The Shortest, Tallest, Oldest And Youngest 2021 MLB Draft Prospects

Here’s a look at some of the demographics of the 2021 draft class.

The Youngest

Among the players ranked in the Baseball America Top 500 draft rankings, there are 17 players who will not turn 18 until after the draft. Thaddeus Ector, an outfielder from Starr’s Mill High in Fayetteville, Ga., will turn 18 the day after the draft. Carlos Pena, an outfielder from Salisbury (Conn.) High, will turn 18 on the final day of the draft. Here’s a look at the 20 youngest players in the BA 500.

1. Roman Kimball, RHP, P27 Academy HS, Lexington, S.C.BA Rank: 286. Draft Day Age: 17.81
2. Micah Bucknam, RHP, Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford, B.C. BA Rank: 247. Draft Day Age: 17.88
3. Edwin Arroyo, SS, Central Pointe Christian Academy, Kissimmee, Fla. BA Rank: 72. Draft Day Age: 17.89
4. Dennis Colleran, RHP, North Attleborough (Mass.) HS. BA Rank: 212. Draft Day Age: 17.90
5. Hagen Smith, LHP, Bullard (Texas) HS. BA Rank: 170. Draft Day Age: 17.90
6. Nick Moten, SS/RHP, Westminster Christian Academy, Florissant, Mo. BA Rank: 289. Draft Day Age: 17.94
7. Trey Yesavage, RHP, Boyertown (Pa.) HS. BA Rank: 494. Draft Day Age: 17.96
8. Rene Lastres, C, Calvary Christian HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. BA Rank: 264. Draft Day Age: 17.97
9. Josh Alger, RHP/1B, Roseville (Calif.) HS. BA Rank: 345. Draft Day Age: 17.97
10. Casey Saucke II, SS/RHP, Greece Athena HS, Rochester, N.Y. BA Rank: 477. Draft Day Age: 17.97
11. TJ White, OF, Dorman HS, Roebuck, S.C. BA Rank: 362. Draft Day Age: 17.98
12. Daniel Corona, SS, Baylor HS, Chattanooga. BA Rank: 269. Draft Day Age: 17.98
13. Jacob Steinmetz, RHP, Hebrew Academy Five Towns and Rockaways, Lawrence, N.Y. BA Rank: 179. Draft Day Age: 17.99
14. Jordan Viars, OF, Ricky Reed HS, Frisco, Texas. BA Rank: 405. Draft Day Age: 17.99
15. Martin Gair, RHP, Cox Mill HS, Concord, N.C. BA Rank: 290. Draft Day Age: 17.99
16. Kyle Robinson, RHP, Marshall HS, Falls Church, Va. BA Rank: 493. Draft Day Age: 17.99
17. Thaddeus Ector, OF, Starr’s Mill HS, Fayetteville, Ga. BA Rank: 328. Draft Day Age: 17.99
18. Carlos Pena, OF, Salisbury (Conn.) HS. BA Rank: 429. Draft Day Age: 18.00
19. Teo Banks, OF, Permian HS, Odessa, Texas. BA Rank: 436. Draft Day Age: 18.01
20. Jose Pena, RHP, Tampa Prep. BA Rank: 148. Draft Day Age: 18.02

The Oldest

Kevin Kopps was one of the best pitchers in college baseball in 2021. He was also one of the oldest, and is the oldest player to crack the BA 500. The 2015 high school graduate redshirted at Arkansas in 2016. He then pitched for the 2017 Razorbacks. In fact, Kopps started an NCAA regional game against Missouri State that featured current White Sox big leaguer Jake Burger. Kopps then received a medical redshirt in 2018 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He led Arkansas in appearances in 2019 as a twice-redshirted sophomore. He made seven appearances in the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, then dominated as the team’s moment-of-truth reliever in 2021. But because 2020 did not count towards any college athlete’s eligibility, he is actually a sixth-year junior who is eligible to return in 2022 if he chooses to do so.

1. Kevin Kopps, RHP, Arkansas. BA Rank: 238. Draft Day Age: 24.37
2. Taylor Broadway, RHP, Mississippi. BA Rank: 370. Draft Day Age: 24.27
3. Jake Rice, LHP, Kennesaw State. BA Rank: 499. Draft Day Age: 24.07
4. Mason Erla, RHP, Michigan State. BA Rank: 413. Draft Day Age: 23.90
5. Patrick Monteverde, LHP, Texas Tech. BA Rank: 469. Draft Day Age: 23.81
6. Jackson Glenn, INF, Dallas Baptist. BA Rank: 451. Draft Day Age: 23.72
7. Zach Zubia, 1B, Texas. BA Rank: 498. Draft Day Age: 23.69
8. Hunter Stanley, RHP, Southern Mississippi. BA Rank: 251. Draft Day Age: 23.64
9. Dustin Demeter, 3B, Hawaii. BA Rank: 450. Draft Day Age: 23.41
10. Myles Emmerson, C, Cal Poly. BA Rank: 372. Draft Day Age: 23.17
11. Tanner Allen, OF, Mississippi State. BA Rank: 169. Draft Day Age: 23.11
12. Dylan Dodd, LHP, Southeast Missouri. BA Rank: 184. Draft Day Age: 23.11
13. Quincy Hamilton, OF, Wright State. BA Rank: 433. Draft Day Age: 23.09
14. Cole Cummings, SS, UC Santa Barbara. BA Rank: 233. Draft Day Age: 23.07
15. Matt Rudick, OF, San Diego State. BA Rank: 367. Draft Day Age: 23.04
16. Luke Waddell, SS, Georgia Tech. BA Rank: 175. Draft Day Age: 23.00
17. Brannon Jordan, RHP, South Carolina. BA Rank: 186. Draft Day Age: 22.99
18. Jason Ruffcorn, RHP, Oklahoma. BA Rank: 357. Draft Day Age: 22.98
19. Parker Chavers, OF, Coastal Carolina. BA Rank: 176. Draft Day Age: 22.97
20. Aaron Beck, OF, Indiana State. BA Rank: 447. Draft Day Age: 22.97

The Tallest

Here’s a look at what is not a particularly remarkable group of draftees by height. There is only one 6-foot-9 player among the top 500 draft prospects this year. As normally is the case, most of the tallest players are pitchers. Oklahoma State’s Carson McCusker didn’t crack the BA 500, but he is on a state list as the rare 6-foot-8 outfielder.

1. Russell Smith, LHP, Texas Christian. BA Rank: 110. Height: 6-9
2. Austin Vernon, RHP, North Carolina Central. BA Rank: 284. Height: 6-8
2. RJ Petit, RHP, Charleston Southern. BA Rank: 392. Height: 6-8
2. Brandon White, RHP, Washington State. BA Rank: 228. Height: 6-8
2. Daniel Brooks, RHP, Bishop England HS, Charleston, S.C. BA Rank: 288. Height: 6-8
2. Kaleb Applebey, RHP, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago. BA Rank: 438. Height: 6-8
2. Pierce Coppola, LHP, Verona (N.J.) HS. BA Rank: 91. Height: 6-8
8. Jackson Wolf, LHP, West Virginia. BA Rank: 231. Height: 6-7
8. Alonzo Tredwell, RHP, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, Calif. BA Rank: 341. Height: 6-7
8. Ethan Wood, RHP, Danville (Ky.) HS. BA Rank: 434. Height: 6-7
8. Max Debiec, RHP, O’Dea HS, Seattle. BA Rank: 163. Height: 6-7
12. Brant Hurter, LHP, Georgia Tech. BA Rank: 126. Height: 6-6
12. Tommy Mace, RHP, Florida. BA Rank: 65. Height: 6-6
12. Carson Seymour, RHP, Kansas State. BA Rank: 295. Height: 6-6
12. Michael Kirian, LHP, Louisville. BA Rank: 275. Height: 6-6
12. Jacob Teter, 1B, Florida Southern. BA Rank: 430. Height: 6-6
12. William Fleming, RHP, Wake Forest. BA Rank: 265. Height: 6-6
12. Justin Fall, LHP, Arizona State. BA Rank: 270. Height: 6-6
12. Gavin Williams, RHP, East Carolina. BA Rank: 30. Height: 6-6
12. Franco Aleman, RHP, Florida. BA Rank: 305. Height: 6-6
12. Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. BA Rank: 15. Height: 6-6
12. Aaron Beck, OF, Indiana State. BA Rank: 447. Height: 6-6
12. Cam Wynne, RHP, Nebraska. BA Rank: 490. Height: 6-6
12. Nick Jones, LHP, Georgia Southern. BA Rank: 406. Height: 6-6
12. Zach Messinger, RHP, Virginia. BA Rank: 252. Height: 6-6
12. Ky Bush, LHP, St. Mary’s. BA Rank: 46. Height: 6-6
12. David Festa, RHP, Seton Hall. BA Rank: 474. Height: 6-6
12. Grant Holman, RHP, California. BA Rank: 119. Height: 6-6
12. Ian Villers, RHP, California. BA Rank: 298. Height: 6-6
12. Adam Shoemaker, LHP, St. Benedict Catholic SS, Cambridge, Ont. BA Rank: 371. Height: 6-6
12. Coleman Willis, RHP, Houston County HS, Warner Robins, Ga. BA Rank: 122. Height: 6-6
12. Alec Willis, RHP, Regis Jesuit HS, Aurora, Colo. BA Rank: 143. Height: 6-6
12. Tanner McDougal, RHP, Silverado HS, Las Vegas. BA Rank: 149. Height: 6-6
12. Martin Gair, RHP, Cox Mill HS, Concord, N.C. BA Rank: 290. Height: 6-6
12. Jacob Steinmetz, RHP, Hebrew Academy Five Towns and Rockaways, Lawrence, N.Y. BA Rank: 179. Height: 6-6
12. Glenn Albanese, RHP, Louisville. BA Rank: 338. Height: 6-6
12. Ryan Cusick, RHP, Wake Forest. BA Rank: 39. Height: 6-6
12. Sean Burke, RHP, Maryland. BA Rank: 53. Height: 6-6
12. Jonathan Cannon, RHP, Georgia. BA Rank: 68. Height: 6-6
12. Joe Rock, LHP, Ohio. BA Rank: 71. Height: 6-6
12. McCade Brown, RHP, Indiana. BA Rank: 121. Height: 6-6
12. Ryan Johnson, RHP, Red Oak, Texas (home schooled). BA Rank: 189. Height: 6-6

The Shortest

There are two 5-foot-7 players among the BA 500 rankings, but even more notably, there are two top 10 prospects among the eight 5-foot-9 players who cracked our top 500 draft rankings.

1. Wyatt Young, SS, Pepperdine. BA Rank: 368. Height: 5-7
1. Jayden Melendez, C, Westminster Christian HS, Miami. BA Rank: 369. Height: 5-7
3. Jerrion Ealy, OF, Mississippi. BA Rank: 344. Height: 5-8
3. Ryan Spikes, SS, Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga. BA Rank: 154. Height: 5-8
5. Matt Rudick, OF, San Diego State. BA Rank: 367. Height: 5-9
5. Luke Waddell, SS, Georgia Tech. BA Rank: 175. Height: 5-9
5. Peyton Wilson, 2B, Alabama. BA Rank: 78. Height: 5-9
5. Austin Schultz, 2B, Kentucky. BA Rank: 394. Height: 5-9
5. Ryan Bliss, SS, Auburn. BA Rank: 97. Height: 5-9
5. Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College. BA Rank: 9. Height: 5-9
5. Roc Riggio, 2B/OF, Thousand Oaks (Calif.) HS. BA Rank: 177. Height: 5-9
5. Kahlil Watson, SS, Wake Forest (N.C.) HS. BA Rank: 6. Height: 5-9

The Heaviest

There are 16 players on the BA 500 who are listed at 240 pounds or heavier.

1. RJ Petit, RHP, Charleston Southern. BA Rank: 392. Weight: 300
2. Ruben Ibarra, 1B, San Jose State. BA Rank: 327. Weight: 290
3. Austin Vernon, RHP, North Carolina Central. BA Rank: 284. Weight: 265
4. Carson Seymour, RHP, Kansas State. BA Rank: 295. Weight: 260
5. Gavin Williams, RHP, East Carolina. BA Rank: 30. Weight: 255
6. Brant Hurter, LHP, Georgia Tech. BA Rank: 126. Weight: 252
7. Bobby Seymour, 1B, Wake Forest. BA Rank: 437. Weight: 250
8. Dylan Ross, RHP, Northwest Florida State JC. BA Rank: 116. Weight: 250
9. Grant Holman, RHP, California. BA Rank: 119. Weight: 250
10. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt. BA Rank: 5. Weight: 245
11. Ian Villers, RHP, California. BA Rank: 298. Weight: 245
12. Daniel Brooks, RHP, Bishop England HS, Charleston, S.C. BA Rank: 288. Weight: 245
13. Vytas Valincius, 1B/3B, Baylor School, Chattanooga. BA Rank: 488. Weight: 240
14. Justin Fall, LHP, Arizona State. BA Rank: 270. Weight: 240
15. Ky Bush, LHP, St. Mary’s. BA Rank: 46. Weight: 240
16. Brandon White, RHP, Washington State. BA Rank: 228. Weight: 240

The Lightest

And at the other end of the spectrum there are 14 players listed under 170 pounds.

1. Braiden Ward, OF, Washington. BA Rank: 355. Weight: 160
2. Wyatt Young, SS, Pepperdine. BA Rank: 368. Weight: 160
3. Tommy Molsky, RHP, Northern York HS, Dillsburg, Pa. BA Rank: 358. Weight: 160
4. Rodney Green, OF, El Cerrito (Calif.) HS. BA Rank: 225. Weight: 160
5. Seth Stephenson, SS, Temple (Texas) JC. BA Rank: 246. Weight: 165
6. Eddie Saldivar, 2B, San Joaquin Memorial HS, Fresno, Calif. BA Rank: 181. Weight: 165
7. Corey Robinson, OF, Spruce Creek HS, Port Orange, Fla. BA Rank: 379. Weight: 165
8. Jonathan Vastine, SS, Bartow (Fla.) Senior HS. BA Rank: 208. Weight: 165
9. Ryan Bliss, SS, Auburn. BA Rank: 97. Weight: 165
10. Drew Swift, 2B, Arizona State. BA Rank: 346. Weight: 165
11. Logan Henderson, RHP, McLennan (Texas) JC. BA Rank: 106. Weight: 165
12. Ali Camarillo, SS, Otay Ranch HS, Chula Vista, Calif. BA Rank: 309. Weight: 165
13. Hunter Parks, RHP, Florence-Darlington Tech (S.C.) JC. BA Rank: 398. Weight: 165
14. Jose Torres, SS, North Carolina State. BA Rank: 92. Weight: 168