MLB Draft Buzz: The Latest News, Rumors And Rumblings Around The 2022 Draft

The 2022 draft has finally arrived. The Orioles will be on the clock at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT as the draft gets underway tonight with the first two rounds at the Xbox Live Plaza in Los Angeles.

Here is all the latest news, rumors and rumblings about what teams are thinking, which players are rising and falling and which surprise picks could be in store in the draft.

This story will be updated throughout the day as more information comes in.

– Mays (Atlanta) High infielder Termarr Johnson is being rumored at a couple of different spots, but there is a strong belief he won’t get past the Marlins at No. 6. Johnson and Miami have been strongly tied for weeks, and it’s just a matter of whether he is there or not for them to pick.

Oklahoma righthander Cade Horton is rising fast and could go as early as the back of the top 10 picks. Horton raised his stock significantly during the College World Series and is in play as high as No. 9 to the Royals.

– Texas Tech second baseman Jace Jung is increasingly being cited as a player who will fall in the first round. Jung struggled down the stretch—he hit .220 from May 1 through the end of the season—and is a candidate to fall out of the top 10 picks.

– Gonzaga righthander Gabriel Hughes is moving into top-20 consideration. The Angels (No. 13), Phillies (No. 17) and Braves (No. 20) all have strong interest and are potential landing spots. The Yankees (No. 25) have also sent in high-level decision makers and are a candidate to take him if he falls.

– California outfielder Dylan Beavers is being heavily tied to the Athletics at No. 19. If he slips past them, rival officials believe he won’t go any later than No. 28 to the Astros.

– Oregon State outfielder Jacob Melton and lefthander Cooper Hjerpe have moved safely into the first round. If they are taken there as expected, their selections will mark the second time in the last five seasons the Beavers have had multiple players selected in the first round. Second baseman Nick Madrigal (No. 4) and outfielder Trevor Larnach (No. 20) were first-round selections in 2018.

– Oklahoma lefthander Jake Bennett is rising up boards late. Previously considered a second-round candidate, he now appears likely to be selected in the back of the first round or supplemental round.

– Liberty (Bakersfield, Calif.) High righthander/shortstop Cutter Coffey is increasingly being considered in the top 40 picks. The Red Sox, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Braves, Guardians and Dodgers have all shown interest and are seen as potential landing spots.

– Bainbridge Island (Wash.) High righthander Ian Ritchie Jr. raised his stock the most of any player at the draft combine in San Diego and is moving up as a result. Initially seen as a wild card because of questions about his signability, he has moved into supplemental first-round consideration. The Pirates at No. 36 and Padres at No. 39 are two landing spots he is frequently tied to.

-We’re hearing late buzz connecting Georgia prep righthander Dylan Lesko to the Padres at No. 15 overall.