MLB 2021 Draft

[BlueRocky]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-mlb-mock-draft-way-too-early-top-10-picks/

2021 MLB Mock Draft: 'Way Too Early' Top 10 Picks

 

By Carlos Collazo

on June 12, 2020

 

You don’t need to tell us how insane it is to put out a 2021 mock draft the day after we wrapped up the 2020 draft. We know it’s crazy. But at Baseball America, sometimes we like to get a bit crazy with prospects.

 

That’s why, like the last two years, we’re giving you our best guess at a top 10 for the 2021 draft with a year to go before we get there. With no baseball going on, we can’t work off of the reverse order of the current standings. So we’re using the 2020 projected standings from Fangraphs.com to determine our order for these purposes.

 

1. Orioles — Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

Rocker has the size and stuff of a 1-1 collegiate arm. He was the highest-ranked player to get to campus after the 2018 draft, has a fastball that gets into the upper-90s and a filthy slider to go along with it. He’s exceptionally physical at 6-foot-4, 255-pounds and stepped into a weekend role as a freshman in 2019, where he went 12-5, 3.25 with 114 strikeouts to 21 walks and was named Freshman of the Year.

 

2. Mariners — Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

Leiter should compete with teammate Rocker to be the highest-drafted Vanderbilt pitcher next year. The son of former major leaguer Al, Leiter was a no-doubt first-round talent coming out of high school, but questions about his price tag meant he got to campus, where he quickly showed his stuff and pitchability was overwhelming for collegiate hitters. In three starts and four games, Leiter went 2-0, 1.72 with 22 strikeouts and eight walks in 15.2 innings. He attacks hitters with good tempo, solid fastball command and a hammer curveball.

 

3. Tigers — Brady House, SS/RHP, Winder-Barrow HS, Winder, Ga

 

House is the No. 1 ranked player in the high school class and comes with power tools and a power frame. A shortstop and righthander, House probably has more upside as a hitter even if he might have to move to third base or outfield in the future. “A premium body with tremendous feel to hit at the plate,” one scout said. “His only tool in question is his speed. Otherwise, it’s premium tools and skills.”

 

4. Marlins — Adrian Del Castillo, C, Miami

 

Del Castillo’s bat was his calling card going back to his high school days, where scouts pointed out that he had a worn spot on the sweet spot of his wood bat because he was able to consistently place the barrel head on the ball. His feel for hitting is exceptional, and he’s proven that over a year-plus with Miami, posting a .336/.430/.571 line with more walks than strikeouts and 14 home runs. His is a fairly complete offensive profile. If he can stick at catcher, that’s a cherry on top, but he’s also shown he has the athleticism to play in the outfield.

 

5. Pirates — Matt McLain, SS, UCLA

 

McLain was drafted in the back of the first round by the Diamondbacks in 2018, but opted to not sign and went to UCLA. Scouts think that move is paying off for him, as he was off to an exceptional start in the 2020 season, hitting .397/.422/.622 through 13 games, building on an all-star summer in the Cape Cod League. He’s tapped into more power than expected out of high school, and has a good combination of speed, defensive ability at an up the middle position—shortstop, second and center field are all potential homes. He’ll have to keep hitting to go here, but scouts think he’s in the mix among the best players in the class.

 

6. Giants — Jud Fabian, OF, Florida

 

Fabian was originally a member of the 2019 draft class, but enrolled early at Florida and started 54 games in center field for the Gators after doing so. He’s got quick hands at the plate and has started to experiment with switch-hitting, though his natural side is on the right. Fabian is a good runner with the frame to add more power as he continues to fill out.

 

7. Royals — Jaden Hill, RHP, LSU

 

Hill was part of the loaded 2018 prep pitching class, and out of high school he had elite athleticism, a projectable 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame and a loud fastball/changeup combination. He’s only thrown 21.2 innings in a year plus with LSU and missed most of his freshman year with a right elbow strain. But he returned healthy this spring and looked dominant. He’s figured out a slider that could be a game-changer for him moving forward. He’ll start for the Tigers next year, likely at the front of their rotation, and if he continues to perform in the role with his pure stuff and frame should go good. He’s posted a 0.83 ERA with 11.6 strikeouts per nine and 3.3 walks per nine in his LSU career.

 

8. Blue Jays — Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State

 

Cowser was the first Southland Conference player since Michael Choice in 2010 to be named to the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list. That was thanks to a tremendous freshman season, where he hit .361/.450/.602 with seven home runs and 17 doubles and then impressed with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. He’s a pure hitter with a loose lefthanded swing. Filling out physically and adding more power to his game will help him shoot up boards next spring.

 

9. Rockies — Luke Leto, SS/RHP, Portage (Mich.) Central HS

 

Like House, Leto is a physical two-way player with potential on both sides of the ball. He has good bat speed and power potential as a hitter and a fastball that gets into the low-90s with a good curveball.

 

10. Rangers — Braylon Bishop, OF, Arkansas HS, Texarkana, Ark.

 

Bishop has been a famous name for a long time, first appearing in Baseball America as a 15-year old who stole the show as an underclassmen at a Perfect Game MLK Tournament in Arizona. Bishop has legitimate five-tool potential with plenty of athleticism, speed and power potential in center field.

[BlueRocky]

The Top 10 in 2021 doesn’t look quite as strong as 2020, but it’s still very early and names can emerge. Sources speculate it’s going to be a deep draft, with many undrafted players in 2020 heading back to college.

 

The undrafted 2020 prep class can either enter JUCO and be eligible in 2021, or commit to college and be eligible 2022 or 2023 depending on their age. The trickle down effect of the pandemic will be felt for a few years as there’s more players than roster spots available, and fewer scholarships due to loss revenues in 2020 and returning players with extended draft eligibility.

 

Unfortunately this draft will be even less scouted than 2020, with the season cancelled and no summer showcases. There might be some kind of fall or winter showcase to compensate, depending on pandemic situation. A lot of weight will be placed on the 12-16 weeks leading up to the June draft, which is currently agreed to be only 20 rounds.

Edited June 14, 2020 by BlueRocky

[Ziggyy108]

I wonder how the draft order will be determined if there is no season

[BlueRocky]

If there’s less than 81 games this season, MLB commissioner will have the right to keep last year’s draft order and make some “good faith” adjustments.

 

If they just use last year’s order the Blue Jays get another fifth overall pick.

 

Making a draft order based on a 48 game season makes no sense, it will be tank wars between Detroit, Baltimore, Marlins, etc.

 

But if they average out the win total between 2017, 2018, 2019 and create a draft order, we’d see something like this:

 

1. Tigers (58.3 wins)

2. Orioles (58.6 wins)

3. Marlins (65.67 wins tied)

4. Royals (65.67 wins tied)

5. White Sox (67 wins)

6. Padres (69 wins)

7. Reds (70 wins)

8. Giants (71.33 wins)

9. Blue Jays (72 wins)

10. Rangers (74.33 wins)

11. Pirates (75.33 wins)

12. Phillies (75.66 wins)

Edited June 14, 2020 by BlueRocky

[THANOS]

If there’s less than 81 games this season, MLB commissioner will have the right to keep last year’s draft order and make some “good faith” adjustments.

 

If they just use last year’s order the Blue Jays get another fifth overall pick.

 

Making a draft order based on a 48 game season makes no sense, it will be tank wars between Detroit, Baltimore, Marlins, etc.

 

But if they average out the win total between 2017, 2018, 2019 and create a draft order, we’d see something like this:

 

1. Tigers (58.3 wins)

2. Orioles (58.6 wins)

3. Marlins (65.67 wins tied)

4. Royals (65.67 wins tied)

5. White Sox (67 wins)

6. Padres (69 wins)

7. Reds (70 wins)

8. Giants (71.33 wins)

9. Blue Jays (72 wins)

10. Rangers (74.33 wins)

11. Pirates (75.33 wins)

12. Phillies (75.66 wins)

 

Could just add this season's wins to last season to determine the draft order?

[Bobthe4th]

Could just add this season's wins to last season to determine the draft order?

 

Seems the fairest way if it’s only a 50 game season.

[BlueRocky]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2895880-2021-mlb-mock-draft-early-predictions-for-top-1st-round-baseball-prospects

 

A couple familiar names here, guys that were in the 2020 class and names from past drafts:

Tommy Mace, RHP, Florida

Jack Leftwich, RHP, Florida

Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss

Seth Lonsway, LHP, Ohio State

Mason Erla, RHP, Michigan State

Kevin Abel, RHP, Oregon State

Andrew Abbott, LHP, Virginia

[BlueRocky]

[King]

http://perfectgame.tv/

 

PG National Live Stream

 

First game starts at 11:45 AM ET. Second game at 3 PM ET. All week through Sunday

[TheHurl]

Could just add this season's wins to last season to determine the draft order?

 

Tigers could go 50-0...have no one else play and they would still be picking 24th...how great is that

[King]

http://perfectgame.tv/

 

PG National Live Stream

 

First game starts at 11:45 AM ET. Second game at 3 PM ET. All week through Sunday

add one hour to those times

[BlueRocky]

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/top-2021-mlb-draft-prospects

 

1. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt

2. Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

3. Brady House, 3B/RHP, Winder-Barrow HS (Ga.)

4. Jud Fabian, OF, Florida

5. Christian Little, RHP, Christian Brothers HS (Mo.)

6. Braylon Bishop, OF, Arkansas HS (Ark.)

7. Matt McLain, SS/OF, UCLA

8. Luke Leto, SS/RHP, Portage Central HS (Mich.)

9. Adrian Del Castillo, C, Miami

10. Tyree Reed, OF, American Canyon HS (Calif.)

11. Izaac Pacheco, SS/3B, Friendswood HS (Tex.)

12. Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville

13. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS (Calif.)

14. Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss

15. Jaden Hill, RHP, LSU

16. Ian Moller, C, Wahlert HS (Iowa)

17. Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State

18. Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College

19. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep HS (Texas)

20. Ethan Wilson, OF, South Alabama

[Krylian]

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/top-2021-mlb-draft-prospects

 

1. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt

2. Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

3. Brady House, 3B/RHP, Winder-Barrow HS (Ga.)

4. Jud Fabian, OF, Florida

5. Christian Little, RHP, Christian Brothers HS (Mo.)

6. Braylon Bishop, OF, Arkansas HS (Ark.)

7. Matt McLain, SS/OF, UCLA

8. Luke Leto, SS/RHP, Portage Central HS (Mich.)

9. Adrian Del Castillo, C, Miami

10. Tyree Reed, OF, American Canyon HS (Calif.)

11. Izaac Pacheco, SS/3B, Friendswood HS (Tex.)

12. Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville

13. Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS (Calif.)

14. Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss

15. Jaden Hill, RHP, LSU

16. Ian Moller, C, Wahlert HS (Iowa)

17. Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State

18. Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College

19. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep HS (Texas)

20. Ethan Wilson, OF, South Alabama

 

 

How many of those 20 will drop right out of the first round when the draft rolls around next year?

I'm going to see 11 aren't 1st rounders next year.

[BlueRocky]

Easily half of them. Draft rankings are super volatile around this time of the year, 2021 class especially so with the circumstances around scouting.

 

We had guys like Dylan Crews, Blaze Jordan, Jordan Walker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Casey Martin, and Cole Wilcox really highly ranked 12 months ago.

[BlueRocky]

 

OF Benny Montgomery

6-4, 200 lbs

R/R, Age: 17.7

 

Category/result/percentile%

Exit Velo: 103 MPH. 99.97%

60-yard: 6.32s. 99.68%

OF Throw: T97 MPH. 99.84%

Max Barrel speed: 84.79 MPH. 99.91%

 

 

Benny Montgomery is crushing at the PG Nationals. Will see how he does leading up to next year’s draft, looking like plus tools across the board.

[Plat]

How is the draft gonna play out if the 2020 season doesn't get player due to either the pandemic or a lockout? same order as this years draft?

[Vdubfan]

I’ve wondered if they would combine 2018 and 3019 records to determine a draft order? Or possible have a draft lottery.

 

I believe the Jays would pick 7th if it was 2018+2019.

[THANOS]

I’ve wondered if they would combine 2018 and 3019 records to determine a draft order? Or possible have a draft lottery.

 

I believe the Jays would pick 7th if it was 2018+2019.

 

If they don't have a season, I assume it would be the same order as last season, but if they do, imo, it would make the most sense to add 2020 record to 2019 to determine the order.

[Daniel Labude]

I hope we get Jud Fabian

[BlueRocky]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-mlb-draft-top-high-school-college-prospects/

 

2021 MLB Draft: Top High School, College Prospects

By Carlos Collazo on July 8, 2020

 

With the 2020 draft now in the rearview mirror, we’re moving ahead to the 2021 class, and today have updated rankings for the top 100 high school and college players in the class, which you can find below.

 

The 2021 class will be impacted by the novel coronavirus just as the 2020 class was, though the full degree to which the class is impacted is yet to be determined. Certainly the summer evaluation period has been disrupted, with no Cape Cod League, no USA Baseball teams and limitations on how many scouts per club can attend events.

 

Because of the altered summer and the shortened spring, teams could take longer than usual to get a nuanced feel for the class as a whole, and the industry consensus on players could be much further apart. In any year, though, the summer is just the starting point and much is sure to change in the future.

 

For now, the 2021 class looks solid, and the artificial depth created by a five-round 2020 draft is sure to help on the back end. Currently, 22 players who were eligible in 2020 are among the 2021 top 100, including Ohio State lefthander Seth Lonsway and Florida righthander Tommy Mace.

 

At the top, the college class is led by high-octane and polished Vanderbilt arms Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, as well as a trio of potential up-the-middle bats in Miami catcher Adrian Del Castillo, UCLA shortstop Matt McLain and Florida outfielder Jud Fabian.

 

On the high school side, the class is led by physical Georgia toolshed Brady House, who has loud power as a hitter and a huge arm on the mound, though at this point most evaluators seem to prefer his significant upside as a position player.

 

Arms have stood out early on in the process for the preps, with loud performances from Alabama lefthander Maddux Bruns, Missouri righthander Christian Little and Tennessee righthander Chase Burns, among others. Scouts have been impressed with the pure velocity and stuff that the 2021 prep class is showing, though that tends to be the case at early events in shorter outings.

 

On the position player side, there are plenty of shortstops and center fielders with athleticism and tools, which gives the class impact potential at the top, but evaluators are still trying to get a better gauge on hit tools.

 

This is only the start of a year-long process, but for now the 2021 class looks like another strong one.

Top 2021 College MLB Draft Prospects

 

Baseball America’s 2021 four-year college rankings are compiled in consultation with major league scouts.

 

The depth of this year’s college class will be artificially inflated thanks to the five-round 2020 draft and the large number of eligible players who were passed over and go back into the mix for 2021. Questions of sample size will be a question for almost every player in the class, as typically most players have two full seasons of college ball in addition to summer history.

 

With the spring season cut to just four weeks, many scouts don’t believe they have as complete a picture of the class at this point as they typically would, which will increase the importance of any looks teams are able to get over the summer in regional summer leagues (where they are being played) and during fall ball.

 

Vanderbilt righthander Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter top the 2021 college prospects, as both have easy first-round stuff dating back to their prep days and loud collegiate performance despite limited sample sizes.

 

Miami catcher Adrian Del Castillo, UCLA shortstop Matt McLain and Florida outfielder Jud Fabian are the top three hitters in the class. All have exciting offensive upside and the potential to stick in premium, up-the-middle defensive positions.

 

You can see the entire top 100 below, with capsules on the top 10 players in the class.

 

*We are currently using June 5, 2021 as the date to determine draft age until the official draft date is set.

 

Updated on: 7/8/2020

1

Kumar Rocker

VanderbiltRHP

 

2

Jack Leiter

VanderbiltRHP

 

3

Adrian Del Castillo

MiamiC

 

4

Matt McLain

UCLASS/OF

 

5

Jud Fabian

FloridaOF

 

 

6

Jaden Hill

Louisiana StateRHP

 

7

Colton Cowser

Sam Houston StateOF

 

 

8

Steven Hajjar

MichiganLHP

 

9

Alex Binelas

LouisvilleINF

 

10

Ethan Wilson

South AlabamaOF

 

11

Gunnar Hoglund

MississippiRHP

 

 

12

Robby Martin

Florida StateOF

 

13

Henry Davis

LouisvilleC

 

14

Christian Franklin

ArkansasOF

 

15

Ty Madden

TexasRHP

 

16

Levi Usher

LouisvilleOF

 

17

Sal Frelick

Boston CollegeOF

 

18

Mike Vasil

VirginiaRHP

 

19

Cody Morissette

Boston CollegeSS

 

20

Jonathan Cannon

GeorgiaRHP

 

21

Seth Lonsway

Ohio StateLHP

 

22

Tommy Mace

FloridaRHP

 

 

23

Kevin Abel

Oregon StateRHP

 

24

Landon Marceaux

Louisiana StateRHP

 

25

Mason Pelio

Boston CollegeRHP

 

 

26

Ben Specht

FloridaRHP

 

27

Eric Cerantola

Mississippi StateRHP

 

28

Ryan Cusick

Wake ForestRHP

 

29

Jack Perkins

LouisvilleRHP

 

30

Mason Black

LehighRHP

 

31

Zack Gelof

VirginiaSS

 

32

Gavin Williams

East CarolinaRHP

 

33

Brant Hurter

Georiga TechLHP

 

34

Hunter Goodman

MemphisOF

 

35

Doug Nikhazy

MississippiLHP/OF

 

 

36

Jonathan Childress

Texas A&MLHP

 

37

Sean Burke

MarylandRHP

 

38

Noah Cardenas

UCLAC

 

39

Cooper Stinson

DukeRHP

 

40

Sean Sullivan

CaliforniaRHP

 

41

Trenton Denholm

UC IrvineRHP

 

 

42

Tyler Thornton

Arizona StateRHP

 

43

Nick Nastrini

UCLARHP

 

44

Isaiah Thomas

VanderbiltOF

 

45

Luke Bartnicki

Georgia TechLHP

 

46

Max Ferguson

TennesseeSS/3B

 

47

Ryan Bliss

AuburnSS

 

48

Davis Sharpe

ClemsonRHP

 

49

Casey Opitz

ArkansasC

 

 

50

Luke Waddell

Georgia TechSS

 

 

51

Andrew Abbott

VirginiaLHP

 

52

Riley Cornelio

Texas ChristianRHP

 

53

Jamal O'Guinn

Southern California3B

 

 

54

Parker Chavers

Coastal CarolinaOF

 

 

55

Hugh Fisher

VanderbiltLHP

 

56

Jack Leftwich

FloridaRHP

 

57

JT Schwartz

UCLAINF

 

58

Ryan Holgate

ArizonaOF

 

59

Kendrick Calilao

FloridaOF

 

60

JP Massey

MinnesotaRHP

 

61

Ethan Murray

DukeSS

 

62

Mason Montgomery

Texas TechLHP

 

63

Michael Kirian

LouisvilleLHP

 

64

Alex Toral

Miami1B

 

65

Garrett Burhenn

Ohio StateRHP

 

66

Wyatt Young

PepperdineSS

 

 

67

Carson Seymour

Kansas StateRHP

 

68

Danny Serretti

North CarolinaINF

 

69

Jake Rucker

TennesseeSS

 

70

Christian Scott

FloridaRHP

 

71

Sam Bachman

Miami (Ohio)RHP

 

72

Jared Poland

LouisvilleINF

 

73

Chris Weber

Texas A&MLHP

 

74

CJ Rodriguez

VanderbiltC

 

75

Kolby Kubichek

TexasRHP

 

76

Aidan Maldonado

IllinoisRHP

 

77

Tyler Ras

AlabamaRHP/OF

 

78

Reese Albert

Florida StateOF

 

79

Patrick Wicklander

ArkansasLHP

 

80

Tanner Bibee

Cal State FullertonRHP

 

81

TJ Reeves

AlabamaOF

 

82

Alex Williams

StanfordRHP

 

83

Nic Kent

VirginiaSS

 

84

Rodney Boone

UC Santa BarbaraLHP

 

85

Tyler Black

Wright State2B

 

86

JP Gates

MiamiLHP

 

87

Thomas Farr

South CarolinaRHP

 

88

Maxwell Costes

Maryland1B

 

89

Niko Kavadas

Notre Dame1B

 

 

90

Brandon Smith

Mississippi StateRHP

 

91

Mason Erla

Michigan StateRHP

 

92

Elijah Cabell

Florida StateOF

 

93

Austin Becker

Texas TechRHP

 

94

Garrett Wade

AuburnLHP

 

95

Mac Bingham

ArizonaOF

 

96

Josh Hood

PennsylvaniaSS

 

97

Steven Williams

AuburnOF

 

98

David Luethje

FloridaRHP

 

99

Brandon Neeck

VirginiaLHP

 

100

Joe Charles

North CarolinaRHP

Top 2021 High School MLB Draft Prospects

Brady House Billmitchell

Brady House (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

By Carlos Collazo

 

Baseball America’s 2021 high school rankings are compiled in consultation with major league scouts.

 

The 2021 high school class has fewer scouting eyes on it at this point in the summer than most years, thanks to coronavirus scouting rules that limit just three scouts per team at any event. Still, the summer showcase season is progressing typically than the college side of things, and evaluators have been able to get their first real looks at the class.

 

Brady House leads the 2021 prep rankings, as he did as an underclassmen, and the top 10 is filled with a number of toolsy and athletic position players who all have chances to stick at up-the-middle positions. However, hit tools are typically difficult to evaluate at the beginning of the summer and that could be even true in a year where most players had seasons cut short and many didn’t play at all in the spring.

 

The power arms of the 2021 class have intrigued scouts to this point, and evaluators have lauded the velocity and pure stuff that many of the pitchers in this class possess. Lefthander Maddux Bruns jumped to No. 2 thanks to a very loud opening to the summer and is the top-ranked arm in the class at the moment.

 

You can see the entire top 100 below, with capsules on the top 10 players in the class.

 

*We are currently using June 5, 2021 as the date to determine draft age until the official draft date is set.

 

Position

 

All

Keyword

FILTER

100 Matches

EXPAND ALL

Updated on: 7/8/2020

1

Brady House

Winder-Barrow HS, Winder, Ga.SS

 

 

2

Maddux Bruns

UMS-Wright Prep, Mobile, Ala.LHP

 

 

3

Christian Little

Christian Brothers College, St. LouisRHP

 

 

4

Tyree Reed

American Canyon (Calif.) HSOF

 

5

Marcelo Mayer

Eastlake HS, Chula Vista, Calif.SS

 

 

6

Braylon Bishop

Arkansas HS, Texarkana, Ark.OF

 

 

7

Jordan Lawlar

Dallas Jesuit HSSS

 

8

Izaac Pacheco

Friendswood (Texas) HSSS

 

 

9

Ian Moller

Wahlert HS, Dubuque, IowaC

 

 

10

Chase Burns

Station Camp HS, Gallatin, Tenn.RHP

 

11

Andrew Painter

Calvary Christian HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.RHP

 

12

Irving Carter

Calvary Christian HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.RHP

 

 

13

Joshua Hartle

Reagan HS, Pfafftown, N.C.LHP

 

 

14

Luke Leto

Portage (Mich.) Central HSSS

 

15

Brock Selvidge

Hamilton HS, Chandler, Ariz.LHP

 

16

Alonzo Tredwell

Mater Dei HS, Santa Anna, Calif.RHP

 

17

Chase Petty

Mainland Regional HS, Linwood, N.J.RHP

 

18

Benny Montgomery

Red Land HS, Lewisberry, Pa.OF

 

19

Jackson Jobe

Heritage Hall HS, Oklahoma City, Okla.SS/RHP

 

20

Brandon Neely

Spruce Creek HS, Port Orange, Fla.RHP

 

21

Philip Abner

Charlotte Christian HSLHP

 

 

22

Harry Ford

North Cobb HS, Kennesaw, Ga.C

 

23

Camden Hayslip

Friendship Christian HS, Lenanon, Tenn.OF

 

24

Jackson Baumeister

Bolles HS, JacksonvilleC/RHP

 

25

Daylen Lile

Trinity HS, LouisvilleOF

 

26

Edwin Arroyo

Arecibo Baseball Academy, Bajadero, P.R.SS

 

27

Joe Mack

Williamsville East HS, East Amherst, N.Y.C

 

 

28

Braden Montgomery

Madison (Miss.) Central HSOF

 

29

Tommy White

IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.3B

 

30

Michael Robertson

Venice (Fla.) HSOF

 

31

Gage Jump

JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.LHP

 

32

Hagen Smith

Bullard (Texas) HSLHP

 

33

Eric Silva

Laguna Beach (Calif.) HSRHP

 

34

Anthony Susac

Jesuit HS, Carmichael, Calif.RHP

 

35

Christian Moore

Suffield (Conn.) AcademySS

 

36

Cody Schrier

JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.SS

 

 

37

Michael Braswell

Campbell HS, Smyrna, Ga.SS

 

 

38

Max Debiec

O'Dea HS, SeattleRHP

 

39

William "Pico" Kohn

Chilton County HS, Clanton, Ala.LHP

 

40

Michael Morales

East Pennsboro HS, Enola, Pa.RHP

 

41

Alex Mooney

St. Mary Prep, Orchard Lake, Mich.SS

 

42

Jay Allen

Carroll Catholic, Fort Pierce, Fla.OF

 

43

Rawley Hector

Anna (Texas) HSRHP

 

 

44

Luke Hayden

Edgewood HS, Ellettsville, Ind.RHP

 

45

Luke Jewett

JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.RHP

 

46

Jay Woolfolk

Benedictine HS, RichmondSS

 

47

Daniel Corona

Baylor HS, ChattanoogaSS

 

48

James Peyton Smith

East Robertson HS, Cross Plains, Tenn.RHP

 

49

Maxwell Muncy

Thousand Oaks (Calif.) HSSS

 

50

Drake Varnado

IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.SS

 

51

Carter Holton

Benedictine HS, Savannah, Ga.LHP

 

52

Roc Riggio

Thousand Oaks (Calif.) HSOF

 

 

53

Aaron Downs

Heritage Academy, Columbus, Miss.3B

 

54

Noah Smith

Marist HS, ChicagoSS

 

 

55

Kristian Campbell

Walton HS, Marietta, Ga.SS

 

56

Drew Christo

Elkhorn (Neb.) HSRHP

 

57

Malakhi Knight

Archbishop Murphy HS, Everett, Wash.OF

 

58

Matthew Prevesk

Apopka (Fla.) HSOF

 

59

Alex Ulloa

Miami Christian HSSS

 

60

Ryan Johnson

Home SchoolRHP

 

61

Jordan McCants

Pensacola (Fla.) Catholic HSSS

 

62

Lorenzo Carrier

Appoquinimink HS, West Middletown, Del.OF

 

63

Thomas DiLandri

Palo Verde HS, Las VegasOF

 

64

Grant Taylor

Florence (Ala.) HSRHP

 

65

Jayden Melendez

Westminster Christian HS, MiamiC

 

66

Ryan Spikes

Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga.SS

 

67

Colson Montgomery

Southridge HS, Huntingburg, Ind.SS

 

68

Connor Simon

St. Paul's HS, Covington, La.SS

 

69

Davis Diaz

Acalanes HS, Lafayette, Calif.SS

 

70

Hunter Elliott

Tupelo (Miss.) HSLHP

 

71

Thaddeus Ector

Starr's Mill HS, Fayetteville, Ga.OF

 

72

Chase Jans

Blue Valley HS, Stilwell, Kan.OF

 

73

Bubba Chandler

North Oconee HS, Bogart, Ga.RHP

 

74

Rob Gordon

Franklin Academy, AtlantaSS

 

75

Anthony Solometo

Gloucester Catholic HS, Gloucester City, N.J.LHP

 

76

Logan McGuire

Allatoona HS, Acworth, Ga.RHP

 

77

Josh Pearson

West Monroe (La.) HSOF

 

78

Kelly Crumpton

Jackson (Miss.) PrepSS

 

79

Miles Langhorne

Greenwich (Conn.) HSRHP

 

80

Victor Rodriguez

Montverde (Fla.) AcademyOF

 

81

Thatcher Hurd

Acalanes HS, Lafayette, Calif.RHP

 

82

James Wood

IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.OF

 

83

Slate Alford

Bob Jones HS, Madison, Ala.3B

 

84

Ryan Ginther

Station Camp HS, Gallatin, Tenn.LHP

 

85

Eric Hammond

Keller (Texas) HSRHP

 

86

Joshua Baez

Dexter Southfield HS, Brookline, Mass.OF

 

87

Cooper Kinney

Baylor HS, Chattanooga2B/3B

 

88

Jake Fox

Lakeland (Fla.) Christian HSSS

 

89

Tommy Tavarez

Grand Street Campus, BrooklynSS

 

90

Justin Javier Colon Jaime

Montverde (Fla.) AcademySS

 

91

Grant Hussey

Parkersburg (W.V.) South HS1B

 

92

Tyler Collins

Boyd HS, McKinney, TexasOF

 

93

Charlie Saum

Thousand Oaks (Calif.) HSC

 

94

Austin Stracener

Canyon (Texas) HSSS

 

95

Brodie Chestnutt

Houston County HS, Warner Robins, Ga.RHP

 

96

Cole Wagner

Red Land HS, Lewisberry, Pa.1B/LHP

 

97

Ethan Wood

Danville (Ky.) HSRHP

 

98

Dylan Jacobs

TNXL Academy, Altamonte Springs, Fla.RHP

 

99

Travis Garnett

Indian Creek HS, Crownsville, Md.LHP

 

100

Ben Kudrna

Blue Valley Southwest HS, Overland Park, Kan.RHP

[BlueRocky]

There's only 20 scouting reports available, 10 from each HS and College class:

 

1

Kumar Rocker

VanderbiltRHP

Notes:

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 255 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Rockies '18 (38)

Age At Draft: 21.6

 

Rocker in 2018 became the highest-ranked prep player in the now nine-year history of the BA 500 to make it to college, upholding his commitment to Vanderbilt after being ranked 13th in the draft class. He’s lived up to the hype, and as a freshman in 2019 helped lead Vanderbilt to the national championship, earning both Freshman of the Year and College World Series Most Outstanding Player honors along the way. Listed at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, he has a big, strong frame, a powerful mid-90s fastball and a well above-average slider.

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Jack Leiter

VanderbiltRHP

Notes:

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Yankees '19 (20)

Age At Draft: 21.1

 

Leiter, the son of former all-star lefthander Al Leiter, was the highest-ranked player on the 2019 BA 500 to get to college at No. 21. He barely got his college career underway before the season was cancelled, but had already impressed, striking out 22 batters in 15.2 innings. Leiter, a draft-eligible redshirt freshman, is a bit undersized at a listed 6-foot, 195 pounds, but he offers a well-polished, three-pitch arsenal. His fastball sits in the low 90s and reaches the mid 90s to go with a good changeup and curveball.

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3

Adrian Del Castillo

MiamiC

Notes:

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 208 | B-T: L-R

Commit/Drafted: White Sox '18 (36)

Age At Draft: 21.7

 

Del Castillo has been a force at the plate since arriving at Miami and is a career .349 hitter. The lefthanded batter also gets to his above-average power well in games. There are questions about his defense, however. He was mostly an outfielder as a freshman and his arm is fringy for a catcher.

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4

Matt McLain

UCLASS/OF

Notes:

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 170 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Diamondbacks '18 (1)

Age At Draft: 21.8

 

The D-backs drafted McLain 25th overall in 2018, but he upheld his commitment to UCLA. After a tough freshman spring at the plate, he got on track in the Cape Cod League and carried that momentum into his sophomore season. McLain has good feel at the plate and more power than his 5-foot-11 frame suggests. He’s played all over the diamond defensively, but as an average runner with good hands, he has a real shot to stick at shortstop.

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5

Jud Fabian

FloridaOF

Notes:

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-L

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 20.7

 

Fabian graduated high school a semester early and enrolled at Florida in January 2019, immediately stepping into the Gators lineup in center field. He held his own as a freshman and was on his way to a breakout sophomore season in 2020. He has a smooth swing, produces lots of loud contact and has the speed and arm strength to stick in center field.

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Jaden Hill

Louisiana StateRHP

Notes:

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 233 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Cardinals '18 (38)

Age At Draft: 21.5

 

Hill headlined LSU’s top-ranked 2018 recruiting class but lost most of his freshman season to an elbow strain. He impressed in his return to action in 2019, striking out 17 batters in 11 innings. Listed at 6-foot-4, 233 pounds, he has a strong, physical frame and a powerful arsenal. His fastball can reach 98 mph, he has a hard, biting slider in the mid 80s and will mix in a changeup. His biggest knock is that he hasn’t yet proven himself as a starter over a full season, but his upside is immense.

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Colton Cowser

Sam Houston StateOF

Notes:

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 195 | B-T: L-R

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 21.2

 

After a Freshman All-American season, Cowser impressed with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, establishing himself early as one of the class’ top hitters. The lefthanded batter is disciplined with a loose swing and the promise of more power in his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame. Cowser profiles well as a corner outfielder.

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8

Steven Hajjar

MichiganLHP

Notes:

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-L

Commit/Drafted: Brewers '18 (21)

Age At Draft: 20.8

 

Hajjar missed the 2019 season after he tore his ACL while playing pickup basketball, but bounced back stronger than ever in 2020. Listed at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, his fastball sits in the low 90s and he mixes in a sharp slider and changeup. While he hasn’t had the chance to show what he can do over a full season, the early returns were encouraging and his upside is significant.

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Alex Binelas

LouisvilleINF

Notes:

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 | B-T: L-R

Commit/Drafted: Nationals '18 (35)

Age At Draft: 21.0

 

Binelas was one of the best freshman hitters in the country in 2019, as he hit .307/.396/.651 with 14 home runs. But a broken hamate bone on Opening Weekend in 2020 sidelined him during the abbreviated spring. The lefthanded hitter has plus power and profiles well at third base.

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Ethan Wilson

South AlabamaOF

Notes:

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 210 | B-T: L-L

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 21.6

 

Wilson flew under the radar in high school but a strong freshman season that saw him hit .345/.453/.686 with 17 home runs changed that in a hurry. The lefthanded hitter has an exciting all-around tool set and does a good job of making lots of hard contact. He’s a plus runner and should be able to stay in center field.

 

1

Brady House

Winder-Barrow HS, Winder, Ga.SS

Notes:

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Tennessee

Age At Draft: 18.0

 

House developed physically early in his high school career, and remains an imposing physical presence on the diamond today, listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. Outside of speed, House is full of loud tools, but it’s his combination of hitting ability and both present and future power potential that have scouts excited. He combines natural strength and bat speed with a mature approach that includes good pitch recognition, the ability to make adjustments and square up both premium prep velocity and off-speed offerings. It’s a no-doubt impact bat. Where House winds up defensively might be the biggest question, as he is large for shortstop and might be a better fit for third base or right field; but he has solid hands, a better first-step than you would think and a huge arm—which also gets into the mid 90s on the mound.

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2

Maddux Bruns

UMS-Wright Prep, Mobile, Ala.LHP

Notes:

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 210 | B-T: L-L

Commit/Drafted: Mississippi State

Age At Draft: 19.0

 

Bruns is a heavy up-arrow prospect after a loud first few weeks of the summer where he showed premium stuff from the left side. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound southpaw, Bruns throws with a deceptive delivery and a high, vertical arm slot that teams are increasingly favoring, and has shown three pitches that could become above-average. His fastball has sat in the 93-95 mph range in shorter outings—touching 96-97—with good plane and life, and he pairs that firm fastball with two distinct breaking balls. Both have good depth, but one has slider velocity in the low 80s and less shape, while his curveball is a big, 12-to-6 offering in the mid 70s.

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3

Christian Little

Christian Brothers College, St. LouisRHP

Notes:

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Vanderbilt

Age At Draft: 17.9

 

Little has been one of the more famous pitchers in the 2021 class, and was an underclass participant at the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game. An athletic righthander listed at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Little has a loose arm from the right side and an advanced ability to locate his entire four-pitch mix in the zone consistently. Little’s fastball sits in the low 90s with heavy life and he pairs that with solid feel to spin a breaking ball and an advanced changeup in the 80-85 mph range.

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4

Tyree Reed

American Canyon (Calif.) HSOF

Notes:

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 181 | B-T: L-L

Commit/Drafted: Oregon State

Age At Draft: 18.4

 

Scouts describe Reed as an upside player, but an upside prospect who doesn’t have much rawness to his game. That’s an exciting combination. Reed’s pure tools and athleticism make it clear why, as the 6-foot-2, 181-pound outfielder has all the plus supplemental tools to stick in center field—running, throwing and fielding—as an impact defender, with top-of-the lineup offensive ability. Reed has a lightning quick swing in the box, with a solid approach and power that’s fringey now, but should come on in the future as he fills out his uber-projectable frame.

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5

Marcelo Mayer

Eastlake HS, Chula Vista, Calif.SS

Notes:

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-R

Commit/Drafted: Southern California

Age At Draft: 18.5

 

A teammate of Twins 2019 first-round pick Keoni Cavaco, Mayer could give Eastlake High its second first-rounder just two drafts after Minnesota made Cavaco the No. 13 pick. Mayer is one of the better defensive shortstops in the class, and scouts believe he’ll stick at the position long term. He has advanced actions and reliable hands, with enough arm strength and range to stick at the position. Offensively he controls the zone well with an uphill swing that should allow him to get to above-average power in the future as he continues to fill out and add strength to a still-lanky, 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame.

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6

Braylon Bishop

Arkansas HS, Texarkana, Ark.OF

Notes:

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 196 | B-T: L-L

Commit/Drafted: Arkansas

Age At Draft: 18.1

 

Bishop is among the toolsiest players in the 2021 class, and made a name for himself at a very young age by standing out as an underclassman with Sticks Baseball Academy. A wiry athlete with plenty of twitchiness and a still-projectable 6-foot-1, 196-pound frame, Bishop has plus running and throwing ability, with a chance for plus defense and power as well. The quality of his hit tool is still a question for scouts at this stage, as some are more skeptical of his approach at the plate and wonder what sort of hitter he’ll become, though he has a quick, loose bat from the left side and at his best drives balls to all fields.

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7

Jordan Lawlar

Dallas Jesuit HSSS

Notes:

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Vanderbilt

Age At Draft: 18.9

 

One of the fastest straight-line players in the 2021 class, Lawlar turned in a blazing, 6.45-60-yard dash at Perfect Game’s National Showcase early this summer. That speed should give him plenty of range at shortstop—where scouts believe he’s a legit defender with good actions, a quick first step, plenty of arm strength and an advanced internal clock—and out of the box as a righthanded hitter. Lawlar has a lean, skinny 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame that should fill out and add more strength in the future. He has solid bat speed and a compact swing that’s more gap-to-gap and line-drive oriented now, but could grow into more power in the future.

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8

Izaac Pacheco

Friendswood (Texas) HSSS

Notes:

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-R

Commit/Drafted: Texas A&M

Age At Draft: 18.6

 

Pacheco has a solid all-around game with one of the more powerful lefthanded swings in the 2021 class. Listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Pacheco has a great frame with plenty of lean musculature and present strength, but room to get even bigger in the future. He has a simple swing that’s loose, quick and powerful with a bit of natural loft that should allow him to hit for plenty of over-the-fence power. While Pacheco has a solid eye, there is some swing-and-miss to his game. Defensively, Pacheco has reliable hands and smooth actions at shortstop with enough arm strength for the position, though his size could move him to third base in the future, where he has all the tools to be above-average there.

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9

Ian Moller

Wahlert HS, Dubuque, IowaC

Notes:

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 201 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Louisiana State

Age At Draft: 18.6

 

The top-ranked catcher in the 2021 class and a big up-arrow prospect after a loud Perfect Game National, Moller has an impressive all-around game and currently stands as the top-rated northern bat in the class. Defensively Moller moves well behind the plate and has at least above-average arm strength, with no real red flags to prevent him from sticking there long term. As a hitter, Moller has good barrel control with a loose, righthanded stroke and solid power to all fields, with more likely on the way as he continues to develop. Scouts were impressed with the quality of his at-bats in terms of both his production and the timing and consistency he showed regardless of the stuff he was facing

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10

Chase Burns

Station Camp HS, Gallatin, Tenn.RHP

Notes:

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Tennessee

Age At Draft: 18.4

 

A big-bodied, physical, 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander, Burns looks to have one of the better fastballs in the 2021 prep class. The pitch has premium velocity in the 96-99 mph range in shorter outings, with riding life and downhill angle that simply overpowers most high school hitters at this stage. He mixes in a curveball and a slider, with the slider looking like a potential plus offering and a changeup that scouts are currently mixed on. Burns isn’t the most efficient strike thrower now, as his release point wanders and he also has a longer arm action that might scare some scouts—but in terms of pure velocity, it’s difficult to top Burns.

[BlueRocky]

Bring home the prodigal son.

 

Edited July 18, 2020 by BlueRocky

[Spanky99]

Jesus... I wonder what he squats, kid's got a huge lower half.

[Brownie19]

Has anyone heard of Adam Tulloch? 6'2 left handed pitcher. He was at the College of Central Florida last year and was in the 2020 draft. Apparently the Jays considered him with the 5th round pick this year and offered him $92K to sign. He obviously wasn't drafted and has now transferring to West Virginia and will re-enter the draft next year.

 

He's actually Canadian, although his parents moved to Florida so he could pursue the dream. My wife babysat him and his brother back in the day and I worked with him (helping with his mechanics and approach) a few times over the past 3-4 summers when he'd come home to visit...he even pitched for my men's league team in tournament a few times.

 

Kid always had a huge arm (42 K's in 25 innings last year), but is wild (21 BB).

 

I found this little article on him (http://stats.pointstreak.com/news_story.html?id=524853). Thought I'd share as apparently the Jays were interested in him this year.

Edited July 20, 2020 by Brownie19

[BlueRocky]

Ten 2021 MLB Draft Prospects Who Elevated Their Stock At UBC

By Carlos Collazo on July 21, 2020

 

Last week, Florida Burn won the inaugural Ultimate Baseball Championship—a high-level travel ball tournament, powered by Baseball America, pitting seven of the best teams in the country against one another.

 

While the event was competitive from a team perspective, it also proved to be fruitful for scouts looking to get more knowledge on the 2021 high school class. There were 37 of the top 100 high school prospects in attendance at the event.

 

Below are ten players who elevated their draft stock in one way or another, based solely on feedback from evaluators in attendance.

 

James Wood, OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.

 

Travel Team: The Dirtbags

Commit: Mississippi State

Performance: 4-for-12, 1 HR, 1 3B, 1 2B, 5 BB, 5 K

 

 

Wood was the biggest standout at the UBC, thanks in part to a massive, 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame that screams pro player. Despite that size, he moves around well at the moment and looked pretty good patrolling center field with a strong arm that could fit in right field in the future.

 

Wood has power now and plenty of more power projection in the future thanks to his massive frame. But scouts love the ease of his swing and saw a better approach this week than they did at Perfect Game National. There are still some strikeouts in his game, but most evaluators believe he’s going to do enough damage on contact that they won’t be a deal breaker.

 

Add good instincts on the bases and in the outfield and there’s a lot to like with Wood, who will be seen plenty at IMG Academy for his high school season and has become a high-priority player for Southeast scouts.

 

Daylen Lile, OF, Trinity HS, Louisville

 

Travel Team: Canes National

Commit: Louisville

Performance: 5-for-13, 2 3B, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K

 

Lile was one of the first players mentioned among scouts after Wood. The 6-foot, 195-pound outfielder doesn’t have the projectable frame that Wood has, but his bat might be special enough to the point that some scouts think of him as a first-rounder because of it.

 

He’s shown a special hit tool in previous events, and that continued to be the case at the UBC. Lile has some athleticism and good bat speed, with more power to his pull-side than the opposite field right now, but with some strength in his compact frame.

 

His supplemental tools leave something to be desired at the moment, and scouts think he profiles best in left field at the moment thanks to a fringy arm, which will put more pressure on his bat moving forward. But the bat is loud.

 

Chase Burns, RHP, Station Camp HS, Gallatin, Tenn.

 

Travel Team: Canes National

Commit: Tennessee

Performance: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K, 0 BB, 43 pitches (62% strikes)

 

There doesn’t seem to be a consensus top arm in the 2021 class at the moment—particularly with LHP Maddux Bruns struggling with control at the UBC—but Burns is safely in the top tier of arms and continues to impress.

 

Burns has shown one of the better pure fastballs in the class at times, but it was his pitchability that impressed scouts at the UBC. He ran his fastball up to 95-96—he’s previously been up to 99—and showed a good downer breaking ball, but evaluators thought he was doing a nice job pitching rather than simply getting on the bump and trying to throw hard.

 

There are still some refinements that need to be made in his delivery, in terms of syncing up some moving parts and being on time with a longer arm action, but scouts who saw him this week didn’t have any glaring concerns with it and pointed to high-quality strikes and good angle on his stuff.

 

Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

 

Travel Team: Team Elite

Commit: Florida

Performance: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 1 BB, 73 pitches (61% strikes)

 

Like Burns, Painter is solidly in the top tier of high school pitchers in the class and while his statistical performance wasn’t quite as impressive as Burns’ was, there are some scouts who believe Painter has the best combination of stuff, arm action, delivery and future projection of the class.

 

A tall, 6-foot-6, 210-pound righthander, Painter has impressive body control already despite his size and pairs that with at least two impact pitches in a fastball and breaking ball. He’s shown a legit four-pitch mix in the past, but what gets scouts excited with Painter is when they project on his frame and imagine what he could look like in four or five years.

 

This isn’t a direct comparison to Mick Abel, but it does seem like at this point in the process, Painter is checking off starter traits and tools in a similar fashion to the Oregon prep first-rounder.

 

Carter Holton, LHP, Benedictine HS, Savannah, Ga.

 

Travel Team: Team Elite

Commit: Vanderbilt

Performance: G1 (Relief) 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 K, 2 BB, 56 pitches (64% strikes) | G2 (Start) 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 9 K, 4 BB, 92 pitches (58% strikes)

 

 

Holton got plenty of work in at the UBC, pitching an extended three-inning relief outing and then adding another long outing as a starter later in the event. He pitched well in both outings and racked up 15 strikeouts in just eight innings.

 

Holton doesn’t have the obvious pro frame and stuff that others like Burns and Painter possess now, but he does a lot of things well that could lead pro teams to try and scoop him out of a Vanderbilt commit. Holton sat in the 90-94 range for the most part, touching 95 and showing good ability to spin a solid slider and a solid changeup.

 

He’ll face scrutiny because of a 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame, but his ability to compete, throw strikes with three pitches, work at a quick tempo, change speeds and miss bats all impressed scouts more than they were expecting. While he doesn’t have a single carrying pitch or plus offering, his sequencing and feel for mixing and matching stands out.

 

James Peyton Smith, RHP, East Robertson HS, Cross Plains, Tenn.

 

Travel Team: Team Elite

Commit: Vanderbilt

Performance: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 6 K, 2 BB, 64 pitches (64% strikes)

 

In a lot of ways, Peyton Smith is the opposite of Holton. Where Holton stands out for advanced pitch-making ability and feel, Peyton Smith jumped out with electric pure stuff.

 

His fastball got up to 98 mph and was consistently around 96, but there’s a lot of refinement that needs to happen outside of his fastball velocity. Peyton Smith has a lot going on in his delivery, with long arms and legs and plenty of length in the back of his arm action that could lead to inconsistencies with his control.

 

Scouts said he looked more like a thrower than a pitcher at the moment, and while his firm slider plays well off his fastball now, scouts think it’s just a fringe-average pitch presently. Peyton Smith has plenty of upside if he can iron out the delivery and firm up a 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, but there’s some reliever risk here as well.

 

Cody Schrier, SS, JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

 

Travel Team: Canes National

Commit: UCLA

Performance: 1-for-13, 3 BB, 4 K

 

Schrier has some similarities to Lile, in the sense that he doesn’t have a super projectable frame, but has plenty of present strength with a muscular, 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. His statistical performance wasn’t loud at the UBC, but scouts like a lot of the things Schrier does.

 

He shows power to all fields, and while it might not be the prettiest swing they’ve ever seen, evaluators have some confidence that he’s going to be able to hit because of his track record and given how often he puts the barrel on the ball. Defensively, he has the arm strength and hands that could keep him at shortstop at the next level, where he would most likely profile as an offensive-oriented player there.

 

Schrier will be seen plenty throughout his high school season, as JSerra Catholic is loaded this year, with fellow top 100 prospects LHP Gage Jump and RHP Luke Jewett.

 

Roc Riggio, OF, Thousand Oaks (Calif.) HS

 

Travel Team: East Coast Sox

Commit: Oklahoma State

Performance: 4-for-11, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 BB, 0 K

 

 

Riggio has been something of a conundrum for scouts and is likely already the victim of prospect fatigue. A famous name for years now thanks to his performance as an underclassman and play with Team USA, the bar always seems high for what Riggio needs to do to impress.

 

While he might not stand out in workout-oriented showcase events, Riggio always seems to produce. His feel for the game is exceptional and he’s the type of player who stands out the more you watch him. A 5-foot-9, 180-pound outfielder, Riggio isn’t overly projectable but has a lot of strength for his frame, with over-the-fence pop to the pull side.

 

He grinds out at-bats at the plate and has an advanced understanding of the zone and of what he can do as a hitter. He makes adjustments well within at-bats, shifting his feet in the box forward and back as he sees fit and he checks a lot of mental and leadership boxes with high baseball IQ, confidence, plenty of communication in the outfield and impressive reads and routes.

 

He’ll likely continue to be difficult for scouts to figure out as they try and square his baseball skills with his body and toolset.

 

Tommy White, 3B, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.

 

Travel Team: Florida Burn

Commit: North Carolina State

Performance: 6-for-13, 3 2B, 3 BB, 3 K

 

The MVP of the event, White carried the burden for Florida Burn offensively on the way to the team’s championship. From a scouting perspective, it’s clear White can hit, but he’s going to be a challenge for teams to figure out.

 

A big-bodied third baseman, White is listed at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds and will need to put in plenty of work on his body and improve his defensive ability to stick at the hot corner. Many scouts already seem convinced he’ll have to move to first base.

 

But the bat is loud, and White leaves nothing on the table in the batter’s box. He takes big, aggressive swings and constantly tries to do damage. Even with the violence and intent he swings with, scouts think the swing path and his overall mechanics are solid. It’ll be a difficult profile as a right-right, likely first base profile out of high school and for that reason some teams might prefer to see him prove it at NC State. At the same time, he’ll be seen frequently with IMG Academy and have all the opportunity to show his bat is special enough to take a chance.

 

Max Debiec, RHP, O'Dea HS, Seattle

 

Travel Team: Canes National

Commit: Washington

Performance: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 2 BB, 54 pitches (53% strikes)

 

Debiec has plenty of size that scouts like to see from a pitcher, with a 6-foot-7 202-pound frame that's described as "ultra projectable." With a fast arm to go on top of it and exciting pure stuff, Debiec has a lot of ingredients for scouts to get excited about.

 

Debiec has run his fastball up to 97 mph at its best in shorter outings this summer, but he peaked at 94 at the UBC, with his velocity ticking down into the upper 80s and low 90s as the innings progressed. He has potential with a breaking ball as well.

 

What scouts will look for moving forward with Debiec is more deception or the ability to miss bats more consistently. Evaluators noted that hitters managed good swings against him consistently in this event despite his stuff and he'll need to miss more bats to jump into the elite tier of arms. With his frame and the amount of weight he still should be able to pack onto it, Debiec's upside is significant.

[BlueRocky]

Here's some preliminaries of gathering info for this draft class, mostly focusing on the top of this crop.

This is relevant to our projected 2021 draft pick that could land anywhere from top 5 to mid-1st round. To be frank, the top of this crop is a bit underwhelming on the college side, especially after the ridiculously talented college crop we just saw at 2020. The college pitching still has some easily identifiable studs like Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter (both Vandy products projected to go top 5), but it's difficult to track their progression with a lost season and such small sample of college track record, which is a red flag for all draft scouting in 2021.

 

The college hitting class is average at best. There isn't the Spencer Torkelson, Austin Martin, or Nick Gonzales caliber hitters or even premium position players like Adley Rutschman, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, or Kris Bryant types. There's no eye popping plus-advanced bats or 60/60 type college hitters you'd like to see at the top of a draft, though with so much lost data it's hard to say one of them won't become that by next spring, I’m looking at McClain and Fabian but if they do breakout like that they definitely won’t be available with our pick.

 

My point is the track record isn't quite there. That said, the college crop is quite strong in the later rounds, which is artificially juiced by a 5 round draft in 2020, leaving many players returning to college for another season.

 

The prep class on the other hand is stronger than last year, and quite honestly more interesting than the college guys to me.There’s some really intriguing bats, especially the middle infield types we didn't see in the 2020 class, as well as your typical crop of high ceiling prep arms.

 

You guys can read the early scouting reports previously posted, but I'd like to highlight names that stand out to me that could fall in our pick range. I'll continue to do this throughout the year, as a primer to prepare for next year's draft.

 

I'd like to bring attention to guys that have real upside and plus tools, rather than names attached to a bunch of safe average/above avg grades. Easy projectability is not exciting to me and I'd avoid picking in the 5-15 range. I want to find potential stars, not bench depth and replacement players.

 

I already mentioned Benny Montgomery, you guys can look him up in my previous post. Here's one college guy you can look at:

 

RHP Gunnar Hoglund

6-4, 220 lbs, L/R

Age: 20

School: Ole Miss

Conference: SEC

 

Hoglund was taken out of highschool by the Pirates with the 36th overall pick in 2018 and was offered to sign for $1,967,900. He turned it down and went to college, for good reason, as he's possibly a top 10 pick in 2021. The stuff is pretty outstanding as he features three plus pitches with real swinging strike stuff and solid command, an elite slider was added during his time in college.

 

A high-spin FB (2400 RPM+) 90-94 with movement touching 96 as a freshman, two secondary offerings (SL + CU) with elite spin metrics @ 2500 RPM & 1800 RPM. His frame is ideal at 6-4, can still fill-out. Velo has ticked up but has yet to demonstrate the upper-90s velo we see with guys like Hancock & Meyer, but neither has Jack Leiter. Usually velo numbers don't stablize until junior year, but it's promising and trending upwards. I wouldn't be surprise to see him sitting 93-95, T97 by 2021.

 

Though the changeup velo is not the same and it’s hard to project how far his command will polish, the stuff, pitch mix, delivery, and frame reminds me a little bit of Cleveland Indians ace Shane Bieber.

 

In 2020's small sample, Hoglund carved up the SEC in his sophomore year pitching to .205 OBA, 1.16 ERA, 37 K to 4 BB, WHIP 0.943 in 4 starts (23.1 IP).

He was completely dominant in all 4 starts as per below, his best start against Xavier where he had 12 K / 2 BB, 0 ER in 6.0 IP. Three straight games he didn’t give up a single ER and pitched 6.0 IP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baseball America Report from 2018 draft (HS):

Ranked #84 prospect in 2018 draft

Hoglund had one of the most impressive spring seasons in a loaded state of Florida, impressing scouts and scouting directors alike with some of the best control of any high school player in the country. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Mississippi commit struck out 105 batters and walked just two through 10 starts, with both of his walks coming in his final game. Hoglund was known as an elite strike-thrower going back to his travel-ball days, but an uptick in his fastball velocity this spring rose him up draft boards significantly. He touched 96 mph multiple times and pitched throughout the spring in the 90-95 mph range, navigating the lower end of that range with extreme ease to his delivery. Scouts call Hoglund's delivery one of the cleanest in the draft class, and he would be among the elite high school arms if his breaking ball were a bit sharper. The secondary offering tends to get long, but it has improved this spring and he can obviously land the pitch for strikes. Still, it's currently hard to project the breaking ball as a plus pitch in the future. If Hoglund were to get to campus he could be an impact two-way player, as he has an impressive bat as well. But ultimately he should go in the first few rounds of the draft thanks to 60-grade future command--an extremely rare trait for a prep pitcher.

Edited July 27, 2020 by BlueRocky

[Brownie19]

Cool. Throws away across his body though.

 

 

I'm also going to point out the horrendous strike 3 call by the umpire in the first video. Not hard to strike out 12 when you get calls a foot off the plate.

[Krylian]

Cool. Throws away across his body though.

 

 

I'm also going to point out the horrendous strike 3 call by the umpire in the first video. Not hard to strike out 12 when you get calls a foot off the plate.

 

That was a terrible call.

[BlueRocky]

[Laika]

 

Sounds like a loser.