J.D. McLaughlin

McLaughlin initially got on the radar when he was a key member of the Hamilton High in Chandler, Ariz., teams that won multiple state championships during his career there. He went to Oregon State for his freshman year, playing sparingly for the Beavers in the Covid-19-shortened season. McLaughlin then headed back home to Arizona for a season with juco powerhouse Central Arizona, where he hit .338/.417/.649 with 13 home runs and 33 stolen bases in 231 at-bats for a Vaqueros team that finished second at the Junior College World Series. What makes McLaughlin intriguing is his elite athleticism and two plus-plus tools (run, throw). He projects to have a well below-average hit tool at the next level, but the tools are certainly inviting.