High School All-America Team: Gore, Adell Lead Top Preps

EDITOR’S NOTE: Baseball America mistakenly omitted Royce Lewis of Jserra Catholic High in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., from its High School All-America teams. Lewis hit .388/.569/.662 with four home runs and 23 stolen bases in 26 attempts to earn his third consecutive MVP award in Southern California’s notoriously competitive Trinity League. He also had 24 walks and just seven strikeouts. We’re belatedly naming Lewis a first-team All-American, giving the first team three middle infielders on the first team. BA regrets the omission.

As usual, picking the High School All-America Team and the Player of the Year were some of the toughest tasks of the year. How do you choose between outfielder Jordon Adell, who averaged nearly a home run per game, and lefthander MacKenzie Gore, who allowed three runs all season? Ultimately, Gore was the pick.

The High School All-America team is selected by the Baseball America staff, led by Hudson Belinsky and Carlos Collazo, in consultation with scouts and coaches around the country. Caliber of competition weighs heavily into the decision-making process, because not all .500 hitters are created equal.

C | Luis Campusano-Bracero | School: Cross Creek HS, Augusta, Ga.

The Skinny: The top overall catcher of the 2017 draft class, Campusano-Bracero redefined his body this season, and the results paid off with increased mobility behind the dish to go along with his impressive offensive performance. He’s a solid defensive catcher who also slugged over 1.000 while walking more than three times as often as he struck out.

1B | Nick Pratto | School: Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS

The Skinny: One of the best pure hitters in his draft class, Pratto made a case for being the first-team utility player after an impressive pitching display at the National High School Invitational in Cary, N.C. At the plate, he tapped into his power more frequently than he has in the past, helping him go No. 14 overall to the Royals in the draft.

MIF | Alika Williams | School: Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego

The Skinny: Scouts flocked to Rancho Bernardo to see Calvin Mitchell, but perhaps the most impressive player on the team was Williams, who outperformed his teammate with a .402 average while stealing 28 bases in 33 chances. Williams projects as a plus defender at shortstop, with above-average hands and at least an average arm.

MIF | Jeter Downs | School: Pace HS, Miami Gardens

The Skinny: Downs went on an offensive tear this season by hitting .426 with a .522 on-base percentage. He showed his potential with a two-home run showing at the 2016 Area Code Games. Then this season, Downs hit 12 home runs while striking out just 10 times and tacking on 31 stolen bases, pushing himself into the back of the first round of the draft.

3B | Jacob Gonzalez | School: Chaparral HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.

The Skinny: While father Luis is brought up in many of Jacob’s scouting reports thanks to Luis’s 19-year big league career and five all-star trips, Jacob has made quite a name for himself already. The powerful Texas Christian commit hit .489 during his senior season, while walking 25 times to just seven strikeouts. He also hit seven home runs and 14 doubles.

OF | Jordon Adell | School: Ballard HS, Louisville

The Skinny: Adell tapped into his plus power in a huge way this season, shaking some of the doubts about his swing-and-miss tendencies in the process. Perhaps the toolsiest player in the 2017 class, Adell hit an insane 25 home runs, stole 21 bases and walked 34 times. He was the most impressive hitter in the high school class and one of its best athletes.

OF | Austin Beck | School: North Davidson HS, Lexington, N.C.

The Skinny: Beck is the only player to challenge Jordon Adell for five-tool talent. He hit .590 with 12 home runs and 28 walks. Beck hits for power to all fields, runs, throws and has a solid understanding of the strike zone, with potentially the best bat speed of the prep class. Sorry Tar Heels, he’s not getting to Chapel Hill.

OF | Drew Waters | School: Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga.

The Skinny: Beck and Jordon Adell get most of the attention when it comes to tools, but Waters offers an interesting power-speed combo as a center fielder. He also does it from both sides of the plate. Fifteen home runs, 14 stolen bases and 36 walks while playing a great center field enticed the Braves to pick him with the No. 41 ovreall pick in the draft.

UT | Hunter Greene | School: Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

The Skinny: Greene was consistently the top-ranked prospect in the country thanks to his 100 mph fastball and standing as the best prep shortstop in his draft class. He shut things down on the rubber after just 28 innings, but he fanned 43 and walked just four in that period. In the field he boasts plus-plus body control and plus raw power.

SP | Shane Baz | School: Concordia Lutheran HS, Tomball, Texas

The Skinny: Baz got stronger in the offseason and became more physical this spring, while throwing a mid-90s fastball that can touch 98 mph, a refined mid-80s slider and a sharp top-to-bottom curveball. Those pitches–all potentially plus–helped him strike out 81 batters in 41 innings, while posting a 1.02 ERA.

SP | MacKenzie Gore | School: Whiteville (N.C.) HS

The Skinny: Gore had the best season of any high school player. He recorded an 0.19 ERA after allowing just two earned runs in 74.1 innings while striking out 158 batters–a rate of nearly 15 per seven innings. He walked as many batters as he threw complete games (five) and could be a top two-way player in college if he wasn’t so good on the mound.

SP | Michael Mercado | School: Westview HS, San Diego

The Skinny: Mercado could be the most projectable pitcher in the class, as a 6-foot-5 righty who, according to his pitching coach, “could hula-hoop through a Cheerio.” Mercado throws in the low 90s and has touched 96 mph, with advanced control of three other pitches, including a two-seam fastball, curveball and slider. He’s also got a changeup in his back pocket.

SP | Trevor Rogers | School: Carlsbad (N.M.) HS

The Skinny: Rogers posted the lowest WHIP (0.43) of any pitcher on our All-America teams. He gave up just 14 hits and walked 13 batters in 63 innings, while frequently holding back with a fastball that can settle into the mid-90s. A low three-quarters arm slot with great extension allows Rogers’ fastball to play up. The Marlins took notice, drafting him 13th overall.

SP | Alex Scherff | School: Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS

The Skinny: Sherff went 15-0, 0.74 on the mound with this season, relying on a mid-90s fastball and plus changeup. He’s still developing a breaking ball but didn’t need it this season. He struck out 27 of 30 batters over a two-start stretch that included five perfect innings in one outing and five no-hit innings in the next.

2017 HS All-Americans
First Team
Pos	Player, School	Year	AVG	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	Drafted
C	Luis Campusano-Bracero, Cross Creek HS, Augusta, Ga.	Sr.	.622	90	44	56	6	27	—	Padres (2)
1B	Nick Pratto, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS	Sr.	.326	92	31	30	7	19	—	Royals (1)
MIF	Royce Lewis, Jserra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.	Sr.	.388	.569	.662	31	4	12	23	Twins (1)
MIF	Alika Williams, Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego	Sr.	.402	112	35	45	3	23	28	Yankees (32)
MIF	Jeter Downs, Monsignor Pace HS, Miami	Sr.	.426	94	43	40	12	37	31	Reds (1s)
3B	Jacob Gonzalez, Chaparral HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.	Sr.	.489	90	38	44	7	48	3	Giants (2)
OF	Jordon Adell, Ballard HS, Louisville	Sr.	.563	96	53	54	25	61	21	Angels (1)
OF	Austin Beck, North Davidson HS, Lexington, N.C.	Sr.	.590	78	41	46	12	38	7	Athletics (1)
OF	Drew Waters, Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga.	Sr.	.510	96	48	49	15	39	14	Braves (2)
UT	Hunter Greene, Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, Calif.	Sr.	.324	102	23	33	6	28	2	Reds (1)
Pos	Pitcher, School	Year	W	L	ERA	IP	ER	BB	SO	Drafted
SP	Shane Baz, Concordia Lutheran HS, Tomball, Texas	Sr.	5	1	1.02	41	6	11	81	Pirates (1)
SP	MacKenzie Gore, Whiteville (N.C.) HS	Sr.	11	0	0.19	75	2	5	158	Padres (1)
SP	Michael Mercado, Westview HS, San Diego	Sr.	9	1	0.69	71	7	17	97	Rays (2)
SP	Trevor Rogers, Carlsbad (N.M.) HS	Sr.	11	0	0.33	63	3	13	134	Marlins (1)
SP	Alex Scherff, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS	Sr.	15	0	0.74	85	9	16	144	Red Sox (5)
UT	Hunter Greene, Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, Calif.	Sr.	3	0	0.75	28	3	4	43	Reds (1)
Second Team
Pos	Player, School	Year	AVG	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	Drafted
C	Sam McMillan, Suwannee HS, Live Oak, Fla.	Sr.	.494	77	20	38	7	30	5	Tigers (5)
1B	Nick Brueser, Hamilton HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.	Sr.	.344	96	27	33	6	24	—	Undrafted
MIF	Chris Seise, West Orange HS, Winter Garden, Fla.	Sr.	.444	90	37	40	8	29	12	Rangers (1)
MIF	Brice Turang, Santiago HS, Corona, Calif.	Jr.	.465	101	25	47	2	15	—	Undrafted
3B	Cory Acton, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.	Jr.	.458	83	25	38	7	26	—	Undrafted
OF	Jacob Pearson, West Monroe (La.) HS	Sr.	.523	132	57	69	13	41	21	Angels (3)
OF	Heliot Ramos, Leadership Christian Academy, Guaynabo, P.R.	Sr.	.628	43	29	27	9	35	15	Giants (1)
OF	Connor Uselton, Southmoore HS, Oklahoma City	Sr.	.467	75	31	35	7	29	9	Pirates (2s)
UT	Hagen Danner, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS	Sr.	.368	95	22	35	12	40	—	Blue Jays (2)
Pos	Pitcher, School	Yr	W	L	ERA	IP	ER	BB	SO	Drafted
SP	Hans Crouse, Dana Hills HS, Dana Point, Calif.	Sr.	7	3	0.88	63	8	17	99	Rangers (2)
SP	Blayne Enlow, St. Amant (La.) HS	Sr.	5	3	1.00	70	10	7	101	Twins (3)
SP	D.L. Hall, Valdosta (Ga.) HS	Sr.	6	2	1.36	51	10	25	105	Orioles (1)
SP	Chris McMahon, West Chester (Pa.) Rustin HS	Sr.	8	0	0.77	54	6	5	83	Braves (33)
SP	Matt Sauer, Righetti HS, Santa Maria, Calif.	Sr.	9	1	0.98	78	11	31	142	Yankees (2)
UT	Hagen Danner, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS	Sr.	11	1	1.22	63	11	19	92	Blue Jays (2)
Third Team
Pos	Player, School	Year	AVG	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	Drafted
C	M.J. Melendez, Westminster Christian School, Palmetto Bay, Fla.	Sr.	.391	92	39	36	8	29	—	Royals (2)
1B	Triston Casas, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.	Jr.	.446	74	22	33	4	18	—	Undrafted
MIF	Brady McConnell, Merritt Island (Fla.) HS	Sr.	.372	86	25	32	3	23	19	Reds (33)
MIF	Jake Holmes, Pinnacle HS, Phoenix	Sr.	.457	102	37	47	6	28	11	Phillies (11)
3B	Ryan Vilade, Stillwater (Okla.) HS	Sr.	.405	111	42	45	7	34	26	Rockies (2)
OF	Cole Brannen, The Westfield School, Perry, Ga.	Sr.	.439	82	42	36	5	19	22	Red Sox (2)
OF	Tristan Lutz, Martin HS, Arlington, Texas	Sr.	.432	95	35	41	10	45	11	Brewers (1s)
OF	Bubba Thompson, McGill-Toolen Catholic HS, Mobile, Ala.	Sr.	.429	119	52	51	11	35	18	Rangers (1)
UT	Brandon Dieter, South Hills HS, West Covina, Calif.	Jr.	.355	93	16	33	1	17	2	Undrafted
Pos	Pitcher, School	Year	W	L	ERA	IP	ER	BB	SO	Drafted
SP	Tanner Burns, Decatur (Ala.) HS	Sr.	10	1	0.88	64	8	22	116	Yankees (37)
SP	Jacob Heatherly, Cullman (Ala.) HS	Sr.	10	1	1.11	70	11	39	116	Reds (3)
SP	Steven Jennings, Dekalb County HS, Smithville, Tenn.	Sr.	5	2	0.52	52	4	20	99	Pirates (2)
SP	Sam Keating, Canterbury HS, Fort Myers, Fla.	Sr.	11	1	1.06	59	9	11	93	Padres (4)
SP	Matt Liberatore, Mountain Ridge HS, Glendale, Ariz.	Jr.	8	0	0.79	62	7	23	96	Undrafted
UT	Brandon Dieter, South Hills HS, West Covina, Calif.	Jr.	9	2	0.85	83	10	13	76	Undrafted