more often in pro ball. His eye at the plate also improved. His raw speed will diminish as he ages and projects more of a below average runner. His range and agility at third was questionable this season and he might transfer to first base where his soft hands fit well.
Burger is being compared to Hunter Pence because of his unorthodox play in the field but with his frame and potential plus power and above average ability to hit, he's more closer to Billy Butler more often than not.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 55 | Speed 35 | Arm 55 | Glove 45
24. Nate Pearson RHP
Pearson is big. Pearson throws hard. Pearson throws strikes with it. Pearson is a pitcher that has plenty of ceiling coming from the junior college ranks.
Pearson can reach 100 MPH with his fastball and sits 93-97 MPH. The pitch plays better due to his 6'6" frame and downhill plane but the slight drop and drive in his mechanics kills some of the life when it was thrown up the zone. He got two breaking balls that are currently inconsistent. His slider is better than his curveball, with the latter flashing above average with late two-plane break while the latter is more of a get-me-over type of pitch. His changeup looks better as he got some feel and might be an average pitch for him. Pearson has showed very good feel for his fastball and knows how to command it on both sides of the plate. He also has good feel for his mechanics for his size though he tends to open up a bit and struggles to repeat his follow through at times.
Pearson's body and his fastball velocity and feel is a big positive for him but a lack of secondaries and the probability to only have one complementary pitch for his fastball suggest that he might be destined to be a reliever from a conservative point of view.
Grades: FB 70 | SL 50+ | CB 45 | CH 45 | CMD 50+
25. Bubba Thompson OF
A dual-sport superstar in HS, Thompson focused on being a full-time baseball player and catapulted himself to the first-round conversations.
Thompson has oozing athleticism and projection that he can bring on all fronts. His best tool is his speed which is better than plus that allows him to have outstanding coverage in the outfield and be a potential 30 steal threat. He's not that raw as a hitter where his athleticism shows, with strong wrists that generate plus bat speed. I do have some pause on how he hits because he stops after leg kick and trusts his eye-hand coordination and wrists to generate hard contact. It is fine but it doesn't allow him to maximize his above average raw power. His arm is plenty strong and his defensive instincts will improve as he moves away from football, projecting him to be at least above average in center field.
Thompson has everything to dream on as an athlete but his baseball skills needs to improve to reach his ceiling as a potential All-Star.
Grades: Hit 50 | Power 45 | Speed 65 | Arm 60 | Glove 55
26. Logan Warmoth SS/2B
While Warmoth doesn't any tool that will jump on you when you see him, he does show an all-around skillset consistently in the field.
Warmoth got a good hitting ability at the plate, mixing his good athleticism with an ability to hit baseballs consistently in all parts of the field and a sound approach at the plate. He doesn't have a lot of load in his swing but his strong wrists and solid bat speed makes for double digit homer potential. He has solid speed but clearly knows how to use it in the field as a basestealer and as a defender at short where he improved as he got older. He can be above average at short with the glove but his arm strength might not be enough if he gets pushed by a better defender there and possibly move him to second base long-term.
Warmoth brings a good and mature ability to hit, steal and defend at the pro level and should move quickly in any farm system with a good chance to have an impactful Majors career.
Grades: Hit 55 | Power 45 | Speed 55 | Arm 50 | Glove 55
27. Trevor Rogers LHP
Rogers has solidified himself as one of the best prep lefty prospects after posting a solid performance this year.
Still having one of the best frames that teams want, Rogers has tons of projection left in his frame that's suited for a rotation workhorse. His fastball fluctuates from 88-94 MPH but sits 88-92 MPH with good sinking action. Even though his mechanics has plenty of unnecessary moving parts right now, his very good command of his fastball together with all of the deception that he can bring allows his fastball to have plus or better projection. I have seen his curve and slider flash plus but both are inconsistent. While some the slider, I like hir curveball with plus sweeping break if he can get his mechanics together. His changeup lags behind but projects to be a fringy pitch. His mechanics needs plenty of polish to achieve an average command projection due to his relative lack of breaking ball feel.
Rogers has all of the projection and height that teams covet from a starter but his questionable secondaries to pair with his fastball and his old age for a HS pitcher allows him to have one of the most extreme ceiling-floor projection in the draft.
Grades: FB 60 | SL 50 | CB 50+ | CH 45 | CMD 50
28. Drew Waters OF
Smooth and athletic, Waters is a very projectable outfield prospect coming from the rich state of Georgia that produced plenty of superstars already.
More of a lean than buffed up, Waters has plenty of projection left in his frame. A switch hitter, Waters barrels up baseballs consistently on both sides where he shows more power in his left side. He maintains his balance and control for a guy having a big leg kick. His bat speed is above average and good eye hand coordination and strong wrists project for at least average Major League power. His speed is a plus tool that he uses very well in the base paths and in the outfield, where he plays center and will likely stay there where his strong arm is a good fit.
Waters brings an all-around skillset with five solid tools and looking like a future star defender at center which is kind of similar to Albert Almora.
Grades: Hit 50+ | Power 50+ | Speed 60 | Arm 60 | Glove 55
29. Nick Allen SS
He's pint sized but Allen is a superb athlete and one that plays with a chip on his shoulder on the field and on the batter's box.
He may be 5'8" but he'll stay there at short long-term where he got the chance to be a Gold Glove-caliber player there where he has outstanding range, instincts and above average arm strength to do spectacular defensive plays. He's also a plus runner that allows him to be great in shortstop as well as a base stealing threat and will stretch singles to doubles. While he will never hit for more than a handful of homers per season, Allen got a line-drive swing, solid bat speed and improving approach to be solid offensively.
Allen reminds me a little bit of Ozzie Smith with the flair for the grand defensive play at the hole and be a solid or better table-setter at the top of any lineup.
Grades: Hit 50+ | Power 30 | Speed 65 | Arm 55 | Glove 70
30. Griffin Canning RHP
Canning is one of the safest bet in this draft class as he got the ability to pitch with four-pitches. Even though he's a little undersized as a pitcher, Canning has above average athleticism to bring on the mound.
Canning has all four pitches that you want from a starting pitcher headlined by his low-90s fastball that can reach 95 MPH with good sink and some cut. He command his fastball well from start to start and his mechanics that has unorthodox arm action but allows his fastball to jump a bit and has downhill plane. He loves his curveball as his best secondary pitch that flashes a tick below plus but is more solid as he loves to locate it in the upper half of the zone. His slider is more of a solid pitch for him as he uses it more as a chase pitch. His changeup is a promising pitch flashing plus but doesn't throw it that much. He's more control than command right now but his easy mechanics together with his athleticism screams above average to plus potential ceiling.
Even though he doesn't have the highest ceiling as a pitcher in this draft class, Canning is one of the safest bets around to move quickly and be a back-end pitcher with four potential above-average pitches in the future for strikes on a high level.
Grades: FB 55 | CB 55 | CH 50+ | SL 50+ | CMD 55
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