2020 Draft Prospects

Image credit: Spencer Torkelson (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

By Teddy Cahill

College first basemen historically have not fared well on draft day, as teams instead prefer to draft premier pitchers or players higher on the defensive spectrum.

Last year, however, challenged those traditional notions. Andrew Vaughn, the 2018 Golden Spikes Award winner, was drafted No. 3 overall by the White Sox. He was the first primarily first baseman from the college ranks to be drafted in the top five picks since San Diego State’s Travis Lee went second overall in 1996. UCLA’s Michael Toglia joined Vaughn in the first round and Louisville’s Logan Wyatt was a second rounder.

This year’s crop of college first baseman is poised to challenge the norms in a new way. Arizona State’s Spencer Torkelson is the top-ranked prospect in the class, and should the Tigers select him first overall he would be the first ever college first baseman drafted first overall. There’s pretty good depth at the position beyond Torkelson, especially in the ACC where the first-team all-conference spot will be hotly contested all season.

This list is based on draft status and was composed of players who are expected to play most of their games this season at first base. It does not include players who are expected to move to first base as professionals but are not playing there in college.