Top Ohio 2019 MLB Draft Prospects

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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. Mack Anglin, RHP, Highland HS, Marengo, Ohio (BA RANK: 126)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-5 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Clemson

A physical righthander out of Ohio, Anglin showed big-time raw stuff over the summer, headlined by a fastball that sat in the low 90s with heavy arm-side run and got into the mid-90s at its best. Additionally, Anglin broke out a breaking ball that projected as an average pitch in the 73-80 mph range and flashed two-plane break with good depth, but at times he struggled to stay on top of the pitch. He also showcased a low-80s changeup that had potential. This spring, scouts haven’t seen the same top-end stuff out of Anglin and also wonder about his chances to start in the future, as he throws from a low three-quarter slot, has a long arm action with an inconsistent release point and has shown below-average control. Anglin is expected to be a tough sign out of Clemson, and given his spring and the fact that he’s older for the class, it might be tough for teams to buy him out in a signable range this June. But if he performs in the ACC, he has the raw stuff and the frame to shoot up draft boards in a few years with more refinement.

2. Seth Gray, 3B, Wright State (BA RANK: 170)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 205 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

Gray was Wright State’s starting third baseman from the first game of his freshman year. And in his first series, he announced his arrival by doubling twice and homering to help the Raiders win a series opener against Clemson. Gray has been a key to the team ever since, but as a junior he’s started to drive the ball for the first time after settling for spraying line drives from the lefthanded batter’s box in the past. He’s a future fringe-average hitter in pro ball, so the team drafting him is eyeing his power potential. Gray has the frame to potentially get stronger and find plus power. He is an above-average defender at third base with an above-average arm who should be able to say at the hot corner.

3. Peyton Burdick, OF, Wright State (BA RANK: 183)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 210 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

Burdick played pretty much every sport available in high school, but what his teammates will most likely remember is how quickly he bounced back from being hit in the head by a comebacker that struck him while he was pitching. At the time, he told the Cincinnati Enquirer that he couldn’t see out of one of his eyes for two days. Now focusing on hitting, Burdick and third baseman Seth Gray have given Wright State a very impressive duo to drive their lineup in 2019. This pairing likely wouldn’t have happened if not for Burdick’s elbow injury that forced him to have Tommy John surgery and redshirt in 2017 after an impressive freshman season. Burdick has 70-grade raw power and he’s shown solid productive power in games. He stands 6-foot with a thick, powerful build and uses his average speed well, as he’s aggressive and successful in swiping bases. He fits in either corner outfield spot with average defense and an average arm. Burdick needs to do a better job recognizing breaking balls, but he’s shown a more discerning eye this spring and scouts like his swing. Burdick has excellent strength, but his pro future depends on how much he can continue to improve his hitting ability. He is a little old for the 2019 class because of his redshirt year.

4. Conor Grammes, RHP/3B, Xavier (BA RANK: 246)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Orioles ’18 (35)

A two-way player for Xavier, Grammes has a huge fastball that was touching triple digits last summer in the Cape Cod League and has regularly been in the mid-90s this spring in a starting role, getting up to 97 regularly. Grammes pairs that with a hard, mid-80s slider that’s inconsistent but flashes above-average potential when he is on top of it. He also infrequently throws a firm, mid-80s changeup. The limiting factor for Grammes on the mound is his well below-average control. Over three years with Xavier—including his first 12 starts and 58.2 innings this spring—he’s walked 6.5 batters per nine innings. That stems from a max-effort delivery. Without radical improvement there and with his control, he profiles as a reliever on the mound. His production with the bat has been more impressive, statistically, during his time with Xavier with a .333/.395/.507 line and 23 home runs over 162 collegiate games, with impressive plate discipline numbers this spring. Grammes has good bat speed from the right side of the plate and runs well, though scouts are less convinced where his defensive home would be. Likely at third, second or in a corner outfield spot.

5. John Matthews, RHP, Kent State (BA RANK: 285)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 185 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

Matthews arrived at Kent State as an infielder who could also pitch. But he flipped roles as a sophomore, giving up hitting to work out of the Flashes bullpen and moved into Kent State’s rotation as a junior. The results have been decidedly hot and cold. Matthews has three average pitches—a 90-93 mph fastball and an average slider and curve. Both the slider and curve can flash above-average as well. But his rough outings outnumbered the dominant ones (including six scoreless innings against Toledo where he struck out 10 and walked no one). That explains his 5.45 ERA. He does miss bats (10.5 strikeouts per nine innings), but he’s also prone to leaving the ball over the heart of the plate. He has solid control, but needs to improve his command. Matthews is relatively new to focusing on pitching so there’s some projection left in him and he has a clean delivery and a fast arm, which makes him a useful day two pick, even with some ugly statistics.

6. Dominic Canzone, OF, Ohio State (BA RANK: 317)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 190 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

Canzone was never going to wow scouts with exceptional athletic tools, so if he was going to attract attention he was going to have to hit. That’s exactly what he’s done, leading Ohio State in almost every major offensive category in a .355/.446/.640 season that saw him hit 16 doubles and 15 home runs to rank among Division I leaders in total bases. Even with those 15 home runs, Canzone is hit over power with a knack for putting the ball in play and a steadily improving eye at the plate. Canzone’s swing isn’t real pretty—he has a level finish to his swing that makes him very rotational around his hips—but it’s worked well for him. Canzone is slow-footed. His below-average speed limits him to left field.

7. Connor Wollersheim, LHP, Kent State (BA RANK: 378)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 205 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

A 6-foot-2, 205-pound lefthander, Wollersheim has spent four years with Kent State but this spring has been in the starting rotation 100 percent of the time for the first time in his career. Through 14 starts and 78 innings in the Mid-American Conference, Wollersheim posted a 4.04 ERA with a career-best 10.4 strikeouts per nine. Wollersheim throws a fringey, 88-91 mph fastball, a similarly fringey breaking ball and an average changeup. While his stuff doesn’t jump off of the scouting report, he has some starter traits and could be an attractive senior sign.

8. Morgan Colopy, OF, Centerville (Ohio) HS (BA RANK: 434)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 210 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Cincinnati

A physical, 6-foot-1, 210-pound outfielder and righthanded hitter, Colopy’s best attribute is his plus raw power. He takes impressive batting practice and has some feel to hit in-games as well, squaring up balls with some consistency, though he’ll need more polish at the next level. Defensively he is a below-average runner with a below-average arm that might limit him to left field. Colopy is committed to Cincinnati.

9. Spencer Mraz, RHP, Miami (Ohio) (BA RANK: 442)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-10 • Wt: 245 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

Mraz is a towering 6-foot-10, 254-pound righthander who has worked as a starter ever since his freshman season. He works with a clean delivery and sits 89-93 mph with his fastball but has topped out at 95. Mraz also throws a 40-grade changeup and a well below-average breaking ball. With his physical stature and arm strength, he may be best suited for the bullpen in pro ball.

10. J.D. Orr, OF, Wright State (BA RANK: 450)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 185 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

An undersized, 5-foot-11, 185-pound outfielder, Orr absolutely flies. Some scouts think he’s a legitimate 80-grade runner and over four years with Wright State, has stolen 115 bags in 142 attempts (81 percent success rate), including 57-for-67 this spring. Orr has no power to speak of and has hit just two career home runs, but has hit over .300 in back-to-back season with more walks than strikeouts, giving scouts a little more faith in his offensive game. He’s an average defender despite his running ability, but the speed gives him upside to improve that in the future.

11. Jakob Brustoski, LHP, Sinclair (Ohio) JC (BA RANK: 500)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 237 • B-T: R-L • Commitment/Drafted: Texas Tech

A Texas Tech signee, Brustoski showed velocity but no control as a freshman at Youngstown State. He transferred to Sinclair (Ohio) JC for his sophomore season and showed even better stuff with much better control—he went from walking 38 in 24 innings as a freshman to 16 in 23 innings at Sinclair. Brustoski had struggled to break 80 mph a couple of years ago. Now he’s pumping 93-96 mph fastballs and features a developing slider and changeup.

12. Nick Hoffmann, RHP, Centerville (Ohio) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 197 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Clemson

 

13. Jack Frank, OF, Strongsville (Ohio) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 190 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Michigan State

 

14. Joey Velazquez, OF, Columbus St. Francis DeSales HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 205 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Michigan

 

15. Garrett Schoenle, LHP, Cincinnati
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 190 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Reds ’17 (30)

 

16. Andrew Magno, LHP, Ohio State
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 170 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

 

17. Brady Cherry, UTIL/RHP, Ohio State
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 210 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

 

17. Taylor Williams, RHP, Xavier
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 180 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

 

18. Aaron Simpson, OF, Ball State
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 170 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

 

19. Duncan Hall, RHP, Miamisburg (Ohio) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-6 • Wt: 210 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Louisville