2018 MLB Draft | Day 1 | June 4 - 6:00 PM ET

[TheHurl]

276

Adam Scott

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: Wofford

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Scott figures to be a solid top-10 round senior sign thanks to a very loud spring with Wofford during his fourth year in the Southern Conference. After striking out 108 batters in 2017 with a 10.4 K/9, Scott has gone to another level this spring with 137 strikeouts in 103 innings of work—good for an 11.9 K/9. A big, 6-foot-4, 220-pound lefthander, Scott throws a fastball that averages around 90 mph, in the 88-92 mph range. His secondaries are solid though none of the pitches project as above-average. His loudest game of the season came on April 27 vs. UNC-Greensboro when Scott went nine innings and struck out 17 batters on 124 pitches.

 

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Cesar Salazar

4YR C

Notes:

School: Arizona

Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 188 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Salazar first came to the United States from his home in Hermosillo, Mexico for high school alongside Javier Medina, who was the third-round pick of the Rockies in 2015. While eligibility issues limited playing time for both Salazar and Medina in high school, Salazar has spent most of the last three years serving as Arizona’s starting catcher. He has made big strides at the plate this year by adding strength, but he is still regarded as a defense-first catcher. He blocks and receives well and knows how to manage a pitching staff. His fringe-average arm plays up because his quick hands and feet allow him to get rid of the ball quickly. Salazar improved offensively in 2018 with solid bat-to-ball skills, but he is still more of a singles hitter who doesn’t impact the baseball consistently. He has a short, compact swing, however, and could grow into more power. Most importantly, Salazar’s intangibles allow all of his tools to play up. He’ll be drafted in the top 10 rounds, primarily because of his leadership and skills behind the plate.

 

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Daniel Bies

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Gonzaga

Ht: 6-8 | Wt: 245 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: One of the biggest pitchers in the 2018 draft class, Bies is a 6-foot-8, 245-pound righhander who has a fastball up to 94 mph and an above-average breaking ball. Bies had Tommy John surgery in high school and redshirted during his first year with Gonzaga, but he has improved each season since 2016. Bies has turned into an above-average strike thrower after walking more than one batter per inning in a short 2016 season and then over five batters per nine innings in 2017. This spring, Bies has gone right after hitters with a solid-average fastball that plays up thanks to his size and the plane he’s able to get on the ball. He has struck out 104 hitters and walked just 21 through his first 97 innings. Bies was on teams’ radars last season, and although he didn’t get drafted, he has done enough to become a potential top-10 round selection in June.

 

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C.J. Alexander

JC 3B

Notes:

School: State JC of Florida

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 215 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: The older brother of Blaze Alexander, C.J. is a solid prospect in his own right, although he’s an entirely different player than his defensive-oriented younger brother. Alexander transferred from Ball State after playing sparingly in two seasons, and he has improved his draft stock tremendously thanks to a strong spring with State JC of Florida as well as an impressive summer when he ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League. This spring, he hit .405/.488/.785, leading the Manatees in slugging percentage and home runs (15). Power is Alexander’s carrying tool and he has 70-grade raw power with a fluid lefthanded swing. The Central Florida commit did a nice job of cutting down his strikeouts this spring and has shown enough ability at third base to have a chance to stick at the hot corner in pro ball. His plus arm strength would easily play at the position, although some evaluators worry that his size—6-foot-5, 215 pounds—will push him to first base or a corner outfield spot. A fringe-average runner currently, his speed could continue to diminish in the future.

 

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Chance Huff

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Niceville (Fla.) Senior HS

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Vanderbilt

Scouting Report: A big, strong righthander out of Niceville (Fla.) Senior High—the same high school that produced Brewers righthander Jimmy Nelson—Huff has drawn comparisons to Phil Bickford thanks to his 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame. Huff’s stuff isn’t as loud as Bickford’s was out of high school, and he certainly won’t be a first round selection, but Huff has a fastball in the 88-93 mph range and an easy arm action. He’s athletic for his size and has life on his fastball, as well as an above-average breaking ball. A Vanderbilt commit, Huff could be a tough sign.

 

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Mitchell Parker

HS LHP

Notes:

School: Manzano HS, Albuquerque

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 195 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Tennessee

Scouting Report: Despite an inconsistent spring in 2018, scouts agree that Parker’s size and lefthandedness will have the New Mexico prep product going off the board somewhere in the top 10 rounds. Parker certainly intrigued scouts during last fall’s WWBA World Championships in Jupiter, Fla., when he struck out 15 batters in five innings. Parker gets swings and misses on an 86-92 mph fastball and he should be able to add velocity as he matures, although his command of the pitch has been inconsistent. His 12-to-6 curveball has good shape and spin to it, but the 73-74 mph pitch could be more effective at a higher velocity. Both his breaking ball and changeup were graded as below-average pitches this spring. Parker uses a rough but deceptive delivery with a stab in the back and an inconsistent release point. Parker will be a project for whichever team drafts him and won't be a fast mover. He is committed to Tennessee.

 

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Keegan McGovern

4YR OF/1B

Notes:

School: Georgia

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A four-year starter with Georgia, McGovern had a breakout season this spring and hit .324/.442/.627 with 14 home runs and 12 doubles. He was named a first-team all-SEC player for his performance. That effort comes on the heels of a solid, yet unspectacular junior campaign when McGovern had 14 multi-hit games but just a pair of home runs. With McGovern’s above-average raw power beginning to show in games, teams could think of him as a quality senior sign. He has little track record with a wood bat, however, and he will be limited to a corner outfield position in pro ball. During McGovern’s one summer in the Cape Cod League in 2016, he hit just .156/.301/.312, though he is a completely different hitter nearly two years later. McGovern has battled back injuries throughout his time with Georgia, including a brief spell this spring, but he’s played at least 48 games in each of his four seasons at Georgia.

 

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Mateo Gil

HS SS

Notes:

School: Timber Creek HS, Fort Worth

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Texas Christian

Scouting Report: Gil draws some comparisons to Luke Wakamatsu, a 20th-round pick of the Indians in 2015 who received a day two signing bonus. Like Wakamatsu, Gil has big league bloodlines—he’s the son of long-time big leaguer Benji Gil. And as the son of a big leaguer, Gil shows advanced feel and understanding of the game. He’s a smooth, polished defender at shortstop with an accurate, average arm and solid athleticism. Gil is a divisive prospect. A majority of teams do not see him as having enough tools to be worthy buying him out of his Texas Christian commitment. But there are a few teams who see Gil’s strong hands and wrists and see him developing more power as he matures to go with an advanced approach at the plate.

 

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Tyler O'Clair

HS RHP/1B

Notes:

School: Calera (Ala.) HS

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Alabama-Birmingham

Scouting Report: Something of a spring popup player, O’Clair didn’t attend many big summer showcase events last summer aside from the East Coast Pro showcase, but has impressed scouts this spring out of Calera (Ala.) High. Standing at 6-foot-5, 185-pounds, O’Clair is an athletic player with three potential plus offerings, including a fastball that’s presently 89-92 and touching 93, a curveball that shows above-average spin and a changeup that he flashes occasionally. O’Clair is an Alabama-Birmingham commit.

 

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Blair Henley

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Texas

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Yankees '16 (22)

Scouting Report: Henley was a 22nd-round pick of the Yankees out of Arlington Heights (Texas) HS, where he threw back-to-back-to-back no-hitters during his senior season. After serving as a mid-week starter/reliever as a freshman he’s developed into a reliable weekend starter for Texas as a draft-eligible sophomore. Henley’s 90-94 mph fastball plays a little better than the radar gun would indicate because of an excellent spin rate. His 81-83 mph slider also is a high RPM pitch, giving him a pair of potentially above-average offerings.

 

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Jake Bird

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: UCLA

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A shoulder injury sank Bird’s draft hopes last year, but he returned to UCLA as a senior and became the Bruins’ top starter. He went 7-4, 1.99 in a team-high 15 starts during the regular season, carrying the load as expected top starters Kyle Molnar, Justin Hooper and Jon Olsen all went down with elbow injuries. Bird is physically well put together at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, but he doesn’t have blow-away stuff. He pitches to contact with a sinking, 89-93 mph fastball and an above-average, mid-80s slider, inducing a lot of ground balls and letting his defense work. His max-effort, high three-quarters delivery creates some deception but also limits his command. Bird projects as a two-pitch reliever at the next level, with a groundball specialist becoming his most likely outcome. His talent is that of a seventh- to 10th-round pick and he is expected to go in that range as a senior sign.

 

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Aidan Maldonado

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Rosemount (Minn.) HS

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 170 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Illinois

Scouting Report: Maldonado popped up onto the national scouting scene with an impressive performance at the World Wood Bat Championships in Jupiter last October. In that short stint, Maldonado showed a 91-95 mph fastball and a two-plane power curve breaking ball that flashed above-average. Both pitches came from a fast, live arm. The arm strength has been there this spring as well, but he’s been more hittable than scouts would like and evaluators aren’t enamored with his delivery. The Illinois signee could still end up getting some money in the draft, but it’s more likely to come from a team drafting him on day three.

 

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Rylan Thomas

4YR 1B

Notes:

School: Central Florida

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 235 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Mets '16 (26)

Scouting Report: A BA Freshman All-American after an impressive first year with Central Florida in which he hit .303/.359/.530 with 14 home runs, Thomas has improved across the board during his draft-eligible sophomore season this spring. He hit .348/.447/.594 through 54 games with 13 home runs, cut his strikeout rate from 33 percent to 23 percent, more than doubled his walk rate—from 5.79 BB% in 2017 compared to 13.73 BB% in 2018—and has consistently put up big exit velocity numbers. Thomas has easy 60-grade raw power, but is more of a power-over-hit bat with very little defensive value. A right-right first baseman, Thomas is a below-average defender at the position and will likely see a lot of time in a DH role in pro ball. As a draft-eligible sophomore with big numbers and a tool teams covet, Thomas is expected to be a tough sign but there should be teams intrigued enough with his power and progress to take the bait.

 

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Chase Costello

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Pompano Beach (Fla.) HS

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 193 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Louisiana State

Scouting Report: Costello popped up on the national scene in the summer of 2017 thanks to an intriguing combination of size, stuff and pitchability. A 6-foot-4 Louisiana State commit, Costello filled up the strike zone with low-90s fastballs at Perfect Game’s National Showcase last June and again impressed area scouts and high-level decision makers at the East Coast Pro showcase later during the summer. In addition to a fastball that he spots regularly, Costello throws a sharp, 78-82 mph slider that he is comfortable throwing low and way to righthanders and to his arm side against lefties. The pitch is at least an average offering and scouts project it to be a plus breaking ball. He also throws an occasional changeup that scouts project as above-average or plus as well. Costello’s stuff has taken a step back this spring, however, as his fastball has been closer to 87-91 mph than sitting in the low 90s and touching 94-95 mph like it was last summer. Because of that, Costello could easily wind up at Louisiana State, where he’ll have a chance to further tap into his natural raw talent.

 

290

Erick Rivera

HS OF

Notes:

School: Escuela Manuela Toro Morice, Caguas, P.R.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 180 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Broward (Fla.) JC

Scouting Report: Rivera was one of the few Puerto Rican players who stood out to scouts at this spring’s Excellence Tournament, showcasing an impressive bat which projects for above-average power down the line. A lefthanded hitting outfielder who has shown a good ability to hit, with a whippy, uppercut bat path. Rivera profiles as a corner outfielder with some present strength, but room in his 6-foot, 180-pound frame to add more. In the outfield, he’s an average runner who has a fringe-average arm with a big crow hop and a high effort release on throws. He’s also shown some instincts on the base paths.

 

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Justin Montgomery

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: California Baptist

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Montgomery is the latest righthander out of Division II pitching factory California Baptist. He earned all-star honors in the Cape Cod League last summer and had the helium to go in the top five rounds this spring before poor fastball command hampered him in a middling junior season. Montgomery has an appealing pitcher’s body at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds and his best offering is a Lance McCullers-esque power curveball that reaches 87 mph. It’s an easy plus pitch with two-plane life, depth and the ability to draw swings and misses from even the best hitters. Montgomery can’t always showcase his curveball as often as he would like because he has trouble getting ahead in the count with his 90-93 mph fastball, giving him a high walk rate and running up his pitch counts. Montgomery projects as a reliever with his two-pitch mix and lack of control. His power curveball is a weapon that will carry him.

 

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Cody Morris

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: South Carolina

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Orioles '15 (32)

Scouting Report: Drafted in the 32nd round by the Orioles out of high school in 2015, Morris is now a draft-eligible sophomore at South Carolina. Morris is a big-bodied righthander listed at 6-foot-5, 222 pounds who possesses a starter’s frame but fringy command. Morris can scrape the mid- to upper 90s with his fastball, generally working 92-95 mph, but due to his long arm action he has difficulty repeating his release point and has issues locating his power breaking ball. That slider grades below-average, but he does feature an above-average changeup. When he’s on, Morris has ace-like stuff and he’s shown improvement over the course of the season—actually pitching better for the Gamecocks during SEC play (4-2, 3.71, 51 IP, 15 BB, 57 K). That performance could be enough for Morris to enter pro ball after South Carolina’s postseason run, as he’s projected to land in the seventh or eighth round. But he does have leverage if he decides to return to South Carolina for his junior season.

 

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Davis Daniel

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Auburn

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Cubs '16 (34)

Scouting Report: Daniel was well-regarded in 2016 coming out of the Alabama prep ranks and was drafted in the 34th round by the Cubs. He continued on to Auburn, where he has been a mainstay on staff the last two years. Daniel throws his fastball in the low 90s and regularly runs it up to 96 mph. He also throws a big curveball and a changeup, but both offerings are inconsistent. Two issues have hounded Daniel throughout his college career: his fastball doesn’t have much life, making it easier to square up, and his control has been below-average. Daniel, a draft-eligible sophomore, pitched well down the stretch as he began working off his fastball more.

 

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Chase Shugart

4YR RHP/INF

Notes:

School: Texas

Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 180 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: After a solid summer in the Cape Cod League, Shugart was poised to prove to scouts that he could start, as he was slated to move into the Longhorns rotation after two years in the bullpen. The move to the rotation hasn’t gone as smoothly as Shugart hoped. He’d touched 96-97 in shorter stints, but it’s dropped to 89-93 mph as a starter. His fastball and his 81-84 mph slider and 73-75 mph curve have proven more hittable than expected in longer outings. As a reliever both played up a little more, but starting has allowed him to use a playable changeup as well. He struggles at times to get his fastball down in the zone, and without much plane on the pitch, it’s hittable up in the zone even when it has solid velocity. Shugart already faced draft headwinds because he’s a 5-foot-10 righthander, and he’s yet to prove he can stick in the rotation in pro ball.

 

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Ryan Jeffers

4YR C

Notes:

School: UNC Wilmington

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Jeffers has put up remarkably consistent numbers in his three years at UNC-Wilmington, and is a career .325/.452/.623 hitter with the Seahawks through the first 54 games this spring, with none of his individual season lines far off from that mark. Since becoming an everyday player as a sophomore, Jeffers has tapped into double-digit home run power, though there are scouts who are skeptical of that sort of home run production continuing to show up as a professional. A team not convicted in his power might be out on Jeffers, as he’s a below-average runner with an average arm behind the dish, and questions about whether he can stick there. If a team buys into the bat being real—and there’s also wood bat track record to suggest it’s not—he could be an interesting offensive option in the middle of the top ten rounds.

 

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Brock Deatherage

4YR OF

Notes:

School: North Carolina State

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 186 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Pirates '17 (27)

Scouting Report: Deatherage is an off-the-charts athlete with dynamic tools who slipped to the 27th round (Pirates) last June due to a junior season in which he had more strikeouts (57) than hits (41). Determined to rebound, Deatherage returned for his senior season and has had a polar opposite year, slashing .305/.395/.554 with a career-high 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 23 attempts. Like several N.C. State hitters, Deatherage has far too much swing and miss in his game, leading the Wolfpack with 72 strikeouts to 27 walks in 213 at-bats. While he has legitimate above-average power in his lefthanded bat, the length of his swing and propensity to chase breaking balls below the zone limit his chances of hitting for a high average at the next level. His other tools could carry him, though, as Deatherage has elite speed that earns 80 grades on the 20-80 scale as well as a plus throwing arm. Deatherage plays right field for N.C. State because of the slightly more gifted Josh McClain in center field, but he profiles as a center fielder at the next level. Whether he’s a backup or a starter will depend on his ability to smooth out his swing mechanics and make consistent contact.

 

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Zane Collins

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: Wright State

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 215 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Collins emerged as a key member of Wright State’s rotation as a sophomore and he carried that momentum into a solid summer in the Cape Cod League, where he was named an all-star. His fastball typically sits around 90 mph and he throws it with plenty of sinking action. The movement he gets on the pitch, combined with his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, help him produce a lot of groundball outs. He also mixes in a curveball and changeup. Collins stood out on the Cape for his pitchability and control, but he’s this spring struggled in that area and is averaging nearly six walks per nine innings. As a somewhat-raw lefthander who performed well on the Cape, Collins still has an attractive skillset even after a subpar spring.

 

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Codi Heuer

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Wichita State

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: No one bit on drafting Heuer as a draft-eligible sophomore last year, but that should change this year after he posted a solid season as the Shockers' Friday night starter. Hitters get a good look at the ball as Heuer has a long arm action, but he carries his 92-93 mph velocity easily through starts and generally has 94-96 mph available whenever he needs it. Both his slider and changeup are below-average pitches right now, so a team drafting Heuer will either need to help him improve his secondaries or move him to the bullpen, where all of his stuff would likely play up.

 

299

Caleb Kilian

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Texas Tech

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Kilian is a draft-eligible sophomore who moved into the Red Raiders rotation midway through the season and proved to be a revelation. He was 8-1, 2.30 with 22 walks and 53 strikeouts in 58.2 innings. Kilian’s stuff is as good as anyone on the Texas Tech’s roster. His fastball sits in the low-90s and has touched 95. His changeup and curveball are both potentially average offerings. He commands the curveball very well, but it’s not a true swing-and-miss pitch, which is the knock on Kilian. He doesn’t have a plus pitch that scouts project as a weapon in pro ball, so he’ll have to either add some life to his fastball or refine his breaking ball.

 

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Tyler Gray

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Central Arkansas

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Twins '17 (20)

Scouting Report: Gray has the makings of an excellent senior sign as a productive college starting pitcher with a long track record of success. A 20th-round pick of the Twins last season, Gray has been even better as a senior. Scouts in to see Missouri State shortstop Jeremy Eierman in February watched Gray shut out the Bears for seven innings, striking out nine. He struck out 10 or more in three of his first nine starts this season. Gray mixes an 89-91 mph fastball, an average curveball and a fringe-average changeup, but he locates all three of his pitches well and is competitive on the mound.

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Michael Plassmeyer

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: Missouri

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 199 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Plassmeyer is a back-of-the-rotation starter who has earned notice as a useful draftee because of his reliability and plus control. Plassmeyer gained a tick to his fastball this year, although he still sits at a modest 86-90 mph although he’ll now bump 92 early in outings. He’s also improved his slider this year, refining it into an average offering. His changeup is a below-average pitch at this point. Plassmeyer went 5-4, 3.05 during Missouri’s regular season, with 103 strikeouts in 93 innings.

 

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Luke Heyer

4YR OF/3B

Notes:

School: Kentucky

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: After an excellent stint at Central Florida JC, Heyer was a versatile reserve for Kentucky in 2017 as a junior. He stepped up into a much larger role this year as he became the Wildcats everyday third baseman and biggest power threat. Heyer hit a team-best 18 home runs and slugged a team-best .690 during the regular season. He generates power with leverage and strength, although scouts are more skeptical that he’ll be able to hit for average in pro ball, as his power comes with some swing-and-miss tendencies and a pitcher who can locate can stay a step ahead of Heyer. Defensively, he’s fringy at third base with a fringe-average arm. He’ll most likely slide back and forth between third base and left field (he’s a 40 runner) in pro ball. Heyer fits as a useful senior sign who could go in the sixth to 10th round.

 

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David Luethje

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Vero Beach (Fla.) HS

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida

Scouting Report: Luethje is a lanky, 6-foot-5, 185-pound righthander who was seen at a massive prep tournament in Merritt Island, Fla., early this spring. At the event, Luethje was upstaged by big arms like Mason Denaburg and Carter Stewart, but the Florida commit showed come intriguing upside with an upper-80s fastball that featured natural arm-side run. He also showcased a fringe-average breaking ball in the mid- to upper 70s. His breaking ball blends in shape between a curveball and a slider, as it has standard, three-quarter shape at times, but drops into a more horizontal, 10-to-4 breaker with loose bite when his arm slot drops. Luethje has reached the low 90s in shorter stints and teams think that he might eventually throw in the low to mid-90s regularly thanks to the ease of his delivery and a tall frame that should continue to fill out.

 

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Franco Aleman

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Alonso HS, Tampa

Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida International

Scouting Report: Originally from Cuba, Aleman is a huge, 6-foot-6, 215-pound righthander who goes to Alonso High in Tampa, Fla., the same school that produced 2017 first round draft pick Alex Faedo (after a three-year career with Florida) and Jose Fernandez—one of the best major league pitchers to be drafted from high school in recent years. Aleman isn’t at that level just yet, but has a chance to develop into a power arm. He’s been up to 94 mph this spring. He’s mostly settled into the 87-91 mph range as the spring has progressed and has a longer arm stroke with below-average athleticism and arm speed. His slider has been fringe-average at times, but is often worse than that and scouts have some concerns about him figuring out a breaking ball thanks to his long levers. He still has some projection given his size and strength, and as he develops better body control has a chance to improve his secondary offerings as well. Aleman is committed to Florida International, but a team might take him in the second half of the top 10 on his arm strength.

 

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Jake Higginbotham

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: Clemson

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 175 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Mets '15 (27)

Scouting Report: A blue-chip recruit for the Clemson Tigers, Higginbotham made just seven starts his freshman year before he suffered a stress fracture in his throwing elbow that required surgery and kept him off the field in 2017. The Tigers slowly built him up this season and he made 15 starts as Clemson’s Sunday starter, going 6-1, 3.27 with 62 strikeouts to 30 walks in 77 innings. Higginbotham has shown few ill effects from that elbow injury, generally working 90-93 mph with his fastball and touching 94 mph with a loose arm. An athletic, 6-foot, 170-pounder, Higginbotham creates some deception with his delivery as he turns his back to the hitter. He has good feel for spinning an average, upper-70s breaking ball and serviceable, low-80s changeup. His control is ahead of command, as Higginbotham sometimes loses his release point and gets underneath the ball, creating some Jekyll and Hyde innings. But because of his lefthandedness, his athleticism and his raw stuff, Higginbotham should be an attractive option in the draft as long as teams are confident in his medical reports.

 

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Henry Davis

HS C

Notes:

School: Fox Lane HS, Bedford, N.Y.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Louisville

Scouting Report: A 6-foot-1, 205-pound catcher out of New York, Davis has one of the strongest arms in the entire 2018 draft class, with some scouts going as far as saying it currently stacks up with some of the harder-throwing backstops in the majors. The arm is Davis’ loudest tool, with 70-grade arm strength and a plus arm action on his throws as well. It’s less hyperbole than most players when saying Davis has a cannon. He’s a defensive-first backstop however, and could make it to campus at Louisville because of that, though he has added 10-15 pounds of muscle over the offseason and homered this spring against some of the top pitchers in his area. Offensively, he has fringe-average bat speed and below-average power, though that seems to be trending in the right direction, with a bat path that can get a bit long at times.

 

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Deacon Liput

4YR SS/2B

Notes:

School: Florida

Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 190 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Dodgers '17 (29)

Scouting Report: A three-year starter at Florida, Liput missed the first 14 games of the season after getting suspended from the team for undisclosed reasons during the fall. The suspension has raised some red flags for area scouts in Florida, but Liput has proven to be a capable defensive second baseman—he was named to the 2017 SEC All-Defensive team—and has taken his hitting to another level in a delayed junior campaign. Through 40 games, Liput hit .289/.365/.464 with six home runs and 11 doubles. Liput’s carrying tool is his speed, as a plus runner who stole double-digit bases in each of his first two seasons and stole his first seven this spring without being caught. Liput’s profile isn’t the strongest as a college second baseman without much power, a mediocre wood bat track record and issues with his suspension, but he could be elevated up boards in a down year for college hitters thanks to his performance this spring.

 

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Mason Ronan

HS LHP

Notes:

School: Penn Cambria HS, Cresson, Pa.

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Pittsburgh

Scouting Report: A 6-foot-2, 190-pound athletic lefthander, Ronan has an easy delivery and has pitched in the 88-92 mph range at times with a sharp, 1-to-7 mid 70s curveball with plus depth. He gets good plane on his fastball and has shown a changeup at times, but the pitch needs work. He has some present control issues and walked a number of batters at East Coast Pro and the Area Code Games last summer, and a stabbing action in the back of his delivery could be part of that. Ronan has intriguing elements with a potential plus breaking ball and average fastball, but his stuff has been in the mid 80s this spring rather than the 90 mph range over the summer in shorter outings.

 

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Nate Lamb

HS LHP/OF

Notes:

School: Chesnee (S.C.) HS

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 200 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Clemson

Scouting Report: A 6-foot-5, projectable lefthander committed to Clemson, there’s a chance Lamb never makes it to campus this fall as he’s a southpaw with athleticism whose fastball has been trending in the right direction for about a year now. Previously a lefty who was regularly in the mid 80s, Lamb ticked that up to the mid to upper-80s, then the upper-80s and finally the 89-92 mph range. He’s touched 94 at his best and as he continues to grow into his body and get better control of his long levers, that could continue to tick up. Lamb also has an above-average breaking ball with tremendous feel to spin the pitch. He was a basketball player in high school and could take huge strides forward when he begins to exclusively focus on baseball.

 

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Nick Sprengel

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: San Diego

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Nationals '15 (31)

Scouting Report: Sprengel entered the year as a potential first-rounder after touching 95 mph for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team last summer, but he developed a horrendous case of the yips this spring and posted an 11.33 ERA while being dropped from San Diego’s weekend rotation. He walked 30 in 37.1 innings, hit seven batters and threw five wild pitches. Sprengel previously excited scouts with a lively 91-93 mph fastball, feel for an above-average, low-80s slider and a reliable changeup. While his stuff remained intact, he couldn’t get his fastball over the plate at any point this season, to the point observers could see him suffering mentally on the mound. He was able to throw his breaking ball for strikes, giving evaluators hope he can reinvent himself as a slider-heavy, lefty reliever. Sprengel draws high marks for his makeup, but his confidence is completely shot at this point. Any team drafting him will have to spend considerable time building him back up.

 

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Liam Jenkins

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Louisville

Ht: 6-8 | Wt: 240 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Giants '17 (40)

Scouting Report: If the draft had been held after fall ball, the big, 6-foot-8, 240-pound Jenkins may have been a top 10 round pick. A transfer from Wabash (Ill.) JC who was drafted by the Giants in the 40th round last year, Jenkins has a fastball that’s been clocked up to 96-97 mph with plenty of arm side run and he earned a spot in Louisville’s weekend rotation because he showed enough control to make it work. But once the season began, Jenkins control cratered and he went from weekend starter to emergency reliever. He worked way too many deep counts and racked up way too many walks. Jenkins was 1-1, 7.07 with 19 walks and 23 strikeouts in just 14 innings. He can still sit 94-96 mph in shorter stints, but well below-average control and lack of even an average secondary offering clouds his draft status, but his arm is good enough to still intrigue.

 

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Luke Miller

4YR 3B

Notes:

School: Indiana

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 184 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Twins '17 (31)

Scouting Report: In 2017, Miller was a draft-eligible sophomore and was selected in the 31st round by the Twins. He elected to return to school and figures this year to go much higher. Miller is an aggressive hitter who stands out most for his above-average raw power. That comes with a lot of swing and miss, so there are questions about how consistently the righthanded hitter will tap into his power in pro ball. Miller, listed at 6-foot-3, 184 pounds, has some athleticism, but he is a work in progress at third base. He this spring was sidelined for a month due to a foot injury but got back on the field in mid-May.

 

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Tim Brennan

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: St. Joseph's

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A three-year starter with St. Joseph’s, Brennan is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound righty who has posted a sub-3.00 ERA each season in the Atlantic 10 Conference. This spring, Brennan has lowered his WHIP below 1.00 for the first time in his collegiate career, and while he’s not a prolific strikeout arm, he managed a ridiculous 84-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 88.2 innings of work. That gave him the best walk-per-nine rate of any division one arm in the country, as well as the highest strikeout-to-walk ratio at 16.8. Where Brennan’s performance is among the best in the 2018 class, his stuff is more fringe-average across the board, with a sinking fastball that sits in the 88-91 mph range and is up to 93, as well as a slider and changeup. Brennan will have to get by at higher levels by spotting his pitches precisely and to both sides of the plate—which he’s capable of—but a 38.2 inning stretch in the Cape Cod League last summer showed what could happen against better hitters. Brennan posted a 3.96 ERA over seven starts with Yarmouth-Dennis and allowed more than a hit per inning, though he still had an impressive 31-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

 

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Willie MacIver

4YR C/3B

Notes:

School: Washington

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 212 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: MacIver missed the first month and a half of the season with a broken hamate bone, and he has struggled with the bat since returning to Pac-12 play, hitting .257/.339/.349 through his first 30 games. MacIver intrigues scouts as a strong, physical catcher behind the plate with with plus arm strength, but Washington has played him primarily at third base and first base. His tools profile much better behind the dish, but it’s been a challenge for area scouts to get looks at him in catcher’s gear. With just four collegiate home runs to his name, the bat doesn’t profile well at either corner infield position.

 

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Sean Mullen

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Stockdale HS, Bakersfield, Calif.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: UCLA

Scouting Report: Mullen was one of Southern California’s biggest risers in the spring and had scouts scampering up the I-5 from Los Angeles to Bakersfield to get a look. After sitting 89-91 mph in the fall, Mullen began working 90-94 and touching 95 mph during the high school season to elevate himself into consideration for the top 10 rounds. Mullen is one of the most athletic pitchers in the class, with a twitchy athleticism more usually seen in position players. That twitchiness is both a gift and a curse because he hasn’t yet harnessed it. Mullen’s control is inconsistent and his secondary stuff needs work. His slurvy, 78-80 mph breaking ball lacks depth or finish and he rarely uses his undefended changeup. He’ll throw scattered strikes at times, and at other times he’ll lose the zone entirely. Mullen’s upside is considerable with his arm strength and athleticism, but the shortcomings in his control and secondaries have teams wary of committing big dollars to him. Mullen is committed to UCLA and will be an expensive sign.

 

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Bryce Collins

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Hart HS, Santa Clarita, Calif.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 175 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Arizona

Scouting Report: Collins attends the same high school as Trevor Bauer did and mimics his forebear, emulating Bauer’s herky-jerky delivery, using the same weighted-ball training regimen and studying the analytics of pitching as Bauer does. Collins delivered Bauer-esque results as well, going 6-2, 0.98 and throwing a 14-strikeout no-hitter as a senior. Collins is smaller framed at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. He has a quick arm and a fastball that sits 89-91 mph and touches 93, but his velocity drops off after about two innings. He has two different-shaped breaking balls in the low 80s that project average to above-average. Collins’ three-pitch mix intrigues, but his control and pitchability are behind some of his draft peers. Combined with his lack of durability, most evaluators are content to let Collins go to college rather than meet his expensive bonus demands. He is committed to Arizona.

 

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Joe DeMers

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Washington

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 231 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A highly touted pitching prospect coming out of College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) High, DeMers was ranked No. 126 on the BA 500 in 2015, but went undrafted and made it to campus at Washington. A decorated prep pitcher who had success with multiple Team USA clubs, including a perfect game with the 14U team in 2010 and a gold medal with the 18U team in 2013, DeMars touched 97 mph at times in high school but has never had the same electric arm in college. That’s not to say he hasn’t had success, as DeMers jumped into a starting role as a freshman, posted a 3.35 ERA as a sophomore and has lowered that to 2.34 through his first 13 starts this spring. In his second start of the season, DeMars threw a perfect game against UC Riverside, striking out nine batters on just 84 pitches. DeMars has had success by locating, mixing pitches and adding and subtracting velocity more than overpowering hitters, as his fastball hasn’t come close to the 97 mph he had in high school. Instead, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound righthander sits in the 88-91 mph range with his fastball, with a changeup and slider that he sequences effectively. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, an above-average offering with arm-side fading action. His slider has several shapes, one that is harder with tighter breaking action and a second that’s softer and looser with a more slurvry look. While none of his pitches are plus, DeMars has good feel to locate each of them and is confident throwing any of his pitches early in the count. A big-bodied pitcher since high school, DeMars hasn’t shown any progress trimming down, but scouts are impressed with his athleticism and the flexibility he shows in getting over his lower half. While he hasn’t turned into the electric arm that he once seemed capable of, DeMers nonetheless will interest teams thanks to his impressive pitchability and track record of success.

 

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Ruben Cardenas

4YR OF

Notes:

School: Cal State Fullerton

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Marlins '15 (37)

Scouting Report: A high school teammate of Alex McKenna and a 37th-round pick of the Marlins in 2015, Cardenas missed most of last year with a back injury and received mixed reviews in his return in 2018. Cardenas is a physical righthanded hitter who shows flashes of offensive impact but struggles to put it together consistently. He plays with a slow motor and lacks explosiveness, and in the spring he never appeared comfortable in the batter’s box, frequently changing his swing and timing mechanisms. He often sold out for power unsuccessfully and hit just three home runs while posting a .787 OPS. Cardenas fits best in right field with an above-average arm, but he'll need to hit to profile there. Those interested in Cardenas are banking on him regaining his power and explosiveness the further he moves away from his back injury. Others are more skeptical.

 

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Jeremy Ydens

4YR OF

Notes:

School: UCLA

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 193 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Cardinals '16 (40)

Scouting Report: The Cardinals made Ydens the 1,216th and final pick of the 2016 draft out of St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) High. He stands to go significantly higher now as a draft-eligible sophomore out of UCLA. Ydens hit a team-best .362 with 16 doubles as the Bruins leadoff hitter during the regular season, and he intrigues evaluators with his athleticism, looseness and feel to hit. Ydens’ swing is a little long, but he is consistently on time, drives the ball on a line and has an athletic bounce in the box. Ydens has projectable power but hasn’t fully tapped into it yet. He’s a fringe-average defender in the corner outfield—ideally left field—so his ability to get to his power will be key for the future. Ydens will be expensive to sign because he has the option of returning to school, but teams view him a talent worthy of a pick in the top 10 rounds and are considering paying him.

 

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Jacob Pfennigs

HS RHP/1B

Notes:

School: Post Falls HS, Post Falls, Idaho

Ht: 6-7 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Oregon State

Scouting Report: Pfennigs is just your everyday athletic, 6-foot-7 basketball player/pitcher from Idaho who can touch 92-93 mph. In other words, he’s nearly one of a kind. The Oregon State signee’s best baseball is far ahead of him because he’s bounced back and forth between basketball and baseball—he scored 21 points in the Idaho 5A state championship basketball game this year. Pfenning’s stuff will need another tick to succeed in pro ball, as he’s pitching with a fringe-average to sometimes average 89-92 mph fastball right now and his secondaries need refinement. If he makes it to Oregon State, he could rise up draft boards in three years after he fills out and gains more strength.

 

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Tarik Skubal

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: Seattle

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 218 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Brewers '17 (21)

Scouting Report: Skubal put himself on the map after an electric freshman campaign with Seattle, when the 6-foot-3, 218-pound lefthander became the team’s ace with a plus fastball. He posted a 3.24 ERA as a freshman and was off to an even better start in 2016 before he went down with an injury and needed Tommy John surgery. Skubal returned to throw bullpens before the 2017 draft and was drafted by the Brewers in the 21st round, but he instead decided to return to Seattle for his redshirt junior year in 2018. Since recovering from Tommy John surgery, Skubal has struggled to throw strikes, with a walk rate that’s nearly doubled compared to his first year and a half at Seattle. In 73 innings, Skubal has walked 55 batters and hit another six. He’s still striking out batters—close to 12 per nine innings—and his fastball has been up to 95 mph, but the wildness is a real concern. He will flash a solid curveball and an average changeup, but both of those pitches are inconsistent.

 

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Lyle Lin

4YR C

Notes:

School: Arizona State

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Mariners '16 (16)

Scouting Report: A native of Taiwan, Lin played scholastically at JSerra High in Southern California with 2017 No. 1 overall pick Royce Lewis. He was drafted in the 16th round by the Seattle Mariners in 2016, but instead chose to head to Arizona State. He’s a draft-eligible sophomore who could go in the top 10 rounds this time around, although observers are mixed about whether Lin has the skills and athletic actions to stay behind the plate. He’s a below-average defensive catcher, but he throws well and has an average, accurate arm. At the plate, Lin has good hands and is a contact hitter with a line-drive approach. Because of his approach—and his lack of balance at the plate—Lin has below-average power. The lack of pop means that he is going to have to improve defensively since he won’t have enough bat for a move to first base. Lin may return to campus for another year if teams remain lukewarm on him in this year’s draft.

 

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Eric Cerantola

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Holy Trinity Catholic SS, Oakville, Ont.

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Mississippi State

Scouting Report: A projectable Canadian righthander who stands 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, Cerantola might be a more polished hockey player than baseball player, and he was selected in the eighth round of the Ontario Hockey League draft in 2016. The OHL is one of the three major junior hockey leagues in Canada and a training ground for future NHL players. Cerantola has his sights set on baseball, however, and the Mississippi State commit has tremendous potential on the mound thanks to fantastic feel for a massive, 12-to-6 breaking ball that is a plus pitch or better at times. He touches 92-93 mph with his fastball, though he sits a few ticks below that and struggles to throw strikes and locate his breaking ball regularly. Because of his athleticism and relative inexperience on the mound—he’s only been pitching for a few years—he has significant upside remaining, especially as he continues to fill out a frame that can easily add 20 more pounds of strength.

 

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Ethan Paul

4YR INF

Notes:

School: Vanderbilt

Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Paul, a Washington native, has been a regular in Vanderbilt’s lineup since arriving on campus. The lefthanded hitter has a compact swing and produces more power than his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame suggests. But his profile is almost entirely tied up in his hitability and this spring he’s scuffled offensively. There’s a lot of swing and miss in his game and he doesn’t offer above-average speed or power. Paul is limited to second base, where he is a solid defender. He’s a heady player with good instincts that help his tools play up, but he’ll have to close some of the holes in his game to be an everyday player at the next level.

 

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John Malcom

HS 1B

Notes:

School: Detroit Country Day HS

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Vanderbilt

Scouting Report: There have been just two Michigan high school position players taken in the top five rounds of the draft this century and Nick Plummer, a first-rounder in 2015, is stuck in low Class A in his fourth pro season. So Malcolm, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound lefthanded-hitting first baseman with plus raw power, is having to buck a lot of draft history. But the Vanderbilt signee has done what he can to impress. He’s done a good job of reducing his load and shortening his stride to improve his ability to make contact while still maintaining his power. The late winter weather hasn’t helped anyone in the upper Midwest, and even though Malcolm has six home runs in a relatively fast start to his senior season, he’s likely to make it to Vanderbilt.

 

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Zac Susi

4YR C

Notes:

School: Connecticut

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 207 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A big, physical catcher with some defensive skill, Susi has hit well this spring in his third year with Connecticut, with a career-best .330/.401/.401 triple slash. Currently with below-average power, Susi profiles as a backup catcher and has an above-average arm and terrific work ethic behind the dish. He’s gotten thicker this spring, and somes scouts have said his defensive ability has backed up because of that, so he’ll need to monitor his weight moving forward. Offensively, Susi has some bat-to-ball skills and a good idea of the strike zone—he’s walked 10.6 percent of the time in three years with Connecticut compared to a 13.4 percent strikeout rate—but a slow bat. Last summer Susi had a decent showing in the Cape Cod League, with a .267/.360/.427 triple slash and 11 walks to 18 strikeouts in 23 games.

 

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Aaron Eden

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Norco (Calif.) HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: San Diego State

Scouting Report: Eden transferred from Westchester High in Los Angeles to Norco as a junior and took advantage of playing in the same league as top draft prospects Brice Turang and Trevor Cadd, becoming one of Southern California’s biggest risers. Eden is a projectable, 6-foot-2 righthander with long arms and room to get stronger. His fastball sits 88-89 mph and touches 93, with scouts projecting it to become a power sinker in the future because of its downward action. Eden has good feel for a changeup and his slider tightened up, increasing its velocity and taking a jump forward. He also has a usable curveball. Eden remains raw and has strides to make in his fitness, velocity and secondary consistency. He would be a long-term upside play for any team that drafts him. Eden is very signable, which may elevate him into the back of the top 10 rounds. He is committed to San Diego State.

 

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Beau Brundage

4YR OF

Notes:

School: Portland

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 190 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Portland

Scouting Report: A plus-plus runner, Brundage has shown tremendous feel for hitting with Portland in 2018, batting .380/.457/.500 and collecting 25 multi-hit games. After going 0-for-3 in the first game of the season, Brundage ran off an 18-game hitting streak and led the Pilots in batting average, runs, doubles, triples and on-base percentage. While the redshirt sophomore has good speed, he still has a lot of work to do in regards to stealing bases. He stole only four bases this spring and was caught eight times, and his career success rate in two seasons is just 44 percent (11-for-25). A 38th-round pick of the Phillies in 2015, Brundage has grown up around the game. His father, Dave Brundage, played 10 seasons in the minor leagues with the Phillies and Mariners and is currently the manager of the Giants’ Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.

 

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Daniel Amaral

4YR OF

Notes:

School: UCLA

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 175 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Amaral’s father, Rich, played 10 seasons in the majors as a utilityman and his brother, Beau, is an outfielder in the Mariners’ system. All three went to UCLA and Daniel continued the family legacy by posting an .857 OPS with 12 steals as the Bruins’ starting center fielder this spring. Amaral is an instinctive player who isn’t flashy but is effective. He is a patient hitter who drew as many walks as strikeouts this season, and he wears pitchers down until he gets the pitch he wants or draws a walk. His swing isn’t pretty, but he picks out the pitch he can drive and keeps the barrel in the zone long enough to make line-drive contact. Amaral is a plus runner and plus defender in center field and projects to stay there. He lacks the power to project as more than an extra outfielder, but he has the instincts and work ethic to get the most out of his ability.

 

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Hunter Feduccia

4YR C

Notes:

School: Louisiana State

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 183 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Scouts in Louisiana haven’t gotten a chance to see everything Feduccia can do this spring, even though he’s been a fixture in the middle of Louisiana State’s lineup and behind the plate. Feduccia broke his left hand right before the season began and then broke his right hand in mid-April. He barely missed time with either injury, but the pair of fractures have affected his hitting as he was hitting .248/.386/.401 at the end of the regular season. Feduccia has a solid batting eye and gap-to-gap power when he’s healthy. Defensively, Feduccia has an average arm and the tools to be an average receiver. He’s got a chance to be a well-rounded catching prospect, but while the injuries this season have proven his toughness, they haven’t given scouts a chance to fully evaluate his tools.

 

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Patrick Winkel

HS C/3B

Notes:

School: Amity Regional Senior HS, Woodbridge, Conn.

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Connecticut

Scouting Report: Winkel is an advanced defender for a high school catcher, with impressive catch and throw skills and a history of handling top-tier arms without much of a problem. He has solid-average arm strength, but makes accurate throws consistently, with a solid transfer and good footwork. A lefthanded hitter, Winkel has also shown some feel to hit, but adjusted his swing path this spring and scouts have been a bit disappointed with the results. He transitioned to an uphill bat path with a pull-oriented approach that he hasn’t quite figured out. Given his physicality and present strength scouts believe there is power to come in the future, but he’ll either need another swing adjustment or more time refining his new approach. A Connecticut commit, Winkel is expected to be a tough sign.

 

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Lawrence Butler

HS OF

Notes:

School: Westlake HS, Atlanta

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 192 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: West Virginia

Scouting Report: Butler is a powerful, 6-foot-4 outfielder who is young for the class and fairly raw at the plate. He brings plus raw power to the table, however, and has loose wrists with a solid feel to get the bat on the baseball. His pitch selection and timing at the plate is raw, and while Buter is playing center field now, he’s like a corner outfielder in the future. He’s an above-average runner with an athletic body that should allow him to continue adding more strength and power. A West Virginia commit, Butler is considered singable and many teams have had scouting directors and national cross-checkers in to see him this spring.

 

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Zack Gelof

HS SS/RHP

Notes:

School: Cape Henlopen HS, Lewes, Del.

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Virginia

Scouting Report: A toolsy infielder committed to Virginia, Gelof has a number of interesting tools including above-average running ability, defensive potential, above-average future power and a solid swing. He struggled in a major way at East Coast Pro over the summer, which gave a number of high-end decision-makers a poor look, but he’s a projectable infielder—most likely a third baseman—with a strong, 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame who has performed well in front of area scouts this spring. Gelof is a pitcher as well. He threw in the mid 80s over the summer with major crossfire and a low 70s breaking ball, but overthrew regularly and has more ceiling as a hitter.

 

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Jonathan Engelmann

4YR OF

Notes:

School: Michigan

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Twins '15 (28)

Scouting Report: A 28th-round pick of the Twins out of high school in 2015, Engelmann should go earlier in this year’s draft on the heels of an extremely productive junior season that has seen him hit .359/.442/.530 with 21 steals in 29 attempts at the end of the regular season. Engelmann is a plus runner who covers plenty of ground in center field and is adept at going back on balls. He also has an above-average arm that would fit in right field as well. Despite his productive season, there are scouts who are concerned that good velocity can beat him. But his tools package and breakout junior season should sway a team to buy in on his development.

 

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Keegan McCarville

JC RHP

Notes:

School: South Mountain (Ariz.) JC

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: McCarville, who played high school ball in the Phoenix area with likely first-round pick Nolan Gorman, raised his profile with a statistically outstanding second season at South Mountain CC. In 2018, McCarville led all Arizona JC hurlers with 112 strikeouts while walking only 18 in 96 innings. His short delivery can be stiff and there’s not a lot of projection in his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame, but he’s an effective strike-thrower who gets swings and misses from a low-80s curveball. McCarville’s fastball sits 88-91 mph with life, but it doesn’t project to add much more velocity. The Santa Clara commit will get drafted by an organization that values his performance and pitchability.

 

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Reese Olson

HS RHP

Notes:

School: North Hall HS, Gainesville, Ga.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 155 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Georgia Tech

Scouting Report: A 6-foot-1, 155-pound righthander, Olson pitches above his size, sitting in the 90-94 mph range this spring thanks to an extremely fast arm. He also gets good life on the pitch. Because of his frame and the fact that he’s a prep righthander, many teams will be out on Olson entirely, but he’s a solid athlete, throws strikes and also has shown an above-average curveball and changeup—though both pitches are inconsistent. A Georgia Tech commit, Olson is considered signable and might not make it to campus with several teams very much in on him.

 

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Jason Rackers

JC RHP

Notes:

School: Jefferson (Mo.) JC

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A 6-foot-7 basketball/baseball star in high school, Rackers got off to a slow start this spring, although his reduced velocity (87-90) could in part be blamed away by the brutal weather he and his teammates faced. As the sun came back out and the temperature warmed, Rackers’ fastball heated up as well. He’s helped lead Jefferson County (Missouri) to the NJCAA World Series with a 10-1, 2.68 season and racked up 95 strikeouts while walking 22 in 74 innings. Rackers is able to throw his 90-93 mph fastball and his below-average slider for strikes. He needs to improve the depth and bite of his slider and he has work to do on sequencing and pitch location—he’s in the zone, but doesn’t hit his spots.

 

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Trevor Cadd

HS OF

Notes:

School: King HS, Riverside, Calif.

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Cal State Fullerton

Scouting Report: Long one of the most dangerous hitters in Southern California, Cadd posted the second-highest exit velocity at the WWBA Championships last fall and was primed for a big senior year, but he broke his tibia before the season and never quite got his timing back. He hit .261 with 28 strikeouts in 28 games. When right, Cadd is a physical, athletic hitter who brings the barrel to the ball with authority. He has the bat speed to turn around elite velocity and shows above-average power potential, but his amount of swings and misses this year concerned evaluators. Cadd is an average runner who plays a solid center field but projects to move to a corner, where he has the power to profile. He is a mature, mentally strong individual who played through the death of his brother in a car accident last year. Even with his down senior season, Cadd’s athleticism and power potential have teams interested in the back of the top 10 rounds. He is committed to Cal State Fullerton.

 

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Clay Fisher

4YR SS

Notes:

School: UC Santa Barbara

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 165 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Reds '17 (27)

Scouting Report: Fisher had Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm last March and opted to return to UCSB for his senior year rather than sign with the Reds as a 27th-round pick. Fisher spent most of the season as the designated hitter before taking the field again in mid-April, initially at second base before returning to shortstop. Fisher’s value is tied to his defense. He is an above-average to plus defensive shortstop with silky-smooth actions, excellent range and superb instincts. He makes difficult plays look easy and projects to stay at shortstop long-term. His arm, however, did not look back to full strength when he returned, earning 30 grades on the 20-to-80 scouting scale from evaluators. Offensively, Fisher has improved but still has a long swing and lacks strength, projecting as a bottom-of-the-order hitter, at best. Whether his arm comes all the way back and allows him to stay at shortstop will determine his future.

 

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Tim Borden

HS SS

Notes:

School: Our Lady of Providence HS, Clarksville, Ind.

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Louisville

Scouting Report: Borden has been a standout for Providence High in Clarksville, Ind., across the Ohio River from Louisville, where he’s been committed since he was a freshman. Borden has quick hands and, at his best, drives the ball well. The righthanded hitter hasn’t made as much contact this spring as scouts would like to see, however. Listed at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Borden has a projectable frame and should hit for more power as he physically matures and cuts down on his swings and misses. Borden stands out for his athleticism and will get the chance to stay at shortstop. Borden’s spring means he’s likely to get to Louisville, where he’ll be able to refine his tools.

 

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Carter Raffield

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Bleckley County HS, Cochran, Ga.

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Clemson

Scouting Report: A 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander who’s shown electric stuff in the past, Raffield dealt with an injury this spring, which might clear a path to Clemson, where he is committed. When healthy, Raffield has been up to 94 mph with excellent feel to spin a downer, 12-to-6 curveball. Scouts like his feel for a changeup as well and think it could be a plus pitch for him in the future. There are some things to clean up in Raffield’s delivery, including significant head whack and recoil in his finish, but he has a terrific frame, strength and the athleticism to dream on.

 

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Basiel Williams

HS OF

Notes:

School: Ponchatoula HS, Tangipahoa Parish, La.

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 180 | B-T: B-R | Commit/Drafted: Mississippi State

Scouting Report: It’s all future projection with Williams, who is a tooled-up, switch-hitting outfielder with plus speed and developing power. He’s been hurt this spring, however, and he hasn’t been great on the field, leaving a lot of guesswork for teams as to what he’ll become in the future. Williams showed some flashes over the summer showcase circuit, including a game during the East Coast Pro showcase when he tripled from the left side off a 91 mph fastball from Lineras Torres Jr. Unfortunately, scouts also had poor looks at Williams over the summer, including early at Perfect Game’s National Showcase, where Williams looked out of sync defensively with poor reads in the outfield and was outmatched at the plate. He has arm strength, but he needs to iron out his mechanics and footwork to get the most out of it. Williams feels like a player who could benefit from going to Mississippi State, getting more reps and adding strength before going to pro ball.

 

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Matt Rudis

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Madisonville (Texas) HS

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Texas Christian

Scouting Report: Rudis caught a lot of attention late last summer as he pitched with one of the more impressive fastballs in the prep class. Rudis could run his fastball up to 94-96 mph at its best, but it was the outstanding late tailing action on the heater that most impressed evaluators. His lower arm slot helped generate that movement and he also showed an ability to locate his usable breaking ball. But Rudis’ stuff backed up some this spring, making it more likely he makes it to Texas Christian.

 

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Ben Madison

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Central Baptist (Ark.)

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Madison was a compelling combination of athleticism and potential when he was coming out of Bauxite (Ark.) HS in 2015. Three years later, that scouting report still applies, but now he has some dominant performances in NAIA ball on his resume. As of early May, Madison was leading all NAIA pitchers with 16 strikeouts per nine innings and he has reached double-digit strikeouts in nine of his first 14 starts in 2018. Madison’s above-average, 91-93 mph fastball can touch 95-96 mph at its best. It sets up an above-average slider that has left hitters helpless and he mixes in the sporadic curveball. Madison will need to continue to develop his secondary offerings, but as a twitchy athlete who could continue to develop, Madison is a high-upside righthander who could be drafted late on day two or early on day three of this year’s draft.

 

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Grant Holman

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Eastlake HS, Chula Vista, Calif.

Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: California

Scouting Report: Holman was the star of the 2013 Little League World Series as a 6-foot-4 13-year-old. He pitched a no-hitter in his team’s opener in Williamsport, Pa., then hit a grand slam the next day and followed with the game-winning, three-run homer in extra innings to lift the West to the U.S. title game, which it won. Holman continued to star in high school, going 29-1 on the mound in his career and winning San Diego County’s player of the year award as a junior. Now 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, Holman is a bit of a project despite his maxed-out frame. He usually sits 89-91 mph and touches 94 at his best, but at other times he sits 86-87 and barely touches 90 mph. His 78-80 mph changeup flashes above-average but isn’t consistent and his mid-70s curveball needs a lot of work. A few teams like Holman better as a hitter, seeing plus raw power and excellent timing, although his bat speed is average and he is limited to first base. Scouts fear Holman doesn’t have much projection left, but his long run of success has them interested. He is strongly committed to California and will require a sizable bonus to sign.

 

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Niko Hulsizer

4YR OF

Notes:

School: Morehead State

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Hamate injuries normally sap hitters’ power for months after they return to action. Hulsizer, the 2017 Division I home run champ with 27 home runs, has enough power that he could drive the ball out even with less than his full hand strength. Scouts throw 70 grades on his exceptional raw power and the 6-foot-2, 225 pound junior has shown a consistent ability to get that power to play in games. He was hitting .302/.440/.595 with nine home runs in 32 games heading into the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. Hulsizer is an above-average runner who can play fringe-average defense in a corner outfield spot with an average arm. Hulsizer’s below-average hit tool is what will likely push him into day three of the draft. He has reduced his strikeout rate to 20 percent this season (down from 25 percent as a sophomore), but scouts continue to be concerned about his ability to make semi-consistent contact.

 

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Sean Guilbe

HS SS/3B

Notes:

School: Berks Catholic HS, Reading, Pa.

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Tennessee

Scouting Report: A split-camp player, some teams could be in on Guilbe as high as the fourth to sixth round range thanks to his exceptional power potential, while other teams are out because he’s a right-right power-over-hit bat with real hit-tool concerns. There’s no doubt that Guilbe has power now, and could have plus power as he continues to develop and fill out a 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame. He’ll put on shows in batting practice and he has some bat speed, but there are real timing issues and it’s a pull-oriented, strength based swing which could create problems as he faces better pitching and higher velocity arms. Guilbe can throw enough to handle third base—he has an average arm—but he’s a below average runner and will be limited to a corner position. He’s committed to Tennessee, but teams expect him to be signable.

 

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Aldrich DeJongh

JC OF

Notes:

School: Hillsborough (Fla.) JC

Ht: 5-7 | Wt: 175 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: DeJongh is a plus-plus runner who has worked hard on his defense and has done a good job of turning himself into an average defender in center field. He hit .376/.425/.593 for Hillsborough this season with 33 steals in 40 attempts. At the plate, DeJongh has a small strike zone (he’s 5-foot-7, 175 pounds) but that same small stature limits his power potential. He has shown gap power and the lefthanded hitter has improved his pitch selection.

 

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Miko Rodriguez

HS OF/INF

Notes:

School: Forest Hills Central HS, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Texas A&M

Scouting Report: The late winter made it hard for scouts to get a good look at Rodriguez, but there’s a lot to like. Rodriguez has a swing scouts can love with plus raw power. Rodriguez is mainly a right fielder with a plus arm that plays out there, but there are some evaluators who wouldn’t mind trying him out at third base. He’s an average runner and a Texas A&M signee. Michigan high school hitters often make it to school and they sometimes take a little time to get adjusted to college ball, but Rodriguez has the tools to be a name to watch in three years, if he doesn’t get snapped up this year.

 

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Nick Iverson

JC RHP

Notes:

School: Central Arizona JC

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 175 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Iverson jumped on scouts' radars early in 2018, when the sophomore touched 96 mph in the first weekend of the season. For most of the year the Ontario, Canada native's fastball velocity has sat in the low 90s, however, touching 93 mph. Because of his smaller, 6-foot-1, 170-pound stature, Iverson doesn’t project to add more zip to his average fastball. He has good feel for all four of his pitches, with his curveball, slider and changeup projecting to be average pitches. Scouts noted that Iverson’s stuff backed up as the season progressed, likely due to his lack of size. He competes well and has feel for the game. He could get drafted late on day two, although a team that saw the potential in his early season performances could jump on him before then. Iverson is committed to Gonzaga, but he is considered signable.

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Trenton Toplikar

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: UC Riverside

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Toplikar missed the 2015 season trying to rehab an elbow injury, but ultimately had Tommy John surgery and missed the 2016 season as well. He eased back in as a reliever in 2017 and returned to starting in 2018, going 6-3, 4.07 as a redshirt sophomore. Toplikar has an appealing pitcher’s body at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and a fluid delivery out his high three-quarters arm slot. He throws strikes and pitches deep into games, but he lacks a plus pitch. Toplikar’s fastball sits in the lows 90s and touches 94 mph. It can be too straight at times, so at midseason he added a two-seamer that dives under righties’ hands to help generate more swings and misses. He throws an 11-to-5 curveball he can land for strikes as his main secondary pitch. Toplikar has his suitors, but his injury history, lack of an out-pitch and middling performance have teams wary of his upside.

 

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Destin Dotson

HS LHP

Notes:

School: Scotlandville HS, Baton Rouge

Ht: 6-7 | Wt: 225 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Tulane

Scouting Report: Few scouts say they expect Dotson to sign this year, but few will also be surprised if he develops over the next few years at Tulane. Dotson is only 17, young for the draft class, and he’s a lanky 6-foot-6. He can touch 93-94 mph right now, but he generally sits 89-91 mph. His breaking ball is generally a well-below average spinner, but every now and then he will snap off a good one that shows he has some feel for spinning a quality breaking ball. Dotson is all about projection and potential right now, but it wouldn’t be shocking if his fastball and breaking ball are two grades better in a few years.

 

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Lars Nootbaar

4YR OF

Notes:

School: Southern California

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 215 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Nootbaar began the year in consideration to be drafted in the top five rounds, but he has since slid after hitting .254 in a down year for the entire Southern California program. The younger brother of former Trojans pitcher and Orioles draft pick Nigel Nootbaar, Lars intrigues analytically-inclined teams as a lefthanded power hitter with as many walks as strikeouts (70) the last two seasons. Nootbaar is physical at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and has a polished, patient approach at the plate. He hit 13 home runs in the last two years combined for USC and has the strength to hit more, but he hits the ball on the ground too often. Some see him as a launch-angle candidate. Nootbaar is a below-average defender with a poor arm in left field and will have to move to first base or become a designated hitter in pro ball. How much a team can make tweaks to unlock Nootbaar’s power will determine his ceiling.

 

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Hunter Watson

HS 3B/SS

Notes:

School: Pottsboro (Texas) HS

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Texas A&M

Scouting Report: An athletic quarterback/third baseman who has lefthanded power potential, Watson rushed for over 1,000 yards and threw for over 1,000 yards for Pottsboro (Texas) HS last fall. But Watson’s development on the baseball diamond seemed to stall late last summer and into his senior year as scouts are less enamored with his hit tool now than they were a year ago. The Texas A&M signee’s above-average arm fits at third, although he may end up outgrowing the position. If he does, his plus raw power could fit at first base as well.

 

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Jax Biggers

4YR SS

Notes:

School: Arkansas

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 180 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Biggers helped lead Cisco (Texas) JC to the NJCAA College World Series as a freshman, then took over as Arkansas’ everyday shortstop as a sophomore. He’s handled that job ever since. Statistically his junior year (.276/.388/.387) isn’t coming close to matching the .338/.423/.498 he hit as a sophomore, but he still impresses with his wide array of admittedly modest tools. His below-average arm will not let him stay at shortstop everyday as a pro, but he has enough range to be an above-average defensive second baseman who can also play third. He’s a utility infielder in pro ball, but one whose track record of SEC success gives him a good chance to be climb the minor league ladder.

 

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Emilio Rosas

HS SS

Notes:

School: Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, Calif.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 175 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Southern California

Scouting Report: Rosas is well-known to evaluators after playing in three National High School Invitationals and three Boras Classics as Mater Dei’s starting shortstop, as well as competing in the Area Code Games. Rosas’ main attraction is his defense at shortstop. He is the top defensive shortstop in the region, with smooth actions, soft hands, a quick release and an above-average arm. Not all evaluators are sold on his range and athleticism, however, and the other parts of Rosas’ game are much further behind his defense. He is a below-average runner, doesn’t hit for power and is a very raw hitter with a long swing that lacks bat speed. A team in love with Rosas’ defense could draft him, but most feel he is best served going to college to improve the rest of his game. He is committed to Southern California.

 

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Jack Neely

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Churchill HS, San Antonio

Ht: 6-9 | Wt: 230 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Texas

Scouting Report: A colossal, 6-foot-9, 230-pound righthander out of San Antonio, Neely was a big-time basketball player growing up, but recently stepped away from the court to focus on baseball. The Texas commit pitched at a Prep Baseball Report event early this spring and impressed with a 90-93 mph fastball with a low spin rate and significant natural sinking action. There are rumors of Neely hitting 94-95 mph in bullpens in the fall, but scouts haven’t seen him at that level this spring, where he’s been mostly 87-91 and touched 93. His arm works well for his size, but there are some present strike throwing questions, as is to be expected from a prep pitcher with levers as long as his. Neely works hard at improving his craft, and could take massive steps forward at Texas. He also throws a curveball in the mid 70s and a mid 80s changeup.

 

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Andrew Eyster

JC OF

Notes:

School: Santa Fe (Fla.) JC

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: D-backs '17 (27)

Scouting Report: A 27th round draft pick by the D-backs in 2017, Eyster instead elected to go to Santa Fe (Fla.) JC where he led the team in every major offensive category, hitting .412/.476/.745 with 13 home runs, six triples and 17 doubles in 49 games. Eyster has a great frame at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds and has present 60-grade raw power that could improve has he continues to fill out. He was previously a better runner, and is just average now after having his knee scoped, but profiles as a solid corner outfielder with athleticism. It’s fairly safe to say he should go higher than the 27th round this spring and multiple clubs should be in on him in the top 10 rounds.

 

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Michael Brettell

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Central Michigan

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: When Brettell’s stuff is at its best, it’s pretty impressive. His 92-93 mph fastball has excellent sink and he can also get some late life up in the zone. He also gets good late drop on his 81-84 mph changeup that generates average grades. But Brettell’s below-average slider is a little slurvy and he doesn’t have much confidence in it. Brettell’ stuff is very hittable when he struggles to generate sink and his margin of error is small, which is why he’ll likely last until day three of the draft.

 

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Jakob Goldfarb

4YR OF/C

Notes:

School: Oregon

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: An outfielder/catcher at Oregon, Goldfarb has played more regularly in the outfield and many scouts think that’s where he’ll fit best thanks to athleticism that has allowed him to make several highlight-reel plays. Goldfarb had a solid freshman season with the Ducks before taking a step back as a sophomore and then missing the 2017 season due to a broken foot. Goldfarb has battled a few freak injuries, but when healthy he offers plus power from the left side and a plus arm that plays in right field. Goldfarb changed his approach during his sophomore season, opting for a more narrow stance with a leg kick that had a lot of moving parts. He’s stuck with the approach, smoothing it out this spring and has begun to show more feel to hit. His .311/.400/.503 line in 2018 is the best of his career and Goldfarb has also played well in wood-bat summer leagues in 2015 and 2016. Strikeouts have been an issue with Goldfarb throughout his time in college and will likely continue to hamper him because of the noise in his swing.

 

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Kole Cottam

4YR C/1B

Notes:

School: Kentucky

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Cottam arrived at Kentucky as a glove-first catcher. His bat has exceeded expectations, but his defense has regressed. He’s split time with Troy Squires behind the plate while playing first base with Squires and Cottam each playing first base half the time. Cottam is a below-average defender with a below-average arm (he threw out 25 percent of base stealers), but his plus power is legitimate. He hit .346/.435/.650 this season for the Wildcats and scouts have come around to his chances to both be an average hitter with potentially above-average power.

 

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Ryan Holgate

HS OF

Notes:

School: Davis (Calif.) HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Arizona

Scouting Report: A bat-only outfielder, Holgate impressed offensively at last summer’s Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. He has a deep leg kick and bat wrap in his load, with a slight drop in his hands, but he has good bat speed and solid bat-to-ball skills with plus raw power. Holgate is an aggressive hitter who struggled early this spring with Davis (Calif.) High, but came on toward the middle and end of the season. He’ll need to hit, as he’s a well below-average runner and limited to a corner outfield position with fringe-average arm strength.

 

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Jake Moberg

HS SS

Notes:

School: Vista Murrieta (Calif.) HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 184 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: UCLA

Scouting Report: Moberg comes from a baseball family. His oldest brother, Jeff, is an infielder in the Rockies’ system and his other brother, Jack, pitched last year at Palomar (Calif.) JC. Scouts considered Jake the best of the family and watched for him to take a step forward as a senior, but instead Moberg regressed as both a pitcher and position player. On the mound, he dropped from 88-91 mph to 84-86 and at the plate he hit .267 against suspect competition. Scouts are split whether Moberg projects better as a pitcher or position player. As a pitcher, he shows the ability to throw three offerings for strikes from a simple, repeatable delivery. In the field, he projects at third base with soft hands, a strong arm and a clean, compact swing, although his bat speed and power projection are lacking. Moberg is strongly committed to UCLA and expected to end up there after his poor senior season.

 

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Ben Harris

HS LHP/OF

Notes:

School: Milton (Ga.) HS

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Virginia

Scouting Report: A participant in the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game, Harris is an impressive two-way player with three pitches that have a chance to be average or slightly above-average and a strong lefthanded bat. A Virginia commit, Harris has a chance to follow in the shoes of Adam Haseley and impact the Cavaliers as a middle-of-the-order hitter and on the mound. When on the rubber, Harris has been up to 91-92 mph and throws from a clean, repeatable, high three-quarter slot. He sat mostly in the upper 80s and low 90s with his fastball over the summer, but this spring was frequently in the mid-80s. In addition to his fastball, Harris throws a mid-70s, 12-to-6 curveball and a low-80s changeup. He has solid feel for both pitches and gets on top of his breaking ball consistently.

 

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Aaron Shortridge

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: California

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 196 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: After leading California in ERA (1.99) as a reliever during his sophomore year, Shortridge made a successful transition to the starting rotation in 2018. He posted a 3.07 ERA in 16 games (11 starts) with 69 strikeouts and 13 walks in 82 innings. Scouts see more projection in Shortridge than a typical third-year college pitcher because of his 6-foot-3, 196-pound frame and immense athleticism. He is up to 93 mph at times with his fastball and throws a fringe-average, 78-81 mph slider. He also has an average changeup to give him a solid, three-pitch repertoire. With his good strike-throwing ability and remaining upside, Shortridge has the ceiling of a back-of-the-rotation starter in the future.

 

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Hueston Morrill

HS SS

Notes:

School: Suwannee HS, Live Oak, Fla.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 168 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Oklahoma State

Scouting Report: A two-way player at Suwannee High (Live Oaks, Fla.)—the same high school that 2017 fifth-round Tigers selection Sam McMillan attended—Morrill has more upside as a shortstop with solid tools at the position, with impressive glove work and a strong arm. He had a loud showing at Perfect Game’s World Wood Bat Association World Championship during the fall, pitching in the 91-93 mph range in short stints with a 2,600 spin rate breaking ball and impressive exit velocities. Morrill is committed to Oklahoma State, where he could end up and improve his draft stock as he continues to add strength and develop more power.

 

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Lency Delgado

HS SS/3B

Notes:

School: Doral Academy Charter HS, Miami

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida International

Scouting Report: A big-bodied, 6-foot-3, 210-pound infielder, Delgado has impressive body control and hands for a player of his size, though most scouts think he’ll be a third baseman rather than a shortstop in the future. The Florida International signee has plenty of arm for the position with plus arm strength and he also has above-average raw power in the bat that should profile at the position as well. Delgado has a long swing and some chase at the plate that he’ll need to improve in the future. Defensively, Delgado has good footwork and showed impressive body control and athleticism in the field, making off-balance, accurate throws on the run that should give him a chance to be an above-average defender at the position.

 

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Kelvin Smith Jr.

HS SS

Notes:

School: Redan HS, College Park, Ga.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Missouri

Scouting Report: A Missouri commit, Smith Jr. shows all of the actions and tools necessary to stick at shortstop, although he still needs some additional reps and added polish. He has average arm strength and solid-average footwork to go along with quick hands and the ability to make plays on the run and throw from multiple slots. He tends to play with flair at times, which showcases his natural ability but also leads to fairly routine errors. Offensively, Smith Jr. has plus bat speed and at least average raw power. He’s also an above-average runner and has the work ethic needed to make adjustments going forward.

 

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Nick Frank

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: St. Mary's

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: The No. 1 starter for St. Mary’s, Frank has a fringe-average fastball that sits 88-92 mph with an average slider and feel for a changeup. Above-average control has allowed Frank to succeed for three seasons in college, pitching two years at San Joaquin Delta (Calif.) JC before joining the Gaels in 2018. This spring, Frank has struck out 85 batters and walked just 16 in 83 innings. In more than 200 innings during his three-year college career, Frank has never had a walk rate above 1.87 batters per nine innings. With three solid pitches and above-average pitchability, Frank projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter at his best.

 

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Nick Nastrini

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: UCLA

Scouting Report: Nastrini emerged as one of the top prep pitchers in San Diego County as a senior, starring at the Boras Classic and going 8-2, 2.42 while playing in San Diego’s top division. Nastrini has always performed well against good competition and progressively got more physical as he got older. He now boasts a promising pitcher’s body at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds. Nastrini is athletic, projectable and repeats his simple, polished delivery, but he lacks present stuff. His fastball sits 86-89 mph and will scrape an occasional 91-92. His build, delivery and clean arm action portend to more velocity, but it hasn’t yet come. Nastrini throws his changeup with confidence and he spins a solid curveball, showing the ability to land both for strikes. Nastrini’s lack of velocity has evaluators wary of sending him out to pro ball at this point, even if they like his long-term potential. He is committed to UCLA and will be an expensive sign.

 

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Tre Todd

4YR OF

Notes:

School: Liberty

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 205 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Todd transferred to Liberty after a 2017 season with Harford (Md.) JC, where he hit .408/.577/.856 with 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases. The numbers haven’t been quite as gaudy against much better competition in the Big South, but still managed a .315/.479/.553 triple slash with 10 home runs and has walked 60 times—which is among the most in the entire country. Todd has always walked at an extremely high rate, though he’s also struck out 61 times this spring. Defensively, Todd is a catcher and outfielder, though scouts have seen him more in left field and he’s currently throwing with 30-grade arm strength with a torn labrum. He’s played more in left field for Liberty this spring, where he’s a below-average runner (despite what his JuCo steals totals might have suggested) and a well-below average defender there. He has plus raw power that plays to the opposite field, and would profile much better behind the plate, but it’s currently hard to tell if he’ll ever throw enough to play there.

 

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Stephen Kolek

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Texas A&M

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: The brother of Marlins 2015 first-round pick Tyler Kolek, Stephen’s fastball has never matched Tyler’s triple digit radar gun readings, but he’d shown the potential to have three average or better pitches and average control coming into the 2018 season. But his 91-94 mph fastball has backed up this season. There have been outings where he’s dipped to pitching in the high 80s. Kolek’s slider gives him a chance to survive even with less arm speed. The pitch has less bite at lower velocities and has been more fringe-average than above-average this year. His changeup also has taken a step back this year and he mixes in a get-me-over curveball early in counts. Kolek has shown the ability to be a No. 4 starter at his best, but scouts have only seen that in glimpses this year. His 5-6, 4.58 season isn’t making a strong draft case, but there’s still something there.

 

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Erik Tolman

HS LHP

Notes:

School: El Toro HS, Lake Forest, Calif.

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 180 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Cal Poly

Scouting Report: Tolman had helium after he helped pitch El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.) to a section title as a junior and touched 92 mph at the Area Code Games the following summer. But he didn’t maintain it, pitching at 85-88 mph with shaky control as a senior and losing most evaluators’ interest. Tolman is physical and athletic with room to grow into his 6-foot-2, 186-pound frame, so there is hope his velocity will increase with time. He shows feel to spin a hard, 75-79 mph breaking ball and has a 71-73 mph changeup he throws for strikes. He moonlighted as a power-hitting outfielder with a strong swing on days he didn’t pitch. Tolman has promise, but his lack of velocity and questionable strike-throwing ability have most teams willing to let him go to college. He signed with Cal Poly, but it was announced late in the spring he would not be attending there. He has not yet committed to another school.

 

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Mason Pelio

HS RHP/OF

Notes:

School: Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 212 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Boston College

Scouting Report: Pelio is Rancho Bernardo High’s latest attractive draft prospect—a 6-foot-4, 220-pound righthander with a solid track record against good competition. Pelio is more of a project than his former high school teammates Calvin Mitchell and Drew Finley, who were both top-100 picks. Pelio sits 89-90 mph with his fastball and can reach 92-93, although he tends to drop to 86-88 mph by the middle innings. His curveball is extremely inconsistent and he shows a promising changeup with late fade but rarely uses it. Pelio throws strikes but doesn’t have a great handle on his command yet. He will also need to be stringent about his conditioning as a big-bodied teen. Scouts like Pelio’s long-term promise, but they largely don’t see enough present stuff to give him the big bonus he’s likely to command. He is strongly committed to Boston College.

 

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Spencer Smith

JC C

Notes:

School: Harford (Md.) JC

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Rangers '17 (37)

Scouting Report: A highly-touted backstop out of high school, Smith was ranked the No. 158 prospect on the BA 500 in 2017, but made it to campus at East Carolina in the fall before transferring to Harford (Md.) JC prior to the spring season. A torn labrum kept him from catching at all this spring, but scouts got to see him hit a team-high 19 home runs with a .319/.472/.779 line through 163 at-bats. There are real strikeout concerns with Smith—as there were when he was a high schooler—and he whiffed 70 times compared to 42 walks. There’s real power in the tank and a lot strength out of Smith’s 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame, but it’s an all-or-nothing sort of swing and there’s more pressure on his bat now than previously with less of an idea of what kind of defender he could be. Teams who draft Smith as a backstop will be doing so with much of his defensive evaluation coming from 2017 reports which saw him as a fringe-average defender with an average arm.

 

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Reese Berberet

JC 3B

Notes:

School: Long Beach (Calif.) JC

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Berberet finished second in the state with 18 home runs this spring and broke Long Beach (Calif.) JC’s single-season and career home run records held by Vincent Byrd II, a 14th-round pick of the Rays last year. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Berberet is a physical righthanded hitter who takes aggressive swings. When he sees a pitch he likes, Berberet attacks in full force, producing big power. His swing is powerful but stiff and gets out of control at times, leading evaluators to worry how much he’ll strike out against better pitching. Berberet is a good athlete for his size who posts average run times and shows solid range both laterally and charging in at third base, although his overall balance making plays on the move is in question. He has an average arm. Berberet is committed to Sacramento State and projects to be one of the first California JC players drafted.

 

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Jarrett Ford

HS SS/2B

Notes:

School: Decatur HS, Decatur, Ga.

Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 170 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida International

Scouting Report: A small middle infielder, Ford has a lot of strength in his 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame with wiry forearms that lead to more pop than expected. A Florida International commit, Ford is likely a second baseman because of his below-average arm, but he is twitchy in the field with impressive glove work, good balance and the ability to make accurate throws. Offensively, Ford operates with a crouched stance and sprays hard line drives from gap-to-gap. While he doesn’t have plus power, he should have enough pop to leave the yard from time to time. Ford is an above-average runner.

 

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Clark Cota

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: UNC Wilmington

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A shutdown reliever for UNC Wilmington, Cota throws a plus fastball that’s been up to 96 mph with plus life and an average breaking ball. After splitting time as both an outfielder and reliever early in his college career, Cota has been strictly a reliever in 2018, where he’s posted a 1.95 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 18 walks in 32.1 innings. Because of his two-pitch repertoire, Cota projects as a reliever at the next level. His fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range, but the life on the pitch should allow it to play up in short stints. Cota throws a 12-to-6 curveball and goes right after hitters with both pitches. He has sprinkled in a changeup at times, but it’s well behind his other offerings.

 

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Alec Sanchez

HS OF/INF

Notes:

School: Providence HS, Jacksonville

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 195 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida State

Scouting Report: A 5-foot-11, 195-pound infielder/outfielder, Sanchez played in the dirt throughout the summer—at second base and shortstop—but moved to center field this spring with Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.) High. With a below-average arm, Sanchez profiles better in center or at second base, but his carrying tool is his bat. Sanchez scorched line drives at seemingly every event he attended throughout the summer and has excellent feel for the barrel. His ability was most apparent at the Florida Diamond Club showcase, where Sanchez had multiple three-hit games against some of the best arms in the state. He has a large leg kick in his load, which doesn’t seem to hamper his timing in the slightest. Sanchez is an average runner and has posted multiple home-to-first times in the 4.25-second range. Teams might want to see how he develops at Florida State, as he doesn’t have a ton of power and is a tough defensive profile, although his hit tool is legit.

 

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Isaiah Byars

HS SS

Notes:

School: Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Alabama

Scouting Report: One of the best shortstops in Georgia, Byars is an Alabama commit with quick, above-average hands and smooth defensive actions. He has fringe-average arm strength, but it’s more than enough to make throws across the diamond thanks to his solid footwork and ability to work behind the ball. An above-average runner, Byars has a clean swing and shows good balance at the plate. He’s got an athletic, projectable body and should continue to add strength that could help him improve both his arm strength and raw power, the latter of which is currently below-average.

 

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George Janca

4YR SS/3B

Notes:

School: Texas A&M

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Janca has one of the best throwing arms in college baseball. In fact, Janca’s plus-plus arm might give him a fallback option as a pitcher even though he’s never thrown a pitch in college. Janca’s arm is also a weapon defensively. He has good hands, a railgun of an arm and a quick release, but his below-average range limits him as a shortstop in pro ball. He has more than enough glove for second or third base. But to handle a slide to a lesser defensive position, Janca has to make scouts comfortable he can hit, and that’s been a problem. Janca was a star in the Cape Cod League last summer, where he hit .327/.370/.536 with a wood bat. But he’s hit .233/.282/.333 with just nine extra-base hits this spring.

 

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Preston Hartsell

HS OF

Notes:

School: Corona Del Mar HS, Newport Beach, Calif.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 195 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Southern California

Scouting Report: Hartsell hit nine home runs at Petco Park last summer to win the home run derby at the Perfect Game All-America Classic, and followed that up by winning MVP of the WWBA World Championships in Jupiter, Fla. last fall. While decorated with hardware, Hartsell is widely considered a showcase star and scouts have little interest. An older player who dwarfs his peers with a physique likened to a powerlifter, Hartsell shows plus power in batting practice, runs plus 60-yard dash times and flashes an above-average arm. In actual games, however, he struggles. He has a massive, uppercut swing where he strides towards first base, producing an alarming amount of swings and misses. He can’t get to anything on the outer half, shows little feel to hit and doesn’t make adjustments. He is a below-average defender in the outfield due to poor instincts and he is a poor baserunner as well. Most teams aren’t interested, but a few are intrigued by Hartsell’s physicality and raw tools. He is committed to Southern California.

 

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Josiah Sightler

HS LHP

Notes:

School: Swansea HS, Gaston, S.C.

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 205 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: South Carolina

Scouting Report: A 6-foot-4, 205-pound lefthander committed to South Carolina, Sightler throws in the mid- to upper 80s with his fastball, throwing out of a three-quarter slot with a long arm action. He also mixes in a mid-70s curveball and a low-80s changeup, and his fastball has touched 90 mph. He has some future upside thanks to a big frame that has more room to fill out, but Sightler also showed some potential with the bat at a few summer events, including USA Baseball’s Tournament of Stars. At the event, he finished with the fourth-best average exit velocity (94 mph), ahead of names like Nolan Gorman, Will Banfield, Connor Scott and Matt McLain. It’s a pull-oriented approach and Sightler was inconsistent with his quality of contact, but scouts might also be interested in him as a hitter with power potential.

 

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Denzel Clarke

HS OF

Notes:

School: Everest Academy, Pickering, Ont.

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Cal State Northridge

Scouting Report: An immensely athletic outfielder, Clarke gets his natural physical ability from his mother, Donna, who was an Olympic heptathlete. Likewise, Clarke has also competed in other sports, including track and field, soccer, basketball and tennis. He is also cousins with Josh and Noah Naylor. On the baseball field, Clarke’s athleticism is apparent in the outfield, where he has the speed and body control to be a plus defender. He will likely move from center field to one of the corner outfield spots as he continues to add muscle to his 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame. Clarke has a hit-over-power profile right now, although he has some timing issues and a lack of strength that prohibits him from finishing his swing with authority. He has the hand speed to develop into a solid hitter with more reps, but he is still raw with the bat. Those who know him compare him to fellow Canadian Tristan Pompey at the same age.

 

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Korry Howell

JC SS

Notes:

School: Kirkwood (Iowa) JC

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Iowa

Scouting Report: Howell, an Iowa signee, is a projectable junior college shortstop with excellent athleticism. He’s a plus-plus runner who swiped 39 bases in 48 tries this season to go with his .397/.476/.565 slash line. Physically, Howell needs to fill out and get stronger. His high average aside, there are still worries that he doesn’t have much bat speed or strength in his swing right now. His arm is also below-average, although there’s some hope that he could improve that as he matures. His range is more than enough for shortstop and his hands work well, but if he’s drafted right now, it will be by a team willing to be patient while he matures. His speed would also play well in center field if his arm doesn’t improve.

 

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Cade Hungate

HS 3B/RHP

Notes:

School: Abingdon (Va.) HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida State

Scouting Report: A third baseman and righthanded pitcher, Hungate has a higher ceiling as a position player with a powerful bat. He has present strength with a 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame and scouts believe he will develop above-average or plus power down the road. A Florida State commit, Hungate has average bat speed and some moving parts to his swing, including an arm bar and a long stride, with a long follow through and finish after contact. A below-average runner, there is some concern that Hungate might eventually have to move from third base to first base, in which case there becomes more pressure on his hit tool. On the mound, Hungate has been up to 92 mph, but teams seem to be more interested in him as a hitter.

 

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Dwanya Williams-Sutton

4YR OF

Notes:

School: East Carolina

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Reds '15 (26)

Scouting Report: Williams-Sutton has been on teams’ radars since high school, and he was drafted by the Reds in the 26th round in 2015, but he’s never quite become the player that his toolset suggests he could at East Carolina. An athletic outfielder with a powerful, 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame, Williams-Sutton stands out for his plus raw power, but that hasn’t translated into games as much as teams would like. His bat can get slow at times, and it’s an uphill bat path that has failed to produce double-digit home runs. Williams-Sutton has struggled to stay on the field with various nagging injuries, but this spring he’s posted his best statistical line since getting to Greenville, hitting .343/.493/.619 with 20 walks and 26 strikeouts. Aside from his 60-grade raw power, Williams-Sutton’s tools are average across the board.

 

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Conor Grammes

4YR INF/RHP

Notes:

School: Xavier

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Grammes was recruited to Xavier as a hitter but when the Musketeers’ coaching staff saw him pitch during his senior season of high school they decided to give him a chance as a two-way player. He’s been a regular in the lineup at Xavier, while also working out of the bullpen. He remains raw on the mound but has run his fastball into the upper 90s. He has an average breaking ball, though he struggles to throw strikes with the pitch. He has an energetic delivery that he’ll have to work to smooth out to allow him to be more consistent. Grammes has had more success at the plate for the Musketeers and has some pop in his bat. But his professional future is as a reliever, thanks to his powerful arm. Grammes is a draft-eligible sophomore.

 

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Edmond Americaan

JC OF

Notes:

School: Chipola (Fla.) JC

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 170 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Rangers '17 (34)

Scouting Report: Americaan was a 34th-round pick of the Rangers last year and a 28th-round pick of the Diamondbacks out of high school. He’ll almost assuredly go three-for-three on being drafted this year as the Curacao native is a plus runner who covers plenty of ground in center field but needs to do a better job with his reads and routes. There’s plenty of athleticism and an above-average arm. The lefthanded hitter has a line-drive approach with below-average power that profiles as a top-of-the-order table-setter or a bottom-of-the-order bat. He hit .409/.492/.558 for Chipola this season with 28 walks and 11 hit-by-pitches to help boost his on-base percentage.

 

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Robby Martin

HS OF

Notes:

School: Jefferson HS, Tampa

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida State

Scouting Report: A team who takes Martin in the top 10 rounds is buying an impressive, plus run tool and hoping he can make strides with his offensive development. Currently the Florida State commits operates with a slap-and-run approach at the plate, but he has a carrying tool and a chance to turn into a solid defender in center field. There’s some work that needs to be done defensively as well. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound lefthanded-hitting outfielder’s routes aren’t crisp, but there’s nothing that’s glaringly bad that his speed can’t help make up for. If he does have to move to a corner outfield position, his value would fall tremendously given the amount of work that needs to be done with his bat and lack of power.

 

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Bryan Hoeing

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Louisville

Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 228 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Diamondbacks '15 (32)

Scouting Report: Scouts love Hoeing’s delivery, they love his ability to locate an average changeup and they are impressed with his ability to locate his somewhat slurvy 78-80 mph breaking ball. But Hoeing has remained in a modest relief/weekday starter role because he’s struggled to miss bats. He was 7-2, 3.15 with 55 hits, 20 walks and 45 strikeouts in 60 innings as of late-May. Hoeing was a 34th-round pick of the Diamondbacks out of high school even though he pitched his senior season just four months after he had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and then found out he needed Tommy John surgery right before the draft. After sitting out out his freshman year to recover, he’s generally 90-92 mph working out of the bullpen—he touched 94 in high school. Hoeing locates three pitches with advanced control for his age, but as a draft-eligible redshirt sophomore it may make sense for him to try to take another step forward next year at Louisville.

 

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Owen Miller

4YR SS

Notes:

School: Illinois State

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: College shortstops who are reliable defenders are in demand come draft day and Miller checks off those boxes, even if his below-average arm will almost assuredly force a move to second base in pro ball. Miller has good hands, above-average range and plus speed that work in the dirt and his track record of steady contact gives some comfort level that he will hit as well. Miller was hitting .387/.435/.427 as of late-May, with 20 extra-base hits and eight stolen bases. He’s yet to show productive power, but he has some strength in his hands and a physical frame. That leads evaluators to believe he may bump up his well-below-average power and run into 5-to-10 home runs a year eventually.

 

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Caberea Weaver

HS OF

Notes:

School: South Gwinnett HS, Snellville, Ga.

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Georgia

Scouting Report: A plus runner, Weaver is an athletic, wiry outfielder with impressive athleticism that should allow him to become an above-average defender in center field. There is a lot of rawness in Weaver’s current game, both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Weaver has a whippy, quick bat and present strength that should continue to improve as he fills out a thin, 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. There are some moving parts and length to his swing, however, and the questions surrounding his hit tool have gone unanswered this spring. Additionally, Weaver is a better runner underway than he is from home to first, with more average run times to the bag than you would expect given his natural speed. A team high on his tools could try to sign him out of his Georgia commitment, but there’s a lot of polish necessary to project Weaver becoming anything more than a future fourth outfielder.

 

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Jack Perkins

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Kokomo (Ind.) HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 208 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Louisville

Scouting Report: Perkins has been a standout in baseball and football for Kokomo (Ind.) High and this fall helped the football team to the state championship game as a wingback. Perkins’ future is on the diamond and he is committed to pitch at Louisville. Listed at 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, he is solidly built and has a powerful fastball that he regularly runs into the mid-90s. He pairs it with a hard slider that flashes above-average. While Perkins has electric stuff, he hasn’t learned how to harness it yet and his control trouble figures to push him to college.

 

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Stephen Pelli

HS RHP

Notes:

School: St. Mary's HS, Annapolis, Md.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: North Carolina

Scouting Report: A thick-bodied, 6-foot, 215-pound righthander out of Maryland, Pelli doesn’t have a ton of physical projection left and he’s not a hard thrower, but his changeup showed the making of a plus pitch throughout the summer. Pelli used his changeup, which he throws with terrific arm speed, to get swings and misses against some of the best hitters in the 2018 prep class at Perfect Game’s National Showcase, including Nander De Sedas, Triston Casas and Kendrick Calilao. Pelli has been into the low 90s with his fastball in shorter stints, but this spring he’s mostly settled into the 84-88 mph range. The lack of physical projection, velocity and the fact that Pelli doesn’t have much in the way of a breaking ball means he’ll likely get to North Carolina. He’s shown swing-and-miss stuff in the past and could raise his draft stock with improvements in Chapel Hill.

 

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Tylor Megill

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Arizona

Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 230 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Like his older brother, Trevor, who is currently pitching in the Padres’ farm system, Tylor started his college career at Loyola Marymount. He stayed there for only one year and then had a one-year stint at Cypress (Calif.) JC before heading to Arizona for two seasons. Listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, Megill has a power arm and is a huge presence on the mound—two attributes that will help him get drafted in 2018. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and he repeats his delivery well. His hard, 82-85 mph slider is an average pitch at its best, but it’s inconsistent and often flattens out. He could go in the back half of the top 10 rounds as an affordable senior sign.

 

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Blake Burzell

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Laguna Beach (Calif.) HS

Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Arizona State

Scouting Report: Burzell finished his decorated basketball career as Laguna Beach (Calif.) High’s all-time leading scorer, but baseball is the 6-foot-6, 210-pound athlete’s best sport. Burzell competed in both the Area Code Games and the Perfect Game All-American Classic last summer and touched 94 mph from the mound. In the spring, Burzell worked mostly 91-93 but touched 96 mph. Burzell has a power arm out of his strong, athletic frame and he gets to his velocity without much effort. His arm is fresh because he is a multi-sport athlete, but that also means he is less polished. His breaking ball is hit-or-miss and he shows questionable feel for spin. He doesn’t have much of a changeup. Burzell’s arm strength and athleticism intrigue, but teams are wary of his poor decision-making and off-the-field actions, to the point many have removed Burzell from their draft board entirely. He is committed to Arizona State.

 

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Austin Knight

HS SS

Notes:

School: The Bolles School, Jacksonville

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Tennessee

Scouting Report: A solid player across the board who attends The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla. (the same school that Hall of Famer Chipper Jones attended), Knight is a slender, 6-foot-2, 185-pound shortstop whose best tool is his plus running ability. Committed to Tennessee, Knight figures to be a difficult sign where he’s expected to go off the board, but he has solid body control in the infield and a loose swing with life in the bat. Knight has some movement in his setup, with a hand-drop in his load with an uppercut swing but he has some elements to become a solid hitter. He showed a below-average arm throughout the summer showcase events, but is a reliable and steady player during games, with a grinder-mentality.

 

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Brandon Howlett

HS 3B/SS

Notes:

School: Jenkins HS, Lakeland, Fla.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida State

Scouting Report: A split-camp player, Howlett has performed on big stages since he was an underclassmen and brings intriguing raw power to the table with a chance to be a solid third baseman. However he’s routinely shown swing and miss issues, and wears sports goggles in-game, which raises real concern about his eyesight. He didn’t throw well from the left side of the infield over the summer, but that seemed to be more injury-related than skill, as he shut things down in the offseason and then came out this spring and showed a average arm. He has the actions to stick at third base with solid hands and raw power that profiles well there, but will he ever get to it enough during games? That’s the question teams will be left trying to figure out.

 

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David Hollie

HS OF/1B/3B

Notes:

School: Cross Creek HS, Augusta, Ga.

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Georgia Southern

Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Hollie performed well against some of the best competition in the 2018 prep class over the summer, including an East Coast Pro appearance where he barreled a pitch from Ohio righthander Austin Becker. Hollie sets up with his hands slightly below his shoulders and transfers his weight back into his load with a toe tap before driving the ball with a downhill bat path and solid bat speed. With a few changes to his setup—including a more level or uphill bat path—Hollie could unlock more power with a chance for above-average raw power because of his present physicality. There is some current stiffness to his game and he profiles best as a corner outfielder.

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Saul Gonzalez

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Montverde (Fla.) Acedmy

Ht: 6-7 | Wt: 230 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Alabama State

Scouting Report: A big, 6-foot-7, 230-pound righthander, Gonzalez is an arm strength power pitcher with a fastball that has been up to 95-96 mph this spring. Scouts think that he can eventually throw in the upper 90s, but he has a long arm stroke and no breaking ball to speak of presently. During games this spring, Gonzalez pitched off of his fastball almost exclusively and would throw just one breaking ball in some looks. He’s also a below-average athlete. An Alabama State commit, Gonzalez is thought to be a tough sign, and while a team might bite on a future 70-grade fastball, it could be a tough sell without much in the way of secondary offerings.

 

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Bryce Bush

HS 3B/1B

Notes:

School: De La Salle Collegiate HS, Warren, Mich.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Mississippi State

Scouting Report: Bush has some of the best pure bat speed in the 2018 class, with lightning quick hands through the zone that he uses to produce lots of hard contact and above-average power. His swing is extremely unorthodox however, with a very low handset and drop in his load and he gets into his launch position at seemingly the last possible second. Combined with a steep uphill bat path, scouts are worried about how Bush’s swing will play as he gets to more advanced levels, though he’s made it work against high-end velocity at times over the summer. A righthanded corner infielder, Bush has an outside shot to stick at third, but most evaluators see him as a first baseman, which makes his profile even more daunting and risky. He could do well to clean up his swing at Michigan and prove the bat speed is enough to project as an impact hitter.

 

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Oraj Anu

JC OF

Notes:

School: Wallace-Dothan (Ala.) JC

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 210 | B-T: B-R | Commit/Drafted: Red Sox '17 (28)

Scouting Report: A switch-hitter and excellent athlete, Anu was drafted out of high school by the Red Sox in the 28th round of the 2017 draft. He elected to go to Wallace-Dothan (Ala.) JC, where he led the team in hitting (.390) and was second in slugging (.665). A plus runner with plus power, Anu hit 11 home runs and if he’s able to use his speed to stick in center field, he could be an intriguing power-speed player who has a chance to go in the top 10 rounds.

 

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Luke Reynolds

4YR 3B

Notes:

School: Southern Mississippi

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 180 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Reynolds in 2014 began his college career at Hinds (Miss.) JC before transferring to Mississippi State for his sophomore season. He played one season for the Bulldogs before beginning a lengthy transfer process to Southern Miss, which cost him two seasons. He finally got on the field this year for the Golden Eagles and excelled, winning Conference USA player of the year honors. He is a disciplined hitter who has the power to drive the ball out to all fields. He is a solid athlete and plays third base well. Reynolds is already 23-years-old, a fact that weighs against him in evaluations and may make him more of a value pick.

 

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Chad Luensmann

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Nebraska

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 237 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Mets '15 (39)

Scouting Report: Luensmann, a Pennsylvania native, was drafted in the 39th round out of high school by the Mets. He continued on to Nebraska, where he quickly emerged as the team’s closer. He built on his performance for the Cornhuskers with a solid showing in the Cape Cod League. His progress was slowed, however, when he required Tommy John surgery and missed the 2018 season. When healthy, Luensmann showed a solid combination of stuff and control. His fastball sits around 90 mph and he mixes in a slider and changeup. That mix, his solid control and his size—he’s listed at 6-foot-4, 237 pounds—give him a chance to start.

 

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Jack DeGroat

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Liberty

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: DeGroat last summer had one of the better campaigns of any player in the Cape Cod League. He did not allow a run in 12 appearances (including the playoffs), struck out 30 batters in 15 innings and held opponents to five hits and seven walks. Coming off that summer, DeGroat was expected to be Liberty’s Friday starter, which would have given him a chance to show scouts he could start. But he missed this season due to Tommy John surgery. When he’s healthy, DeGroat has power stuff. His fastball sat 92-94 mph in short stints during the summer and he paired it with a biting slider. His power arsenal fits well in the bullpen.

 

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Gregory Veliz

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Miami

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A two-way prospect out of high school in 2016 who ranked No. 304 on the 2016 BA500, scouts liked Veliz better as a pitcher who could get his fastball up to 98 mph. Veliz preferred hitting though, and attended Miami. His arm still won out in college, as Veliz managed just a .108/.233/.162 slash line in 15 games as a hitter. After throwing 61 innings during his freshman season in 2016 with a 3.38 ERA, Veliz has managed just 17 innings this spring after missing most of March and April with an arm injury. Veliz returned to the mound on May 12 and threw one inning to close out a win against Virginia Tech, retiring the side on nine pitches, but has been predominantly a starter with the Hurricanes. Veliz pitches in the low 90s with his fastball and has a slider in the low to mid-80s but has poor control. A draft-eligible sophomore, it would be surprising for Veliz to sign this season after missing so much time, but he did post a 13.5 K/9 in his 17 innings, so a team might take a gamble.

 

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Brady Schanuel

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Iowa

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Phillies '17 (20)

Scouting Report: A 36th-round pick of the Athletics out of high school and a 20th-round pick of the Phillies in 2016 out of Parkland (Ill.) JC, Schanuel dominated in the early going this year, but fell apart as the season wore on. Schanuel has solid stuff, but he’s struggled to throw enough strikes for it to matter. He showed 94-95 mph velocity in the fall, but settled in at 88-93 mph this spring. He doesn’t bounce the ball to the plate or throw it to the backstop, but he has issues finding the strike zone—he allowed 43 walks in 51 innings this year, which explains his 5-7, 5.94 record. Schanuel’s secondary pitches are interesting—he has a fringe-average changeup with solid deception and a promising if inconsistent slider. At his best, Schanuel is dominating—he struck out 11 in seven one-hit scoreless innings against Indiana this year. It was one of three times he pitched five or more innings with only one hit allowed. But he also had a string of disastrous outings in April and May.

 

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Chandler Sanburn

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Wichita State

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: After three years in a variety of low-leverage roles, Sandburn has blossomed as Wichita State's closer as a senior in 2018. He willl flash premium velocity as he's touched 96-97 mph this year and he mixes in an average 82-84 mph slider. Sandburn still isn't consistent as his stuff and control vary pretty significantly from outing to outing. He should be a useful senior sign who can fit in a minor league bullpen.

 

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Romy Gonzalez

4YR 2B

Notes:

School: Miami

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Gonzalez led Miami in runs (35), RBIs (30) and stolen bases (22) this spring, spending time in right field, at third base and at DH. Last summer in the Cape Cod League, Gonzalez played all four infield positions for the Orleans Firebirds, and hit .318/.342/.509 with 10 stolen bases. Gonzalez projects as a utility type player, though he probably profiles best at second base. He’s aggressive in the batter’s box and has poor strike zone awareness, with a career strikeout rate with Miami of 24 percent. The strikeout issues were even more apparent in the Cape, where Gonzalez whiffed 36 times and walked five times in 110 at-bats. There is some power in the tank as well—Gonzalez hit 11 home runs during his sophomore season in 2017 and four in the Cape, but managed just four this spring. Gonzalez does a number of things well and is an efficient base runner, but the bat might not be good enough to profile as an everyday player just yet.

 

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Shane Kelso

JC RHP

Notes:

School: Feather RIver (Calif.) JC

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: The closer for Feather River (Calif.) JC, Kelso was seen as a player who could go around the 10th round entering the spring thanks to a fastball that was up into the 96-97 mph range and a solid slider. His stock has fallen this spring as he’s battled arm injury and ineffectiveness, with a fastball that’s still plus but more in the 93-94 range and a fringe-average slider. Kelso threw just 21.2 innings and struck out 36 batters—a 14.95 K/9—but was wild, walking 28 hitters, and had a 6.65 ERA.

 

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T.J. Reeves

HS OF

Notes:

School: Hueytown (Ala.) HS

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Alabama

Scouting Report: Reeves is a stocky, athletic outfielder with an intriguing power-speed combination. He has a compact build at a listed 5-foot-11, 185 pounds and produces good bat speed. He has above-average raw power and speed. His speed plays in center field and he can be a solid defensive outfielder. Reeves, an Alabama commit, has some rough edges to his game, but his toolset gives him a chance to develop into a solid all-around player.

 

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David Erickson

HS RHP/3B

Notes:

School: Cape Henlopen HS, Lewes, Del.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Liberty

Scouting Report: An undersized righthander at 6-foot, 190 pounds, Erickson has received the attention of scouts because of his impressive strike-throwing ability and a fastball that’s touched 94 mph. The Liberty commit also has an average curveball in the 78-80 mph range, which he used as a solid out-pitch during last summer’s East Cost Pro showcase. He has the makings of a solid, mid-80s changeup with fading action. There are some concerns with Erickson’s size, and he also has a long, hooking arm action in the back of his delivery, but that hasn’t seemed to hamper his control too much as of yet.

 

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Evan Sperling

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Virginia

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A 6-foot-5, 215-pound righthander, Sperling had a strong start to the season in Virginia’s starting rotation, with 40 strikeouts to 12 walks through his first five starts and 26.2 innings. That stretch was highlighted by a 12-strikeout game at Duke on March 10. Sperling missed all of April and part of May with a strained forearm and a banged up knee before returning to the mound in relief capacity on May 15. Sperling relies on funk and deception more than overpowering stuff, with below-average fastball that sits in the 85-90 mph range, but he’s been up to 92-93 at times. His changeup is ahead of his breaking ball presently, so he’ll need to improve that offering to survive in pro ball.

 

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Tristin English

4YR 1B/RHP

Notes:

School: Georgia Tech

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 214 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Indians '15 (39)

Scouting Report: English was named first team all-ACC and selected to the all-ACC freshman team in 2016, when he hit .315/.351/.477 while starting 58 games—including 52 at first base—for the Yellow Jackets. English has shown the ability to hit and he has some raw power at the plate, although he’s proven to be interesting on the mound as well. After missing the entire 2017 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, English has thrown 51 innings as a starter and reliever with Georgia Tech in 2018. He’s posted a 4.59 ERA with 43 strikeouts and 12 walks. He has an average fastball in the 90-92 mph range, a mid-70s, get-me-over curveball, a mid-80s breaking ball that blends between a slider and cutter and a low-80s changeup with arm-side sinking action. Nothing in his pitching repertoire is above-average or plus, but he’s shown solid strike-throwing ability with his entire arsenal. His loudest tool is his power, and he has more collegiate success with the bat than he has on the mound, but a team could expect reasonable gains on either side once he focuses exclusively on hitting or pitching in pro ball.

 

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Logan Stoelke

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Louisiana-Lafayette

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Stoelke is a senior who will both help a team save money to spend elsewhere but also provide legitimate talent. He’s an excellent athlete who was the team’s Opening Day starter in center field as a junior before shifting to pitching full time this s[romg. He barely got onto the mound until this season, but this year he’s gone 4-0, 2.97 with 36 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. He works with an above-average 92-95 mph fastball and an average changeup. He also mixes in a fringy breaking ball at times. Stoelke has missed a little time this year with shoulder and groin injuries, but he has a very fresh arm because he’s thrown just 50 innings in four years of college.

 

417

Brian Eichhorn

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Georgia Southern

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Georgia Southern’s Friday night starter, Eichhorn jumped into a regular starting role since his freshman year with the Eagles and is coming off his best season this spring. In 14 starts and 88.2 innings of work, Eichhorn posted a career-best 3.15 ERA with 106 strikeouts and 29 walks. Eichhorn pitches off of a fastball in the 90-93 mph range that plays up thanks to his exceptional command of the pitch. He’s never walked more than 3 batters per nine innings over the course of a season and also had an impressive 29.2-inning stint in the Cape Cod League last summer where he struck out 25 batters to five walks, with a 3.34 ERA. Eichhorn also throws a fringe-average changeup, but he’ll need to develop a usable breaking ball to have sustained success in the pro game. His curveball is below-average currently and gets slurvy so adding a slider or even a splitter or cutter given his fastball command might help round out his repertoire.

 

418

Xavier Valentin

HS C

Notes:

School: Leadership Christian Academy, Guaynabo, P.R.

Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 183 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida International

Scouting Report: The son of former major leaguer Javier Valentin—who had a 10-year major league career with the Reds, Twins and Devil Rays—Xavier stood out to scouts at this spring’s Excellence Tournament in Puerto Rico. He was one of the best receivers at the event, showing soft hands and an average arm, and there are teams that like the fact that he has major league bloodlines. There are questions about whether or not Valentin truly wants to catch, as he regularly plays other positions in the infield and gets lazy at times behind the plate. At Perfect Game’s National Showcase last summer, Valentin dropped easily catchable balls and did a poor job blocking balls in the dirt. He could be a better fit at second base if he doesn’t wind up behind the plate.

 

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Kacey Murphy

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: Arkansas

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 200 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: There’s little flashy about Murphy, but he has been effective with fringe-average stuff and above-average control. Scouts like his competitiveness and his ability to get ahead of hitters. He bumps up to 90-91 mph at his best, but Murphy lives in the upper 80s with his fastball. What has made the fastball effective is its movement and his ability to locate it to both sides of the plate. The same can be said for his fringe-average changeup and curveball. Neither is particularly sharp, but he locates them well. Murphy’s margin of error is small and when he misses, he’s prone to giving up home runs, but he doesn’t make many mistakes and he went 7-4, 3.15 this season.

 

420

Michael Curry

4YR OF/DH

Notes:

School: Georgia

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 212 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Curry is a powerful, righthanded bat who’s had three straight double-digit home run seasons with Georgia and this spring hit .327/.403/.505 with 10 home runs. After starting 43 games at catcher as a freshman, Curry has transitioned into a primary DH role with the Bulldogs the last two seasons, and some teams might be out on him entirely thanks to his lack of a defensive home. He’s most likely a corner outfielder or a designated hitter, which puts significant pressure on his bat—though he has plus raw power. He’s a short, squatty hitter who gets out on his front foot at times and also swings and misses—his strikeout rate is right around 20 percent for his career—but he did show impressive plate discipline in the Cape Cod League last summer, with 23 walks and 14 strikeouts in 33 games. Curry is also lauded for his impressive makeup.

 

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Andrew Cabezas

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Miami

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Indians '15 (34)

Scouting Report: A well-regarded prospect coming out of high school in 2015, Cabezas was a then-undersized righthander who had three solid offerings including a fastball, slider and changeup. His frame is exactly the same three years later at 6-foot, 180-pounds and after a terrific season in 2017 out of the bullpen—with a 2.15 ERA, 80 strikeouts and 23 walks—Cabezas moved into a starting role this spring. His strikeout rate hasn’t quite held up to the 2017 level, as Cabezas fanned 79 batters in 75 innings and his walk rate has also jumped over to more than five batters per nine innings for the first time in his collegiate career. Cabezas throws a fastball in the low 90s with exceptional late life, and uses a slider as an out-pitch. His performance in college suggest that he’d also be better in a bullpen role as a professional.

 

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Gabe Austin

JC C

Notes:

School: Florence-Darlington Tech (S.C.) JC

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 196 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: College of Charleston

Scouting Report: A sophomore at Florence-Darlington Tech (S.C.) JC, Austin stands out for his plus arm strength and power potential. He hit .333/.409/.632 with nine home runs in 2018 and was routinely clocked with sub-2.00 second pop times behind the dish. Still, Austin wasn’t overly successful in throwing out baserunners, as he caught just two of the 15 players who stole against him this spring. A below-average runner, Austin is committed to College of Charleston.

 

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Evan Sisk

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: College of Charleston

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 210 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Sisk has improved every year with College of Charleston and posted a career-best 2.96 ERA with 78 strikeouts and 24 walks through 91 innings in 2018. His walk rate has trended in the right direction each year, and his strikeout rate is up from 2017, although Sisk’s best strikeout rate came as a freshman in 2016. He throws a fastball in the 89-93 mph range and also has a solid curveball. Sisk allowed just one extra-base hit against lefthanded hitters this spring. Righthanded hitters accounted for 12 of the 13 doubles he allowed, as well as the one triple and four home runs he surrendered. With those splits, Sisk could be viewed as a lefthanded specialist out of the bullpen in the future.

 

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Julian Smith

JC LHP

Notes:

School: Catawba Valley (N.C.) JC

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 192 | B-T: R-L | Commit/Drafted: N.C. State

Scouting Report: Smith missed the 2017 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but the skinny 6-foot-4 lefthander has shown no ill effects from the surgery this year, as he’s sat 90-93 mph in his best outings and has touched 95. His breaking ball is a power curve that sits in the upper 70s at its best, but there are other times it gets bigger, loopier and less effective as a mid-70s slower curve. He has worked on a still immature changeup as well.

 

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Jesse Wilkening

4YR C

Notes:

School: Nebraska

Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: D-Backs '15 (28)

Scouting Report: A 28th-round pick of the Diamondbacks in 2015 coming out of high school, Wilkening is a stout, 5-foot-10, 200-pound catcher. He has the body for the position with a thick, strong lower half. An average receiver with an above-average arm, Wilkening fits the profile of a day two pick as a college catcher with enough bat speed to have some hitting projection to go with his solid defense. His .372/.455/.588 line this year with nine home runs makes him one of the most productive catchers—statistically—in this year’s draft class.

 

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Troy Squires

4YR C

Notes:

School: Kentucky

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 200 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Squires has grinded his way to being a modest pro prospect. He was Kentucky’s bullpen catcher as a redshirting freshman, barely played in 2016, but the past two seasons he’s been an everyday regular for the Wildcats. Squires’ fourth-season stats (.267/.388/.401) don’t match his junior year (.305/.427/.391), but he’s a potential senior sign as a fringy catcher defensively who can make modest contact.

 

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Andy Rivera

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Middle Tennessee State

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Rivera threw just five innings in 2018 after having an emergency surgery to remove a blood clot in his bicep following his second start of the season. The top prospect from the South Florida Collegiate League in 2017, Rivera has shown immense upside when healthy. He throws a fastball in the low to mid-90s that has exceptional running life thanks to a low three-quarter arm slot. In addition to his fastball, Rivera uses a 79-82 mph slurvy breaking ball that has flashed above-average and a firm, fading changeup in the mid- to upper 80s. Rivera was touching 96 mph this spring before his injury forced him to miss the remainder of the season. It’s unclear if teams have seen enough from him to take a shot on Rivera high in the draft, but the pure stuff is certainly there.

 

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Terrin Vavra

4YR SS

Notes:

School: Minnesota

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 190 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Vavra is the son of Tigers quality control coach Joe Vavra. Terrin has been Minnesota’s best hitter this year, as he’s hit a team-best .392 with a team-best nine home runs and 51 RBIs. He also hit .279/.351/.382 in the Cape Cod League last summer. He has been a selective hitter (26 walks and only 16 strikeouts in 189 at-bats) and he has some gap power. Vavra’s tools are all relatively modest, including a 45-grade arm that will be stretched at shortstop in pro ball, but should be fine at second base. He is a below-average runner with below-average power, but his skills, feel and productivity could fit somewhere on day two of the draft.

 

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Connor Pavolony

HS C

Notes:

School: River Ridge HS, Woodstock, Ga.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Tennessee

Scouting Report: A 6-foot, 185-pound catcher committed to Tennessee, Pavolony showed off some exciting tools over the summer, including above-average bat speed and raw power. Pavolony sets up with a slightly wide stance at the plate and generates power with a sharp leg kick and aggressive weight transfer that could create timing issues in the future. Despite those moving parts, he’s shown an impressive ability to sync everything up and backspin the baseball regularly. Behind the plate, Pavolony has plus arm strength but needs to clean up his footwork and improve his accuracy.

 

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Josh McLain

4YR OF

Notes:

School: North Carolina State

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 167 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Dodgers '17 (14)

Scouting Report: McLain is a speedy, athletic center fielder with the tools to stick and a strong track record of hitting in the ACC. He rivals teammate Brock Deatherage with 70 to 80 grades from scouts on his speed and he puts it to good use, playing shallow in the N.C State outfield, which also helps compensate for a below-average throwing arm. A righthanded hitter with below-average power, McLain shows great barrel control and led the Wolfpack in hitting this spring at .337/.365/.447. While he often hits leadoff for the N.C. State, McLain lacks the discerning eye most pro teams look for in that role, walking just 10 times this spring. He’s an aggressive hitter who looks for a fastball early and generally puts a solid swing on it. His defensive ability and elite speed give him a high floor as a fourth or fifth outfielder, but his lack of power and patience weaken his overall profile.

 

431

Peyton Culbertson

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Arkansas State

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Culbertson has been a three-year contributor for Arkansas State, spending most of his time in the Red Wolves rotation. He has plenty of arm strength, but the results haven't always matched his stuff. He can sit 94-96 mph as a starter and has touched 98-100 out of the bullpen. Culbertson doesn't miss all that many bats (48 strikeouts in 50 innings this year), but his cutter and changeup both show flashes of being at least average pitches. They and his slider and curve are all generally below-average, but his velocity and potential make him a modest risk with potentially a big payoff.

 

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Hunter Wolfe

JC SS

Notes:

School: Walters State (Tenn.) JC

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Padres '17 (12)

Scouting Report: Wolfe turned down decent money from the Pirates as a 12th-round pick last year. He hit .429/.536/.679 for Walters State (Tenn.) JC this year with more walks than strikeouts and 39 steals in 43 attempts. He’s a toolsy shortstop with plus speed, a plus—if sometimes scattershot—arm and his swing works relatively well. His hands may not fit at shortstop long-term, but there’s enough tools to be a useful second or third baseman in pro ball.

 

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Eric Coleman

4YR OF

Notes:

School: Arkansas

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 195 | B-T: B-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Cole is a switch-hitter with a power-oriented approach and swing. There’s some length to the path and he uses a big leg kick to get his timing and weight transferred, so there’s some understandable concern about how much contact he’ll make against advanced pitching. But he has hit .329/.416/.545 with 12 home runs this year. His approach does pay off in above-average power that could entice a team to draft him. He’s strictly a corner outfielder.

 

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Yomil Maysonet

HS RHP

Notes:

School: PJ Educational HS, Carolina, P.R.

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 187 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Miami-Dade JC

Scouting Report: A Miami-Dade JC commit, Maysonet is a loose, athletic righthander who has reached the low 90s with a heavy fastball that has natural sinking movement. He’s also shown solid strike-throwing ability and some feel for an upper-70s, low-80s breaking ball.

 

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Kekai Rios

4YR C

Notes:

School: Hawaii

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Rios is a offense-oriented catcher with questions about whether he’ll stay behind the plate. He has a square, block body that makes him a good target, but his fringe-average arm emboldens opponents to run on him. He is a solid-average blocker and receiver. At the plate, Rios is a pest who wears pitchers down and drives the ball with a short, compact swing. He spoils pitches until he gets the one he wants and lines the ball to all fields with doubles power. Rios lacks a plus tool and is seen mostly as an organizational player, but his ability to hit and receive behind the plate has some teams considering taking him in the back of the top 10 rounds.

 

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Isaiah Pasteur

4YR 3B

Notes:

School: George Washington

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 182 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Pasteur sat out the 2017 season after transferring to George Washington from Indiana. In his first season in the Atlantic 10 Conference, he led the league in slugging while hitting .341/.405/.600 with 10 home runs, seven triples and 13 doubles. His seven triples also led the conference. Pasteur has been an exceptional sparkplug for the Colonials with his extra-base ability as well as his aggressiveness on the base paths, where he stole 30 bases in 33 attempts—a 91 percent success rate. He could be an intriguing senior sign.

 

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Will Tribucher

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: MIchigan

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 200 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Tribucher has the stuff to be a useful lefty reliever and he was impressive last summer pitching for Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod League. But this spring his control has been sporadic and unreliable. He mixes a 90-93 mph fastball and a curve that is especially effective against lefties. He also has a changeup that gives him a survival skill against righthanders. Tribucher’s stuff is good enough to work around some wildness, but improving his control will be key to having pro success.

 

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Blake Workman

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Cal State Fullerton

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Workman served as Cal State Fullerton’s swingman in 2018, making the occasional start and often working 3-4 inning relief stints. Nothing stands out about Workman, but he’s been effective his whole career. He pitches at 89-91 mph, commands his fastball to both sides of the plate and mixes in his slurvy breaking ball and developing changeup effectively. He pounds the strike zone and sets up hitters well enough to generate strikeouts, despite the fact that none of his pitches grade better than average. Workman has primarily relieved in his college career, so he may want to return to school as a senior and prove he can start. His pedigree as an accomplished Fullerton righthander gives him a chance to be picked above where his raw stuff would indicate.

 

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Max Guzman

JC C/1B

Notes:

School: Chipola (Fla.) JC

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Guzman has been one of the most productive junior college hitters in Florida the past two seasons. This year he hit .420/.554/.750 with 15 home runs and 39 walks compared to 34 strikeouts. Guzman’s swing has allowed him to generate consistent plus raw power that he’s managed to get to in games. His swing also gives him a shot to be an average hitter. What keeps Guzman from being drafted higher is his lack of a clear position. He’s a well-below-average catcher and is below-average at first base as well. He best fits with an American League team where he can bounce between first base and designated hitter.

 

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Ben Abram

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Georgetown District HS, Georgetown, Ont.

Ht: 6-8 | Wt: 230 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Oklahoma

Scouting Report: Abram is a huge, 6-foot-8, 240-pound righthander who has all of the physicality needed in the pro game and then some. Playing with Team Canada’s junior national team, Abram has developed a track record of getting professional hitters out over the past two years, though he has a below-average fastball in the 86-89 mph range. He touches 92 mph here and there, but his success comes because he can really pitch and he commands a three-offering repertoire well. He throws a solid curveball for strikes and also mixes in a changeup. He’ll flash a occasional slider, but his curveball is his go-to breaking ball at the moment. He has a simple and repeatable delivery and used his entire arsenal to throw five, no-hit innings against the Braves’ instructional team last fall. An Oklahoma commit, Abram could step onto campus and make an impact right away if a pro team doesn’t draft and sign him.

 

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Robbie Peto

JC RHP

Notes:

School: State JC of Florida

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Angels '16 (30)

Scouting Report: Peto was a highly regarded prep arm out of high school, but got to campus in Chapel Hill after the Dodgers selected him in the 30th round of the 2016 draft. After not getting playing time at UNC, Peto transferred to State JC of Florida where he’s battled lower back issues and had less impressive stuff than previously advertised. Peto has thrown a fastball in the 90-94 range with exceptional riding life in the past, with a good breaking ball as well, but this spring he sat 90-91 with a well below-average breaking ball. He was also less than effective when he was healthy, posting a 5.23 ERA in 41.1 innings, striking out 47 batters (10.23 K/9) and walking 20 (4.35 BB/9). Peto is committed to Stetson and could take advantage of a program that has done a tremendous job developing pitchers to improve his draft stock next season. He’ll need to show he can stay healthy and get through a full season but the natural ability is still in there.

 

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Andrew Moritz

4YR OF

Notes:

School: UNC Greensboro

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 170 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Moritz had only one scholarship offer coming out of high school and he’s made the most of it. He’s done nothing but hit since arriving at UNCG. He is a career .400 hitter and has led the Southern Conference in hitting all three years of his career. He has exceptional feel for the barrel and has geared his swing to take advantage of his plus speed and line balls into the gaps. He’s undersized at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds and power won’t ever be a big part of his game. Moritz is a solid defender in center field, where his speed is an asset. His hitability, track record and analytics figure to make him just the second position player drafted in the top 10 rounds out of UNCG.

 

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Parker McFadden

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Washington State

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Mariners '15 (20)

Scouting Report: One of the hardest-throwers in college baseball, McFadden was a highly touted prospect out of high school—ranked No. 81 on the BA 500 in 2015. He will continue to draw interest because of his velocity, though he’s never quite figured out how to throw strikes. Through three seasons working mostly as a reliever with Washington State, McFadden has thrown 80.2 innings and struck out 89 batters, but he’s also walked 78. That sort of walk rate will be untenable in the professional game, but a team might want to take a shot on his arm strength that regularly produces mid-90s velocity. McFadden needs to iron out a delivery that has some violence and is very long in the back, which contributes to his below-average control. In terms of results, this spring has been McFadden’s most effective season with a 2.33 ERA through 27 innings with 41 strikeouts (13.67 K/9) and 25 walks (8.33 BB/9).

 

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Justin Hooper

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: UCLA

Ht: 6-7 | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-L | Commit/Drafted: Brewers '15 (25)

Scouting Report: A 25th-round pick of the Brewers out of Concord (Calif.) De La Salle High in 2015, Hooper was an all-star in the Cape Cod League last summer and projected top-five rounds pick before succumbing to Tommy John surgery in January. The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Hooper flashed mid-90s velocity in past years but dropped to 88-91 mph over the summer in order to improve his below-average control. At his new velocity, he was able to throw his fastball for strikes to both sides of the plate and his changeup was still effective against both righties and lefties. His slider remains inconsistent. Hooper’s tradeoff of velocity for better control was a good one in the Cape, but it remains to be seen how he looks post-surgery. Hooper will be out until at least spring 2019. Any team drafting him will have to guide him through his rehab.

 

VIDEO

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Chase Calabuig

4YR OF

Notes:

School: San Diego State

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 175 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Calabuig does everything well, even if he lacks a plus tool. A 5-foot-11, 185-pound lefthanded-hitting outfielder, Calabuig is an above-average runner, above-average defender and a solid offensive player. He hit .359 with 21 doubles and a .987 OPS as a senior, leading the Aztecs to the Mountain West Conference tournament championship. Calabuig possesses excellent balance and timing in the batter’s box. He hits the ball where it’s pitched, uses the whole field and consistently turns in quality at-bats. His slight uppercut produces a lot of doubles, but he can turn on inside pitches for the occasional pull-side home run as well. Calabuig played right field in college, but he projects to play left field in pro ball because of his average arm. He can also handle center field, when needed. Calabuig is a well-spoken, energetic leader with strong makeup. His performance and well-rounded game makes him a candidate to be one of the first seniors signs drafted.

 

VIDEO

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Brandon Davis

HS SS

Notes:

School: Curtis Christian HS, New Orleans

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 165 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Tennessee

Scouting Report: Davis will likely slip through the draft as he’s committed to Tennessee to play football and baseball, but he’s got the tools and some understanding of hitting to develop into a solid middle infielder who is an excellent athlete. Davis is a potential Southeastern Conference cornerback, so his athleticism and plus speed are easily apparent. He has solid bat-to-ball skills but needs to add strength.

 

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Clay Owens

HS C

Notes:

School: Norco (Calif.) HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Southern California

Scouting Report: Owens took advantage of playing in the Big VIII League with Brice Turang for four years and mashed in front of evaluators, becoming a sought-after prospect in his own right. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Owens hit .415 with a 1.159 OPS this spring playing in the highest division of Southern California baseball, which followed solid showings on the summer showcase circuit. Owens’ bat is his main asset. He handles velocity, shows advanced hitting instincts and consistently impacts the ball to grade as a potential above-average hitter with average power. Owens’ lack of defensive position complicates things. He is too stiff to catch, his below-average arm doesn’t work at third base and he is a poor runner too slow to play the outfield. Owens is limited to first base at higher levels, which puts extra pressure on his bat. He is committed to Southern California but is considered signable.

 

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Tommy Jew

4YR OF

Notes:

School: UC Santa Barbara

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 175 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Jew put himself on draft radars with a monster summer in 2017, when he won MVP of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. He followed that up with a solid redshirt sophomore campaign at UCSB, hitting .312/.386/.454 as the Gauchos’ starting center fielder. Jew mainly attracts evaluators as an above-average runner who can stick in center field. He has a solid-average arm, good instincts and projects as a steady but unspectacular defender. Offensively, Jew has an unorthodox setup where he sticks his bat out and twirls it over the plate, and the result is an extended slap swing that stays in the zone awhile. He has some lean muscle to project a little bit of power on, but power is not his game. Jew has to stay in center field to project as a big leaguer. If he can, he has a shot to rise as an extra outfielder.

 

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Chris Cullen

4YR C

Notes:

School: South Carolina

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 226 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Athletics '15 (38)

Scouting Report: Cullen has shown exceptional offensive and defensive potential in the past with South Carolina, but the 6-foot-5, 225-pound backstop has battled injuries throughout his career and ineffectiveness this spring. After a strong start to his sophomore campaign in 2017—when he hit .276/.377/.467 with five home runs in 34 games—Cullen was forced to end his season after undergoing surgery to remove torn cartilage in his left knee. After rehabbing and getting into better shape prior to this spring, Cullen was poised to take advantage of his developing power and replicate his success over a full SEC season. That didn’t happen, as Cullen has struggled with a .206/.310/.318 line in 36 games. Cullen has had some success in the Cape Cod League previously, but teams might be more wary of him than they would have anticipated a year ago.

 

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Ryan Bliss

HS SS

Notes:

School: Troup County HS, LaGrange, Ga.

Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 165 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Auburn

Scouting Report: A small, righthanded hitting shortstop, Bliss has terrific hands and impressive footwork that gives him a chance to be an above-average up-the-middle defender, though his arm strength might be best suited for second base at the next level. He’s also an above-average runner. At the plate, Bliss has a simple and compact swing and shows good natural rhythm and timing, though his size might prevent him from having significant impact or power potential. Committed to Auburn, Bliss could follow in the path of many other small college players who improved their draft stock significantly by performing on both sides of the ball in a Power 5 conference.

[TheHurl]

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Zach Young

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Sebastian (Fla.) River HS

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 160 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: South Alabama

Scouting Report: A South Alabama commit, Young is a slight, 6-foot-1, 160-pound righthander who has been in the 90-91 mph range this spring, but touched as high as 93-94 at times in the past. Scouts who have seen him describe his slider as a fringy secondary offering, and that coupled with his size means he’s likely a better fit to go to college for three years and see how he develops physically. There are evaluators who are higher on the slider, but even then it’s a two-pitch, undersized profile.

 

452

Jayce Easley

HS SS

Notes:

School: O'Connor HS, Phoenix

Ht: 43230 | Wt: 150 | B-T: B-R | Commit/Drafted: Oregon State

Scouting Report: Easley received plenty of coverage during his senior year of high school thanks to the presence of teammate Nolan Gorman, who is a likely first-round pick. The son of former big league infielder, Damion Easley, Jayce was a spark plug for the Arizona 6A state championship team. He’s a plus runner with a strong, line drive swing despite his small, 5-foot-10, 150-pound stature. He has good balance and a solid approach at the plate. An average defender with good instincts, Easley’s above-average arm should be enough to handle shortstop at the next level. He’s committed to Oregon State with the opportunity to replace either Nick Madrigal or Cadyn Grenier at one of the Beavers’ middle infield positions if he doesn’t sign.

 

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Robert Broom

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Mercer

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A sidearm righthander out of Mercer, Broom is an unconventional pro prospect but should get drafted because of his incredible effectiveness, as well as his three-year track record in the Southern Conference. He has been the Bears’ relief ace since 2016, and in three years he has compiled 260 strikeouts and just 69 walks in 194 innings. Broom throws in the upper 80s with an immensely low arm slot and—true to his name—has a sweeping slider that is a nightmare for righthanded hitters. To his credit, Broom has also been effective against lefthanded hitters, striking out 36.9 percent of the lefties he has faced in 2018. A changeup that moves away from lefthanded hitters helps him avoid damaging platoon splits, but his slider has also been useful against both righties and lefties. Broom is more than just a one-inning reliever, as 21 of his 28 appearances this spring have lasted longer than one inning.

 

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Brett Wright

4YR C

Notes:

School: Auburn

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Wright began his college career at San Jacinto (Texas) JC, where he twice helped the Gators to a runner-up finish in the NJCAA World Series. The Texas native transferred to Auburn after the 2017 season and this spring took over as the Tigers’ starting catcher. Wright initially made his mark at Auburn with his defense, but he has developed into the team’s three-hole hitter. He is a patient, disciplined hitter who has walked nearly as much as he’s struck out and provides solid power. Wright has also proven to be a dependable defender. He calls his own games, receives well and has an average arm. Wright has also been widely seen because of the attention on Auburn ace Casey Mize. With his defensive skillset and performance on a big stage, Wright has given himself a chance to come out in this year’s draft.

 

455

Zach Attianese

JC LHP

Notes:

School: State JC of Florida

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Florida State

Scouting Report: A North Carolina commit out of high school, Attianese played with the Tar Heels in 2017, but saw action in just nine games and 2.2 innings. He transferred to State JC of Florida and was the top pitcher on the team this spring, with a 2.66 ERA that was the lowest of any pitcher on the staff with more than ten innings of work. The 6-foot-2 lefthander struck out 94 batters and walked just 18 in 88 innings of work, using a fastball in the 87-90 mph range, as well as a plus curveball and solid-average changeup. Attianese is committed to Florida State and could be a tough sign if he’s not taken in the top ten rounds—he has an outside shot to go there as he’s been seen for several years now and is a polished lefthander.

 

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J.T. Schwartz

HS SS/3B

Notes:

School: Corona Del Mar HS, Newport Beach, Calif.

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 200 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: UCLA

Scouting Report: Scouts flocked to Corona del Mar High to watch Preston Hartsell, but over the course of the season many began to prefer his teammate Schwartz. A lefthanded-hitting infielder with the knack of putting the barrel on the ball, Schwartz has an enticing 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame that portends more power as he fills out. Schwartz presently employs a high-contact slap approach and evaluators would like him to make an adjustment to stay behind the ball and start driving it more. That’s important for Schwartz because he will have to slide from shortstop to third base, where his smooth hands, average arm and solid glove project best in pro ball. He will still need to improve his footwork, however. Schwartz has the upside of a lefthanded-hitting third baseman with power, but he has significant approach and swing changes to make to get there. He is committed to UCLA and will be an expensive sign.

 

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Nick Allgeyer

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: Iowa

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 225 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Allgeyer has been Mr. Reliable for Iowa. After being pulled after five innings in his first start of the season, he worked six or more innings in each of his last 14 starts, allowing more than three earned runs only once over that span. There’s nothing exceptional about Allgeyer’s stuff—he’s 88-92 mph with a big-breaking slider and even bigger and slower curveball. To top it off he has a potentially average changeup. What helps Allgeyer’s stuff play up is his above-average control and ability to mess with hitters’ timing by varying his speed to the plate.

 

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Spencer Schwellenbach

HS RHP/SS

Notes:

School: Heritage HS, Saginaw, Mich.

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Nebraska

Scouting Report: A Nebraska signee, Schwellenbach has plenty of arm speed (his fastball has touched 94-95 mph), but he has to improve his command and control and the quality of his secondary offerings, which is why he’s likely to make it to Nebraska.

 

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Ryan Weiss

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Wright State

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Weiss, a draft-eligible redshirt sophomore, has been Wright State’s ace for two seasons. His surface-level stats this spring (9-2, 3.44) haven’t matched his 2017 season (8-1, 2.13), but he’s striking out more batters and walking fewer. Weiss competes with an aggressive, attacking approach. He mixes an average curve and slurvy slider that often blends with his curvevball. His fastball sits 91-93 mph and he can touch 95.

 

460

Christian Tripp

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: New Mexico

Ht: 6-7 | Wt: 216 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Tripp served as New Mexico's primary closer in 2018, saving eight games with an impressive 2.44 ERA this spring. At 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, he has the size organizations desire, but a rough delivery and inconsistent stuff may keep Tripp out of the top 10 rounds. He steps across the mound and throws uphill, although the delivery gives his pitches interesting angle and provides deception. His fastball, which ranges from 88-94 mph, has hard cut and good life as it increases in speed. The movement on his fastball is inconsistent, however. His 83-84 mph slider runs in on lefthanded batters, while his delivery makes for tough at-bats for righthanders.

 

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Zach Leban

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Kansas

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 245 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Kansas’ closer is a massive, 6-foot-3, 245-pound righthander with the big stuff to match. He’s touched 97 mph and is consistently 92-94 mph. He blew away hitters early in the season, but his results tailed off as the Jayhawks entered the conference schedule, even as he sharpened his slurvy slider into more of a fringe-average pitch. Leban’s size and arm strength make him a potentially useful bullpen piece who could go late on day two or early on day three of the draft.

 

462

Rodney Hutchison

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: North Carolina

Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: While his numbers (3-3, 4.79) don’t stand out, Hutchison has been an important, versatile piece of the North Carolina pitching staff who has started midweek, on the weekend and pitched in late relief. Listed at a thick, 6-foot-6, 239 pounds, Hutchison’s stuff has taken a jump in 2018 and he throws a heavy fastball with late arm-side run from a low three-quarters arm slot. Primarily working at 90-92 mph his first two seasons, Hutchison has lived 92-94 mph more frequently this spring and touched 96 mph in an eye-opening outing in front of several rows of scouts at the ACC Tournament. Hutchison pairs his fastball with a plus, mid-80s changeup with late fade away from lefthanded hitters and he’s improved the feel of his slider, throwing it harder and tighter. Because of his low slot and the sheer movement of his pitches, Hutchison can lose the zone at times, getting him into trouble. He’s a creative pitcher who varies the timing in his delivery and plays with his arm slot. While he needs more polish and to tighten his command, Hutchison’s velocity spike, plus changeup and improved breaking pitches give him intriguing upside.

 

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Gus Varland

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Concordia (Minn.)

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 190 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Varland has been a dominant starter for Division II Concordia (Minn.) as he’s blown away hitters with a 93-95 mph fastball that touches 97. Varland was 7-1, 1.04 with 79 strikeouts and 14 walks in 60.1 innings. Evaluators aren’t all that thrilled with Varland’s high-energy delivery, but he repeats it well and has a long track record of throwing strikes. His slider shows potential to develop into an average pitch as well, giving him a pair of potential weapons whether he sticks as a starter or moves to the bullpen. Scouts will be heading back next year as well as Gus’ younger brother Louie is an equally dominating sophomore.

 

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Nick Schmidt

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Holt HS, Wentzville, Mo.

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Missouri State

Scouting Report: A Missouri State signee, Schmidt is a still maturing righthander with a clean delivery and thick, but immature body. His slider and curveball are both more promising than his fastball, as he has demonstrated excellent feel for spin. He hasn’t fully mastered his ability to locate either breaking ball, but both of the breaking balls have plus potential. Schmidt’s fastball sits 87-91 mph and he’ll touch 93.

 

465

Giovanni DiGiacomo

HS OF

Notes:

School: Canterbury School, Fort Myers, Fla.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Louisiana State

Scouting Report: A 70-grade runner, speed is DiGiacomo’s carrying tool, and with a Louisiana State commit it naturally makes sense to think of all the speedy center fielders the program has produced, including Mike Mahtook, Andrew Stevenson, Jake Fraley and current center fielder Zach Watson. If DiGiacomo makes it to campus, he seems like a natural fit to be one of the next players in line for that sort of role, as a potentially plus defender with a bat that needs to improve. He will likely go after the tenth round of the draft, but could turn himself into a much better pro prospect with a few years with the Tigers and an improved approach at the plate. Presently DiGiacomo has a slap-and-run approach thanks to routinely plus-plus run times from home-to-first out of the lefthanded batter’s box. DiGiacomo has below-average arm strength, but has shown the ability to run crisp routes and has impressive athleticism as well. With Canterbury High (Fort Myers, Fla.), DiGiacomo played with the likes of Sam Keating (2017 fourth round pick) and Cooper Swanson and helped lead the team to its third straight Florida 3-A state championship this spring.

 

466

Jacob Young

HS OF

Notes:

School: Ponte Vedra (Fla.) HS

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 155 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Florida

Scouting Report: A plus-plus runner, Young is an athletic infield/outfielder committed to Florida. He’s played second base at times this spring, though scouts see him as a fringe-average defender there. He fits better in center field, where his speed will allow him to track down deep fly balls in the gaps, though his fringe-average arm strength should prevent him from playing right field. He has a muscular, tapered build but is just 6-foot, 155 pounds with a bat that is more of a project than a present strength.

 

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Jackson Rees

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Hawaii

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A transfer from Saddleback (Calif.) JC, Rees emerged as Hawaii’s top starter this spring and led the Rainbow Warriors in ERA (3.59), innings (67.2) and strikeouts (53). The lanky, 6-foot-5, 205-pound righthander succeeds more on deception than stuff. Batters don't pick the ball up well out of his three-quarters delivery, and nothing he throws is straight. His 89-92 mph fastball cuts, his two-seamer sinks and his slider flashes average. Rees’ life on his pitches makes it difficult for him to throw consistent strikes, and he has below-average control overall. Rees also has a history of injuries. He missed all of 2015 with a shoulder impingement, all of 2016 with lower back issues and missed time in 2018 with blister problems. Even with that medical history, he's performed well enough to get drafted.

 

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Miller Hogan

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Saint Louis

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Brewers '17 (32)

Scouting Report: A 32nd-round pick of the Brewers last season as a draft-eligible sophomore, Hogan has been an extremely reliable starter for three years for the Billikens, including a 10-3, 2.19 record with 129 strikeouts in 101.2 innings that earned him A-10 Pitcher of the Year honors. What you see is what you get with Hogan, as he doesn’t have much projection left, but hitters don’t really get a good look at him as he mixes pitches with the aplomb of a veteran. He sits 85-92 mph, but those lower registers of his fastball velocity are to thrown with a heavy sinker that has excellent sin. He mixes that pitch will by elevating four-seam fastballs up to 92-94 mph at his best. He also has a slider, a cutter and a splitter and he’ll loop in a slow curveball as a surprise. Hogan is all about feel, messing with hitters’ timing and mixing pitches, but he has shown he knows what he’s doing.

 

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Michael Emodi

4YR C

Notes:

School: Creighton

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Emodi is a strong catcher with a big, 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame that reminds everyone he was an all-state football player in high school. Like many backup catchers in pro ball, Emodi has plenty of power potential with plus raw power and he has a strong, 60-grade arm. And like many pro backup catchers, there are legitimate concerns about how much contact Emodi makes and how low his average will be. Emodi, a redshirt junior, hit .282/.376/.505 this season with nine home runs. Defensively he’s a fringe-average receiver, but he is tough and reliable.

 

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Clark Brinkman

4YR OF

Notes:

School: Creighton

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Brinkman’s swing isn’t smooth or pretty, but it works and he’s a center fielder who should be able to stay at the position in pro ball thanks in part to his plus speed. The redshirt junior hit .317/.416/.471 for the Bluejays this season with 24 steals in 28 attempts. The righthanded hitter is a table-setter with well below-average power in pro ball, but he has the tools and skills to make that work.

 

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Brady Feigl

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Mississippi

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 230 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Angels '17 (35)

Scouting Report: Feigl last season was drafted in the 35th round by the Angels as a redshirt sophomore but chose to return to Mississippi, where he has established himself as a key part of the Rebels’ rotation. He runs his fastball up to 96 mph and typically throws in the low 90s. His best secondary offering is a power breaking ball and he also mixes in a changeup. Feigl consistently throws all three offerings for strikes and takes advantage of his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame to pound the bottom of the zone. Feigl’s stuff, size and control give him the look of a back-of-the-rotation starter in pro ball.

 

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Tyler Cropley

4YR C

Notes:

School: Iowa

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A standout at Iowa Western JC, Cropley has been equally productive in two years as Iowa’s catcher. Cropley will be one of the better senior signs in this draft class as a catcher who can receive and has a track record of hitting as well. Cropley hit .342/.449/.578 for Iowa this season with more walks (30) than strikeouts (28). Scouts are equally enamored with his ability to receive and run a team from behind the plate. He has an above-average arm. Cropley is deserving of being drafted on talent, but the fact that he will be a money saver as well makes him an enticing day two pick.

 

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Scott Schreiber

4YR 1B

Notes:

School: Nebraska

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Rays '17 (26)

Scouting Report: A 26th-round pick of the Rays last year, Schreiber’s lengthy medical record understandably gives teams concern, but they also like his track record of being one of the more productive hitters in the Big Ten. Schreiber has hit .369/.446/.692 with 18 home runs this spring and also hit 16 home runs as a sophomore even though he missed time with an abdominal injury. He is moving better this year than he did last year when his power dissipated in games, although he still showed plus-plus raw juice. Scouts see Schreiber as largely limited to first base nowadays although he was capable of handling right field in the past. As a productive senior money saver with power potential, Schreiber will likely go at some point in the sixth to 10th round.

 

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Damon Casetta-Stubbs

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Kings Way Christian HS, Vancouver, Wash.

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Seattle

Scouting Report: A big, 6-foot-4 righthander, Cosetta-Stubbs was one of the top pitchers on the Royals team at the 2017 Area Code Games, along with Jayson Schroeder. Committed to Seattle, Casetta-Stubbs, a Seattle signee, is a hard-throwing arm with a power sinker that has been up to 93 mph, although he more regularly sits in the 91-92 mph range.

 

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Cam Sanders

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Louisiana State

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 170 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Padres '17 (18)

Scouting Report: The son of big leaguer Scott Sanders and former softball All-American Linda Sanders, Cam was an 18th-round pick of the Padres last season out of Northwest Florida JC. He has some of the best stuff on the LSU staff, but his inconsistent control has kept him from having sustained success this year—he was 1-0, 6.59 at the end of the SEC tournament. Sanders walked 7.2 batters per nine innings this season and his performance in SEC games was even worse (11.12 ERA, 10 BB/9). Sanders did get better as the season wrapped up, as he started locating his 92-96 mph fastball and sharp spike-curve more consistently.

 

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Cole Ayers

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Loveland (Ohio) HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 187 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Kentucky

Scouting Report: Ayers will likely make it to Kentucky, but he has the building blocks to be a starting pitcher in pro ball. The righthander has a fast arm, an 89-91 mph fastball that shows some arm-side run and an 82-84 knuckle change that has the action of a hard slider. He mixes in a changeup that is less advanced and needs a lot more work and he has the ability to modestly manipulate his two-seam fastball.

 

VIDEO

477

Sean Roby

JC 3B

Notes:

School: Arizona Western JC

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Roby boosted his stock with strong performances during the Arizona JC playoffs, which might have been enough to put the righthanded slugger in draft consideration late on day two. He was leading all Arizona JC hitters with 20 home runs, 70 RBIs and a .755 slugging percentage going into the district tournament. He gets good bat speed from a strong frame. Primarily a pull hitter with a hitch in his swing, Roby gets the barrel to the inside half of the plate but struggles with breaking balls away. A below-average runner, Roby moves well enough at third base and can be an adequate defender with just a tick below-average range. He’s considered signable, despite his Texas Wesleyan commitment.

 

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Mason Bryant

HS RHP

Notes:

School: McCallum HS, Austin

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Texas

Scouting Report: Bryant is a Texas signee who was just as noted for his highlight catches as a 6-foot-5, 215-pound tight end/wide receiver who averaged over 26 yards a catch as a senior, helping Austin, Texas’ McCallum High to the state semifinals. He’s been equally impressive on the mound where he can bump 94-95 mph at his best. He’s also a solid outfielder. Bryant has an athletic body and a loose arm, but he has work to do on improving his direction to the plate and the consistency of his currently below-average control. His slider comes and goes right now. Bryant isn’t fully ready for pro ball, but he has athleticism that is hard to find in a pitcher with a low-90s fastball, so it wouldn’t surprise evaluators if he turns into an ace at Texas.

 

479

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Davis Sharpe

HS RHP/3B

Notes:

School: Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, Ga.

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Clemson

Scouting Report: A 6-foot-4, 205-pound righthander with a fringe-average, 88-91 mph fastball and a lights-out curveball, Sharpe has been difficult for scouts to see this spring. Pitching on Friday nights in high school is a challenge in general, and that’s especially the case in a loaded year for Georgia pitchers. Sharpe also hasn’t been fully healthy this spring. He has, however, been around the national circuit for awhile and has shown tremendous feel to spin a breaking ball since he was 15 years old. It’s a sweeping, mid-70s breaking ball that gets slurvy at times but shows occasional two-plane breaking action. Sharpe also throws a changeup in the low 80s. His arm action leaves something to be desired, with a high back elbow and violence throughout his delivery.

 

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Christopher Weber

HS LHP

Notes:

School: Boerne-Champion HS, Boerne, Texas

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-L | Commit/Drafted: Texas A&M

Scouting Report: Weber has already told teams to not draft him as he’s planning to go to Texas A&M. A top student, he’s planning to study aerospace engineering, but he’s also going to be a great addition to the Aggies pitching staff. Weber had a 0.61 ERA this spring with nearly two strikeouts per inning. The lefthander sits in the high 80s, but his velocity has improved to where he now can touch 91-92 mph. He has a cerebral approach on the mound and mixes in his breaking ball and changeup at any point in the count.

 

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Josh Hiatt

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: North Carolina

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: A 5-foot-11, 190-pound righthander with an upper-80s fastball, Hiatt didn’t make UNC’s team as a freshman in 2016, when the Tar Heels redshirted him and pushed him to improve. He returned a different pitcher the next fall, showcasing a slider he learned from former teammate Brendon Little to go along with what was already an outstanding changeup. Adopting an analytical approach that fall, UNC found that Hiatt’s offspeed pitches both registered spin rates above big league averages and complemented each other with movement in near opposite directions. Hiatt’s slider sweeps across the strike zone and he can throw it with bigger shape in the upper 70s or can feature a tighter, more cutter-like, low-80s version. His low-80s changeup is a weapon against both lefthanded and righthanded hitters with both horizontal and downward movement. Those two pitches, combined with an 88-91 mph fastball that occasionally reaches 93 mph, made Hiatt a first-team All-American closer in 2017 and he’s replicated that success as UNC’s go-to reliever once again in 2018. While not the traditional, mid-90s power closer, Hiatt has been dominant at the college level due to the excellent tunneling of all three pitches and his above-average command and confidence with each. Stretched out often for multiple-inning appearances, Hiatt has the arsenal and command to at least merit a look as a starter at the next level. But he’s also shown he has the aptitude to thrive in high-leverage, late-inning situations.

 

482

Last: 476

Andrew Nardi

JC LHP

Notes:

School: Moorpark (Calif.) JC

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 200 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Arizona

Scouting Report: The Yankees drafted Nardi in the 39th round out of Ventura (Calif.) JC as a reliever in 2017. He then transferred 26 miles east to Moorpark (Calif.) JC for his sophomore year in order to start and raise his draft stock. At Moorpark, Nardi went 6-4, 2.48 with 91 strikeouts in 80 innings. Nardi is an athletic, 6-foot-3 lefthander with some physical projection and a three-pitch mix, although his pitch quality varies wildly. He sat 88-90 mph and touched 92 in the fall but dropped to 84-88 mph in the spring, scraping the occasional 90 mph fastball. He lands his mid-70s curveball for strikes as his primary secondary offering, with some evaluators projecting it to become an average pitch in the future. His changeup is below-average. Nardi’s crossfire delivery and high leg kick adds deception, but it hampers his control and command. Nardi shows ingredients to start, but his overall inconsistency has most evaluators projecting him to the bullpen. He is committed to Arizona.

 

483

Last: 478

Cre Finfrock

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Central Florida

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 197 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Brewers '14 (26)

Scouting Report: Finfrock started for two years at Central Florida with some success before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2016 and missing the entire 2017 season. A redshirt junior, Finfrock started seven games this spring and pitched in nine appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 3.56 ERA with a 50 strikeouts and 29 walks in 48 innings of work. A strict reliever at the next level, Finfrock has a poor, short arm action and a fastball that ticks up to 94-95 out of the bullpen but sits at 90-92 as a starter. The arm action is bad enough that teams are worried that another injury is only waiting to happen, but a team might want to take a shot on his natural arm strength after the tenth round.

 

VIDEO

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Last: 479

Jake Miller

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Newbury Park (Calif.) HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: San Diego

Scouting Report: Miller teamed with Carson Lambert to give Newbury Park one of the top rotations in Southern California this spring. He went 5-3, 2.43 as the Panthers’ top starter with 62 strikeouts in 54.2 innings, including a solid showing opposite Nick Nastrini at the Boras Classic. Miller sits 88-90 mph and touches 92 out of his sturdy 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame and holds his velocity late in games. He shows feel to spin both a 77-80 mph slider and 70-72 mph curveball, and his 78-80 mph changeup generates swings and misses. Miller’s control can be scattered but is slowly improving. He’s a good athlete who played shortstop and hit .384 when he wasn’t pitching. Miller’s not-quite-ready velocity and unrefined control means he likely ends up honoring his commitment to San Diego, but a few teams are interested.

 

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Last: 480

Jonny Cuevas

HS 3B/RHP

Notes:

School: Palm Desert (Calif.) HS

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Southern California

Scouting Report: Cuevas served as the No. 2 starter behind Jeremiah Estrada on the Palm Desert (Calif.) High team that made the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 title game in 2017. With Estrada gone after being drafted by the Cubs in the sixth round, Cuevas stepped into the spotlight and went 5-3, 2.11 on the mound and hit .452 to lead the Aztecs to their 10th straight league title. Cuevas is more experienced at third base, but on the mound is where pro teams want him. A 6-foot-1, 200-pound righthander, Cuevas brings premium arm strength with a fastball up to 93 mph and evaluators think there is more velocity to come as he gains experience and cleans up his raw mechanics. He also shows feel to spin a promising slider. Cuevas began moving up draft boards late, with most teams viewing him as a day-three selection. He is committed to Southern California.

 

486

Last: 397

Brady Allen

HS OF/LHP

Notes:

School: Jenkins HS, Lakeland, Fla.

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-L | Commit/Drafted: South Carolina

Scouting Report: A two-way player committed to South Carolina, Allen plays center field for Jenkins (Lakeland, Fla.) High and also pitches, throwing in the 88-89 mph range from the left side. As a position player, Allen is a fringy defender who has some natural athleticism, but has also thickened up and added a lot of strength over the offseason, which has caused him to stiffen up. He’s shown some real swing and miss concerns as well, in front of a huge crowd of scouts at the National High School Invitational this March. He could profile as a corner bat, but hasn’t shown the power or hit tool to match that defensive position at this point and might be better served to make it to campus and improve on both sides of the ball. He shouldn’t figure into most teams draft boards until after the first 10 rounds.

 

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Coy Cobb

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Katy (Texas) HS

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Texas

Scouting Report: Cobb, a Texas signee, has all the building blocks to either be a useful pro starter or a stalwart for the Longhorns. He mixes an 88-92 mph fastball and a promising high-70s slider, both of which have potential to develop into above-average offerings. He also has shown the feel for dropping in an early-count slow curve. Cobb is a pretty developed pitcher, but scouts do worry a bit about the effort he uses to get to to his velocity.

 

488

Last: 482

Bryan Warzak

4YR LHP

Notes:

School: New Orleans

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 190 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Warzek has been one of the most dominating pitchers in the Southland Conference this year. His 124 strikeouts ranked first in the Southland and 11th in Division I as of May 26. Scouts generally believe that Warzek’s pro future will end up being in the bullpen. His delivery has some effort to it and he’s a 6-foot lefty who works hard to generate 91-95 mph fastballs. He has a breaking ball that flashes above-average at its best, but has too much inconsistency to be deemed a reliable pitch just yet.

 

489

Last: 483

Will Freeman

JC RHP/OF

Notes:

School: Jones County (Miss.) JC

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 213 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Alabama

Scouting Report: Freeman has been a standout for Jones County (Miss.) JC for two seasons and also impressed scouts in the Prospect League last summer. He has a useful four-pitch repertoire with a changeup he can mix in to keep lefties honest and a slider and curveball he uses to attack righthanders. Freeman’s velocity took a small step back this year, as he doesn’t touch 93-94 as often as he did in 2017, generally sitting in the 89-91 range this year. He’s signed to go to Alabama if he doesn’t sign with a pro team.

 

490

Last: 484

Drew Bianco

HS SS/3B

Notes:

School: Oxford (Miss.) HS

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Louisiana State

Scouting Report: The son of Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco, Drew is following in his father’s footsteps, but he’s not going to play for his dad. Instead he’s signed with Louisiana State, his father’s alma mater, as parents Mike and Camille decided long ago than if any of their sons were able to play college baseball, they’d play for someone other than Mike. Drew is a high school shortstop who will likely slide to third base in college and eventually in pro ball. His best attribute is his bat, as he has plenty of bat speed and an advanced approach that uses the whole field.

 

491

Last: 485

Regi Grace

HS RHP

Notes:

School: Madison (Miss.) Central HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 215 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Mississippi State

Scouting Report: After helping lead Madison (Miss.) Central High to a state title as a sophomore, Grace was shut down as a junior thanks to a back injury that required him to wear a back brace for months. He got back on the mound this year and showed no signs of rust. He sits 88-90 mph, but he can touch 92-93 right now with room for further velocity gains. His breaking ball has good spin but needs to get shorter and tighter. He’s signed with Mississippi State.

 

492

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Dylan Hardy

4YR OF

Notes:

School: South Alabama

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 175 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Hardy has been the Jaguars’ leading hitter in each of the last two years. He is an aggressive hitter and takes advantage of his above-average speed with his approach at the plate. Listed at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, he is undersized but packs some juice in his bat. Hardy has the speed to handle center field but plays left field in deference to Travis Swaggerty. That makes for a tough profile, but a team that values his speed and hitability could see him in a mold similar to previous South Alabama standout Cole Billingsley.

 

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Last: 488

Jaren Shelby

JC OF

Notes:

School: State JC of Florida

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Shelby is the youngest son of former big leaguer John Shelby. He’ll likely become the fourth Shelby son to be drafted, joining John T. (2005 5th round, White Sox), Jeremy (2010 38th round, Orioles) and JaVon (2013 5th round, Athletics). Shelby is signed to go to Kentucky next year where his older brother John T. is now a coach. He is hitting .343/.490/.602 for State College (Fla.) JC this year with 11 home runs and 35 stolen bases. Shelby isn’t a true burner, as he’s a 55 runner, but he knows how to pick his spots to steal. Shelby’s below-average arm fits best in left field. There’s too much swing-and-miss in his game, but he does draw walks and there’s average power potential as well.

 

VIDEO

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Last: 489

Brendan Donovan

4YR INF/OF

Notes:

School: South Alabama

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195 | B-T: L-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Donovan has been a staple in the South Alabama lineup throughout his career and has consistently been one of the Jaguars’ top hitters. He produces a lot of hard contact and is a disciplined hitter who knows how to work walks. The lefthanded hitter has a swing more geared for line drives than driving balls over the fence and his power mostly plays as doubles pop. Donovan has played a few different positions in his career and has this spring provided solid defense at third base. He should be able to stick in the infield, either at second or third base.

 

495

Dallas Duarte

HS C

Notes:

School: Kamehameha HS, Kea’au, Hawaii

Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Hawaii

Scouting Report: Duarte emerged this spring as Hawaii’s second-best prep prospect behind Micah Bello. A 5-foot-9, 180-pound catcher, Duarte is a good athlete who is advanced for his age behind the plate. His blocking and receiving are both good enough for him to start as a college freshman, and his solid-average arm strength plays up with a quick release and sound arm action. Duarte is an average runner, rare for a catcher, and he is a spray hitter with a compact swing at the plate. Duarte has the athleticism and hands to play second base, third base, and both corner outfield spots as needed. His body and athletic versatility invite comparisons to Rangers utilityman and fellow Hawaiian Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Duarte is committed to Hawaii, but projects to be picked on the draft’s third day.

 

496

Last: 491

Austin Havekost

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Kent State

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 210 | B-T: -R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Havekost redshirted as a freshman in 2016 and has since emerged as a key arm out of the Kent State bullpen. Listed at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, he throws his fastball in the low 90s and touches 95 mph. He mixes in a sharp split-change and a slider. He pounds the strike zone with both offspeed offerings and pitches with above-average control.

 

497

Last: 492

Dylan Thomas

4YR RHP

Notes:

School: Hawaii

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Thomas won the Big West Conference freshman pitcher of the year award as Hawaii’s closer in 2017 and followed up this spring with a school-record 14 saves. A 6-foot-4 redshirt sophomore, Thomas throws his slider almost exclusively. Opponents know his slider is coming and still can’t touch it. Thomas’ slider is a short, tight offering he commands, and it finishes with late life and a downward burst that leaves both lefties and righties swinging over top. He can both land the offering for strikes and expand the zone with it. Thomas’ fastball sits 87-88 mph and touches 90, but he rarely uses it. It’s all slider, all the time. Thomas is scheduled to pitch in the Cape Cod League this summer and has the option to return to school, but he is expected to sign if the offer is right.

 

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Tony Bullard

HS RHP/3B/SS

Notes:

School: North HS, Riverside, Calif.

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Arizona

Scouting Report: Bullard has long been one of Southern California’s top prep power hitters, bashing 32 doubles and 19 home runs in his career while playing elite completion in the CIF-Southern Section’s top division. Bullard is a physically intimidating presence in the batter’s box at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds. He uses his long arms and natural strength to create tremendous leverage and plus power, particularly to his pull-side. Even with his long limbs, Bullard shows the bat speed and timing to get to upper-level velocity, although his swing is rigid at times. Bullard primarily plays third base but is poor defensively with a thick lower half, slow feet and suspect coordination, making him a long-term first baseman. He also pitches with an 86-90 mph fastball and a decent curveball, but his future is as a middle-of-the-order power hitter. Bullard is committed to Arizona, where he is slated to play both ways as a corner infielder and reliever.

 

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Joey O'Brien

JC RHP

Notes:

School: JC of Southern Nevada

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Hawaii

Scouting Report: O’Brien has a Division I commitment to Hawaii, is eligible for the MLB draft, and is also eligible for the Japanese pro baseball (NPB) draft. The son of a U.S. Marine who was stationed in Okinawa and stayed after marrying a local Japanese woman, O’Brien grew up in Japan and came to the U.S. last year in order to play baseball. His brother, Richard, was drafted in the third round of the NPB draft by Softbank last year. O’Brien plays both ways, but teams want him as a pitcher due to his premium arm strength. O’Brien stands 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and sits 93-94 mph, touching 96 with little effort. He throws strikes and has a fresh arm as someone relatively new to pitching. O’Brien is a good athlete who bats for himself and plays center field on days he doesn’t pitch, and he hit .330 with nine home runs batting in the middle of CSN’s order. His arm strength and athleticism have teams interested on the draft’s third day.

 

500

Simon Landry

JC 1B

Notes:

School: Pearl River (Miss.) JC

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Every year, at least one player pops out of the Mississippi junior college circuit. Last year it was Rangers’ eighth-round pick Tyreque Reed. This year it’s likely to be Landry, who hit .392/.447/.880 with 19 home runs this spring for the Wildcats. Landry’s raw power earns 70 grades from scouts and he has a simple swing that gives him a chance to be an fringe-average hitter as well. Landry is a righthanded hitting first baseman who is a below-average runner and his below-average speed limits his ability to slide to the outfield, so there’s somewhat of a ceiling on how high he can be drafted, but his power is real, which could sneak him into the back of day two of the draft.

[TheHurl]

Feel free to contribute to the unemployed guys subscription anytime..your welcome

[BlueRocky]

So who should I irrationally be hoping falls to #12?

Irrationally? Liberatore.

 

It really just depends on who's available at the pick. If any one of India, Kelenic, or Swaggerty are still there, I can't see the Jays passing on that opportunity to take one of them.

 

They'll go BPA, though, so if it's a pitcher that's the highest remaining available player on their draft board, then that's who they'll take.

 

What about Nolan Gorman?

[Brownie19]

Gilbert sounds a lot like T.J. Zeuch to me.

[Spanky99]

Feel free to contribute to the unemployed guys subscription anytime..your welcome

 

Champion!

[TwistedLogic]

I will post the BA 500 unedited. I looked at the list and thought it was the same as before when I posted it but I've now spotted some differences. It will be in chunks, as it is about 600,000 characters and 70k is the max. Please don't quote the entire thing.

 

If you could go back and wipe the quotes by SAAviour and King I'm sure it'll help the people trying to scan this thread on mobile or lower power browsers.

 

I'm personally not getting any lag with the forum in terms of loading pages, but I'm seeing a huge delay in when comments actually appear and triggering the "read/unread" status modes on the main page.

[BlueRocky]

Gilbert sounds a lot like T.J. Zeuch to me.

 

Think Gilbert had a better season and more strikeout ability. He set a school record with 143 strikeouts in 2018.

 

Edit: 157 now based on https://d1baseball.com/player/i0CSXXjF/logan-gilbert/

And http://lastwordonbaseball.com/2018/06/04/logan-gilbert-2018-mlb-draft-profile/

[jays4life19]

Man I'm so pumped for this!

[BlueRocky]

Watch it’s gonna be someone we never expected Edited June 4, 2018 by BlueRocky

[Ray]

Gilbert actually has more K, a lower WHIP, and a lower H/9 than Casey Mize. Granted Mize is in the SEC which is the best conference in college, but Gilbert would still be a fine get at #12. I'd rather have him over other college arms that are probably gonna be left at #12.

 

Still holding out hope for one of India, Swaggerty, or Kelenic though.

[Ray]

Final BA Mock Draft has us taking Travis Swaggerty

[jays4life19]

Final BA Mock Draft has us taking Travis Swaggerty

 

My body is ready for this to happen

[Spanky99]

My body is ready for this to happen

 

lol... Callis has us taking him, too.

[jays4life19]

I am so hard right now

[Littlemoon]

Only here for rating dudes

[Captain Adama]

I don't know anything about anyone.

[burlingtonbandit]

I'm pretty excited for this. If the Mets take Naylor that means Swagerty/Kelenic should be there when Jays pick. Wonder if they can get them below slot as well.

[Littlemoon]

I dont either! I give the bros 6/10. The uglier one 5/10

[Littlemoon]

Swaggerty = 5/10

[jays4life19]

Mods please ban ^

[Littlemoon]

Not my fault he isn't sexy. Too bad Jay

[Littlemoon]

Dude called carter stewart... 3/10

[Daniel Labude]

Gorman

Beer

Pompey

[TwistedLogic]

Working on this thread while working at the same time, new job is pretty time consuming. I don't know if I have enough time this year to manage the Baseball America Top 500 this year, not with how little time is left until the draft and how much formatting it'll take now that BA no longer has a list but instead includes scouting reports with everybody.

 

I'm keeping the MLB 200 going this year and I'll switch out BA with FanGraphs Top 100.

[Slade]

This is just a list of every player we've been linked to at some point this spring.

 

 

College Pitchers

Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss

Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson

Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida

Shane McClanahan, LHP, USF

 

College Position Players

Trevor Larnach, RF, Oregon State

Travis Swaggerty, CF, South Alabama

 

 

High School Position Players

Nolan Gorman, 3B, O’Connor HS (AZ)

Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha HS (WI)

Jordyn Adams, CF, Green Hope HS (NC)

Xavier Edwards, 2B, North Broward Prep HS (FL)

Jordan Groshans, 3B, Magnolia HS (TX)

Noah Naylor, C, St. Joan of Arc HS (CAN)

 

 

High School Pitchers

Ethan Hankins, RHP, Forsyth Central HS (GA)

Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (CA)

Mason Denaburg, RHP, Merritt Island HS (FL)

Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS (GA)

Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Central Heights HS

[Ray]

Callis, Mayo, and Baseball-America all have us taking Swaggerty now...

 

Noah Naylor also surprisingly moved up on the board to the Mets. He has to have a deal worked out.