2022 High School MLB Draft Prospects With The Best Scouting Tools

Image credit: Druw Jones (Mike Janes/Four Seam)

Baseball America annually polls major league organizations’ scouting departments to vote on preseason all-america teams. In addition to voting for first-, second- and third-team members, we ask scouting departments to vote on the players with the best tools in the country. 

We have teams vote on many different categories for both hitters and pitchers. 

Below are the top vote receivers for each category for the 2022 high school class. 

Related

• 2022 High School Preseason All-America Teams
• 2022 College Preseason All-America Teams
• 2022 MLB Draft Rankings
• 2022 College MLB Draft Prospects With The Best Scouting Tools

Best Athlete (Hitter)

1. Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS, Norcross, Ga.
2. Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.

Best Pure Hitter

1. Termarr Johnson, SS, Mays HS, Atlanta
2. Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS, Norcross, Ga.

Best Power

1. Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
2. (3 tied) Dominic Hellman, OF, Jackson HS, Mill Creek, Wash.; Xavier Isaac, 1B, East Forsyth HS, Kernersville, N.C.; Sal Stewart, 3B, Westminster Christian HS, Miami

Fastest Runner

1. Michael Gupton, OF, Rolesville (N.C.) HS
2. (2 tied) Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas; Jett Williams, SS/OF, Rockwall-Heath HS, Rockwall, Texas

Best Defensive Infielder

1. Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny HS, Wexford, Pa.
2. Jeanpierre Ortiz, SS, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. 
3. (3 tied) Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater (Okla.) HS; Termarr Johnson, SS, Mays HS, Atlanta; Jared Lewis, SS, San Ramon Valley HS, Danville, Calif.

Best Defensive Outfielder

1. Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS, Norcross, Ga. 

Best Infield Arm

1. Nazier Mule, SS/RHP, Passaic County Tech HS, Wayne, N.J.
2. Jayson Jones, 3B, Braswell HS, Little Elm, Texas
3. (2 tied) Cutter Coffey, SS/RHP, Liberty HS, Bakersfield, Calif.; Jeanpierre Ortiz, SS, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. 

Best Outfield Arm

1. Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS, Norcross, Ga. 
2. Ryan Clifford, OF, Pro5 Baseball Academy, Apex, N.C.
3. Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. 

Best Catcher Arm

1. Adonys Guzman, C, Brunswick HS, Greenwich, Conn.
2. Ike Irish, C, St. Mary Prep, Orchard Lake, Mich.
3. *Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS
   *Denotes underclassman

Best Fastball

1. Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford (Ga.) HS
2. Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary Prep, Orchard Lake, Mich.
3. Nazier Mule, SS/RHP, Passaic County Tech HS, Wayne, N.J.

Best Fastball Movement

1. Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford (Ga.) HS
2. (4 tied) Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.; Jack O’Connor, RHP, Bishop O’Connell HS, Arlington, Va.; Noah Schultz, LHP, Oswego (Ill.) East HS; Chase Shores, RHP, Midland (Texas) Lee HS

Best Breaking Ball

1. Tristan Smith, LHP, Boiling Springs HS, Spartanburg, S.C.
2. Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.
3. (6 tied) Caden Dana, RHP, Don Bosco Prep HS, Ramsey, N.J.; Andrew Dutkanych, RHP, Brebeuf Jesuit Prep, Indianapolis; Walter Ford, RHP, Pace (Fla.) HS; Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford (Ga.) HS; Jacob Miller, RHP, Liberty Union HS, Baltimore, Ohio; Jaden Noot, RHP, Sierra Canyon HS, Chatsworth, Calif.

Best Changeup

1. Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford (Ga.) HS
2. Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary Prep, Orchard Lake, Mich.

Best Command

1. Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford (Ga.) HS
2. JR Ritchie, RHP, Bainbridge HS, Bainbridge Island, Wash.
3. (3 tied) Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.; Andrew Dutkanych, RHP, Brebeuf Jesuit Prep, Indianapolis; Cade Fisher, LHP, Northwest Whitfield HS, Tunnel Hill, Ga.

Best Athlete (Pitcher)

1. Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.
2. (3 tied) Walter Ford, RHP, Pace (Fla.) HS; Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford (Ga.) HS; Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary Prep, Orchard Lake, Mich.

Closest To The Majors

1. Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford (Ga.) HS
2. Termarr Johnson, SS, Mays HS, Atlanta
3. Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS, Norcross, Ga.