Top 2020 MLB Draft Prospects In Each State
With the draft a week away, find the top prospects in this year’s class sorted by state below. Stars represent the strength of a state’s talent relative to an average year.
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| Nat Rank | Player | Pos | School | Ht | Wt | B-T | Commit/Drafted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spencer Torkelson | 1B | Arizona State | 6-1 | 205 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Undrafted after his four-year high school career in Northern California, Torkelson exploded onto the collegiate baseball scene at Arizona State with one of the best freshman seasons ever, leading the nation with 25 home runs. He was just as strong in his sophomore and junior seasons, but the early end to what is expected to be his final season left him three homers short of breaking Bob Horner’s ASU career record. Torkelson’s terrific hitting ability, advanced approach and plate discipline, plus bat speed, and plus-plus power make him one of the favorites for the first overall pick. Hitting with power to all fields, Torkelson showed more of an ability to pull pitches over the middle of the plate during his abbreviated junior season. There are still some tweaks to his swing that can be made, as he at times was too much out on the front side this season, pulling off and taking away the bottom half. He’s an above-average defender now at first base thanks to his agility and good hands, with the strong work ethic to continue improving. Torkelson played some outfield during his time with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, where he ranked as the top prospect last summer. While he has below-average speed, he runs well underway and improved his throwing technique. He could be at least adequate in left field, but most observers want him to stay at first base where he can focus on being a middle-of-the-order masher. Torkelson may be the safest pick among those at the top of the draft thanks to his outstanding hitting ability and the most usable power in the class. He could rise quickly through the minor leagues, and gets compared to Mets first baseman Peter Alonso. If he does go 1-1, Torkelson would be the first ever college first baseman to do so. | |||||||
| 2 | Austin Martin | OF | Vanderbilt | 6-0 | 170 | R-R | Indians ’17 (37) |
| A first team All-American and Golden Spikes semifinalist after an outstanding sophomore season in which he hit .392/.486/.604 and was third in the country in hits, Martin has long been one of the favorites for the first overall pick in the 2020 draft. Martin has some of the best pure hitting ability in the class, with eye-popping bat speed, excellent contact ability and impressive plate discipline as well. Martin also appeared to be increasing his power production. He hit eight home runs as a sophomore after tallying just one in his freshman season. He hit three in 16 games in 2020 before the season was canceled, with the best isolated slugging percentage of his career (.286). Some people have thrown Dansby Swanson comparisons on Martin, as both are at the top of their respective classes and Vanderbilt products, but without spending any time at shortstop, it’s perhaps more misleading than accurate. There aren’t many 1-1 candidate prospects who made position changes during their draft-eligible seasons, so perhaps Ian Happ is a better comparison in terms of tools and defensive versatility, though Martin’s contact ability and presence in the box are superior to Happ’s at the time. After spending most of his time with Vanderbilt at third base, Martin moved to center field after a few games this spring. He also played center field with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, and while he doesn’t have elite speed or the best first step, he has the instincts and athleticism to handle the position. Martin is more of a plus runner than a true burner, and while teams would have liked to see him handle shortstop, it is concerning for his pro potential at the position considering he wasn’t the shortstop on his college team. Even if Martin doesn’t wind up at shortstop, he has the defensive ability to become an asset at a premium position, whether that’s in center field, third base or second. While there are questions about his future defensive home, Martin’s offensive resume is as impressive as any in the country, with the ability to hit for high average, draw plenty of walks, hit for extra bases and also be a disruptive runner on the bases. His profile is as complete as it gets in the 2020 class. | |||||||
| 3 | Asa Lacy | LHP | Texas A&M | 6-4 | 215 | L-L | Indians ’17 (31) |
| Lacy entered the year among the top tier of college arms, with only Georgia righthander Emerson Hancock ahead, but performed at such a high level in his first four starts that most clubs now have him as the top arm in the class. Coming out of high school, Lacy was a projectable lefthander who was only just starting to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame. He had good pitchability and a fastball that got into the low 90s, along with a tumbling changeup that showed promise, but no real breaking ball. The Indians drafted him in the 31st round in 2017, but he instead chose to attend Texas A&M, where he has improved across the board and now harnesses some of the best stuff in the country. After filling out to 215 pounds, Lacy has plenty of strength and a fastball that ranges from 90-98 to go along with a wipeout slider, a plus changeup and a power curveball. After posting a 2.13 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 88.2 innings in his first full season as a starter in 2019, Lacy was well on his way to more dominance in 2020. In four starts he struck out 46 batters compared to eight walks and allowed just two earned runs—good for a 0.75 ERA. Previously, scouts had wondered about the quality of Lacy’s slider and whether he could shape develop it into a true swing-and-miss pitch. Lacy answered those questions this spring by unveiling a powerful, 87-90 mph version of the pitch. In fact, some scouts say it’s the best slider they’ve seen from a college lefty since Carlos Rodon in 2014. The pitch doesn’t have quite that depth, but it is a true wipeout offering now. His changeup has long been a reliable weapon, and while he hasn’t thrown it as much this spring, most scouts believe it’s a plus pitch. Lacy’s curveball gives him a fourth pitch that’s at least average and has above-average potential. The one critique of Lacy is his pitch efficiency. He has shown a tendency to pitch into deep counts, which scouts think has inflated his walk rate more than his above-average command would indicate, but he also strikes out plenty of batters and doesn’t allow much contact. Lacy’s delivery is fluid and clean, with good usage of his lower half to drive downhill and above-average deception achieved by hiding the ball behind his body before releasing from a higher three-quarters slot. In addition to all of his pure stuff, scouts love Lacy’s demeanor on the mound, with a stoic, no-nonsense mentality. He should be one of the first two pitchers off the board. | |||||||
| 4 | Emerson Hancock | RHP | Georgia | 6-4 | 215 | R-R | Diamondbacks ’17 (38) |
| A notable high school prospect out of Georgia in 2017, Hancock established himself as one of the best college arms during a tremendous sophomore season in 2019. He posted a 1.99 ERA—the eighth best mark in Georgia history—and led the SEC with a 0.84 WHIP while allowing one run or fewer in nine of his 14 starts. Scouts lauded his delivery, command and repertoire at the time, with some believing each of his pitches were plus or better. The grades on each of Hancock’s offerings weren’t quite as gaudy early in 2020, but Hancock’s command, frame, delivery and pitch mix still place him among the class’ elite. Hancock’s command, possibly his attribute, earns him potential plus grades—rare for an amateur pitcher with his stuff. He walked just 1.79 batters per nine innings as a sophomore, and that rate was down to 1.13 after four starts in 2020. He spots his entire arsenal where he wants it, which can allow everything to play up. Hancock’s fastball ranges from 93-97, though some evaluators question the underlying quality of the pitch, wondering if it has the riding life and swing-and-miss qualities you’d like to see from a frontline starter. It’s possible a lower arm slot leads to some of those concerns. After the fastball, Hancock throws a slider in the low 80s that he worked on over the offseason and gets plus grades at its best. The pitch is more often a 55-grade offering, though, while a tumbling changeup is his most consistent offspeed pitch and generates whiffs from batters on either side. Hancock also throws a curveball, though less frequently than his other three pitches. Hancock is unsurprisingly efficient considering his command, and he also fields his position well with impressive natural athleticism and a clean delivery that leaves him in good fielding position. Hancock should be one of the first pitchers off the board, but teams would prefer a frontline pitching prospect to have a no-doubt, out-pitch breaking ball and Hancock’s haven’t reached that quality as consistently as scouts would like. Either way, his athleticism, frame, command, velocity, changeup and track record in the SEC all combine to provide some safety and make him difficult to pass up. | |||||||
| 5 | Nick Gonzales | SS | New Mexico State | 5-10 | 190 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Gonzales is the prototypical baseball rat but with more of an innate ability to hit for both average and power than most gritty gamer types. A lightly recruited walk-on as a freshman at New Mexico State, Gonzales has turned himself into one of the top draft prospects in 2020 through sheer hard work. His .432/.532/.773 batting line in his sophomore year led the nation and earned All-America honors. While his video game-like offensive numbers during his three-year career with the Aggies have to be factored downward because of the extreme hitting environments in the state—including the 12 home runs in 82 plate appearances before his junior season ended prematurely—Gonzales proved that the bat is for real with his performance in the Cape Cod League, where he was named league MVP for 2019 and hit seven home runs. A second baseman in his first two college seasons, Gonzales switched to shortstop this year to showcase himself prior to the draft. Opinions are mixed as to whether he can handle the position, with most observers wanting to put him at second base and just let him be an elite hitter at the position. While he has solid arm strength, scouts believe he might be stretched in the hole, and he could lack the short-area quickness that teams prefer in their shortstops. He’s a solid defender at the keystone, with improved footwork and hands and the ability to throw from various arm slots. Gonzales has elite bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline, and his strong hands allow him to make hard contact to all fields. He’s an above-average runner and has good baserunning instincts. Keston Hiura is a frequent comp for Gonzales, though the New Mexico State product has a better defensive profile and less raw power. Dustin Pedroia has been thrown on him as well. With his tremendous track record of hitting and strong Cape performance, Gonzales should go off the board among the first five picks. | |||||||
| 6 | Garrett Mitchell | OF | UCLA | 6-3 | 204 | L-R | Athletics ’17 (14) |
| Scouts eyed Mitchell as a potential first-round pick at Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High, but a middling senior season and concerns about his Type 1 diabetes caused him to fall to the 14th round, where the A’s picked him. He opted for UCLA and became a three-year starter for the Bruins. After struggling as a freshman, Mitchell led the nation in triples during a breakout sophomore season and continued to raise his stock as a junior. He was batting .355/.425/.484 this spring when the season shut down. Mitchell possesses arguably the best package of tools in the 2020 draft. He’s an 80-grade runner who changes games with his speed, is a plus defensive center fielder who effortlessly glides to balls and has a rifle for an arm. Mitchell shows massive, plus-plus raw power in batting practice, but his choppy swing produces mostly grounders and low line drives in games. His natural feel for contact gives him a chance to be an above-average or better hitter, and his natural speed and elite times out of the box should help inflate his batting average. Some evaluators are optimistic Mitchell can tap into his power with swing refinements in pro ball, but his in-game power production is concerning dating back to his high school career. Mitchell’s speed helps him to beat out infield singles and amass lots of doubles and triples, making him an offensive difference-maker even absent home run power. Mitchell has faced health and endurance concerns because of his diabetes throughout his career, but he played 62 of 63 games for UCLA in 2019 and all 15 games in 2020 before the season shut down. With a high probability to hit for average, steal bases and stay in center field, and the possibility of adding power, Mitchell is a top-10 talent, though his question marks make him a bit more polarizing than the other players around him. | |||||||
| 7 | Zac Veen | OF | Spruce Creek HS, Port Orange, Fla. | 6-5 | 200 | L-R | Florida |
| Veen started to raise eyebrows as a junior in high school, when he went on a bit of a home run binge in Florida, including homering against the top prep pitcher of the 2019 draft class, Matt Allan. While Veen didn’t attend USA Baseball’s PDP League, he was quick to impress evaluators with his exceptionally smooth and loose lefthanded swing and elite frame. After packing on around 20 pounds of muscle over the offseason, Veen stands at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds—still with room to add more strength. Veen has one of the best batting eyes of the prep class and brings a patient approach to the table. He frequently gets into deep counts and waits for a specific pitch to hit. His swing has natural leverage and good loft that should allow him to continue tapping into his ever-increasing raw power, which is at least plus now and could eventually reach double-plus. There are some swing-and-miss tendencies at the moment and critics wonder about his ability to handle velocity and adjust to offspeed stuff away, though most scouts believe he’ll be an above-average or better hitter thanks to his batting eye, the looseness of his operation and the way his hands work during his swing. Veen plays center field for his high school team, but he’ll be stretched there as a pro, especially as he adds weight. He’s a fine runner now but could eventually become fringe-average or below and will fit best in a corner, where he should have more than enough power to profile. He’s a solid defender with good arm strength. Veen has one of the more high-upside tools profiles in the class thanks to his power potential, swing and frame. After entering the season toward the back of the first round, the Florida commit is now one of the favorites to be the first high school player selected in a class that’s heavy on college players at the top. | |||||||
| 8 | Reid Detmers | LHP | Louisville | 6-2 | 210 | L-L | Braves ’17 (32) |
| Perhaps the most polished strike-thrower in the 2020 class, Detmers last year set a Louisville program record with 167 strikeouts and tied the program record with 13 wins. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound lefty with a workhorse frame, Detmers doesn’t have the biggest pure stuff, but is one of the more high-likelihood major leaguers in a deep 2020 pitching class. Detmers annihilated his competition before the 2020 season ended, striking out 48 batters (19.6 per nine) and walking just six (2.5 per nine) in four starts and 22 innings. Detmers’ fastball averages around 90-91 mph and touches 94 mph at his best, but it plays up and generates whiffs because Detmers is able to hide the ball well. Detmers also has outstanding control and command, along with one of the better breaking balls in the class. His low-70s curveball is a hammer, with massive depth and shape, which grades out as a plus offering at least. The pitch jumps out of his hand at times, and some evaluators have mentioned that it’s rare for a breaking ball with such a low velocity to fool professional hitters, but he has enough feel to add more power to the pitch at the next level if necessary. On top of his curveball, Detmers has a changeup that’s an above-average future offering and a slider that grades out as fringe-average, with little current usage. Scouts and coaches alike rave about Detmers’ competitive nature on the mound, and believe he has the makeup necessary to perform in any situation and at any level. It’s easy to throw a Brendan McKay comp on Detmers thanks to both pitchers’ handedness, velocity and school but that could be a lazy comparison. Others have cited Drew Pomeranz, who found major league success with below-average fastball velocity and a lethal curveball. A No. 3 starter is a solid future outlook for Detmers at this point, and he seems a safe bet to go among the top 10 picks. | |||||||
| 9 | Austin Hendrick | OF | West Allegheny HS, Imperial, Pa. | 6-1 | 192 | L-L | Mississippi State |
| Hendrick impressed scouts with his hitting and power potential over the summer showcase circuit, where he showed the ability to lay off bad pitches at East Coast Pro and at USA Baseball’s PDP League. He put together a three-home run game on June 27 and upped the ante at the 2019 Under Armour High School All-American Game when he hit a ball out of Wrigley Field. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound outfielder has the quickest pure bat speed in the class and complements it with light tower raw power, giving him arguably the best power/hit combo of any high school hitter. Hendrick has extremely quick hands that allow him to get to his 70-grade power, though he’s had to implement some timing mechanisms to keep himself back. Those adjustments have included a quirky toe-tap which has been replaced by a fluid leg kick. Hendrick’s consistency with his bat leaves fewer questions than for other high school hitters, though he does have some swing-and-miss concerns. However, the pitching he regularly faces in Pennsylvania is significantly worse than the better arms in the high school class, and he has the natural tools to make all the adjustments necessary as he moves up the ladder. He showed that ability to adjust last summer in games. Hendrick has proved he can play all three outfield positions in high school, but scouts are split on his defensive routes. Some scouts believe he tracks the ball well, but most agree that his arm strength is near the top of the class. Hendrick is best suited to play in a corner-outfield spot, where his power and above-average arm strength suit him well. A 2020 high school preseason first-team All-American, Hendrick wasn’t seen much this spring, but likely would have had a tough time changing his draft stock much given the competition. Hendrick is older for the high school class and will turn 19 in the middle of June. Still, he should be one of the first prep names selected, and it’s unlikely he makes it to campus at Mississippi State. | |||||||
| 10 | Max Meyer | RHP | Minnesota | 6-0 | 185 | L-R | Twins ’17 (34) |
| If you’re looking for the best pure stuff in the 2020 draft class, Max Meyer might be your guy. A two-time member of Team USA’s Collegiate National Team, Meyer is a two-way player for Minnesota with a long track record of excellence on the mound. After posting a 2.06 ERA as a reliever only in 2018, Meyer successfully transitioned to a starting role in 2019, when he posted a 2.11 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 76.2 innings (10.2 strikeouts per nine). He took over the Friday night role this spring and was rapidly ascending draft boards before the season was cut short. Meyer has two 70-grade offerings with a fastball that he runs up to 97-98 and holds in the mid-90s deep into outings, along with the best slider in the 2020 class. The pitch is one of the better amateur sliders that many scouts have seen in years, and for some evaluators it’s the best amateur slider they’ve ever scouted. The pitch is not only hard, getting up to 92 or even 93 mph, but it has tremendous movement and depth. Meyer has excellent command of his slider. He can loosen it for strikes or tighten it for chases out of the zone. Meyer also has a changeup that he tried to improve this season. It is in the mid-80s with slight tailing life and a chance to get to an above-average ceiling. Teams wondered if Meyer would be able to consistently hold his electric stuff in a full-time starting role, and while he didn’t get to prove it over a full season, scouts thought he paced himself well in his four starts. He struck out 46 and walked eight in 27.2 innings and recorded double-digit strikeouts in three of his four outings. While Meyer is undersized at 6-foot, 180 pounds, there’s not a disconcerting amount of effort in his delivery and he also has a strong history of throwing quality strikes. He’s one of the more athletic pitchers in recent years and went from a late-first round arm to a potential top-10 pick thanks to his early-season performance. | |||||||
| 11 | Mick Abel | RHP | Jesuit HS, Portland, Ore. | 6-5 | 198 | R-R | Oregon State |
| Vying to be the first prep arm out of Oregon drafted in the first round since 1994—when the Royals drafted lefthander and first baseman Matt Smith—Abel has a tantalizing combination of present stuff, future projection and pitchability. A 6-foot-5, 180-pound righthander, Abel touched 97 mph last summer but is more often in the 90-94 mph range. Because of the shortened 2020 season, Abel will be one of the most difficult prep players to assess. While teams should have lots of history with him thanks to his notoriety as an underclassman—which included striking out 2019 No. 5 overall pick Riley Greene—teams have little to nothing from this spring on the Oregon State commit. His high school team didn’t play a single game, and the lack of recent information could give teams pause. Outside of a fastball that’s a potentially plus offering, Abel has two quality secondaries. The first is a slider that plays firm in the 82-86 mph range and was voted by scouting directors as the best breaking ball in the prep class. He throws the pitch consistently with hard, biting action and is capable of landing it in the zone for strikes or using it as a chase pitch. Abel also throws a changeup in the 81-85 mph range that has good tumble and fading life and consistently shows above-average quality. On paper, Abel checks plenty of boxes: He has a terrific pitcher’s frame, athleticism, three above-average or better pitches and arguably the best command in the class. If Abel had simply played this spring and been the same pitcher he was last summer, he would go somewhere in the middle of the first round. He could still go there, but the abbreviated season affects him more than most and leaves his status more questionable despite his top-of-the-rotation upside. | |||||||
| 12 | Jared Kelley | RHP | Refugio (Texas) HS | 6-3 | 215 | R-R | Texas |
| A man among boys in the high school class, Kelley is the most MLB-ready prep pitcher thanks to his current stuff and physicality. Standing 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Kelley runs his fastball up into the 97-99 mph range with shocking ease. He looks like he’s playing catch on the mound with a loose, fluid delivery and little to no head whack in his finish. Perhaps in part because of the ease of his entire operation, Kelley locates his premium stuff in a way that’s beyond his years, with some scouts projecting him to have future plus command. The ease in which he does everything makes it look like his fastball explodes out of his hand, and he pairs that pitch with a low-80s plus changeup that he throws with good arm speed. The pitch is a swing-and-miss offering with excellent diving life and, like he does with his fastball, Kelley shows good feel to spot it where he wants in or out of the strike zone. The biggest question with Kelley entering the spring was in regard to his breaking ball. Over the summer he showed a slider in the low 80s, sometimes-slurvy slider. It was inconsistent and far from the wipeout projection that teams would like to see out of the top high school pitcher in the class. While Kelley didn’t get a full spring season, scouts still saw signs of improvement from his breaking ball and gave it a chance for it to become average or above-average. Kelley will battle the stigma and spotty track record that comes with being a hard-throwing high school righty, while also competing in one of the strongest college pitching classes in recent memory. Still, he does several things at an exceptionally high level that are impossible to teach, and has No. 2 starter upside. Kelley is committed to Texas. | |||||||
| 13 | Heston Kjerstad | OF | Arkansas | 6-3 | 200 | L-R | Mariners ’17 (36) |
| While the shortened 2020 season impacts every player to some extent, Kjerstad might be one of the least negatively impacted players outside of the top five. The Arkansas outfielder has a long track record of hitting for average and power, both in the SEC and with Team USA’s Collegiate National Team. Last summer, Kjerstad led Team USA with a .395/.426/.651 line including two home runs, a triple and three doubles. He’s hit better than .330/.400/.550 in each of his first two seasons with Arkansas and was off to another hot start in his junior campaign. That type of consistency gives him one of the higher floors among hitters in the 2020 draft class. He’s a middle-of-the-order type bat but might be more power over pure hit, with 70-grade future raw power and the ability to leave a ballpark in any direction. His swing is a bit unorthodox, with a two-piece action and a pause with a big leg kick that interrupts his timing. The complex mechanics might why he’s historically struck out at a high clip. Kjerstad whiffed 17 percent of the time as a freshman, 21 percent of the time as a sophomore and struck out 10 times and walked just three times with Team USA last summer. While the early returns in that department were improved in a 16-game non-conference sample this spring, teams believe Kjerstad might always strike out at a decent rate. His power production might make the swing-and-miss palatable He’s a corner outfielder and a decent athlete for his size, but it would be optimistic to expect more than adequate defense from him in left or right. Kjerstad has a solid, accurate throwing arm, but most of his value is in his bat. He should go off the board at some point in the middle of the first round. | |||||||
| 14 | Patrick Bailey | C | North Carolina State | 6-2 | 192 | B-R | Twins ’17 (37) |
| Bailey was heralded as one of the better defensive catchers in the country coming out of high school in 2017, but scouts were concerned about the amount of offensive impact he would be able to provide and let him get to campus in Raleigh. He wasted no time showing that he did have impact ability in his bat, leading all ACC freshmen in hitting (.321), total bases (113) and slugging (.604) while also setting a new NC State freshman home run record (13). And while Bailey hit over .288 in each of his three seasons with the Wolfpack, his strengths are still on the defensive side of the ball. He earns plus grades for his catching and his throwing arm, giving pitchers tremendous confidence that they can rip off their best breaking ball without having to worry about it trickling to the backstop. Bailey is also one of the rare college catchers who calls his own game, which will give him better grades for some scouting departments, and he draws plenty of praise for his leadership ability behind the plate. Offensively, Bailey certainly has more impact than scouts expected back in his high school days and has shown above-average raw power from both sides of the plate. His swing is more fluid with better contact ability from the left side, and most scouts think he’s more of a power bat than a true hitter, with grades ranging from below-average to average on his future hit tool. Bailey has a solid eye at the plate, as evidenced by a 12.8-percent career walk rate, but there are concerns about the swing-and-miss tendencies that he showed last summer with USA’s Collegiate National Team (he led the team with 12 strikeouts) and early in the 2020 season. Still, catcher offense is a low bar to clear and as the best defender in the class with average or better power potential, he will be a coveted asset in the first round. | |||||||
| 15 | Garrett Crochet | LHP | Tennessee | 6-6 | 218 | L-L | Brewers ’17 (34) |
| A 6-foot-6, 218-pound southpaw with a fastball that is regularly in the 96-100 mph range as well as a plus breaking ball, Crochet could have the best overall stuff in the class and he certainly has the best stuff of any lefthander. The abbreviated 2020 season hurts Crochet, who doesn’t have the track record of starting that many of the college arms around him do. For this reason, some scouts have compared him to Duke lefthander Graeme Stinson from the 2019 draft class, though Crochet has more starts under his belt at this time than Stinson did entering his junior season. Crochet split time as a starter and reliever during his freshman and sophomore seasons before entering his junior season with a full-time starting role. That was delayed, reportedly due to shoulder soreness, and Crochet made just one start against Wright State—when he threw 3.1 innings with six strikeouts—before the season ended. His stuff looked as loud as ever in that outing, with a fastball that sat between 93-98 mph range and touched 99, as well as a plus slider and above-average changeup. Crochet routinely creates uncomfortable at-bats against hitters, particularly lefties, with his length and the angle he creates in his delivery. His fastball explodes out of his hand and is a plus-plus pitch at the moment, giving him an elite two-pitch mix that gives him the fallback of a relief ace if starting doesn’t work out. His secondary offerings have been inconsistent in the past, but both have flashed above-average potential frequently enough to project that in the future. There aren’t any glaring reasons why Crochet couldn’t start, and his strike-throwing with Tennessee has been fine (3.37 walks per nine for his career), but teams are wary of the relative lack of track record in that role. If a team is willing to take a risk, Crochet’s pure stuff fits at the absolute top of the draft and while there’s a good deal of variance in his current profile, it’s difficult to find this stuff and size from a lefthander. | |||||||
| 16 | Robert Hassell | OF | Independence HS, Thompson’s Station, Tenn. | 6-2 | 190 | L-L | Vanderbilt |
| Hassell is at the top of the list when it comes to the best hitters in the high school class. He was voted as the top pure hitter in the class by scouting directors, over outfielders like Austin Hendrick and Pete Crow-Armstrong and has few holes in a loose, lefthanded swing. Hassell was the most consistent hitter for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team last summer, leading the Americans in 10 offensive categories while posting a .514/.548/.886 slash line. For his efforts, he was named the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s 2019 International Player of the Year. Hassell has a lean frame with an exceptionally handsy swing that reminds some scouts of players like Jarred Kelenic and Riley Greene, in terms of hittingl potential. He brings a sound approach to the table and understands the strike zone, rarely swinging and missing no matter the stuff, using the entire field and showing an advanced ability to make adjustments. Hassell has a fairly lean frame at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, and scouts are mixed on his future power potential, with some wondering how much bigger he’ll get and others more optimistic about him developing average or 55-grade power. Defensively, Hassell has a chance to stick in center field. He’s an above-average runner with above-average arm strength, but his speed is better underway and he lacks the elite sort of footspeed that most major league center fielders possess. It’s more likely that he winds up in a corner, where he could be a good defender, though that will put more pressure on the Vanderbilt commit growing into more power. It’s rare for the top prep hitter in the class to fall out of the top half of the first round, but teams didn’t see Hassell much this spring and he’ll also be competing against a strong group of prep outfielders. | |||||||
| 17 | Pete Crow-Armstrong | OF | Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif. | 6-0 | 175 | L-L | Vanderbilt |
| Crow-Armstrong has fame and baseball in his blood. His mother, Ashley Crow, is an actress who played the mom of the lead character in the 1994 baseball movie “Little Big League.” His father, Matthew Armstrong, is an accomplished television actor as well. Crow-Armstrong starred for USA Baseball’s 18U national team two years in a row and entered last summer as arguably the top high school player in the 2020 draft class. A disappointing summer dropped his stock a bit, but he rebounded with a sensational spring before the season shut down. Crow-Armstrong has a sweet lefthanded swing geared for contact. He hits both lefties and righties, stays balanced in the box and lines the ball to all fields. Evaluators see at least an average hitter and possibly plus, with the potential to hit at the top of a lineup. Scouts differ on Crow-Armstrong’s power projections. Some see below-average power, while others believe he is a good enough hitter that he’ll run into more home runs than his raw power would indicate. Crow-Armstrong should stick in center field as a plus defender with a plus arm and above-average-to-plus speed. He plays fast and hard and has an advanced feel and intellect for the game. Crow-Armstrong’s tools and instincts have teams interested in the first round even with questions about his power. He is committed to Vanderbilt. | |||||||
| 18 | Tyler Soderstrom | C | Turlock (Calif.) HS | 6-2 | 190 | L-R | UCLA |
| Soderstrom is at the top of a strong 2020 prep catching class (along with Texas catcher Drew Romo) and was one of the biggest risers last summer after a wire-to-wire terrific offensive performance. A 6-foot-2, 190-pound UCLA commit, Soderstrom hit well at a number of big showcase events, including the Area Code Games, showing power potential and a polished lefthanded bat. Almost every scout is excited about the offensive potential he offers, with plus raw power that he gets to frequently in games now, and more physical projection. Defensively, there are more questions. While the consensus on his bat is glowing, almost every evaluator questions his ability to remain behind the plate moving forward. His size is a question, as is his ability to sit behind the plate and be a good receiver. He’ll need to improve his lower-half flexibility, and while his natural arm strength is impressive, he needs to shorten his arm stroke and improve his footwork on throws. Scouts believe Soderstrom has the passion to catch, so some teams could send him out and let him figure it out, while others might be more inclined to let him play third, first or even a corner-outfield spot, where his bat could move quicker and still profile well. There are some similarities with Soderstrom and 2018 Indians first-round pick Bo Naylor (though Naylor had better natural feel to hit at the time) and enough teams seem to like him in the first round that he won’t get to campus in Los Angeles. | |||||||
| 19 | Nick Bitsko | RHP | Central Bucks East HS, Doylestown, Pa. | 6-4 | 220 | R-R | Virginia |
| Bitsko could be the most challenging player for teams to evaluate in the 2020 class. Previously the top-ranked prep player in the 2021 draft class, Bitsko announced that he would graduate early to enroll at Virginia, making him draft-eligible for 2020. While Bitsko was at a few big events last summer—including East Coast Pro and USA Baseball’s National Team Development Program in Chicago—teams were watching him with the impression that they would have more than a year of evaluation remaining. The teams who bear down early on underclassmen will be in the best position with Bitsko for the 2020 draft, but it wasn’t hard to see his talent fit with the top prep arms in the class. At East Coast Pro, Bitsko showed a fastball in the 92-96 mph range with a potentially plus curveball that had depth, power and impressive spin (2,100-2,500 rpm). With a physical, 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame, a clean, overhead windup and good strike-throwing ability, Bitsko has plenty of classic starter’s attributes. He reportedly touched as high as 98 mph with his fastball over the offseason and is solidly in the class’ elite tier of prep arms. Because his Central Bucks East High team wasn’t scheduled to start until April, Bitsko didn’t throw a pitch this season. Now, teams will be left to decide whether the glimpses of talent they saw last summer were enough to sign him out of a strong commitment to Virginia. The Cavaliers have done a nice job luring elite arms to campus in recent years, including Mike Vasil (2018 draft class) and lefthander Nate Savino, who was previously a member of the 2020 class and a first-round talent. Bitsko has a chance to be a top of the rotation-caliber arm. | |||||||
| 20 | Ed Howard | SS | Mount Carmel (Ill.) HS | 6-2 | 185 | R-R | Oklahoma |
| Howard is the top prep shortstop in a light high school class at the position and midwest area scouts should have good history with him considering he played alongside D-backs’ second-round pick Alek Thomas (2018) as an underclassman at Mount Carmel (Ill.) High. Howard wowed scouts as a junior in Perfect Game’s Jupiter WWBA tournament, showing high-level ability on both sides of the ball. While he has upside as a hitter, the polished part of Howard’s game comes from his glove. He’s a no-doubt shortstop at the next level as a solid athlete with reliable hands and a strong, accurate throwing arm. He moves fluidly in the middle of the diamond and has the ability to throw from all angles with excellent body control and a solid internal clock. In the 2020 class, he’s the clear-cut top prep defender at the position and has the potential to be a plus defensive shortstop in the big leagues . The one critique in his defensive game is that scouts would like to see better foot speed. He’s a solid runner, but not a burner by any means. Scouts will have to project more on Howard’s offensive game, particularly after not seeing him in games this season. He shows all the tools you want to see, with good bat speed, some bat-to-ball skill and a lithe, 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame that has plenty of room to add more muscle and impact ability. At present he’s more of a gap-to-gap, line-drive type hitter, but scouts want to see him refine his approach. He did a nice job of progressing throughout the summer in 2019 and showing he can make adjustments, but teams are still waiting for him to put it all together. While he is committed to Oklahoma, it’s rare for the top high school shortstop to not go in the first round, and a team that buys into his upside could jump on him in the middle or back half of the first round. | |||||||
| 21 | Austin Wells | C | Arizona | 6-1 | 200 | L-R | Yankees ’18 (35) |
| Picked by the Yankees in the 35th round in 2018 out of perennial high school powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, Wells instead chose to follow in his father’s footsteps by heading to Arizona. He’s posted outstanding hitting stats in both of his seasons with the Wildcats as well as last summer in the Cape Cod League. Wells has an outstanding approach at the plate with plus raw power, using a simple swing with good bat control. In both of his college seasons, he walked more than he struck out, impressive for any hitter but especially for a power hitter like Wells. A hole in his swing gives him problems with pitches away, but that’s a fixable problem. The bat is impressive enough that most teams view him as a first-round player, but questions remain as to where he fits best on the field. If he could stay behind the plate, he’d be a certain first-round pick, but there are more scouts who are skeptical of Wells’ receiving ability than think he can make it as a catcher. He has trouble blocking and receiving pitches, especially knee to knee on the glove side, and there’s a record of elbow issues dating back to high school. An arm that once earned plus grades is now too frequently below-average. He focused heavily on improving his defensive reputation over the offseason but didn’t have much opportunity to showcase the results in a shortened 2020 season. He’s seen time at both first base and all three outfield positions since leaving high school. Some observers believe Wells is athletic enough to handle the outfield and that the range and instincts can be developed, while others think he’s not twitchy enough for the outfield and doesn’t have the footwork for first base. He’s an average runner. If concerns with his defense cause Wells’ draft position to drop more than expected, he’s got the leverage to return to Arizona for his junior year but lefthanded bats of his quality are typically highly sought after. | |||||||
| 22 | Cade Cavalli | RHP | Oklahoma | 6-4 | 226 | R-R | Braves ’17 (29) |
| If you were creating the blueprint for an ideal pitcher’s body, Cavalli might look like the end product. A towering, 6-foot-4, 218-pound righthander who looks like an All-American quarterback, Cavalli on paper has everything you’d want to see in a frontline arm. He can dial his fastball up to 98 mph and the pitch sits in the mid-90s with ease. After that, he has a devastating slider in the 87-90 mph range with impressive lateral movement and serves as an out-pitch to both lefties and righties. Next, he has a curveball and a changeup that are solid-average with growth potential. Cavalli throws everything out of a picturesque arm action and delivery as well. While the stuff, delivery and frame are all easy check marks, there are a few question marks. Perhaps because of how clean Cavalli’s operation is, hitters tend to square up his fastball more than the velocity would suggest. Scouts wonder if he has any deception in his delivery. While the fastball has 70-grade velocity, it plays down at least a grade and perhaps more, and he has a history of erratic control that makes it more difficult to work to his secondary offerings. He improved in the strike-throwing department through four starts this spring (just five walks in 23.2 innings) but he’s never posted a WHIP lower than 1.27 in his career and gives up plenty of hits. Additionally, he has a troubling injury history going back to his high school days. He rarely pitched during his senior year because of lingering back issues and also missed time in 2019 due to a stress reaction in his arm. While Cavalli has first-round pure stuff, big upside and one of the better bodies in the 2020 class, he could fall into the second round because of concerns about how that stuff plays, the quality of his strikes and questions about durability. He was trending up prior to the end of the season and never got a chance to put everything together, but enough scouts have seen him synched up in short stints to dream about his future potential. | |||||||
| 23 | JT Ginn | RHP | Mississippi State | 6-2 | 192 | R-R | Dodgers ’18 (1) |
| After being selected by the Dodgers in the first round out of high school in 2018, Ginn entered the 2020 season as a draft-eligible sophomore with a chance to double up on the accomplishment. However, he made it through just three innings of his first start of the season against Wright State before exiting the game. It was later announced the Ginn would need surgery on his right elbow and that he would miss the season. While the rest of the college season was canceled due to the novel coronavirus, Ginn’s status is more up in the air after being considered a top-15 caliber player in the 2020 draft class. He has plenty of prospect pedigree going back to his high school days, when his pure stuff stacked up among the best arms of a loaded 2018 prep pitching class. As a high schooler, Ginn ratcheted his fastball up to 99 mph and buried a mean, wipeout slider as well. Rather than sign with Los Angeles at the back of the first round, he had a strong freshman season at Mississippi State and proved he could be a dominant starter. He posted a 3.13 ERA over 17 starts and 86.1 innings, while striking out 105 batters and walking 19. When healthy, Ginn possesses two potentially double-plus pitches. His fastball has impressive velocity, but the pitch’s life and running action makes it even more impressive. His slider has also been graded as a future plus-plus offering by some evaluators, and he has a solid changeup as well. Ginn showed he could hold his stuff over longer outings, repeat his delivery consistently and throw enough strikes to start, but now teams will have to decide whether to take the risk on his health. He could again be a difficult sign because of the additional leverage that comes with being a draft-eligible sophomore. | |||||||
| 24 | Cole Wilcox | RHP | Georgia | 6-5 | 232 | R-R | Nationals ’18 (37) |
| Wilcox was in the middle of an extremely talented Georgia prep pitching class in 2018, along with arms like Indians righty Ethan Hankins and Vanderbilt righty Kumar Rocker. Wilcox was seen as a day one talent at the time, with a projectable frame, plus fastball and two promising secondary offerings, but the depth of the class and his commitment to Georgia allowed him to slide. Two years later, Wilcox is again a potential first-round pick and one of many impressive draft-eligible sophomores in the 2020 class. Wilcox has worked with Georgia’s strength and conditioning coach, Ryan Gearhart, to add significant muscle to his 6-foot-5 frame in his two years at school. He’s now listed at 232 pounds and is one of the more physically intimidating pitchers in the country. His stuff matches his size, as Wilcox attacks hitters with a fastball that frequently gets into the 97-98 mph range and has touched 100 mph. After spending most of his time as a reliever in 2019, Wilcox entered the 2020 season as the Bulldogs’ Saturday starter behind Emerson Hancock and was off to a great start before the season was cut short. Wilcox posted a 1.57 ERA in four starts, with 32 strikeouts and just two walks in 23 innings. That walk rate is encouraging for teams, who are skeptical of Wilcox’s strike-throwing ability after he walked close to six batters per nine innings in 2019. Scouts would have liked to see him continue that trend against SEC batters, as Wilcox has a tendency to get scattered and miss the zone, but his stuff is overpowering enough that overmatched hitters would still chase out of the zone. Wilcox pitched mostly off of a 93-96 mph fastball as a starter, with a mid-80s slider that also grades as plus. He also throws a changeup in the same mid-80s range that could give him an average or better third offering. Wilcox was trending in the right direction prior to the season ending and was already a first round-type of talent entering the year, so how much a team likes his upside and buys into his improved control will determine where he goes. As an eligible sophomore, Wilcox will have more leverage than most college players and could be a costly sign. | |||||||
| 25 | Carmen Mlodzinski | RHP | South Carolina | 6-2 | 231 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Mlodzinski (pronounced ‘Muh-jin-ski’) had some top-five round grades from clubs coming out of Hilton Head (S.C.) High, but he made it to campus at South Carolina, where he posted a 5.61 ERA over two abbreviated seasons. A foot injury limited him to just three games in 2019, but Mlodzinski entered the 2020 season as a redshirt sophomore with some of the most hype in the country. An exceptional summer in the Cape Cod League showed scouts exciting upside. He ranked as the top pitcher in the league with a fastball up to 97-98 mph, an impressive slider and cutter and a 2.15 ERA over six starts, with 40 strikeouts to just four walks. Because of that, he entered the season as a potential top 10 pick, though scouts wanted to see him put together some track record with the Gamecocks. He managed just four starts before the season shut down ahead of a big SEC matchup with Tennessee, posting a 2.84 ERA in 25.1 innings with less gaudy strikeout numbers but plenty of ground balls induced. Teams expected Mlodzinski to miss more bats this spring. He sat in the 92-94 mph range and showed 96 and 97 at times, but the pitch is a heavy sinking fastball that generates tons of ground balls. It wasn’t a pitch that generated whiff after whiff up in the zone. After flashing a plus slider and a plus cutter in the Cape, Mlodzinski’s breaking balls were more above-average or solid, with the slider lacking the depth and tilt that he had shown previously and the cutter sitting in the 89-91 mph range. He tinkered with a curveball that was fringe-average at times, and also infrequently threw a changeup that needs further refinement. Without a true swing-and-miss offering, it’s more difficult to see Mlodzinski going at the top of the first round. As a physical, 6-foot-2, 231-pound righty who throws a lot of strikes, has a clean arm action and forces hitters into beating the ball into the ground (38 groundouts in four starts in 2020) though, he still offers a reasonable floor as a middle or back-of-the-rotation starter. | |||||||
| 26 | Tanner Burns | RHP | Auburn | 6-0 | 215 | R-R | Yankees ’17 (37) |
| Other pitchers in the 2020 class have bigger pure stuff and more physical frames than the 6-foot, 215-pound Auburn righthander, but Burns has one of the higher baselines of any pitcher in the country. He’s been a reliable workhorse over two-plus years with the Tigers in a full-time starting role, taking the bump 32 times and posting a 2.86 ERA in 188.2 innings. That sort of track record in the SEC speaks for itself, and Burns’ pitch mix is solid-average or better across the board. His fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range consistently, with more in the tank when he wants it. It’s a plus pitch that plays up because of his ability to locate it consistently. He dots the pitch wherever he wants, which allows him to set up his offspeed offerings. Burns throws an above-average curveball and a changeup that gets some above-average grades as well, though it fluctuates more around average than the curve or fastball. He also throws a slider, though some evaluators believe the two breaking balls blend together. Either way, he gets swings and misses from lefties and righties with his breaking stuff and is an above-average strike thrower. His career walk rate with Auburn is just 3.16 batters per nine, and if he stays healthy he’s got a high likelihood to impact a major league club. Some teams may question his durability and endurance thanks to his size, but he’s done all he can in college to show he can handle the workload. Burns has the upside of a No. 3 or 4 starter and should be taken in the middle or back of the first round. | |||||||
| 27 | Dillon Dingler | C | Ohio State | 6-3 | 210 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Dingler has been a regular in Ohio State’s lineup since he first set foot on campus in Columbus. As a freshman he showed impressive defensive versatility at two premium positions, playing both catcher and center field. He settled in as the team’s starting catcher during his sophomore season, and scouts believe in his catch-and-throw skills and athleticism behind the plate. A natural leader and a captain for the Buckeyes, Dingler has big league arm strength, and over 115 total games with Ohio State threw out 21 of the 42 (50 percent) runners who attempted to steal against him. He has a strong, 6-foot-3, 222-pound frame that would be durable enough to handle the grind of the position, and he’s more athletic than most backstops with that sort of size. Offensively, Dingler was just starting to tap into his potential, improving year over year. He improved his OPS from .701 as a freshman to .816 as a sophomore. His numbers might have been even louder if he didn’t miss some time early in the season due to a broken hamate that could have sapped some of his power even after returning to the field. Through 10 games in 2020 upped that mark to 1.164 with five home runs, a triple and four doubles through 35 at-bats. Dingler has always controlled the strike zone well throughout his Big 10 career (12.8 strikeout percentage, 11.6 walk percentage) but never really showed the ability to tap into his above-average raw power consistently in games. Some scouts believe he’s more of an ambush power hitter, who ran into his homers, and now without a full junior season to see if that is true, they’ll have to guess. With a strong offensive 2020 season, Dingler had the potential to go in the first two rounds and his everyday potential and big arm could keep him in that range even with a shortened season. | |||||||
| 28 | Bobby Miller | RHP | Louisville | 6-5 | 220 | L-R | Orioles ’17 (38) |
| Out of high school in 2017, Miller showed flashes of the pitcher he could become one day, touching 93-94 mph with a frame that indicated more in the tank as well as a breaking ball that showed above-average potential. Three years later and Miller has started to actualize the potential he showed as a teenager with McHenry (Ill.) High. Now standing 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Miller entered the 2020 season as a full-time starter for the first time, though he did log plenty of innings (146.2) in a hybrid role in 2018 and 2019. Miller now has a fastball that gets up into the upper 90s consistently, with heavy, sinking life. He pairs that pitch with a hard slider in the upper 80s that can touch 90, a pitch that has flashed plus potential. He’s also got a mid-80s changeup that gives him a third solid pitch, and a curveball that’s fringier. For all of his size and the explosive pure stuff that he’s shown, some scouts wonder what his dominant swing-and-miss offering is going to be. There’s also some reliever risk with Miller, as his delivery and arm action aren’t the smoothest or cleanest, but he has done a nice job holding his stuff deep into his outings and improved his strike-throwing this season. After walking more than four batters per nine innings in 2019, some scouts have put above-average command on Miller. He was trending in the right direction prior to the season ending and fits somewhere at the back of the first or early in the second round after posting a 2.31 ERA in 23.1 innings and four starts as a junior. | |||||||
| 29 | Nick Loftin | SS | Baylor | 6-1 | 180 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A steady player on both sides of the ball for Baylor since taking over at shortstop his freshman year, Loftin is solidly in the mix of the top shortstops in the college class. While there are others who might have louder tool sets or are half-grade better defenders, Loftin seems to do everything well. He’s hit above .300 in every season in the Big 12 with a clean, simple swing. He fields his position well, has good instincts and is an above-average defender at shortstop with the versatility to play almost every position. After hitting for more extra bases as a sophomore, Loftin may have been headed for a breakout offensive campaign in 2020, with two home runs, two triples and four doubles through just 13 games. The .264 isolated slugging mark he posted in that time was far and away the highest of his career, and he started moving up draft boards as a result. Some scouts have said he has just fringe-average power and noted that when he does impact the ball it’s typically only to the pull side, but a full season of the performance he started the year with may have been enough to change minds. Loftin’s speed is just average. While Loftin might not have any standout tools, teams have generally coveted the college shortstop performer with an all-around game, and that description fits the Baylor product well. | |||||||
| 30 | Chris McMahon | RHP | Miami | 6-2 | 205 | R-R | Braves ’17 (33) |
| McMahon has shown impressive athleticism and arm strength dating back to his high school days, when he was up to 95 mph and showed potential with two quality offspeed offerings. He ranked No. 76 in the 2017 BA 500, but made it to Miami and should go off the board well before that range in 2020. The top arm in southern Florida, McMahon has a solid collegiate track record with the Hurricanes and scouts believe his pitch metrics will excite analytically inclined evaluators as well. His fastball is a plus offering, regularly in the mid-90s, but the pitch plays better than its velocity thanks to deception and solid riding life. He also has a slider and a changeup. Some scouts have the slider as his better offspeed offering, calling it a plus breaking ball, while others are high on a changeup that gets plus grades as well. He pulls the string with that pitch and induces whiffs and ground balls from hitters of both sides. McMahon has also implemented a cutter, though some evaluators believe it’s not a true cutter, simply a more firm version of his slider. Whatever the pitch, scouts believe both breaking balls have plus potential. McMahon has a minor back injury on his resume, but he’s largely been successful when healthy and was off to his best collegiate season in 2020 with a 1.05 ERA in four starts and 25.2 innings, with 38 strikeouts and five walks. Some teams could like him as high as the 20s, and it would be surprising to see him slide out of the second round. | |||||||
| 31 | Alika Williams | SS | Arizona State | 6-2 | 180 | R-R | Yankees ’17 (32) |
| Williams has drawn some comps to former Sun Devil shortstop Deven Marrero and will likely be the highest drafted ASU shortstop since Marrero went in the first round in 2012. While Williams has gotten some first-round buzz, there are plenty of opinions that he fits better in the second round. He’s at least an above-average defensive shortstop, earning plus grades from some talent evaluators, with sure hands and first-step quickness that consistently puts him in good fielding position. His solid-average arm plays up because of his footwork and quick exchange. Williams controls the strike zone well, walking more than he struck out during his college career, and his hands work well at the plate. He was miscast as a cleanup hitter during parts of his Sun Devil career, with observers believing he was pulling too many balls in the air instead of hitting to his strengths, which is making outstanding contact going gap to gap. He has room to add strength which would give more impact to his bat, but regardless he’s a glove-first shortstop who can stay at the position throughout his career. He’s no more than an average runner with good instincts on the bases, but speed will never be a big part of his game. Williams wisely chose not to sign when the Yankees took him in the 32nd round in 2017 out of Rancho Bernardo (Calif.) High but he should get selected high enough in 2020 to start his pro career. | |||||||
| 32 | Slade Cecconi | RHP | Miami | 6-4 | 212 | R-R | Orioles ’18 (38) |
| Cecconi has one of the best pedigrees of any player in the 2020 class going back to his high school days, fitting in talent-wise with the top arms in a loaded 2018 prep pitching class that included Indians righthander Ethan Hankins and Vanderbilt righthander Kumar Rocker. Cecconi looked like a no-doubt first-round pick based on his summer looks entering his senior year in high school but pitched sparingly during the spring due to an injury and made it to campus at Miami as a result. His freshman season was solid, and he handled 80 innings, although the stuff wasn’t quite as loud as he showed in shorter stints as a high schooler. Still, he showed enough flashes that teams were convinced he was the same pitcher and would become a first-round candidate with another strong season as a draft-eligible sophomore. With the season cut short, Cecconi started just four games, pitching to a 3.80 ERA in 21.1 innings with 30 strikeouts and seven walks. In terms of pure stuff, Cecconi has more than any arm in Florida and stacks up with the better starters in the 2020 class. But having everything together at once has been a challenge for the 6-foot-4 righthander, who also saw his velocity tick down in his last outing of the year. At his best he runs his fastball up into the upper 90s with impressive life and has a slider, cutter and changeup that all flash plus. On top of the quality of Cecconi’s pitches, scouts like his frame and strike-throwing ability but believe he gets too much of the plate at times. At the moment, Cecconi fits in the second round thanks to his track record and performance, but his overall talent likely fits higher than that. Whether a team wants to take the risk to draft and sign him in that range is another question, and with additional leverage as an eligible sophomore it could prove difficult. | |||||||
| 33 | Jordan Westburg | SS | Mississippi State | 6-3 | 191 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| An impressive athlete with plus speed and plus raw power, Westburg has steadily improved as a hitter throughout his college career and had an exceptional summer in the Cape Cod League in 2019. In 25 games with Hyannis, Westburg hit .326/.385/.516 with four home runs and six doubles—enough to rank as the No. 4 prospect in the league. Westburg has been an aggressive hitter at times, with a tendency to strike out at a high clip, but he has made big strides in that department. After whiffing in 25 percent of his plate appearances as a freshman, Westburg cut that to 21 percent as a sophomore and then again to 18 percent through a small, 14-game sample in 2020. Still, scouts think he might wind up as more of a fringe-average hitter because of those concerns. While he does have plus raw power, he’s never been able to fully tap into that during games, and his six home runs in 2019 were the most he’s managed in a season. He’s been more of a doubles and gap hitter, but has a 6-foot-3, 203-pound frame that could add more weight and allow him to take a step forward in that area. Defensively, Westburg has a shot to stick at shortstop. He’s not the elite defender that scouts want to see at the position, but he’s quick, athletic and has a strong enough arm. Depending on the situation around him, he could likely handle the position, but a move to third base or second might be a better long-term fit. If a team thinks he has a chance to be an average hitter, he could go in the back of the first round, with good supplemental tools to fall back on. | |||||||
| 34 | Jordan Walker | 3B | Decatur (Ga.) HS | 6-5 | 220 | R-R | Duke |
| The best high school third baseman in the class, Walker is a massive-framed, 6-foot-5, 220-pound slugger committed to Duke. He’s also the top-ranked prep prospect out of Georgia, which has been more pitcher-heavy than bat-heavy in recent years. Walker was one of the high school players who managed to get seen early and often during the shortened 2020 season. He performed at a high level against solid competition while all those eyes were on him. Walker has a solid feel to hit with plus raw power and plenty more projected as he grows into more strength. While there are some questions about his natural feel to hit thanks to the length of his arms and some swing-and-miss concerns, Walker has progressed in the right direction with his hit tool and could be an average or slightly better hitter. He moves remarkably well considering his size, though many scouts don’t think that will be enough to prevent a move to first base or a corner outfield spot in the future. Walker was something of a polarizing player last summer for scouts, largely thanks to questions about his profile, but he performed at the right time this spring and could go off the board at the end of the first round or shortly thereafter. Scouts praise Walker’s heady, cerebral nature and believe he could be a tough sign out of Duke, where he could elevate his draft stock with a few years of ACC performance. | |||||||
| 35 | Aaron Sabato | 1B | North Carolina | 6-2 | 230 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Sabato has some of the biggest raw power in the entire 2020 draft class, rivaling even Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson. A 6-foot-2, 230-pound first baseman, Sabato has a strong, bulky frame with massive forearms that allow him to consistently drive the ball hard to all fields. After going undrafted out of high school in 2018, Sabato loudly announced his presence in Chapel Hill in 2019, hitting .343/.453/.696 with a UNC freshman record 18 home runs. He led a team that included first-round pick Michael Busch in each triple-slash category and home runs and was positioned to further elevate his stock with another loud draft-eligible sophomore campaign. Sabato played in 19 games before the season was cut short, and in that time he hit seven home runs and six doubles with a .292/.478/.708 slash line. While Sabato has a patient eye at the plate and isn’t afraid to take his walks, teams are concerned with the number of strikeouts he’s racked up in his time with the Tar Heels. With almost all of his value tied to his powerful bat, teams will want to be convinced he is able to regularly tap into that power, but scouts typically put an average or solid-average hit tool on Sabato. Defensively, he’s limited to first base, where he’s a below-average defender and a well below-average runner. Considering his sophomore-eligible status, teams likely would have wanted a longer resume to feel confident in the bat but he did as well statistically as teams could ask for in the time allotted, though playing in the summer might have helped. Sabato and his 70-grade power should go off the board at the end of the first or early in the second round if he is inclined to sign. | |||||||
| 36 | Justin Foscue | 2B/3B | Mississippi State | 6-0 | 201 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| You have to be a standout hitter to be a day one prospect as a second baseman, and Foscue fits the bill. After a mediocre freshman season with Mississippi State (.241/.332/.353), Foscue took off in 2019 when he hit 14 home runs and posted a .338/.402/.582 slash line while finishing fifth in the SEC in hits and third in total bases. Scouts believe Foscue will be an above-average hitter, though he does it with a fairly significant leg kick in his load and an approach that gets pull-heavy. Evaluators thought Foscue quieted the lower half a bit in his 14 games this spring. His strikeout and walk rates were significantly better than he’s shown before, but it was a very small sample. He has plus raw power in the tank, though scouts wonder how much of that he’ll tap into during games with a wooden bat. He played 12 games last summer with Team USA and hit just .255/.288/.362 with wood. Foscue will need to improve his defense to stick at second base, and there’s some concern that he’ll wind up in an outfield corner, which would hurt his overall profile. Coaches praise Foscue’s work ethic and baseball IQ though, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he took the steps necessary to stick in the dirt. If Foscue were lefthanded or a bit bigger (he is listed at 6-foot, 203 pounds) it would be easier to see him in the back of the first round. A team that thinks he’s a plus hitter could still take him there, but it is more likely he goes in the second. | |||||||
| 37 | Bryce Jarvis | RHP | Duke | 6-2 | 195 | L-R | Indians ’19 (37) |
| Jarvis is one of several big-time pitching risers in North Carolina, along with Wake Forest’s Jared Shuster and North Carolina State’s Nick Swiney. Jarvis didn’t pitch in the Cape Cod League over the summer, instead working to improve his game by working with Driveline and Cressey Sports Performance to improve his pitch mix and fastball velocity. The work paid off, as Jarvis increased his fastball from a pitch that topped out in the low 90s to a plus offering that sat 93-96 deep into outings early in the spring. That new fastball—combined with his already impressive secondary offerings—has taken his draft stock to a new level. Jarvis already had an impressive track record with Duke as a starter and reliever, racking up impressive strikeout totals no matter the role. After striking out 12.7 per nine during his freshman season primarily as a reliever, Jarvis whiffed 11.2 per nine in a split role as a sophomore. He was one of the most dominant arms in the country through four starts this spring, including a 15-strikeout perfect game against Cornell during the second week of the season. Jarvis has three potential plus pitches now, with a mid-80s slider and a changeup a tick below that range. The 6-foot-2 righthander throws all of those pitches effectively and showed above-average or better command in 2020 after walking more than four batters per nine innings as a freshman and sophomore. He works with a quick tempo and throws with a bit of effort and some recoil at times. It’s not the most fluid delivery, but it shouldn’t prevent him from starting at the next level either. Teams surely would have liked to see if Jarvis was capable of holding his newfound fastball velocity over a full season in a starting role. Now that that’s not possible, Jarvis is probably looking at a second- or third-round selection. | |||||||
| 38 | Casey Martin | SS | Arkansas | 5-11 | 175 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Martin is perhaps the most toolsy college infielder in the 2020 class, with plus speed, arm strength, raw power and a chance for plus defense at shortstop as well. Typically, a college shortstop with that tool set goes among the top 10 picks. What holds Martin back is his ability to make the most of those tools, with an overly aggressive approach at the plate and less consistency than teams would like in the field. There are significant questions about the quality of Martin’s hit tool and his approach. After a loud freshman campaign in which he hit .345/.418/.556 with 13 home runs, Martin regressed a bit in his sophomore season, thanks mostly to less BABIP luck (.418 in 2018 compared to .344 in 2019). He still managed to hit 15 home runs, but scouts worry about how often he’ll get to that power at the next level with a career strikeout rate over 22 percent. He has always had a tendency to swing and miss frequently, both in the zone and outside of the zone, and those issues continued in his brief play in the shortened 2020 season. Scouts have also wondered why a runner with his speed and quick-twitch actions hasn’t had more success stealing bases (just 18 over his first two seasons), though he was off to a 6-for-6 start in 13 games as a junior. Defensively, Martin has a penchant for making highlight-reel plays, but he lacks the polish needed for an everyday player at the position. Some scouts believe he would be a better fit for center field or second base because of that, while others think he simply needs more reps. Martin could have significantly changed his draft stock—in either direction, depending on how he hit in SEC play—with a full season. Now teams will have to decide if they want to buy into his high-upside tools or avoid the risk he presents. | |||||||
| 39 | Drew Romo | C | The Woodlands (Texas) HS | 6-1 | 205 | B-R | Louisiana State |
| Romo has been regarded as an elite catch-and-throw backstop from essentially the first day he started playing high school baseball. Area scouts were quick to take note of his prowess behind the plate, and some think he’s been the best defensive catcher in the state for four years—and Baylor backstop Shea Langeliers was a top-10 pick in 2019. He’s at the top of a deep prep catching class in 2020, alongside the offensive-oriented Tyler Soderstrom, and teams believe he’s as high a likelihood major leaguer as you’ll find out of one of the riskiest draft profiles. Romo has soft hands, is an excellent blocker and receiver and brings a strong, accurate arm to the table as well. By the way scouts talk about his defensive reputation and ability, he has a chance to be a plus-plus defender with plus arm strength. On top of that, Romo offers solid raw power from both sides of the plate. His swing is a bit more grooved from the left side, where his righthanded swing is rigid with a tick more power. The biggest questions with Romo are how frequently he’s going to hit. He’s shown some swing-and-miss concerns and there’s reason to wonder how well he’ll hit against better pitching. Still, he has a good understanding of the strike zone and could carve out offensive value thanks to that, with some ambush power. The baseline for catcher offense in today’s game is low, and the scouting industry almost unanimously sees Romo as an impact defender at the game’s most premium position. So despite any offensive concerns, the Louisiana State commit has a chance to go in the first round or supplemental first round. | |||||||
| 40 | Carson Montgomery | RHP | Windermere (Fla.) HS | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Florida State |
| A 6-foot-2, 195-pound righthander committed to Florida State, Montgomery has a loud two-pitch mix featuring a fastball that’s already up to 96 mph and one of the better sliders in the prep class. Montgomery consistently showed an impressive ability to generate whiffs with both pitches, with his fastball up in the zone and his slider at the bottom and below the strike zone. His fastball sits more in the 90-93 range after he settles in, but the pitch comes out of a high three-quarters slot with good angle and features solid running life. His slider flashes plus consistently, with hard and late diving action that routinely fools hitters, though scouts mentioned that the pitch is inconsistent. Some cite a wrist wrap in the back of his arm slot that could lead to the inconsistencies of the breaking ball, which also limits his fastball command. Montgomery can lose the zone at times and his command is more scattered than teams would like from a prep arm with first-round stuff. Additionally, teams will have to project on Montgomery’s changeup, which is firm in the upper 80s with little movement, but could become a reliable third pitch with additional usage. A team that likes his chance to start long-term could take him in the back half of the first, though most of the industry might have him slightly after that range. He could be a tough sign, particularly within a shortened 2020 draft. | |||||||
| 41 | Jared Jones | RHP | La Mirada (Calif.) HS | 6-1 | 180 | R-R | Texas |
| Scouts pegged Jones as a future first-round pick as a high school sophomore, and he’s done little to dissuade that notion. A three-time member of USA Baseball’s junior national teams, Jones is a twitchy, explosive athlete who stars both on the mound and in the outfield. His tremendous arm speed generates lively mid-to-upper 90s fastballs, and his elite athleticism has helped him make adjustments to his delivery and gradually improve his command and control. Jones dominates with his fastball, but he flashes a sharp, above-average slider in the mid-80s and is developing his changeup. Jones is slightly undersized and has an effortful delivery, leading some evaluators to project him to the bullpen. His improving command and elite competitiveness lead others to believe he can start. Jones is an above-average runner who gets excellent jumps in the outfield and makes jaw-dropping throws, earning 80 grades on his arm. He flashes big power at the plate, but he’s a free swinger who scouts aren’t sure will make enough contact against better pitching. Jones has strong baseball bloodlines in addition to his talent. His father, Keith, was a 1997 draft pick of the Diamondbacks and played two seasons in the minors. His cousins Randy and Ron Flores both pitched in the majors, and Randy is currently the Cardinals’ scouting director. Jones made the right strides with his command this spring to remain a first-round talent as a pitcher. He is committed to Texas. | |||||||
| 42 | Daniel Cabrera | OF | Louisiana State | 6-0 | 180 | L-L | Padres ’17 (26) |
| Scouts have been infatuated with Cabrera’s swing since his days as a prep player. Out of Parkview Baptist High in Baton Rouge, evaluators admired his standout barrel control and a bat path that stayed in the zone for a long time. Known for his all-fields line drives in high school, Cabrera has started to tap into more of his raw power over three years at Louisiana State, highlighted by a 12-homer campaign in 2019. There aren’t many moving parts in Cabrera’s swing. It’s simple and easy and, like his prep days, he’s still capable of hitting the ball to all fields, which has helped him stay consistent. While his raw power is more above-average than plus, and mostly to the pull side, he’s the sort of hitter scouts believe will tap into everything he has during games. His power numbers were more suppressed last summer in the wood-bat Cape Cod League, so how his power transfers to a wood bat in pro ball is worth considering. Including 16 games in a shortened 2020 season, Cabrera is a .300/.382/.520 hitter in his LSU career. He has a corner-outfield profile and will likely be no more than average defensively there, and probably fits best in left field. Because of that, there’s more pressure on his bat, but he’s one of the college hitters who scouts generally feel comfortable with moving forward. He could sneak into the back of the first round or go off the board at some point in the second. | |||||||
| 43 | Jared Shuster | LHP | Wake Forest | 6-3 | 210 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Shuster is one of the bigger rising pitchers in the 2020 class, and his ascension started with a strong summer in the Cape Cod League. The first thing to improve was his control. After walking more than five batters per nine innings over his first two seasons, Shuster showed dramatically better strike-throwing ability with Orleans, walking just five batters in 32 innings—a 1.41 per nine rate. Next came the fastball velocity. After mostly sitting in the 88-92 mph range, Shuster came out this spring with a fastball that got up to the 96-97 mph range from the left side. The dramatic improvement in both those areas vaulted him up into the second-to-third-round range and it wouldn’t be shocking for some scouts to have first-round grades on him. Lefties who throw 96-97 mph are rare enough, but Shuster has impressive starter traits to go along with that velocity, especially with his improved control. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Wake Forest product has a plus changeup and a developing slider that could become an average pitch as well. The shortened season hurt Shuster’s ascension up draft boards, but after striking out 43 batters in 26.1 innings with just four walks and a 3.76 ERA, he likely already showed enough teams that his improvement was legit. | |||||||
| 44 | Cole Henry | RHP | Louisiana State | 6-4 | 214 | R-R | Tigers ’18 (38) |
| One of the talented draft-eligible sophomore pitchers in the 2020 class, Henry ranked No. 225 on the BA 500 in 2018, when he showed a fastball up to 97 mph as a high school senior with a big frame to match. Henry has started to fill out that frame in two years with Louisiana State and is now listed at 6-foot-4, 211 pounds. With the increased strength he’s also improved his stuff, most notably a breaking ball that now has plus potential. He still can run his fastball up into the 97 mph range, but sits in the 92-95 mph range more typically, with a two-seam fastball in his arsenal as well. His curveball is a power offering with impressive depth, and he’s also shown feel for a changeup that scouts believe can be plus as well. With plus stuff across the board, Henry has all the pieces to be a frontline arm, but scouts have wanted to see more consistency. When everything’s on at the same time he can be electric, but that happens infrequently because he struggles at times to put hitters away or land his off-speed stuff for strikes. Henry established himself as LSU’s No. 1 weekend starter as a freshman, when he posted a 3.39 ERA over 58.1 innings with 72 strikeouts and 18 walks. He was once again the Friday arm in 2020 through four starts before the season was canceled. In that time, Henry posted a 1.89 ERA over 19 innings with 23 strikeouts and six walks. With sophomore eligibility, Henry could be a tough sign but is solidly a Day One talent. | |||||||
| 45 | Alex Santos | RHP | Mount St. Michael Academy, Bronx, N.Y. | 6-3 | 215 | R-R | Maryland |
| One of the better northeast arms in the 2020 class, Santos never got into a game for his high school team thanks to a shortened 2020 season, but got plenty of looks from scouts last summer. Santos throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a fastball that gets into the mid-90s and flashes plus. He pairs that with two secondary offerings that have plus potential, with plenty of spin on a curveball and a changeup that he worked on over the offseason. After throwing in an Alabama event this spring, scouts noted the improvement of the changeup, though his velocity wasn’t yet quite as high as it had been over the summer. Santos added weight and strength to his frame over the offseason as well, and is around 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds now. A projection profile, Santos has started to make the progress with his body that scouts anticipated would come. He has the strike-throwing ability and athleticism that portend a future starting role as well. There will be more risk with Santos due to the fact that teams simply couldn’t see him much this spring, but his father co-owns a facility in New York called Citius Baseball, and Santos has been able to regularly throw his bullpens and record his pitching data with a Rapsodo unit. That information will be useful for clubs who debate popping Santos early in the draft. He could sneak into the first round or go in the supplemental round or second. Santos is committed to Maryland. | |||||||
| 46 | CJ Van Eyk | RHP | Florida State | 6-1 | 205 | R-R | Mets ’17 (19) |
| Van Eyk established himself as one of the more polished prep pitchers in the 2017 draft class. He ranked No. 109 on the BA 500 that year and would have been solidly in the top 100 of the class if it weren’t for health questions that stemmed from a forearm injury. Perhaps because of that, Van Eyk made his way to Florida State, where he has been extremely consistent. After starting just five games as a freshman, Van Eyk made a successful transition to a starting role in 2019, when he posted a 3.81 ERA over 99.1 innings and 18 starts, with more than 11 strikeouts per nine innings. He was off to another successful season in 2020, posting a 1.31 ERA over four starts and 20.2 innings with 25 strikeouts and 12 walks. Van Eyk gets things done with a solid three-pitch mix, including a fastball in the 90-95 mph range, a sharp, 78-80 mph downer curveball and an 81-84 mph changeup with sinking action that fools hitters on both sides. All three of those pitches are solid-average or better. Van Eyk can also spin a slider, but the pitch has less depth and less swing-and-miss potential than his curve. Van Eyk’s operation is clean, with a loose, fluid arm that comes from a deliberate windup with very little coil or torque in his lower half, some hooking action in the back and an easy, balanced finish. Everything about the operation screams starter, but Van Eyk’s stuff isn’t quite as explosive as the top-end pitchers in the class, which could make him more of a late first- or second-round pick. | |||||||
| 47 | Masyn Winn | SS/RHP | Kingwood (Texas) HS | 5-11 | 180 | R-R | Arkansas |
| Pound for pound, Winn could be the most purely talented player in the 2020 class. A legitimate two-way player, the Arkansas commit is overflowing with plus tools on both sides of the ball. As a hitter, he has bat speed, surprising raw power for his size (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) and plus speed that plays out of the box and on the bases. At shortstop, Winn is an exceptional athlete with massive arm strength, solid hands and impressive natural instincts. On the mound, he’s as electric. He’s been up to 98 mph with his fastball and more typically sits in the 92-96 mph range. He pairs that with a hard slider that can get slurvy, but he’s shown good feel to manipulate the pitch and has also flashed a plus changeup. All of his stuff likely plays up thanks to some deception that comes from a short and quick arm stroke. Some inconsistency and his smaller frame lead to legitimate reliever question marks. Teams are mixed on whether his upside is better as a pitcher or a hitter. If you squint you can see an impact player on both sides of the ball, though he needs more refinement and maturity on both sides. He plays the game at a quicker speed than most, but that can get him into trouble. As a position player, scouts would like to see Winn slow the game down, be more consistent on routine plays at shortstop, stay within himself more at the plate and chase fewer pitches out of the zone. Some teams wonder if he should continue playing both ways like former Louisville star Brendan McKay. He did that in a Jupiter performance last fall that is one of the best two-way performances scouts have ever seen at the event—he flashed three plus pitches on the mound and produced exit velocities of better than 100 mph three times. Winn’s upside and talent are obvious, but questions about his size and the all-around polish to his game persist. | |||||||
| 48 | Kevin Parada | C | Loyola HS, Los Angeles | 6-0 | 192 | R-R | Georgia Tech |
| Parada won MVP of the 2018 WWBA World Championships as a junior and continued to perform at every major showcase last summer. He got off to a red-hot start this spring and had Southern California area scouts buzzing before the season shut down. Parada is widely considered one of the best prep hitters in the class. He’s a strong, powerful hitter who crushes both fastballs and offspeed pitches, and he has a long track record of performing against good competition. Parada stays in the strike zone, covers the whole plate and already posts exit velocities near 100 mph. Evaluators see a potential .280 or better hitter with a chance to hit 20 or more home runs. Parada is less certain to remain a catcher. He’s a good athlete, but he’s a fringe-average defender whose flexibility is a concern. His above-average arm strength is nullified at times by a long arm action. Some clubs want to make Parada an outfielder and let him focus on hitting. He is strongly committed to Georgia Tech and may be difficult to sign. | |||||||
| 49 | Isaiah Greene | OF | Corona (Calif.) HS | 6-1 | 180 | L-L | Missouri |
| Greene jumped on national radars last summer when he outplayed most of USA Baseball’s 18U National Team while facing them in scrimmages with a scout team. He got off to a slow start this spring before the season shut down, but still drew positive reviews from evaluators. Greene’s best asset is a smooth, lefthanded stroke that turns around high-end velocity. He drives the ball hard with ease, drawing comparisons to Garret Anderson and Michael Brantley, and projects as a consensus plus hitter with a chance to hit .300 in his best years. Greene’s power is still developing, but he has plenty of room to get bigger and stronger and makes enough hard contact to project above-average power. Greene is a plus runner with a chance to stay in center field, but his fringe-average arm and poor route-running have some scouts projecting him to left field. Like Anderson, Greene has a quiet demeanor and approach that is sometimes confused with a lack of effort. Greene’s hitting ability and overall athleticism have him safely among the top 50 players in the draft class. He is committed to Missouri. | |||||||
| 50 | Justin Lange | RHP | Llano (Texas) HS | 6-4 | 191 | R-R | Dallas Baptist |
| Lange looked fairly pedestrian at the 2019 Area Code Games, with a fastball that ranged from 86-93 mph with no real breaking ball and a lot of hard contact against him. But he looked significantly better at the Future Stars Series at Fenway Park in the fall, when he was up to 95, struck out four batters and also ran a 6.50 60-yard dash. He took an additional step forward this spring, getting his fastball all the way up to 100 mph—showing some of the best pure fastball velocity in the 2020 class. Lange has all of the foundational pieces to be an impact arm at the next level. He’s tremendously athletic with easy, high-octane velocity and lots of natural life on the pitch as well. With a 6-foot-4, 191-pound frame, it would be easy to see him add more weight and maintain his fastball velocity deeper into games and more consistently. There are also a lot of question marks with Lange. While he has some of the best natural arm talent in the country, he’s extremely unrefined. His command is near the bottom of the scale and his slider is a work in progress, with well below-average grades and inconsistent spin at best. The pitch has impressive velocity, getting into the upper 80s, but the shape and spin of the offering needs plenty of work. Perhaps 10 years ago, Lange’s arm talent, projectable body and athleticism would be enough to make him a no-doubt first-round pick. Today, teams are more skeptical of hard-throwing prep righthanders, but he has enough projection and athleticism to believe he can make the necessary control improvement. Any player development program would love to work with Lange’s collection of high-end tools instead of watching him go to Dallas Baptist, and it’s possible a team buys into his upside at some point on the first day. | |||||||
| 51 | Gage Workman | 3B | Arizona State | 6-3 | 185 | B-R | Brewers ’17 (14) |
| Workman re-classified while at Basha (Ariz.) High to graduate a year early, making him one of the younger college players for the 2020 draft, perhaps with more growth potential than other college juniors. He’ll still be 20 when the draft takes place. As part of one of the best infields among Division I college teams, Workman has primarily played third base in deference to teammate Alika Williams but saw action at shortstop during his two summers in the Cape Cod League. Workman has gotten bigger and stronger since arriving at Arizona State, and while he’s slow out of the box he runs well underway and projects to have an intriguing combination of power and speed. A switch-hitter, Workman has better bat speed and more power from the left side. There’s some swing-and-miss to his approach, but he’s got plus raw power that will show better in games when he gets more experience. Workman is athletic and rangy, with the tools to be a plus defender at third base and has at least a solid-average arm with good carry. Some area scouts prefer Workman over Williams because of his more impressive set of tools. There’s still rawness to his game and he likely would have benefited significantly from having a full junior season, but Workman is toolsy with a chance to be solid at either position on the left side of the infield. | |||||||
| 52 | Daxton Fulton | LHP | Mustang (Okla.) HS | 6-6 | 225 | L-L | Oklahoma |
| The 2020 prep lefthander class looked exceptionally strong last summer with Virginia lefthander Nate Savino and Fulton in the mix. But the demographic took big hits when the former enrolled early at Virginia and the latter suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery and ended his high school career. When healthy, Fulton had legitimate first-round chances as a super projectable, 6-foot-6, 225-pound lefthander with a big breaking ball. While Matthew Liberatore was more advanced at the same time, some scouts have drawn comparisons with the two because of those elements. Over the summer, Fulton’s fastball mostly ranged from 89-93 mph out of a clean, three-quarters arm action. His breaking ball is a big, deep bender in the mid-to-upper 70s with terrific spin and depth. At the Area Code Games, Fulton posted spin rates in the 2,600 rpm range and the pitch looked like a future plus offering. It’s particularly tough on lefthanded hitters thanks to the angle Fulton creates in his delivery. He showed solid feel to land the pitch despite its movement, and at the Perfect Game All-American Classic he landed three in a row to Florida outfielder Zac Veen to strike him out looking. In addition to his fastball and curveball, Fulton occasionally showed a mid-80s change, though he needs to develop more feel for that pitch. Scouts were impressed with the progress that Fulton was making throughout the summer before he got injured, as he had a lot of moving parts in his delivery that he cleaned up and also improved the consistency of his curveball. His draft status is now clouded because of his injury, though a team could still buy into his upside enough to take him on day one. If not, he will head to Oklahoma, where he could re-establish his first-round potential in 2023. | |||||||
| 53 | Jeff Criswell | RHP | Michigan | 6-4 | 225 | R-R | Tigers ’17 (35) |
| Criswell showed promising stuff coming out of high school, with a fastball that got into the mid-90s at its best, and a projectable, 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. He was a projection arm who scouts wanted to see go to college and add strength and consistency—which is exactly what he did. Criswell stepped into a high-usage reliever role as a freshman and led Michigan with 24 appearances while posting a 2.23 ERA. While his walk rate was a bit erratic, he improved that mark in his second season as he transitioned into a starting role. Again, he had success, posting a 2.72 ERA and improving his strikeout and walk rates. As a junior, Criswell is now listed at 6-foot-4 with a strong, 225-pound frame and a solid three-pitch mix. His fastball regularly gets anywhere from 94-97 mph, and he pairs the offering with a slider and changeup that both have average potential. Scouts would have liked to get more time to bear down on Criswell this spring, but he threw just 24 innings over four starts, getting hit around a bit by Pepperdine in his last outing. There is some concern about whether Criswell fits best in a starter or reliever role. He has enough stuff to succeed in either, but without improved control at the next level (he’s walked 4.5 batters per nine through his Michigan career) he might fit best in the bullpen. However, he has taken steps to improve the walk rate each season, so he could simply continue learning how to harness his repertoire and limit the damage he does to himself. Criswell is a day one pick in a normal draft and should be off the board by the third round. | |||||||
| 54 | Logan Allen | LHP | Florida International | 6-0 | 170 | R-L | Orioles ’17 (16) |
| A polished strike thrower going back to his prep days, Allen posted a stunning 126-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio as a senior at University High in Orange City, Fla. At the time, his fastball topped out at 93, but he mixed and matched effectively enough to overpower the competition. His profile is much the same after three seasons with Florida International. Without an overpowering fastball, Allen has still had nothing but success as a starter, with a career 3.33 ERA and 246 strikeouts to 47 walks in 183.2 innings. He can run his fastball into the 93-94 mph range, but he usually pitches in the 90-91 range. The pitch plays above its below-average velocity thanks to deception and command, though he has turned what was a fringe-average changeup into a legitimate plus offering. He also has a curveball that’s more of an average pitch. Despite no truly overpowering offerings, Allen is confident in his stuff and pitches fearlessly inside against any hitter. In his abbreviated junior season, Allen racked up double-digit strikeouts in three of his first four starts, finishing with a 2.45 ERA over 25.2 innings with 41 strikeouts and just six walks. Allen also had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League, where he struck out 24 batters and walked three in 15 innings. In addition to his pitching accomplishments, Allen has been a two-way player for FIU every season and is a career .297/.362/.410 hitter while playing first base. His pro future is on the mound, and he should be a safe second-round pick. | |||||||
| 55 | Chase Davis | OF | Franklin HS, Elk Grove, Calif. | 6-1 | 210 | L-L | Arizona |
| A toolsy, physical outfielder out of Northern California, Davis has a strong 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame, impressive bat speed, raw power and a big arm. Davis is the type of athlete who jumps off the field quickly in a showcase environment thanks to his tool set. He recorded a 99 mph throw from the outfield at Perfect Game’s National showcase at the start of the summer, and scouting departments voted Davis as the second-best outfield arm in the 2020 class. Additionally, he can show impressive raw power in batter practice. The Arizona commit has also shown the ability to get to his tools during games. He was particularly impressive last fall in Jupiter, where he hit a home run, two triples and a double in six games, showing solid contact and the ability to drive the ball in a game setting. Davis’ swing can get a bit long, which can hurt him, as does his ability to pick up and recognize offspeed offerings. When he stays within himself and times up pitchers, however, he does a lot of damage. Some scouts have given him 70-grade bat speed and love how long he keeps the barrel in the zone. Mechanically, he can get himself into poor positions with a deep, tight bat wrap, but when he launches for contact his bat path is direct with natural loft that helps him get to his above-average power. Defensively, Davis needs continued refinement, but he’s a solid enough runner to develop into at least an average defender in a corner with more than enough arm to fit in right field. Davis has an impressive work ethic and loves to get in the gym, as his physique suggests. | |||||||
| 56 | Nick Garcia | RHP | Chapman (Calif.) | 6-4 | 215 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Garcia played third base his freshman year at Chapman before converting to pitching as a sophomore. He served as the closer on Chapman’s 2019 Division III national championship team and was named Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series. Garcia moved to the Panthers rotation this spring and became one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country before the season shut down. A strong 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Garcia has an easy operation and smooth delivery, allowing him to maintain his stuff and pound the strike zone with all three of his pitches. He throws his fastball in the 92-95 mph range, touching 97-98, and backs it up with an upper-80s slider and mid-80s cutter that both have a chance to be above-average. Garcia has a limited track record as a starter and has rarely faced good competition, but he held his own pitching in relief in the Cape Cod League last summer. He is also young for a college junior and will be barely 21 on draft day. Garcia’s stuff, delivery, youth and fresh arm have teams interested on the draft’s first day. He is in line to be the highest Division III player selected since the Nationals drafted Jordan Zimmermann in the second round in 2007 out of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. | |||||||
| 57 | Colt Keith | SS | Biloxi (Miss.) HS | 6-3 | 195 | L-R | Arizona State |
| A 6-foot-3, 195-pound infielder, Keith made a name for himself as an underclassman and was named the Gatorade 2018-19 Mississippi Player of the Year after hitting .527 with eight home runs. Keith showed a knack for putting the barrel on the baseball last summer against the top pitchers in the 2020 class and scouts believe he has an impressive array of plus tools. He has plus raw power, is a plus runner and also has plus arm strength. He has gotten on the mound and throws in the low 90s, but he’s definitely a pro prospect as a hitter. A shortstop now, Keith might be forced to move to another position as he fills out his frame and gains strength. Some evaluators think he gets by defensively because of his natural athleticism and wonder if he has the hands for the position. Some scouts believe third base or an outfield position could be better fits, and he has the arm strength to hang at the hot corner or right field. Keith could be an average hitter, with good impact ability now and more on the way. He drives the ball hard to the opposite field and can easily pull the ball out of the park. Keith has an upright stance with some hand movement that prevents him from getting fully extended all the time, but when he does, he can do plenty of damage. His pure tool set fits in the second round or better but what a team thinks of his most likely defensive home and the quality of his hit tool will determine if he gets signed or makes it to campus at Arizona State. | |||||||
| 58 | Clayton Beeter | RHP | Texas Tech | 6-1 | 205 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Beeter was a freshman All-American as a redshirt freshman in 2019, coming off a season in which he saved eight games in 21 appearances with a 3.48 ERA. He transitioned into a Friday night role for Texas Tech this spring, and performed well over four starts. In 21 innings Beeter posted a 2.14 ERA with 33 strikeouts (14.1 per nine) and four walks (1.7 per nine). As he’s gotten further from a Tommy John surgery he had in high school his stuff has gotten better and he’s thrown more strikes. Beeter was extremely erratic in 2019 (8.7 walks per nine) but showed significantly better control in a shortened 2020 season. Additionally, Beeter has a powerful pitch mix with a fastball that has gotten up to 97 mph, with a hammer curveball with top-to-bottom shape that has plus potential. Teams would have liked to see Beeter over a full season to see if his stuff and control were maintained the entire year in a starting role. The pitch analytics on both his fastball and curveball are reportedly impressive, and he has a solid arm action with a higher slot. Without a full 2020 season to scout him, teams will have to determine if the real Beeter is the 2020 version, the 2019 version or some hybrid between the two. He could be drafted as high as the second round to a team that believes he’s a starter. | |||||||
| 59 | Victor Mederos | RHP | Westminster Christian Academy, Miami | 6-4 | 215 | R-R | Miami |
| A two-time Under Armour All-American, Mederos has been seen early and often by the national scouting community and brings a physical, workhorse’s frame to the table at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. Mederos was running his fastball up into the mid-90s and showing a hammer of a curveball before his junior season and showed similar stuff last summer. Over the offseason, Mederos worked on improving his body. Scouts say he came out early this spring looking much better in that regard, but his results were inconsistent. When Mederos is at his best, he looks like one of the better pitchers in the 2020 class. He runs his fastball up to 95-96 mph consistently and backs it up with a two-seam fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. In previous years Mederos focused on throwing all of his off-speed offerings in any count, and has developed a good feel for landing those pitches consistently, but his fastball command has been more erratic. He has shown a tendency to overthrow at times, and repeating a consistent release point with the pitch has been a challenge, leading some scouts to question his athleticism. Others believe he has solid athleticism for a big-bodied pitcher but also acknowledge that he needs to be more consistent in his delivery. While he has typically shown a 60-grade fastball, the pitch appeared closer to fringe-average in his final starts before the season ended. His curveball is his best secondary pitch, with a spin rate in the 2,600-rpm range as well as excellent power and finish. Some scouts have graded the pitch as high as a 70 on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale. However, Mederos needs to improve the consistency of that offering, like the rest of his operation. Each of his other offerings have a chance to be at least average, giving him plenty of weapons to mix and match from at-bat to at-bat. Mederos has a big league-caliber frame and repertoire, but teams will need to be confident in his ability to refine his entire game to sign him out of a Miami commitment. His natural talent fits as high as the first round, but inconsistencies and questions about strike-throwing could push him into the second or third. | |||||||
| 60 | Alejandro Rosario | RHP | Miami Christian HS | 6-1 | 165 | R-R | Miami |
| Voted by scouts as a preseason second-team All-American, Rosario has an electric right arm, which he uses to fire a fastball that gets up to the 97-98 mph range. Standing at just 6-foot-1, 165 pounds, Rosario is undersized and smaller than most of the prep pitchers in the same talent range in the 2020 class. Despite his size, he has a fairly clean delivery without a ton of effort. In addition to Rosario’s fastball, he has a split-change and a slider which have both shown above-average potential. Rosario was one of the most reliable arms with Team USA’s 18U National Team last summer, throwing 13 innings with a 1.38 ERA, nine strikeouts and two walks. Despite his pure stuff, scouts have some concerns about how everything plays. This spring, scouts noted that he wasn’t missing many bats, which is alarming considering his velocity was still up to 97. There’s not a lot of deception in Rosario’s operation, and scouts wonder how his fastball will play at the next level. They would also like to see more tilt and depth out of his slider, which dives more vertically than horizontally and can often blend into his split change. Both offspeed offerings are in the same 79-84 mph velocity range. Scouts love Rosario’s arm strength and laud his competitive makeup, but with questions about the playability of his stuff and size, teams might be prevented from taking him in a range where he would sign away from his Miami commitment. With a refined breaking ball and more whiffs against his fastball at the next level, Rosario could work himself into a no-doubt first-round talent. For now, he’s just outside that range. | |||||||
| 61 | Carson Tucker | SS | Mountain Pointe HS, Phoenix | 6-2 | 180 | R-R | Texas |
| Tucker is following in the footsteps of his brother, Cole, a first-round pick of the Pirates in 2014. The younger Tucker was under 6 feet during his junior season, but he has gotten taller and stronger. Not only has he grown bigger, but he’s also gotten a tick faster, with reports of plus run times. Tucker isn’t a flashy tools guy, but rather a steady ballplayer who makes the game look easy. He projects to be able to stay at shortstop as a reliable defender with an above-average, accurate arm that he knows when to unleash. Tucker should be able to hit, using an open stance with a swing that’s short to the ball and consistent. He overhauled his swing in the offseason by getting his body better in sync with a kickback/scissor approach, and the results showed in the few high school games he got to play this spring. It’s a line-drive stroke but with the potential to add more power with strength. While his business-like approach on the field can sometimes be misinterpreted as being more aloof compared to his brother’s obvious zeal, Tucker is engaged in the game and loves playing baseball. A Texas commit, Tucker could go off the board in the second round, and with few standout prep shortstops in the 2020 class, his all-around package could excite many teams. | |||||||
| 62 | Hunter Barnhart | RHP | St. Joseph HS, Santa Maria, Calif. | 6-3 | 195 | R-R | Arizona State |
| Barnhart spent three years at Paso Robles (Calif.) High before transferring to St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) for his senior year. He was a standout quarterback at both schools, earning league MVP and All-Central Coast player of the year honors last fall. Barnhart is one of the more polished high school righthanders in the class. His fastball jumped from 88-91 mph to 90-94 mph this spring and he has one of the best curveballs in the class, a high-spin power curve that draws consensus plus grades. He also mixes in a developing changeup. Barnhart developed advanced command and feel before his velocity spiked. He is a plus strike-thrower with his fastball and curveball and has an aggressive, football mentality on the mound. Barnhart doesn’t have a ton of physical projection left, but his velocity keeps ticking up and he might throw harder with his focus solely on baseball. He is committed to Arizona State. | |||||||
| 63 | Drew Bowser | SS | Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif. | 6-3 | 192 | R-R | Stanford |
| Bowser had a weekend to remember at the Perfect Game All-American Classic last summer. He raised the most money of any player at the event for Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, won the pregame home run derby and then earned MVP of the game with a double and a walk. Bowser is a smart, mature hitter with big raw power that some evaluators consider plus-plus. He already posts exit velocities near 100 mph and hunts for mistake pitches he can drive. Bowser is an adept offspeed hitter, but his fringy bat speed and long swing leave him vulnerable to velocity and raise concerns about his future hitting ability. He often has to cheat to get to upper-end fastballs and is prone to swinging and missing against them. A shortstop now, Bowser projects to outgrow the position but has a chance to be an above-average defender with a plus arm at third base. Bowser has a strong commitment to Stanford and will be difficult to sign. | |||||||
| 64 | Christian Roa | RHP | Texas A&M | 6-4 | 220 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| One of many rising college arms in the 2020 class, Roa impressed scouts early this spring with a strong four-pitch mix, a physical 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, solid strike-throwing ability and a clean arm action and delivery. He has a lot of starter traits on paper, and after being unranked on our preseason Top 200 list, teams believe Roa could go off the board as high as the second round. Roa throws a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup, all of which are at least average and a few much better than that. Roa’s fastball sits in the 92-93 mph range for the most part, getting up to 95-96 at the upper end, but some scouts are concerned with how true the pitch is. Batters square it up more than teams would like, which might mean Roa needs to rely more on a quality trio of offspeed offerings. His slider is his best breaking ball, an above-average pitch he can land for strikes consistently, while some scouts believe his changeup is his best overall offering. Some scouts have put double-plus grades on the changeup, while his curveball is more solid-average at best. Roa’s 2020 numbers don’t align with the scouting feedback, as he posted a 5.85 ERA in four starts and 20 innings, with 35 strikeouts and nine walks. One concerning metric is Roa’s career hits per nine mark, which is just under 10 and speaks to the concerns about Roa’s fastball playing too flat. Traditional scouts and analytics departments might have differing thoughts on Roa’s profile, but he possesses plenty of starter traits as a solid strike thrower with a strong four-pitch mix. | |||||||
| 65 | Cade Horton | SS/RHP | Norman (Okla.) HS | 6-2 | 190 | R-R | Oklahoma |
| Horton has a variety of different paths forward in his athletic future, and not all of them involve baseball. Committed to Oklahoma to play both football and baseball, Horton is a talented high school quarterback and a legitimate two-way player on the diamond. Horton was a third-team preseason All-American as a pitcher, but there are teams who prefer him as a position player. He’s an athletic shortstop with a natural feel for the game and an impressive internal clock. He’s a twitchy athlete who isn’t necessarily a pure shortstop, but he has the athleticism and arm strength to make it work with continued reps and focus, while third base is a possibility as well. At the plate, Horton has a heavy opposite-field approach with a short bat path that limits his extension at times. On the mound, Horton’s arm works well and he can reach back and get to 94-95 mph, though his velocity tends to fall off fairly quickly. He’ll dip into the low 90s and down into the upper 80s more than scouts would like. He has a natural feel to spin a breaking ball and knows how to use it, with the pitch projecting as average. Almost everyone agrees that Horton could become significantly better in either area if he focused exclusively on pitching or hitting, but teams aren’t sure which he prefers or even if he’s ready to give up football. Because of that there’s a good chance he makes it to campus, but he has plenty of upside as a projection arm and a talented hitter and defender. | |||||||
| 66 | Enrique Bradfield | OF | American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. | 6-0 | 155 | L-L | Vanderbilt |
| The best runner in the prep class, Bradfield has posted sub-6.3 60-yard dash times, which are 80-grade times, and incorporates that speed in all phases of the game. A no-doubt center fielder, Bradfield uses his blazing speed to cover huge swaths of outfield grass, getting to balls in the gap that other fielders wouldn’t dream of catching. He’s more than just a fast runner though, as Bradfield consistently shows advanced route-running ability and has an elite first-step when reading balls off the bat. All of those traits combine to give him elite defensive potential at a premium position, and he also has solid arm strength. There are more questions about the offensive side of his game. Bradfield sets up with a wide stance and has impressive bat-to-ball skills, but he has well below-average raw power and there’s little in his frame to suggest he will ever grow into average power in the future. Instead, he should be a slappy, line-drive hitter who succeeds by putting balls into the outfield gaps, bunting and using his speed to collect extra-base hits and put pressure on the defense. His dynamic speed should be an asset on the bases as well, even at a time when stealing has become less of an emphasis in the major leagues. Bradfield could be a tough sign out of a Vanderbilt commitment, but he has the athleticism and game-breaking running ability that every team covets. | |||||||
| 67 | David Calabrese | OF | St. Elizabeth Catholic HS, Vaughan, Ont. | 5-10 | 160 | L-R | Arkansas |
| The top Canadian prospect in the 2020 class, Calabrese has a shot to be the highest drafted outfielder from the country since 1997, when the Orioles took Ntema Ndungidi in the supplemental first round with the 36nd overall pick. He’s likely not as fast as Dasan Brown, an 80-grade runner and Canadian outfielder from the 2019 class, but Calabrese is a plus-plus runner himself who’s shown flashes of a very good lefthanded bat. Calabrese could be a challenge for teams to evaluate, as he didn’t attend a ton of high-profile events over the summer and also didn’t get to showcase his ability this spring with Team Canada. Still, he raised eyebrows at events like the Future Stars Series last fall at Fenway Park, where he ran a 6.47 60-yard dash, hit several doubles and made a few highlight-reel plays in center field. Calabrese has a simple, efficient swing from the left side. At 5-foot-10, 160 pounds he doesn’t offer much power, but there are scouts who think he could grow into average raw power in the future. He shows good baseball instincts on both sides of the ball and should be a safe bet to stick in center field thanks to those instincts, as well as his athleticism and speed. Teams will also like the fact that Calabrese won’t turn 18 until late September, making him one of the youngest players in the draft class. He’s committed to Arkansas. | |||||||
| 68 | Kyle Nicolas | RHP | Ball State | 6-4 | 225 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-4, 220-pound righty out of Ball State, Nicolas showed premium stuff last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he reached 97 mph with his fastball and started improving his breaking ball. Strike-throwing was always a concern with Nicolas, however, and he was erratic with Cotuit in spite of his improved stuff. In 24.1 innings he struck out 31 batters, but he walked 21. After working with first-year Ball State pitching coach Larry Scully in the fall, scouts saw much improved control in Nicolas’ four starts before the 2020 season ended. In 23 innings, Nicolas walked just seven batters (2.74 per nine), which is easily the best walk rate of his collegiate career, and he fanned 37—also a career-high 14.5 per nine rate. Scouts have said Nicolas simplified his delivery and shortened his stride to get the ball in the zone more frequently during his junior season, which has allowed him to have much more success with a fastball that’s regularly in the 93-96 mph range. He pairs that with a slider in the 85-87 mph range, with solid downward bite. The breaking ball has above-average potential, but Nicolas is still developing a feel for the offering. He’s also shown a changeup, but that’s a distant third pitch to his fastball/slider combination. There are starter/reliever questions with Nicolas thanks to his strike-throwing track record, but he has big stuff, a big frame and some aptitude to make the necessary adjustments. | |||||||
| 69 | Ty Floyd | RHP | Rockmart (Ga.) HS | 6-2 | 180 | R-R | Louisiana State |
| An athletic, projectable righthander out of Georgia, Floyd was a two-way player for most of his life and thought of himself as more of a hitter than pitcher until recently. Also a talented basketball player, Floyd doesn’t have a ton of innings under his belt. Because of all those factors, there are more question marks with Floyd but also reasons to think he could take big steps forward by focusing exclusively on baseball. Committed to Louisiana State, Floyd has an explosive fastball out of a quick arm, running the pitch up into the mid-90s with an impressive riding life that gets plenty of whiffs up in the zone. At East Coast Pro last summer, Floyd got 12 whiffs on the pitch in just two innings. He typically sits in the 90-93 mph range, but scouts have noted that his velocity is inconsistent from outing to outing. Similarly, his secondary offerings are inconsistent and don’t project as anything more than fringe-average, 45-grade offerings now. He has thrown a slurvy curveball in the 70-75 mph range that he doesn’t get on top of consistently but has decent spin, and has also thrown an upper-70s changeup, though his release point drops when he throws it. With a lean, 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame, it’s easy to dream of what Floyd could be with a few years of development and training under his belt but teams that want more of a finished product might be more inclined to let him get to campus. | |||||||
| 70 | Jake Eder | LHP | Vanderbilt | 6-4 | 210 | L-L | Mets ’17 (34) |
| Eder checked a lot of boxes out of high school in 2017 as a strong, 6-foot-4 lefthander with a starter’s frame, a fastball that bumped 95 and a curveball that flashed above-average potential. Three years later, Eder still checks a lot of those same boxes, but he is something of an enigma for scouts to figure out because of his inconsistency. Scouts still love the way his arm works and believe he has close to a perfect pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, but his command is spotty and his fastball velocity comes and goes. One day he’ll throw in the 90-93 mph range, the next he’ll sit 92-96 and another day he could be 89-92. Eder’s breaking ball is a plus pitch when it’s on but, like his fastball velocity, is inconsistent. He lands his curveball for more strikes than his fastball, and he also has a fringe-average changeup in the mix. Eder has struggled to repeat his delivery going back to his high school days, and if that’s the reason for his struggles then there could be cause for concern that he’ll be able to figure it out. Teams have seen him locked in enough to know he’s capable of putting everything together. Another question mark is his track record as a starter. Eder started nine games as a freshman, but transitioned to a full-time reliever role in 2019, when he posted a 2.97 ERA over 39.1 innings. He started four games in the shortened 2020 season, striking out 27 batters in 20 innings, but also walked nine batters (4.05 per nine). Despite his inconsistencies, Eder seems like a safe lock to go in the first five rounds, with modest upside if he improves his control. | |||||||
| 71 | Kyle Harrison | LHP | De La Salle HS, Concord, Calif. | 6-2 | 200 | R-L | UCLA |
| One of the more polished lefthanders in the prep class, Harrison was one of five starters for USA Baseball’s 18U National team. With the Americans, Harrison threw 10 innings over two starts (and one relief appearance) with 12 strikeouts and four walks. A 6-foot-2, 200-pound low-slot lefty, Harrison pitches in the 90-92 mph range and can reach up to 94. The pitch has plenty of running action thanks in part to a low, three-quarters arm slot. He shows signs of good secondary offerings, though they need a bit more polish. The UCLA commit throws a sweeping breaking ball in the 75-79 mph range that gets slurvy at times, but the pitch has a big break and Wiffle ball-like movement at times. He shows good feel for the pitch, which presents a tough angle for lefthandters, but he has also shown an ability to back-foot righthanded hitters. Additionally, he throws a changeup that has the makings of a third solid offering. Harrison is a good athlete and strike-thrower, with a clean delivery and a fastball that plays up thanks to its natural movement. Scouts believe that he could become a monster in three years if he makes it to campus at UCLA, and he could be tough to sign away from the Bruins program. | |||||||
| 72 | Burl Carraway | LHP | Dallas Baptist | 6-0 | 173 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| The top college reliever in the class, Carraway has explosive stuff from the left side and, depending on the day, looks like he could be a late-inning reliever for an MLB club right now. A wiry athlete standing at 6-foot, 173 pounds, Carraway explodes off the rubber and uses his lower half extremely well, with a fast arm and crossfiring action in his delivery that adds to his deception. He pairs a fastball that’s regularly in the 96-98 mph range with spotty control, which makes it easy to see why hitters are always uncomfortable in the box against him. That’s especially for lefties, who struck out in 33 of 64 (52.5 percent) plate appearances against Carraway in 2019. Carraway’s fastball has 70-grade potential if he can improve his control, which is below-average. He also has a knee-buckling curveball in the mid-70s with 1-to-7 shape and sharp biting action, which he also struggles to land consistently. Carraway gets away with below-average control now because he generates so many whiffs outside of the zone, but more advanced hitters will be able to stand in the box and take those pitches more easily. His career walk rate over 42 innings with DBU is 5.36, and while the bar is lower for reliever control, he’ll have to improve that for an MLB club to trust him in any sort of high-leverage role. The timing of his release point is inconsistent, and the violence and effort of his delivery likely don’t help in that regard, so perhaps teams could try and calm that down a tick at the next level to help him stay in the strike zone more frequently. Carraway comes with plenty of risk thanks to his control and the poor track record of college relievers, but he could be a quick mover to a big league pen with a step forward in his strike-throwing. | |||||||
| 73 | Freddy Zamora | SS | Miami | 6-1 | 190 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Zamora was among the top tier of college shortstops in the 2020 class entering the season. If it weren’t for Arizona State’s Alika Williams, there would be an argument for Zamora as the top defender in the class, and Zamora brings more offensive upside to the table as well. Zamora hit .300/.391/.429 with more walks than strikeouts over his first two years with Miami, but a knee injury suffered in a preseason practice wiped out his junior season before it began. He had started to tap into more power in his 2019 season (going from one home run to six) and would have been right in the middle of the Hurricanes’ lineup as well as their defensive leader at shortstop. Zamora has the tools to be an impact defender at shortstop, though he showed a tendency to get a bit lazy on routine plays. If he cleaned those up, Zamora would have easy plus potential with the glove, with impressive hands, solid range and a reliable throwing arm. Zamora’s power is fringe-average, but he shows a solid understanding of the strike zone and has at least an average hit tool. He’s an above-average runner and does a nice job on the bases, going 33-for-40 (82.5 percent) in steals over his first two seasons. A solid all-around player who is likely to stick at shortstop long-term, Zamora could have easily played his way into first-round consideration if healthy and hitting well. He should slide a bit because of his injury but will still be in day one consideration thanks to very few holes in his game. | |||||||
| 74 | Seth Lonsway | LHP | Ohio State | 6-3 | 200 | L-L | Reds ’17 (19) |
| Scouts weren’t sure what to do with Lonsway after a disappointing summer in the Cape Cod League, where he showed inconsistent fastball velocity and extremely spotty control. In 12 innings with Brewster, Lonsway walked 12 batters and struck out 12. He moved significantly up draft boards this spring by showing markedly improved stuff, both in terms of his fastball and his secondary offerings. Lonsway now has a fastball that gets up into the mid-90s from the left side, along with a curveball that has impressive tilt, a slider and changeup. While the pure stuff has been good, Lonsway still has significant control issues to resolve. While he struck out a ridiculous 42 batters in 18 innings (21 strikeouts per nine innings) he also walked 18 batters—a batter an inning. Some scouts have said that it’s only his fastball he struggles to locate. They’ve seen him spot all of his secondary offerings better than the heater, but without improved fastball control it is difficult to envision much success in pro ball. Lonsway has struggled to repeat the timing of his delivery and keep everything in sync, but if a team believes they can help him figure that out, he has some exciting upside with a pair of plus offerings and a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. Still, he comes with extreme reliever risk. | |||||||
| 75 | Tommy Mace | RHP | Florida | 6-6 | 200 | R-R | Reds ’17 (12) |
| A super projectable arm out of high school, Mace took steps forward with his velocity as a high school senior, when he ran his fastball up 94 after mostly pitching in the upper 80s on the showcase circuit. He made it to campus at Florida and made an immediate impact as a freshman in the bullpen before transitioning to a starting role in 2019, when he took over the Friday night role in just the fourth week of the season. He performed well through four starts in the shortened 2020 season, posting a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings with 26 strikeouts and five walks. A 6-foot-6, 215-pound righthander who still has plenty of projection in his frame, Mace throws a fastball that gets up into the 95-96 mph range. Scouts think his fastball gets too flat and prefer the sinking, two-seam fastball that he throws more than his four-seamer. Mace shows good feel for a slider and a changeup, though scouts think the breaking ball is more fringy, while his changeup has a chance to be an average offering. Because of the quality of his slider and his lack of big strikeout numbers at Florida, evaluators believe he’ll always be a pitcher who relies on ground balls and generating weak contact. Without a plus pitch, Mace doesn’t have a ton of upside, but he still has physical projection remaining and has always been a quality strike-thrower—2.8 walks per nine innings in his Florida career. Mace fits as a late day one or early day two pick. | |||||||
| 76 | Casey Schmitt | 3B/RHP | San Diego State | 6-2 | 200 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Schmitt was a highly-regarded hitter out of Eastlake High but got to campus and went on to become one of the nation’s top two-way players at San Diego State. He hit two home runs and pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the final game of the Cape Cod League championship series last summer and was named playoffs MVP. Schmitt had surgery on his right meniscus this spring and was never quite full strength for the Aztecs, but he still hit .323/.386/.452 and notched six saves before the season shut down. Schmitt has the look and the tools of a major league third baseman. He’s an above-average defender with excellent hands, and he has plus arm strength with the ability to throw from multiple arm angles. At the plate, Schmitt is a polished hitter with good rhythm and balance and makes hard contact, but he is prone to getting jammed and is still learning to tap into his above-average raw power. Evaluators believe Schmitt could be a middle-of-the-order hitter with the right offensive development, but he has a fallback as a power reliever if his bat stalls. Schmitt looks natural on the mound with a low-90s fastball that explodes late, an average splitter in the mid-80s and a usable curveball. Schmitt is in the mix to go as high as the second round. He will certainly be gone by the end of the fifth round. | |||||||
| 77 | Yohandy Morales | SS | Braddock HS, Miami | 6-4 | 195 | R-R | Miami |
| Morales is a big, physical, toolsy shortstop with big league bloodlines. His father, Andy, played in the majors and Morales likely has the same pure talent to follow in his footsteps. Morales matured physically quicker than most of his contemporaries and showed an impact righthanded bat as an underclassman. Now listed at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Morales still has room to fill out and add strength, but he’ll need more refinement in his game to make the most of his impressive tool set. Last summer, Morales showed an ambush approach with a strong tendency to pull the ball and he also struggled significantly with offspeed offerings, swinging and missing out of the zone at a moderate rate. Having his spring season shortened hurt Morales, as scouts were impressed with the growth he showed in his first few games. In those looks, scouts saw a better approach at the plate with a more direct swing, with fewer whiffs and much better contact ability. While the pitching competition wasn’t as consistently strong as he would see on the showcase circuit, South Florida is generally one of the better areas for high school baseball and this season is no different. Morales has plus raw power, but there are questions of how frequently he’ll be able to tap into that. Defensively, he has plus arm strength, though he lacks the foot speed and short-area quickness that teams want to see in a shortstop. He has long actions and a slow exchange at times, which will probably make him a better fit for third base. Morales could be a second- or third-round pick based on his talent upside, but if teams are concerned with the risk he comes with, he could make it to campus at Miami. | |||||||
| 78 | Zach McCambley | RHP | Coastal Carolina | 6-1 | 205 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Coastal Carolina’s Friday night starter, McCambley is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound righthander with a loud two-pitch mix but some significant reliever concerns. McCambley had moderate success in a hybrid role in 2018 and 2019, when he struck out around 10 batters per nine. Last summer, McCambley made five starts in the Cape Cod League to great success, posting a 1.74 ERA over 20.2 innings while striking out 24 and walking seven. He has steadily improved his fastball control over his three years at Coastal, and this spring was looking at a career-best walk rate (2.5 per nine) over four starts. McCambley has two plus pitches in his arsenal with a fastball that sits in the 92-94 mph range and is regularly up to 96-97. His breaking ball is another no-doubt plus offering, and some scouts have thought about putting 70 grades on it. It’s sharp, with late, downward bite and real wipeout potential. Coaches and evaluators have always wanted to see more out of McCambley’s changeup. Without a three-pitch mix, scouts wonder if relieving at the next level is more realistic. A fast, upbeat tempo on the mound adds to those concerns. While McCambley’s delivery isn’t what teams typically look for in a starter, he’s thrown enough strikes to give himself at least a chance to start, with more than enough stuff to fallback into a reliever role. | |||||||
| 79 | Coby Mayo | 3B | Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla. | 6-5 | 215 | R-R | Florida |
| Mayo is a big, physical third baseman with a 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame and raw power and arm strength to match it. He also has a solid track record of hitting against some of the better pitchers in the 2020 class, with solid zone recognition and a mature approach at the plate. Mayo has tinkered a bit with his setup. Last summer he shifted his weight significantly back on his right foot, which put him in inconsistent launch positions and hurt his rhythm, but he’s since gone back to a 50-50 weight split. He still is more herky jerky in the box than fluid, and scouts wonder if that will prevent him from consistently tapping into his plus raw power despite a solid eye. He’s an obvious swing-change candidate if he gets to pro ball, but he does have solid contact ability. Defensively, Mayo has one of the strongest arms in the 2020 class, an easy plus cannon with tremendous carry. He’ll need to improve both his footwork and hands to stick at the position though, particularly when major league third basemen are required to handle more ground in a heavily shifted era. His raw tools and physicality are among the loudest in the 2020 prep class, but he could be a tough sign away from Florida. If he gets to campus in Gainesville he could tremendously improve his draft stock by tapping into his power against SEC competition. | |||||||
| 80 | Ricky Tiedemann | LHP | Lakewood (Calif.) HS | 6-3 | 200 | L-L | San Diego State |
| Few players raised their stock in limited time more this spring than Tiedemann, whose brother Tai is a pitcher in the Rangers organization. An interesting but hardly elite prospect entering the year, Tiedemann came out showing increased velocity and feel for his secondaries and put himself among the top players in a loaded Southern California draft class. Tiedemann is an elite athlete with a physical 6-foot-3 frame, big hands and a tantalizing left arm. His fastball sits around 88-91 mph and touches 93, and his projectable body and athleticism make it easy to envision him reaching the mid-90s once he fills out. He complements his fastball with a potentially plus changeup, and his average hard slider gives him a quality third offering. Tiedemann is one of the youngest players in the class and will still be 17 on draft day. His only drawback is he broke his right, non-throwing wrist on a collision at first base late in the season. Tiedemann is committed to San Diego State, but clubs are keen to buy him out of that commitment with his athleticism, youth and projection. | |||||||
| 81 | Gavin Williams | RHP | East Carolina | 6-6 | 240 | L-R | Rays ’17 (30) |
| Williams had some of the easiest velocity in the high school class back in 2017, when he was touching the mid-90s with a projectable frame. At the time, scouts expected he would throw 100 mph one day. They were right, as Williams has been up into the 100-101 mph range at his best when healthy with East Carolina. There’s a bit of injury history on Williams’ resume. He missed time during his freshman season and only threw three innings this spring after a finger injury delayed his start to the season. While most of his time at ECU has been out of the bullpen, scouts think he might have a chance to start at the next level thanks to a large, 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame, some of the easiest upper-90s fastball velocity you’ll see, natural feel to spin a breaking ball and flashes of an above-average changeup. He’ll need to develop his secondaries a bit more, as he has shown a tendency to baby his curveball instead of ripping it off with intent, but the natural ability to spin it is there. Scouts have also seen his control and command waver when out of the stretch with runners on base, so he’ll need to take steps forward improving those little aspects of the game as well. With a potential 80-grade fastball and two secondaries with above-average potential, the stuff is all there. With a solid junior season, teams thought he could go as high as the supplemental first round. Now, after just 68 career innings, Williams could be a late day one or early day two pick. | |||||||
| 82 | Petey Halpin | OF | Mira Costa HS, Manhattan Beach, Calif. | 6-0 | 180 | L-R | Texas |
| Halpin ranked as one of Northern California’s top draft prospects before transferring to Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) High in suburban Los Angeles for his senior year. A well-rounded, top-of-the-order type, Halpin is an above-average runner and has a short, line-drive swing with solid plate coverage. He controls the strike zone, makes adjustments and altogether projects as an above-average hitter. While Halpin doesn’t have a ton of power currently, scouts like the ease of his operation in the box and some believe he’ll add enough strength in the future to run into enough extra-base hits. Halpin is a high-energy player who has a chance to stick in center field, but he’s a divisive defender who figures to slow down as he ages and might have to move to a corner. His arm is wildly inconsistent, ranging from below-average to above-average. Halpin’s bat has him in second-to-fourth-round consideration even with questions about his power and future position. He is committed to Texas. | |||||||
| 83 | Bryce Elder | RHP | Texas | 6-2 | 220 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A polished college righthander with a 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame, Elder doesn’t have the sexiest package of stuff, but he does have a solid three-pitch mix, an advanced feel for pitching and a solid track record of starting. After an iffy freshman season out of the bullpen (5.55 ERA in 35.2 innings), Elder shined in a starting role as a sophomore, posting a 2.93 ERA in 13 starts and 83 innings, with 86 strikeouts and 33 walks. He was having the same success through four starts in an abbreviated 2020 season, posting a 2.08 ERA in 26 innings with 32 strikeouts and seven walks. Elder throws a sinking fastball in the 88-93 mph range that induces plenty of groundouts, a slider that is his current out pitch and potentially an above-average offering, and a changeup that improved last fall. The sinker/slider combination is his bread and butter at the moment, but Elder is smart on the mound and has a good idea of what to go to in different situations. Elder is the type of player whose track record is heavily beneficial for his draft stock, so another strong season as a starter would have helped his cause, but teams should still feel relatively safe with his package of strike-throwing and a quality three-pitch mix. | |||||||
| 84 | Beck Way | RHP | Northwest Florida JC | 6-4 | 200 | R-R | Louisiana State |
| The top junior college prospect in a fairly deep class at the level, Way is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound righthander who showed really good stuff last summer in the Cape Cod League. While he threw just 13.2 innings for Cotuit last summer, Way impressed scouts enough by striking out 18 batters and posting a 3.29 ERA that some evaluators put him in the second-to-third-round range on his summer look alone. This spring with Northwest Florida JC, Way continued to impress, showing better control and a solid fastball/changeup combination. Way gets up to 96-97 mph with the fastball, though the pitch more typically sits in the 92-94 range. He creates uncomfortable at-bats due to his ability to spot his fastball in all four quadrants of the zone and he disrupts the timing of batters thanks to a plus changeup with exceptional tumbling action. Way’s slider is more inconsistent than his fastball and changeup, but it has shown flashes of being an average third offering. With two plus pitches, a good frame and above-average control, Way has put himself in position to be taken in the second round or slightly after. | |||||||
| 85 | Nick Swiney | LHP | North Carolina State | 6-3 | 187 | R-L | Never Drafted |
| A reliever for North Carolina State during his first two seasons in Raleigh, Swiney has always racked up plenty of strikeouts (career 13.6 per nine rate) with the Wolfpack but struggled to consistently throw strikes as a freshman and sophomore. Swiney walked more than five batters per nine innings in his first two seasons but took a big step forward in the control department in 2020, when he transitioned to the team’s Friday night starting role. Swiney was dominant in his first four outings, posting a 1.29 ERA in 28 innings while striking out 42 batters and walking just six. His 15 strikeouts against Purdue on Feb. 29 were the most by an NC State pitcher in a single game since Carlos Rodon in 2014. Swiney doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but his three-pitch mix is solid, and it plays up with a bit of funk in his delivery. His fastball gets up to 93-94 mph at its best, but early this season it was anywhere from 87-92 consistently. After his fastball, Swiney has two solid secondaries including a curveball that could be an above-average pitch and a changeup that he’s increasingly become more comfortable throwing. Swiney was trending in the right direction and showing he could handle a starting role, but teams would have liked to see a full season to have more conviction that his stuff held up in that role and that his newfound strike-throwing improvement was legit. He has likely done enough to be drafted anywhere in the 2-4 round range. | |||||||
| 86 | Ben Hernandez | RHP | De La Salle HS, Chicago | 6-2 | 205 | R-R | Illinois-Chicago |
| If changeups are your thing, then Ben Hernandez is your guy. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Illinois-Chicago commit is routinely recognized as having the best changeup in the prep class, a likely future plus offering that has long been his biggest weapon. While Hernandez never got to throw for his high school team this spring thanks to the novel coronavirus, scouts did see him in February at Prep Baseball Report’s Super 60 showcase, where he touched 95 mph. That’s a tick higher than the 90-94 he showed with the pitch last summer, but scouts are still waiting on the development of a reliable breaking ball. He’s thrown a mid-70s curveball that has big depth and some solid spin, but the pitch lacks power and his arm slows down. Hernandez is an advanced pitcher, with good feel to spot his fastball and changeup, and those pitches both come out of his hand with ease and good life. It’s a clean arm action and delivery with easier mid-90s prep velocity than you’ll typically see. He is older for the class, turning 19 in at the beginning of July, but has a polished overall package headlined by two above-average or better pitches. The development of his breaking ball will determine his ceiling, and he could go off the board in the third or fourth round for most teams. | |||||||
| 87 | Zach DeLoach | OF | Texas A&M | 6-1 | 210 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Perhaps no one could have used a full 2020 season more than DeLoach. After hitting .236/.338/.338 over his first two years with Texas A&M, DeLoach exploded in the Cape Cod League. With Falmouth, DeLoach hit .353/.428/.541 with five home runs and eight stolen bases. Coaches said DeLoach got some early confidence after having success and just kept rolling throughout the summer, faring particularly well against same-side lefthanded pitchers. He kept that up through 17 games in 2020, hitting .421/.547/.789 with six home runs and six stolen bases (both career highs) with 14 walks to just three strikeouts. Having that sort of loud offensive production against SEC competition could have shot him up into the second or even potentially the first round. DeLoach has a solid all-around tool set, but perhaps no plus tools. He has always shown a solid approach with good discipline at the plate, but scouts think he might have a bit of a grooved swing without a ton of bat speed. He dives in on pitches aggressively and there are questions about how his lower half works, but evaluators also didn’t get a full season to really figure out if the adjustments he made over the summer were real. Scouts think DeLoach has fringe power more than average or 55-grade juice, but he was off to a much better start in that department in 2020 and had bulked up a bit as well. Now listed at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, DeLoach fits best in a corner-outfield spot as a solid runner with solid-average arm strength, though some scouts believe he needs to refine his route-running. | |||||||
| 88 | Kalai Rosario | OF | Waiakea HS, Hilo, Hawaii | 6-1 | 200 | R-R | California Baptist |
| Hawaii’s top 2020 draft prospect, Rosario separated himself last summer when he tied for the second-highest exit velocity at PG National and won the home run derby at the Area Code Games, sending one shot 440 feet. A strong, physical righthanded hitter, Rosario already posts exit velocities upward of 100 mph and elevates the ball to get the most from his brute strength. He draws consistent plus-plus power grades from evaluators and even an occasional 80. More than just a slugger, Rosario is a mature hitter who makes adjustments, can shoot the ball the other way and limits his strikeouts, although he is prone to swinging and missing at times. He is a good athlete for his size who currently plays center field but projects to move to a corner, likely left field unless his arm improves. Rosario has the bat to profile at any position and the strong makeup components to get the most from his talent. Many scouts consider him Hawaii’s best high school draft prospect since 2014 first-rounder Kodi Medeiros. He is committed to California Baptist. | |||||||
| 89 | Jake Vogel | OF | Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS | 5-11 | 165 | R-R | UCLA |
| Vogel has had scouts watching him for years at high-profile Huntington Beach (Calif.) High. Previously a toolsy athlete with a questionable swing, Vogel began hitting this spring and raised his stock dramatically before the season shut down. Vogel is undersized at 5-foot-11, 165 pounds but has plenty of tools. He’s a plus-plus runner, is a plus defender in center field and has an average arm. Though he’s small, Vogel has a feel for the barrel and produces loud contact when he connects, driving the ball to all fields and showing sneaky power to his pull-side. Scouts are still divided on Vogel’s hitting potential. Some see the athleticism and barrel control to project an average hitter, while others see a loopy, uppercut swing that produces too many swings and misses. Those who believe Vogel will hit consider him a third-to-fifth-round talent. He is committed to UCLA. | |||||||
| 90 | Blaze Jordan | 3B/1B | DeSoto Central HS, Southaven, Miss. | 6-2 | 218 | R-R | Mississippi State |
| One of the most well-known prospects in the 2020 class thanks to his loud home run displays at showcases and viral YouTube videos that started appearing when he was just a freshman, Jordan is also one of the youngest players in the 2020 class after reclassifying from the 2021 class. He doesn’t turn 18 until December and has had little trouble hitting with impact against the top pitching in his class and against older players throughout his high school career. Jordan has a mature approach at the plate, with quick, fluid hands and an all-fields approach in batting practice and in games despite his plus raw power. Teams were impressed with how he cut down his frame to give himself a chance to handle third base, though he needs plenty of improvement with his footwork, hands and throwing ability to stick there. It’s still likely he winds up at first base, which puts even more pressure on his bat. This spring, scouts believed Jordan’s weight loss affected his power output and he didn’t impress with the bat as much as the right-right corner infield prospect needed to this spring or last summer. He shows flashes of the impact hitter he could be, but didn’t do it consistently enough for scouts to put him higher than the third- or fourth-round range. Jordan could make it to campus at Mississippi State and fully tap into his hitting ability and power potential against SEC competition, but he might be a tough sign for teams as a below-average runner and a right-right likely first base prospect down the line. Teams frequently make players of Jordan’s profile prove their bat in college, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Jordan did just that. | |||||||
| 91 | Anthony Servideo | SS | Mississippi | 5-10 | 175 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Maybe it’s the hair. For the past two years at Ole Miss, Servideo had played out of position in deference to 2019 second-round pick Grae Kessinger, bouncing between right field, center field and second base. But this was Servideo’s year to take over at shortstop, and like many Rebels shortstops before him, he bleached his hair, transforming his brown hair with a shaggy blonde flow. It’s hard to argue with the results. Servideo showed significantly more strength and power, cranking five home runs in 59 at-bats, after hitting four in his first two seasons combined. His .390/.575/.695 start to the season helped erase the memories of his awful 2019 summer in the Cape, where he hit only .149/.277/.228 with a wood bat. Servideo’s offensive emergence is significant because scouts were already comfortable with his defense. He’s one of the best defensive shortstops in college baseball. A plus runner, Servideo has the first-step quickness, footwork and hands to be a plus defender at shortstop and he has an above-average arm that lets him plant and fire on balls to his right. Servideo is small-framed (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) but his strong start to the spring will likely push him into third-round consideration. | |||||||
| 92 | Tanner Witt | 3B/RHP | Episcopal HS, Bellaire, Texas | 6-6 | 195 | R-R | Texas |
| A massive, 6-foot-6, 195-pound two-way player out of Texas, Witt has legitimate pro potential as both a hitter and a pitcher. Offensively, Witt has big power from the right side to go along with decent barrel control, but his bat speed is a tick slow and the path of his barrel can get lengthy. Evaluators believe he’s more power than pure hit tool. He is a third baseman now with plenty of arm strength for the position, but he could already be too big to stick there and might be better served in an outfield corner or at first base. Most teams seem to like his upside on the mound more than his hitting potential, though his father, Kevin, played in the big leagues and is currently a minor league hitting coach. On the mound, Witt is a projection arm with an excellent frame that can still add strength, a clean arm action and solid control. He throws a fastball in the 89-92 mph range mostly, touching a 93 or 94 here and there. His best pitch is a curveball that’s presently an above-average offering and has plus potential. It’s a 73-78 mph breaker with three-quarters shape and massive spin and depth. At the Area Code Games last summer it was in the 2,600-2,900 rpm range. In addition to a fastball/curveball combination, Witt has thrown a changeup in the mid-80s that could become an average pitch as well. Witt is committed to Texas. | |||||||
| 93 | Ian Seymour | LHP | Virginia Tech | 6-0 | 190 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A reliable starter over his first two years with Virginia Tech (3.95 ERA in 26 starts and 139.1 innings), Seymour was starting to take everything to another level in 2020 before the season was canceled. Over his first four starts and 20.1 innings, Seymour posted a 2.21 ERA with 40 strikeouts and five walks. His strikeout and walk rates would both be easily the best of his career if he continued that sort of production for the season, and while it’s certainly a small sample, he did have a 14-punchout game against Georgia Tech—the most a VT pitcher has ever had in an ACC matchup. Seymour also had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League prior to his abbreviated junior campaign, posting a 2.49 ERA over 25.1 innings in five starts, with 39 strikeouts and six walks. As for stuff, Seymour has a solid three-pitch mix, including an average fastball that touches 94, a hard slider/cutter that is developing but should be effective at the next level, and a changeup that flashes plus. Entering the year, scouts were concerned that Seymour might be a reliever, thanks to a below-average operation. Even without an ideal delivery, it’s hard to argue with Seymour’s results. It would be one thing if he struggled to throw strikes because of the delivery, but that hasn’t been the case. Scouts and coaches alike praise Seymour’s competitive demeanor, and he seems likely to go off the board in the 2-4 round range. | |||||||
| 94 | Milan Tolentino | SS | Santa Margarita HS, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. | 6-1 | 180 | L-R | UCLA |
| Tolentino played shortstop for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team during the World Cup and excelled, making plays to both sides and in on the ball while showing exceptional body control and glovework. He came out to lofty expectations this spring and got off to a slow start before the season shut down. Tolentino is an accomplished defender, but his bat raises questions. He has a sound approach at the plate with loose hands, and has the ability to slap the ball the other way. However, but he lacks present power, struggles with pitches on the inner half and doesn’t sting the ball as often as evaluators would like, raising concerns about whether he is strong enough for pro ball. Tolentino is a smart, instinctive player who reads the game and understands situations better than most players his age. He is a below-average runner whose foot speed has some evaluators projecting him to second base, but his instincts allow him to handle shortstop for now. Those who like Tolentino’s glove and instincts consider him a potential second or third round pick, but others think he should go to college and get stronger. He is committed to UCLA. | |||||||
| 95 | Connor Phillips | RHP | McLennan (Texas) JC | 6-2 | 185 | R-R | |
| Phillips had an impressive career at Magnolia (Texas) West High, but he showed some tendencies to overthrow as a senior. A 35th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2019, Phillips decided to head to McLennan (Texas) JC instead of Louisiana State. At McLennan, he got to make four starts before the season was shut down. In those four starts, he showed flashes of dominance with a 93-97 mph plus fastball with plenty of arm-side run as well as more developed secondary offerings than he has shown in the past. His slider is above average right now but will likely get to plus one day. He also can spin a less consistent curveball and has solid depth on his average changeup. He is inconsistent at times with control that comes and goes, but he has a looseness to his delivery and athleticism to continue to develop. | |||||||
| 96 | Nick Yorke | SS | Archbishop Mitty HS, San Jose, Calif. | 6-0 | 195 | R-R | Arizona |
| Some evaluators believe Yorke is the best pure hitter on the west coast, among high schoolers. A 6-foot, 195-pound shortstop committed to Arizona, Yorke has a long track record of performing as a high schooler, with a well-balanced swing that’s routinely on time. This spring before the coronavirus shut down the 2020 season, Yorke was tapping into a bit more power as well, hitting the ball with authority to the pull side and up the middle. He has a chance for a future plus bat and fringe-average power while handling a middle infield spot. Yorke dealt with a shoulder injury prior to his junior year and is still recovering from that, which leads some scouts to believe he’ll be a better fit as an offensive second baseman. Still, other scouts have said his arm has looked good, with a better arm stroke recently and above-average arm strength. With solid footwork, instincts and an internal clock, he has a chance to stay at shortstop, or he could slide to third base. Wherever he ends up defensively, teams love the bat that Yorke brings to the table. There are a number of teams that have Yorke evaluated in the second- or third-round range, but he could be a difficult sign out of Arizona. | |||||||
| 97 | Trenton Denholm | RHP | UC Irvine | 5-11 | 180 | R-R | Red Sox ’17 (26) |
| An unsigned 26th-round pick of the Red Sox out of high school, Denholm won Big West Conference pitcher of the year as a sophomore and did not allow an earned run in two years pitching in the Cape Cod League, totaling 32.2 innings including the All-Star Game and postseason. An undersized 5-foot-11, 180-pound righthander, Denholm is more steady than eye-popping. He locates his 89-93 mph fastball, gets off-balance swings with a plus changeup, mixes in an average slider and flips in the occasional curveball for strikes to keep batters guessing. He’s an elite competitor who fills up the strike zone with four pitches and never gives in, often outperforming pitchers who have better stuff. Denholm’s stuff ticked down this spring due to elbow inflammation, but he still found ways to compete. Like other accomplished collegiate strike-throwers, Denholm is in the mix to be drafted between the third and fifth rounds. | |||||||
| 98 | Tyler Brown | RHP | Vanderbilt | 6-4 | 242 | R-R | Reds ’17 (26) |
| Brown was a physically mature, hard-throwing high schooler back in 2017, getting up to 95-96 mph with his fastball at the time. Concerns about the effort to his delivery and a Tommy John surgery he’d already had let him get to campus at Vanderbilt, where he’s been a key piece of the program’s impressive pitching staff from day one. Almost all of his time in Nashville has been spent out of the bullpen. Brown has just two starts to his name in 47 appearances, with a 4.22 career ERA in 79 innings. After posting a 6.03 ERA in his freshman season, Brown improved to 2.59 in 41.2 innings in 2019 and posted a 2.53 ERA through seven games and 10.2 innings before the 2020 season ended due to coronavirus. Brown is a big, physical righty with a solid four-pitch mix. His fastball typically sits in the 92-94 mph range and he pairs it with an above-average slider, an average changeup and a curveball that’s more of a fringe-average, 45-grade offering. He’s always been a good strike-thrower at Vanderbilt, with a 2.16 walks per nine rate for his career. Because of that, some scouts think he could handle a starting role. With so many premium pro starting prospects on the current Vanderbilt roster, it wouldn’t be surprising if that were the case, though other scouts note that the track record of college relievers is spotty and also point to a delivery that’s more typical of a reliever. He has the makeup and mentality on the mound to succeed in either role, and with no real holes in his game, there’s a lot to like about the overall package and SEC track record. | |||||||
| 99 | Jackson Miller | C | Mitchell HS, New Port Richey, Fla. | 6-0 | 195 | L-R | Wake Forest |
| Miller doesn’t have the loudest toolset you’ll ever see, but he has a solid all-around game that scouts are drawn to the more they watch him play. A 6-foot, 195-pound backstop committed to Wake Forest, Miller has few holes to speak of in his game. Defensively he has soft, quiet hands and receives well behind the plate with average arm strength and a good, clean transfer in his throws. He projects as at least an average defender and could get to a tick better than that. Offensively, Miller has a simple, low-maintenance swing that is geared for line drives more than home runs. He’s a gap-to-gap hitter and with a fairly mature frame it’ll be tough to project too much more in terms of power, but with a chance to hit from the left side and solid tools across the board, there’s a lot to like. Some scouts thought he could have been a breakout candidate with a strong performance this spring. | |||||||
| 100 | Casey Opitz | C | Arkansas | 5-11 | 200 | B-R | Indians ’17 (27) |
| Casey Opitz has the best, most accurate arm among catchers in this year’s class and one of the best scouts have seen in years. His release is quick, but even more than the plus-plus pop times, what impresses evaluators is his ability to consistently put the ball right where infielders want, almost making their tag for them. He threw out 54 percent of basestealers as a freshman, 48 percent as a sophomore and 40 percent (4 of 10) as a junior. He has consistently handled quality arms and works well with pitchers. Defensively, he has all the tools to be a solid big leaguer, but his bat will likely keep him from being more than a solid backup. After weighing only 175 pounds earlier in his college career, Opitz bulked up to 200 pounds this year. It has helped his strength and durability, but Opitz still faces plenty of offensive questions. Opitz did show significant improvement in his 16 games this season with a more aggressive approach before the season shut down. His .302/.361/.509 stat line in 2020 was a vast improvement after he failed to hit better than .240 and never topped a .311 slugging percentage in his first two years at Arkansas. But Opitz still doesn’t show average raw power in batting practice and scouts see him as a likely backup eventually because of his light bat. A full season may have given Opitz a chance to show his offensive improvements were more than just a hot start, but for now his glove should be enough to entice a pro team to take him in the third or fourth round. | |||||||
| 101 | Joe Boyle | RHP | Notre Dame | 6-7 | 240 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Boyle’s stuff is up with any other arm in the 2020 class. His fastball sits in the 96-99 mph range, and he’s run his heater all the way up to 102 mph with a breaking ball that scouts have thrown double-plus grades on as well. He gets to all of his stuff with almost shocking ease, with some scouts saying he looks like an NBA player on the mound thanks to his 6-foot-7, 240-pound frame. Boyle can overwhelm his competition at times, getting tons of whiffs on his fastball up and around the zone and whiffs on breaking balls that will bounce significantly in front of the plate. What holds Boyle back, however, and might prevent him from going in the top two rounds of the draft is his well below-average control. In 36 innings over three years with Notre Dame, Boyle has walked 48 batters, good for 12 per nine innings of work. That rate is unsustainable at the next level, no matter how good his stuff is, but scouts have noted that his delivery and arm action aren’t nearly as bad as the quality of his strikes. That could be more of a concern for his future control, as there are no obvious mechanical fixes to implement to try and help him take a step forward. A team with multiple picks in the comp rounds could more easily take on the inherent risk with Boyle as a top 60-70 pick. If not he could go off the board near other top relievers in the third- or fourth-round range. | |||||||
| 102 | Bryce Bonnin | RHP | Texas Tech | 6-1 | 190 | R-R | Cubs ’17 (26) |
| Bonnin’s four 2020 starts will leave teams with some significant questions to work through. He was 2-0, 7.36 with 19 hits in 14.2 innings before the season was shut down. He had two good starts (Northern Colorado and Stanford) followed by rough outings against Florida State and Rice. Bonnin continued to show a big arm—he’ll touch 96-97 mph and sit 93-94 and he gets swings and misses with both his fastball and his above-average 85-87 mph power slider. He has started to show feel for a mid-80s fringe-average changeup as well. His command is spotty thanks in part to a long arm action, and a cross-body, rotational delivery that is hard to keep fully synced up. Bonnin was a 26th-round pick of the Cubs out of high school in 2017, and was a top recruit for Arkansas. He transferred a year later because he wanted to start and the Razorbacks saw him as a reliever. Texas Tech has let him start, but pro scouts see him more likely moving back to the bullpen. His 40 command on the 20-80 scouting scale won’t be as much of an issue in the bullpen and his struggles to work deep in games (he has finished the seventh inning once in 18 college starts) won’t be a concern. Bonnin is a good athlete, and he has the ability to miss bats (10.9 strikeouts per nine in two years at Texas Tech), so even concerns about his control shouldn’t push him out of the third-to-fourth round range. | |||||||
| 103 | Patrick Reilly | RHP | Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, N.J. | 6-4 | 200 | R-R | Vanderbilt |
| Reilly popped up in the fall after a strong showing in Jupiter. He took the mound for six innings, something that’s uncommon at the event, and showed increased velocity on his fastball. His fastball went from sitting at 85-90 mph in July to 90-95 in the fall, topping out at 96, albeit in a small sample size. The increase in velocity was a result of massive gains to his body. At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Reilly has the feel of a power righthander and has the potential for a plus fastball if he can keep up the consistency he showed in the fall. In addition to his fastball, he throws a power curveball that has a chance to profile as a 60-grade pitch, and a changeup that is presently behind the other two pitches but could become average. Reilly has better raw stuff than Alex Santos and Jason Savacool, but the key for him is maintaining consistency in the future. A repeatable delivery and an ability to throw strikes could help Reilly continue to profile as a starter. He’s committed to Vanderbilt. | |||||||
| 104 | Stevie Emanuels | RHP | Washington | 6-5 | 210 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Emanuels set a Washington freshman record for appearances in 2018, when he made 34 appearances as a frequently used reliever and posted a 4.37 ERA over 45.1 innings. Since his freshman season, Emanuels has taken steps forward each year. He lowered his ERA to 2.35 as a sophomore reliever, before a strong summer in the Cape Cod League (3.68 ERA, 22 innings, 28 strikeouts, six walks) and transitioned into a full-time starting role this spring. He was the talk of Northwest area scouts and crosscheckers after four starts before the 2020 season was canceled, throwing 22.2 innings with a 0.79 ERA, 38 strikeouts and nine walks. Standing 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Emanuels has a fastball that gets up to 95-96 mph at its best and sits in the 91-93 range. Over the summer the pitch played a bit true at times, and he tinkered with a two-seam variant to try and keep barrels off the pitch, in addition to mixing in his offspeed offerings more frequently. His slider is a potential plus pitch, a high spin-rate breaking ball that can blend into more of a curveball look at times and is anywhere from 77-85 mph. Whatever the breaking ball is called, it has the spin and shape to become an out pitch. Emanuels also throws a changeup, at its best average, though he throws the pitch infrequently at the moment. With a solid history of strike-throwing, most scouts believe Emanuels can handle a starting role, and teams all seem to appreciate the steady progress he’s made over his collegiate career. Even so, a limited starting track record could limit his ceiling in the draft. | |||||||
| 105 | Ian Bedell | RHP | Missouri | 6-2 | 198 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Bedell skipped his senior season of high school to reclassify and enroll early at Missouri. After barely pitching as a freshman, Bedell was an excellent long reliever for the Tigers in 2019 and posted a 0.59 ERA in six starts with Harwich (Cape Cod) last summer. He stepped into the rotation this spring and was efficient (2-2, 3.70 with a 35-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 24.1 innings). Bedell is young for his class and has plus control and above-average command. His athleticism and extreme confidence are impressive. Other than his control and his makeup, nothing else is plus and he has a smaller frame. His average fastball would touch 94-95 mph out of the pen, but this spring he sat 89-91, touching 92. His changeup may end up as an above-average pitch. He throws an average 81-84 mph spike curve that sometimes morphs into a sliderish pitch when he gets on the side of it. He’s started to mess with a true slider as well and may eventually have four pitches. Bedell’s strong summer in the Cape Cod League and control makes him a pretty safe and solid pick in the third or fourth round, especially if a pro team can help him add a little more velocity. | |||||||
| 106 | Colby Halter | SS | Bishop Kenny HS, Jacksonville | 6-1 | 195 | L-R | Florida |
| A 6-foot-1, 195-pound Florida commit who performed with USA Baseball’s 18U National Team and generally does well with the bat wherever he’s playing, Halter doesn’t overflow with tools but impresses scouts with his hitting ability and versatility. A utility player with Team USA who can handle any infield position in a pinch, Halter is a shortstop for his high school team but scouts think he’ll have to move off the position at the next level. He has an above-average, accurate arm that could play anywhere on the infield, but doesn’t have the elite actions or footspeed teams like to see out of a shortstop. Additionally, Halter doesn’t currently have the power that makes him an obvious candidate to profile super well at third base or another corner position, but scouts keep coming back to his natural hitting ability. Halter hit .419/.486/.548 with Team USA, good for third on the team in hitting, and he got plenty of national heat early this spring before the 2020 season was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Teams who believe in Halter’s lefty bat will draft him in the second or third round and figure out the position later—similar to Reds second baseman Tyler Callihan from the 2019 class—while others would be more inclined to let him reach campus at Florida and prove it. | |||||||
| 107 | Nick Frasso | RHP | Loyola Marymount | 6-5 | 190 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Frasso impressed with four scoreless innings in his lone start for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team last summer. He entered this spring considered a potential first-round pick, but he failed to get through five innings in either of his first two starts before being shut down with forearm tightness. Frasso is one of the most athletic pitchers in the 2020 draft class. He was a high school basketball standout capable of throwing down emphatic dunks, and he still has a basketball build at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds with room to fill out. Frasso still has a relatively fresh arm due to his two-sport background. His 92-95 mph fastball plays up with both a high spin rate and plus extension, and his high-spin slider gives him a second potential plus offering, although it is inconsistent. His changeup is rudimentary but flashes average potential. Frasso locates his fastball to both sides of the plate and fills up the strike zone. He projects as a plus strike thrower overall. Frasso checks a lot of analytical boxes with his spin rates and extension, while traditional scouts love his athleticism and projection. He is in second-to-third-round consideration on talent, but concerns about the health of his arm may drop him lower. | |||||||
| 108 | Mason Miller | LHP | Mitchell HS, New Port Richey, Fla. | 6-3 | 200 | L-L | Florida Gulf Coast |
| An up-arrow prep arm before the 2020 season was shut down, Miller is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound southpaw committed to Florida Gulf Coast who has some of the best natural ability to spin a breaking ball in the entire 2020 class. Over the summer at East Coast Pro, Miller showed a 74-78 mph breaking ball with elite spin rate in the 2,800-3,000 rpm range with tremendous shape and depth. The pitch humped out of his hand early and lacked power and consistent finish at times, but showed hints of a true plus offering. He also showed a fastball in the 86-91 mph range that generated 10 whiffs over three innings at ECP, and this spring his velocity was more 88-92 and touching 93. His fastball has slight running action thanks to a lower, three-quarters slot which can also make his curveball more slurvy. Miller’s control is just average now, but scouts are excited about how well his arm works, the clean action and an athletic body that bodes well for his future development. If Miller is signable, it would be difficult to see him going outside of the third or fourth round, as there aren’t many prep lefties with his body, arm action and breaking ball potential. | |||||||
| 109 | Nate Wohlgemuth | RHP | Owasso (Okla.) HS | 5-11 | 195 | R-R | Arkansas |
| Wohlgemuth has been a high-profile prep arm for several years. The Arkansas signee put an exclamation mark on his showcase season by no-hitting the Langley Blaze at Jupiter. Wohlgemuth’s average fastball can touch 96 mph and he’ll mix a four-seamer and a two-seamer that he likes to work in on lefties, leaking it back over the plate. His four-seamer can be too straight and he doesn’t create plane or angle. Unlike most prep fireballers, Wohlgemuth already has solid feel for an above-average changeup. He maintains his arm speed and the pitch drops off at the plate. His average curveball is less consistent. Throwing from a three-quarters arm slot, Wohlgemuth manages to get some depth on it at times, but it also can get slurvy. With three average or better pitches, Wohlgemuth is pretty advanced, but he also doesn’t have much room to grow and his control is below-average. He’s 5-foot-11 and has already filled out, with a muscular lower half. The shortened season makes it hard for teams to fully evaluate him and he carries plenty of reliever risk. | |||||||
| 110 | Jimmy Glowenke | SS | Dallas Baptist | 5-10 | 175 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Glowenke is the kind of productive college middle infielder that often proves to be a valuable pick, even if he doesn’t have to wonder if he’ll hear his name called in the top two rounds. Glowenke has been a productive bat for Dallas Baptist for three years and he hit .296 last summer in the Cape Cod League. He’s a career .340/.433/.506 hitter who was hitting .415 in 13 games in 2020. After starting every game at shortstop in his first two years with the Patriots, he didn’t get a chance to play in the field this spring. He was coming back from an elbow injury that required surgery (but not Tommy John) last fall. Glowenke has a middle infielder’s actions and reliable hands. Before the injury, his fringe-average arm already led to concerns he’ll need to move to second base eventually in pro ball. Scouts also wonder if a below-average runner really fits at short long-term. Glowenke is an above-average hitter with enough thump to reach double digits in home runs. His reliable bat makes him a useful fourth-to-fifth round pick. | |||||||
| 111 | TJ Nichols | RHP | Oakmont HS, Roseville, Calif. | 6-3 | 170 | R-R | Arizona |
| A converted shortstop, Nichols impressed scouts last summer at the 2019 Area Code Games by showing one of the bigger fastballs of the event. He threw twice during the week and touched 96 on both occasions, sitting in the 92-95 mph range in his shorter outings. He got hit around more than you would expect with that sort of velocity and his strikes were scattered. Nichols showed an inconsistent slider in the 78-81 mph range but flashed solid bite. Nichols has plenty of refining to do, but he has impressive arm strength and a lanky, 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame that can add significantly more weight. Many scouts believe he’ll add 20-30 pounds with a chance to throw 100 mph. He has present reliever risk because of his delivery and strike-throwing concerns, but he’s an athletic pitcher and could make strides in the command department as he develops. An Arizona commit, Nichols is talented enough to potentially fit into a two-way role if he makes it to campus, though his pro future is certainly on the mound. | |||||||
| 112 | Cole Foster | SS | Plano (Texas) Senior HS | 6-0 | 185 | B-R | Auburn |
| Foster is an area scout favorite because he has a refined swing from both sides of the plate and the game never speeds up on him.The Auburn signee is a fringe-average runner, but he maye be able to stay at shortstop because he has an excellent internal clock, solid actions and a strong, accurate plus arm. Foster’s bat is his best asset. He consistently catches up to good velocity and rarely gets fooled. He’s a plus hitter with fringe-average power. It may be tough to convince Foster to forgo his college commitment as a third-to-fourth round pick, but if he does get to school, it won’t be a surprise if he plays his way into being an even higher pick in a few years. | |||||||
| 113 | Landon Knack | RHP | East Tennessee State | 6-2 | 220 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Knack is the top-ranked senior in the class and a good bet to be the first member of that class selected in 2020. A 6-foot-2, 220-pound righthander, Knack spent two years at Walters State (Tenn) JC, where he showed solid strike-throwing ability and average stuff. The same was the case in 2019 at East Tennessee State, where Knack posted a 2.60 ERA over 15 starts and 97 innings. What changed from the last three seasons in 2020 is the pure stuff. Knack’s fastball velocity made a big jump, going from a pitch in the low 90s to a fastball that bumps 97-98 mph at his best and is 92-95 deep into his outings. His offspeed stuff is more fringy at this point, with all of his secondaries flashing average at times but not in that range consistently. His curveball is his best secondary pitch at the moment, again flashing average at times. There’s some effort in Knack’s delivery and it’s not the loosest or most fluid one you’ll see, but he repeats it well and has a lengthy track record of throwing strikes. His 2020 numbers in 25 innings and four starts are ridiculous, as he racked up 51 strikeouts (the most of any Division I arm) to just one walk. While Knack is right at the top of the list of priority senior signs, his age could limit how high he climbs in the draft. He should go off the board at some point in the third or fourth rounds. | |||||||
| 114 | Tyler Keenan | 3B | Mississippi | 6-4 | 250 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| A three-year starter at third base for the Rebels, Keenan feasted on the non-conference portion of Ole Miss’ schedule before the coronavirus shut down the season, hitting .403/.488/.791 with seven home runs in only 17 games. Keenan’s plus power is legitimate—he also led Ole Miss with 15 home runs in 2019. If scouts were confident Keenan could stay at third base, he’d likely go higher. But he’s listed at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, which means he’s heavier than any current MLB third baseman other than Vladimir Guerrero Jr.—and heavier than any third baseman in MLB history who played 500 or more games at third other than Pablo Sandoval and Pedro Alvarez. Keenan’s hands are soft and he has an accurate arm, but his range is quite limited. As a first baseman, Keenan should be fine and his bat looks potent enough to make the switch. He has shown that he will take his walks if a pitcher tries to nibble and if they leave something over the plate, he has all-fields power. There aren’t many college hitters who can hit for average and power, so Keenan should go high enough even with defensive concerns. | |||||||
| 115 | Jason Savacool | RHP | Baldwinsville (N.Y.) HS | 6-1 | 195 | R-R | Maryland |
| Savacool is the second-best prep pitcher in the northeast region behind righthander Alex Santos. Unlike Santos, who already has three above-average pitches, Savacool’s stuff is less loud but it is solid. Savacool pitches from a low three-quarters arm slot with some length in the back of his arm action. His release point is somewhat inconsistent and needs some ironing out, but he has good deception and extension in his delivery thanks in part to a large wingspan that’s bigger than his 6-foot-1 frame would suggest. As far as his pitch arsenal goes, he leads the way with a sinking fastball that sits around 88-93 mph. His sinker is matched with a slider in the 79-81 mph range that is a future above-average offering. Savacool also throws a curveball and a changeup, but both pitches are behind his first two options. At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, there is less projection to Savacool’s body. Savacool is committed to Maryland, where he could carve out a prominent role and further increase his draft stock in three years if a team doesn’t sign him on his future potential now. | |||||||
| 116 | Luke Waddell | SS | Georgia Tech | 5-9 | 176 | L-R | Diamondbacks ’19 (32) |
| Waddell does a lot of things on the field well, bringing defensive versatility, above-average running ability and on-base skills to the table. A third baseman last summer for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, Waddell was third on the team in hitting, with a .300/.419/.417 line over 16 games. Coaches were impressed with his defensive ability. Waddell reads the ball well off the bat, has reliable hands and good body control. While he plays shortstop for Georgia Tech, he probably doesn’t have the defensive ability at the position to push off better defenders and is more likely a super-utility type player who can fill in at shortstop in a pinch if necessary. Waddell was also Team USA’s emergency catcher. Offensively, Waddell has solid bat-to-ball skills and impressive zone recognition, but he lacks much power. Instead he takes professional at-bats and swings at the right pitches, doing his damage by collecting walks and slapping singles around the field. In his Georgia Tech career, Waddell has walked 13 percent of the time compared to striking out just nine percent. With a maxed out, 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame, Waddell doesn’t offer a ton of projection or impact potential, but scouts and coaches alike praise his work ethic, determination and baseball IQ. | |||||||
| 117 | Christian Chamberlain | LHP | Oregon State | 5-10 | 173 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| An undersized lefthander who was one of Oregon State’s most reliable relievers his first two seasons, Chamberlain transitioned to a full-time starting role in 2020 and began moving up draft boards with his performance before the season ended due to the coronavirus pandemic. In four starts this spring, Chamberlain posted a 0.82 ERA in 22 innings with a career-high strikeout rate (13.9 per nine) and a career-low opponent batting average (.086). While Chamberlain stands just 5-foot-10, 173 pounds, he has a bulldog mentality on the mound and a solid two-pitch mix. His fastball reaches the 94-95 mph range and has sneaky life to it, and he hides the ball well in his loose, easy delivery. Chamberlain’s main secondary is a three-quarter breaking curveball that has a chance to be an above-average pitch and is least average. He has also thrown a reliable changeup in the past, giving him a three-pitch mix that could allow him to continue starting at the next level. Some scouts, though, believe his size leaves him better suited to a relief role in pro ball. | |||||||
| 118 | Daniel Susac | C | Jesuit HS, Carmichael, Calif. | 6-3 | 205 | B-R | Arizona |
| A 6-foot-3, 205-pound backstop who’s also a high school quarterback and has major league bloodlines (his brother Andrew was a big league catcher for five years), Susac offers plenty of intrigue for scouts. He has a power-oriented game on both sides of the ball, with the current strength and frame that allow scouts to project future plus power on top of plus arm strength that he has presently. Defensively, Susac has a chance to be an average catcher, though his arm action is too long at the moment, which prevents his arm from playing up to the exceptional strength it has. He’ll need to get more efficient and quick with his throws, but if he does he could have a real weapon behind the plate. Offensively, Susac does a nice job leveraging his strength in batting practice and showing big power potential, but scouts haven’t seen much of that power translate to games just yet thanks to a passive approach that can put him in less than optimal counts to hit in. He’ll need to adjust that approach to find success at the next level. Susac was originally committed to Oregon State but is now committed to Arizona. He’s expected to be a tough sign. Some teams like him as high as the supplemental first round, while others prefer him in the third or fourth. He’s a bit polarizing for clubs, but Susac a chance for solid-average defense behind the plate and above-average power, which is an all-star caliber player even if his bat winds up being below average. | |||||||
| 119 | Mario Zabala | OF | International Baseball Academy, Ceiba, P.R. | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Florida International |
| Zabala is overflowing with tools and physicality, giving him plenty of upside if he can refine his game. At the moment, scouts don’t see much in the way of in-game instincts with Zabala and question his offensive and defensive ability because of that. Zabala has three plus tools in his running ability, arm strength and raw power, but all of those tools show up more in showcase and workout environments than games. While he has impressive bat speed and a smooth swing from the right side that shows off power to center field and the pull side in batting practice, Zabala can look entirely different against live pitching. He is often overly aggressive and swings through fastballs up in the zone and offspeed offerings down. Defensively he has the tools to play all three outfield positions, but his best fit is likely in a corner, where he’ll still need to improve his route-running ability and decision making on his throws. Zabala’s arm can be a weapon with continued refinement. His throws have terrific power and carry, but his accuracy is erratic at times and he’s prone to overthrowing his targets. Zabala is a solid runner on the bases, with an aggressive mindset that puts pressure on pitchers and catchers, and the ability to take an extra base on balls hit in the gaps. If a team decided to take a chance on Zabala and sign him out of a Florida International commitment, he would likely move slowly in a minor league system. | |||||||
| 120 | Adam Seminaris | LHP | Long Beach State | 6-0 | 180 | R-L | Never Drafted |
| Seminaris stood front and center in Long Beach State’s rebirth this spring. After showing well in the Cape Cod League last summer, he began the year with six scoreless innings and 11 strikeouts against Cal in the season opener. Two weeks later, with dozens of high-level evaluators in attendance, he pitched eight scoreless innings with one hit allowed, two walks and 10 strikeouts against Mississippi State. Seminaris dominates with a feel to pitch so elite that one evaluator compared it to Tom Glavine’s. He starts his four-pitch mix with an easy 88-92 mph fastball that plays up with deception from his crossfire delivery. He has two distinct breaking balls: a high-arcing curveball he can land for strikes or expand the zone with and a short slurve with late action that stays off of barrels. Seminaris’ out pitch is his changeup, a plus offering that dives in front of the plate to draw swings and misses and weak contact. Seminaris expertly mixes his four pitches, reads hitters and exploits their weaknesses, often giving the impression he’s toying with them. He is durable, efficient and lasts deep into his starts. Seminaris’ lack of big velocity or a plus breaking ball keeps him out of the top tier of the draft class, but his easy low-90s fastball and plus changeup from the left side have evaluators confident he’s a big leaguer. | |||||||
| 121 | Luke Little | LHP | San Jacinto (Texas) JC | 6-8 | 225 | L-L | South Carolina |
| Little is one of the hardest throwers in this year’s draft class, but until this year his wildness was just as notable as his fastball. As a freshman, Little walked more than a batter an inning (while also striking out 17.6 batters per nine). In brief glimpses this spring (nine total innings), he showed vastly improved control, although his delivery is still herky jerky and effortful. Little pitches at 96-97 mph, but has touched 100 at his best. He only made five appearances before San Jacinto’s season ended because he missed a few weeks with a back injury. He made one start before the injury, then pitched in relief four times upon his return. In those five appearances, Little struck out 17, walked three and allowed three hits in nine innings. A massive presence on the mound (6-foot-8, 250 pounds), Little was in better shape as a sophomore and showed better control and command. In part that came from better body control and in part because he synced up his lower half better in his delivery. He also showed a much better feel for locating his above-average 80-83 mph slider. It has less power than may be expected, but it has solid bite, although its spin rates are not exceptional. Little is a South Carolina signee. He would have benefitted from a full season which would have given him time to show his control improvements are sustainable, but a team looking for a power lefty could be enticed by his two-pitch package with the hope that there is more refinement to come. | |||||||
| 122 | Zavier Warren | C/SS | Central Michigan | 6-0 | 190 | B-R | Never Drafted |
| Warren is an instinctual player who brings a lot of defensive versatility and reliability to the table. He entered Central Michigan as a catcher, but logged time behind the dish, at third base and first base as a freshman. In 2019 a need opened at shortstop, and he’s been a reliable defender at the position, though he isn’t a true pro shortstop prospect. Warren played third base in the Cape Cod League over the summer, where he hit .315/.396/.443 with three home runs and eight doubles. Warren doesn’t have a real standout tool but is solid across the board and has a pretty and consistent swing from both sides of the plate. He has solid power, but it plays more in the gaps for doubles (he set the single-season Central Michigan record with 22 doubles in 2019) than true over-the-fence power. That could create problems with how he profiles at the hot corner, though scouts have said he’s athletic enough to return to catching at the next level, and if he can handle the defensive grind there, his bat all of a sudden looks extremely impressive. Warren has just average speed, but he’s an instinctual baserunner who is 17-for-18 in stolen base attempts over his collegiate career. | |||||||
| 123 | Markevian Hence | RHP | Watson Chapel HS, Pine Bluff, Ark. | 6-1 | 175 | R-R | Arkansas |
| Yet another signee in a loaded Arkansas class, Hence elevated himself from being a solid prospect to a special one with an impressive summer. One of the younger prep prospects in the class (he turns 18 in August), Hence, who often goes by his nickname “Tink”, has a skinny frame (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) right now and a very fast arm. His fastball sits 91-93 mph and can brush 95, but it’s his feel for spinning breaking balls that helps him stand out. He throws a distinct slider and curveball and both show plus potential. His changeup shows average potential as well. With a loose arm and room to fill out, Hence is a pitcher who should keep getting better. | |||||||
| 124 | Kevin Abel | RHP | Oregon State | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Padres ’17 (35) |
| Abel has become a conundrum for scouts since his eye-opening 2018 campaign with Oregon State, when he was the best pitcher on the Beavers’ College World Series winning team and named freshman of the year. He was known for his pitching polish and advanced feel for the game out of high school in 2017, but teams were looking for him to add more stuff and size in college. He battled some back issues during his sophomore year and then had Tommy John surgery in April of 2019, which ended his season after just 16.1 innings and would have kept him out for much of the 2020 season as well. Now, teams have to decide what to do with a pitcher who has performed at the highest level in college baseball but they haven’t seen at his best on the mound in essentially two years. When healthy he has a solid fastball in the low 90s that plays up thanks to his command, good feel for a solid curveball and a changeup that might be his best offering. There are plenty of wild cards at the moment, and if Abel is a tough sign at all like some scouts expect, he might head back to Oregon State, get healthy and once again let his pitching do the talking. | |||||||
| 125 | Sam Weatherly | LHP | Clemson | 6-3 | 205 | L-L | Blue Jays ’17 (27) |
| Weatherly had a loose quick arm with a projectably frame out of high school in Michigan, and in three years with Clemson he’s filled out, added strength and significantly improved his breaking ball. As a freshman, Weatherly was a two-way player for the Tigers, before he transitioned into a pitcher-only role in 2019. The transition helped him become one of the team’s most reliable arms out of the bullpen. He took over the Friday night role to start his junior season in 2020, posting a 0.79 ERA over four starts and 22.2 innings, with 43 strikeouts and 14 walks. Now standing 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Weatherly has loud stuff from the left side with two plus pitches. His fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range and he can run it up to 95-96 regularly and his slider is also a 60-grade offering. He throws a changeup as well, but it’s a distant third pitch. There are reliever questions with Weatherly since most of his time with Clemson was spent in that role, and he’s always walked a significant number of batters. Through four starts in 2020 his walk per nine rate was 5.56, which is actually a career best after walking more than 7.5 per nine in each of his first two seasons. Weatherly is a solid athlete, so teams think there’s a chance he could improve his control moving forward and secure a starting role. If not, his stuff is loud enough from the left side that he could carve out a career as an arm out of the pen as well. | |||||||
| 126 | Holden Powell | RHP | UCLA | 6-0 | 189 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Powell won the Stopper of the Year Award as college baseball’s best reliever as a sophomore. He was on track for a repeat bid this spring with eight scoreless appearances and a 20-to-2 strikeout-to-walk mark as UCLA’s closer before the season shut down. Evaluators consider Powell arguably the top reliever in the 2020 draft and expect him to move quickly to a major league bullpen. Powell’s fastball ranges from 91-96 mph, sitting 93-94, and he backs it up with a wipeout power slider that draws consistent plus grades. He commands his slider better than his fastball and has had flashes of control problems in the past, but he threw plenty of strikes this spring to alleviate those concerns. Powell has shown the ability to close or pitch multiple innings, giving him multiple pathways to a major league bullpen. He is a pure reliever with no chance of starting, but his stuff and competitive, closer mentality give him a chance to be an impactful late-inning arm. | |||||||
| 127 | Jamal O’Guinn | 3B | Southern California | 6-4 | 220 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| O’Guinn was a divisive prospect in high school, but he became a solid three-year starter at Southern California and was named a starter in the Cape Cod League All-Star Game last summer. Listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, O’Guinn is big and physical with feel to hit and huge raw power. He covers the entire plate, drives the ball with authority from gap-to-gap and is one of the most patient hitters in the draft class. He posted a .420 career on-base percentage at USC and finished second in the Cape Cod League in walks. O’Guinn is at least an average hitter and hits the occasional huge home run, but he is still learning to incorporate his lower half into his swing to consistently get to his power in games. He is prone to swinging and missing in the zone and will need to tap into his power more to reach his everyday potential. Scouts are divided on whether O’Guinn will stay at third base. He’s a solid athlete who moves well for his size and has an average arm, but he may have to move to first base or left field if he gets much bigger. Even with concerns about his future position, O’Guinn’s potential to post high on-base and slugging percentages has teams interested between the second and fifth rounds. | |||||||
| 128 | Koen Moreno | RHP | Panther Creek HS, Cary, N.C. | 6-2 | 170 | R-R | East Carolina |
| Moreno is one of the more athletic pitchers in the prep class and he also participated in basketball and track at Panther Creek High in Cary, N.C. A 6-foot-2, 170-pound righthander committed to East Carolina, Moreno doesn’t have a ton of innings on his arm and scouts were impressed with the consistent steps forward he made last summer. At East Coast Pro, Moreno threw a fastball in the 87-93 mph range and ticked up to 94 at the Future Stars Series during the fall. He has exceptional feel to naturally spin a breaking ball, but the pitch needs continued refinement to become a plus offering. It shows solid depth and three-quarter shape in the 73-78 mph range, but it’s hittable when he leaves it up and only flashes sharp biting action. Moreno also showed feel for an 81-85 mph changeup that he throws with good arm speed and had swing-and-miss qualities with average or better potential in the future. Moreno is a projection arm in the true sense of the definition, with plenty of room remaining on a lean frame, athleticism that should allow him to make big strides in the future and an innate feel for spinning a baseball. Scouts didn’t see him pitch much at all this spring with a shortened 2020 season, but he was a candidate to take a step forward stuff-wise. It wouldn’t be surprising for a team to bet on his upside now in the 3-5 round range—if he makes it to East Carolina he could easily become a top-three round talent. | |||||||
| 129 | D’Andre Smith | SS | San Dimas (Calif.) HS | 5-8 | 180 | R-R | Southern California |
| The 5-foot-8 Smith stood out for his tools and bat speed at the Area Code Games and continued to play above his size through the spring. He earned consistently positive reviews from scouts across Southern California before the season shut down. Smith earns comparisons to Ray Durham as an athletic middle infielder who packs surprising power for his height. He has present strength and flashes above-average raw power, often getting to it in games against good pitching. He projects as an average hitter with average power overall. Smith is an average runner capable of swiping a bag and has the foot speed to stay at shortstop. He moves well to his glove side, has an average, accurate arm and turns double plays well. Most evaluators project Smith to move to second base like Durham, while others see him as an everyday utilityman like Josh Harrison. Regardless of his defensive role, Smith’s ability to hit and play the middle infield has him in top five rounds consideration. He is committed to Southern California. | |||||||
| 130 | RJ Dabovich | RHP | Arizona State | 6-3 | 215 | R-R | Royals ’18 (18) |
| Dabovich was drafted by the Royals in the 18th round in 2018 after his freshman season at Central Arizona before he transferred to Arizona State. He pitched in both relief and in the rotation in his sophomore season before serving as the Sun Devils’ closer this year. Dabovich is expected to attract plenty of draft attention because of the plus velocity on his fastball—it sits 92-95 mph and touches 98 with good spin rates. Some observers like the 82-86 mph slider best among his secondary pitches, as it flashes plus but also gets flat at times, while others prefer the solid-average curveball that comes in at 75-78 mph. Dabovich also occasionally throws a mid-70s splitter and a changeup in the low 80s. He changed his repeatable delivery this year from high three-quarters to being more overhead. He has average command of all his pitches and is generally around the plate. If he turns pro this year, Dabovich could get another try as a starting pitcher but has the velocity to handle a relief role. | |||||||
| 131 | Cam Brown | RHP | Flower Mound (Texas) HS | 6-3 | 210 | R-R | Texas Christian |
| Brown checked basically every box you’d like to see out of a prep pitcher last summer. He showed a fastball in the 90-95 mph range, a swing-and-miss slider and a mid-80s changeup—all of which projected as above-average or better offerings with good control and a strong 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame. However, things were different early in the spring before the novel coronavirus shut down the baseball season. Scouts didn’t see the same Brown. He wasn’t throwing any of his offerings with the same ease. His fastball touched 95, but fell off quickly into the upper 80s and the breaking ball backed up as well, with Brown slowing down his arm action on the pitch. Teams have started questioning his athleticism and commented that he got a bit bulkier and stiffer this spring. He got hit much more frequently than he did over the summer, and without time to find his previously above-average stuff, it’s easier to see him getting to campus at Texas Christian. His control remained above-average, but he didn’t have the bat-missing stuff he showed previously. At his best, Brown showed a plus breaking ball with sharp biting action and impressive movement, with 2,500-2,800 rpm spin rate and a plus fastball, but he’ll need to work to reach that level again. | |||||||
| 132 | Andrew Abbott | LHP | Virginia | 6-0 | 175 | L-L | Yankees ’17 (36) |
| Abbott has been a fixture in Virginia’s bullpen since he stepped on campus, posting a 3.18 ERA in 51 innings as a freshman and a 3.89 ERA in 44 innings as a sophomore. With Team USA last summer Abbot also performed and was the team’s most reliable reliever, posting a 2.25 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 12 innings. Abbott has an undersized frame at 6-foot, 175 pounds, but he can run his fastball up into the 94-95 mph range and spins a solid-average 12-to-6 curveball. His fastball has a tick of running and sinking life, but is more in the 89-93 mph range consistently, while his breaking ball is in the mid-and-upper-70s with solid depth. Abbott’s competitive mentality on the mound is praised by coaches, who have said he looks more like a 6-foot-5 pitcher when he takes the mound simply by how aggressively he attacks hitters. He’s struck out about 13 batters per nine innings over his Virginia career, and while there might be some questions about his durability in pro ball because of his size, Abbott has been used frequently in multi-inning stints and on back-to-back days and performed well. | |||||||
| 133 | AJ Shaver | OF | South Lake HS, Groveland, Fla. | 6-2 | 197 | R-R | Florida State |
| A 6-foot-2, 197-pound outfielder committed to Florida State, Shaver impressed with his raw power and rhythm at the plate last summer at East Coast Pro. While there, he showed impressive pull side pop and an intriguing bat with above-average bat speed. Scouts continued to be impressed with Shaver early this spring and were able to see him take a jump before the coronavirus shut down the 2020 season. Shaver has an exciting package of tools, including plus running ability, above-average arm strength and raw power. He brings athleticism and strength to the table, and while Shaver still has some room to improve his offensive approach and pure hit tool, some evaluators have been excited with the steps he’s taken in that area to bet on his bat moving forward. With a chance to stick in center field at the next level, his power profiles well and some teams like him in the 3-5 round range. | |||||||
| 134 | Dane Acker | RHP | Oklahoma | 6-2 | 189 | R-R | Diamondbacks ’19 (23) |
| Cade Cavalli is the most famous name in the Oklahoma rotation, but all three members of the Sooners weekend rotation have impressed. Acker had the most impressive performance of the trio. He was the first pitcher to ever no-hit Louisiana State in a nine-inning game. Acker struck out 11 in a 117-pitch complete game at the Children’s College Classic in Houston. Acker has long been a name to watch. He was 5-2, 4.20 as a freshman at Rice. He transferred to San Jacinto (Texas) JC where he was a very reliable starter, going 10-0, 2.36 while impressing with his feel for pitching. The D-Backs drafted him in the 23rd round in 2019, but he opted to head to Oklahoma instead. Acker isn’t flashy, but the sum of the parts makes everything work very well. He’s durable, he has above-average command and he carries his stuff deep into games. His average fastball can touch 94 mph, but he generally pitches more at 91-92, showing plenty of sink (he can elevate a four-seamer as well). His 78-81 mph average curveball is a big breaker while his fringe-average slider is cutterish, with modest break aiming to avoid the sweet spot of the bat. He also has shown both feel and confidence in his average changeup that has some late fade. There are plenty of college pitchers with more upside than Acker, but he will outlast plenty of them in pro ball because he has a clean delivery, is durable and is a better pitcher than most. | |||||||
| 135 | Timmy Manning | LHP | Cardinal Gibbons HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 6-2 | 175 | L-L | Florida |
| Manning has one of the better and more consistent breaking balls in the 2020 prep class, a mid-70s bender with tremendous depth and impressive spin in the 2300-2600 rpm range. He shows tremendous feel for landing the pitch in the zone or burying it below hitters’ knees for swings-and-misses and can backdoor the pitch to righthanders as well. It’s a real hammer, with two-plane break at times and impressive 1-to-7 shape. While his curveball stacks up with most, Manning’s fastball currently sits in the 87-91 mph range, and because of that some teams are wary of signing him into pro ball right away. The pitch has solid running life at times, but it too frequently dips into the upper 80s. Manning has also shown a changeup in the 79-82 mph range that he throws with good arm speed, but the pitch is fairly straight and fringy for now. Manning is listed at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds and if he makes it to campus at Florida and adds more power to his fastball and more physicality to his frame, he could easily shoot up draft boards. | |||||||
| 136 | Joey Wiemer | OF | Cincinnati | 6-5 | 215 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Wiemer is a toolsy outfielder who raised his draft stock with a strong summer in the Cape Cod League but has consistently underwhelmed as a hitter with Cincinnati in the American Athletic Conference. Listed at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Wiemer has a collection of plus tools, including his raw power, arm strength and running ability. He hasn’t been able to successfully tap into that power at the plate, thanks to a noisy swing that has plenty of moving parts—enough that scouts have compared him to Hunter Pence. He has an open setup with lots of bat waggle above his head and a high leg kick, which all lead to timing issues. Over three years with Cincinnati, Wiemer hit .264/.379/.408 with 12 home runs and 35 stolen bases. When Wiemer is on base, he’s an instinctual and smart runner and his speed and arm strength (he’s gotten into the mid-90s on the mound) give him the ability to play all three outfield positions. Wiemer’s toolset is better than where he’s ranked, but the questions about his hit tool are significant. | |||||||
| 137 | Carlos Perez | C | Florida Christian HS, Miami | 6-2 | 195 | B-R | Miami |
| Perez is one of the better catch-and-throw backstops in the country, with every scout who’s seen him praising his defensive work. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound Miami commit, Perez has gotten plus defensive evaluations thanks to impressive hands and above-average receiving and blocking ability to go along with plus arm strength. That arm has looked like a no-doubt plus arm at times, but this spring it was more in the average to above-average range. Either way, the strength is in the tank, it’s just a matter of Perez letting it loose on a consistent basis. While most scouts are confident in the defensive side of his game, there are more concerns about the quality of Perez’s hit tool. He has power potential with plenty of strength in his frame and more room to add physicality as well. He’ll show consistent contact and impact ability in batting practice with good bat speed, but there are some timing issues that have appeared in games that could limit him getting to his power. Perez had a chance to continue climbing draft boards this spring by hitting consistently and giving teams more confidence in his offensive game. If they are too scared of the bat, he could get to Miami and try and prove he’s a legit prospect on both sides, but teams are still in on him as a defender in the 3-5 round range. | |||||||
| 138 | Hayden Cantrelle | SS | Louisiana-Lafayette | 5-10 | 175 | B-R | Yankees ’17 (40) |
| The coronavirus shutdown came at an extremely inopportune time for Cantrelle. After two strong seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette, he looked somewhat lost at the plate in the early going this spring. Cantrelle was hitting .136/.320/.237 in 17 games. But there is reason to write that off as a rough month in an otherwise solid college career. After looking somewhat overmatched for much of the summer of 2018 in the Cape Cod League, he showed a much better approach and a more controlled swing in 2019. Playing shortstop and second base for Harwich, he finished ninth in the league with a .315 average. While he played more second base than shortstop with Harwich, Cantrelle projects as an average shortstop defensively in pro ball and an above-average defender at second. He has average arm strength but is an accurate thrower. He isn’t big, (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) but he is a plus runner. He swiped 28 bags in 32 tries as a sophomore and 19 in 21 attempts in the Cape last summer. From either side of the plate, the switch-hitting Cantrelle is a top-of-the-order table setter, but he shows 40 power from the left side. His righthanded swing is generally more of a contact-oriented approach. Cantrelle’s awful spring clouds his status, but he had a lengthy resume of success before that and teams like his baseball IQ. He lacks flashy tools, but a team who relies strongly on a player’s Cape Cod League performance could be enticed in the fourth or fifth round. | |||||||
| 139 | Corey Collins | C | North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, Ga. | 6-3 | 210 | L-R | Georgia |
| Collins wasn’t seen as frequently over the summer showcase circuit after dealing with injuries, but is a strong, lefthanded-hitting catcher with power potential and solid catch-and-throw ability. A 6-foot-3, 210-pound Georgia commit, Collins is likely hurt by the shortened 2020 season more than most players because scouts simply weren’t able to get as many looks as some of the other notable prep players on the summer circuit. Those who have seen Collins see a catcher with good receiving ability and average arm strength and accuracy. The bat is more of the calling card with Collins at this point, and he’s shown plenty of natural strength, good bat speed and feel for the barrel. Collins has shown a mature, all-fields approach and is a solid runner for a catcher as well. Some scouts believed Collins was a candidate to move up draft boards with a strong spring thanks to his solid all-around toolset, but he is expected to be a tough sign in general and that could make things even more difficult for clubs who are worried about their lack of evaluations. | |||||||
| 140 | Trei Cruz | SS | Rice | 6-2 | 200 | B-R | Nationals ’19 (37) |
| It’s hard to have better baseball bloodlines than that of the Cruz family, both at Rice and in the majors. Cruz’s grandfather, Jose Cruz Sr., played 19 years in the major leagues. His father Jose Cruz Jr. played 12 years in the majors after starring at Rice. Now Cruz (named Trei because he’s Jose Cruz III) has a chance to follow in their footsteps. Trei’s younger brother Antonio also plays at Rice. Trei Cruz has already been drafted twice—the Astros (35th round) out of high school and the Nationals (37th round) last year as a draft-eligible sophomore. Cruz has played second base, third base and shortstop in college. Some evaluators see his lack of foot speed as limiting him to second or third base as a pro, but a team confident in its player development department may believe it can improve Cruz’s poor footwork. His hands are excellent and his plus arm gives him the ability to make the spectacular play at times. He just struggles to consistently make the routine play and sometimes gets caught in between hops. As a switch-hitter, Cruz is very aggressive. He has plus raw power, especially as a lefthanded hitter, although his in-game power so far has been modest. Cruz has a solid track record as a hitter both at Rice (.296/.405/.482 in three seasons) and last summer in the Cape Cod League (.307/.384/.429). As a switch-hitter who should be at worst an above-average defender at second base, Cruz should slide into the late third or fourth round. | |||||||
| 141 | Jace Bohrofen | OF | Westmoore HS, Oklahoma City | 6-2 | 195 | L-R | Oklahoma |
| An Oklahoma signee, Bohrofren is one of the better power prospects in the high school class. He has plus raw power and an average arm with a quick release that fits in either corner outfield spot, and he can even play center in a pinch. But a team willing to draft and sign him out of high school is taking a chance that his noisy setup and leverage-based lefty power will be able to play against more advanced pitching. Few doubt Bohrofren’s ability to get to 20-25 home run power as he matures, but his bat does not stay on plane in the strike zone for very long and his bat speed is average at best, which is why a number of scouts see him as a below-average hitter—one whose pitch recognition should allow him to post solid on-base percentages. Bohrofren has a good frame and is an average runner with some twitchiness. He likely makes it to Oklahoma, although his power potential fits in the fourth round if he proves signable. | |||||||
| 142 | Michael Kirian | LHP | Louisville | 6-6 | 235 | R-L | Never Drafted |
| Because he works as a reliever, Kirian’s 2020 season was the briefest of glimpses into what he can do. He only threw 6.1 innings over six appearances, but all six outings were outstanding. Louisville’s closer went six for six on save opportunities, allowing only three baserunners and retiring 19 of the 22 batters he faced. Kirian is a massive (6-foot-6, 235 pounds) lefty who throws strikes and seems to keep batters from ever getting comfortable against him. Kirian was also a basketball player in high school. His development at that time was slowed a little by a knee injury. At Louisville, he’s upped his fastball from 86-89 mph to sitting 90-93 and touching 95. Kirian has some deception to his delivery as he throws across his body and hides the ball, especially against lefthanded hitters. His average slurve has solid depth. Kirian’s stuff doesn’t really stand out when compared to the average pro reliever, but his track record at Louisville is excellent and he is a better strike thrower than most lefty relievers. | |||||||
| 143 | Liam Norris | LHP | Green Hope HS, Cary, N.C. | 6-4 | 215 | L-L | North Carolina |
| Norris gained notoriety on the national stage as an underclassman when he out-pitched Luke Bartnicki in the 2018 National High School Invitational with Green Hope High in Cary, N.C. Norris and teammate Jordyn Adams helped make Green Hope the first North Carolina team to reach the championship game of the tournament. By touching 94 mph from the left side as a sophomore, Norris solidified himself as a name to know moving forward. However, Norris battled inconsistencies and prospect fatigue during the ensuing years. Last summer, Norris showed a fastball more in the 87-91 mph range with wildly erratic control. On top of his fastball, Norris has a 12-6 curveball in the mid-70s and a sharp slider in the low 80s. He has also thrown a changeup in the 82-86 mph range but lacks feel for the pitch. It was a disappointing summer for Norris thanks in part to the lofty expectations he put on himself, but he had a chance to improve his stock this spring. Scouts raved about his stuff in an early outing when he threw in the 92-96 mph range and flashed a 60-grade curveball. Teams were looking forward to running in and getting more looks at Norris, but the novel coronavirus ruined those plans. Now teams will have to wonder if he has taken the jump for good, or if Norris will still battle inconsistencies with his pure stuff. Either way, he’ll need to radically improve his bottom-of-the-scale control to have success and also maintain a large, 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame moving forward. Norris is committed to North Carolina. | |||||||
| 144 | Cayden Wallace | 3B | Greenbrier (Ark.) HS | 6-1 | 205 | R-R | Arkansas |
| Wallace is one of the better bats in the prep class with above-average bat speed, and plenty of pull power if a pitcher challenges him on the inner half. Wallace is more advanced than most of the high school hitters in the class, as he’s just as comfortable lining balls to the opposite-field gap if pitchers stay away from his power and he shows solid timing. A high school shortstop, he likely will end up as a third baseman in pro ball once he gets bigger. He has an average arm and enough athleticism and feet to be an above-average defender at the hot corner. Wallace’s short, simple swing and athleticism make him a player to watch. He’s an Arkansas signee. | |||||||
| 145 | Brandon Birdsell | RHP | San Jacinto (Texas) JC | 6-2 | 210 | R-R | Texas Tech |
| A 39th-round pick of the Astros out of high school, Birdsell pitched sparingly at Texas A&M as a freshman (nine appearances out of the bullpen) and opted to transfer to San Jacinto (Texas) JC for his sophomore season. After an impressive summer with the Matsu Miners in the Alaska Summer League, he got off to a slow start with the Gators. But his fastball got firmer and his control improved and he seemed to be hitting his stride when the shutdown happened. He had struck out 22 and walked 1 over his final 13 innings at San Jac. Birdsell had Tommy John surgery in 2016, but he’s been durable so far in college and his arm action is relatively clean. He sits 93-94 mph on his fastball and has touched 97-98 in short stints. His slider was a low-80s cement mixer not that long ago, but this spring he developed a much harder, 87-90 mph shorter slider. Birdsell is committed to Texas Tech if he doesn’t sign. He may benefit from another year of starting in college, but his upside could entice a team in the fifth round. | |||||||
| 146 | Jake Smith | RHP | State JC of Florida | 6-5 | 180 | R-R | Miami |
| The Phillies drafted Smith out of Chapel Hill (N.C.) High in 2018, but the righthander opted to go to school, where he’s significantly raised his draft stock this spring as a sophomore with State JC of Florida. Smith has a good combination of remaining projection and present stuff, with a fastball that’s gotten up to 95-96 mph and a 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame that has room for more strength. In eight games and 40 innings this spring, Smith showed solid strike-throwing ability with 59 strikeouts to just eight walks, and evaluators believe some funk and deception in his delivery allows his heater—which sits around 93-94—to play up. Smith’s breaking ball isn’t quite as loud as his plus fastball now, but it’s an average offering now with a chance to get to above average in the future. Smith has good athleticism and his arm works well, giving him plenty of traits for pro teams to like, though if he still doesn’t want to sign in the draft, he could head to Miami next year and further improve his prospect status. | |||||||
| 147 | Carter Baumler | RHP | Dowling Catholic HS, West Des Moines, Iowa | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Texas Christian |
| Another cold-weather arm, Baumler had barely gotten onto the mound in the Perfect Game Spring League before the season was shut down. The Texas Christian signee looked a little rusty, understandably, but when he’s on, he’s shown a clean delivery, smooth mechanics and a good-enough 88-92 mph fringe-average fastball that will need to add a little more oomph as he matures. The 6-foot-2 righthander shows some feel for spinning a breaking ball and has an advanced changeup for a high school arm. Projectable, polished high school arms without overwhelming present stuff are going to be a tough sell in this year’s draft, so Baumler has a good chance of becoming a Horned Frog. | |||||||
| 148 | Slade Wilks | OF | Columbia (Miss.) Academy | 6-2 | 215 | L-R | Southern Mississippi |
| Wilks has one of the higher offensive upsides among this year’s high school class thanks to his power potential. A physically mature lefthanded hitter who can drive the ball to the power alleys, Wilks takes big, powerful hacks, but he has shown an ability to make plenty of contact throughout his amateur career. He has a hitch to his swing, but it has not hampered his ability to square up velocity. Defensively, he needs some work to polish his reads and routes, but as an above-average runner with an average arm, he has enough tools to be a solid corner outfielder. Wilks has signed with Southern Miss. | |||||||
| 149 | Steven Ondina | SS | International Baseball Academy, Ceiba, P.R. | 5-8 | 156 | R-R | Florida International |
| One of the top Puerto Rican prospects in the 2020 class, along with outfielder Mario Zabala, Ondina was a third-team member of the 2020 preseason All-Americans, as voted on by scouting directors. He was rated the third-best defensive infielder in the class as well, behind shortstops Ed Howard and Milan Tolentino. His glove work is his best attribute. He plays very low to the ground, which allows him to eat up bad hops and transfer quickly on throws. His first step is quick and he also has huge arm strength, throwing one ball 97 mph across the infield at Perfect Game’s National showcase. He’s also a solid runner who should provide enough range to stick at the position. The questions with Ondina are with his bat and his impact ability. Listed at just 5-foot-8, 156 pounds, Ondina lacks any power currently and doesn’t project to add much in the future either. He has quick hands at the plate and has shown an ability to spray low line drives into the gap. He doesn’t have the elite running ability or bat-to-ball skills that undersized recent shortstops like Xavier Edwards possessed, but teams more comfortable taking smaller players could still be intrigued enough with his defensive upside at a premium position in the 3-6 round range. Those who have more questions about his bat might prefer to let him prove his offensive chops at Florida International. | |||||||
| 150 | Jesse Franklin | OF | Michigan | 6-1 | 215 | L-L | Mariners ’17 (37) |
| The headliner of Michigan’s 2017 recruiting class, Franklin wasted no time putting his mark on the program, leading the team in home runs (10), slugging (.588) and RBI (47) in 2018. His hitting dipped a bit as a sophomore, though he did increase his walk rate significantly, and he does have some track record hitting in the Cape Cod League, though a 2018 stint was more successful than 2019. Franklin’s medical sheet has piled up over the years, as he’s dealt with labrum issues, hamstring issues and didn’t play a game in the shortened 2020 season thanks to a broken collarbone. That leaves Franklin as a bit of an unknown, as scouts like his all-around package of average tools and believed in his work ethic and plus-plus baseball instincts to make the most of them. Franklin has a professional approach at the plate and doesn’t strike out frequently, though some evaluators have noted that a wide stance can cause his swing to get too lengthy, which causes issues timing up fastball velocity. When he’s able to let his hands work, Franklin has above-average power potential. A center fielder for Michigan, Franklin will likely be pushed to a corner outfield spot at the next level. He gets terrific reads and has an electric first step but lacks the dynamic running ability that separates major league center fielders. He should be an above-average defender in a corner. While a short season and injuries have clouded Franklin’s draft status, those who have a history with him believe he’s a high probability major leaguer in some capacity. | |||||||
| 151 | Marquis Grissom Jr. | RHP | Counterpane HS, Fayetteville, Ga. | 6-2 | 180 | R-R | Georgia Tech |
| The son of long-time major leaguer Marquis Grissom, Grissom Jr. is an entirely different player than his father. Listed at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Grissom Jr. is an athletic righthander with a fastball in the 88-92 mph range that could easily tick up in the future with better usage of his lower half and additional strength. He’s got a pair of interesting breaking balls in a curveball and a split-change, and has fallen in love with the splitter after seeing some success with it over the summer. The pitch falls off the table with tremendous fade and tumbling action at its best, in the 75-78 mph range, and has plus potential. He’s shown the feel to spin his curveball as well, though it can get slurvey at times and he also has a tendency to cast the pitch. It’s another mid-70s offering with 12-to-6 shape that could be an above-average pitch as well with more power. A projection righthander with plenty of athleticism, teams could be interested in Grissom in the 3-6 round range, or let him get to Georgia Tech where he would be an eligible sophomore in 2022. | |||||||
| 152 | Grayson Hitt | LHP | Houston HS, Germantown, Tenn. | 6-3 | 170 | R-L | Alabama |
| A projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pound lefthander, Hitt was something of a helium prospect early this spring before the shortened 2020 season prevented teams from seeing him. After throwing a fastball in the 87-89 mph range last summer at East Coast Pro, Hitt’s velocity increased to the 89-93 mph range this spring. On top of that he showed an above-average curveball in the mid-to-upper-70s that has solid diving action and shape that varies. While Hitt’s control is below-average at the moment, scouts love his athleticism and the ease to his operation and believe he has plenty of room for refinement and added power thanks to his projectable frame. Also a talented wide receiver, Hitt had 1,101 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns for Houston High last fall. There was a reasonable amount of scouting heat on Hitt early this spring, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get taken in the top five rounds, but he has an Alabama commitment to fall back on as well. | |||||||
| 153 | Levi Prater | LHP | Oklahoma | 6-2 | 175 | B-L | Never Drafted |
| A lawnmower accident when he was 2 years old left Prater with only two fingers on his right hand. To adjust, he just cinches up the strap on his glove significantly tighter—he has made only one error in his time at Oklahoma. He even showed he could switch-hit in high school. He’s been an extremely effective competitor on the mound. He went 10-0, 0.35 ERA as a high school senior and led the Sooners’ starters in ERA (3.26) as a sophomore after a solid freshman year pitching out of the bullpen. Prater has long impressed with his toughness and competitiveness. He’s a sum of the parts pitcher. All three pitches will flash average, but everything plays up because he creates solid angle (especially against lefties) working from the first base side of the rubber, and he creates some deception with his closed-off delivery. Prater’s fastball sits 90-91, but can touch 93-94. His slider gets a little loopy at times, but it’s tough for lefties to pick up and he’s shown he can back foot it to righties. He also uses a moderately effective changeup. Prater is small (6-foot, 184 pounds) and his slender frame won’t likely allow him to add much more weight. Prater projects as a back-end starter in pro ball who may eventually be better off as a mid-inning reliever, where his fastball may tick up a little bit. | |||||||
| 154 | Sammy Infante | SS | Monsignor Pace HS, Miami | 6-1 | 175 | R-R | Miami |
| A 6-foot-1, 175-pound shortstop committed to Miami, Infante has a nice collection of above-average tools. Over the summer he showed some glimpses of above-average raw power to the pull side, but his contact was inconsistent as well. He started making improvements this spring and was moving up draft boards before the season was shut down, with plenty of crosscheckers in attendance to watch him play. While Infante might not have a carrying plus tool, he’s above average in many areas including his running ability, arm strength and power. He also has a chance to be an above-average defender, so if a team thinks he can develop into an average hitter then there’s a lot to like in a down year for top-of-the-class prep shortstops. If Infante makes it to campus at Miami, he would be an eligible-sophomore for the 2022 draft. | |||||||
| 155 | TK Roby | RHP | Pine Forest HS, Pensacola, Fla. | 6-1 | 180 | R-R | Troy |
| Roby was a prep arm trending up this spring before the 2020 season was shut down. Area scouts and southeast crosscheckers alike were impressed with what they saw out of the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Troy commit and could see him going in the third or fourth round of the draft. Over the summer Roby showed an 89-93 mph fastball that got plenty of whiffs up in the zone, with spin rates in the 2300-2500 rpm range. He also showed some potential with a 76-78 mph curveball. This spring, the reports on his curveball were better, with scouts calling it a potential plus offering. His fastball velocity was in the same range as last summer, getting up to 94 at its peak, and Roby also showed a solid 80-81 mph changeup. With three quality pitches and good strike-throwing ability, Roby has some starter vibes that teams might want to take a chance on before letting him get to Troy, where he could blow up. | |||||||
| 156 | Shay Whitcomb | SS | UC San Diego | 6-3 | 200 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Whitcomb made waves in the Cape Cod League last summer when he hit .303 with eight home runs in 34 games while posting sizzling exit velocities. He continued mashing this spring at UC San Diego to solidify his rising stock before the season shut down. Whitcomb is the rare Division II prospect who scouts are confident will hit. He has a good swing, turns around velocity, consistently finds the barrel and has above-average raw power he gets to in games. Evaluators see him as at least an average hitter and possibly more. Whitcomb is a fringy defender with a below-average arm at shortstop, leading scouts to project him as an offensively-driven second baseman in pro ball. Whitcomb’s bat, solidified by his performance on the Cape, has him in top five rounds consideration. He has a chance to be the first Division II player drafted this year. | |||||||
| 157 | Jack Leftwich | RHP | Florida | 6-4 | 220 | R-R | Tigers ’17 (39) |
| Leftwich is a big, physical righthander with plenty of pure stuff, but he hadn’t yet found the SEC results that scouts had expected of him entering the 2020 season. As a freshman in a split role as a reliever and starter, Leftwich posted a 4.20 ERA with solid strikeout-to-walk numbers, but his ERA blossomed to 5.31 in 2019 as a full-time starter. That mark was 4.15 through four starts in 2020 before SEC play got started, with 23 strikeouts to eight walks in 21.2 innings of work. Leftwich has a power arm with a fastball that gets up to 95-96 mph, but it doesn’t have much life, and because of that hitters have been able to square it up. He’ll pitch backwards at times with a slider that improved over the summer and a solid-average changeup, but some scouts would like to see him add a two-seam fastball to allow him to attack early with velocity. Standing at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Leftwich has a starter’s frame and is a good strike thrower, but his stuff portends more of a back-of-the-rotation arm. Leftwich missed time as a sophomore due to blisters. He also locks out his front knee in his landing, which has created audible clicking sounds that have mystified and concerned some evaluators, though to this point it hasn’t been an issue. | |||||||
| 158 | Taylor Dollard | RHP | Cal Poly | 6-3 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Dollard excelled in Cal Poly’s bullpen his first two seasons and continued his ace relief in the Cape Cod League last summer. He moved into Cal Poly’s rotation this spring and made a smooth transition to starting with a 1.67 ERA in four starts before the season shut down. Dollard intrigues evaluators as an athletic righthander with command of four pitches and a low-mileage arm. His fastball sits 88-92 mph, but it plays up with deception and command and gets more swings and misses than expected. He gets ahead of hitters with his fastball and finishes them with his slider, an above-average to plus pitch that draws swings and misses and projects to be an out pitch at higher levels. He has a usable curveball he can drop in for a strike at any time and a changeup that has a chance to be average with further development. Dollard still has room to fill out his frame and reminds many evaluators of what Shane Bieber looked like in college. Evaluators further suspect Dollard’s pitches have strong analytics traits, with one terming him an “analytics guy’s dream.” | |||||||
| 159 | Alex Toral | 1B | Miami | 6-1 | 229 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Toral entered the 2017 draft cycle with lofty expectations, and he was seen as one of the better hitting prospects in the class before his stock fell after an underwhelming spring season with Archbishop McCarthy High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Toral was a household name after showing big power potential as early as his freshman season, leading some to think he was well on his way to being the next Adrián González. That didn’t come to pass, and Toral made his way to Miami, where he continued to struggle with the bat. He hit just .161/.322/.237 with one home run and 40 strikeouts to 20 walks in 33 games. Scouts and coaches both questioned his ability to discern and make contact against offspeed offerings and use the opposite field. He took steps forward as a sophomore, tapping into his power and hitting 24 home runs, though that came with a strikeout rate north of 30 percent. Last summer Toral played 34 games in the Cape but hit just .200/.313/.305 with two home runs. As a first baseman who’s a well below-average runner and below-average defender, there’s a significant amount of pressure on Toral’s bat. In a brief stint this spring, scouts saw signs of improvement. He showed a more mature approach at the plate and was seeing the ball better, rarely getting fooled on pitches he previously struggled with. He cut down his swing and miss and also showed more power to the opposite field than he had before. Through 16 games, Toral hit .296/.435/.593 with five home runs and more walks (13) than strikeouts (9). It will take a lot of faith for teams to buy into that small sample of improvement given his long history of struggles and swing-and-miss concerns, but Toral does have plus-plus raw power and if he finds a way to regularly tap into it, he could become a dangerous hitter in the middle of a lineup. | |||||||
| 160 | Carson Seymour | RHP | Kansas State | 6-4 | 240 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| If the season had played out through June, it’s possible Seymour would have pitched his way into the second round or even higher—or he could have pitched his way out of serious draft consideration. There aren’t many starting pitchers in the draft that can sit in the mid-90s and touch 97-99 mph, and Seymour’s fastball is lively and gets plenty of swings and misses. Seymour also has a slider and a curveball, with the slider being a true plus swing-and-miss two-plane pitch and the downer high-70s curve also flashing above-average potential. But there is no track record to speak of with Seymour So far, he’s just scratching the surface of what he may become, and there are times the game speeds up on him. He pitched ineffectively and infrequently as a reliever as a freshman at Dartmouth before transferring to Kansas State. After redshirting in 2019, he posted a 5.06 ERA with 15 walks in 26.2 innings in the Cape Cod League last summer. Even this spring, he struggled with consistency, getting knocked out in the fifth inning of games against UT Rio Grande Valley and Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Seymour is a big-bodied pitcher (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) who has gotten into better shape. As a draft-eligible sophomore with first-round potential, Seymour may opt to return to school, but a team willing to take a risk could potentially land a pitcher whose best days are still far ahead of him. | |||||||
| 161 | Mason Hickman | RHP | Vanderbilt | 6-6 | 230 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| It’s possible that Hickman isn’t even the second-most famous pitcher on Vanderbilt’s 2020 staff, with underclassmen righthanders Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter drawing so much attention. But while he’s not as flashy as his 2021 counterparts, Hickman is one of the most reliable starters in the nation and Vanderbilt’s Friday arm in 2020. His reliability goes back to his days as a high school pitcher. Hickman was a consistent performer on the summer showcase circuit back in 2017—when he punched out players like Mark Vientos and Drew Waters at Area Code Games—where he showed extremely advanced command despite middling pure stuff. That’s largely the pitcher Hickman is today. A 6-foot-6, 230-pound righthander, Hickman only touches 91 mph, and he more typically sits in the 88-90 mph range, but his ‘heater’ is an invisiball that frequently stymies hitters. Hickman also throws both a curveball and a slider and has shown the makings of a changeup as well, but all of his secondaries are fringey at best, to go along with well below-average fastball velocity. Despite his stuff, Hickman has a career 3.13 ERA at Vanderbilt over 29 starts and 189.2 innings, with 221 strikeouts (10.5 per nine) to 61 walks (2.9 per nine). Scouts say Hickman could have 60-grade command, which is extremely rare to put on amateur pitchers, but helps explain how he’s had the success he’s had in the SEC. A fun player to watch who grows on you the more you see him carve up lineups, scouts praise Hickman’s competitive nature and demeanor on the mound and believe his advanced feel for pitching will allow him to make the most out of his admittedly limited toolset. | |||||||
| 162 | Tanner Bibee | RHP | Cal State Fullerton | 6-2 | 190 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Bibee struck out more than a batter per inning in the Cape Cod League last summer and began the year as Fullerton’s Friday night starter. He lived up to the assignment with a 2.73 ERA and 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings through four starts before the season shut down. Bibee is the latest in the long line of Fullerton strike throwers with solid but unspectacular stuff. His fastball ranges from 89-93 mph, he gets swings and misses with his above-average slider and his changeup is a usable pitch. Bibee has excellent fastball command and is an aggressive competitor who fills up the strike zone. That worked in college, but he lacks a true out pitch and will need to have pinpoint command of his slider in pro ball. Bibee’s ceiling isn’t overly high, but his track record and ability to throw three pitches for strikes have clubs interested near the fifth round. | |||||||
| 163 | AJ Vukovich | 3B | East Troy (Wis.) | 6-4 | 210 | R-R | Louisville |
| Vukovich had a standout winter playing basketball for his East Troy (Wis.) High team. He topped 2,000 career points and was a finalist for Wisconsin’s Mr. Basketball. His spring did not go nearly as planned. Vukovich’s Iowa travel-team league he played in was shut down almost as soon as it started. Vukovich had gotten a good chance to show what he can do during the previous summer, where he earned a spot on USA Baseball’s 18U National team. Vukovich is a big (6-foot-4, 210 pound) long-levered power hitter who gets to his power despite having almost no load to his swing. Vukovich could use a little more consistency to his swing—he was very up and down last summer. But with some modest mechanical cleanup, he has the potential to generate plus or better power. Vukovich most likely ends up as a corner outfielder or first baseman, but he’ll likely start his time in pro ball or at Louisville as a third baseman until he outgrows the position. His average arm works OK, although his arm stroke can get a little funky. As a big, athletic corner bat with present power, Vukovich has plenty of potential, but this abnormal spring may make it tougher for teams to have a full measure of whether to pay him now or wait a few years. | |||||||
| 164 | Kyle Hurt | RHP | Southern California | 6-3 | 220 | R-R | Phillies ’17 (34) |
| The gap between Hurt’s stuff and performance makes him one of the most divisive prospects in this year’s draft class. Considered a potential first-round pick in high school before a knee injury sidetracked him, Hurt logged a 5.06 ERA in three years at Southern California and even lost his spot in the Trojans’ starting rotation at one point. He began to turn a corner at the end of his sophomore year, however, and appeared to be putting things together as a junior this spring before the season shut down. Hurt has an appealing pitcher’s body at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and has some of the best stuff on the west coast. His fastball reaches 95-96 mph as a starter, his changeup is a consensus plus pitch he locates well and his curveball and slider each flash plus at their best. While he throws hard, Hurt’s fastball is too straight and plays down due to below-average command, often leaving him to rely on his secondaries. He struggles to put together more than a few good innings at a time and scouts have long held concerns about his work ethic and makeup. The quality of Hurt’s stuff has some teams interested as high the third round, but others are turned off by his history of underperformance and have minimal interest. | |||||||
| 165 | Trent Palmer | RHP | Jacksonville | 6-1 | 230 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Palmer’s first year as a full-time starter with Jacksonville got off to a great start as the righthander struck out 41 batters and walked just five over 27.2 innings in his first four starts. He was getting plenty of scouting attention for his early season performance after running his fastball up to 97 mph last summer in the Cape Cod League. On the Cape, Palmer appeared in seven games as a reliever and posted a 1.45 ERA in 18.2 innings with 21 strikeouts and eight walks. Palmer threw much better strikes this spring than he previously did as a reliever with Jacksonville in 2018 and 2019, and scouts think of him firmly as a top 200 prospect because of his improvement. This spring his fastball sat mostly in the 92-95 mph range, touching 96, and he’s mixed in two above-average secondaries in a slider and a changeup. His slider is a firm breaking ball in the 84-87 mph range. At 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, Palmer will need to maintain his body moving forward, but he’s shown a repeatable delivery that should give him every opportunity to start. | |||||||
| 166 | Thomas Farr | RHP | South Carolina | 6-0 | 195 | R-R | Rangers ’19 (37) |
| Farr has shown glimpses of exciting stuff over the last several years, though injuries and the abrupt end to the 2020 season have prevented the 6-foot, 195-pound righthander from developing a robust track record. Farr spent two years at Northwest Florida JC before transferring to South Carolina. He pitched a strong freshman season in 2018, posting a 1.38 ERA over 67.2 innings, but a right shoulder injury derailed his sophomore season after just three starts. Farr made just three starts in 2020—two as a weekend arm for the Gamecocks—before coronavirus ended the season. Farr pitched well in that time, posting a 1.72 ERA over 15.2 innings with 14 strikeouts and five walks. Farr has a solid three-pitch mix with a chance for two above-average pitches in his fastball and curveball. The former has been up to 97 mph but plays more in the 92-94 mph range. He has shown good ability to spin a power breaking ball with swing-and-miss potential. He has also shown a mid-80s changeup that could give him a third average offering. Farr has solid arm strength and arm speed, but teams could have concerns about his medical history, size and lack of much track record. Farr has the pure stuff that suggests a role as a reliever is possible. | |||||||
| 167 | Parker Chavers | OF | Coastal Carolina | 5-11 | 185 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| A Freshman All-American after hitting .316 and helping lead Coastal Carolina to a Sun Belt title in 2018, Chavers likely would have ranked higher if it weren’t for an arm issue that prevented him from playing at all in an already shortened 2020 season. His collection of tools are exciting with plus-plus running ability, above-average arm strength when healthy, above-average defense in center field and at least average power. A career .319/.435/.554 hitter with 22 home runs, 24 doubles and 19 stolen bases, Chavers has a power-speed combination from the left side that teams typically covet. However, there are some scouts who are worried about the amount of swing-and-miss that he’s shown, including a 19 percent rate with Coastal and a 25 percent whiff rate last summer in the Cape Cod League. Chavers needed to come back from his injury and show more progress as a pure hitter this season. If he had the chance to do that and was successful, he likely would have been a factor among the top three rounds for many teams. It’s still possible a team is intrigued enough with his raw tools to take a shot, but his status is murkier thanks to his health. | |||||||
| 168 | Ryan Bruno | LHP | American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. | 6-3 | 185 | L-L | Stanford |
| Bruno’s pure arm talent, handedness and athleticism could have made him a day one consideration, but given the shortened season and his previous control questions that could be a hard sell for teams. Last summer Bruno showed a lively delivery out of a 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame that had plenty of room for more weight, and slung fastballs in the 94-95 mph range at his best. However, the control of that pitch—along with his entire arsenal—was well below average and some evaluators have said that Bruno’s control questions are among the biggest in the prep class, at least among prospects in Top 300 consideration. There’s effort to his delivery, with head-whacking action in his finish and an arm that will fly out of sync frequently. He’s shown three secondaries, including a curveball in the 75-78 mph range, a slider in the low 80s and a changeup in the 81-83 mph range. All those pitches are in nascent stages, as Bruno struggles to get on top and land them consistently, and because of that scouts have had difficulty grading them with any real conviction. His control will need to improve significantly before scouts know what they are really dealing with and they weren’t able to watch him enough this spring to see if he had taken those steps. Because of that, Bruno could make it to campus at Stanford, where he’ll look to refine his game and start tapping into his lofty potential. | |||||||
| 169 | Niko Kavadas | 1B | Notre Dame | 6-1 | 235 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| A big, physical first baseman with impressive bat speed and plus-plus raw power, Kavadas has hit 24 home runs with Notre Dame over his 114-game career at the program. Listed at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, Kavadas is a first base-only profile who has a sneaky good arm but lacks the lateral range and hands for third base, putting more pressure on his bat to perform. While his power is impressive, Kavadas has struggled with strikeouts at times, whiffing at a 22 percent rate during his 2019 sophomore season and pushing that rate close to 30 percent last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .252/.344/.519 with nine home runs and six doubles. Scouts have also raised concerns about Kavadas’ splits against lefthanded pitchers, and while he’ll face significantly more righties than lefties, it’s a valid concern considering his bat-heavy profile. While almost all of Kavadas’ value will come from the bat, Kavadas has legitimate plus in-game power that plays to all fields and his impact lefthanded bat could entice teams in the 4-6 round range. | |||||||
| 170 | Mason Erla | RHP | Michigan State | 6-4 | 217 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Erla will be something of a wild card in the 2020 draft, considering the quality of his 2019 season and the lack of in-person crosschecker looks he was able to get before the 2020 season shut down. In his second full season as a starter for Michigan State in 2019, Erla posted a 5.49 ERA over 14 starts and 82 innings, with just 61 strikeouts and 29 walks. He proved too hittable (102 hits) that season and entered the year as a day three draft candidate. However, coaches thought Erla looked significantly better during the fall, showing a fastball that got up into the mid-90s at its best. He performed at a much higher level through four starts and 26 innings this spring, posting a 1.38 ERA and more than doubling his previous career strikeout rate. Scouts saw a fastball that got up to 96, and some scouts believe it was one of the better swing-and-miss heaters in the country, making it a potential plus pitch. The reports on his secondary stuff aren’t quite as loud, and scouts don’t have a great feel for Erla, as he looks like a completely different pitcher this spring than in 2019. Listed at 6-foot-4, 217 pounds, Erla has a plus body, but as a redshirt junior who missed almost the entire 2017 season with arm surgery, there are some health questions as well. | |||||||
| 171 | Travis Sthele | RHP | Reagan HS, San Antonio | 6-0 | 195 | R-R | Texas |
| Sthele was a two-sport star, playing quarterback and shortstop/pitcher for San Antonio’s Reagan High, the 2019 Texas 6A state baseball runner-up. After a very busy summer, Sthele sat out the first two football games of the season to rest his arm, then returned to lead the team to the state playoffs. He was expected to help lead the baseball team back to the state playoffs as well (they had made the state finals in 2018 and 2019) before the coronavirus shutdown ruined those plans. Sthele is a Texas signee for baseball. The shutdown hampered his chances to show that he can get to the upper registers of his velocity range more often—he’s touched 95-96 mph at his best, including at the Area Code Games last summer, but he generally sits 90-93 with an above-average spin rate and late life. He shows good feel for setting up hitters and his short arm action makes for a repeatable delivery. His future above-average slider is short and can generate swings and misses. His nascent changeup sits in the mid-80s. He throws it with good arm speed, but the pitch doesn’t have much movement and is a little firm. Sthele could step into Texas’ rotation quickly if he makes it to college, which is more likely because of the shortened draft. | |||||||
| 172 | Elijah Cabell | OF | Florida State | 6-2 | 200 | R-R | Brewers ’18 (14) |
| Cabell was one of the toolsier prep players in the 2018 draft out of high school, with exciting power, speed and arm strength. He also struggled to make contact at times, leaving scouts to wonder how much impact he’d ever get to at higher levels. Since joining Florida State, he’s largely been the player teams expected, though he has started to fill out his frame and get more physical, adding even more power than he showed out of TNXL Academy in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Now listed at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Cabell shows massive raw power, with the ability to backspin a ball out of any part of the stadium. After hitting seven home runs as a freshman, with a .220/.404/.415 line in 58 games, Cabell started making a jump forward in his sophomore-eligible 2020 season. He hit as many home runs in just 17 games and was looking at a .263/.488/.649 line. While the power output is impressive, the strikeouts are concerning. After whiffing at a 40 percent rate as a freshman, Cabell’s strikeout rate during the abbreviated 2020 season was still sitting at 39 percent. He seems to have issues recognizing and laying off of spin, both in the zone and outside of it, and that will be a significant question mark for teams when considering his hit tool questions going back to his prep days. As a defender, Cabell has the arm strength and power to profile nicely in either corner outfield spot. He’s not the most fluid defender and he has shown lapses with his glove work at times, but moves well for his size and has plus arm strength that could be a weapon. Out of high school he had one of the strongest and most accurate arms in the class, and his throws still have considerable carry and power today. | |||||||
| 173 | Hugh Fisher | LHP | Vanderbilt | 6-5 | 185 | R-L | Never Drafted |
| Fisher was a loose, projectable lefthander out of high school with a wiry body, but a frame and explosiveness that suggested he would throw much harder than the 88-92 mph fastball velocity he had at the time. Turns out, they were right. In a few years with Vanderbilt, Fisher has added some strength to a 6-foot-5, 185-pound frame and now throws a fastball that got into the upper 90s when healthy. However, he would have missed the entire 2020 season regardless of the coronavirus after undergoing Tommy John surgery and his health status could make him more difficult for teams to evaluate, particularly in a shorter draft. Most scouts believed Fisher was a straight relief arm at the next level thanks to below-average control and difficulty repeating his delivery. His secondary offerings have shown promise at times, but they are more of a work-in-progress at the moment, though a tough, low angle from the left side and a fastball that might get up to 100 one day isn’t a common attribute to find. In 30 games and 44 innings with Vanderbilt, Fisher has a 3.89 ERA with 54 strikeouts (11.0 per nine) and 27 walks (5.5 per nine). | |||||||
| 174 | Kale Emshoff | C | Arkansas-Little Rock | 6-2 | 228 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Emshoff was on a massive roll when Arkansas-Little Rock’s season came to an end. He already had a two-home run game on the books and he had homered in five of his past seven games. He was hitting .417/.527/.800, ranking 11th in the country in slugging percentage. Emshoff’s power is legitimate—he has plus-plus raw power and he impressed scouts in the fall by homering off of Missouri’s Ian Bedell (as part of a 4-for-5 day). His power comes more from strength and leverage than exceptional bat speed, but it should play in pro ball. Emshoff missed the 2019 season because of Tommy John surgery. His arm hasn’t fully come back yet, but he is a solid-average receiver. Emshoff’s 2020 production far exceeded what he had done in his first two seasons with the Trojans, but his power and defense give him a solid chance to be at least a productive pro backup. | |||||||
| 175 | Alerick Soularie | OF | Tennessee | 5-11 | 185 | R-R | Cardinals ’18 (29) |
| Soularie was one of the best hitters on Tennessee’s team as a sophomore. He led full-time starters in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage (.357/.466/.602). He wasn’t as sharp in the Cape Cod League (.207/.303/.345) and his brief junior year was an up-and-down affair. He led the Volunteers with five home runs, but he also was dead last among the team’s regulars with a .267 batting average. He also walked 12 times compared to eight strikeouts. Soularie is more of a well-rounded prospect than one with particularly loud tools. He’s an average hitter with average power. He can catch up to almost any fastball, but he sometimes can get caught guessing. Soularie has tried second base and center field, but he’s likely an average left fielder in pro ball. | |||||||
| 176 | Max Rajcic | RHP | Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS | 6-0 | 200 | R-R | UCLA |
| Rajcic rose to prominence as the ace of prep power Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High and got the most swings and misses of any pitcher at the 2019 National High School Invitational. He opened his highly anticipated senior season with 22.2 scoreless innings, six hits allowed, 32 strikeouts and one walk before the season shut down. Rajcic has advanced pitching ability and good feel to locate his entire arsenal for strikes. His fastball ranges from 89-93 mph, sitting 90-91, and he flashes both a slider with depth and a developing changeup. None of Rajcic’s pitches projects better than solid-average individually, but they all play up with his advanced pitchability and command. He’s an intense competitor who thrives in the spotlight and doesn’t back down from a challenge. Rajcic is physically filled out at 6-foot, 200 pounds and doesn’t offer much projection, so scouts have questions about his upside. He is committed to UCLA and will be expensive to sign. | |||||||
| 177 | Tyler Gentry | OF | Alabama | 6-2 | 205 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-2, 210-pound outfielder, Gendry has shown intriguing power potential throughout his collegiate career, and has solid-average or better supplemental tools to go along with that juice. After spending his freshman season at Walters State (Tenn.) JC, where he led the team with 18 home runs, Gentry transferred to Alabama, where he led Crimson Tide starters in average (.310), hits (65), home runs (13) RBI (42) slugging (.552) and total bases (116). Scouts believe Gentry has 60- or 65-grade raw power, enough to profile as an everyday outfielder in a corner, but scouts have some hesitation about his hit tool thanks to high strikeout rates. He whiffed 51 times in 210 at-bats as a sophomore and also struggled with strikeouts last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he whiffed 26 percent of the time in 44 games. Defensively, Gentry is a solid-average runner and an instinctual defender, with above-average arm strength that is also consistently accurate. He throws well enough to profile as a right fielder, but his ultimate role will be determined by the progress of his hit tool and strikeout rate. | |||||||
| 178 | Jackson Phipps | LHP | East Paulding HS, Dallas, Ga. | 6-5 | 205 | L-L | South Carolina |
| Phipps is a projection high school arm in the truest sense of the definition, with a 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame that has plenty of room to add more weight, solid stuff presently and the chance to take a significant step forward in the future with more refinement. Over the summer Phipps showed a fastball that ranged from 86-93 mph, with a promising slider in the 77-80 mph range that showed plenty of depth and movement. With the length in his frame and delivery, on top of a crossfiring action and low, three-quarter slot, Phipps’ stuff should play up if he’s able to consistently put it where he wants. He’s been erratic at times for scouts, both in terms of his velocity and with the quality of his strikes. He has early hand separation and some noticeable head whack in his finish, but has the athleticism to figure out the moving parts with continued reps. While scouts have seen flashes of everything put together with Phipps, he remains a project and in a shorter draft it could be easier for teams to let him get to campus at South Carolina, where it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make an immediate impact and make a big jump with his strike throwing and stuff. | |||||||
| 179 | Mitchell Parker | LHP | San Jacinto (Texas) JC | 6-4 | 195 | L-L | Kentucky |
| As a team, San Jacinto (Texas) JC averaged 13 strikeouts per nine innings, so high strikeout numbers are commonplace for the Gators. But even on a team that collected strikeouts in bunches, Parker stood out. He had 64 strikeouts and 18 walks in 30.1 innings, good for 19 strikeouts per nine innings, to lead all of NJCAA D-I in strikeouts. Parker has a strong lower half and has always had some funkiness to his delivery that makes it hard for hitters to get comfortable swings. Parker sits 89-93 mph with some armside run to his above-average fastball. His fastball has an above-average spin rate—he primarily throws a two-seamer. His big-breaking, slow mid-70s downer curveball plays well with his fastball. He struggles to locate it at times, but when it’s on, it’s a plus pitch. He’s messed with a slider, but it hasn’t really developed. His split functions as his changeup and shows above-average potential with some late fade. Parker is a Kentucky signee. | |||||||
| 180 | Owen Caissie | OF | Notre Dame Catholic SS, Brampton, Ont. | 6-4 | 190 | L-R | Michigan |
| Like Caissie’s Canadian counterpart, David Calabrese, Caissie is young for the 2020 draft class and doesn’t turn 18 until July. Originally a member of the 2021 class, Caissie offers exciting upside with a 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame and power potential from the left side. Caissie’s power potential is his biggest attribute. He was one of the leaders in exit velocity at Prep Baseball Report’s Super 60 Showcase and has plus raw power and homered against pro pitching with Canada’s Junior National Team before the 2020 season was shut down. Caissie has a handsy swing, but he’s also shown some significant swing-and-miss concerns, albeit against better pitching than almost any 17-year-old will have to face. He’s athletic with plenty of room to fill out, and while he’s managed plus 60-yard dash times, most scouts think he’s more average underway and has a corner outfield profile. Caissie is committed to Michigan. | |||||||
| 181 | Steven Williams | OF | Auburn | 6-3 | 216 | L-R | Yankees ’17 (35) |
| Williams enamored scouts with his lefthanded bat and power potential out of high school. At the time he was a catching prospect with questions about whether he could stick behind the plate, and has since transitioned to a full-time outfield role with Auburn. He had a freshman All-American season in 2018, leading the team with a .409 on-base percentage and tying for second with 12 home runs. He continued his loud start to his college career by heading to the Cape Cod League after his freshman season, where he hit .303/.477/.394 and made the league’s all-star team. Teams will have a difficult time squaring the 2018 version of Williams with the 2019 version who hit just .247/.355/.413 with a higher strikeout rate. He didn’t get to prove the quality of his bat in a shortened 2020 season and was also hampered at times by a hamstring injury. As a below-average runner, Williams will be limited to a corner outfield spot at the next level, but he has above-average arm strength that could fit in either left or right. While he won’t be a great defender, most scouts think he will do enough to be serviceable. But scouts have also lamented the inconsistency that Williams has shown, both from season to season and game to game. The 6-foot-3, 216-pound outfielder has plenty of power, but he has tinkered with his swing consistently and evaluators believe that has led to some of the inconsistencies he’s shown. He gets the bat through the zone well and has above-average power, but will need to figure out a consistent, reliable approach to avoid slumps at the next level. | |||||||
| 182 | Alec Burleson | 1B/LHP | East Carolina | 6-2 | 212 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| One of the better two-way players in college baseball, Burleson has been a reliable hitter and pitcher for East Carolina and also served in both roles for Team USA’s Collegiate National Team last summer. With the national team, Burleson hit .267/.353/.467 in eight games and also posted a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings coming out of the bullpen. While he has pitched and hit at the amateur level, almost all pro teams prefer him as a hitter. On the mound he throws with well below-average fastball velocity and doesn’t have any one pitch that grades out as an above-average offering. As a hitter, many teams are intrigued with Burleson’s natural feel to hit. A career .341/.387/.496 hitter with the Pirates, Burleson’s above-average hit tool is his best attribute. While he is listed at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, Burleson doesn’t have the typical power that a corner outfielder or first baseman needs to profile. He’s a hit-over-power bat, who’s shown an ability to get his knocks at whatever level he’s played at. He’s shown solid raw power in batting practice, but that has translated more to doubles in games, with a career-high nine home runs during his sophomore season. Defensively, Burleson can handle a corner outfield spot, but he’s a below-average runner who will be just serviceable at best there and is a better fit for first base, where coaches have praised his footwork and hands. While Burleson is a bit of a one-dimensional position player, he picked the right tool to excel at and many teams should be interested in his bat in the top five rounds. | |||||||
| 183 | Jack Bulger | C | DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, Md. | 6-0 | 205 | R-R | Vanderbilt |
| A three-year starter at Dematha (Md.) High, Bulger hit .385/.520/.649 with 14 home runs in his high school career, but some scouts are split concerning his potential as a prospect. Bulger is a strong and physical 6-foot, 205-pound backstop with huge forearms and has a chance to hit and catch, but he needs some refining behind the dish to help make that happen. At times, Bulger rushes his transfer and gets stabby when receiving pitches and some scouts question whether he will be able to catch at the next level. Other scouts see the bat speed, easy pull power and the ability to hit and go opposite field, along with a great arm behind the plate. Bulger can hit well enough and has the arm strength to stay behind the plate, but he must improve defensively and become a better receiver, as well as becoming more accurate on his throws. There’s no question that Bulger has great makeup, but he will need to stay behind the plate at Vanderbilt to maximize his stock. | |||||||
| 184 | Darren Baker | 2B | California | 6-0 | 175 | L-R | Nationals ’17 (27) |
| Darren has a long way to go before he’s as recognizable in the baseball world as his father, Dusty, but he is an impressive prospect in his own right. One of the more instinctual and polished players on the West Coast, Baker is a steady hitter and has improved his defensive ability at second base tremendously. While the 6-foot, 175-pound second baseman has below-average present power he has a mature, professional approach at the plate that is to be expected from someone who’s been around the game his entire life. More of a slash-and-dash lefthanded bat, Baker’s extra-base hits are singles that he turns into doubles after hitting line drives into the gaps and using his plus speed to take an extra bag. Scouts believe he’s a better runner underway than out of the box, but it plays as at least above-average at worst on the offensive and defensive sides of the game. Defensively, Baker can do everything necessary to be a valuable defender at second base, with reliable hands, solid range and body control and a solid, accurate throwing arm. Baker is a career .290/.342/.331 hitter with California and made the all-star team in the Cape Cod League last summer after hitting .342/.384/.376, a line that was heavily influenced by a.465 BAPIP. If Baker winds up adding more physicality and power to his game in the future, he could be a steal, but at the moment most teams see him as the sort of steady, reliable player who gets scooped up in the 4-6 round range more than an impact type. | |||||||
| 185 | Brannon Jordan | RHP | South Carolina | 6-2 | 187 | R-R | Rays ’19 (31) |
| Jordan ranked at the back of the 2019 BA 500 after showing good strike-throwing ability with a solid, three-pitch mix out of Cowley County (Kan.) JC. The Rays liked his upside enough to take him in the 31st round, but Jordan opted to not sign and instead make his way to South Carolina, where he joined a talented pitching staff and further elevated his draft stock. Jordan had a strong summer in the Northwoods League, where he posted a 1.74 ERA in 20.2 innings while striking out 28 batters and walking seven. He added a cutter to his arsenal during the fall. After relieving over the summer, Jordan moved into a starting role for the Gamecocks this spring, handling Sunday duties and posting a 1.71 ERA over 21 innings, with 32 strikeouts and nine walks. He continued to show impressive control, now with a four-pitch mix. His fastball is average, sitting in the 90-94 mph range and Jordan also throws an above-average slider that can blend into his cutter. Both pitches have above-average potential, though scouts believe his changeup is further behind than his other pitches. Jordan could have raised his stock even more if he had a chance to perform against SEC competition. His toughest opponent was a week three matchup against Clemson when he had his worst outing—five innings, five walks, four strikeouts—but still only allowed one earned run. There are profile questions with Jordan, as some evaluators think he is better suited to a reliever role where his pure stuff could tick up, while others think his history of control should allow him a chance to start. Jordan has an average delivery and a 6-foot-2, 187-pound frame. | |||||||
| 186 | Elijah Dunham | OF | Indiana | 6-0 | 213 | L-L | Pirates ’19 (40) |
| The Pirates selected Dunham in the 40th round of the 2019 draft during his draft-eligible sophomore season, but Dunham elected to go back to Indiana, where it looked like he was going to simply continue mashing. Through 15 games in the 2020 season, Dunham was off to a torrid pace, hitting .390/.493/.559 with 11 walks and eight strikeouts. His seven doubles led the Hoosiers, as did his on-base percentage. A strong and physical corner outfielder listed at 6-foot, 213 pounds, Dunham has shown a strong knack for hitting in his collegiate career, with an innate ability to find the barrel with a short, compact swing. While there is some stiffness in Dunham’s operation that might need to be loosened up at the next level, there aren’t a ton of holes to speak of. He hits for average and power and has also shown solid ability to work the count and manage the strike zone, with 53 career walks to 69 strikeouts. Dunham does have some wood bat performance in the New England Collegiate League. Last summer with Ocean State, Dunham hit .360/.408/.574 with six home runs in 34 games, though scouts don’t put the same weight on that performance as they do the Cape Cod League. If he continued hitting like he started the 2020 season, he might have risen even higher on draft boards. Dunham isn’t the toolsiest player and is close to maxed out physically, but teams can have some confidence in his balanced offensive profile in a corner outfield spot. | |||||||
| 187 | Jacob Teter | 1B | Florida Southern | 6-6 | 225 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| One of the top Division II players in the 2020 draft class, Teter entered the Cape Cod League last summer as a relatively unknown prospect on the national landscape. That certainly wasn’t the case after he left, as Teter held his own by hitting .292 with a pair of home runs and five doubles in 42 games. Scouts were intrigued with the massive raw power that came out of his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame. Over the summer, his swing wasn’t leveraged just right for over-the-fence power, and coaches said he got on top of the ball and hit too many line drives. Throughout his career at Florida Southern, Teter has shown an ability to hit the long ball, with 12 home runs during the 2018 season, seven in 2019 and seven more through just 22 games in 2020. Before the 2020 season came to an end, Teter was hitting .329/.485/.618 with 23 walks and just 13 strikeouts. Over his three-year career, Teter has more walks (82) than strikeouts (80). With definite plus power and Cape performance, teams are excited about the impact ability of Teter’s bat. Where he goes will depend on the defensive evaluation teams have on him. The feedback seems split, as Teter got glowing reviews from coaches in the Cape Cod League for his work around the first base bag, while other scouts saw him as a below-average defender. Those who like him cite impressive arm strength, a good first step, reliable hands around the bag on balls in the dirt and good athleticism and footwork. With a 6-foot-6 frame, Teter also has the ideal target for a major league first baseman and the power to go along with it. His power potential should see him drafted somewhere in the 4-6 round range and he had plenty of crosscheckers in to see him early this spring. | |||||||
| 188 | Ethan Smith | RHP | Vanderbilt | 6-1 | 200 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| One of the more polished prep pitchers in Tennessee in 2018, Smith made an impact at Vanderbilt as a freshman, pitching effectively out of the Commodores bullpen. In 2019, he led the team with a .150 opponent batting average. This year he moved into a weekday starter role and was just as effective. He went 3-0, 1.42 in 19 innings with 23 strikeouts. Smith’s stuff isn’t all that much more advanced than it was in high school. But it’s effective enough—he sits 90-94 mph as a starter with an average three-pitch mix that includes a slider and changeup. His slider will flash sporadically better than average. His command and control are fringe-average and will need to continue to get better. Smith has shown he can touch 97 mph in shorter relief outings. As a relatively advanced pitcher who understands how to pitch, Smith could hear his name called in the fourth or fifth round. But as a draft-eligible sophomore he also could opt to head back to Vanderbilt for another year. | |||||||
| 189 | Shane Drohan | LHP | Florida State | 6-3 | 195 | R-L | Phillies ’17 (23) |
| Drohan ranked as the No. 106 draft prospect out of high school in the 2017 draft class, when he showed advanced secondaries, and a fastball that showed future average potential. After pitching just 4.1 innings as a freshman with Florida State, Drohan settled into a starting role during his sophomore season, posting a 3.66 ERA in 51.2 innings with a good strikeout rate (12.4 per nine) but poor control (8.4 walks per nine). Listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Drohan has a skinny frame and a loose, easy arm action with a three-quarter slot and quick tempo. His fastball sits in the 90-93 mph range with some natural sinking life, and he pairs it with an 80-84 mph changeup that mimics the same motion. Drohan also throws a 77-80 mph curveball with 1-to-7 shape that is effective against lefthanders when located down and away. While Drohan improved his control from 2019 through his first four games in 2020, he still walked more than five batters per nine and the inconsistency of his strikes led many scouts to think he’s better suited for a reliever role at the next level. His stuff doesn’t have the explosion or plus potential that back-end relievers all have in the big league game, limiting his upside in that role if starting doesn’t work out. He still has a solid three-pitch mix with some athleticism and projection remaining, giving him a chance to take another step forward in pro ball. | |||||||
| 190 | Blake Dunn | OF | Western Michigan | 6-0 | 205 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Dunn’s package of tools is among the best in the Upper Midwest area of the country. A plus-plus runner with huge arm strength and raw power, it’s easy to fall in love with the many ways that Dunn can impact the game. A multi-sport athlete coming out of high school, Dunn has electric athleticism, and that combined with his running ability makes him a no-doubt center fielder at the next level where he can track down baseballs deep in the gaps and also throw runners out with his potential 70-grade arm. On top of his defensive ability, Dunn is a dynamic baserunner, with 47 stolen bases over his three-year career with Western Michigan in 59 attempts—good for a 79.7 percent success rate. His 30 stolen bases in 2019 were good for the second-best single season mark in program history. While Dunn’s physical tools are obvious, his hitting ability is what prevents him from being ranked higher. He could have used a strong 2020 season to answer questions about the quality of his bat, as Dunn hit just .229/.338/.298 with a 25 percent strikeout rate in the Cape Cod League last summer. His numbers with Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference are significantly better—he’s a career .335/.420/.457 hitter with the Broncos—but scouts are worried he might be a below-average hitter. If he has even a fringe-average hit tool, Dunn could offer a team plenty of value with his defense, running ability and power potential, but without a full 2020 season to gauge the quality of his bat, Dunn’s draft status is a bit less clear. His upside remains exciting. | |||||||
| 191 | Carson Ragsdale | RHP | South Florida | 6-8 | 225 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| One of the tallest pitchers in the 2020 draft class, Ragsdale is a 6-foot-8, 225-pound redshirt junior with limited track record at South Florida. After totaling 31.1 innings as a reliever during his freshman and sophomore seasons, Ragsdale missed the 2019 season with Tommy John surgery, before exciting teams with his combination of stuff, strikes and size early in 2020. While Ragsdale started just four games, he was an up-arrow guy after posting a 2.84 ERA in 19 innings, with 37 strikeouts (17.5 per nine) to just seven walks (3.3 per nine). His strike-throwing ability early this season was significantly better than he’s previously shown in his career, and Ragsdale has better body control and coordination than most players of his size. There’s some length in Ragsdale’s arm action, but he repeats a three-quarter arm stroke reasonably well and has good extension down the mound. Ragsdale throws a fastball that sits in the 90-93 mph range, but he’s run the pitch up to 96 and pairs it with a solid-average curveball and a below-average changeup. He’s more of a control-over-command pitcher, and because of that and a below-average third pitch, some scouts think he’s a better reliever profile. However, there are teams who think he has a chance to start, and because of that he could go off the board in the 4-6 round range. | |||||||
| 192 | Zach Britton | OF | Louisville | 6-1 | 200 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-1, 200-pound outfielder who was one of just three Louisville players to start all 17 games during the 2020 season, Britton has a fairly loud lefthanded bat. A career .280/.395/.455 hitter in 110 games with the Cardinals, Britton has a pretty lefthanded swing with good bat speed and some impressive exit velocity numbers. His hitting ability is the best tool in his box, and before play shut down for the 2020 season, Britton led all Division I hitters with 11 doubles. His power has been more doubles than over-the-fence in his time in the ACC, though he did hit five home runs in 28 games with a wood bat last summer in the Cape Cod League. It’s possible with a few swing adjustments Britton could be geared for more home run juice. Defensively, Britton fits best in left field, where he’s a fringy runner with an arm that ranges from a 45- to 50-grade tool. He’s caught in the past but has been behind catchers at Louisville and during his time in the Cape and scouts don’t think he’s a good receiver behind the plate. Britton’s value comes from his bat, and his power potential from the left side puts him somewhere in the 5-7 round range. | |||||||
| 193 | Jackson Fristoe | RHP | Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman HS | 6-4 | 180 | R-R | Mississippi State |
| There’s a pretty good chance that Fristoe will make it to Mississippi State, as he’s the type of projectable prep pitcher who often benefits from a chance to develop over a few years at a Southeastern Conference school. But even in a shortened draft, Fristoe’s present velocity and projection could lead a team to take a risk on buying him out of school. Fristoe has an excellent (6-foot-4, 180-pound) frame. He already sits in the low 90s and can get to 94-95 mph regularly on his fastball. He throws four pitches, but his mid-80s slider is a significant step ahead of his slow curve and unpolished changeup. Fristoe’s command is shaky at times right now and he could use his lower half better in his delivery, but he has potential to be a solid starter if he can keep improving. | |||||||
| 194 | Ryan Hagenow | RHP | Farragut HS, Knoxville, Tenn. | 6-5 | 208 | R-R | Kentucky |
| A projection righthander with a physical 6-foot-5, 208-pound frame, Hagenow has a lot of ingredients for scouts to like. He showed good progress from the summer into the fall with his fastball velocity, throwing an 87-90 mph heater at East Coast Pro before touching 93 later in the year at Jupiter. The pitch has some arm-side running action and he has a good feel to land it and his secondaries for strikes. The Kentucky commit also throws a slider and a changeup, both of which are more average offerings now but have shown flashes of above-average potential at times. His slider is in the 81-83 mph range with 10-to-4 movement and solid depth when he hits on it, while his changeup is in a similar velocity band with sinking action and good arm speed. He lacks any real plus tool to carry him at the moment, but he checks a lot of boxes as a long-term projection arm and could add strength and begin throwing harder in the not-too-distant future. Hagenow fits somewhere in the 3-6 round range for most teams if signable. | |||||||
| 195 | Kyle Russell | SS | Curtis HS, University Place, Wash. | 6-1 | 180 | R-R | Washington State |
| Northwest area scouts were looking forward to seeing Russell this spring, after a hamate injury limited his at-bats last summer. Without a high school season to scout, it will be much more difficult for teams to properly evaluate Russell’s offensive ability, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make it to campus at Washington State because of that. A slick-fielding shortstop, Russell showed impressive defensive tools at last summer’s Area Code Games. He has smooth actions in the infield and does a nice job cutting down ground on the ball and creating good throwing angles on his approach. He showed reliable hands going to his forehand and backhand side and seemed to have an advanced internal clock and above-average body control. His arm was solid and accurate as well, giving him all the tools necessary to continue handling a premium infield position at the next level. Russell showed solid bat speed and a fine swing in batting practice, but his in-game looks are more limited, making him one of a handful of wild cards in the prep Northwest demographic in this year’s class. | |||||||
| 196 | Sterlin Thompson | SS | North Marion HS, Citra, Fla. | 6-3 | 185 | L-R | Florida |
| Thompson didn’t attend many of the high-profile summer showcase events, but he hit enough during the fall and early in the spring that scouts took note and they are intrigued with his hit tool potential. A 6-foot-3, 185-pound Florida commit, Thompson plays shortstop now, but scouts think a corner outfield spot will be a better fit for him in the future thanks to below-average running ability. While he’s got below-average power now, scouts believe Thompson will grow into more strength as he fills out his frame and get to above-average raw power in the future, to go along with a potentially average bat. Without a true defensive home, a team would have to be convinced Thompson’s lefthanded bat was legit to take him in the 4-6 round range, but it sounds like most teams are bought into it. If Thompson isn’t inclined to sign in that range, he is committed to Florida where he could go and tap into more power and potentially play his way into a day one prospect in 2022, when he’ll be a draft-eligible sophomore. | |||||||
| 197 | Jordan Nwogu | OF | Michigan | 6-3 | 235 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A straight-A student in high school, Nwogu had Division I offers as a defensive end/linebacker, but he opted to go to Michigan on an academic scholarship to study computer engineering and play baseball. Nwogu earned a starting role midway through his freshman season and has been Michigan’s leadoff hitter for the past two years. Nwogu still looks like a football player (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and he has plus-plus raw power and plus speed. Scouts are not all that excited about his funky swing—he gets good weight transfer and has plenty of bat speed, but it’s a very top-hand heavy swing. So far, funky or not, it has been extremely effective. He is a career .334/.430/.545 hitter for the Wolverines and his ability to control the strike zone has improved dramatically over his collegiate career. Nwogu’s defense was rough as a freshman, but he has steadily improved. He likely ends up in left field thanks to his below-average arm. That’s where he’s mainly played for Michigan, but the Wolverines started to play him in center field this year. | |||||||
| 198 | Nick Griffin | LHP | Monticello (Ark.) HS | 6-4 | 175 | L-L | Arkansas |
| Griffin is an athletic, loose-armed lefty who is one of the younger pitchers in the draft class. A skinny (6-foot-4, 175-pound) athlete, his best work is likely still ahead of him. If he gets to Arkansas, he could be an even higher draft pick in three years, but a team focused on his ceiling could try to nab him in the fourth or fifth round. Griffin sits 89-93 mph right now with the potential to add a little more velocity. His low-80s slider can be a swing-and-miss pitch. He also throws a curve and a changeup, but both of them need further refinement. Griffin’s delivery could use a little refining, which will likely happen as he adds strength. His control and command are currently below average. | |||||||
| 199 | Tommy Troy | SS | Los Gatos (Calif.) HS | 5-10 | 185 | R-R | Stanford |
| A 5-foot-10, 185-pound shortstop committed to Stanford, Troy is the type of player who grows on you the more you watch him. While he doesn’t have many above-average tools that show well in a showcase or workout environment, he has impressive baseball instincts, a mature approach at the plate and a chance to be an above-average hitter. He doesn’t have gaudy raw power, but Troy is stronger than he looks on first glance and might grow into fringe-average or average power in the future. He controls the zone well and had a chance to climb boards with more games this spring. Defensively, Troy is an in-between infielder who might not fit long term at shortstop but has the instincts and hands to move around all the infield positions and play wherever necessary in a utility role. He’s posted above-average run times in the 60-yard dash. Some scouts like Troy’s polished bat enough to sign him in the fourth or fifth round, but it’s unlikely he’s signable in that range considering the history of Stanford high school commits. He’s a candidate to raise his stock in three years after performing in the Pac-12. | |||||||
| 200 | Will Sanders | RHP | Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga. | 6-6 | 195 | L-R | South Carolina |
| A projection righthander with a lanky, 6-foot-6, 195-pound frame, Sanders is a pitcher who most scouts see a lot of upside with in the future but are still waiting on him to tap into it. His stuff is mostly fringe-average at best now, but scouts love the indicators he’s shown with his athleticism and a body that should add plenty of strength and muscle in a few years. His fastball sat in the 87-90 mph range for the most part last summer, and he’s run the pitch up to 92 mph at his best. He’s also shown some feel to spin a slurvy breaking ball in the 77-79 mph range that has potential to become an above-average secondary. Sanders has also shown some promise with a 78-80 mph changeup that might wind up being his best pitch, a swing-and-miss secondary he’s shown exceptional feel for at his age. While most scouts and teams are excited to see what Sanders will be in a few years, most also would prefer to let him reach campus at South Carolina, unless he was signable somewhere in the middle of day two. If he was to sign, Sanders would be a slow-mover through a minor league system as he adds the necessary physicality to his frame. | |||||||
| 201 | Trevor Hauver | OF | Arizona State | 6-0 | 205 | L-R | Royals ’17 (37) |
| A high school shortstop, Hauver has primarily played outfield during his three-year collegiate career because of the plethora of infielders on the Arizona State roster. He’s been a bat-first player, hitting in the middle of the Sun Devil lineup and posting an OPS of over 1.000 in each of the last two seasons. The biggest step forward for Hauver, who already had a good approach at the plate and good barrel control, was his improved pitch selection, walking more than he struck out during the abbreviated 2020 college season while still hitting for both average and power. He projects to have average or better power, but that pop comes with some swing-and-miss. Hauver will need to hit at the next level because he’s just an average defender or a tick below, with not enough range for center field or enough arm for right field. Some observers believe Hauver could be an average defender at third base, which could boost his draft stock if a team believes he has a shot at the position. He projects to go off the board somewhere in the second half of the top ten rounds. | |||||||
| 202 | Tanner Murray | SS | UC Davis | 6-2 | 170 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Murray has a strong three-year track record of hitting at UC Davis in the Big West Conference and has a chance to stick at shortstop. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound shortstop hit over .300 in each season with the Aggies and posted a career .343/.394/.469 line in 115 games. He’s a hit-over-power bat at the moment, but scouts think he could grow into more power in a few years with some projection and room for more weight on his frame. While Murray has performed with UC Davis, he struggled last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he hit just .211/.272/.307 in 35 games, with 27 strikeouts to nine walks. Defensively Murray has a chance to stick at shortstop with solid hands, but some scouts think he’ll outgrow the position and be a better candidate to move around the infield. He’s a fringy runner without a ton of present pop, so Murray’s value comes from his hit tool, defensive versatility and collegiate track record. | |||||||
| 203 | Matt Mikulski | LHP | Fordham | 6-2 | 185 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Mikulski worked almost exclusively out of Fordham’s bullpen as a freshman before moving to the rotation as a sophomore and posting a 6-6, 4.06 mark in 82 innings. A very strong Cape Cod League showing (1-1, 1.86) was followed by an equally impressive start to the 2020 season—he posted a 2-1, 1.29 record in four starts before play was stopped. Mikulski is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefthander with a funky delivery and a significant head whack that works into his operation, but it’s hard to argue the results thus far. He relies on a fastball that ranges from 91-93 mph, along with a curveball with some spin on it and a changeup that projects at best as average. His fastball grades out as a 55-pitch and the curveball can be anywhere from a 50-60 depending on his command that day. Mikulski is a pitcher who relies on control over command, and there is some question of whether he can stick as a starter due to trouble throwing strikes at times (he posted a 4.0 walk rate in three seasons at Fordham). Mikulski’s ability to breeze through the order the first time around before struggling the second time through reinforces the notion that he may be best used out of the bullpen, where his fastball and curveball should play up. Scouts are impressed by Mikulski’s makeup and athleticism and he could be a pitcher that moves quickly through the minor leagues once he carves out a role. | |||||||
| 204 | Will Klein | RHP | Eastern Illinois | 6-5 | 225 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Eastern Illinois has not had a player taken in the top 10 rounds of the draft since Tyler Kehrer was picked in the supplemental first round in 2008. Klein could break that drought as a power arm with a 94-99 mph fastball and a potentially above-average curveball. Klein moved into Eastern Illinois’ rotation this year after two years in the bullpen and was impressive in an Opening Day start against Arkansas. But overall he’s been more effective in shorter relief stints and likely fits better in pro ball back in the pen. He was dominating at times last summer in the Northwoods League as he was 2-2, 0.86 with only eight hits allowed in 21 innings. Klein’s control is fringy at best, hurt in part by a hook in the back of his delivery and he sometimes has to slow down his delivery to land his curve, tipping hitters. His delivery is relatively simple and shows some reminders of the fact that he was primarily a catcher until late in his high school career. | |||||||
| 205 | Braden Olthoff | RHP | Tulane | 6-4 | 208 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Like many kids, Olthoff dreamed of being a Division I baseball player, but heading into his senior year in high school, he realized his bat wasn’t going to be enough to take him there. He started pitching as a senior and quickly found success thanks to solid command and control, even if he generally sat around 85 mph. Palomar (Calif.) JC liked his feel for pitching and projectable frame. Olthoff was effective in two seasons at Palomar and earned the Friday starter job for Tulane during fall ball. He dominated in his four 2020 starts, going 4-0, 0.32 with a 47-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 47 strikeouts were third best in Division I baseball and his 0.54 WHIP was sixth-best. Olthoff threw the first six innings of a no-hitter against Middle Tennessee. Olthoff throws four pitches that are all average or better, but it’s his plus command and control that is most notable. Olthoff has not allowed a home run in 135 college innings. His above-average changeup, a pitch he didn’t really trust until 2019, has emerged as his best weapon. He sits 90-92 mph but can brush 93-94. He also picked up a slider last year, which has become an average offering as well and he also throws an average curveball. Olthoff was barely on teams’ radars before the season began, so he’ll be a tough evaluation for teams who have very little track record with him and have not extensively scouted him. But his stuff is solid, his command is notable and his results are hard to argue with. | |||||||
| 206 | Bobby Seymour | 1B | Wake Forest | 6-4 | 250 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Seymour was named the 2019 ACC Player of the Year after an exceptional offensive campaign that included a .377/.439/.576 line with nine home runs and 20 doubles. He led the ACC in hitting by 16 points and tallied an NCAA-best 92 RBI, just two shy of the Wake Forest program record. A big, 6-foot-4, 250-pound first baseman, Seymour’s bat-to-ball skills are his most impressive attribute, though he does bring above-average power to the table as well. Seymour hits the ball hard and puts up big exit velocity numbers, but scouts have wondered why he hasn’t hit for more power at David F. Couch Ballpark. His nine home runs are the most he tallied in a full season after hitting seven as a freshman. Seymour also struggled in the wood bat Cape Cod League, hitting .250/.294/.281 with a strikeout rate north of 30 percent. As a well below-average runner, Seymour will be limited to first base only, putting all the pressure on his bat, and he will need to improve his in-game power. | |||||||
| 207 | Jack Moss | 3B | Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Col. | 6-4 | 195 | L-R | Arizona State |
| Moss has one of the nicer swings among high school hitters in the 2020 draft. It’s an inside-out swing and a short stroke that keeps his bat in the zone longer, allowing him to drive balls to all fields. He makes good contact with plenty of feel for putting the barrel on the ball. A below-average runner with a fringe-average arm, Moss could handle left field but profiles better at first base, where he has average hands and feet and will be at least an average defender. He’s credited with having very good makeup, giving him the chance to improve all facets of his game at the next level. Moss would certainly be picked in the top 10 rounds in the draft if not for his commitment to Arizona State, where he will likely wind up next year. | |||||||
| 208 | Justin Fall | LHP | Arizona State | 6-6 | 240 | L-L | Royals ’19 (34) |
| At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Fall certainly looks the part on the mound. He came to Arizona State after a strong two-year juco career at Brookdale (N.J.) JC, passing on a chance to turn pro when the Royals picked him last year in the 34th round. Fall had mixed results in just four starts with the Sun Devils prior to the early end of the college season. He delivers his fastball with a compact, loose arm, sitting 89-92 mph and touching 94, but with below-average command. The life on the heater plays down and he doesn’t miss enough bats. Both secondary pitches—slider and changeup—are below-average offerings but with potential to be average pitches. His slider remains inconsistent and gets too flat at times, lacking tilt or angle. While he walked only 13 batters in 64.1 innings in his final juco season, Fall issued 13 walks in 19 innings this spring, albeit in a small sample size. He could go in the top five rounds to a team that likes the frame and believes that the command and secondaries will improve with experience. Otherwise he may wind up back at Arizona State for another season. | |||||||
| 209 | Ryan Webb | LHP | Georgia | 6-1 | 196 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| If Webb was on most teams in the country, there’s a chance he could be the No. 1 or No. 2 starter in a weekend rotation. But with an incredibly deep pitching staff at Georgia, Webb has had to settle for a prominent reliever role, where he excelled early in the 2020 season and became perhaps the biggest up-arrow player in Georgia thanks to his improved stuff and performance. Webb entered Georgia’s first game of the season in relief of Emerson Hancock and stole the show, striking out a career-best 11 batters in five lights-out innings that got scouts talking. After being more of a pitchability lefthander in high school, Webb has added velocity and improved his secondaries. The 6-foot-1, 196-pound lefty now has a fastball that has touched 94-95 mph and sits in the 89-93 mph range, with a curveball, changeup and a recently added slider/cutter. Webb’s curveball is in the 75-80 mph range with solid depth, while his more firm breaking ball is thrown in the 81-84 mph range with less movement but could be an above-average or better offering. His changeup gives him a fourth average pitch in the 82-84 mph range with fading life to his arm side. After posting a 1.06 ERA over 17 innings with 29 strikeouts and seven walks this season, it wouldn’t be at all surprising for a team to draft Webb and give him a chance to start at the next level, despite starting just seven games in college—all of which came in his freshman season. | |||||||
| 210 | Hudson Haskin | OF | Tulane | 6-2 | 198 | R-R | Athletics ’18 (39) |
| A draft-eligible sophomore, Haskin has been one of Tulane’s best players since the day he arrived on campus. A 39th-round pick of the A’s out of high school, Haskin hit .372/.459/.647 as a freshman while roaming center field and showing big tools. This spring, his swing wasn’t as pretty—he now dives into the ball and is very focused on pulling with power, but his well above-average hand-eye coordination made it all work. He was hitting .333/.452/.500 with 14 walks and 10 strikeouts in 66 at-bats. Multiple scouts compare his swing to Hunter Pence in how it works despite being ugly. Haskin is a plus runner with plus defense in center field and even a plus arm. He’s yet to make an error in college. A team willing to live with the swing could be getting a five-tool player, but Haskin may opt to return to school (he could still have three more years of draft eligibility after next season) and put up even larger numbers. | |||||||
| 211 | Levi Wells | RHP | La Porte (Texas) HS | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Texas Tech |
| The early shutdown of the 2020 high school season did Wells no favors and makes it more likely he’ll get to Texas Tech. With a normal season, Wells may have gotten a chance to show the consistency he lacked on the summer showcase schedule. In short flashes, Wells showed he can get to 93-94 mph and spin a 12-to-6 sharp high-70s plus curveball. But he rarely has been able to match that velocity with command and control, and sits 88-92 in other outings. Wells struggled to find the release point on his curveball at times and finishes his delivery with some recoil. He’s not close to being a finished product, but his velocity and ability to spin a breaking ball make him a name to remember. | |||||||
| 212 | Billy Cook | OF | Pepperdine | 6-1 | 100 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Cook helped key Pepperdine’s resurgence this spring. Batting primarily in the No. 2 spot, Cook hit .344 and led the Waves in OPS (1.124), home runs (four) and stolen bases (five) before the season shut down, doing enough against good pitching to generate excitement among area scouts. Cook is a strong, athletic center fielder whose calling card is his power. He makes loud contact when he connects and shows above-average power, with the potential for plus, that he can access in games. Cook has a long swing and is vulnerable to high-end velocity, but he makes enough damage on contact to project as a positive offensive contributor. Cook is a good runner for his size and played both center field and second base at Pepperdine. He projects as a left fielder in pro ball and has the above-average arm strength to play right as well. Cook comes from a long line of athletes—his father, Chuck, played baseball at Air Force before becoming an F-16 fighter pilot. His mother, Julie, played volleyball and basketball at Air Force. His grandfather, Dan Adair, played baseball at Wyoming and was teammates with longtime big league manager Art Howe. | |||||||
| 213 | Nander De Sedas | SS | Florida State | 6-2 | 198 | B-R | Brewers ’18 (29) |
| Scouts noted that De Sedas had plenty of impact tools back in his high school days, but after struggling with the bat throughout the spring of his senior season, they had major questions about the quality of his hit tool. They were right to wonder about his ability to make contact, as De Sedas has struggled in the box throughout his collegiate career. The switch-hitting shortstop hit .231/.353/.337 as a freshman and through 17 games this spring, he struggled to a .150/.307/.150 line with 22 strikeouts to 12 walks. While De Sedas does have some pull-side power in the tank, he’s never been able to consistently tap into that thanks to significant swing-and-miss issues and trouble picking up and barreling offspeed pitches. Defensively, De Sedas has reliable hands, above-average arm strength and impressive instincts and body control, but scouts have long wondered whether he has the short-area quickness and range to play the position at the next level. If not, he could be a fit at second or third base. A draft-eligible sophomore, De Sedas could be better served heading back to Florida State and developing his offensive ability and bat-to-ball skills. His stock has fallen dramatically since the 2018 draft. | |||||||
| 214 | Jordan Thompson | SS | Helix HS, La Mesa, Calif. | 6-0 | 160 | R-R | Louisiana State |
| An athletic two-way player, Thompson touched 93 mph on the mound at the Area Code Games and showed promise at the plate this spring before he suffered a pulled hamstring. He was unable to return before the season shut down, but in the ensuing weeks got healthy and started running well again. Thompson is a twitchy athlete who has a chance to stick at shortstop. He’s quick, shows advanced instincts for his age and has the plus arm strength to make throws from anywhere on the field. He plays hard and earns the “gamer” label from coaches. Thompson is progressing as a hitter and flashes raw power, but he still has a lot of work to do at the plate. He has a fallback option as a pitcher if the development curve as a hitter proves too steep. Thompson is committed to Louisiana State as a position player only. He is expected to play shortstop for the Tigers and will be difficult to sign. | |||||||
| 215 | Carlos Rodriguez | RHP | Miami Christian HS | 5-11 | 180 | R-R | Miami |
| Rodriguez is an undersized righthander listed at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, but he boasts big arm strength and impressive athleticism. Over the summer, Rodriguez ran his fastball up to 94, though it sat more in the 89-93 mph range. He has a fast arm but can get a bit erratic with his control and has some effort and a noticeable head whack in his delivery. Rodriguez has shown some feel for landing a solid changeup in the 80-86 mph range that has fading life and above-average potential. He’s also thrown both a curveball and a slider, though his feel for both offerings is lacking. His curveball is a mid-70s offering with 12-to-6 shape, while his slider is in the 80-85 mph range with late bite at times. Both pitches have shown a tendency to back up on him, but he does flash impressive ability to spin the ball at his best and his curveball was in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range last summer. Rodriguez will need to improve his control, but his athleticism might allow him to make the necessary steps, whether that’s in pro ball or at Miami. | |||||||
| 216 | Shawn Guilliums | RHP | The Villages (Fla.) Charter HS | 6-2 | 170 | R-R | North Florida |
| A projectable 6-foot-2, 170-pound righthander committed to North Florida, Guilliums was getting plenty of crosschecker attention this spring after taking a bit of a jump. He got his fastball up into the low 90s last fall at Jupiter, where he struck out five batters over three innings and could have become a household name in draft conversations with a full season to pitch at The Villages (Fla.) Charter High. Scouts currently see Guilliums as a 5-10 round sort of talent, with his velocity trending in the right direction, a developing breaking ball and a good arm action. His fastball sits in the 88-89 mph range for the most part, but he gets up to 92 earlier in outings. His breaking ball is slurvy presently, but there are scouts who think it could become an above-average curveball. Guilliums is certainly a player-development project for now, so he could be tougher for a team to sign in a shortened 2020 draft, but a number of teams seem to like his upside after seeing him perform well early this spring. | |||||||
| 217 | Brady Kasper | SS | Capistrano Valley HS, Mission Viejo, Calif. | 6-0 | 175 | L-R | Oregon State |
| A standout wide receiver and cornerback on his high school football team, Kasper didn’t spend much time on baseball’s showcase circuit because of his two-sport commitments. He quickly became a favorite of area scouts this spring for his athleticism and tools. Kasper is a high-level athlete with the ability to play both shortstop and center field. He is a plus runner with a quick first step, has plenty of lateral range and shows fluid, athletic actions at both spots. He has an average arm that projects better at second base than shortstop, but his overall athleticism makes him playable anywhere up the middle. Kasper frequently squares balls up with a line-drive stroke from the left side and projects as an average hitter. He may add power, but he projects as more of a singles and doubles hitter who lines balls into open spaces. Kapser’s contact stroke and potential to play all over defensively make him a potentially valuable utilityman. He is committed to Oregon State. | |||||||
| 218 | Carson Taylor | C | Virginia Tech | 6-2 | 205 | B-R | Never Drafted |
| A draft-eligible sophomore who’s spent time at catcher, first base and DH for Virginia Tech, Taylor was off to a blistering start in the 2020 season before coronavirus brought things to a halt. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound switch-hitting catcher led the Hokies in most offensive categories and managed a .431/.541/.690 line with 12 walks and five strikeouts. He recorded multiple hits in 7 out of 16 games, and had scouts intrigued as a 6-7 round talent in a typical draft. It will be interesting to see what teams do with Taylor now that the 2020 draft is just five rounds; his eligible-sophomore status could give him more leverage, and his summer track record doesn’t quite stand up to his performance with Virginia Tech. After a strong freshman campaign (.290/.389/.413), Taylor played in 12 games in the Cape Cod League, where he hit just .152/.243/.333. Taylor has more power from the left side and has always shown good plate discipline—he has 32 career walks to 26 strikeouts. Coaches have praised his work behind the dish. College catchers who perform and have the tools to defend are always valuable in the draft, so Taylor could be an interesting late-round selection. | |||||||
| 219 | Jacob Berry | 3B | Queen Creek (Ariz.) HS | 6-0 | 200 | B-R | Arizona |
| Four Corners area scouts didn’t get too many looks at Berry before the Arizona high school season was shut down, but the switch-hitting third baseman made good use of his limited game action to move up draft boards. The strong and athletic Berry has an aggressive swing with plus bat speed, consistently registering good exit velocities. He projects as an above-average hitter with at least average power, with a solid approach at the plate. He needs to get better on defense at the hot corner but has the makeup and work ethic to continue making strides. He’s a tick below-average defender now with an average or better arm. Berry is no more than a fringe-average runner but is aggressive on the bases. In addition to his makeup, talent evaluators see his ability to handle velocity as a sign that his bat could play up at the next level. While he’s become a favorite of scouts, the consensus is that Berry will be a tough sign and likely winds up on campus at Arizona. | |||||||
| 220 | Johnny Ray | RHP | Texas Christian | 6-2 | 220 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| The 2020 season was supposed to be Ray’s chance to finally show what he could do after two injury-plagued seasons in college ball. Ray did not pitch as a freshman at Illinois State because of Tommy John surgery. He transferred to juco power John A. Logan (Ill.) JC in 2019, but an oblique injury meant he threw only eight innings all season. As a redshirt sophomore, Ray impressed in the fall with TCU and earned the Horned Frogs’ Friday starter role. Ray impressed in his Opening Day start against Kentucky and was even better in a highly-scouted matchup against Max Meyer and Minnesota (9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO), but he wasn’t as effective and his stuff wasn’t as impressive in his final two starts before the season was shut down. Ray has toned down what used to be a violent delivery, but he still throws into a stiff front side. He can touch 96-97 mph with his fastball, but generally sits 91-93. None of his four pitches are plus offerings, but his above-average fastball, above-average slider and average changeup pair well together. He shows the potential to have average control. In a normal season, Ray would have had a chance to pitch himself into third-round consideration, but with only 29.1 innings over three seasons of work, his lack of track record may work against him in a five-round draft. | |||||||
| 221 | Magdiel Cotto | LHP | Nation Ford HS, Fort Mill, S.C. | 6-4 | 230 | L-L | South Carolina |
| A big, physical lefthander listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Cotto was starting to get a lot of chatter this spring after touching 95 mph at Prep Baseball Report’s Super 60 showcase. Cotto had shown a more pedestrian fastball prior to that event, and was more in the 86-91 mph range throughout the summer. Following PBR’s event, scouts saw Cotto throwing with a fastball that was consistently average in the low 90s, but most believe he could get to the point where he’s hitting 95-96 consistently. Cotto has two secondaries that could be serviceable in a curveball and changeup. His curve is in the mid-70s with three-quarters shape, but he too frequently gets on the side of the pitch and it doesn’t have the sharpest spin. At its best it is a slurvy breaking ball with solid depth. His 77-82 mph changeup has shown solid sinking and fading life and could become an average pitch. Cotto is a solid strike-thrower, especially considering the length of his limbs. Some scouts worry Cotto will get too big, so maintaining his body will be key for him whether the next step is pro ball or college. Cotto is committed to South Carolina. | |||||||
| 222 | Jaden Woods | LHP | Houston County HS, Warner Robins, Ga. | 6-2 | 190 | L-L | Georgia |
| An athletic lefthander committed to Georgia, Woods is a projection pitcher who checks off a lot of boxes for scouts despite lacking premium stuff. After a bit of a down outing last summer at East Coast Pro, where Woods threw 85-88 mph with a below-average breaking ball, Woods started showing an exciting three-pitch mix. Scouts saw a fastball in the 88-92 mph range that touched 93. Woods also improved his breaking ball—a 2-to-8 slider that projects as an average offering. His best secondary might be a changeup that has above-average potential. Woods had a chance to continue trending up this spring, but he didn’t show the same velocity and also dealt with an injury. It could be tough for teams to sign Woods out of Georgia given the 2020 draft environment, but he has the athleticism and makeup to take big strides with a program that does an excellent job developing arms. | |||||||
| 223 | Levi Thomas | RHP | Troy | 5-11 | 185 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A three-year starter with Troy, Thomas moved into the team’s Friday night role this spring and was looking to have a career year after impressive physical and mental development with the program. Through four starts before the season ended due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound righty posted a 0.39 ERA with 42 strikeouts and six walks in just 23 innings. While he doesn’t have overpowering fastball velocity, sitting mostly in the 90-93 mph range, Thomas gets terrific carry on his four-seamer. The riding action helps it play above its velocity and rack up whiffs. Thomas has improved the consistency of his solid, 78-82 mph slider after the pitch was more erratic in previous years. Thomas also has a developing changeup. While Thomas doesn’t have the biggest frame or the loudest stuff, he has quietly put together a strong three-year career at Troy, has an impressive history of throwing strikes and his fastball seems to have qualities that teams love. | |||||||
| 224 | Cole Fontenelle | 1B/3B | Skyline HS, Sammamish, Wash. | 6-3 | 190 | B-R | Washington |
| A three-sport high school athlete, Fontenelle might be the best prep hitter in the Northwest in the 2020 class. He was a member of the 2019 Area Code team, but had to play out of position at first base on the club for the first time, and handled himself well. A shortstop for his high school team, Fontenelle moves well for his size—he’s listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds—but might be a better long-term fit at third base. He’s a below-average runner who might not have the short-area quickness or range necessary for shortstop, but he has solid hands and above-average arm strength. While Fontenelle isn’t overflowing with tools, he has an impressive feel to hit from both sides and a frame that could easily grow into power in a few years. If Fontenelle makes it to campus at Washington, he could develop into a well-rounded middle-of-the-order type hitter. Without getting scouted much at all this spring thanks to the shortened 2020 season, that could be a possibility. | |||||||
| 225 | Trey Dillard | RHP | Missouri | 6-0 | 195 | R-R | Dodgers ’18 (16) |
| Dillard was considered one of the better juco arms in 2018, although his below-average control (6 walks per nine innings) was a concern. The Dodgers drafted him in the 16th round that year, but he opted to head to Missouri. His sophomore season for the Tigers was a struggle, as continued inability to locate consistently kept him from earning a significant role in the bullpen—he pitched 1.1 innings in conference play in 2019. In 2020, he was starting to show signs he’d turned a corner before the season ended. Dillard allowed only one run in eight outings as Missouri’s closer, posting a 1.08 ERA with 11.9 strikeouts per nine. Dillard’s fastball is a little straight, but it’s hard and heavy and sits at 96-99 mph. His plus power slider gives him a way to finish hitters. Dillard does not provide a comfortable at-bat for hitters when he’s on, and his aggressive approach fits a late-inning relief role. But his short track record (he’s yet to throw 25 innings in a college season) will work against him in the draft. | |||||||
| 226 | Baron Radcliff | OF | Georgia Tech | 6-4 | 239 | L-R | Braves ’17 (40) |
| If you were just lining up the players in the 2020 class with the biggest raw power, you wouldn’t list many before Radcliff. A powerful, 6-foot-4, 228-pound outfielder Radcliff has plus-plus raw power that wows scouts. He used that juice to hit 12 home runs in 2019, when he made the All-ACC second team. Concerns about his hit tool have Radcliff back a bit in college and could hold him back in pro ball. While he can impact a ball exceptionally well when he times it up, he’s struggled with whiffs and consistently tapping into his power. Radcliff hit .180/.229/.348 as a freshman with a strikeout rate around 45 percent. That rate is unsustainable, and to Radcliff’s credit he improved over the next two years, but still whiffed around 30 percent of the time as a sophomore and through 16 games during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. The shortened season impacts Radcliff as much as any college prospect, as he has the upside and tools to go as high as the second round, but he needed a strong full season of at-bats to prove that to scouting departments. Without that, teams will be skeptical that he can get to even a below-average hit tool. Last summer in the Cape Cod League, Radcliff hit six home runs in 29 games, but he managed just a .237/.318/.495 line with a 34-percent strikeout rate. Radcliff runs well in a straight line and has played center field previously, but he’s a better fit for a corner outfield spot. | |||||||
| 227 | Allbry Major | OF | Xavier | 6-6 | 215 | B-R | Never Drafted |
| Like many prospects in the 2020 class, Major will be something of a conundrum for scouts to figure out. He was polarizing before the 2020 season began, after a loud Cape Cod League stint that was at odds with his production in the Big East. In 17 games with Cotuit, Major hit .407/.435/.525 and showed much more impact and fewer strikeout concerns than he ever had with Xavier. Scouts didn’t see him much during the fall at Xavier, and he didn’t get to play an inning during the abbreviated 2020 season after dealing with a broken wrist. That’ll leave teams scrambling to figure out how to square his collegiate production—.285/.347/.443 with a 24 percent strikeout rate—with what he showed last summer. Major has a major league body with a 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame and some power potential from both sides of the plate. He’s a corner outfield profile, so the pressure will be on his bat and power production, but without any looks this spring, teams will have a difficult time deciding whether Major’s 17-game Cape stint was a blip on the radar or a sign of things to come. | |||||||
| 228 | Jacob Palisch | LHP | Stanford | 6-4 | 190 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Palisch found immediate success as a freshman with Stanford out of the bullpen in 2018, posting a 1.72 ERA over 47 innings and 26 appearances. While the 6-foot-4, 190-pound lefthander doesn’t have the loudest stuff—with a fastball that is regularly in the upper 80s—he spots his three-pitch mix well and has good feel for pitching. After being used in a full-time reliever role as a freshman, Palisch made seven starts in 2019 and was primed for a more prominent role in the rotation this spring after a strong summer in the Cape. With Harwich, Palisch posted a 0.77 ERA over 35 innings and six starts with 38 strikeouts and just five walks—better strikeout and walk rates than he’d posted at any other point in his career. In addition to his fastball, Palisch throws a slurvy breaking ball and a changeup that was his best offering over the summer. The pitch keeps hitters off-balance and frequently generates both whiffs and groundouts on soft contact. With his track record of performance as a college lefthander, Palisch could have climbed boards this spring, but after taking the fall off he didn’t pitch at all in 2020, leaving scouts to wonder about his health. Some coaches have compared him to former Stanford lefthander Kris Bubic— who was drafted by the Royals in the 2018 supplemental first round—but Palish’s stuff and athleticism aren’t quite at that level. | |||||||
| 229 | Joseph Gonzalez | RHP | Petra Mercado Bougart HS, Humacao, P.R. | 6-4 | 215 | R-R | Auburn |
| A tall, projectable righthander out of Puerto Rico, Gonzalez showed solid command and good feel for his secondaries last summer, though his fastball velocity was below-average at the time. A member of the 2019 Under Armour All-American team, Gonzalez pitched in the 87-89 mph range and touched 90 in his one inning during the game at Wrigley Field, but showed impressive feel for a mid-70s curveball that had above-average potential with three-quarters shape and solid depth. While his fastball velocity was below-average, his heater had some armside run and sink when located down in the zone. While scouts weren’t able to see him frequently this spring, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander was reportedly moving in the right direction, with scouts citing a fastball that was touching 92-93 mph a few weeks before scouting got shut down because of the novel coronavirus. With a projectable frame, a loose arm action and advanced control, Gonzalez has a lot to like and could improve his stock dramatically if he makes it to Auburn. | |||||||
| 230 | Robby Ashford | OF | Hoover (Ala.) HS | 6-4 | 204 | R-R | Oregon |
| A dual-sport athlete and four-star quarterback according to 247Sports, Ashford is one of the more naturally athletic players in the 2020 class. Listed at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Ashford has a great frame with lithe, wiry musculature and room to add more strength —a frame some scouts have compared to Angels prospect Jo Adell. Ashford has some tools to dream on as well as the body, with plus running ability and flashes of raw power and arm strength from the outfield. What holds Ashford back are his nascent baseball skills. He’s raw in most areas of the game, and that’s especially true in the batter’s box. Ashford has shown some pure bat-to-ball skills, but his timing is inconsistent, and he has struggled to identify prep breaking balls with any consistency. He also has some moving parts in his setup which could limit his ability to get into good launch positions with regularity. Ashford has the speed to play center field now, but some scouts wonder whether increased physicality in the future will slow him down and force him to a corner. His arm flashes solid-average, but it’s not consistent and has looked well below average at worst. If Ashford were to focus exclusively on baseball, teams think he has the toolset for big upside, but with a two-sport commitment to Oregon that might not happen anytime soon. | |||||||
| 231 | Bryson Ware | SS | Pearl River (Miss.) JC | 6-2 | 193 | R-R | Auburn |
| An Auburn signee, Ware is one of the toolsier juco players in the country. His athleticism and ability to stay at shortstop in pro ball stand out, but questions about his bat may push him to Auburn. Ware has an excellent, physical 6-foot-2, 193-pound frame with body control and an above-average arm. Ware does need to speed up his actions and internal clock. His swing has some length, but he’s making more consistent solid contact now that he’s junked the more spread-out stance he used during high school. Ware has power potential that could allow him to play second or third base long-term. | |||||||
| 232 | Nolan McLean | RHP | Garner (N.C.) Magnet HS | 6-3 | 220 | R-R | Oklahoma State |
| McLean has a power-oriented game on both sides of the ball. A 6-foot-3, 220-pound two-way player who’s also a talented football player—a three-star quarterback according to 247Sports—McLean runs his fastball into the mid-90s and has raw power at the plate. Scouts believe he’ll be tough to sign out of Oklahoma State because of his desire to play football and baseball, but there are teams interested in him as both a hitter and a pitcher. On the mound McLean has a fastball that sits in the 89-93 mph range but ticks higher, as well as a mid-70s breaking ball that needs more refinement. He’s flashed a low-80s changeup as well, but, like his curveball, the pitch needs work. At the plate, McLean has impressive raw power, though he showed a hitch over the summer that limited his contact and rhythm. However, scouts were impressed with the progress he showed with the bat early this spring and more now think he has a chance to hit at the next level. He also looked solid at shortstop when previously scouts would have said he would have to play a corner infield or outfield position. McLean was a member of USA Baseball’s 18U National Team, where he hit and pitched and posted a .263/.391/.474 slash line with the bat. He threw four innings of relief, though he struggled to a 9.00 ERA. With many options in front of him depending on the sport and position, McLean is an intriguing prospect who was trending in the right direction. | |||||||
| 233 | Tyler Chadwick | RHP | Marshall (Wis.) HS | 6-5 | 205 | R-R | West Virginia |
| A football, basketball and baseball player in high school, Chadwick has some of the easiest velocity found among prep pitchers in the Upper Midwest. Already 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, it’s easy to envision Chadwick reaching triple-digits eventually. He already can get to 94-97 mph. His below-average control wavers significantly through outings when he struggles to stay through his delivery. His 82-85 mph slider is inconsistent and too often spins with little bite. Chadwick has a lot of work to do, but the West Virginia signee has a very high upside. If he is drafted this year, he would be the first player ever drafted out of Marshall (Wisc.) High. | |||||||
| 234 | Joshua Day | SS | Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) JC | 6-3 | 200 | R-R | Missouri |
| It’s a great year for Mississippi juco shortstops, as Day has battled Bryson Ware of Pearl River (Miss.) JC for the attention of scouts. Day is less likely than Ware to stick at shortstop long-term. He shows plenty of range and excellent athleticism, but his average arm might fit better at second base or in center field. Day is a power/speed prospect with plus raw power and plus-plus speed. His swing needs to be cleaned up and limits his projection as a hitter—he hit .267/.393/.489 for Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) CC in the shortened season. Day is coachable and impresses scouts with his heady play. He’s signed with Missouri. | |||||||
| 235 | Wil Jensen | RHP | Pepperdine | 6-3 | 170 | R-R | Athletics ’19 (28) |
| Jensen led the nation in ERA his sophomore year until Tommy John surgery ended his season. He missed most of his junior year recovering but returned to make three appearances at the end of the season and was drafted by the Athletics in the 28th round. Jensen opted to return to school this spring and emerged as Pepperdine’s ace, going 3-0, 2.19 in four starts before the season shut down. Jensen is a mature righthander with four pitches he can throw for strikes. His fastball sits 90-94 mph, his slider is average and his curveball and changeup are both fringy but usable. Nothing Jensen throws is plus, but he knows how to mix and match and is efficient with his pitch count. Jensen is one of the oldest pitchers in the draft and has elbow surgery on his ledger. Even with those concerns, evaluators see the pitch mix, control and mentality to project him as a potential back-of-the-rotation starter. | |||||||
| 236 | Kaden Polcovich | OF/2B | Oklahoma State | 5-8 | 180 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| The son of MLB utility infielder Kevin Polcovich, the younger Polcovich hit .305/.426/.473 with Orleans in the Cape Cod League last summer, and was just as impressive this spring in his first season with Oklahoma State. He was hitting .344/.494/.578 when the season ended. A switch-hitter with a solid swing from both sides of the plate, he shows average raw power in batting practice, although he’s more of a line-drive hitter in games. He’s an aggressive hitter with a short stroke and excellent barrel control and projects as a plus hitter with solid on-base skills. The flashes of pop give hopes that he can be a 10-12 home run hitter. A 5-foot-8, 160-pounder, Polcovich has no clear defensive home—he’s played second and third at Oklahoma State and played center field and left field additionally in the Cape. His fringe-average arm limits him in the infield, and while he’s a 55 runner now, there are concerns he’ll slow down as he matures. He shows some feel for tracking balls in center and is just as aggressive out there as he is at the plate. Polcovich may end up being fringe-average defensively at two infield spots and multiple outfield spots, but his hitting might make up for any defensive shortcomings. He’s likely to outlast some toolsier players in pro ball because of his feel and that switch-hitting ability. | |||||||
| 237 | Dominic Hamel | RHP | Dallas Baptist | 6-2 | 206 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| After two productive seasons at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC, Hamel had two excellent starts and two poor starts for Dallas Baptist before the season ended. He dominated North Carolina, allowing one hit while striking out 10 in seven scoreless innings while carrying a no-hitter into the eighth, but Oral Roberts knocked him out in the third inning of his final start of the abbreviated season. He can miss bats with his above-average, high-spin 91-94 mph fastball. His curveball and slider are consistent, but he has the potential to eventually spin an above-average breaking ball. Hamel is going to be an interesting scouting challenge—he doesn’t have much Division I experience and there will be scouts who saw him good and others who came away underwhelmed. | |||||||
| 238 | Jackson Leath | RHP | Tennessee | 6-1 | 181 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Leath spent two years at Blinn (Texas) JC before transferring to Tennessee for what might have been a breakout junior campaign in the SEC, but the coronavirus wiped out his opportunity to perform on a bigger stage. Leath had interest from MLB teams after posting a 2.93 ERA over 10 starts and earning XIV All-Conference honors during his sophomore season but opted to head join the Volunteers. A 6-foot-1, 181-pound righthander, Leath has a reliever profile thanks to a mature body and effortful delivery, but he has impressive stuff. His fastball sits in the 92-96 mph range and is complemented by a slider that looks like a wipeout offering at its best, but other times is just average. Most scouts peg it as a 55-grade pitch on the whole, and Leath has also worked with a cutter and fringy changeup as well. Leath was used as a starter and a reliever this spring, when he posted a 1.45 ERA over 18.2 innings and struck out 29 batters while walking five. | |||||||
| 239 | Brandon Pfaadt | RHP | Bellarmine (Ky.) | 6-4 | 220 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Pfaadt pitched mostly out of the bullpen over his first two years at Division II Bellarmine (Ky.), but after a strong summer in the Cape Cod League, he transitioned to a full-time starting role this spring. Over the summer with Wareham, Pfaadt showed solid strike-throwing ability to go along with a plus fastball in the 93-95 mph range. In 32 innings, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound righthander posted a 2.81 ERA while striking out 34 batters and walking eight. Pfaadt also showed the makings of an above-average breaking ball, but the pitch was inconsistent. Pfaadt managed five starts this spring before the coronavirus wiped out the season. He posted a 1.38 ERA in 26 innings with 27 strikeouts and just four walks—good for the best strikeout-to-walk ratio of his career. Scouts note that Pfaadt’s fastball has good sinking action, but they also have seen his velocity tick down into the 88-90 mph range in the middle innings despite a big, strong frame. Because of that he might be better served for a reliever role in pro ball, where he could also focus on refining his curveball into a plus offering. | |||||||
| 240 | Max Carlson | RHP | Burnsville (Minn.) HS | 6-1 | 175 | R-R | North Carolina |
| The younger brother of Mariners righthander Sam Carlson, Max doesn’t have Sam’s consistent premium velocity, but he shows more polish at the same age. The younger Carlson sits 88-92 mph with the ability to land his 75-79 mph future above-average curveball for strikes, and his advanced changeup has solid deception. None of his three pitches is plus, but all have average or better potential. Carlson can touch 94-95 sporadically, but when he does he is prone to overthrowing. Carlson is a North Carolina signee. | |||||||
| 241 | Josh Swales | RHP | Grace Brethren HS, Simi Valley, Calif. | 6-3 | 178 | R-R | Arizona |
| Pitching for a small, private school and with little history on the showcase circuit, Swales largely stayed under the radar until his fastball began touching 97 mph this spring. The velocity bump sent scouts racing to see him and made Swales one of the biggest risers on the West Coast before the season shut down. Swales is a good athlete with a loose, projectable frame. His fastball sits 91-94 mph and he began touching 96-97 more frequently as the season progressed. With plenty of room to fill out still, scouts think he could throw 100 mph someday. Swales is inconsistent with his release point on his 77-83 mph breaking ball, but it flashes as an impressive slider at its best. His changeup is a work in progress and shows average potential. Swales rarely faced good competition in high school and has had trouble throwing strikes. His athleticism and arm strength still have teams interested in buying him out of his Arizona commitment. | |||||||
| 242 | Braiden Ward | OF | Washington | 5-10 | 155 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Ward might have the best claim to the “fastest player in the country” title of anyone in the 2020 class. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound outfielder is an elite runner who clocked a 6.20-second 60-yard dash time in the Cape Cod League over the summer. Speed is easily his best attribute, and it’s one of the loudest tools of any position player in the class. That blazing speed played on the bases each year at Washington, as Ward led the Pac-12 in steals in 2018 (19), 2019 (26) and in the shortened 2020 season (10). For his career, Ward went 55-for-66 in stolen base attempts—an 83-percent success rate. Ward will clock 3.8 and 3.9-second run times out of the box to first base on jailbreaks, and when he’s not running mid-swing he’s regularly posting 4.0-4.1 times down the line. All are good for 80-grade run times. Because of his speed, Ward can handle center field, though he’ll need to refine his routes to make the most of his defensive potential in the outfield. He gets away with crude routes to the ball or a slower first step because his pure speed lets him track balls down into both gaps. His arm is fringe-average but should be enough to handle center. His hit tool is the biggest question, and while he showed a bit of pop in the Cape Cod League, it’ll likely never be a big part of his game. Scouts would like to see him put the ball on the ground more than he currently does to take advantage of his wheels. | |||||||
| 243 | Gabe Shepard | RHP | Southern Mississippi | 5-10 | 180 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Shepard helped lead Mobile, Ala.’s Faith Academy to a 5A state title as a senior, although he missed the end of the season with Tommy John surgery. Shepard made an immediate impact for the Eagles with a strong finish to his freshman season once he was freed from pitch limits as he worked back from the surgery. Shepard threw 7.1 innings of a combined no-hitter against Rice while going 3-0, 2.35 in 30.2 innings. As a draft-eligible sophomore, Shephard’s control took a big step backward, something he also battled during fall ball. He didn’t make it out of the third inning in two of his three starts. Shepard has a fast arm and can touch 97 mph, although he generally sits 91-95. He mixes in a slider, change and cutter, but none of three is better than average. A short (5-foot-10) righty, Shepard will have to prove he can remain a starter, as some see his velocity and control issues and expect him to eventually move to the bullpen. | |||||||
| 244 | Tanner Allen | 1B/OF | Mississippi State | 5-11 | 184 | L-R | Rockies ’19 (34) |
| A 36th-round pick of the Cubs in 2017 out of high school and a 34th-round pick of the Rockies last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, Allen has a near picture-perfect lefty swing, with good hand-eye coordination and a selective batting eye. Allen didn’t get much of a chance to show what he could do this spring, as he was sidelined in early March with a broken bone in his hand and didn’t get to return before the season was cancelled. Allen was hitting .240/.387/.400 at the time of his injury. But scouts have seen what Allen can do at the plate before 2020. He hit .349/.426/.516 as a sophomore and hit .308/.357/.359 last summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. What Allen doesn’t have is a clear profile. He played first, third and left field as a freshman, first base as a sophomore and right field in 2020. He’s a fringy defender in either corner-outfield spot because of his average speed. He has a shot to be an above-average hitter, but his power is mostly fringe-average. | |||||||
| 245 | Mac Horvath | SS | IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. | 6-1 | 185 | R-R | North Carolina |
| Expected to be the top prep bat in Minnesota, Horvath transferred to Bradenton, Fla.’s IMG Academy for his senior season, which was then quickly cut short. He missed time early last summer with appendicitis, then had an uneven summer when he returned. Horvath has above-average bat speed, plus speed and a plus arm (he’s touched 91-92 mph off the mound). He might slide to third base because he’s a little stiff at shortstop. A North Carolina signee, Horvath needs to refine his approach and make more consistent contact, but he has pro tools. | |||||||
| 246 | Hunter Haas | SS | Corona del Sol HS, Tempe, Ariz. | 6-0 | 170 | R-R | Arizona State |
| Haas had a busy summer between his junior and senior high school seasons, participating in USA Baseball’s PDP League as well as playing for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team. The Arizona State commit stands out more for his outstanding attitude, gamer mentality and feel for the game than he does for his tools. He has good hand-eye coordination and bat-to-ball skills and consistently puts balls in play, but with not enough strength and lower half explosiveness to impact the baseball. He slowed down this year and now grades as a below-average runner. Lacking the range or arm to handle shortstop at the next level, second base is Haas’ likely position. He could be a tough sign if he’s drafted, with many scouts believing that he’ll be better off going to college and hitting for three seasons with the Sun Devils. | |||||||
| 247 | Brendan Beck | RHP | Stanford | 6-2 | 190 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| The younger brother of Giants pitching prospect Tristan Beck, Brendan is a college performer and polished competitor going back to his days at Corona (Calif.) High, where he also played shortstop. Beck has shown a reliable arm going back to his days as a freshman, when he posted a 2.43 ERA over 66.2 innings and finished the season with a perfect 8-0 record. He followed that strong college debut with a 3.63 ERA over 16 starts and was off to more of the same in 2020 over four games before the season ended. While Beck’s performance is impressive, his arsenal is more pedestrian. He doesn’t have a single plus pitch and it takes an optimistic grader to give him average offerings. His fastball sits in the 88-89 mph range and touches 91-92 at his best. He throws both a slider and a curveball and favors one over the other depending on the day. He also has a changeup that’s a distinct fourth offering. Some days he’ll only have two average pitches to work with, but he has always made the most of his stuff thanks to impressive command and poise on the mound. While Beck has a vanilla arsenal and doesn’t offer much projection with a maxed out, 6-foot-2, 217-pound frame, he could be a nice safety pick for a performance-driven organization. | |||||||
| 248 | Noah Skirrow | RHP | Liberty | 6-3 | 215 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A Canadian-born, 6-foot-3, 225-pound righthander at Liberty, Skirrow elevated his draft stock after making the Cape Cod League All-Star team last summer with Orleans. Skirrow started seven games over the summer and posted a 2.76 ERA in 29.1 innings while striking out 20 batters and walking 13. While there, he showed a fastball that sat mostly in the 91-92 mph range but could touch 95. He also landed an impressive breaking ball. That stuff was largely in line with what scouts had seen from the workhorse righthander in previous years, as he was up to 95-96 in a starting role in 2019 with Liberty as well. During that sophomore season, Skirrow led the Atlantic Sun Conference in strikeouts per nine innings (11.5) and posted a 3.76 ERA. With a strong spring, Skirrow had a chance to push himself into the third- or fourth- -round range. He performed at a high level over four 2020 starts—1.96 ERA in 23 innings—but his stuff wasn’t quite as loud. Scouts saw a fastball that was more 87-92 and sitting in the 88-89 mph range. While Skirrow continued to show good feel for spinning two breaking balls, the velocity drop leads scouts to feel he might work best in a reliever role at the next level. In that case, he can let everything eat and potentially work with two above-average pitches. | |||||||
| 249 | Matheu Nelson | C | Florida State | 5-11 | 195 | R-R | Phillies ’18 (39) |
| Nelson was a prominent prospect out of high school in 2018. He ranked No. 280 on the BA 500 that year thanks to an all-around profile that included solid arm strength and a compact swing from the right side. Now a draft-eligible sophomore, Nelson slots into a similar range on the draft board. Nelson had an excellent freshman campaign, hitting .282/.442/.442 with six home runs and an on-base percentage that was second for the Seminoles behind current Nationals prospect Drew Mendoza. Nelson went to the Cape Cod League the following summer, where he struggled with the bat—.163/.280/.233 in 14 games—but showed good catch-and-throw skills and did a nice job handling the pitching staff. Because Nelson has no carrying tools, his stock depends largely on his production in the ACC and teams might prefer to see him head back to campus in Tallahassee and build more of an offensive resume. Listed at 5-foot-11, 210-pounds, Nelson is close to maxed out physically and has more gap power than over-the-fence juice, but he does have a solid, short swing and solid plate discipline. Behind the plate Nelson has above-average arm strength and solid receiving and blocking skills. | |||||||
| 250 | Grayson Moore | OF/RHP | Lake Mary (Fla.) HS | 6-4 | 180 | B-R | Central Florida |
| Originally committed to Central Florida, Moore swapped to a Vanderbilt commitment and impressed scouts on both sides of the ball. A 6-foot-4, 180-pound outfielder and righthanded pitcher, scouts seem to like Moore’s future upside on the mound more than his potential with the bat. If he makes it to campus at Vanderbilt he could do both, but scouts are excited about how his frame could fill out in a few years and his feel to spin a breaking ball. He doesn’t have impact stuff now, but it’s easy to see that changing in a few years. Over the summer Moore threw a fastball in the 88-91 mph range, but that velo dropped down to 85-87 in later innings. He’ll need to add more velocity, but scouts believe that will come. His curveball is another projection pitch that needs more power—it was in the 66-72 mph range over the summer—but has solid 12-to-6 shape and depth. Moore has also shown a 76-78 mph changeup, but the pitch is raw. Moore’s value is based almost solely on his projection, but scouts love his body and the way his arm works. Look for him to take a jump in coming years, when he could be sophomore-eligible for the 2022 class. | |||||||
| 251 | Nolan Schanuel | OF | Park Vista HS, Lake Worth, Fla. | 6-3 | 195 | L-R | Florida Atlantic |
| A lanky, 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder committed to Florida Atlantic, Schanuel impressed scouts with his natural hitting ability from the left side. With a projectable frame that should add a good amount of muscle in coming years, scouts believe he’ll grow into average power. Those who really like his bat think he has a chance to become an above-average hitter. A 55-grade hitter with average power is an everyday profile, so those are lofty expectations for Schanuel, but scouts who like him are in because of the bat. He’s a tough profile because he can’t play in the dirt and doesn’t have the speed for center field, so he’ll need to develop power to profile in left or right field. Typically, teams let high school corner profiles go to college and prove the bat, but a team high on Schanuel’s hit tool could take a shot to get him before he goes to college and raises his stock. | |||||||
| 252 | Tyson Guerrero | LHP | Lower Columbia (Wash.) JC | 6-0 | 195 | L-L | – |
| A 6-foot, 195-pound lefthander who originally enrolled at Washington State, Guerrero came out of W.F. West High in Chehalis, Wash., which has produced a number of notable pitching prospects in recent years including D-backs lefthander Brock Jones and Washington State sophomore Brandon White. Guerrero moved to Lower Columbia (Wash.) JC, where he impressed in a few early outings this spring, including a 15-strikeout game in his second start of the season. While Guerrero is a bit undersized, he is an athletic lefthander who plays center field when he’s not pitching. He has a fastball that gets up into the 94-95 mph range. He also throws a hard curveball with impressive spin—enough for it to project as an above-average pitch. He’s shown a changeup as well but that’s a distant third pitch. Guerrero is a lean lefthander who could still add more weight. | |||||||
| 253 | Christian Rodriguez | RHP | Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS | 6-6 | 185 | R-R | Cal State Fullerton |
| Rodriguez spent four years in the starting rotation at high-profile Orange (Calif.) Lutheran and led the Lancers to three consecutive National High School Invitational titles. He entered his senior year with high draft hopes, but his stuff went backward in limited time before the season shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. At his best, Rodriguez flashes a 90-93 mph fastball out of his wiry, projectable 6-foot-5 frame. This spring, he spent more time pitching in the 87-91 mph range, and scouts noted he lost some of his athleticism in his delivery. Rodriguez’s secondaries are still developing and he’s not as aggressive on the mound as scouts would like. Rodriguez’s projectable frame and natural arm strength still give him considerable upside. He is committed to Cal State Fullerton. | |||||||
| 254 | Michael Brown | 1B | Vacaville (Calif.) HS | 6-5 | 230 | L-L | Washington |
| A hulking, 6-foot-5, 230-pound first baseman, Brown has plus raw power and plenty of potential to add more as he adds more muscle and strength to an already imposing and physical frame. He’s big and strong with solid bat speed, but his swing is more strength-based than twitchy, and he also gets on top of the ball too frequently. If he’s able to leverage his swing more and put the ball in the air Brown has a chance to do a lot of damage. A participant in the PDP League and a number of other high-profile events last summer, Brown was seen by plenty of high-level scouts and recorded one impressive 101-mph exit velocity against a 93 mph fastball at Perfect Game’s All-American Classic. Brown will likely be limited to first base at the next level thanks to his well below-average running ability and below-average arm strength, which will put more pressure on his bat at the next level. Brown is committed to Washington. | |||||||
| 255 | Austin Love | RHP | North Carolina | 6-3 | 232 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A filled out, 6-foot-3, 232-pound righthander, Love was UNC’s relief ace in 2019, when he appeared in a team-high 36 games and posted a 3.22 ERA over 67 innings. Scouts were intrigued enough with him to wonder how he would look in a starting role, especially after seeing success in that capacity over the summer in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 2.70 ERA in four starts and three relief appearances. However, Love was again used strictly in relief in 2020, though his best outing was an extended, 5.2-inning appearance against Dallas Baptist where he struck out nine batters. Love throws a straight fastball in the 90-94 mph range and pairs it with a no-doubt plus changeup. The change sits in the 86-88 mph range with devastating tumbling action, and he locates it consistently—his clear go-to offering. Love also throws a slider in the low 80s but the pitch lacks bite or sharp movement and backs up on him at times. Love has struggled with walks at times—he walked 5.0 per nine in the Cape and 4.9 per nine this spring—and those issues with control could limit him to a relief role at the next level as well. | |||||||
| 256 | Tanner Tredaway | OF | Oklahoma | 5-11 | 181 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| The shortened season muddled the draft status of Tredaway. He was coming off an ineffective sophomore season that saw him hit .260/.368/.303 with only six extra-base hits in 146 at-bats. He showed a significantly stronger bat in 2020 and was hitting .378/.392/.689 with 13 extra-base hits in 74 at-bats when the season ended. Tredaway isn’t particularly big or physical (5-foot-11, 181 pounds), but he showed some line-drive power this year to go with his plus speed. Even with his improved offense, he’s more of a bottom-of-the-order bat with a fringe-average hit tool (and a solid batting eye) to go with his present 5-10 home run power and some doubles. Tredaway has struggled to catch up to top-notch velocity. He runs well enough and has shown the reads to be an average defender in center field. | |||||||
| 257 | Dylan MacLean | LHP | Central Catholic HS, Portland, Ore. | 6-2 | 185 | R-R | Washington |
| MacLean is one of the most interesting pitching prospects in the Northwest and was a pick to click for many area scouts. A classic projection lefthander, MacLean is command-oriented with a clean delivery and a track record of throwing strikes going back to his time in the Little League World Series. Over the summer at the Area Code Games, MacLean showed a fastball that ranged from 83-87 mph for the most part, with a 69-74 mph curveball that had big, 12-to-6 shape. While both pitches needed more power, MacLean spun his curveball in the 2,500 rpm range and evaluators loved his feel for spotting up consistently and the potential in his lanky, 6-foot-2 frame. Scouts said MacLean was trending in the right direction velo-wise, and he showed better stuff in an early bullpen session this January, but teams weren’t able to see any game action of MacLean due to the coronavirus pandemic. MacLean is a throwing partner with projected first-rounder Mick Abel and would have been seen frequently this spring under normal circumstances. Now with a shorter draft, it’s more likely that teams let MacLean get to Washington and make his jump at school, though many scouts were already bought into his future upside. | |||||||
| 258 | Alek Boychuk | C | Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, Ga. | 6-1 | 208 | R-R | South Carolina |
| An offensive-inclined backstop out of Mill Creek High in Hoschton, Ga., Boychuk stands out for his consistent hitting ability. While he didn’t have the best performance last summer during the PDP League, scouts who know him well have commented that he regularly performs at a high level with the bat and noted that he improved on the offensive side of the game this spring. He got bigger and stronger over the offseason, and now has plus bat speed with a chance to get to solid-average power. Boychuk has a balanced, righthanded swing and could be an average hitter. While he trended in the right direction on the offensive side of the ball, his defensive game went the opposite direction this spring. While Boychuk does have above-average arm, he’s noisy behind the plate and doesn’t look like a big-league defender just yet. Boychuk is competing against a deep prep catching class in a shorter draft this year, which could make it easier for him to make it to campus at South Carolina. | |||||||
| 259 | Trey Gibson | RHP | Grafton HS, Yorktown, Va. | 6-4 | 225 | R-R | Liberty |
| Gibson popped onto the national radar last fall in Jupiter, when he struck out 12 batters and walked two while showing a four-pitch mix over six innings. The Liberty commit has a physical, 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame and a below-average operation, but he showed an ability to repeat it consistently and threw solid strikes in that outing. What will challenge scouts given the shortened 2020 season is Gibson’s limited track record. He was close to an unknown before his performance in Jupiter, and teams probably don’t feel great about the information they were able to add to his file this spring. In Jupiter, Gibson threw a 90-93 mph fastball and showed good feel for a slider, curveball and changeup. The slider sat in the mid-80s and was a firm breaking ball, the curve flashed two-plane break and his changeup was in the 82-85 mph range with good depth and sink. His curveball and changeup both looked like above-average offerings. With some stiffness and crossfiring action in his delivery, scouts wonder about Gibson’s reliever risk and without significant looks to clarify that question this spring teams might opt to let him get to campus in Lynchburg. | |||||||
| 260 | Jeremy Wu-Yelland | LHP | Hawaii | 6-2 | 210 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Wu-Yelland impressed with a 3.16 ERA in the Cape Cod League last summer and entered the year as Hawaii’s top college draft prospect in the state. He allowed only one earned run in 13 innings before the season shut down, headlined by four scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a matchup against Vanderbilt. Wu-Yelland brings considerable arm strength from the left side with a 91-94 mph fastball that touches 96. He complements his fastball with a loopy, low-80s breaking ball he keeps out of the middle of the plate and a low-80s changeup that is effective against righties. Wu-Yelland has the arsenal to start, but he has struggled to consistently throw strikes in his career and projects as a reliever long-term. He pitched out of the bullpen exclusively this spring and excelled in both long relief and save situations. | |||||||
| 261 | Joey Loperfido | INF | Duke | 6-4 | 195 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| A solid athlete and versatile defender, Loperfido had a standout offensive season at Duke in 2018, when he hit .315/.408/.475 with 11 doubles and six home runs. After leading the team in hitting, Loperfido was named to the All-ACC Freshman team. But he hasn’t reached those offensive heights since his freshman year, hitting .261/.361/.389 as a sophomore and hitting .264/.418/.358 through 15 games in the shortened 2020 season. Scouts like Loperfido’s natural athleticism and makeup, but don’t believe he has any plus tools to carry him and also wonder about his true defensive home. He’s played plenty of positions in college, including second base, first base, left field and center field, but evaluators don’t think he excels at any of them. The outfield is likely his best defensive spot in the future, and while he’s an above-average runner, he isn’t a burner so a corner spot could be a better fit, where he would have solid range. While Loperfido has average raw power with a smooth lefthanded swing, it hasn’t consistently translated, and he does have some swing-and-miss concerns with a 23 percent career whiff rate with Duke. Loperfido profiles as a utility player in some capacity, but scouts believe he could be a tough sign and could return to Durham for his senior season. | |||||||
| 262 | Noah Bridges | OF | UNC Wilmington | 6-2 | 170 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| A multi-sport athlete coming out of high school, Bridges ran track, played soccer and was on the swim team at South Johnston High in Four Oaks, N.C. before establishing himself as a regular with UNC-Wilmington. Bridges started 57 games as a freshman and has been a reliable outfielder for the Seahawks for three years. His carrying tool is his speed. Scouts see a 70-grade runner who has the ability to play center field well and could also handle every outfield position if necessary. While Bridges has a light bat—he’s a career .260/.323/.359 hitter in the Colonial Athletic Association—his speed should get him drafted. He’s stolen 39 bases in 49 attempts (79.6 percent) in college and could carve out a role as a reserve outfielder with game-changing running ability, but scouts aren’t sure he’ll hit enough or have enough pop to profile as a regular. Bridges played 10 games in the Cape Cod League last summer, where he hit .200/.286/.240 with 11 strikeouts to two walks. | |||||||
| 263 | George Klassen | RHP | Port Washington (Wis.) HS | 6-2 | 165 | R-R | Minnesota |
| Without a spring season to speak of, Klassen is more likely to make it to Minnesota. One of the best arms in a talented Wsiconsin high school class, Klassen has a fast arm, although there’s some effort involved, with a head whack. He’ll sit 90-93 mph with his fastball that shows solid late life. The 6-foot-2, 165-pounder has not fully grown into his frame–there’s some reason to think that he’ll be more consistent in his strike-throwing and lower the effort level in his delivery as he gets stronger. Klassen’s 77-82 mph curve has some power to it and solid bite, but like his fastball he needs to locate it more consistently. Klassen’s control is currently well below average but has room for improvement. | |||||||
| 264 | Jack Blomgren | SS | Michigan | 5-10 | 180 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A three-year starter at Michigan who was named to the College World Series All-Tournament team in 2019, Blomgren is a steady performer with average tools, but a solid track record of performance. His resume could allow him to be a more attractive selection for teams in the shortened 2020 draft, where more clubs will be looking for safety and higher floors than a typical year. Blomgren has average tools across the board outside of power, which he is lacking. There’s some stiffness to Blomgren’s operation at the plate and he has a flat swing that’s geared more toward hitting line drives up the middle than any sort of over-the-field impact. While he’s shown a good ability to take walks, he’s also struck out at a reasonably high clip (17 percent) throughout his Big 10 career. Defensively, Blomgren is a sure-handed shortstop who will make all the routine plays, with average arm strength and range. Scouts are drawn to his game thanks to a quiet, workmanlike demeanor and those who know him praise his makeup and toughness. While Blomgren doesn’t offer much upside or a lengthy summer track record, he projects to stick at shortstop and has a reasonably high floor. | |||||||
| 265 | Tim Tawa | SS/OF | Stanford | 6-0 | 191 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| An exemplary high school athlete, Tawa was a heralded football and baseball player at West Linn (Ore.) High, where he was a three-time Gatorade Football Player of the Year and the 2017 Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year. He led his high school’s football team to a 2016 state championship and set records for career touchdown passes and passing yards, while also leading his baseball team to three league titles. After three years with Stanford, Tawa has hit .267/.307/.435 with the ability to handle almost any position. Versatility is the calling card for the 6-foot, 191-pound infielder and outfielder. Scouts believe his best fit is in the outfield, while coaches have said he handles second base naturally as well. Tawa has a tendency to put his foot on the gas pedal at all times and that can allow the game to speed up on him. Coaches have said he plays baseball like a football player. His bat is a bit light and scouts wonder how much he’ll hit at the next level, and he also doesn’t have much power to speak of. It’s difficult to see Tawa developing into an everyday player without more offense, but teams who value the defensive versatility he offers could be interested. | |||||||
| 266 | Jaxon Wiggins | RHP | Roland (Okla.) HS | 6-6 | 205 | R-R | Arkansas |
| Wiggins was still playing basketball when the Oklahoma state basketball tournament was cancelled because of coronavirus, so he never got on the baseball field. An all-state 3A forward who averaged 16 points a game as a senior, Wiggins is a 6-foot-6 righthander with plenty of athleticism and projectability. An Arkansas signee, Wiggins started to show more consistency in locating his above-average 90-94 mph fastball and he has an advanced changeup for an Oklahoman prep arm. Scouts haven’t seen much feel for spinning a breaking ball yet. In a five-round draft, he’s more likely to get to school, where he’ll have some time to fill out, gain consistency and try to learn a slider or curveball. | |||||||
| 267 | Jake Deleo | OF/C | Avon (Conn.) Old Farms HS | 6-2 | 190 | R-R | Georgia Tech |
| A tools-over-production player right now, Deleo was impressive on the showcase circuit over the summer and fared well at Jupiter and East Coast Pro. Deleo is older for his class and physically mature at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, but there is still a little more room for him to grow. He has some power in his bat now, but there are questions about his ability to hit a breaking ball, and some scouts want to see how his in-game pitch recognition improves at Georgia Tech. Deleo has good bat speed with a small leg kick and an uphill finish and is quick down the line. Deleo has shown the ability to hit fastballs well, but he will need to be more consistent against low-to-mid 90s velocity. Defensively, he should be able to stick at center field, where he’s a solid defender with great speed and solid-average arm strength to allow him to stay there. | |||||||
| 268 | Alex Freeland | SS | Mariner HS, Cape Coral, Fla. | 6-2 | 180 | B-R | Central Florida |
| A 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop who showed good feel to hit over the summer and fall, scouts are intrigued with Freeland as an offensive-oriented infielder. A switch-hitter committed to Central Florida, Freeland has solid power with a chance to get to fringe-average or average juice in-game, and some scouts think he can develop into an average hitter as well, with more impact from the left side than the right. While Freeland has shown solid hands, good arm strength and runs well in a straight line, scouts universally believe he’ll have to move to either second or third in the future because of a club foot he was born with. Without knowing, you likely wouldn’t be able to tell by watching him on the field, but it does limit his lateral mobility. Even still, Freeland has done enough with the bat to get scouts excited, though because of the shorter 2020 draft and questions about his medical, teams might prefer he go to college and prove it. | |||||||
| 269 | Ronan Kopp | LHP | Scottsdale Christian Academy, Phoenix | 6-5 | 200 | L-L | Arizona State |
| Kopp presents one of the biggest quandaries for area scouts after his few appearances this spring. He came out of the summer showcase circuit with plenty of helium, a premium commodity because of his size and handedness. But his limited outings, going back to a tournament in January, left scouts scratching their heads trying to figure out what to make of him. His fastball velocity has fluctuated from topping out at 96-97 mph in at least one game to sitting in the mid-80s in another, and he’s had well below-average command. When he’s right, Kopp throws strikes with a fastball into the 90s and a curveball that he manipulates and lands consistently. But that version of Kopp didn’t emerge this spring. With a shorter draft planned for this year, it’s likely that Kopp will head to Arizona State. Even so, a team that thinks it can get him back on track and add more consistency might roll the dice on his upside. | |||||||
| 270 | Zach Brzykcy | RHP | Virginia Tech | 6-2 | 215 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-2, 215-pound reliever, Brzykcy has stuff that fits among the top three rounds with a fastball in the 96-98 mph range that can touch 100 and a plus slider. What has always held him back with Virginia Tech—and what scouts are concerned about in the future—is his control. While Brzykcy has struck out 13.9 batters per nine over his collegiate career, his walk rate is almost as high, at 10.5 per nine. Because of his control issues, Brzykcy’s innings have been limited. He threw 5.2 innings as a freshman, a career-high 23.1 as a sophomore and just six this spring before the novel coronavirus ended the 2020 season. When Brzykcy has everything together and is finding the zone, he’s close to unhittable. His summer in the Cape Cod League is good evidence for that. In 10 innings, he dominated hitters, posting a 1.80 ERA and allowing just four hits while striking out 14 and walking only one. Teams will be skeptical of that 10-inning sample when compared with his ACC performance, and it could cause him to fall or go undrafted in the shortened 2020 draft. | |||||||
| 271 | Chase Hampton | RHP | Kilgore (Texas) HS | 6-3 | 200 | R-R | Texas Tech |
| A Texas Tech signee with a solid 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame, Hampton’s 159 strikeouts as a high school junior ranked among the best marks in the state of Texas. Working from the extreme first base side of the rubber with a drop-and-drive delivery, Hampton has plenty of tempo to his delivery—he finishes by spinning off towards first base. Hampton has an impressive 2,300-2,400 rpm average 91-93 mph fastball with moderate arm-side run. He can spin a mid-70s curveball with solid spin, but sometimes it breaks too early out of his hand. | |||||||
| 272 | Justin Wrobleski | LHP | State JC of Florida | 6-1 | 193 | L-L | Mariners ’18 (36) |
| A high profile, athletic lefthander out of high school in 2018, Wrobleski ranked No. 215 on the BA 500 coming out of Sequoyah High in Canton, Ga. A Clemson commit, Wrobleski struggled over three starts for the Tigers in 2019 before transferring to State JC of Florida. Scouts weren’t able to see him much early in the season as he dealt with a jaw injury, but he ran his fastball up to 95 mph in the fall. In the past, Wrobleski has shown a solid slider in the low 80s that looked like an above-average offering. Wrobleski started getting on the mound more regularly in late February. On the season, Wrobleski started four games, threw 18.2 innings and struck out 27 batters while walking 11 and posting a 2.89 ERA. Wrobleski has solid stuff from the left side but a limited track record in college. | |||||||
| 273 | Joseph Dixon | RHP | Bingham HS, South Jordan, Utah | 6-2 | 190 | R-R | Stanford |
| Dixon is a polished righthanded high school pitcher who would attract plenty of interest if not for his strong commitment to Stanford. He’s athletic with very good mound presence, and his 86-87 mph cutter is already a plus pitch. His fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 93 with some sink. He throws with a repeatable delivery that ends with a little head whack. He rounds out his repertoire with a slider and curveball, both fringe-average pitches now. Dixon’s ability to pitch and his overall feel for the game cast him as a prototypical Stanford pitcher, and three years with the Cardinal could turn him into a significant draft prospect in 2023. | |||||||
| 274 | Michael Rothenberg | C | Duke | 6-3 | 210 | B-R | Never Drafted |
| A big, physical switch-hitting catcher with power from both sides of the plate and a strong arm to match, Rothenberg has the toolset that could entice some teams among the top five rounds. However, while he does have tools, scouts have been skeptical about the playability of those tools, and the inconsistency of his defensive work behind the dish. Rothenberg has plus raw power and hits impressive home runs in batting practice, but while he did get to 11 home runs in 2019 as a sophomore with Duke, scouts question the length to his swing and wonder about his ability to pick up spin and avoid chasing out of the zone. Behind the plate, scouts wonder if he has the ability to receive at a high level, and while he has shown off easy plus arm strength at times, it’s not consistently at that level. He’s tall for a catcher, so some evaluators are skeptical he can stick behind the dish, but others have liked the way he caught Duke ace Bryce Jarvis early this spring and are more optimistic. A career .273/.406/.468 hitter with 15 home runs in his Duke career, Rothenberg struggled with the bat in a 17-game stint in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .200/.241/.218 with 17 strikeouts and three walks. Where Rothenberg is selected in 2020 will come down to whether a team thinks he can hit and catch at the next level, but his toolset and physicality are clear to everyone. | |||||||
| 275 | Brady Moore | SS | Pickens HS, Jasper, Ga. | 6-2 | 190 | R-R | Coastal Carolina |
| A strong, athletic shortstop with a football background, Moore had a chance to jump up draft boards with a strong spring with Pickens High in Jasper, Ga. He intrigued scouts last fall in Jupiter while playing for the East Cobb Yankees, where he showed athleticism, plus bat speed and a plus arm at shortstop. Due to a somewhat limited history, teams might be more inclined to let Moore get to Coastal Carolina with a five-round draft, but those who like Moore believe he will stick at shortstop and are excited about his line drive swing. Moore is just an average runner with average raw power, but those tools on a player projected to stick at shortstop are attractive, especially considering Moore’s standout athleticism and makeup. Evaluators love his mentality on and off the field and believe he’s a player who will make the most of his natural ability. Those who like him saw a player whose talent fit in the third or fourth round, but his lack of history might make it hard for him to get selected in 2020. | |||||||
| 276 | Christian Knapczyk | SS | Joliet (Ill.) Catholic Academy | 5-9 | 150 | L-R | Louisville |
| A 5-foot-9, 150-pound shortstop, Knapczyk has a solid understanding of his game. He doesn’t try to get too big in his swing, instead making plenty of contact, using the entire field and laying down a bunt when it’s warranted. He’s a plus runner with above-average defense at shortstop and an accurate arm. Knapczyk would have been a tough draft out of high school even in a normal draft year. With just 160 players being drafted, he will almost certainly get a chance to head to Louisville. If he continues to show a solid understanding of the game as a Cardinal, he will get a chance to rise up draft boards in a few years. | |||||||
| 277 | Will Fleming | RHP | Wake Forest | 6-6 | 215 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-6, 220-pound righthander with a fastball that gets up to 97, Fleming moved into Wake Forest’s weekend rotation this spring after spending his first two years in the bullpen. Fleming has two different breaking balls and a changeup that scouts see as an average pitch. They are more skeptical about his ability to spin the breaking ball and think his future role is as a reliever. Fleming posted a 4.37 ERA over four starts and 22.2 innings of work this spring, with 22 strikeouts and six walks, but scouts point to a bad arm action and just decent control as reasons he might be more effective out of the pen in the future. He also has never missed as many bats as scouts expected considering his velocity. Some compare him to righthander Morgan McSweeney, who was drafted out of Wake Forest in the 17th round by the Orioles in 2019. Both are hard-throwing righthanders with reliever concerns—albeit for different reasons—and stuff that plays down from what scouts would expect. Fleming has a 4.80 career ERA at Wake Forest over 80.2 innings and last summer in the Cape Cod League he posted a 5.33 ERA over 25.1 innings with Wareham, while striking out 24 batters and walking six. | |||||||
| 278 | Lucas Dunn | 2B | Louisville | 6-0 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A three-year performer with Louisville, Dunn can handle a number of positions in both the infield and outfield while bringing a solid righthanded swing and plenty of energy to the table. Dunn is praised by both scouts and coaches alike for his effort on the field and the intensity with which he plays. A career .306/.398/.410 hitter with Louisville, Dunn doesn’t boast much power—his season high in homers is two—but he routinely squares up the baseball and has walked almost as many times as he’s struck out with the Cardinals (42 walks to 44 strikeouts). Dunn played second base in the Cape Cod League with Hyannis this summer, and then joined Team USA in the outfield when they had a need at the position. He didn’t post great numbers with either team offensively, but his defensive versatility was a big boon to both. Dunn also played for Team Germany’s 18U club in 2015 while representing his mother’s side of the family. Dunn has dual-citizenship and speaks fluent German. He could have elevated his draft profile this spring with a strong offensive season, but a broken hamate injury limited him to just eight games, where he hit .273/.285/.455. Dunn’s best defensive spots are second base or the outfield, where he’s a fringy runner, but his speed plays up thanks to good routes and jumps off the bat. | |||||||
| 279 | Thomas Saggese | SS | Carlsbad (Calif.) HS | 6-0 | 170 | R-R | Pepperdine |
| Saggese hit .422 with 10 home runs as a junior to win MVP of San Diego’s Avocado West League, one of the top high school leagues in the country. He carried on this spring with a .440 batting average, three triples and three home runs in seven games before the season shut down. Saggese is an athletic shortstop with a history of performing against good competition. He has a loose, wristy swing that makes lots of contact and drives the ball hard to all fields. He already shows double-digit home run potential and should grow into more power as he matures. Saggese doesn’t wear batting gloves and is often described as a “gritty” or “throwback” player. He plays an average shortstop and has a chance to stick at the position, although his arm strength will need to improve for him to avoid a move to second base. He makes the all the routine plays and has good instincts for the game. He is committed to Pepperdine but has attracted draft interest as an athletic shortstop who has a chance to grow into power. Saggese popped onto national draft radars very late in the process, and because of that—in tandem with a five-round draft—many teams might be more inclined to let him get to campus with no plus tool to point to. | |||||||
| 280 | Matt Goodheart | INF/OF | Arkansas | 6-1 | 180 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| If you hit third in the Arkansas lineup, you’re likely a very productive hitter. Goodheart is a lefthanded hitter with a lengthy track record. Goodheart has a shot to be an above-average hitter, but he has a below-average power, which makes his pro profile difficult. That difficulty is increased by a dislocated shoulder in 2019 that required surgery and has limited him to DH duties since his return. Goodheart played left field twice in his first week with Arkansas in 2019, but that was the last time he played a position defensively. That surgery also kept him from trying to play first base or a corner- outfield spot in 2020. Goodheart hit .348/.451/.514 in 2019 and hit .302/.400/.492 in 2020. | |||||||
| 281 | Cullen Kafka | RHP | Oregon | 6-4 | 217 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-4, 217-pound righthander with a fastball that gets up into the 95-96 mph range, Kafka has spent plenty of time in a starter role with Oregon over the last three years. He split time as a reliever and a starter in 2018 as a freshman, but still started six games and then added 14 in 2019 as a sophomore and four as a junior before the 2020 season was shut down. While Kafka’s fastball gets up into the mid-90s, he more typically sits in the 91-93 mph range, and the pitch has good sinking life. He’s shown a fringy slider and a below-average changeup, though there are some scouts who believe the slider has a chance to be an above-average offering. Because of his pitch mix, some teams believe Kafka would have more success in a reliever role at the next level, and also point to consistently high walk rates that might not be serviceable in a starting role at the pro level. Kafka has walked 4.7 batters per nine innings over his pro career and walked 13 batters in 18 innings of work last summer with Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod League. | |||||||
| 282 | Tyler McDonough | INF/OF | North Carolina State | 5-10 | 170 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| An undersized infielder and outfielder with impressive bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, McDonough made the 2019 Freshman All-American team after leading NC State and the ACC with 80 hits and posting a .320/.392/.452 line. Now a draft-eligible sophomore, scouts admire McDonough’s skillset despite the fact that he doesn’t have a plus tool in the box. Listed at 5-foot-10, 184-pounds, McDonough doesn’t have much power, but he consistently puts the fat part of the bat on the baseball and posts louder exit velocities that you might guess on the surface. Because of those numbers, scouts think he will be able to drive the ball into the gaps enough to get to 11-15 homers per season in pro ball, with plenty of extra base hits. He can play a number of positions defensively, including second and center field, with some scouts thinking third base or even catcher—where he played in high school—could be possible in the future. With Patrick Bailey entrenched behind the plate in Raleigh it could be tougher to sign McDonough as a conversion backstop as a draft-eligible sophomore, but if he could stick behind the plate that would significantly enhance his value. McDonough is an average or tick better runner who has gone 17-for-19 (89.5 percent) in stolen base attempts in 78 games with State. | |||||||
| 283 | Kellum Clark | 3B | Brandon (Miss.) HS | 6-4 | 221 | L-R | Mississippi State |
| Clark has long been a smooth-swinging hitter, but he’s starting to become interesting on the mound as well. At 19, Clark is old for the high school class and will be a draft-eligible sophomore if he goes to Mississippi State. A big, lefthanded hitter, Clark can show feel to hit and power, but he has to choose which he wants to do—scouts who see a plus hit tool think it will come with below-average power while others see plus power with a below-average hit tool. His profile is a question because he’s a first baseman/right fielder. A righthanded thrower, his arm is an asset in right field and he’s steadily gained velocity on the mound, showing the ability to sink a 91-95 mph fastball and mix in a promising breaking ball. | |||||||
| 284 | Dylan Neuse | INF | Texas Tech | 5-9 | 175 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Unlike his brother, A’s second baseman Sheldon Neuse, who is a stocky, power-hitting infielder, Dylan Neuse is a speedy center fielder who swipes bases and lines balls to the gaps. The younger Neuse is a plus runner with a skinnier but more athletic frame than his brother. The younger Neuse has a big swing and solid bat speed. He trades some contact and consistency for fringe-average power despite his 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame. Neuse was starting to make more consistent contact this spring—he was hitting .361/.447/.500 with 12 steals in just 18 games. That helped wipe away some o the concerns from his .197/.315/.316 performance in the Cape Cod League last summer. | |||||||
| 285 | Austin Vernon | RHP | North Carolina Central | 6-8 | 295 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A big-bodied righthander listed at 6-foot-8, 298 pounds, Vernon showed impressive pure stuff last summer in the Cape Cod League and showed potential to be a top 200 sort of prospect with a strong spring. Vernon didn’t pitch in 2020, however, after a non-Tommy John arm surgery to clean some things up. He was planning on returning to the mound at some point late in the season. With Chatham in the Cape Cod League last summer, Vernon showed a fastball in the 93-97 mph range with above-average feel for spinning a curveball and a slider. Scouts all admired the way the ball comes out of Vernon’s hand and think he has three potential 55-grade offerings. He’s likely a reliever at the next level without much track record as a starter at North Carolina Central. In 41 games, he started just nine times, posting a 4.64 ERA and striking out 10.3 batters per nine while walking 5.6 per nine. Teams will be concerned with how well Vernon maintains his extra-large frame moving forward and will need to feel comfortable with his medical, but the stuff is solid. | |||||||
| 286 | Jack Hartman | RHP | Appalachian State | 6-3 | 212 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Hartman began his college career in 2017 at Tallahassee (Fla.) JC where he was a position player and hit .267 with three home runs. In 2018, he went to JC of Central Florida where he pitched out of the bullpen and continued to swing the bat. In 2019, Hartman began pitching full-time, and scouts got interested recently when Hartman had a fairly significant jump in velocity. He’s now up to 97 mph on his fastball with a slider that flashes easy plus at times, though the breaking ball is inconsistent. In fact, inconsistency has been one of the concerns scouts have noted of Hartman this spring. When he’s on, Hartman has a heater in the 94-97 mph range, with a banger of a breaking ball while throwing solid strikes. When he’s not on, the fastball still comes out well, but his slider looks more like a well below-average pitch and his control is a much bigger concern. Hartman has posted a 4.28 ERA in 33.2 innings of relief with Appalachian State over the last two years, with 12.8 strikeouts per nine and 7.0 walks per nine. He’s a no-doubt reliever at the next level, but because of his limited time focusing on pitching, teams might believe they can figure out how to improve his command at the next level, where his pure stuff could be good enough for a seventh- or eighth-inning role. There’s a lot of refinement that will need to happen before he gets to that level, but he should be a no-doubt senior sign candidate for teams. | |||||||
| 287 | Calvin Harris | C | Western Dubuque HS, Epworth, Iowa | 6-0 | 200 | L-R | Mississippi |
| Harris doesn’t make it look pretty. He has a short, flat swing that isn’t all that fluid. His hands work very well, though, and he has bat speed to go with his contact ability. And he’s consistently hit good pitching. Harris has a plus arm and moves pretty well behind the plate. He’s got a good chance to stick at catcher, but he’s likely to get to Mississippi. | |||||||
| 288 | Adam Kerner | C | San Diego | 5-10 | 185 | R-R | Cardinals ’17 (37) |
| Long regarded as a standout defensive catcher, Kerner was drafted by the Cardinals in the 37th round out of high school and took over as San Diego’s starting catcher as a freshman. He earned second-team Freshman All-America honors, continued to earn accolades as a sophomore and was on pace for his best offensive season as a junior this spring before the season shut down. Listed at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, Kerner’s athleticism and arm strength make up for his lack of size behind the plate. He is flexible, quick and rangy and uses his size advantageously to set a low target and get down quickly to block. His quick footwork and quick release yield a plus, accurate arm. Kerner projects as an above-average-to-plus defender behind the plate, which will be his ticket up the minors. He is a decent contact hitter who occasionally flashes power, but he overall projects as a below-average hitter who won’t make much impact. He is an average runner capable of stealing the occasional base. | |||||||
| 289 | Caden Grice | LHP/OF | Riverside HS, Greer, S.C. | 6-6 | 220 | L-L | Clemson |
| Over the summer on the showcase circuit, Grice showed interesting stuff out of a big frame on the mound. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Clemson commit looks like he could be an incoming tight end for the football program, but he’s a two-way prospect on the baseball field with a fastball that was in the 89-92 mph range from the left side and a solid slider and changeup. He threw solid strikes with all three offerings, but it wouldn’t be surprising if more teams were now on Grice as a hitter after what he showed early this spring. In early batting practice sessions, Grice showed off raw power from the left side that compares with the best power hitters in the prep class. Multiple scouts have called it 80-grade raw power. He takes furious hacks and has plenty of natural strength and bat speed to send the ball a long way when he makes contact. That last point is the biggest question, as Grice did not hit particularly well over the summer, and evaluators are skeptical about how much he’ll hit in the future. Grice would have been easier to assess with a full season to show improvement in his hit tool, but for now he’s a high-risk, high-reward hitting prospect, who still has some potential on the mound. | |||||||
| 290 | Brant Hurter | LHP | Georiga Tech | 6-6 | 252 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Scouts started getting excited about Hurter when he was an underclassman with Georgia Tech, particularly after he posted a 2.42 ERA through nine starts and 48.1 innings as a sophomore in 2019. In that stretch, Hurter struck out 58 batters while walking just 14, but he injured his elbow and had Tommy John surgery. He has a chance for an above-average fastball and slider, with the latter showing hard, late bite and is effective against righties and lefties. There is some significant effort in his delivery, however, which could raise questions about his ability to start at the next level. Even so, he showed marked improvement in strike-throwing from his freshman to sophomore seasons. Hurter will be difficult for teams to evaluate considering he hasn’t pitched in more than a year, but he does have a solid Cape Cod League track record after posting a 3.09 ERA with good strikeout and walk rates in 2018 with Yarmouth-Dennis. | |||||||
| 291 | Marco Raya | RHP | United South HS, Laredo, Texas | 6-0 | 160 | R-R | Texas Tech |
| A 6-foot, 160-pound righthander with advanced ability to spin two breaking balls, Raya seemed to be steadily improving when the 2020 season was shut down. SIgned to play at Texas Tech, Raya already has a 90-94 mph fastball, but his curve and slider both have a shot to above-average. His curveball is an 80 mph power breaker while his slider will flash plus as well. He also flashes some feel for a changeup. Raya isn’t particularly big, and some scouts see him as close to maxed out-already, but if Raya gets to Texas Tech he could make an early impact. | |||||||
| 292 | Mikey Tepper | RHP | Fort Mill (S.C.) HS | 6-2 | 190 | L-R | Mississippi State |
| A 6-foot-2, 190-pound righthander committed to Mississippi State, Tepper has an excellent two-pitch combo but comes with some reliever risk. Tepper touched 95 mph at Perfect Game’s National showcase and has been up into the mid-90s fairly consistently, though his fastball typically sits in the 90-93 mph range. He pairs the fastball with a potentially above-average breaking ball. His changeup is also potentially above-average, but he hasn’t thrown that pitch as often. Tepper’s erratic control also concerns scouts, who would like to see him shorten his arm action and smooth out his delivery. Originally a UNC-Charlotte commit, Tepper is likely a tough sign now that he’s committed to Mississippi State. That change could push him out of 2020’s five-round draft. | |||||||
| 293 | Griff McGarry | RHP | Virginia | 6-2 | 175 | R-R | Rangers ’17 (31) |
| McGarry was a high-profile high school pitcher out of Northern California in 2017, ranking as the No. 174 prospect on that year’s BA 500. He showed off a 93-94 mph fastball and a potentially plus curveball but was expected to be a tough sign and make it to Virginia. He did get to campus, but McGarry hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. While McGarry still has a solid fastball that gets up to 96 mph, he’s struggled every year to throw strikes. McGarry’s career walk rate with Virginia is 8.8 batters per nine innings and the best mark he has posted was 8.2 per nine as a freshman. Those results have led some scouts to assess his command as 20-grade, the lowest on the scale. McGarry posted a 1.35 ERA this spring in four starts, but he still walked 19 batters in 20 innings. He still shows some ability to spin a slider, so the pure stuff is still in the tank, but unless a team believes they have a fix for his control issues, he could be a candidate to return to school for 2021. | |||||||
| 294 | Cory Acton | 2B | Florida | 6-0 | 170 | L-R | Tigers ’18 (39) |
| Acton had a highly regarded bat coming out of high school, when he ranked as the No. 147 prospect in the 2018 class. He hit in the middle of a talented American Heritage lineup that included Mark Vientos and Triston Casas and scouts expected him to be an immediate producer if he got to campus at Florida. He didn’t quite live up to expectations during his first season in Gainesville, hitting .251/.353/.387 and showing more swing-and-miss than expected. Teams thought he would control the zone better than a 21-percent strikeout rate, though he did show above-average power—particularly to the pull side. As an offensive-oriented second baseman, Acton needed a strong season as a draft-eligible sophomore to move the needle but was hitting just .192/.364/.269 through 15 games this spring, with a strikeout rate over 30 percent. Scouts have seen him add a leg kick at the plate and note that he’s out in front frequently and has had issues recognizing offspeed offerings. Some evaluators believe he needs a complete swing change to get back to his hitting roots. Defensively, Acton is a below-average runner who can make the routine plays and turn a double play at second, but he doesn’t project to be anything more than adequate at the position. He has average arm strength. His value comes from the bat, and so far he hasn’t produced in college. He could return to Florida for the 2021 season. | |||||||
| 295 | Adam Tulloch | LHP | JC of Central Florida | 6-2 | 205 | L-L | – |
| Tulloch pitched well at Wingate in 2019 during his freshman season, posting a 2.42 ERA over 48.1 innings with 64 strikeouts and 31 walks. He continued to walk batters at a high rate as a sophomore with JC of Central Florida in 25 innings this spring—with 21—but again managed to have success thanks to plenty of strikeouts (42) and posted a 2.88 ERA. Tulloch profiles as a reliever because of the effort in his drop-and-drive delivery and his below-average control, but he has a fastball that gets up to 95 mph from the left side and a fringe-average breaking ball. In a typical draft year, Tulloch could have intrigued teams that liked his arm strength from the left side in the 6-10 round range. | |||||||
| 296 | Ethan Long | 3B/RHP | Mountain Pointe HS, Phoenix | 6-2 | 220 | R-R | Arizona State |
| Long has been on the radar for Four Corners scouts through much of his high school career. Originally committed to Arkansas, he’s now signed to hometown Arizona State with a good chance of making it to campus. Long is a gamer type with a tough, competitive mindset and a stocky, muscular build. He generates big exit velocities with a fluid swing and plenty of bat speed. He’s got plus raw power, but with that pop comes plenty of swing and miss. Long is a below-average defender at the hot corner but with a plus arm throwing from different arm slots. He also uses that arm strength on the mound, delivering a fastball in the low-to-mid-90s, touching as high as 96-97, and a curveball with good shape. With further refinement and coaching Long could have more upside on the mound as a late-inning power reliever. | |||||||
| 297 | Werner Blakely | SS | Southfield (Mich.) HS | 6-3 | 180 | L-R | Auburn |
| Blakely is a prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect with plenty of athleticism and tools, but a rawness to his game that raises some concerns. A 6-foot-3, 180-pound shortstop committed to Auburn, Blakely has some of the best pure shortstop actions in the class, but he has battled shown shoddy glovework at times and hasn’t yet developed a strong internal clock. He moves fluidly around the field and has a potentially plus arm, so when scouts see him make a highlight-reel play they grow more confident he can stick at the position with additional reps and coaching. Offensively, Blakely has an uphill swing that leaves him little room for error in the strike zone, and he’s shown a tendency to get long in his swing with inconsistent plate coverage. Teams are excited about his potential and the power he could pack on to his athletic frame, but he’ll need plenty of at-bats to refine his offensive game. Blakely is a good runner who glides around the field and could turn into a dangerous basestealing threat. | |||||||
| 298 | Cam Shepherd | SS | Georgia | 6-1 | 181 | R-R | Rays ’19 (20) |
| Shepherd has been a well-known prospect going back to his days in high school, when the Red Sox selected him in the 29th round of the 2016 draft out of Peachtree Ridge High in Suwanee, Ga. Shepherd elected to go to school at Georgia, where he hit well as a freshman and showed a high-level ability to handle shortstop despite no superior or standout tools. After hitting .307/.354/.452 in 2017, Shepherd’s offensive numbers started to slide and after four seasons and 197 games, the 6-foot-1, 181-pound senior has a career .262/.350/.417 line. Shepherd takes solid, professional at-bats and has a line-drive stroke, but he’s a fringy runner and doesn’t have significant upside according to most scouts. He’ll make all the routine plays at shortstop, which could get teams interested, but after electing to return to Georgia after being drafted in the 20th round by the Rays in 2019, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Shepherd return to Athens for one more season. | |||||||
| 299 | Jacob Gonzalez | SS | Glendora (Calif.) HS | 6-2 | 185 | L-R | Mississippi |
| Gonzalez was a standout quarterback who threw 59 touchdown passes against just 13 interceptions in two years as the starter at Glendora (Calif.) High, but his future is on the baseball diamond. Gonzalez is a prolific hitter whose athleticism shines at the plate. He has a loose, easy lefthanded swing, stays on plane and drives balls hard on a line. He has room to gain strength and add power, altogether projecting as a potential impact hitter once he reaches physical maturity. Gonzalez is a slow mover despite his athletic background and will have to move off of shortstop, likely to third base. He has the arm strength necessary for the hot corner. Gonzalez is committed to Mississippi. If he isn’t drafted early enough to sign, scouts expect him to be a high pick out of college in three years. | |||||||
| 300 | Alec Gonzalez | SS | Marian Catholic HS, Chicago Heights, Ill. | 6-1 | 188 | R-R | Tennessee |
| A Tennessee signee, Gonzalez is the type of player who usually makes it to college because he’s more of a good baseball player than a toolshed. Gonzalez’s plus arm gives him a shot to stay at shortstop even if his range is average at best. He has fluidity to his actions and soft hands. Offensively, he’s more of a bottom-of-the-order hitter who has the ability to put the bat on the ball, but doesn’t really do enough when he makes contact to worry pitchers. | |||||||
| 301 | Jalen Vasquez | SS | Fort Dorhester HS, North Charleston, S.C. | 5-11 | 165 | B-R | South Carolina |
| A defensive-first, switch-hitter, Vasquez stands out for his ability to handle shortstop at a high level. He has quick, choppy footwork and a solid first-stop to go with impressive hands and above-average arm strength. He’s a confident defender up the middle and in the hole to his backhand, with above-average range and standout body control. He’s not a great runner, but he has solid speed, and while he’s only 5-foot-11, 165-pounds, he’s shown sneaky pop in the bat. At East Coast Pro, Vasquez barreled an 87 mph fastball that came off his bat at 96 mph and he also homered at an East Coast Pro tryout in Cary, N.C. early last summer. Vasquez is committed to South Carolina and could significantly boost his stock by performing with the bat there, but teams are intrigued with his high-level defensive ability. | |||||||
| 302 | Zach Pettway | RHP | UCLA | 6-1 | 210 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Pettway combined to throw the first no-hitter in Area Code Games history in high school and spent three years in UCLA’s starting rotation. He was a freshman All-American and served as the Bruins’ Opening Day starter both his sophomore and junior years. Pettway succeeds on deception more than stuff. His fastball sits 87-91 mph but plays up with his stop-and-start, crossfire delivery. Batters struggle to find the ball and have trouble adjusting their timing. Pettway’s elite extension further helps his fastball get on hitters quicker than they expect. Pettway’s best secondary is his above-average changeup, while his slider is fringy but usable. He avoids the middle of the plate and works the corners with plus command and control. Pettway is an elite strike-thrower and competitor who pitches above his pure stuff. Analytically-inclined teams are higher on him than traditional clubs due to his track record, extension and command. | |||||||
| 303 | Gavin Stone | RHP | Central Arkansas | 6-1 | 175 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Stone’s final start of the abbreviated 2020 season was one to finish on. He struck out a career-high 13 batters while throwing the third no-hitter in Central Arkansas history. Stone spent most of his first two seasons at Central Arkansas in the bullpen, but he ascended to the Friday starter role this season and handled it well. Stone doesn’t have a true plus pitch, but he has three average offerings including a 90-92 mph fastball. He locates his changeup and breaking ball well, with his above-average control proving to be his best asset. | |||||||
| 304 | Jake Berger | SS | Buckingham Browne & Nichols HS, Cambridge, Mass. | 6-4 | 180 | L-R | Harvard |
| A great student in addition to a successful baseball player who will attend Harvard, Berger primarily plays shortstop but looks like he will grow out of the position. Already at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, Berger has room to add muscle to his projectable frame. He should have a good enough bat for the hot corner, with a solid swing that has some leverage in it. Most evaluators are confident with Berger’s bat from the left side—especially his power, which is average currently, but has the chance to become above average or plus in the future. Defensively, Berger has good instincts and intelligence, with a solid arm. He isn’t a great runner, but should be able to run enough, especially if he moves to third base. Berger’s bat will be his carrying tool, and he should have enough in the tank to make it work. | |||||||
| 305 | Chase Silseth | RHP | JC of Southern Nevada | 6-0 | 205 | R-R | Arizona |
| A New Mexico high school product, Silseth headed to Tennessee for his first college season and pitched effectively out of the Volunteers bullpen before transferring to junior college powerhouse College of Southern Nevada. Silseth had several dominant outings, including one game where he fanned 12 in five scoreless innings in front of plenty of scouts. Silseth’s thick, mature body doesn’t have a lot of projection, but he delivers a fastball that sits 91-93 mph and touches as high as 96 from the left side. He flashes a wipeout slider—although he doesn’t always get on top of the pitch to snap it off—and has feel for a changeup. Silseth is an effective strike-thrower with good mound presence. He is committed to Arizona if he chooses to continue his college career. | |||||||
| 306 | Dylan Ray | RHP | Bob Jones HS, Madison, Ala. | 6-3 | 210 | R-R | Alabama |
| Ray is a physical, two-way player with plenty of football in his background as well, but scouts are intrigued with his potential on the mound. He doesn’t have a ton of innings under his belt but has a chance to be an impact reliever with a fastball that sits in the low 90s and has been up to 96 at its best with a curveball that flashes plus. The breaking ball is inconsistent, but when Ray throws it right, the pitch has impressive power and depth. Listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Ray is already close to physically maxed out and he has below-average command at the moment, which could limit his upside. Additionally he has dealt with an ACL injury that could raise medical concerns. Ray is committed to Alabama and will be 19 by draft time. | |||||||
| 307 | Joe Donovan | C | Michigan | 5-11 | 180 | R-R | Cubs ’17 (33) |
| A well-rounded defensive catcher, scouts believe Donovan has the tools to be an asset behind the plate at the big league level, but questions about his offensive production have limited his overall upside in the draft. A 5-foot-11, 180-pound backstop, Donovan is a career .228/.316/.388 hitter with Michigan who has struck out around 23 percent over his three years with the Wolverines. Evaluators were surprised at the amount of swing and miss in Donovan’s game, especially after a strong summer in the Cape Cod League in 2018. That summer with Brewster, Donovan hit .309/.417/.324 in 26 games with more walks (14) than strikeouts (12). While his average and on-base percentage was encouraging, his lack of impact with a wood bat raises skepticism about how his power could translate. Some scouts think Donovan has enough power to run the ball out of the yard enough to be a threat—he homered nine times in 2019—but he managed just one extra-base hit in the Cape. Donovan’s value goes back to his defense at a premium position, with above-average arm strength and good receiving ability, but an 8-12 round talent might not find a place in 2020’s shortened draft. | |||||||
| 308 | Drew Smith | 2B | Grand Canyon | 5-10 | 190 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| The Nebraska native stayed in-state for his first three post-scholastic seasons, playing in just six games as a freshman at Creighton before heading to Northeast Community College for his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons. Smith earned the 2019 Spalding National Junior College Athletic Association D-II Player of the Year award after hitting .465/.538/.897 slugging percentage at Northeast. His career at Grand Canyon got off to a bang when he went 7-for-14 in the opening weekend series against Oklahoma State. Smith is described as being a second baseman in the mold of former big league infielder Andy Stankiewicz, who happens to be his coach at GCU. He’s got a strong, stocky frame with no flashy tools but with a gritty-gamer approach. He’s a good contact hitter with plate discipline, taking good at-bats with a line-drive swing. Smith has below-average raw power, is an average runner and an above-average fielder at second base, and an instinctual defender with good hands. Smith could be taken in the top 10 rounds by a team valuing this profile and his performance. | |||||||
| 309 | Tommy Sheehan | LHP | Notre Dame | 6-3 | 210 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-3, 210-pound lefthander, Sheehan is a finesse arm with impressive command of all of his pitches and a strong history of throwing strikes. He’s predominantly a fastball/curveball southpaw, with a fastball that sits in the upper 80s and low 90s with impressive running action. He’s gotten enough whiffs on his curveball where scouts believe it could be a solid-average secondary offering, but Sheehan’s biggest calling card is his control and durability. He threw a pair of complete games in 2019, when he logged 92.1 innings over 15 starts and posted a 4.58 ERA. Through four starts this spring, Sheehan logged 23.1 innings with a 2.70 ERA and 22 strikeouts to five walks. Scouts thought he could have been a top-10 round prospect in a typical draft class. | |||||||
| 310 | Michael Guldberg | OF | Georgia Tech | 6-0 | 171 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Guldberg has performed at a high level with the bat at Georgia Tech in each season going back to 2018. He would likely be higher on draft boards if he hadn’t been limited in playing time as a freshman in 2018 and this spring due to the coronavirus ending the season. The 6-foot, 171-pound outfielder managed a .368/.510/.579 line in 28 games as a freshman before a shoulder injury sidelined him. That led him to being the team’s designated hitter for the most part in 2019, when he hit at the top of the lineup and finished second in the ACC in hitting (.355) with almost as many walks (31) as strikeouts (32). Guldberg was off to a similar start this spring, hitting .450/.521/.533 in 16 games before the 2020 season ended. While he’s shown an impressive bat, Guldberg has little power to speak of, with three career homers for the Yellow Jackets. He’s an above-average runner, but some scouts question whether he can play center field and he also has a below-average arm. He’s spent some time at second base in college, but a left field profile seems more likely and he doesn’t have the typical power you look for at that position. While his tools aren’t super loud, Guldberg’s performance will stand out on many models. | |||||||
| 311 | Rigsby Mosley | OF | Troy | 6-2 | 180 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Mosley was named the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year after a standout 2018 redshirt freshman season in which he led all freshmen in the conference with a .322 average. That laid the foundation for what Mosley would do each year with Troy, as he followed up with another strong offensive campaign in 2019, when he hit .356/.430/.554 with seven home runs and 19 doubles. Before the 2020 season ended, Mosley was hitting .351/.435/.554. Scouts see him as a tweener outfield type who has impressive bat-to-ball skills but perhaps not enough power to truly profile in a corner. He has posted plus running times in 60-yard dash settings but has largely played left field for Troy—which raises questions about whether he could play center field at the next level. Mosley was seen as a six-to-nine-round talent in a typical draft year, so he could get squeezed out of 2020’s five-round draft. If he does get selected it will be on the basis of his hit tool and track record with the bat, though teams will be quick to note that he struggled in the Cape Cod League last summer, where he hit .200/.267/.263 in 34 games with Hyannis. | |||||||
| 312 | Dominic Johnson | OF | Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe HS | 5-9 | 175 | R-R | Oklahoma State |
| One of the faster runners in the 2020 high school class, Johnson has plus-plus speed, but there’s enough concern about his offensive approach that he’s likely to get to Oklahoma State. Johnson has quick wrists and a loose swing, but he has struggled at times to hit against quality competition and projects as a below-average, bottom-of-the-order hitter with well below-average power. He’s 5-foot-9, 175 pounds without much strength to his swing. The hope was that a strong spring could alleviate some of those concerns, but he never got a chance to do so. His speed gives him the tools to be a center fielder, but he has to work on reads and routes. | |||||||
| 313 | Chad Stevens | SS | Portland | 6-4 | 190 | R-R | Padres ’19 (40) |
| One of the more exciting prospects in the West Coast Conference, Stevens has been a three-year starter at shortstop for Portland. Listed at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Stevens is bigger for the position, but is an above-average runner with solid arm strength—giving him a chance to stick there at the next level. With a projectable frame that can add more strength, there’s a chance Stevens could grow into a bit more power and he started to show more impact in the shortened 2020 season through 16 games. A career .273/.330/.383 hitter in the West Coast Conference, Stevens was challenged in the Cape Cod League last summer with Wareham, where he hit .247/.345/.274 and struck out twice as often (16) as he walked (8). There were some scouts who liked him as a top-five round talent, but others saw him more in the 6-12 range. | |||||||
| 314 | Bailey Horn | LHP | Auburn | 6-2 | 212 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| An athletic lefthander with a clean arm action and solid three-pitch mix, Horn was off to the best season of his collegiate career this spring before the coronavirus pandemic ended the 2020 season. Through four starts and 17.1 innings, Horn posted a 2.08 ERA with 27 strikeouts and five walks. That performance likely wasn’t a surprise for Auburn’s coaching staff, as Horn was arguably the team’s best pitcher during the fall while he continued developing his secondaries. Horn throws in the 90-94 mph range typically and the pitch has tailing, running action that helps it play up. For secondaries, Horn has flashed above-average potential with both a breaking ball and changeup, but both pitches remain inconsistent. His breaking ball ranges from a 30-grade offering to a plus pitch, and some evaluators believe it fluctuates because his arm slot changes when he throws it. The same is true for his changeup, which fluctuates from a 40-grade offering to a 55-grade pitch. He is athletic, so there’s hope he can add consistency to both offerings in the future. Horn is more of a control over command type, as he can be scattered and inefficient with his pitches, but he’s typically around the zone enough to do damage. There are questions about his future role, with some thinking a bullpen role is his most likely destination, but the athleticism, frame and flashes of a three-pitch mix could lead others to be more optimistic. Horn does have a Tommy John surgery on his resume. | |||||||
| 315 | Franco Aleman | RHP | St. Johns River (Fla.) JC | 6-6 | 230 | R-R | Florida |
| Aleman was an exciting, high-upside arm out of high school in the 2018 draft. While the Braves took a flyer on the 6-foot-6 righthander in the 38th round, Aleman opted to get to school at Florida International, where he posted a 3.97 ERA over 12 starts as a freshman. He then went to the Cape Cod League over the summer, where he did even better, posting a 1.16 ERA in 31 innings while striking out 27 batters and walking two. Analytics departments will get excited about a righthander with his height and physicality—he’s now listed at 230 pounds—throwing strikes at such a high rate, but scouts who have seen his stuff are left wanting more. His repertoire sounds remarkably similar to when he was a high school pitcher, with a sinking fastball that sits in the 87-91 mph range and a slider that grades out as below average. Aleman’s fastball can get up into the mid-90s at times, but he doesn’t pitch in that range consistently, and evaluators are also skeptical about the Cuban-native’s athleticism, which would raise concerns for him in the future considering his extra-large current frame. There’s some effort to his delivery and Aleman has a long arm action that evaluators don’t love, but he has shown a solid ability to throw strikes. Aleman would have been a day three pick in a typical draft for most teams, but he’s a Florida commit who could advance his draft stock with a step forward at a strong pitching program. | |||||||
| 316 | Johnny Cuevas | RHP/3B | JC of Southern Nevada | 6-3 | 200 | R-R | Brewers ’18 (32) |
| Cuevas was picked by the Brewers in the 32nd round in 2018 out of high school and was announced as a third baseman, but the intention was likely to switch him to the mound. Originally committed to Southern California, Cuevas instead headed to the College of Southern Nevada where he’s been a two-way player for two years. If Cuevas is drafted and turns pro, his future will be as a pitcher. He’s a good athlete with plus arm speed, delivering a fastball that sits 90-93 mph. There’s belief his velocity could bump up once he focuses on just pitching and learns to use his lower half better. Cuevas is raw on the mound and still learning how to spin breaking balls, but both his slider and curveball flash plus with good rotation and late break. He seldom uses a changeup. There’s plenty of effort in Cuevas’ delivery with a recoil at foot strike and a head whack, which indicates he’ll likely never have better than below-average control. Cuevas profiles as a reliever because of his delivery and questions about whether he can hold his velocity deep into games. He is committed to Oklahoma State but should be signable if drafted. | |||||||
| 317 | Tucker Bradley | OF | Georgia | 6-0 | 206 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A consistent performer at Georgia, Bradley has hit over .300 each season for the Bulldogs outside of a three-game 2019 campaign that was cut short due to a shoulder injury. Now a redshirt junior, the calling card with Bradley is his bat, and he was off to one of his better seasons this spring through 18 games. He managed a career-best six home runs and was slashing .397/.513/.730 with an impressive 4-to-13 strikeout-to-walk rate. Bradley doesn’t have a gaudy toolset, and he’s undersized for a corner outfield profile at 6-foot, 206 pounds, but after tapping into more power this spring when healthy there’s a chance he could profile in left field. While Bradley isn’t a burner, he’s a sneaky good runner for his frame and he’s also an intelligent and opportunistic base stealer, with 26 steals in 32 attempts (81.2 percent) for his career. Bradley has also shown the ability to bunt for a base hit, which keeps defenses on their toes when he’s at the plate. Bradley has a unique profile and isn’t a prototypical middle-of-the-order college bat, but given his performance and developing power he would have been a top-10 round potential pick for many teams in a typical draft year. | |||||||
| 318 | Ben Joyce | RHP | Walters State (Tenn.) JC | 6-6 | 225 | R-R | Tennessee |
| A 6-foot-6, 225-pound righthander with an electric fastball, Joyce was talked about frequently last fall after scouts saw him run his fastball up to 97 mph. A redshirt freshman at Walters State (Tenn.) JC, Joyce is committed to Tennessee, along with his twin brother Zach, who’s rehabbing from injury. Joyce’s stuff is impressive, but his lack of performance and scatter-shot control could allow him to end up on campus in Knoxville. In five starts and 20.2 innings this spring, Joyce posted a 4.79 ERA and struck out 35 batters (15.2 per nine) but also walked 14 (six per nine). That control leads scouts to see Joyce as a reliever, with an impact fastball that some saw as high as 98 mph. Joyce shows an above-average curveball at times, though it’s inconsistent, and an average changeup. | |||||||
| 319 | Lebarron Johnson Jr. | RHP | Paxon School for Advanced Studies, Jacksonville | 6-4 | 200 | R-R | Florida |
| An ultra-athletic and projectable 6-foot-4, 200-pound righthander, Johnson had a chance to be something of a pop-up player this spring, but the 2020 season ended too abruptly for scouts to get repeated looks. After pitching in the upper 80s last summer, Johnson showed a jump in velocity this spring, getting his fastball into the 93-94 mph range at the beginning of his outings. He pairs that fastball with a top-to-bottom curveball that has a chance to be an above-average pitch as well. With good arm speed, developing velocity, feel to spin and a body that teams can project on, Johnson has a lot of traits that teams would typically love to take a shot on. But as a Florida commit in a five-round draft, it might be difficult for clubs to spend the money it might take to sign him, given the lack of spring looks. Johnson is certainly a name to watch out for in the 2023 draft, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make a big jump in Gainesville. | |||||||
| 320 | Storm Hierholzer | RHP | Lake Travis HS, Austin, Texas | 6-2 | 200 | R-R | Texas Christian |
| Scouts described Hierholzer’s summer as up and down, but the Texas Christian signee has all the components to develop into a solid starter for the Horned Frogs and become a more prominent draftee in a few years. A 6-foot-2, 200-pound righthander, Hierholzer has the frame to handle a solid workload and a present fringe-average 90-93 mph fastball that should develop into an average or better pitch as he matures. His slider and command waver right now, but the slider also shows promise of turning into a potential weapon as he shows some feel for spin. | |||||||
| 321 | Ryan Ritter | SS | Logan (Ill.) JC | 6-1 | 185 | R-R | Cubs ’19 (33) |
| A Kentucky signee, Ritter is a solid-average defender who should be able to remain at shortstop, thanks to above-average actions and solid range. A 33rd-round pick of the Cubs out of high school, Ritter chose to go to John A. Logan (Ill.) JC, where he posted a .342/.424/.481 with two home runs, 19 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 12 tries. Ritter is an above-average runner with a fringe-average arm. He will need to get stronger and fill out and he currently is a raw hitter who struggles to time up velocity at times. | |||||||
| 322 | Luke Wagner | LHP | Red Land HS, Lewisberry, Pa. | 6-0 | 170 | R-L | Georgia |
| Yet another player who would have largely benefitted from a spring season, Wagner and his high school team Red Land High out of Lewisberry, Pa., were scheduled to appear in the NHSI in Cary, N.C., before the coronavirus pandemic ended the season prematurely. Wagner was a sleeper for scouts coming into the season, thanks to his three-pitch mix and pitchability. At 6-foot, 170 pounds, Wagner doesn’t have a ton of projection left, but his ability to spin a breaking ball that could potentially reach plus to go along with his average fastball and changeup give hope that he could stay a starter. He performed well in the 2019 PDP League, where his fastball sat 87-90 mph from the left side, but by the time East Coast Pro rolled around in August he was exhausted and was throwing his fastball in the mid-80s. Wagner is lauded for his strong makeup and ability to throw strikes, but he currently does not have an out pitch to speak of, although his breaking ball is likely the closest thing to one. His changeup is regarded as fringy at best at the moment. It was always unlikely Wagner would forego his commitment to Georgia, but those odds are even greater in a five-round draft. | |||||||
| 323 | Charez Butcher | RHP | IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. | 6-4 | 210 | R-R | Florida |
| Originally a Midwest arm, Butcher transferred to IMG Academy this spring for his senior season, giving Florida scouts a righthander with significant upside to monitor in Bradenton. Over the summer, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound righty showed impressive raw stuff at events like the PDP League and East Coast Pro, but he also never put everything together and unraveled on the mound at times. He has a fastball that’s been up to the 96-97 mph range at his best, though he more typically sits in the low 90s. Butcher has shown two breaking balls as well, both with a chance to be average or better. Some scouts prefer his curveball, which has a big, 11-to-5 shape and depth, though he has a tendency to cast the pitch. His slider is in the 79-82 mph range with sweeping action but it ranges from well below average to solid-average and his feel for the pitch is rudimentary. Butcher has a solid frame and operation, but his arm action can get lengthy and he also has some wrist wrap in the back, which could affect his control and the consistency of his breaking balls. Scouts want to dream on the frame and the raw stuff, but most saw Butcher as a player that would go after the 10th round in a typical draft. Butcher is committed to Florida. | |||||||
| 324 | Ben Ramirez | SS | Southern California | 6-3 | 190 | L-R | Cubs ’17 (35) |
| Ramirez was a two-sport star in basketball and baseball at Eastlake (Calif.) High and carried the Titans to a CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) baseball championship as a senior. The Cubs drafted him in the 35th round after high school, but he opted for USC and became a three-year starter in the Trojans infield. Ramirez looks the part at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds and can move all around the infield. He is a reliable defender with excellent hands, above-average arm strength and the ability to make accurate throws from awkward angles. Ramirez played shortstop, second base and third base in the Cape Cod League and at USC, with scouts citing third base as his best position. Ramirez got stronger over the summer and set a new career high in home runs (three) in only 15 games this spring, but scouts still see a below-average hitter who doesn’t have the power to profile at third base. Barring significant gains at the plate, Ramirez’s ticket up the minors will be his defensive versatility. | |||||||
| 325 | Adam Oviedo | SS | Oral Roberts | 6-0 | 200 | R-R | Twins ’17 (35) |
| Oviedo was a notable high school prospect, ranking 133 on the BA 500 draft list in 2017. The Twins drafted him in the 35th round out of high school, but he opted to head to Texas Christian. He was the Horned Frogs everyday shortstop for two seasons before transferring to Oral Roberts in 2020. Oviedo has proven to be a reliable shortstop who makes the routine play but lacks the arm to make the play to his backhand consistently. As a hitter, Oviedo is a fringe-average hitter with below-average power. He hit .252/.356/.354 last summer in the Cape Cod League but did hit five home runs in just 16 games with ORU this spring after hitting three home runs in two seasons at TCU. | |||||||
| 326 | Billy Sullivan | RHP | Delaware | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Phillies ’17 (28) |
| Drafted in the 28th round by the Phillies out of high school, Sullivan is considered a top-three college pitcher in the Northeast area based on pure talent, however concerns over his Tommy John surgery prevent him from being higher on this list. As a freshman, Sullivan was voted the Colonial Athletic Association’s rookie of the year in 2018 after leading Delaware in strikeouts (95) and opponent batting average (.199) to go along with a 7-3, 2.97 mark in 72.2 innings. He made just two starts as a sophomore before undergoing Tommy John surgery and has not pitched in a live game since. He was scheduled to return by the start of April before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. Sullivan is regarded as an exceptional athlete with good makeup, and impressed evaluators by the work he put in during his rehab process. He pitched well in rehab settings over the winter, but there isn’t enough of a sample size for a team to risk taking him in a five-round draft. At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Sullivan relies on his excellent fastball that snaps out of his hand around 98-99 mph from the right side. Sullivan will likely end up as a reliever, where his fastball will play up in shorter stints. He should be one of the top seniors in the 2021 class if he is able to get back to his previous form. | |||||||
| 327 | Carson Swilling | RHP | Smiths (Ala.) Station HS | 6-1 | 185 | R-R | Auburn |
| Swilling is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound righthander committed to Auburn with a solid fastball/curveball combination. He’s been in the 90-93 mph range at times and up to 94 mph at his best, though his velocity has dipped down into the upper 80s in longer outings. His fastball has some arm-side running action, but scouts are mixed on his mid-70s breaking ball. Some like the power it has and think it could be an average offering, while others believe the pitch is more fringy. Swilling is undersized and doesn’t offer a ton of future physical projection, but he does have a loose, athletic arm. | |||||||
| 328 | Noah Campbell | 2B/OF | South Carolina | 6-0 | 200 | B-R | Brewers ’17 (19) |
| Campbell was a highly regarded high school prospect out of Cardinal Gibbons High in Raleigh, N.C., in 2017, when he ranked No. 111 on the BA 500. He competed with current Rays prospect Greg Jones at the time as a toolsy prep shortstop from the state. Campbell’s prospect hype has faded a bit in his time at South Carolina, as he’s struggled to hit at the same level he showed in high school. Campbell has a .254/.349/.382 line with the Gamecocks over three seasons. He has been an enigma for evaluators each summer, as Campbell has twice gone to the Cape Cod League and performed at a high level with Yarmouth-Dennis, but that production has never translated to SEC and metal bats. He’s a career .344/.449/.536 hitter in the Cape with almost as many home runs (nine) in 66 games with wood as he’s managed in 111 games with metal (10). Campbell is a plus runner, though scouts don’t think he will be able to play center field at the next level. He’s spent time at second base and in left field, but teams believe he doesn’t field well enough to stick on the dirt at the next level. That puts him in a corner spot, where he doesn’t have the typical power to profile offensively. While Campbell does have good bat speed, evaluators question his ability to pick up and recognize breaking balls and offspeed offerings. Without significant production with South Carolina, Campbell could have a tough time in a five-round draft. | |||||||
| 329 | Cody Greenhill | RHP | Auburn | 6-4 | 216 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Greenhill showed impressive stuff out of high school during his senior season in 2017, with a fastball that got into the mid-90s. Scouts at the time balked at paying him out of high school because of his reliever risk, and they were right with that assessment. Greenhill has been a reliable bullpen arm for Auburn since his freshman season, when he led the team with a 2.30 ERA over 21 games and 58.2 innings of work. He was again a workhorse reliever in 2019, when he posted a 3.45 ERA over 57.1 innings while leading the Tigers with 12 saves—the most from an Auburn pitcher since 2005. Listed at 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, Greenhill has a fastball in the 91-94 mph range with riding life that he pairs with a slider that is average at its best. The pitch blends between a fringe-average and average offering, but it tunnels well with his fastball to keep hitters honest. Because Greenhill doesn’t have huge pure stuff and has a straight reliever profile, he would likely go after the 10th round in a normal draft, leaving his draft status up in the air for the five-round draft. Before the season ended, Greenhill had yet to allow a run through 12.2 innings, while striking out 17 batters and walking one. | |||||||
| 330 | Jermaine Vanheyningen | RHP | Florence-Darlington Tech (S.C.) JC | 6-7 | 235 | R-R | – |
| Vanheyningen raised a few eyebrows last fall when Florence-Darlington Tech (S.C.) JC posted a video of him throwing in the 97-99 mph range. The pure stuff is loud, especially considering it comes out of a massive, 6-foot-7, 235-pound frame, but scouts have questions about virtually every other aspect of Vanheyningen’s game. He’s an erratic strike thrower who walked 11 batters in just 20.2 innings this spring, and teams are also skeptical of his feel to spin. He’s thrown a slurvy breaking ball in the 78-79 mph range and has also thrown a splitter in the mid-80s, but both pitches need refinement. Because of the question marks, teams believe Vanheyningen carries significant reliever risk, but it’s exceptionally rare to find a 6-foot-7 pitcher throwing as hard as he does. | |||||||
| 331 | Hayden Durke | RHP | North Vermilion HS, Parish, La. | 6-2 | 210 | R-R | Louisiana-Lafayette |
| A Louisiana-Lafayette signee, Durke has plus velocity for a high school arm as he sits 93-95 and can regularly get to 97. His fastball has plenty of arm side run and some boring action. He’s had some control troubles at times in high school, but when he’s on he has a plus 12-to-6 curve to play off of the big fastball. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound righthander is durable and he has a delivery that should allow him to consistently repeat it as he gets more experience. | |||||||
| 332 | Sabin Ceballos | SS/RHP | Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Gurabo, P.R. | 6-3 | 180 | B-R | San Jacinto (Texas) JC |
| Ceballos has one of the better pure arms among the infielders in the 2020 class, and he threw a 99 mph across the infield last summer at Perfect Game’s National showcase. A big-bodied shortstop listed at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, Ceballos currently has a light bat. While he does have some raw power in the tank, his hit tool is a long way off. Additionally, Ceballos is a below-average runner who likely doesn’t have the range to stick at shortstop at the next level. Because of those questions, some scouts were more intrigued with what he would look like on the mound. He did move to the rubber early this spring, where he remains a project but wasn’t seen frequently enough by scouts to get a full idea of what he can do on the bump. His arm talent is obvious and potentially enough for a team to take a shot on his upside, but that is much more difficult in a five-round draft. Ceballos is committed to San Jacinto (Texas) JC, where he will have an opportunity to have an impact as a two-way player. | |||||||
| 333 | Matthew Dyer | C | Arizona | 6-4 | 174 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Dyer expanded his Swiss army knife role in his second season at Arizona, with the redshirt junior getting some starts at second base and third base in addition to his usual role as a corner outfielder and backup catcher. The rap on Dyer in the past has been his slender frame, but he added some weight in the offseason to get his tall, lanky frame closer to 200 pounds. He started off the Wildcats’ abbreviated season slowly, hitting just.220/.329/.441 in 15 games. Dyer uses a two-part swing with good hand-eye coordination, with enough power for a utility role but not for a starting corner outfielder job. He doesn’t have the size or strength to catch every day, and his defense in the infield is still very much a work in progress. A solid-average runner, Dyer shows off a plus arm in the outfield. While he can play a lot of positions, adding value to his profile, he’s no better than an average defender wherever he plays. Dyer was considered a tough sign last year, causing him to go undrafted, and he may face the same fate this year. | |||||||
| 334 | Chris Lanzilli | OF | Wake Forest | 6-2 | 220 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A draft-eligible sophomore in 2019, the Giants took a flyer on Lanzilli in the 39th round after he hit .347/.409/.620 with 16 home runs. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound outfielder didn’t sign and returned for his junior season. Last summer Lanzilli played for Harwich in the Cape Cod League, where he managed a .293/.365/.457 line with four home runs. Lanzilli’s production at Wake Forest is the calling card for him at the next level. Scouts don’t see tools that have matched his performance in the ACC, but it’s tough to argue with a career line of .314/.394/.594 and 31 home runs. Lanzilli has plenty of natural strength, but scouts don’t think he has much bat speed. They also wonder if his approach will transition to pro ball, as some have seen him as a hitter who could be more exposed at the next level. Defensively, Lanzilli has spent most of his time in left field, though he also played right and some third base during his junior season. He’ll be an outfielder at the next level, and scouts see him as a below-average defender. He’ll need to continue hitting for power to profile, but an analytically inclined club interested in his collegiate performance could take a chance on him. | |||||||
| 335 | CJ Smith | LHP | Georgia | 6-1 | 191 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Smith served as a two-way player on the mound and in the outfield for Georgia as a freshman and sophomore, but in 2020 transitioned to a full-time starting role on the mound. A soft-tossing lefthander listed at 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, Smith gets by more from spotting his stuff than overpowering hitters. His fastball sits in the 87-91 mph range and is mostly around 89. The pitch can be tough to hit with good angle when he keeps the ball down and two solid-average secondaries to keep hitters honest. Smith throws a curveball that has flashed above average and has a consistently solid changeup, but his fastball command is more solid than spectacular, which will limit his upside. He profiles more as a depth-type, swingman starter. For his career, Smith has a 3.46 ERA in 101.1 innings with 7.5 strikeouts per nine and 3.8 walks per nine. | |||||||
| 336 | Anthony Simonelli | RHP | Virginia Tech | 6-2 | 200 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Simonelli has bounced around a few different schools throughout his collegiate career. He started at Coastal Carolina in 2018, where he made six starts and then transferred to St. John’s River (S.C.) JC for his 2019 season. After that, Simonelli transferred to Virginia Tech, where he settled into the team’s Saturday starter role. Through four starts and 21.1 innings this spring, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound righthander posted a 2.95 ERA while striking out 26 batters (11.0 per nine) and walking 13 (5.5 per nine). Simonelli throws an average fastball in the 88-93 mph range, with three secondaries to go with it. He has a hard slider that gets a good amount of swings and misses, a changeup and a top-to-bottom curveball that are both a bit more inconsistent. Simonelli is a fringe-average strike thrower, but scouts believe his delivery—while not the most fluid—is good enough to get to average in the future. Some clubs thought of him as a 6-10 round prospect in a typical draft year. | |||||||
| 337 | Michael Ludowig | OF | Wake Forest | 6-1 | 215 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A three-year starter at Wake Forest who has played all three outfield positions, Ludowig led the team in hitting during ACC play as a freshman (.326) but his career numbers have never been that lofty. A solid runner with solid arm strength, Ludowig might fit best in a corner outfield spot at the next level, where there will be more pressure on his bat. Scouts like his swing and think he has solid bat-to-ball skills, but they’re skeptical of his power production despite obvious natural strength. He’s only hit four career home runs at Wake Forest, which is seen by evaluators as a hitter-friendly school, and for that reason some teams might not be interested during the five-round draft. Ludowig also had a middling summer in the Cape Cod League in 2019, when he hit .256/.299/.278 in 28 games with Harwich. He has been a solid base runner at Wake, stealing 16 bags in 19 attempts (84.2 percent) for his career. | |||||||
| 338 | Landen Roupp | RHP | UNC-Wilmington | 6-3 | 205 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Roupp entered the year as a late day two or early day three prospect after his first two years with UNC-Wilmington. A 6-foot-3, 205-pound righthander, Roupp established himself as a reliable piece in the starting rotation and bullpen in 2018 and 2019. A full-time starter as a freshman, Roupp posted a 3.58 ERA over 50.1 innings and 15 starts—which tied an Eagles freshman record for starts. In 2019 as a sophomore Roupp split time between the pen and the rotation, again posting a solid 3.47 ERA but this time with 80.1 innings of work. Roupp was off to his best season yet in 2020, posting a 2.67 ERA through four starts and 27 innings, with a league-leading 30 strikeouts and a career-low walk rate (2.3 per nine). Roupp’s stuff is ordinary. He pitches in the 89-93 mph range with his fastball and shows a solid low-to-mid-70s curveball and a low-80s changeup. He profiles as a swingman starter type at the next level. | |||||||
| 339 | Fernando Gonzalez | C | North Cobb Christian HS, Kennesaw, Ga. | 5-10 | 185 | R-R | Georgia |
| One of the more advanced catch-and-throw backstops in the prep class, Gonzalez stood out last summer for his plus arm strength and receiving skills. He showed excellent carry and accuracy on his throws at East Coast Pro, and also showed some pull-side pop in batting practice. Gonzalez’s bat still has room for improvement. Scouts like the quality of his at-bats and his simple righthanded swing, but he can get overly aggressive and get himself out on bad pitches rather than driving the ball with authority and consistency. Gonzalez is committed to Georgia and could be a bigger name with an improved offense at the college level, though no one doubts his ability behind the plate. | |||||||
| 340 | Max Alba | RHP | North Carolina | 6-5 | 215 | R-R | Angels ’18 (39) |
| An exciting projection arm out of high school in Wisconsin, the Angels took a flyer on Alba in the 39th round of the 2018 draft, but Alba opted to honor his commitment to North Carolina. He blew out his elbow and redshirted for the 2019 season to recover from Tommy John surgery, and entered the 2020 season as a redshirt, draft-eligible freshman. Alba had shown a fastball in the 93-94 mph range at his best when healthy, with good feel to spin a breaking ball, but there were concerns about the quality of his strikes. The early results in 2020 weren’t great, as Alba posted a 6.97 ERA over 10.1 innings with stuff that wasn’t coming out like he had shown in the past. With more time he might have gotten back to his former self, but it is difficult to see the 6-foot-5, 215-pound righthander being much of a factor in the 2020 draft. He’ll be a name to keep an eye on in the future as he gets further away from surgery. | |||||||
| 341 | Carson Wells | OF | Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas | 6-1 | 185 | L-R | Southern California |
| Bishop Gorman (Nev.) High’s season never got underway this year, delayed first by three straight days of rain and then shut down for good because of the coronavirus, keeping area scouts from getting updated looks at Wells to determine if he merited a spot on their draft boards. Coupled with inconsistent performances during the summer showcase season, it’s likely that Wells, brother of Arizona catcher Austin Wells, will honor his commitment to Southern California. With a medium build and plus athleticism, Wells is an above-average runner now but could slow down with physical maturity. He has loose hands at the plate, with a line-drive swing geared for contact and the ability to hit to all fields, and he will likely grow into more power with added strength. Opinions differ as to whether Wells can stay in the middle of the outfield, and a below-average to fringe arm doesn’t support a right field profile. | |||||||
| 342 | Clay Owens | 1B | Southern California | 6-0 | 196 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Owens was considered one of the top prep hitters on the west coast at Norco (Calif.) High and cemented that reputation at USC. A draft-eligible sophomore, Owens was the only freshman to make the Pac-12 all-conference team last year and led the Trojans in slugging percentage (.577) this spring before the season shut down. Owens is a strong, physical lefthanded hitter who projects to hit for both average and power. He tracks pitches well, makes good swing decisions and has a sound swing that produces hard contact in the air. Owens is a consensus above-average hitter who can drive balls over the fence to both center and right field, projecting for average power overall. No one doubts Owens’ bat, but he’s a question mark defensively. He’s a poor runner with a below-average arm and is strictly limited to first base or designated hitter. He’s better off at DH than he is at first base. Owens’ lack of a position puts a lot of pressure on his bat, but he may be a good enough hitter to make it work. | |||||||
| 343 | Julian Aguiar | RHP | El Camino (Calif.) JC | 6-3 | 180 | R-R | Long Beach State |
| Aguilar primarily played third base in high school but showed promise on the mound as an upperclassman. He began focusing on pitching full time at El Camino (Calif.) JC and quickly emerged as one of the state’s top junior college prospects. Aguilar is a slim, projectable athlete with a loose delivery and quick right arm. His fastball sits 89-93 mph and will touch 95 mph early in outings. His 78-81 mph slider is inconsistent and needs to be tightened up, but it shows the makings of an average pitch. He also has feel for a developing changeup. Aguilar overwhelmed hitters at the juco level with a 44-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 47.1 innings. He has the athleticism to repeat his delivery and continue throwing strikes. He is a hard worker with plenty of room for growth. | |||||||
| 344 | CJ Kayfus | 1B | Palm Beach Central HS, Wellington, Fla. | 5-11 | 165 | L-L | Miami |
| Kayfus has an odd profile as an undersized high school first baseman listed at 5-foot-11, 165 pounds with limited power. That combination is typically a non-starter for MLB clubs, but his standout hitting ability has kept scouting departments interested. Perhaps he’s not toolsy or physical enough to factor into 2020’s five-round draft—particularly as a perceived tough sign out of Miami—but teams expect him to make it to campus in Coral Gables and produce with the bat. There’s a chance he could play a corner outfield position at the next level, which could help his profile, but at the end of the day the bat is Kayfus’ calling card. | |||||||
| 345 | Luke Smith | RHP | Louisville | 6-3 | 175 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Smith pitched for two years at Parkland (Ill.) JC before transferring to Louisville where he’s been a solid starter and reliever. Now a 6-foot-3, 175-pound senior righthander, Smith was a potential top-10 round senior sign before the draft was shortened to five rounds. Smith has limited upside without a ton of future projection, but he has a solid three-pitch mix and plenty of swagger on the mound. He throws an 88-92 mph fastball and has two solid secondaries that some scouts could put above-average grades on in a curveball and changeup. Smith has solid athleticism, but he’s skinny and some scouts question his durability because of that. | |||||||
| 346 | Buddy Hayward | RHP | Harvard | 6-6 | 225 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Hayward has contributed at both the collegiate level and in the summer in both the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2018 and the Cape Cod League in 2019, but he did not appear in a game this season due to an injury. As a freshman pitching mostly out of the bullpen, Hayward went 2-3, 4.28 for Harvard with 47 strikeouts compared to just nine walks in 40 innings. Over that summer, he dominated the NECL with a 3-2, 2.47 mark that included seven no-hit innings in a start on July 14, 2018. Hayward made just eight starts as a sophomore due to a mid-season injury, pitching to a 3-1, 4.13 mark, but his walk rate ballooned to 3.8. At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Hayward has an intimidating presence on the mound, and he’s able to get his fastball up to 95 mph at its best, but it normally sits 92-93 mph. Although he throws a changeup and curveball, his slider is his best secondary pitch. With an effort-filled delivery and the injury concerns on his resume, there’s a good chance Hayward will move to the bullpen in the future, where he will rely on his solid-average fastball/slider combination to lead the way. | |||||||
| 347 | Tommy Vail | LHP | Notre Dame | 6-0 | 195 | R-L | Never Drafted |
| A reliable, lefthanded reliever for Notre Dame for three years, Vail made 27 appearances and led the team with a 3.90 ERA during his freshman year in 2018. He improved as a sophomore, when he led all relievers on the team with 44 innings and posted a 3.27 ERA while striking out a career-high 61 batters. His fastball gets plenty of whiffs despite only being in the low 90s, and he’s got a solid breaking ball to go with it. Scouts see him as a definite reliever at the next level. The 6-foot, 195-pound lefty had a history of poor strike-throwing ability prior to the 2020 season, but through 17.1 innings in 2020 walked just three batters (compared to 24 strikeouts) for a 1.6 per nine walk rate. Vail’s upside is limited, but his performance out of the bullpen was solid enough to make him a day three type prospect in a typical draft year. | |||||||
| 348 | Harrison Rutkowski | LHP | Rutgers | 6-2 | 230 | R-L | Reds ’17 (28) |
| Rutkowski is a gamer who isn’t afraid to throw strikes and challenge hitters despite not having great pure stuff. After struggling to a 4-6, 5.34 mark as a freshman at Rutgers, Rutkowski increased his hit rate, walks per nine, strikeout rate and earned run average as a sophomore. He made the Cape Cod League all-star team in 2019 after pitching to a 3-2, 2.38 mark with just five walks in 34 innings. He was off to his best start as a junior this season, posting a 1-2, 2.74 mark in four starts before the season ended. At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Rutkowski has a good frame, but there isn’t much projection left. There’s some variation on his fastball, but at its best it sits 90-92 mph from the left side. He has some spin on his breaking ball, but he primarily relies on his changeup to go along with his fastball, which has the potential to be solid-average. In a normal draft, Rutkowski would likely go in the 14-20 round range, but he should return to school for his senior season due to the shortened draft. | |||||||
| 349 | Michael Brooks | SS | Palm Beach Central HS, Wellington, Fla. | 5-11 | 180 | R-R | Arkansas |
| A 5-foot-11, 180-pound shortstop committed to Arkansas, Brooks is a do-it-all type player who stands out more for his solid all-around game and versatility than any standout tools. He’s a solid shortstop but can play every position on the diamond outside of catcher. If Brooks had made USA Baseball’s 18U National Team last summer he also would have been a candidate to get on the mound if necessary, though he’s first and foremost a position player. He has all the fundamentals down defensively at shortstop and could handle the position in college, but some believe he lacks the twitchy athleticism that would allow him to stick there long term. Some scouts think he has more in the tank offensively, as he currently doesn’t have much impact with the bat. Because of his lack of tools and questions about the power he brings to the table, many teams are happy to let Brooks go to school and prove it, but those same scouts believe he will turn into an extremely productive and valuable college player thanks to his high IQ and the soundness to his game. | |||||||
| 350 | Elijah Nunez | OF | Martin HS, Arlington, Texas | 5-9 | 170 | L-L | Texas Christian |
| A speedy center fielder with bat speed and pitch recognition skills, Nunez’s plus speed, above-average defense in center and on-base skills make him a potential top-of-the-order table-setter whose fallback option is as a bottom-of-the-order bat whose speed, defense and lefty bat are useful enough to make him still playable. Nunez has gap-to-gap doubles power, but sometimes can get a little big in his swing. He’s a Texas Christian signee. | |||||||
| 351 | Devonte Brown | 3B/OF | North Carolina State | 5-11 | 200 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Brown was quietly raising his draft profile with North Carolina State this season after hitting .338/.429/.692 with five home runs through the first 17 games of the season. Plenty of scouts and crosscheckers got looks at Brown, thanks to teammate Patrick Bailey being a likely first-round prospect. A third baseman and corner outfielder, Brown’s biggest tool is his raw power. It’s strength over bat speed with Brown, but he has a compact, comfortable swing and the ability to drive the ball to all fields and is one of the strongest players on the team. Listed at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, some scouts believe Brown has a chance to stick at third base, but he has enough power to profile in a corner if he continues to hit. Brown has never produced at the sort of level he was showing in 2020, so teams will have to try and decide if this was a breakout season in the works, or just a strong start to the season. Still, five home runs and six doubles are both career-bests for Brown, so there was clearly some shift in his game this season. | |||||||
| 352 | Boyd Vander Kooi | RHP | Arizona State | 6-5 | 220 | R-R | D-backs ’17 (36) |
| Vander Kooi filled just about every role possible on the Sun Devils pitching staff in his shortened junior season, going deep into games as a starter as well as pitching a seven-inning relief outing and a shorter bullpen stint. Despite his ever-shifting role, Vander Kooi was at his best in his junior year, posting an ERA of 0.70. The key was the significant improvement in his control, as he walked just two batters in 25.2 innings. Vander Kooi comes at hitters from a high three-quarters slot with an over-the-top delivery, an arm action that isn’t particularly clean or fluid. His best pitch is a sinking fastball typically in the 88-90 mph range, although at times he was up to 94. All of his pitches are fringy with no real out pitch. The curveball and changeup have a chance to be average offerings in time with the slider being a below-average pitch. At best, he projects as a big-bodied fifth starter type or more likely as a long reliever. While Vander Kooi doesn’t have a high upside, his Arizona State pedigree and performance will likely get him taken in the top 10 rounds. | |||||||
| 353 | Shane McGuire | C/1B | San Diego | 6-0 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| McGuire hit .320 in his college career at San Diego and was off to a scorching start this spring before the season shut down. He’s a contact hitter with a good feel for the barrel and flashes hints of solid-average power. He has elite strike-zone discipline and rarely swings at bad pitches. McGuire split his time between catcher and first base at USD. He is quick with a strong, accurate arm behind the plate, but his receiving needs work. He is the younger brother of Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire. | |||||||
| 354 | Brock Wilken | 3B/C | Bloomingdale HS, Valrico, Fla. | 6-4 | 217 | R-R | Wake Forest |
| A physical, 6-foot-4, 217-pound catcher and third baseman, Wilken stands out for his impressive raw power. There are scouts who believe he has the strength to develop plus-plus raw power in the future, though he’s definitely a power over bat hitter at this point. There are questions about how frequently Wilken will be able to tap into his power in the future. Additionally, there are questions about his defensive home, as he lacks the athleticism for a typical backstop or third baseman. Because of that he might be a better fit in an outfield corner or first base at the next level, where there will be increased pressure on his bat and power. Wilken is a Wake Forest commit. | |||||||
| 355 | Wyatt Tucker | RHP | Douglass (Texas) HS | 6-3 | 205 | R-R | Texas A&M |
| A Texas A&M signee, Tucker has lengthened his arm stroke in the back, which has helped smooth out his delivery. Tucker has a solid build already with a 90-92 mph fastball and a slider that is inconsistent now but shows the potential to develop into an above-average pitch. | |||||||
| 356 | John Beller | LHP | Southern California | 5-11 | 188 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| After spending his first two seasons primarily in USC’s bullpen, Beller transitioned to starting in the Cape Cod League last summer and impressed with a 2.95 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 36.2 innings. He continued his dominance with a 1.13 ERA through four appearances (two starts) this spring, capped by holding Vanderbilt to two hits and one run over eight innings in his final outing. Beller is a pitchability lefty who pitches above his stuff. His 87-90 mph fastball plays up with an element of deception from his high leg kick, and he finishes batters with a sharp, above-average slider that draws swings and misses. His low 80s changeup is another average or better weapon and he mixes in an effective backdoor curveball when needed. Beller throws all four pitches for strikes and is fearless going after hitters. He is an elite competitor who pitches his best against top competition. | |||||||
| 357 | John McMillon | RHP | Texas Tech | 6-3 | 230 | R-R | Tigers ’19 (11) |
| McMillon was one of the hardest throwing high school arms in Texas in the 2016 draft class and also had some of the best raw power in the state. The Rays drafted him in the 21st round that year, but he opted to head to Texas Tech. Last year he turned down the Tigers as an 11th-rounder. McMillon still has an exceptional arm—he can reach triple digits with a plus-plus fastball and he can bury his slider in the dirt to go with it. He started—and showed off his power as a DH—as a sophomore, but he’s been exclusively a reliever the last two seasons. His control regularly deserts him. He walked 6.8 per nine for his college career and 7.7 per nine in 2020. As a wild power reliever, McMillon should be an attractive senior sign, although he could return to Texas Tech for a fifth season if he chooses. | |||||||
| 358 | Braxton Pearson | RHP | Georgetown (Texas) HS | 6-1 | 185 | R-R | Texas Christian |
| Yet another interesting arm in TCU’s loaded signing class, Pearson has some present stuff with a 89-92 mph fastball with some armside run and life and a hard 80-83 mph slider with good shape and bite. He has quite a bit of length to his arm action, and his delivery isn’t the most fluid, which could give him some reliever risk. | |||||||
| 359 | Blake Money | RHP | Summit HS, Spring Hill, Tenn. | 6-7 | 245 | R-R | Louisiana State |
| One of the bigger prep pitching prospects in the 2020 class, Money is listed at 6-foot-7, 245 pounds. Despite his size, Money has solid athleticism that allows him to pound the zone consistently with a fastball in the 90-93 mph range. The pitch has a tick of arm-side running action and he pairs it with a slider in the mid-80s, a changeup in the 82-84 mph range and a 12-to-6 curveball. Over the summer Money’s changeup was ahead of his slider, as the breaking ball backed up at times, but scouts thought he made progress with his breaking ball during the fall. Some scouts give his curveball a chance to be an average pitch. Money is committed to Louisiana State and with his frame and three average pitches, has a chance to provide an immediate impact in some capacity if he makes it to campus. | |||||||
| 360 | Connor Pellerin | RHP | Tulane | 6-4 | 190 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Pellerin has the arsenal to be a power reliever with a 93-96 mph fastball and a high-spin rate slider. But until he learns how to command them, he is too inconsistent to fill a high-leverage role. Pellerin lost one game this spring where he struck out a batter, but he reached on a wild pitch. In another game he was lifted after giving up back-to-back batters. But Pellerin struck out 24 in 13 innings last summer in the Cape Cod League and fanned 10 in just four innings (over six appearances) this spring. | |||||||
| 361 | TJ McCants | SS | Pensacola (Fla.) Catholic HS | 6-3 | 180 | L-R | Mississippi |
| A quick-twitch athlete, McCants has exciting potential on both sides of the ball with a lean projectable frame, a whippy bat and solid defensive actions in the middle of the infield. Some evaluators believe McCants is a better fit for second base than shortstop because of a longer exchange, but he should have the glove and footwork necessary for either if he can shorten up his release. At the plate, McCants has a line-drive swing with fluid hands in the box, but he has a tendency to get lengthy at times which can disrupt his timing. He has some ambush power presently, but a 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame that should develop more strength in the future to tap into power that could play more consistently. McCants is committed to Mississippi and will be 19 on draft day. | |||||||
| 362 | Gage Bradley | RHP | Rossview HS, Clarksville, Tenn. | 6-2 | 182 | R-R | Vanderbilt |
| A projection righthander, Bradley showed some upside potential last summer with a good frame and solid feel for pitching. He pitched mostly in the 89-93 range over the summer, but scouts weren’t able to see him frequently this spring to see if he had taken a jump. Bradley has also shown solid feel for a mid-70s curveball and a changeup in a similar velocity range. It might be hard to select Bradley based on his present stuff in a five-round draft, but scouts believe he has the projectable frame—he’s listed at 6-foot-2, 182-pounds—to make a jump in college at Vanderbilt with added strength. He has a chance to throw hard in the future, but brings some reliever risk due to the funk in his delivery and some questions about his strike throwing. | |||||||
| 363 | Alex Hoppe | RHP | UNC-Greensboro | 6-1 | 175 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| This spring would have been important for Hoppe, since the 6-foot-1, 175-pound righthander had less than 20 innings under his belt after his first two seasons with UNC-Greensboro. After throwing just 18.2 this spring, teams might have a tough time signing him in a five-round draft, but scouts do like the pure stuff he has in the tank. He throws a fastball in the 92-94 mph range and has shown the makings of a plus breaking ball as well. He has a poor track record of throwing strikes, however, and will be a full reliever profile at the next level because of that, but in the small sample he was offered this spring, Hoppe took strides forward with his control. After walking 21 batters in 15.2 innings in 2018 and 2019 combined, Hoppe walked just seven in his 18.2 innings this spring, while striking out 24 batters. | |||||||
| 364 | Harold Coll | SS | Georgia Premier Academy, Statesboro, Ga. | 5-11 | 185 | R-R | North Carolina |
| An athletic shortstop with plus arm strength and a smooth swing, Coll has a few tools that could interest teams, but it might be more difficult to sign him out of a North Carolina commitment in a five-year draft. Coll has plus defensive actions with good body control and an arm that can easily keep him on the left side of the infield, but some scouts have noted that the game can speed up on him at times, and wonder if he has the instincts and internal clock to handle shortstop at the next level. While Coll is just 5-foot-11, he has added plenty of strength over the offseason and is now listed at 185 pounds. He does have solid bat speed from the right side and a swing that some evaluators think is advanced for a prep bat, but he showed some chase tendencies at the plate last summer, and area scouts wonder how much he’ll hit at the next level. Scouts have Coll graded as an average runner. | |||||||
| 365 | Justin Collins | C | Rice | 6-2 | 200 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Collins has been Rice’s primary catcher since the day he arrived on campus. He has a reputation as a solid catch and throw backstop with well-below average hitting ability but enough raw power to run into 10 home runs a year. He has above-average arm strength although it hasn’t paid off in high caught stealing rates yet (27 percent in 2020). He projects as a pro backup but the shortened season did him no favors. He hit .190/.352/.214 and likely will need to return to school to try his hand in the longer 2021 draft. | |||||||
| 366 | Zach Daniels | OF | Tennessee | 6-1 | 210 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A toolsy outfielder with plus-plus raw power and plus running ability, Daniels was off to a hot start in the shortened 2020 season, hitting .357/.478/.750 with four home runs and eight doubles. If he continued hitting at that level over the course of the season, he would have undoubtedly raised his draft stock significantly, because scouts were concerned about his feel for hitting entering the season. Even with his gaudy 17-game start to 2020 included, Daniels is a .225/.357/.474 hitter in his Tennessee career, with a 37 percent strikeout rate. Daniels also struggled last summer in the Cape Cod League for Orleans, where he hit .169/.217/.247 in 35 games, with 37 strikeouts to just five walks. Defensively, Daniels has shown an ability to play all three outfield spots with average arm strength, though he spent a decent amount of time this spring as the team’s designated hitter. Scouts had Daniels evaluated as an early day three prospect in a typical draft year somewhere in the 11-15 round range, or a few rounds higher if the team was optimistic about his hitting progress. | |||||||
| 367 | Brody Drost | OF | Barbe HS, Lake Charles, La. | 6-2 | 200 | L-L | Louisiana State |
| Drost has been a very productive high school hitter. He was the most outstanding player in Louisiana’s 5A state championship game in 2019 and has a picturesque lefthanded swing. But his lack of clear plus present tools—he’s an average runner, average defender and he has present fringe-average power—makes it very likely he makes it to Louisiana State. He has a chance to turn into a very productive college hitter and if his power takes a step forward he could be a name to watch down the road. | |||||||
| 368 | Jack Riedel | INF | Memorial HS, Hedwig Village, Texas | 6-1 | 180 | L-R | North Carolina |
| A North Carolina signee, Riedel most likely makes it to school, but he’s also got a chance to be a premium draftee in a few years thanks to a solid feel for hitting with a smooth lefty swing. He generates a lot of solid contact, although he doesn’t have much power yet. Riedel’s above-average arm should work at shortstop or third base, although his actions and range may not work at shortstop long-term. | |||||||
| 369 | Tyler Mattison | RHP | Bryant | 6-4 | 235 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Mattison was the top college pitcher in the Northeast coming into the spring, but a decrease in velocity mixed with an inability to throw strikes in four starts could scare teams away in a shortened draft. Mattison was 0-3, 8.53 this season with 10 walks in 19 innings, but past results suggest he could have righted the ship if the season had not been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mattison posted strong results his first two seasons at Bryant, going 5-2, 3.40 as a freshman in 14 appearances (seven starts) with 53 strikeouts in 53 innings, and 9-1, 3.47 in 15 starts as a sophomore with 67 strikeouts across 80.1 frames. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Mattison has great size and conditioning with the fastball/changeup combo of a power pitcher. His fastball normally sits at 93-95 mph from the right side, but it was down to 87-90 this spring. His changeup is an average pitch, but his breaking ball is a 30-grade offering at best. Some scouts note that Mattison tends to have trouble throwing strikes deep into games, leaving questions about a future role as a reliever. As a power arm out of the bullpen, Mattison’s fastball/changeup combo could play up and help him maximize his value, but for now he will continue to start. | |||||||
| 370 | Jack O’Dowd | SS | Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. | 6-2 | 190 | L-R | Vanderbilt |
| The son of former Rockies general manager and current MLB Network analyst Dan O’Dowd, Jack stands out for his baseball savvy and feel for the game. His older brother Chris caught in the minors for the Padres, Rockies, Braves and White Sox organizations, giving Jack plenty of experience with the ins and outs of the game. O’Dowd doesn’t have standout raw tools, and is a hit over power lefthanded bat, but he’s a player who scouts think will get the most out of his ability. He’s a fine defender in the infield at a variety of positions, but some evaluators think he might be best served behind the dish like his brother, thanks to a lack of elite foot speed. O’Dowd is committed to Vanderbilt. | |||||||
| 371 | Blake Shapen | SS | Evangel Christian Academy, Shreveport, La. | 6-0 | 165 | R-R | Baylor |
| Shapen is two-sport star at Shreveport (La.) Evangel High, following in the footsteps of quarterback/shortstop Josh Booty, a Shreveport Evangel star who was a first-round pick of the Marlins before eventually returning to football. Shapen has signed with Baylor to play football and baseball. He showed excellent athleticism and bat speed at the Under Armour All-America game last summer and has the range to potentially stay at shortstop, but scouts have seen him more on the football field than the diamond. Considering how hard it has been to see him on the baseball field, he’s likely to make it college. He is also old for the class as a 19-year-old. | |||||||
| 372 | Trevor Martin | RHP | Asher (Okla.) HS | 6-5 | 225 | R-R | Oklahoma State |
| A tall, 6-foot-5 Oklahoma State signee, Martin has shown present velocity in the 90-94 mph range and the ability to spin a slurvy, high-70s curveball. He has present physicality, but some scouts worry he will end up as a reliever long-term thanks to his delivery and slow-twitch body. | |||||||
| 373 | Cole Percival | RHP | UC Riverside | 6-5 | 220 | R-R | D-backs ’17 (31) |
| A top draft prospect in high school, Percival fell to the D-backs in the 31st round because of his strong commitment to UC Riverside to play for his dad, Highlanders coach and former all-star closer Troy Percival. The younger Percival missed all of 2019 after a freak injury where he suffered a stress fracture in his elbow falling down a flight of stairs, but he returned at full strength this spring before the season shut down. Percival throws his fastball 92-94 mph with angle and sink from his long-limbed, 6-foot-5 frame. It’s a plus fastball when he stays on top of it, but he occasionally gets around the ball and it loses its effectiveness. Percival complements his fastball with a 78-82 mph slider that shows average potential and a usable, if inconsistent, 79-81 mph changeup. Percival pitches from the stretch full time and has below-average control because he struggles to repeat his delivery. As such, most evaluators project him to the bullpen. Percival has added velocity every year and stands to gain more with a move to the bullpen. While not considered a potentially elite closer like his dad, Percival’s body and stuff project well as a big league reliever. | |||||||
| 374 | Kemp Alderman | 1B/RHP | Newton Academy, Decatur, Miss. | 6-4 | 240 | R-R | Mississippi |
| At one point, there was a hope that Alderman may turn into a catcher with power and a strong arm. Catching didn’t really take, which isn’t all that surprising considering he’s already 6-foot-4, 240 pounds with plenty of strength. But he still has a strong arm that generates 91-94 mph bowling balls with heavy sink on the mound. His breaking ball is currently sweepy and needs to get tighter and his arm action is lengthy. Alderman also has some promise as a hitter with plus raw power and some barrel feel. Aderman is young for the class—he won’t turn 18 until August. He didn’t get to play much this spring because he was on the basketball court into February. He’s a Mississippi signee. | |||||||
| 375 | Blake Brown | RHP | UNC-Asheville | 6-1 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A senior righthander, Brown had a chance to be a quality senior sign in a typical draft year, but the five-round 2020 draft could complicate where he winds up. A 6-foot-1, 195-pound righthander, Brown has a fastball in the 91-95 mph range and has flashed two solid-average secondaries in a curveball and changeup. In bullpen sessions late this spring, Brown got his fastball up into the upper-90s. Brown is athletic, but his control is well below-average thanks to a delivery that he struggles to get in sync. Because of that, some scouts are skeptical that he reaches his ceiling, and with a career walk rate at UNC-Asheville of 7.1 per nine, it’s clear to see why. At the same time, Brown has swing-and-miss stuff and was having a career-year during the shortened 2020 season, posting a 2.37 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 19 innings. But Brown showed no improvement in the strike throwing department with 18 walks and will be a reliever at the next level, with the hope that a team can figure out how to get him in the zone more frequently. | |||||||
| 376 | Adrian Siravo | RHP | Concord (N.H.) HS | 6-4 | 195 | R-R | Connecticut |
| A two-sport star who is also seen dunking over opponents in high school basketball games, Siravo brings immense upside, especially once he concentrates solely on baseball. At 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Siravo is tall and athletic with room to grow. He has a raw delivery with plenty of effort and tends to make a huge leap to the plate, but he should be able to iron out some of those kinks at Connecticut. His fastball sits 91-94 mph, but there’s belief he could get it up to 98 mph at the collegiate level. In addition to his fastball, Siravo also throws a splitter, but thus far it’s nothing more than a fringy pitch. He performed well at both the 2019 East Coast Pro and the Area Code Games, where his fastball impressed scouts, and he’s a player to watch at Connecticut once he figures it all out. | |||||||
| 377 | Trey McLoughlin | RHP | Fairfield | 6-2 | 210 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| McLoughlin was heavily scouted in his first three starts this season, but he had mixed results, pitching to a 0-2, 4.60 mark. His best start of the season was against Stetson on March 7, when he threw 7.1 no-hit innings while striking out eight batters and walking seven. His fastball was around 87-90 mph this season, down from the 90-93 he showed during the summer and fall. McLoughlin complements his fastball with a short, tight curveball that is solid-average, and a changeup that he rarely throws. Right now, it’s 90 percent fastball and curveball for McLoughlin that each grade out as solid-average offerings at best. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, McLoughlin isn’t too big, but he is fearless and has a bulldog mentality on the mound. He’s likely a bullpen guy in the future, but he should head back to Fairfield for his senior season while continuing to start. | |||||||
| 378 | Jackson Nezuh | RHP | TNXL Academy, Altamonte Springs, Fla. | 6-2 | 175 | R-R | Florida |
| A 6-foot-2, 175-pound righthander committed to Florida, Nezuh has a solid three-pitch mix and good feel for pitching and throwing strikes. He throws with a clean delivery, despite lacking standout athleticism, but his stuff is closer to fringe-average across the board. He pitches mostly in the 89-91 mph range with his fastball, and pairs that offering with a slider and a changeup, which both could be average offerings, but need improvement to get there. Most scouts are inclined to let Nezuh get to campus at Gainesville, where he has all the tools to be a successful pitcher in the SEC, and see if his stuff takes a jump at some point in the next three years. | |||||||
| 379 | Saul Garza | C | Louisiana State | 6-3 | 229 | R-R | Royals ’19 (32) |
| Garza ended up spending less time behind the plate in 2020 because freshman Alex Milazzo’s glovework was so impressive, but the two-time draftee—Cardinals, 31st-round 2017 and Royals, 32nd-rounder, 2019—still fits as a potential backup catcher with plus raw power that fits as a DH/first baseman as well. Garza is a fringe-average defender. | |||||||
| 380 | Jaylen Paden | RHP/SS | Decatur (Ga.) HS | 5-10 | 170 | R-R | Georgia Southern |
| An undersized two-way player who attends the same high school as potential day one pick Jordan Walker, Paden is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound shortstop and righthander committed to Georgia Southern. While he has a chance to play both ways at the next level in college, scouts prefer him on the mound, where he shows a solid three-pitch mix headlined by a sinking fastball that tops out in the low 90s. Paden has also shown good feel for a slider and a changeup, and brings impressive athleticism and a quick, whip-like arm to the table. While Paden might be harder to buy out of college in a five-round draft this year, unlike many high school players he should have been seen frequently enough by the right people for teams to feel comfortable despite a shortened season. | |||||||
| 381 | Gavin Casas | 1B | American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. | 6-3 | 225 | L-R | Vanderbilt |
| The younger brother of Red Sox 2018 first-rounder Triston Casas, Gavin has a similar profile as a power-oriented first baseman but doesn’t have the size or feel for hitting that Triston had at the same time. A 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefthanded hitter, Casas does have some power in the tank and flashes it at times, but scouts don’t think he’s able to get to all of it with the way he moves in the box presently. Defensively he is a below-average runner who will be limited to a corner. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Casas grow into more of his natural strength and learn to tap into his power more frequently at Vanderbilt. Casas is also old for the class and turned 19 in April. | |||||||
| 382 | Brendan Girton | RHP | Shattuck (Okla.) HS | 6-1 | 210 | R-R | Texas Tech |
| Girton can run his fastball up to 94-96 mph thanks to a high-energy delivery with significant effort. That effort and his below-average control lead to plenty of reliever projections. The Texas Tech signee is already filled out and physical at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. He needs to improve the consistency of his breaking ball, but he shows feel for spin. | |||||||
| 383 | Oscar Serratos | 3B | Young Harris (Ga.) | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Indians ’17 (14) |
| Serratos was a high-profile shortstop prospect coming out of high school who showed an all-around toolset and then excelled in his first year at Georgia Tech, hitting .311/.393/.437. He’s gone in the wrong direction since then, as he struggled in the Cape Cod League in 2018 before hitting .246/.315/.338 as a sophomore. Serratos was dismissed from the team and moved to Division II Young Harris (Ga.) College, where he hit .259/.436/.466 through 18 games. Serratos is now a third baseman, which hurts his overall profile as teams believed he needed improved strength and power production even before he moved to the hot corner. He has plenty of arm strength for the position, but there were some hit questions in high school when Serratos faced better competition, and those concerns have been raised again after his struggles over the last two years. Teams are also skeptical of the 6-foot-2, 195-pound infielder’s makeup after being dismissed from Georgia Tech, adding to the list of question marks. Serratos does have pedigree going back to his high school days, so it is possible a team takes a flyer on him hoping they can get him back on track, but that’s even more unlikely in a five-round draft. | |||||||
| 384 | Parks Harber | 3B | Westminster HS, Atlanta | 6-4 | 210 | R-R | Georgia |
| A strong, 6-foot-4, 210-pound corner infielder, Harber has a power-oriented game and was also a talented football player at Westminster High in Atlanta. He needed a strong spring with the bat after underwhelming over the summer showcase circuit in front of crosscheckers and scouting directors, so the shortened 2020 season is even more detrimental to Harber than most. Area scouts thought he improved in the fall and were looking forward to seeing more of him this spring, as some think he has a chance to be an average hitter with above-average or plus power. A third baseman now, Harber will likely have to move to first base at the next level, as his glove work and mobility at the hot corner leave evaluators wanting. He’s a below-average runner, so all of his value is tied up in the bat, and without strong summer performance to point to, Harber has a solid chance to get to Georgia where he could develop into a middle-of-the-order type slugger. | |||||||
| 385 | Asher Akridge | OF | Santa Fe HS, Alachua, Fla. | 6-4 | 165 | R-R | Florida International |
| A toolsy outfielder with a lean and uber-projectable, 6-foot-4, 165-pound frame, Akridge has a few tools to brag about, but scouts also note that his overall game remains raw. He’s a plus runner who has routinely posted 60-grade run times in the 60-yard dash and also has above-average raw power in the tank. However, he doesn’t have great bat speed, and some scouts have noted that there is a bit of length to his swing, which could hinder his ability to tap into that power at the next level. Akridge has the speed for center field, but below-average arm strength now that might improve in the future as he adds strength. Akridge is committed to Florida International. | |||||||
| 386 | Parker Scott | LHP | Oklahoma State | 6-1 | 175 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Scott is clever and crafty, which has made him one of the toughest pitchers in the Big 12 when he’s healthy. But he’s had trouble staying healthy. He had ulnar nerve surgery that ended his freshman season in 2017, then needed Tommy John surgery in 2018 and a follow-up surgery on his elbow. Scott returned to action as a redshirt sophomore in 2019, posting a 2.18 overall ERA and a conference-best 1.11 in conference games as he relieved and started. This year he dominated UT-Rio Grande Valley and struck out 13 in seven shutout innings against Brigham Young, but was hit around by UCLA, the only blemish in his 3-1, 2.16 season. Scott lacks a plus pitch, but the lefty spots 90 mph, locates his breaking ball and has an average changeup. His above-average control is his best asset thanks to his ability to spot multiple pitches around the edges of the zone. | |||||||
| 387 | Nelson Berkwich | LHP | American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. | 6-0 | 190 | L-L | Vanderbilt |
| A touch and feel lefthander, Berkwich has a three-pitch mix with good feel for pitching and a competitive demeanor on the mound. A 6-foot, 190-pound lefthander committed to Vanderbilt, Berkwich has a fastball that has been up to 92 mph at its best, more frequently in the upper 80s. He has two secondaries in a 75-83 mph slurvy breaking ball that blends between a slider and a curveball and also throws a changeup in the 80-82 mph range. Berkwich doesn’t have the most fluid operation, with some recoil and effort through his delivery and without exceptionally loud present stuff it’s difficult to envision him not getting to campus in a five-round draft. With his advanced feel for pitching, though, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him perform in the SEC. | |||||||
| 388 | Luke Boyers | 3B | Boerne-Champion HS, Boerne, Texas | 5-11 | 188 | B-R | Texas Christian |
| Boyers’ small ball game is not the type that usually gets a player drafted out of high school, but the switch-hitter’s plus speed, above-average defense in center field and all-out, high-energy approach and athleticism should serve him well at Texas Christian. He led Boerne-Champion High to a state semifinal appearance as a quarterback as well. | |||||||
| 389 | Khristian Curtis | RHP | Port Neches-Groves HS, Port Neches, Texas | 6-5 | 185 | R-R | Texas A&M |
| As a junior, Curtis decided to focus entirely on baseball to avoid the risk of injury on the basketball court. But he missed playing basketball with his friends, so the 6-foot-5 righthander and Texas A&M signee returned to the court as a senior, immediately becoming a steady double-double threat underneath for Port Neches-Groves High. Basketball season meant he didn’t get on the baseball field until just before the novel coronavirus shutdown, and he was still shaking off the rust when the season stopped. Curtis has a solid chance to develop into a valuable member of A&M’s rotation if he makes it to school as expected. He sits 88-90 mph now, but with an easy delivery and a tall but skinny build, it’s likely he’ll add velocity in the future. His curveball has solid shape, but needs to get harder. | |||||||
| 390 | Tyler Myrick | RHP | Florida International | 6-0 | 205 | R-R | Rangers ’19 (40) |
| A 6-foot, 200-pound righthander who missed the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery, Myrick has a big arm and some potential as a reliever. Scouts see a plus fastball and a breaking ball that has plus potential when he hits on it, but Myrick has struggled to make the most of his pure stuff consistently. His strike-throwing ability has been an issue in the past and because of that scouts believe he’ll have more success out of the bullpen at the next level. Myrick has thrown 144 innings over his Florida International career over the last four years—mostly in a starting role—with a 4.13 career ERA, 7.8 strikeouts per nine and 3.9 walks per nine. Scouts believe his stuff will play up in the bullpen and he was seen as a day three talent in a typical draft. | |||||||
| 391 | Riley King | 3B/OF | Georgia | 6-0 | 186 | R-R | Braves ’19 (26) |
| A 6-foot, 189-pound redshirt junior, King raised his profile last summer after performing well in the Cape Cod League with Yarmouth-Dennis. The third baseman and outfielder hit .323/.373/.427 and showed impressive defensive ability at the hot corner. Scouts saw a player who could have been a top 10 round pick with continued performance during the spring but King hit just .203/.306/.203 through 18 games during his redshirt junior season. A gap hitter, King doesn’t have the prototypical power that a corner player possesses, which could make him a better fit at second base. He’s athletic enough to handle a number of positions, including both corner outfield spots and has the makeup and work ethic to make it work. King has performed at higher levels in the past with Georgia—he hit .295/.403/.440 as a redshirt sophomore in 2019—and has solid bat speed, but has struggled with breaking pitches. | |||||||
| 392 | Andy Archer | RHP | Georgia Tech | 6-4 | 220 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-4, 220-pound righthander, Archer missed the 2019 season due to an elbow injury—though he didn’t undergo Tommy John surgery—and got back on the mound for just 10.2 innings this spring before the 2020 season ended. A fastball/changeup pitcher, Archer works with a fastball in the 91-93 mph range predominantly, while his changeup is an above-average or plus pitch. He has worked on developing a breaking ball to give him a third quality offering, and scouts have gone anywhere from an average to below-average grade on the pitch. Archer is a solid strike thrower who comes right after hitters and has a good frame, but he doesn’t have the loudest pure stuff and his injury history could complicate his draft stock. | |||||||
| 393 | Samuel Strickland | LHP | Samford | 6-2 | 210 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A three-year starter with Samford, Strickland has performed each season at the collegiate level and could see his draft stock elevated because of that long track record of performance in a shortened draft environment. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound lefthander with fringe-average-to-average stuff across the board, Strickland is a pitchability lefthander more than an overpowering arm. He throws a fastball, slider, changeup and an eephus-esque curveball that allows him to project as a low-ceiling, back-of-the-rotation type arm. He posted sub-3.00 ERAs as a freshman and sophomore over 29 combined starts, and through four starts and 23 innings this spring, Strickland had a 1.17 ERA with 30 strikeouts to just one walk. That strikeout-to-walk ratio was good for second among Division I arms behind only East Tennessee State’s Landon Knack. Scouts saw Strickland as an early day three talent in a typical draft year, but in a draft with only five rounds he doesn’t have a clear spot. | |||||||
| 394 | Jordan Carrion | SS | American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. | 6-1 | 160 | R-R | Florida |
| Carrion turned 19 in April so he’s old for his class, but he has impressive defensive skills that should allow him to stick at shortstop long term. A plus athlete with plus arm strength, Carrion shows the glovework and instincts to make both the routine and more difficult plays at the position, with good body control and feel throwing from multiple angles. Offensively, there’s some room for development. His bat is light at the moment and Carrion has limited power with an inside-out swing and opposite field approach. Scouts believe he’s a player who could benefit from getting to college at Florida, where he could raise his profile drastically by adding strength and becoming a more refined hitter. | |||||||
| 395 | Jake Eddington | RHP | Doniphan (Mo.) HS | 6-3 | 170 | R-R | Alabama |
| An Alabama signee, Eddington has a fast arm and a biting, low-80s slider. Eddington has touched 93 mph with his fastball and generally sits in the low-90s. He’s a little raw at this point, but the 6-foot-3, 170-pound righthander has room to fill out. | |||||||
| 396 | Raymond Gil | 3B | Miami | 6-0 | 210 | R-R | Athletics ’17 (37) |
| A power-oriented corner infielder at Miami, Gil is a 6-foot, 209-pound third baseman who entered 2020 coming off of a career year. As a sophomore in 2019, Gil hit .318/.396/.565 with 13 home runs, though much of that was fueled by an unsustainably high .431 BABIP. Either way, scouts were excited to see that sort of power production from the third baseman, but he didn’t get enough time in 2020 to replicate that success and he hit just .179/.300/.375 out of the gate in 16 games. There’s plenty of pressure on Gil’s bat moving forward, as many scouts are skeptical that he can stick at the hot corner and believe first base might be a better fit. He has a track record of striking out at a high clip—30 percent over his Miami career—and teams might not see enough home run production on his resume to overlook his swing-and-miss concerns. Additionally, Gil struggled in two summers in the Cape Cod League, where he’s a career .185/.318/.337 hitter. He does have above-average raw power, but it’s unlikely he’s able to make the most of it. | |||||||
| 397 | Caleb Sloan | RHP | Texas Christian | 6-3 | 215 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Sloan never got into an official game for Texas Christian this spring, as his return from Tommy John surgery was derailed by the March coronavirus shutdown. That will almost assuredly mean he’ll be back at TCU for another season, but the redshirt sophomore was showing the mid-90s velocity he’d demonstrated pre-injury in bullpen sessions. | |||||||
| 398 | Brad Grenkoski | OF/RHP | Kell HS, Marietta, Ga. | 6-4 | 200 | R-R | Georgia Tech |
| A physical, 6-foot-4, 200-pound, two-way player, Grenkoski has legitimate pro potential on both sides of the ball. His arm is likely his biggest asset at the moment. He threw 99 mph from the outfield at Perfect Game’s National showcase last summer and has been up to 92 mph off the mound from the right side. The Georgia Tech commit has also shown enough with the bat to give himself a real chance to hit and potentially tap into some power as well, though a deep load may disrupt his timing moving forward. As a position player, Grenkoski likely fits best in a corner outfield spot or at first base, and on the mound he is presently unrefined, but has plenty of upside. | |||||||
| 399 | Zack Matthews | RHP | Oklahoma | 5-11 | 202 | B-R | Never Drafted |
| Matthews hasn’t had much as far as results yet. He has a 5.22 career ERA at Oklahoma thanks in part to seven home runs allowed in 39.2 career innings. But the stuff will keep getting him chances as he can sit 95-96 with a hard, dirty high-80s slider. | |||||||
| 400 | Kaleb Hill | LHP | Crowder (Mo.) JC | 6-4 | 215 | R-L | – |
| Hill was a prominent prospect in high school who transferred to Crower (Mo.) JC after one year at Mississippi. He still has size at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and he fills the bottom of the zone with 87-92 mph heavy sinkers, but he likely needs another year in school. | |||||||
| 401 | Hunter McMullen | RHP | Florida | 6-2 | 194 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| There were teams who wanted to sign McMullen in 2017 out of Forest High in Ocala, Fla., but the righthander opted for school. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound righthander threw 22.2 innings for Florida as a freshman—mostly out of the bullpen—and posted a 4.76 ERA. He tossed just four innings in 2019 before going down with an arm injury and underwent Tommy John surgery. McMullen hasn’t toed the rubber since April 2, 2019 and will be a tough sell for teams with a five-round draft in 2020. When healthy, he’s had a fastball up to 95 mph, but he has also shown below-average control in his time with Florida. | |||||||
| 402 | Theo Millas | RHP | Alpha SS, Burnaby, B.C. | 6-4 | 200 | R-R | Louisiana State |
| One of the top Canadian arms in the 2020 class, Millas is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound righthander with exceptional command for a prep arm. A former hockey player, Millas brings impressive athleticism to the mound and has shown advanced command with Team Canada’s junior national team and at travel ball events like Jupiter last fall. He throws a fastball that’s mostly in the 88-91 mph range, with a changeup that has a chance to be a plus offering, and a mid-70s curveball that could be average with more refinement and power. Millas has a projectable frame that could add plenty more strength in the future and allow him to get to an average or better fastball, and with his already impressive control, he would start to check a lot of boxes. Millas is committed to Louisiana State. | |||||||
| 403 | Aaron Nixon | SS | McAllen (Texas) HS | 6-1 | 195 | R-R | Texas |
| Nixon has a lot of paths forward, as he’s a two-way player who is viable at both positions in college and maybe even in pro ball. As a position player, he’s a shortstop who likely ends up at second or third base who can hit thanks to a simple, compact swing and fast hands. He has plenty of arm strength, but he hasn’t shown he can handle the different throws and angles required from a shortstop. Nixon has a future on the mound as well with a 90-94 mph fastball and a promising slider. He likely will make it to Texas where his versatility could serve him and the Longhorns well. | |||||||
| 404 | Josh Shuler | OF | North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, Ga. | 6-2 | 200 | L-R | South Carolina |
| A 6-foot-2, 200-pound outfielder committed to South Carolina, Shuler brings athleticism and bat speed to the table, but is still working to refine his game on both sides of the ball. Shuler is twitchy in the box and is starting to grow into his frame, with present ability to ambush certain pitches, but his bat works quickly in and out of the zone with a steep path and his plate coverage is inconsistent at the moment. He’s an above-average runner with solid-average arm strength and has a chance to play all three outfield positions. Some scouts like his routes in the outfield and think he’s trending in the right direction defensively, while others believe he’ll be limited to a corner. | |||||||
| 405 | Nicholas Dombkowski | LHP | Hartford | 6-2 | 195 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| An overachiever who doesn’t have great stuff but uses his pitchability and brains to get batters out, Dombkowski was a three-year starter at Hartford and also has a successful 2019 Cape Cod League stint on his resume. As a freshman, Dombkowski went 6-5, 2.88 in 90.2 innings with a 2.7 walk rate and a 7.0 strikeout rate. His numbers faltered as a sophomore, when his ERA shot up to 4.97, but he threw a five-inning perfect game in the Cape Cod League last summer and finished the summer with a 3-2, 2.48 mark in eight starts. Dombkowski continued to post strong numbers this spring, going 3-0 in three starts with a 0.90 ERA and 20 strikeouts compared to just four walks. If he continued to pitch close to that level, he certainly would have risen up draft boards. At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Dombkowski throws his fringe-average fastball in the high 80s from the left side, but it tops out around 88-91 mph. He effectively mixes his solid-average changeup into his mix and is able to get plenty of swings and misses with both pitches. He also throws a slider, but it’s less effective than his other two pitches. In a normal year, Dombkowski would likely go in the 11-15 round range, leaving his draft status up in the air in this year’s five-round draft. | |||||||
| 406 | Austin Smith | RHP | Southwestern (Texas) | 6-3 | 205 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Smith may have had a shot of slipping into day three of the draft in a normal year, but he barely pitched this spring because of blister issues. He had finished sixth in Division III in 2019 with 110 strikeouts. Smith has a low-90s fastball, but his command and breaking ball are both still raw. He’s a potential senior sign as one of the best Division III arms in the class. | |||||||
| 407 | Zach Torra | LHP | UC Santa Barbara | 6-1 | 195 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Torra transferred from Cuesta (Calif.) JC and emerged as arguably the top draft prospect at UC Santa Barbara this spring. He went 3-0, 0.36 with 39 strikeouts in 25.1 dominant innings before the season shut down. Torra is a competitive lefthander who fills up the strike zone. His fastball sits 88-90 mph, occasionally touching 91, and he has feel for both an average curveball and an average slider. He throws all three pitches for strikes and gets ahead of hitters quickly. Torra has a long track record of pitching above his pure stuff. He’s solidly on draft radars as a lefthander who can throw three quality pitches for strikes. | |||||||
| 408 | Blade Tidwell | RHP | Loretto (Tenn.) HS | 6-4 | 200 | R-R | Tennessee |
| A projection righthander listed at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Tidwell hails from the same Loretto high school in Tennessee as 2018 Padres first-rounder Ryan Weathers. Tidwell is committed to Tennessee and has a chance to get there given the shortened 2020 season and five-round draft, with scouts not getting to see him much this spring. Over the summer, Tidwell showed a fastball that sat in the upper 80s and topped out in the 91-92 mph range, with a curveball that ranged from 71-78 with three-quarter shape. The breaking ball showed potential, but Tidwell struggled to consistently get on top of the offering, which he’ll need to improve moving forward. Tidwell has already started to fill out his frame and has room for more strength in the future. | |||||||
| 409 | Duke Brotherton | RHP | Mercer Island (Wash.) HS | 6-4 | 190 | R-R | Washington State |
| A projection righthander out of Washington committed to Washington State, area scouts were looking forward to seeing Brotherton’s progress on the mound this spring. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, that didn’t come to pass, and in a five-round draft, Brotherton is likely to make it to campus. Over the summer Brotherton showed a solid fastball/changeup combination. His fastball was in the 87-90 mph range and he showed impressive feel for a changeup in the low 80s that he threw with good arm speed. He’d also shown a mid-70s curveball with three-quarter shape and solid spin in the 2,500 rpm range at the Area Code Games. With a frame that could add strength in the future and a clean delivery and three-quarter arm action, Brotherton has plenty of room for a jump in stuff at the next level. | |||||||
| 410 | Ricky Williams | RHP | River Bluff HS, Lexington, S.C. | 6-2 | 177 | R-R | Clemson |
| A lanky, 6-foot-2, 177-pound righthander committed to Clemson, Williams showed some projection and an intriguing three-pitch mix last summer at East Coast Pro. At the event, Williams showed a fastball in the 87-91 mph range. Meanwhile, his curveball was in the mid-70s with three-quarter shape and impressive depth and spin in the 2,600-2,700 rpm range, while he also showed a low-80s changeup with some fading action. Those attributes made him a name to see during the spring, but scouts were underwhelmed with what he showed in the brief looks they had before the 2020 season shut down. His velocity dropped off and because of that Williams is a candidate to get to Clemson, where he could re-establish his stock for 2023. | |||||||
| 411 | Lucas Gordon | LHP | Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, Calif. | 6-1 | 190 | L-L | Texas |
| When Hunter Greene stopped pitching after five appearances in 2017 to protect his draft status, Gordon stepped up to become Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) High’s ace as a freshman. He had Tommy John surgery as a sophomore but returned to the mound with no issues the next two years. Gordon is a competitive lefthander with advanced pitchability. He moves his 87-90 mph fastball around the strike zone and draws more swings and misses than his velocity would otherwise indicate. He mixes his average changeup and fringe-average slider to keep hitters guessing and lands them both for strikes. Gordon is a bit undersized, has surgery on his ledger and doesn’t throw overly hard, so most teams aren’t quite ready to draft him yet. He is committed to Texas and has a chance to pitch in the Longhorns’ rotation quickly. | |||||||
| 412 | Will Wagner | 2B | Liberty | 6-0 | 185 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Wagner is the son of former major league reliever Billy Wagner. A 6-foot, 185-pound second baseman, scouts saw Wagner as a day three sort of prospect in a typical draft class who has feel for the barrel and can handle second base. He had a loud sophomore campaign in 2019 when he hit .305/.382/.444 with six home runs and 14 doubles and was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference first team. Wagner was also an all-star in the New England League last summer, where he hit .329/.416/.557 with seven home runs. Wagner doesn’t have much in the way of loud tools but stands out for his feel for the barrel and his major league bloodlines. | |||||||
| 413 | Jason Willow | OF | UC Santa Barbara | 6-2 | 180 | R-R | Orioles ’17 (24) |
| Willow starred for Canada’s 18-and-under national team at the 2017 U-18 World Cup and was drafted by the Orioles in the 24th round that year. He instead went to UC Santa Barbara and started all three years for the Gauchos, spending his first two years at third base before transitioning to right field this spring. Willow is a toolsy athlete whose production has never quite matched his potential. He’s an above-average runner, has above-average arm strength and has the versatility and athleticism to play both the infield and outfield. Willow has never hit for average or power and slumped badly this spring as he tried to play through an injured left shoulder. He shows patience at the plate but swings and misses too often. Willow is a candidate to return to school next year, but some clubs like his tools enough to potentially take him. | |||||||
| 414 | Cooper Davis | OF | Vanderbilt | 5-10 | 185 | L-R | Blue Jays ’17 (25) |
| Davis was a standout prospect out of Canada coming out of high school, where he showed solid bat-to-ball skills and above-average running ability. After a freshman season where Davis played in just nine games, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound outfielder showed solid hitting ability in his sophomore season, when he hit .331/.441/.421 in 35 games. He’s mostly a singles hitter which will hurt his profile, as scouts don’t believe he’s going to stick in the middle of the outfield at the next level. He lacks the power to profile in a corner, which puts him in a tweener role and he doesn’t have much physical projection to add a significant amount of strength in the future. Coaches and scouts alike praise his energy and aggressive way of playing the game, and he’s been a solid base runner at Vanderbilt, stealing 12 bags in 13 attempts over his three-year career. | |||||||
| 415 | Ben Wiegman | RHP | Carmel HS, Mundelein, Ill. | 6-4 | 215 | R-R | Louisville |
| A big (6-foot-4, 215 pound) righthander with a crossfire delivery, Wiegman is headed to Louisville. He showed solid stuff last summer and fall, sitting 88-92 mph and taking a little off at times to mess with hitters’ timing. Wiegman has shown a bigger fastball this spring in bullpens, running the pitch up into the mid-90s and touching a few 96s and 97s. His mid-70s curveball has solid depth but could get tighter. There’s a decent shot he’ll add more velocity and smooth out his delivery at Louisville. | |||||||
| 416 | Drew Swift | 2B | Arizona State | 6-0 | 144 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A high-profile shortstop in the Phoenix area with perennial powerhouse Hamilton High school, Swift stayed home to play at nearby Arizona State, a three-year starter primarily at second base. The bat is too light to project him as anything more than a bench player, but he showed progress in his abbreviated junior season with the Sun Devils when he looked more comfortable and focused at the plate. He’s a below-average hitter with well below-average power, but he has plus-plus hands and is a plus runner. Swift has quick actions in the infield, with an average arm that would meet the need for either middle infield position in his ceiling role as a utility infielder. Swift added to his versatility in 2020 by getting some starts in center field and he certainly has the speed to handle the position with more reps there. Swift will likely return to school unless an organization that values his speed, instincts and versatility selects him higher than projected. | |||||||
| 417 | Calvin Ziegler | RHP | St. Mary’s HS, Owen Sound, Ont. | 6-0 | 195 | R-R | Connecticut |
| A 6-foot, 195-pound righthander who was trending in the right direction this spring, Ziegler improved his body and cleaned up his delivery over the offseason, which allowed him to improve his control. He throws a fastball that gets up to 93 mph, but sits in the 88-91 range now, with a slider that scouts have also seen improvement from. He has thrown a changeup here and there but largely is a fastball/slider pitcher at the moment. Ziegler is young for the class and will still be 17 on draft day, but some scouts think he is more likely to be a reliever in the future than a starter. Ziegler is committed to Connecticut. | |||||||
| 418 | Brady Smith | C/3B | Florida | 5-11 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A catcher and infielder at Florida, Smith handled the backstop duties for the Gators in 53 games as a sophomore, but this spring made his starts at first base, second base and third base. Evaluators are split on his true defensive talent behind the plate, with some seeing him as a well below-average defender, while others have praised his receiving skills, game-calling ability and the way he works with a pitching staff. Smith has average arm strength. Offensively, there are real questions about Smith’s bat, as he is a career .257/.350/.394 hitter with Florida and a .288/.381/.417 hitter over two summers in the Cape Cod League. He does have average raw power but hasn’t ever consistently tapped into it. If a team believes Smith can catch long term, he brings some value behind the plate, but he’s a below-average defender in the infield and it will be more difficult for him to profile at either of the corners as well. | |||||||
| 419 | Eddie Eisert | SS | Bishop O’Connell HS, Arlington, Va. | 6-2 | 190 | B-R | North Carolina State |
| Like most high school players, Eisert was hurt this spring by not being seen this and playing just one game for his high school team before the season ended, but scouts were intrigued with his switch-hitting ability and speed over the summer. He has a chance to be a plus runner, and a solid hitter from both sides, with a loose swing that produces plenty of line drives at the moment. Eisert has some present strength now and a 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame that could add more in the future, and some evaluators believe he has the skill set to get to campus and produce at North Carolina State while handling a middle infield position. | |||||||
| 420 | Troy Claunch | C | Oregon State | 6-0 | 196 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Claunch had very big shoes to fill after stepping into the catching role at Oregon State the year after Adley Rutschman was the first overall pick in the 2019 draft. While Claunch is far from the prospect that his former teammate was, he is a solid defender and natural leader who understands how to call a game and how to work with his pitching staff. There’s some rawness to his game behind the plate that will need to be ironed out, but evaluators think he has all the tools to be a solid defensive backstop. He’s shown some promise with the bat, particularly after a freshman season in which he hit .321/.512/.571 in 23 games, but his production since then has been more middling, and he struggled in 14 games this spring with 20 strikeouts to just four walks, while hitting .244/.306/.489. | |||||||
| 421 | Shay Hartis | RHP | Grayson (Texas) JC | 6-2 | 190 | R-R | – |
| Hartis spent the fall season at Dallas Baptist, but never pitched in an official game for DBU before transferring to Grayson. This spring he showed an improved low-80s tight slider that he has better feel for locating. His 92-94 mph fastball has downhill angle. | |||||||
| 422 | Marcos Castanon | 3B | UC Santa Barbara | 6-0 | 185 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Castanon was something of a hidden gem in high school who frequently outplayed more famous players in talent-rich Southern California. UC Santa Barbara was one of the few schools to recognize his talent, and he rewarded the Gauchos by becoming a three-year contributor in their middle infield. He led UCSB in hits (17), home runs (four) and RBI (17) through 15 games this spring before the season shut down. Castanon’s top asset is his bat. He has a strong lower half, swings hard to do damage and hits the ball a long way when he connects. He is extremely aggressive and prone to swinging and missing, but he still made enough contact to hit .308 in his final two seasons at UCSB. He did struggle with a wood bat in the Cape Cod League last summer, batting .189 with 30 strikeouts in 24 games. Castanon is a second baseman who projects to stay there with his thick build and below-average speed. He will go as far as his bat takes him. | |||||||
| 423 | Chandler Champlain | RHP | Southern California | 6-5 | 220 | R-R | Angels ’18 (38) |
| Champlain looks the part of a professional pitcher but has yet to put it all together. A draft-eligible sophomore who was taken by the Angels in the 38th round out of high school, Champlain flashes a 93-96 mph fastball, an above-average 12-to-6 breaking ball and an average changeup at his best. His fastball is often straight, however, and his control is below average, resulting in too many walks and hits allowed. He’s allowed 51 hits in 52.1 career innings at USC, with nearly as many walks (33) as strikeouts (38). Champlain has promising raw ingredients but is a strong candidate to return to school. His father, Jay, played football at USC and was a member of the Trojans’ 1978 national championship team. | |||||||
| 424 | Tyler Hardman | 3B | Oklahoma | 6-2 | 218 | R-R | Rockies ’17 (37) |
| A three-year starter for Oklahoma, Hardman’s eight home runs last summer was tied for third most in the Cape Cod League. He didn’t have as strong a spring, hitting .277/.345/.413 and he’s always struggled with strikeouts. He can get caught guessing too much as a hitter. Hardman played plenty of third base last summer in the Cape and showed better than expected actions and mobility, although he’s a bit slow twitch for the position. He’s a solid first baseman. | |||||||
| 425 | Hunter Breault | RHP | Oregon | 6-2 | 225 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-2, 225-pound righthander, Breault has big arm strength but doesn’t have much in the way of a track record to back it up. Scouts saw him up to 95 mph in the fall and he’s reportedly touched as high as 97 mph in the past, but he was more in the low 90s this spring. He’s shown potentially average offspeed pitches as well in a slider and a splitter, but those pitches have both been inconsistent. Breault was successful in 9.2 innings out of the bullpen this spring. He didn’t allow an earned run, but he walked (five) more batters than he struck out (three) and has just 42.1 innings under his belt at Oregon over three years. In previous years teams might have been willing to take a shot on Breault’s arm talent in spite of a strong resume, but that will be more difficult in a five-round draft. | |||||||
| 426 | Ernie Yake | SS | Gonzaga | 5-11 | 165 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| The most well-rounded player on Gonzaga’s 2020 team, Yake played shortstop and catcher in high school before handling third base duties early in his collegiate career. He moved back to shortstop in 2019, but most scouts see him as a second baseman at the next level. Yake is small and skinny, listed at 5-foot-11, 165 pounds with very little power in his game, but scouts have appreciated the way he plays above his physicality and raw tools. He’s a gamer who makes the most of his talents due to standout instincts on both sides of the ball. He has solid range and average arm strength, and offensively he is difficult to strike out with a 6.4 percent career strikeout rate. He has solid feel for the strike zone with more walks than whiffs in his career and is a .316/.381/.414 hitter. While it’s difficult to see an impact type player with Yake due to his lack of tools and size, some scouts are in on him as a reliable producer in some capacity. | |||||||
| 427 | Jonathan Vaughns | 3B/OF | St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower, Calif. | 6-2 | 210 | L-R | UCLA |
| A standout safety on St. John Bosco (Calif.) High’s nationally-ranked football team, Vaughns is committed to UCLA to play both baseball and football and is one of the best pure athletes in the draft. A physical 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Vaughns developed a reputation as a fearsome hitter on the football field and plays with the same intensity on the diamond. He is a plus runner who plays hard, has plus arm strength and shows plus raw power. Vaughns’ tools are loud, but he is still raw as a baseball player because of his two-sport background. He projects as a below-average corner outfielder because he takes bad routes and he swings and misses too much to get to his raw power. Vaughns needs lots of reps on the baseball field and will take time to develop. His tools and athleticism give him upside if teams are willing to be patient. | |||||||
| 428 | Rowdey Jordan | OF | Mississippi State | 5-10 | 185 | B-R | Never Drafted |
| Jordan doesn’t really have much of a pro position as he’s an undersized, 5-foot-10, 180-pound switch-hitting left fielder whose a much better hitter than slugger. In a normal year, he’d be a day three type as a productive gamer who can hit for average. He’s a .304/.381/.446 career hitter for Mississippi State. | |||||||
| 429 | Bradlee Beesley | OF | Cal Poly | 5-10 | 180 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Beesley started all four years at Cal Poly and hit well in the Cape Cod League two years in a row while swinging a wood bat. He’s an undersized contact hitter who sprays the ball around. Beesley lacks power and could walk more, but he knows his game and gets the bat to the ball. Beesley is a plus runner with an above-average arm and plays an average center field. He has the tools and mature instincts to play all three outfield positions. | |||||||
| 430 | Matt Rudick | OF | San Diego State | 5-9 | 170 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Rudick started for three years at San Diego State and hit at least .310 in every season. He added to his hitting credentials by batting .287/.374/.409 in the Cape Cod League last summer. Rudick lacks big tools, but he can hit. He controls the strike zone, has a mature approach and possesses excellent bat-to-ball skills from the left side. Rudick is undersized at 5-foot-9 and possesses little power, but he knows his game and doesn’t try to do too much. He’s a pest and a tough out from the leadoff spot who sets the tone for his team. Rudick is a below-average runner with an above-average arm who profiles as a corner outfielder. His lefthanded bat would have teams interested in the 11-15 round range, but he will likely return to school due to the shortened draft. | |||||||
| 431 | Donta Williams | OF | Arizona | 5-10 | 172 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A Las Vegas native, Williams was one of the top prep players in Nevada, but after not being drafted out of high school the lefthanded-hitting outfielder headed to Arizona. Williams had a promising sophomore season for the Wildcats and followed it up with a very good junior year, batting .348/.527/.500 before the season was cut short. He has plus instincts at the plate with good feel to hit, below-average power and advanced plate discipline, walking nearly twice as many times as he struck out in his 15-game junior season. At least an average runner with good instincts on the bases and in the outfield, Williams is a plus defender with an average arm that gets good carry. | |||||||
| 432 | McClain O’Connor | SS | UC Santa Barbara | 5-10 | 165 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| O’Connor is a high-effort, scrappy player who teams like as a potential senior sign. He can play shortstop, makes contact and is a good athlete who won all-state honors in both baseball and football in high school. | |||||||
| 433 | Trevin Esquerra | 1B/OF | Loyola Marymount | 6-1 | 205 | B-B | Never Drafted |
| Esquerra led Loyola Marymount in nearly every offensive category last spring to lead the Lions to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 19 years. He returned as a senior this year and again led LMU in most categories before the season shut down. Esquerra is a switch-hitter with above-average power from both sides of the plate. He makes loud contact when he connects, but he is extremely aggressive and swings and misses at an alarming rate. He struck out in nearly 30 percent of his collegiate plate appearances and rarely walks. Esquerra was previously a switch-thrower as well. He primarily throws lefthanded only now and is limited to first base defensively. | |||||||
| 434 | Jake McKenna | LHP | Ocean City (N.J.) HS | 6-6 | 215 | R-L | St. Joseph’s |
| McKenna pitched well in Jupiter over the fall and threw well in front of scouts in January after not being high on the radar for many evaluators. A St. John’s commit, McKenna has a huge, projectable frame at 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, but he will have to work on cleaning up his operation from the left side. Throwing from a high overhand slot, he produces forced riding action on his 12-to-6 curveball that has a chance to be above average in the future. His fastball has sat in the high 80s, but he has gotten up to 91 on it at times—it’s likely a fringe-average pitch for now. His strike-throwing ability suffers due to his robotic delivery, but with his great makeup he should be able to fix any issues with continued development at the collegiate level. | |||||||
| 435 | Walter Ahuna III | INF | Hilo (Hawaii) HS | 6-0 | 155 | L-R | Kansas |
| Ahuna, whose nickname is “Maui,” is one of the most projectable shortstops in the 2020 draft class. Listed at 6-foot, 155 pounds, he is a natural shortstop with easy athleticism and the loose, natural actions for the position. He’s not particularly fast, but his advanced instincts and feel for the game allow him to get to every ball and make every play. Ahuna makes lots of contact with his handsy, lefthanded swing and isn’t fazed by big velocity, but he lacks the strength to impact the ball. He still has lots of physical gains ahead, with some scouts comparing him to Latin American teenagers who sign at 16 years old. Ahuna is a long-term bet who could pay off in a few years once he adds strength. He is committed to Kansas. | |||||||
| 436 | Gus Steiger | SS | South Dakota State | 5-11 | 180 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Steiger isn’t going to hear his name called in a five-round draft, but in a normal year his sure hands, range and consistency would have made him an intriguing day three pick. A three-year starter for South Dakota State, Steiger is a career .319/.367/.435 hitter for the Jackrabbits who hit .321/.433/.482 as a junior. | |||||||
| 437 | Nolan McCarthy | RHP | Occidental (Calif.) | 6-5 | 220 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| One of this year’s top Division III prospects, McCarthy won conference pitcher of the year honors as a junior at Occidental (Calif.) and followed with solid relief work in the Cape Cod League. He returned to school this spring and showed enough to keep scouts interested before the season shut down. McCarthy is a 6-foot-5 righthander with a good delivery and an 88-89 mph sinker. He still has room to add strength and evaluators believe his velocity could tick up with professional instruction. McCarthy has a loopy breaking ball, a solid changeup and throws all three pitches for strikes. He is a candidate to sign as a nondrafted free agent with the shortened five-round draft. | |||||||
| 438 | Scott McKeon | SS | Coastal Carolina | 6-0 | 185 | R-R | Tigers ’19 (21) |
| McKeon began his career at Brunswick (N.C.) JC, where he led the team in hitting with a .434 average as a freshman before hitting .339 in his sophomore campaign. His hitting ability translated just fine to Coastal Carolina and the Sun Belt Conference, as McKeon managed a .344/.407/.500 line in 79 games over the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Teams were interested in McKeon last year—the Tigers drafted him in the 21st round—but he returned to school for his final season and would have been a priority senior sign in the 5-10 round range in a normal year. Scouts see McKeon as a solid defender at shortstop and think he can stick there but have questions about whether his bat and offensive approach will translate to the pro game. | |||||||
| 439 | Kiko Romero | OF/C | Central Arizona JC | 6-0 | 180 | L-R | – |
| Romero drew some draft interest last year during his senior high school season but wasn’t selected. The lefty hitter from Tucson instead headed northbound on I-10 to Central Arizona College where he was a solid middle-of-the-order hitter, leading the way for the Vaqueros with a .347/.457/.516 batting line in 28 games. A combo shortstop and catcher in high school, Romero switched to right field for his juco season, and his inexperience showed in the routes he took to balls. The tools are there to be able to improve his outfield play with more reps, as the athletic, loose-bodied Romero is a plus runner with a plus or better arm that gets good carry on throws. He has plus bat speed with a big leg kick that he shortens with two strikes. Romero didn’t show much over-the-fence pop in his season at Central Arizona, with more doubles and triples, but he’s got at least average or better future raw power. Romero wants to turn pro, and in a normal year it would be easy to see him being selected in the top 15 rounds. He also likes being behind the plate, so a future super-utility role could enhance his draft stock. | |||||||
| 440 | Chase Wallace | RHP | Tennessee | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-2, 195-pound righthander, Wallace had success out of the bullpen with Tennessee over his first two years with the program, but after a dominant fall transitioned into the team’s starting rotation. Through four starts this spring, Wallace posted a 3.50 ERA in 18 innings while striking out 18 batters and walking seven. Wallace throws from a lower arm slot and has plenty of sinking life on an 89-92 mph fastball, and pairs it with an average slider and developing changeup. Wallace also had success last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 2.74 ERA as a reliever in 23 innings with 26 strikeouts. Wallace will need more to come from his changeup to have a chance to start in pro ball, but he was trending in the right direction across the board before the 2020 season ended. | |||||||
| 441 | Harrison Ray | 2B | Vanderbilt | 5-11 | 190 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 5-foot-11, 190-pound infielder, Ray would have gotten plenty of attention as a senior sign in the 5-10 round range in a typical draft year thanks to his versatility and raw tools. While Ray has struggled to put up consistent offensive numbers over his Vanderbilt career and strikes out too much—24.8 percent whiff rate for his career—he can play every infield position and has good arm strength, average raw power and above-average running ability. He’s more of a fringy defender at shortstop who could fill in at the position in a pinch, and he has never gotten his power to translate to games consistently. Because of his question marks, a utility role in some capacity is Ray’s most likely fit at the next level, but there’s some interesting upside that could be unlocked if a team can get more out of Ray’s bat. | |||||||
| 442 | Ryland Zaborowski | 3B | Basha HS, Chandler, Ariz. | 6-5 | 210 | R-R | Grand Canyon |
| At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Zaborowski passes the eye test with his tall, strong frame, but it’s likely that the Grand Canyon commit will make it to campus in the fall. He generates impressive exit velocities on contact and gets good loft while using all fields. Despite having an above-average arm, Zaborowski is a below-average defender at the hot corner, lacking the footwork and quickness needed for the position. He will likely wind up across the infield especially if he continues to get bigger. A below-average runner, Zaborowski is better underway and won’t be a base clogger, but speed won’t be a big part of his game. Zaborowski fits the mold of a player who will greatly benefit from three years of college ball, so look for him to be more of a draft prospect in 2023. | |||||||
| 443 | Wyatt Hendrie | C | San Diego State | 5-11 | 200 | R-R | Cubs ’19 (10) |
| The Cubs drafted Hendrie in the 10th round out of Antelope Valley (Calif.) JC last year, but he instead headed to San Diego State as one of only two players selected in the top 10 rounds to not sign. He hit .286/.417/.367 in 14 games with the Aztecs this spring before the season shut down. Hendrie is a converted outfielder who is a good athlete behind the plate. He has a plus arm and his receiving has improved to average as he’s gained more experience at catcher. Hendrie is a contact hitter with a flat, compact swing and below-average power, which raises concerns about how he’ll profile behind the plate. He didn’t have time to prove himself offensively with the shortened season and is a strong candidate to return to school. | |||||||
| 444 | Josh Moylan | 1B | Archbishop Spalding HS, Severn, Md. | 6-4 | 225 | L-R | East Carolina |
| Moylan only played one game this spring before the season was shut down to the coronavirus pandemic, but he went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Moylan has a huge, 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame and draws comparisons to former East Carolina star Spencer Brickhouse, fitting since Moylan is committed to ECU. Brickhouse was a three-year starter for the Pirates and posted a .313/.412/.545 line with 34 home runs and was drafted in the seventh round in 2019. Moylan certainly has the capability for similar power production as Brickhouse, with a strong lower half and the ability to hit to all fields, but there are questions about his hit tool. He’s power over hit right now and his lack of mobility will likely mean he will have to stay at first base, although he also played some third in high school. Playing first puts added pressure on Moylan’s bat, but he brings the power production to back it up. If he makes it to campus, he should make an impact from day one. | |||||||
| 445 | Ryan Lasko | OF | Jackson Memorial HS, Jackson Township, N.J. | 5-11 | 175 | R-R | Rutgers |
| Lasko had a strong junior season at Jackson Memorial (N.J.) High, hitting .404 with four home runs, six doubles and 21 RBI, but he was unable to play this spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. The season being shut down hurts him more than other prospects, because he wasn’t seen much by scouts. Lasko has a solid 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame with room to grow, especially considering he hasn’t turned 18 yet. Lasko has hit at every level so far, but there is some concern with his swing because he doesn’t have a great bat path and tends to be a drifty slap hitter. He has the athleticism to clean it up, but he might never project for much power. He’s got plenty of speed and should be able to play center field, but he won’t have enough power to play in a corner spot. Lasko is committed to Rutgers. | |||||||
| 446 | Ben Anderson | OF | Georgia | 6-1 | 171 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| A redshirt sophomore, Anderson had to sit out for the 2019 season due to transfer rules after spending his 2018 season at Furman. While there, Anderson was a standout leadoff hitter who led the team in each triple slash category, hitting .361/.461/.530 while setting a program-record with seven triples. In the 18 games Anderson was able to play in for Georgia prior to the 2020 season ending, he continued to show impressive bat-to-ball skills. The 6-foot-1, 171-pound outfielder led the Bulldogs with a .414 average and .544 on base percentage. An above-average runner, there’s a chance Anderson could stick in center field at the next level, and he’s shown some skill in chasing down balls in the gaps, but some scouts wish he was faster. He doesn’t have loud supplemental tools, with little power and would have been drafted on the strength of his collegiate hitting performance in a typical draft. With just five rounds, perhaps Anderson instead returns to Georgia where he could continue showing his hit tool is legit. | |||||||
| 447 | Jose Rodriguez | RHP | St. John’s | 6-1 | 200 | R-R | Reds ’19 (20) |
| A shortstop and third baseman in high school who transitioned to the mound at Cumberland County (N.J.) College, Rodriguez worked mostly out of the bullpen as a freshman and put up a 3-0, 2.36 mark with 30 strikeouts in 26.2 innings of work. He was even better his sophomore year while starting nine games for the team that won the Division III Junior College World Series, posting a 8-2, 2.98 mark with 65 strikeouts in 54.1 innings of work. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound righthander was drafted by the Reds in the 20th round in 2019, but chose to transfer to St. John’s. This spring, he struggled mightily, pitching to a 1-2, 6.61 record with 18 walks and just nine strikeouts in 16.1 innings of work. Rodriguez throws across his body and leads with his fastball, which sits in the 91-93 mph range, but he was unable to locate it for strikes this spring. He had previously shown feel to throw his slider as well. Even while posting strong overall numbers, Rodriguez issued 47 walks in 81 innings at Cumberland, a trend that could concern teams in a shortened draft. It’s likely Rodriguez will go back to school and attempt to rebuild his value as a senior. | |||||||
| 448 | Cannon Pickell | RHP | Currituck County HS, Barco, N.C. | 6-2 | 215 | R-R | North Carolina |
| An undersized righthander committed to North Carolina, Pickell has massive arm strength and was throwing as hard as 97 mph in bullpens this spring. A closer with his travel team—Canes National—Pickell projects as a reliever at the next level thanks to his arm strength and the erratic present nature of his strikes. In addition to his pure velocity, teams like the spin qualities of Pickell’s fastball and also praise his makeup and work ethic. There are questions of how much more is in the tank with Pickell, as he’s close to fully maxed out, and he’ll need to develop his control and secondary offerings to be thought of as a starter at the next level. Either way, his pure arm talent will keep teams interested beyond this year’s five-round draft. | |||||||
| 449 | Mason Hazelwood | LHP | Kentucky | 6-5 | 205 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-5, 205-pound funky lefthander, Hazelwood has been a solid starter for Kentucky after transitioning out of the bullpen after his freshman season. He posted a 3.92 ERA through nine starts and 39 innings as a sophomore in 2019, and through four starts this spring in the shortened 2020 season, he posted a 1.67 ERA in 22 innings with 27 strikeouts and seven walks. Hazelwood throws a fastball that’s typically in the 88-90 mph range, ticking up to 92 at its best, with below-average secondaries. Hazelwood finds success more due to deception and a tough, low slot that’s tough for hitters—especially lefties—to pick up, which gives him plenty of reliever risk at the next level. He did show improvement in his changeup late last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 1.80 ERA in 25 innings which came mostly out of the bullpen and he will need his changeup to keep righthanded hitters off his stuff. Hazelwood has fringe-average control. | |||||||
| 450 | Safea Mauai | 1B | Waiakea HS, Hilo, Hawaii | 6-1 | 215 | L-L | Hawaii |
| Mauai hit well at the Area Code Games and got plenty of attention playing on the same high school team as top draft prospect Kalai Rosario. Physical and strong at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, Mauai boasts 70-grade raw power from the left side and made swing adjustments to get to his power more this spring. He is prone to swinging and missing and mostly pulls the ball, but he does damage when he connects and is trending upward as a hitter. Mauai is a big-bodied first baseman who needs to improve his footwork, balance and coordination in the field. He needs lots of reps to become an average defender. He is committed to Hawaii. | |||||||
| 451 | Garrett Irvin | LHP | Arizona | 5-9 | 173 | L-L | Red Sox ’19 (40) |
| The crafty southpaw was at his third school in three years when heading to Arizona for his junior year. Irvin started his collegiate career at Point Loma in 2018, where he was the PacWest pitcher of the year, before heading to Riverside Community College and again was named that conference’s top pitcher. His debut Pac-12 season was off to an impressive start, with four strong outings before the Wildcats’ season was shut down. There’s nothing flashy about Irvin, who is just a bit short of 6 feet tall, as he’s best defined by outstanding pitchability and the potential to dissect hitters with a consistent four-pitch mix. He commands a fastball that has plus life and sink with darting action, sitting 88-90 mph and touching 92, and mixes in his equally effective slider, curveball and changeup. Irvin is aggressive on the mound and is a threat to any base runner with a plus-plus pickoff move. It’s not a sky-high ceiling, but Irvin is a relatively safe bet to consistently overachieve throughout his baseball career. | |||||||
| 452 | Luke Vaks | RHP | Cedar Creek HS, Egg Harbor City, N.J. | 6-1 | 180 | R-R | Old Dominion |
| At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Vaks is a smaller pitcher, but he is still able to generate some strength from the right side. He impressed scouts at the Area Code Games in August when he was up to 92 mph on his fastball, with an average slider to boot. If he had continued to put up 92 on the radar gun in the spring he likely would have boosted his stock even more, but he’s more often been seen around the 88-90 mph range. For now, he relies mostly on his fastball and slider and has no changeup as of now, but he could certainly develop one at the college level. Vaks is an Old Dominion commit, and as a good pitcher with two solid pitches, he should rise up to the Friday night role there in a couple years. | |||||||
| 453 | Justin Farmer | OF | Florida International | 6-1 | 190 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A transfer out of Wallace (Ala.) JC, Farmer showed intriguing physicality and raw power in junior college, and scouts were looking forward to seeing more of him with Florida International. With lefthander Logan Allen a potential day one pick, he certainly got seen and hit well during his 15 games this spring, but perhaps not as often as teams wanted. Farmer managed a .375/.435/.589 slash line, with one home run, two triples and five doubles and walked (six) as frequently as he struck out (six). Farmer could have been an early day three prospect in a typical draft if he had put up numbers thanks to his strong, 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame and power potential, but in a shortened draft his stock is less clear. | |||||||
| 454 | Jack Seward | RHP | Best SS, Coquitlam, B.C. | 6-3 | 185 | R-R | San Jacinto (Texas) JC |
| Seward is one of the top Canadian prospects from the Western part of the country, a product of Dr. Charles Best Secondary School in Coquitlam, British Columbia. A 6-foot-3, 185-pound righthander committed to San Jacinto (Texas) JC, Seward showed a fastball in the 86-91 mph range last summer with solid arm-side life. This spring, however, he didn’t quite have that sort of velocity, topping out in the upper 80s with a high-effort delivery. Seward has shown flashes of a solid slider, which he throws in the 80-84 mph range and has good bite down and out of the zone—a potential out pitch in the future. Because of the effort in his delivery, Seward has plenty of reliever risk, but San Jacinto has done a nice job developing arms in recent years. | |||||||
| 455 | Kenny Levari | RHP/SS | St. Augustine Prep, Richland, N.J. | 6-2 | 170 | L-R | Old Dominion |
| Classmates with fellow top 500 draft prospect Robert Ready, Levari is an athletic two-way player who was up to 92 mph on the mound while also manning shortstop at the high school level. At 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, Levari still has plenty of projection left. Most evaluators agree that his upside rests as a pitcher, where he has a quick arm, and mixes in a higher slot breaking ball with his fastball. Some scouts are concerned with his upright delivery due to the amount of effort it takes, leading to questions about his role as a starter at the next level. He should make it to campus at Old Dominion, where he will carve out a productive role. | |||||||
| 456 | Cade Smith | RHP | DeSoto Central HS, Southaven, Miss. | 6-2 | 170 | L-R | Mississippi State |
| A 6-foot-2, 170-pound righthander committed to Mississippi State, Smith has shown exciting future potential with his fastball and curveball combo. Over the summer he pitched in the 89-91 mph range and showed terrific shape and bite with a 77-80 mph curveball. More recently scouts saw his heater up in the 93-94 mph range. Because of his current size, most scouts were more inclined to let him get to campus where he could add more strength, fill out and improve his control, which was below average at times over the summer. He has a long arm stroke with hooking action in the back and a wrist wrap that could hinder the consistency of his strikes. Smith has also shown a firm, mid-80s changeup, though it’s clearly a third pitch at the moment. Smith attends the same high school as Blaze Jordan, who is also committed to Mississippi State. | |||||||
| 457 | Mac Guscette | C | Venice (Fla.) Senior HS | 6-0 | 185 | R-R | Florida |
| A solid defender, Guscette has a chance to step onto campus at Florida and play right away if he doesn’t sign in a shortened 2020 draft. Guscette has solid arm strength and has turned in pop times in the 1.90-2.00 range fairly consistently for evaluators, with good makeup that should allow him to excel at the mental side of the game. Guscette has a wide setup at the plate with a flat bat path that’s more strength-based than twitchy and he’s a well below-average runner. That profile could be tough for teams to pounce on out of high school—particularly in a five-round draft—but if he proves his bat in the SEC he will elevate his draft profile significantly for the 2023 draft. | |||||||
| 458 | Nick Chittum | RHP | Grosse Ile (Mich.) HS | 6-2 | 193 | B-R | Eastern Michigan |
| A 6-foot-2, 193-pound righthander committed to Eastern Michigan, scouts were intrigued with Chittum this spring after he touched 94 mph in January. He’s mostly thrown in the 89-92 mph range, but he has a high-spin fastball that plays up from its velocity. While Chittum isn’t the best athlete and has some effort in his delivery, he has also shown a pair of interesting secondaries, including a firm, 86-87 mph changeup with solid depth and a breaking ball that is currently fringe-average with a chance for average in the future. | |||||||
| 459 | Cooper Harris | C | Choctaw (Okla.) HS | 6-2 | 215 | R-R | Wichita State |
| Harris’ baseball skills are more impressive than his tools, but he gets the most out of everything he has because he’s a baseball rat who loves to catch. He’s an above-average receiver who works well with pitchers. As a hitter, he doesn’t project to be better than having fringe-average power or a fringe-average bat, so he almost assuredly gets to Wichita State where he’ll have a chance to develop. | |||||||
| 460 | Andrew Peters | RHP | South Carolina | 6-2 | 189 | R-R | Rays ’19 (21) |
| Peters was expected to be one of the better junior college arms in the country in 2019, but he hurt his elbow early in the season and underwent Tommy John surgery, which helped him get to campus at South Carolina. Peters only threw in three games and 2.1 innings this spring, and his results weren’t great, as he allowed six earned runs (23.14 ERA) and walked five, with four strikeouts. That could make him a tough selection in a five-round draft, but there’s plenty of electricity in his arm. Prior to Tommy John surgery Peters sat in the 92-95 mph range and ran his fastball up to 97 and there were reports of that same max velocity out of his hand last fall. Peters is tremendously athletic as well, but without more time to establish himself following the surgery, he might be a tough sign and a candidate to head back to school. | |||||||
| 461 | Erik Tolman | LHP | Arizona State | 6-2 | 190 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Tolman was a two-way player in his sophomore year at Arizona State, but the draft-eligible lefthander’s future is on the mound. He pitched well as the Sun Devils’ Tuesday night starter, posting a 2.50 ERA and striking out 30 batters in 18 innings. Tolman is an athletic strike thrower with excellent feel to pitch. His loose arm generates speed from a compact, repeatable low-effort delivery, getting good angle on his pitches. Tolman delivers a fastball sitting 86-90, touching 92, with a frame that can still add strength, and he works in a 76-81 mph slider that is a consistent pitch for him. A strong competitor on the mound with the potential to take a big step forward with more experience, Tolman would be a strong candidate to be picked in a normal draft year, but observers expect him to return to ASU for his junior season. | |||||||
| 462 | Blake Baumgartner | 1B | UC San Diego | 6-1 | 200 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Baumgartner took advantage of all the scouts watching teammate Shay Whitcomb this spring and drew some attention to himself. He hit .343/.515/.514 before the season shut down. Baumgartner is a big first baseman with plus raw power and a feel for the strike zone. He had as many walks as strikeouts (88) in his college career and showed the ability to get to his plus raw power in games, albeit against Division II competition. Baumgartner is a pure first baseman whose value is tied to his bat. His mix of power and patience give him the potential to do damage in pro ball. | |||||||
| 463 | Austin Murr | 1B | North Carolina State | 6-2 | 207 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A transfer from Des Moines (Iowa) Area JC, Murr has an impressive hit tool that he showed off in the juco ranks and in his brief stint with North Carolina State this spring. A career .440 hitter with De Moines, Murr was hitting .306/.470/.629 through 17 games in the shortened 2020 season, with three home runs. He walked 16 times compared to eight strikeouts, and scouts believe he has excellent zone recognition. However, he will be limited to first base, where he’s just a fringe-average defender, and doesn’t have the typical power to profile there. While he has some natural strength in his 6-foot-2, 207-pound frame, Murr has a flat swing that is more conducive to hitting the ball into the gaps than over the fence. Perhaps he could be a swing-change candidate at the next level to try and get more power production, but Murr might have to wait another year given the five-round draft in 2020. | |||||||
| 464 | Blayne Jones | SS | Dallas Baptist | 6-0 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| After spending his first two seasons as Dallas Baptist’s second baseman, Jones moved to shortstop this spring thanks to Jimmy Glowenke’s arm injury that kept him off the infield. Jones showed he’s not overmatched at shortstop and he did hit .286/.357/.619 with a team-high five home runs in just 16 games. He has a lot of swing and miss to his game and his fringy speed leads to concerns that he won’t be able to stay at shortstop long-term, but he has solid hands and actions with some gap power. | |||||||
| 465 | Grant Richardson | OF | Indiana | 6-2 | 186 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A draft-eligible sophomore who turns 21 in July, Richardson was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2019 after hitting .264/.335/.491 with nine home runs and eight doubles. Richardson has a solid all-around toolset with impressive power production. He was poised for a breakout 2020 season as a sophomore, after hitting .424/.453/.797 with five home runs, two triples and three doubles through just 14 games. That power production has come with some swing and miss, as Richardson struck out 16 times compared to just four walks this spring. Richardson has handled center field for Indiana, where he’s shown a tendency to make highlight plays, though he could be pushed to a corner at the next level. Richardson is intriguing if teams buy into his production over the first 60 games of his collegiate career, but he could also be a tough sign as an eligible sophomore. | |||||||
| 466 | Carter Loewen | RHP | Hawaii | 6-4 | 230 | R-R | Blue Jays ’16 (40) |
| A native of Abbotsford, B.C., Loewen pitched for Canada’s junior national team as a teenager and was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 40th round out of high school. He arrived at Hawaii with a torn labrum and needed season-ending surgery as a freshman, then barely pitched the next two seasons as he struggled to regain his previous velocity. A new mobility regimen designed to improve his shoulder flexibility finally unlocked Loewen’s velocity this spring, and he emerged as one of Hawaii’s top relievers. Loewen is a big, physical righthander at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds with big hands and power stuff. His fastball sits 93-95 mph and he’s developed a dominant 89-90 mph cutter. His arm action has improved with his new shoulder exercises and helped him to throw more consistent strikes. Loewen has an exceptional work ethic and is a favorite of coaches for his perseverance through years of rehab. | |||||||
| 467 | Johnny Castagnozzi | SS | Massapequa (N.Y.) HS | 6-2 | 185 | R-R | North Carolina |
| At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Castagnozzi’s value comes in his bat over his defense at shortstop. He gets good weight transfer at the plate that leads to solid bat speed with fluid motion and he looks great in batting practice with plenty of pop. During games, he has trouble producing those same results, however. He struggles to hit breaking balls and has some swing-and-miss issues despite his raw power and easy swing. As a North Carolina commit, he should be able to clean up his swing and access his power and hit tool in Chapel Hill, but for now he’s unlikely to be a player a team takes a flyer on in a shortened draft. | |||||||
| 468 | Bo Hofstra | RHP | Purdue | 6-5 | 250 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A big, 6-foot-5, 250-pound righthander with a fastball that explodes out of his hand, Hofstra throws a heater that gets up to 93-94 mph, with impressive sinking action and good downward angle on his pitches. He throws a slider as well, but the pitch can flatten out at times and get too horizontal. If he can add more depth and tilt to the pitch in the future, he has a chance for a pair of above-average offerings. Hofstra has largely been a reliever throughout his career at Purdue and set a freshman record for appearances after pitching in 28 games in 2018. For his career, Hofstra has a 3.55 ERA over 101.1 innings with a 9.2 strikeout per nine rate and 3.8 walks per nine. Hofstra’s control is fringy, and he struggled last summer in the Cape Cod League over 15.2 innings, posting a 6.32 ERA and walking 11 batters (6.3 per nine). | |||||||
| 469 | Braydon Webb | OF | Arkansas | 6-0 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Webb excelled in 2019 as a sophomore at Grayson (Texas) JC, hitting .450 with 14 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 55 games. He was named a NJCAA First Team All-American for his efforts. As a junior in 2020, Webb looked to show that his bat speed, athleticism and power would translate to Arkansas and the SEC. While he never got to conference play thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, Webb started in 13 games for the Razorbacks and put up a .340/.452/.400 line. Webb is a solid runner who has a chance to be a good defender in the outfield but scouts likely didn’t have enough time to fully evaluate his offensive game this spring, so his draft stock is a bit clouded. | |||||||
| 470 | Jackson Wolf | LHP | West Virginia | 6-7 | 205 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| A tall and lanky, 6-foot-7, 205-pound lefthander, Wolf’s stuff plays up thanks to his height and the extension he gets off the mound, and was off to a career-year in 2020. He throws a fastball in the 88-91 mph range, which is below-average velocity, but scouts have noted that the pitch plays up and he racked up plenty of whiffs. His TrackMan numbers are reportedly impressive, which could intrigue more analytically inclined teams even with the fringy secondaries Wolf throws. He throws a slurvy breaking ball that looks like a slider when he gets on top, but he too frequently rolls over on the pitch. His changeup also needs development to get to average. There are some ingredients to like with Wolf, and he posted a 1.05 ERA over four starts and 25.2 innings this spring, with career bests in strikeout and walk rates. | |||||||
| 471 | Mat Olsen | RHP | Central Arizona JC | 5-11 | 180 | R-R | Arizona |
| Olsen headed to juco powerhouse Central Arizona JC after pitching scholastically at nearby Florence (Ariz.) High. After redshirting in his freshman year, Olsen wound up as one of the Vaqueros more intriguing pitchers, striking out 61 batters in 36.1 innings before the premature end of the season. With a quick arm and a balanced delivery that stays in sync, Olsen delivers a fastball that jumps on hitters, sitting 89-94 mph and touching 96. He also mixes in a 12-to-6 curveball from 71 to 74 mph coming out of the same slot as the heater. He infrequently used a changeup with fade and sink. There’s not a lot of projection in Olsen’s body but the velocity would likely tick up if he’s pitching out of the bullpen, his likely role at the next level. A hard worker who is aggressive on the mound, Olsen has a commitment to Arizona. | |||||||
| 472 | David Morgan | SS | Orange Coast (Calif.) JC | 6-0 | 180 | R-R | Oregon |
| Morgan helped lead Orange Coast (Calif.) JC to a state championship as a freshman. He was the Pirates’ only returning starter this season and helped guide the team through the tragic death of coach John Altobelli in the helicopter crash that also killed former NBA star Kobe Bryant and seven others. Morgan is a good athlete with a plus arm who is a capable defender at both third base and shortstop. He runs well and makes enough contact to project as a below-average but playable hitter. Some teams want to make Morgan a catcher with his athleticism, arm strength and leadership intangibles. He was committed to Oregon but has opted to return to OCC after the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. | |||||||
| 473 | Jack Dreyer | LHP | Iowa | 6-2 | 205 | R-L | Never Drafted |
| Dreyer missed most of the 2019 season because of a shoulder injury, but was excellent in his four 2020 starts before the coronavirus-mandated shutdown. Dreyer was 2-1, 3.12 with 23 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. Dreyer doesn’t have a clear plus pitch, but his slider will flash above-average. His 90-93 mph average fastball has enough oomph to make hitters respect it. His slow curveball is a little big and loopy and his changeup needs further refinement. | |||||||
| 474 | Collin Baumgartner | RHP | Southern Illinois-Edwardsville | 6-6 | 240 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Baumgartner is a massive, 6-foot-6, 240-pound righthander with a big fastball. He can touch 96 mph although he generally sits 92-94. He’s flashed an above-average slider as well, although this year his slider was less consistent as he worked on polishing his newfound changeup, which is inconsistent but has quickly developed into a usable third pitch. As a long-levered pitcher with a future plus fastball, Baumgartner has pro stuff. He struck out 13.5 per nine innings this year. | |||||||
| 475 | Dylan Eskew | RHP | Chipola (Fla.) JC | 6-2 | 185 | R-R | – |
| Eskew ranked among the top 200 prospects out of high school in 2019 thanks to a jump in velocity during the spring of his senior year. The Diamondbacks selected him in the 24th round, but he opted to go to school at Chipola (Fla.) JC, where he started six games and posted a 2.36 ERA over 26.2 innings. Eskew throws a fastball that ranges from 89 to 93 and has shown some feel to spin a breaking ball. Scouts were wary of an unorthodox delivery and long arm action previously, though in high school he didn’t show any obvious strike-throwing issues. That wasn’t the case in juco, as Eskew missed bats (31 strikeouts) but also missed the zone too frequently, with 16 walks—good for a 5.4 per nine rate. | |||||||
| 476 | Chris Meyers | RHP/1B | Toledo | 6-3 | 210 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| A two-way player for Toledo who hit in the middle of the order and played first base, Meyers has more upside in pro ball as a pitcher. He has a quick arm and a fastball that’s been into the mid- and upper 90s, as well as a hard cutter that comes in at 86-88 mph. Meyers has a solid frame on the mound, standing at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, but doesn’t have much track on the bump. He threw just three innings this spring without much success, so he’s certainly a project, but the arm talent is real. | |||||||
| 477 | Connor O’Brien | SS | Seattle | 6-2 | 175 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| O’Brien has steadily improved each year at Seattle, to the point where some scouts like him as a utility type who can handle shortstop as well as second or third base. After hitting under .300 in his first two seasons, O’Brien was off to a better start in 2020, managing a .326/.326/.565 line through 11 games with a home run, two triples and four doubles. O’Brien pulled his hamstring at the end of the shortened 2020 season, and he doesn’t have many tools to speak of, so it’s difficult to see him factoring into a five-round draft with his track record. But he is a name to watch considering his improvement with the bat year over year. | |||||||
| 478 | Logan Hofmann | RHP | Northwestern State | 5-10 | 190 | L-R | Cardinals ’19 (35) |
| Hofmann is a short, 5-foot-10 righthander who led all Division I with a 0.00 ERA in 28 innings with 38 strikeouts. Hoffman doesn’t overpower batters, but he has a fringe-average 90-91 mph fastball and an above-average 12-to-6 curveball with some power. | |||||||
| 479 | Shep Hancock | RHP/1B | Trinity Christian HS, Sharpsburg, Ga. | 6-3 | 225 | L-R | Mercer |
| A two-way player in high school, Hancock has more pro upside on the mound. A big and physical, 6-foot-3, 225-pound righthander, Hancock has a fastball that has been up to 93 and shown some potential with a top-to-bottom curveball. There is some reliever risk thanks to the effort in his delivery and scouts will also want him to maintain his body moving forward. Hancock could impact both sides of the ball at Mercer if he makes it to campus, as scouts do think he’s got a solid bat, but not one that would profile in a corner at the next level. | |||||||
| 480 | Robert Ready | RHP | St. Augustine Prep, Richland, N.J. | 6-3 | 235 | R-R | East Carolina |
| Classmates with fellow top 500 prospect Kenny Levari, Ready is already physically mature at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and has very little projection left on his body. At East Coast Pro he showed a fastball at 89-92 mph and a solid slider that sat around 83 mph with plenty of spin on it. He throws a good amount of strikes, but he will need to work on his delivery. As of now, he tends to fall toward the first base side on his follow through, something he will need to clean up at East Carolina. With two already solid pitches, he should be able to make an impact in Greenville right away, but he will also need to work on his conditioning moving forward to maximize his stock. | |||||||
| 481 | Hylan Hall | OF | Wabash Valley (Ill.) JC | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Hall’s pure toolset and natural talent fit higher than where he ranks on the board in 2020, but questions about makeup and the quality of his hit tool have lowered his draft stock. Hall was suspended from TNCL Academy in high school and eventually left the program for Ocoee (Fla.) High. He was originally committed to Miami, but instead found his way to Wabash Valley (Ill.) JC where he hit .380/.492/.560 with a pair of home runs and seven stolen bases. Hall has plenty of athleticism, with good bat speed and plus running ability and above-average arm strength, but an overly aggressive approach at the plate hasn’t allowed him to tap into his toolset. A shortened 2020 season didn’t help scouts figure out Hall much more than they had in 2019 and because of his question marks, he might not factor into a five-round draft. However, his tools remain intriguing if he can ever put them together. | |||||||
| 482 | Jacob Brustoski | LHP | Texas Tech | 6-2 | 237 | R-L | Never Drafted |
| Brustoski is pitching for his third team in three years. He began his college career getting plenty of work out of Youngstown State’s bullpen, racking up 35 strikeouts but walking 38 in 24 innings. He transferred to Sinclar (Ohio) JC where he again piled up whiffs and walks. Brustoski’s control has improved, although it’s still fringe-average at best. He attacks hitters with a 92-95 mph above-average fastball and an average slider. He’s toyed with a changeup as well, which will help him be a reliever who can work against lefties and righties. | |||||||
| 483 | Nate Clow | SS | Beamer HS, Federal Way, Wash. | 6-0 | 170 | L-R | Southern California |
| Clow had a chance to challenge for the best prep shortstop in the Northwest this spring, but the coronavirus pandemic meant he didn’t get to play a game, leaving scouts to evaluate him based on summer looks. A wiry, undersized middle infielder listed at 6-foot, 170 pounds, Clow stands out because of his loose, handsy swing and some scouts think he has a chance to be an average or better hitter. However he doesn’t have much physical projection or present power, and some scouts think his fringey arm strength will make him a better fit for second base long term. Clow is committed to Southern California and will likely make it to campus considering the circumstances of the 2020 season and draft. | |||||||
| 484 | Chase Walter | RHP | Western Carolina | 6-7 | 260 | R-R | Angels ’19 (32) |
| A big, 6-foot-7, 260-pound righthander with big stuff to match, scouts were excited to see Walter this spring after he flashed two plus offerings. He has thrown a fastball in the 93-95 mph range and touched 96, while also showing a slider that has plus potential as well. Walter pitched in the Cape Cod League last summer and struck out 13 batters in 10 innings of relief work, but also walked nine. Walter’s performance throughout his college career has never quite lived up to his pure stuff. He has a career 5.34 ERA and 5.3 per nine walk rate over 195.1 innings—mostly in a starting role—and was off to a poor start in 2020 with 21 walks in just 16.2 innings. A redshirt junior who will turn 22 shortly after the draft, Walter is also old for the class, but could be an interesting relief project thanks to his size and stuff. | |||||||
| 485 | Brett Harris | 3B | Gonzaga | 6-3 | 198 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A 6-foot-3, 198-pound third baseman, Harris started his collegiate career at Houston, where he redshirted the 2017 season before transferring to Central Arizona JC, where he started tapping into his offensive potential. Harris joined Gonzaga in 2019, and he’s been a .299/.371/.422 hitter in 60 games in parts of two seasons. He has solid raw power but hasn’t yet translated that juice into games consistently. Coaches praised his ability to drive the ball last fall and thought a breakout season might be coming this spring, but Harris managed just one homer in his 16-game stint. He’s shown solid defensive ability at third base with a strong arm and some feel to make plays on the run, but Harris’ future at the next level will depend on his bat, and how much impact he can create with it. | |||||||
| 486 | Connor Burns | C | Don Lugo HS, Chino, Calif. | 6-1 | 180 | R-R | Long Beach State |
| Burns is one of the better defensive catchers in the 2020 high school class. He is a plus receiver with good footwork behind the plate and has a plus, accurate arm. He is a good athlete who has a quick release, gets down quickly on blocks and is generally quick in all aspects of catching. Burns hit for a high average in high school and shows flashes of power, but he still has a lot of development left as a hitter. It’s unlikely a team will take a flyer on him in a shortened draft. He is committed to Long Beach State. | |||||||
| 487 | Cam Cowan | RHP | Campbell | 6-5 | 245 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| A big, physical 6-foot-5, 245-pound righthander, Cowan got to Campbell by way of Kirkwood (Iowa) JC, where he overwhelmed hitters. Cowan started just four games this spring for the Camels before the 2020 season ended due to the coronavirus pandemic, but he excelled in his 24 innings. He posted a 3.00 ERA and struck out 36 batters (13.5 per nine) while walking four (1.5 per nine). Cowan throws a fastball that gets up to 95 mph and pairs that with an average changeup. Cowan also has above-average control, which gives him a few boxes to check, but in a five-round draft environment, he’s more likely to head back to Campbell for another season than sign. He definitely made a name for himself for area scouts, and will be a pitcher to watch in the future. | |||||||
| 488 | Michael Weisberg | RHP | Cal State Fullerton | 6-4 | 195 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Weisberg has struggled in two years at Cal State Fullerton and did not pitch particularly well in the Cape Cod League last summer. As a freshman, he went 1-1, 6.50 in 18 appearances and over the summer he posted a 10.64 ERA in 11 appearances. This spring he pitched just 3.1 innings before the season ended, allowing two runs and earning one save. The biggest allure for scouts regarding Weisburg is his erratic fastball. He throws it hard, around 94-95 mph, but often doesn’t know where it’s going. He is a redshirt sophomore who most scouts think should return to school to work on harnessing his fastball. | |||||||
| 489 | Eddie Park | OF | Valley Christian HS, San Jose, Calif. | 6-1 | 182 | L-L | Stanford |
| A 6-foot-1, 182-pound outfielder committed to Stanford, scouts admire Park’s pure hitting ability and think he has a chance to be an average or tick better bat from the left side. With his college commitment, Park would have been a tough sign in a normal environment, so he’s a virtual lock to get to campus in a five-round draft. Park is more of a hit-over-power outfielder who has below-average power and average tools at best across the board. He’s an average runner with a chance to be an average defender in a corner, but his arm might limit him to left field, and as a corner outfielder scouts would like to see more power to profile better at the position. He’s a name to keep an eye on in the Pac-12 and a player scouts think could perform at a high level in college. | |||||||
| 490 | Brooks Gosswein | LHP | Bradley | 6-2 | 180 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| Gosswein could have potentially climbed into draft consideration, even in a shortened draft, with a strong spring thanks to solid velo from the left side, a varied assortment of secondary pitches and an easy delivery. That didn’t happen. Three starts didn’t give him a chance to show much of what he could do. An awful outing against Lipscomb ensured his final numbers were ugly—23 hits, six walks and two hit-by-pitches in 16.2 innings and a 5.94 ERA. Gosswein can sit 90-93 mph with the quality to sink his fastball or elevate it. He has an average slider, fringe-average curveball and improving but still fringy changeup. Gosswein will likely head back to Bradley with a chance to turn it back around in 2021. | |||||||
| 491 | Joey Lancellotti | RHP | North Carolina | 5-11 | 205 | R-R | Yankees ’19 (34) |
| A heralded pitching prospect dating back to his high school days in 2017, Lancellotti jumped right into the action with North Carolina’s bullpen as a freshman, throwing 38.2 innings and posting a 3.96 ERA. He was relied on even more in 2019 during a draft-eligible sophomore season, where he logged 52 innings and managed a 3.12 ERA. He transitioned into a starting role this spring for the Tar Heels, and made four starts with good results, managing a 2.22 ERA, but his strikeout rate and stuff played down in the role. Out of the bullpen, Lancellotti was regularly in the 95 mph range and touched 97 at times, with a hard, biting slider, but his fastball was more in the upper 80s and low 90s in a starting role. Because of that, his size—5-foot-11, 205 pounds—and the effort in his delivery, scouts see him as a straight reliever at the next level. | |||||||
| 492 | Jamison Hill | RHP | Fresno State | 6-1 | 180 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| An athletic righthander, Hill pitched mostly out of the bullpen for Fresno State over his first two seasons but transitioned to a starting role in 2020. Through three starts and 17.1 innings, Hill posted a 4.67 ERA with 18 strikeouts and just five walks—good for the best walk rate (2.6 per nine) of his career. Hill throws a fastball in the 88-92 mph range for the most part, with a solid-average curveball. He throws the breaking ball in the 74-78 mph range with good spin. While Hill isn’t overly physical at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, scouts like his athletic delivery. | |||||||
| 493 | Alex Greene | OF | DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, Md. | 6-2 | 195 | R-R | Virginia |
| Greene has been a tough player for scouts to evaluate. He was hurt as a junior, leading to left labrum surgery, and didn’t play in any summer events while recovering from the injury. At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Greene is a two-way player who plays in the outfield and is up to 91 mph on the mound from the right side with some projection remaining in his frame. His delivery is loose and athletic, but he will need to work on complementing his fastball if he makes it to Virginia. As a hitter, he has an easy swing with raw power, but his lack of speed would force him to play a corner spot, putting extra pressure on his bat to provide results. | |||||||
| 494 | Konnor Ash | RHP | Missouri | 5-11 | 191 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| After two years of pitching primarily out of Missouri’s bullpen, Ash got to start in the Cape Cod League last summer and ended up leading the league with 41 strikeouts thanks to his power slider—a plus pitch. He moved into Missouri’s weekend rotation this year as the Saturday starter. Ash has a high effort delivery that may be better suited to eventually moving back to the bullpen, but his 92-94 mph fastball and slider give him a chance to eat up righthanded hitters. | |||||||
| 495 | Mike Peabody | OF | UC Irvine | 6-4 | 200 | L-R | Never Drafted |
| Peabody intrigues scouts with his athleticism and frame even though he hasn’t consistently performed in games. A thin 6-foot-4, lefthanded-hitting center fielder, Peabody oozes potential with plus speed, an average arm and average raw power. He has a chance to stick in center field and has plenty of room to get stronger and increase his power production. Peabody knows the strike zone and has a penchant for getting hit by pitches, but he struggles to make consistent contact and doesn’t get to his power in games. He also isn’t much of a threat to steal bases despite his speed. Peabody is a candidate to return to school to work on his offensive game. His tools and profile have some clubs interested. | |||||||
| 496 | Alex Galvan | RHP | Manasquan (N.J.) HS | 6-6 | 215 | R-R | Louisville |
| At 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, Galvan has great size and plenty of projection left on his body, but so far he’s still raw and far from a finished product. He has great arm strength and can get up to 92 mph on his fastball, but he isn’t yet able to consistently throw it for strikes. Galvan throws from a three-quarters slot and will need to tighten up his delivery once he makes it to Louisville. He will also need to develop more consistent secondaries as well. As a two-sport athlete who also plays basketball, Galvan should be able to make gains quickly once he focuses solely on baseball. | |||||||
| 497 | Eric Orze | RHP | New Orleans | 6-3 | 185 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Orze has already beaten cancer twice—first it was testicular cancer and then skin cancer. His 2018 season was hampered by abdominal pain that eventually led to the cancer diagnosis. He then missed all of 2019 recovering. Returning to action this spring, Orze showed an above-average, 92-95 mph fastball, an average slider and an above-average splitter. A starter at New Orleans, he’s more likely a reliever in pro ball because his stuff tails off pretty quickly. He had a 17-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 12.2 innings this spring. He’s a potentially interesting senior sign but is very old for the class, turning 23 in August. | |||||||
| 498 | Hunter Stanley | RHP | Southern Mississippi | 6-0 | 175 | R-R | Never Drafted |
| Stanley was excellent for Southern Miss in the abbreviated 2020 season, posting a 1.42 ERA in eight appearances with an exceptional 22-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 12.2 innings. Stanley was a solid member of the Golden Eagles bullpen in 2019 as well. He mixes a 90-93 mph fastball with heavy sink and run and an average slider. He spots both of them well with above-average command. A short, 6-foot, 175-pound righthander, Stanley could be a useful senior sign. | |||||||
| 499 | Mitch McIntyre | OF | Brigham Young | 6-0 | 185 | L-L | Never Drafted |
| McIntyre was looking like an intriguing draft prospect after his sophomore year at Brigham Young, when he hit .291/.414/.508 for the Cougars in 2019. But the projectable lefthanded hitter followed a subpar Cape Cod summer season with a poor start to his junior year, when he struggled to make contact or show any significant power. McIntyre is a gap-to-gap hitter with an athletic, quick-trigger swing, more doubles power than over-the-fence pop, but with an approach at the plate that has him often expanding the zone, resulting in a below-average hit tool. An average runner, McIntyre has the instincts that allow his outfield defense to play up, and he should be at least an above-average defender. With a fringe-average to average arm, he should be able to stay in the middle of the outfield or could handle all three positions in his more likely role as a backup. Many Four Corners area scouts were turned off by the start to his 2020 season, but he could get drafted by a team that appreciates the outstanding makeup and consistent hustle on the field. | |||||||
| 500 | Kyle Carr | LHP | San Marcos (Calif.) HS | 6-0 | 165 | L-L | San Diego |
| Carr impressed during the Area Code Games and showed improved stuff this spring before the season shut down. He is an undersized lefty at 6-foot, 165 pounds with an 88-92 mph fastball he commands and a mid-70s breaking ball he can land for strikes. He also flashes a low-80s slider and upper-70s changeup. Carr stays composed on the mound and goes right after hitters. He is a good athlete who is also dangerous at the plate. Carr left his first Area Code Games start with an injury and was scratched from a few starts this spring, leading to some concerns about his health. That, plus his lack of physicality, has most scouts willing to let him go to college. He is committed to San Diego. | |||||||
last update: 2020-06-03
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