2018 MLB Draft: Massachusetts Top Prospects

1. Steve Hajjar, LHP, Central Catholic, Lawrence, Mass. (BA Rank: 201)
HS •  6-5 • 210 • R-L •
Hajjar has seen his stock rise this spring, even if it’s still more likely that he honors his commitment to Michigan. The projectable, 6-foot-5, 210-pound lefthander can reach 93-94 mph with his fastball, although it more consistently comes across in the 89-92 mph range. Despite a jerky delivery and extended arm action, Hajjar shows decent feel for a 78-80 mph slider. The offering is inconsistent, sometimes lacking the tight spin it needs, but when he’s able to snap it off the pitch shows late bite and above-average potential. His changeup is well behind his fastball and slider and will need additional development to become an average third pitch. A good athlete, Hajjar typically pounds the strike zone with above-average control. He has more room on his frame to add weight and will likely throw harder in the future.

2. Sean Burke, RHP, St. John’s HS, Shrewsbury, Mass. (BA Rank: 209)
HS •  6-5 • 205 • R-R •
A Maryland commit, Burke has a projectable, 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame. He’s been up to 93 mph with his fastball, but he routinely pounds the strike zone with above-average command and a heater that sits in the 88-92 mph range. Burke’s low-70s curveball remains inconsistent, but scouts have seen enough flashes to project it as an at least average pitch in the future. Burke will also flash a changeup, although it remains a distant third pitch well behind his fastball and curveball.

3. Dominic Keegan, C, Central Catholic, Lawrence, Mass. (BA Rank: N/A)
HS •  6-0 • 210 • R-R •

4. Shane Smith, RHP, Governor’s Academy, Byrfield, Mass. (BA Rank: N/A)
HS • – • 6-3 • 210 • R-R •

5. Logan Bravo, SS, Austin Prep, Reading, Mass. (BA Rank: N/A)
HS •  6-5 • 200 • R-R •

6. Gian Martellini, C, Boston College (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-1 • 210 • R-R •

7. Jacob Stevens, RHP, Boston College (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-3 • 225 • B-R •

8. Collin Duffley, RHP, Massachusetts-Lowell (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-3 • 200 • R-R •

9. J.T. Morin, LHP, Massachusetts-Boston (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • RS-So. • 6-2 • 205 • L-L •
Healthy again after missing much of 2017, Morin’s 88-92 mph gives him a chance to get noticed if he continues to fill out his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame.

10. Travis Lane, RHP, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. (BA Rank: N/A)
HS •  6-3 • 220 • L-R •

11. Brock Riley, RHP, Salem State (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-1 • 195 • R-R •

12. Max Burt, SS, Northeastern (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Sr. • 6-2 • 210 • R-R •

13. Brian Christian, RHP, Northeastern (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Sr. • 6-2 • 200 • R-R •

14. Charlie McConnell, INF/OF, Northeastern (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-2 • 195 • L-R •

15. Brian Rapp, RHP, Boston College (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Sr. • 5-11 • 195 • R-R •

16. Patrick Robinson, OF, Harvard (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-1 • 200 • L-R •

17. Jake Palomaki, SS, Boston College (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Sr. • 5-10 • 175 • B-R •

18. Pat McColl, 1B, Harvard (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-6 • 215 • L-R •

19. Noah Zavolas, RHP, Harvard (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Sr. • 6-1 • 190 • R-R •

20. Russ Olive, OF, Massachussetts-Lowell (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-3 • 190 • L-L •

21. Simon Rosenblum-Larson, RHP, Harvard (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-3 • 200 • R-R •

22. Luke Tomczyk, RHP, Massachussetts-Lowell (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Sr. • 6-5 • 235 • R-R •

23. Andrew Ryan, RHP, Massachussetts-Lowell (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Sr. • 6-2 • 210 • R-R •

24. Luke Brennan, RHP, Worcester State (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-1 • 205 • R-R •

25. Mike Vasil, RHP, Boston College HS (BA Rank: N/A)
HS • – • 6-4 • 210 • L-R •
Vasil has some of the highest upside of any high school righthander in a loaded 2018 draft class, but took his name out of consideration right before the draft, announcing that he will attend Virginia and requesting he not be drafted. He has been seen less frequently than many of the other pitchers. After impressing scouting directors at a few events over the summer of 2017—including USA Baseball’s Tournament of Stars and the Area Code Games—the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Virginia commit became one of the top priorities for clubs to see when he finally started pitching during the spring. Vasil showed a clean delivery an ideal starting pitching frame with a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball that was up to 94 mph over the summer and a tick higher during his first start of the spring. During his second start, however, Vasil left with an arm injury in just the second inning, leaving teams even more perplexed as to where to fit Vasil given his questionable health and lack of track record. When healthy, Vasil has shown the stuff that leads to future frontline starting projections. He’s an athletic player who played high school basketball and also takes his flexibility seriously with yoga and band-work. He has impressive control of his fastball, spotting the pitch to both sides of the plate and up and down in the strike zone. Some scouts project that he’ll have a plus slider and changeup down the road as well. Vasil is an enigma, but he’s a high-upside righthander out of the Northeast that would be a middle of the first-round pick or better, when healthy. His medical situation and the confidence in the few looks teams have with him will determine where he falls in the draft.