Top Maryland 2019 MLB Draft Prospects

To see our BA 500 draft rankings, click here. To see other states, click here.

State List Talent Ranking: ????
(Stars are listed on a 1 to 5 scale relative to what the state typically produces, with 1 being the weakest)

1. Noah Song, RHP, Navy (BA RANK: 65)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

The most talented senior in the country, Song ranked No. 135 on the 2018 BA 500 thanks to a plus fastball that touched 98 mph, a 1.92 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 89 innings. Yet complications with his Naval commitments and Song’s desired signing bonus meant he went undrafted, despite the fact that multiple teams viewed him as a second-round pick on talent alone. This spring, Song has taken another step forward, and through his first 11 starts he led the country with 133 strikeouts in 73 innings. After showing a below-average breaking ball a year ago, Song has improved all of his secondary pitches enough to where some scouts now consider his curveball a plus pitch. He’s struggled with walks at times, but he’s likely an average strike-thrower with a clean delivery from his 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame. Song’s draft status is once again clouded by the fact that, under the current U.S. Department of Defense policy, he would have to complete two years of military service before he could pitch professionally, at which point he would be 24 years old. In 2016, Air Force righthander Griffin Jax was in a similar situation, but the third-round pick was able to join the Twins’ organization immediately. That was because Jax’s situation played out prior to former U.S. Secretary of Defense Jeff Mattis rescinding a Department of Defense policy in 2017 that allowed athletes to avoid active-duty service after graduating in order to pursue a career in professional sports. Regardless, it’s an unusual hurdle for teams—and Song—to have to climb over, but in a draft class that lacks high-end college pitching, it might be one that a team decides is worth it.

2. Stephen Schoch, RHP, Maryland-Baltimore County (BA RANK: 438)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-5 • Wt: 235 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

A big-bodied, 6-foot-5, 235-pound reliever, Schoch has an unorthodox approach and below-average stuff across the board but he throws strikes and has had success throughout college. He throws from a low-slot that’s close to submarine, topping out in the mid-80s but creating an exceptionally tough angle on both righthanded hitters and lefties. Schoch has a slurvey breaking ball that he can use to back foot lefthanded hitters. He posted a 3.59 ERA in 52.2 innings this spring and struck out 64 batters while walking 19, but scouts question how effective his approach will be against higher levels in the minors. Analytical teams who want to target unusual profiles could find Schoch appealing on day three.

3. Jose Torres, SS, Calvert Hall HS, Baltimore (BA RANK: 449)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 165 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: North Carolina State

A 6-foot, 165-pound shortstop committed to North Carolina State, Torres has impressive, flashy defensive actions and a chance to stick at shortstop at the next level. He has clean, fluid hands and good body control, which translates to some bat-to-ball skills at the plate, but he needs to add strength in the future to improve bottom-of-the-scale power. One of the oldest players in the high school class, Torres will be sophomore-eligible in college and that fact will hurt him on analytical teams’ models.

4. Justin Banks, 1B, Coppin State
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 245 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

5. Marcus Lee Sang, OF, Northern HS, Owings, Md.
Source: HS • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 187 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: St. John’s

6. Thomas Keehn, SS, Dematha HS, Hyattsville, Md.
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Duke