The Winter Meetings occurred earlier this month (first time since the pandemic) and the first ever MLB Draft Lottery took place. Let’s dive in and take a look at the 50 best prep prospects for the 2023 MLB Draft.
1. Max Clark, OF, Franklin HS (IN) – The top prospect of the prep class for some time now, there is growing sentiment for Walker Jenkins, but I am not there just yet. Clark has not had the greatest of summers, but it is still easy to see why he is so highly thought of. He has elite athleticism that could see plus tools in speed, arm, and in the field, he is as projectable as it gets. At the plate, he is a polished hitter with a plus hit tool and a line drive swing that sees the ball really jump. The home run stroke isn’t there yet, but there is no shortage of power in the bat. An unassuming body, he doesn’t look the part of a future star, but he is one.
2. Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS (NC) – A legit middle-of-the-order bat, Jenkins has performed with the Team USA 18U team as an underclassman and wasn’t overmatched. He currently plays center although there is some thought he will lose some of his speed as he fills out. Even if he does move to a corner, his plus arm and centerfield instincts could make him a plus right fielder. At the plate, he does not sacrifice hit for power, but he has plenty of power, with 30+ home run potential in the bat.
3. Aidan Miller, 3B, JW Mitchell HS (FL) – There is a bit of a hitchy shoulder load in his swing, otherwise he is everything you could ask for at the plate. Another very polished hitter, his plus hit tool allows him to get into game power now and has truly elite raw power potential. In the field he has plenty of arm to play third and has a good enough glove feet he projects to be an average to better defender at the position.
4. Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS (OR) – Meyer has a loose low 3/4 slot delivery with some long actions to go with his long body that helps his elite stuff play even higher. His fastball sits 94-96 but has been up to 98 in shorter outings over the summer. He has a quality two-plane bending slider that is more sharp than big but is incredibly effective, although he does have a bigger 11-5 breaking ball he breaks out from time to time. The change is definitely behind the others, but one thing he does have that most long body prep arms is command, something he shows a surprising amount of already.
5. Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (MA) – At 6’5” and 210 lbs., White has plenty of projection in the body but already runs his fastball up to 96 while sitting 94-95. He also has an incredibly smooth delivery with the velo coming easy and very low effort, meaning there is no question his future is as a rotation arm. He has shown the makings of a change, but it is incredibly raw, and has a curve and slider. The curve is a sweeping 2-plane breaker while the slider has more sharp cutting actions. His command really drifts when in the stretch, but the stuff doesn’t tick down too much. It would not at all be a shock if White finds a way to get into the conversation to go 1-1 in July.
6. Blake Mitchell, C/RHP, Sinton HS (TX) – A real two-way prospect, on the mound Mitchell has a reliever look with a rising fastball up to 95 and a quality two plane slider. He has more upside as a catcher where he has a 2.05 pop time and plenty of athleticism behind the dish suggesting he could be an above average defender. Currently he goes the other way too much despite his hips clearing well and having real plus raw power to his pull side.
7. Kevin McGonigle, SS/2B, Monsignor Bonner HS (PA) – The left-handed hitting middle infielder has some of the quickest hands in the class both in the field and at the plate. He is an average runner and has an average arm, so there is plenty of signs pointing to a future move to second, although his instinctiveness and a frame that could add strength without slowing him down too much could result in him sticking at short. At the plate he has a very advanced approach that is definitely hit first, although there is some weight shift in the swing and his hips fire well, combining that with his incredible bat speed, there could be average to better power in his future.
8. Travis Sykora, RHP, Round Rock HS (TX) – At 6’6” and 220 lbs. Sykora fits the bill as your prototypical big Texan righty. His fastball will hit triple digits and sit 96-97 although it can get flat at times. His best secondary offering is a slider that is best at the 85-87 range with late two plane break. He has a change that needs improvement as sometimes it runs, sometimes it has cut action right about 86-87. He has a hitchy 3/4 slot delivery with a big leg kick that is very Nolan Ryan-esque in it’s look, which is a fitting look for a kid in Texas.
9. Eric Bitonti, SS/3B, Aquinas HS (CA) – The fact he won’t turn 18 until late 2023 and is in the top ten of my high school ranks is a testament to how good a player Bitonti is for his age. He is a quality defender, although there is a better chance he lands at third long term but it is too early to count him out as a shortstop. He has shown an advanced approach at the plate with patience and good pitch recognition, but doesn’t get cheated when he sees a pitch he likes. With a wide base, minimal step, and quick hands to the zone, he makes plenty of contact, but has the stong hands, back lean, and loft in the swing that allows him to really drive the ball.
10. Roch Cholowsky, SS, Hamilton HS (AZ) – Defensively, Cholowsky has soft hands and is really quick transitioning glove to throw where he is very accurate from all different arm angles. The arm strength is fringy as to whether or not it is enough to stick at short, as I think a future move to 2B may be needed, but he would be a plus defender there. At the plate he chases balls too often, but he can find the barrel with plenty of frequency when the ball is in the zone and he handles both velo and offspeed well. The ball does jump and the power is currently average, but there is still plenty of projection in the body and the sync between his hips firing and his hands suggest above average future power if not plus.
11. Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian HS (FL) – Despite a somewhat recent massive growth spurt, Soto has an athletic body and good body control plus the fact he will still be 17 on draft day means there is a ton of upside. His fastball sits 93-95 but gets up to 97 with good heavy arm side run to it to go with a late two-plane slider that sits 84-87. My favorite of his pitches is his change which has shown two different shapes, one a splitter looking dropper and another a runner but in the 84-88 velo range. He comes out of a consistent 3/4 slot but does have a bit of a hitchy delivery, and everything does tick down a half grade or so out of the stretch, but that isn’t uncommon among prep arms.
12. Zion Rose, C, Brothers Rice HS (IL) – Any evaluator will tell you they have favorite prospects even if they are the best prospect, Rose is easily my favorite prep prospect this year, and he is quickly moving towards being one of the best. He is an excellent athlete with above-average speed and quick actions behind the dish and soft hands receiving. Despite being a one-knee blocker, he does so quick enough that he stays square on the ball and doesn’t have the passed ball risk that often comes with that setup. At the plate he has a quick bat with easy pop and will spoil a pitcher’s best pitches with 2 strikes to get a pitch he can do damage with, although his hands do get low at times leading to pop ups. On the bases he has the speed to stretch a double into a triple and makes great reads on a ball in the dirt to move up a bag. Rose has the potential to be truly special.
13. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest HS (FL) – Smooth actions, gliding feet, and plenty of arm, Nimmala will stick on the left side of the infield, although third vs. short is still up in the air as there is plenty of room for Nimmala to fill out. The power is real as he showed of at the PG National Showcase with a 420 ft HR that had an exit velocity of 105 MPH in batting practice, and he hasn’t even begun to fill out yet. The contact definitely lags behind the power as he does get long with the swing to sell out for that big power. The visual of the swing and finish reminds me a lot of Mookie Betts (not a comp, just a visual reference).
14. Colin Houck, SS, Parkview HS (GA) – Houck might be one of the tougher signings come next July as he is committed to Mississippi State to play baseball and quarterback on their football team, but he has plenty of upside on the diamond. The swing is incredibly quiet and balanced, but he has good bat speed and the ball really jumps off his bat. The quiet swing allows him to make plenty of contact which gives him a plus hit tool, and I am confident the power manifests as above average power when all is said and done given how well it does jump currently. There are little doubts he sticks at short, so he is a true shortstop with a plus hit tool and potential for power, not many teams will frown on that.
15. Roman Martin, INF, Servite HS (CA) – There will forever be guys who succeed despite unorthodox/less than ideal swings, and Martin just may be one of those. He has an incredibly wide base and steps even wider, but somehow gets his hands into a good spot, clears the zone well, and gets the bat to the ball quickly. There are some concerns that, as he fills out and potentially loses some pliability, the swing won’t play as well, but he is a really good hitter now and has projection. He has displayed excellent pitch recognition and won’t chase a bad ball very often, making the bat tool play up even more. The arm is legit and will play at short or third, but the athleticism does suggest he will be able to stick at short.
16. Adam Hachman, LHP, Timberland HS (MO) – Hachman is very much a high ceiling, low floor prospect as he has electric stuff, but incredibly inconsistent. He is 6’5” and just over 200 lbs., with a short arm back into a good extension 3/4 slot delivery with a healthy leg kick and good leg drive, there are a lot of moving parts that too often find themselves out of sync for consistent results currently. The fastball might be the best of any lefty in the class as it sits 92-95 with plenty of projection to increase in time and he has the making of a solid curve and change. If Hachman can show better command and feel for the offspeed in the Spring, he will rocket up boards, if he continues to struggle with consistency, he is a risky pick but sky is the limit given that fastball.
17. Antonio Anderson, SS, North Atlanta HS (GA) – A legitimate switch hitter, Anderson has an advanced approach at the plate that was highlighted by taking three walks in the HS All-American Game. He makes plenty of contact and barrels up the ball well, although the bat can get a bit long from the left side. Despite that the ball does jump off the bat and has above average future power with a potential plus hit tool. In the field, he has plenty of arm to stick on the left side, the long term question is whether or not he sticks at short as his range and speed if average at best with plenty of room to fill out, so a move to third is likely in the cards for him.
18. Dillon Head, OF, Homewood-Flossmoor Community HS (IL) – The Midwest prep class is shaping up to be impressive, and Head is just another of those big names from the area. A smaller in stature player, he can get overlooked on the way to the field, but there is no overlooking him on it. He has elite speed that plays both in the field and on the bases, and has an average to better arm but it is accurate making it play even better. He has a shot to be a plus center fielder, and we haven’t even gotten into the bat yet. A left handed batter, with a slightly open stance, he has a really strong top hand that allows him to drive the ball better than you would think given the slappy look and smaller frame. That said, he does pull off the ball too much at times and can get beat on the outer half. Head is a top of the lineup, up the middle defensive talent oozing with athleticism with plenty of potential.
19. Cameron Johnson, LHP, IMG Academy (FL) – A 6’5” lefty coming from a very low 3/4 arm slot with real stuff is always worth getting excited about! A fastball that sits 91-95 but has run up to 97 with good horizontal late movement. He has a very good change that sits between 84-88 with dip and run that will keep the righties honest and get swings and misses. The breaking ball is the big questions at this point as it looks a lot like a slider in shape with two plane movement and some late tilt, but it isn’t sharp nor is it big currently and is best described as slurvy. I have seen it down to 75 and up 82, so it really is stuck between a slider and curve, either making them two distinct pitches or choosing one version and perfecting it will be needed to put Johnson over the top as a future rotation piece.
20. Bryce Eldridge, RHP/1B, James Madison HS (WA) – Eldridge’s future is likely on the mound, but the real power and advanced approach at the plate is too good to discount him as a two-way prospect, although the long levers and big hacks lead to plenty of swing and miss. On the mound, the 6’7” righty has a well controlled body and 3/4 delivery that has easy velo and solid extension although there is some late head effort. The fastball sits 92-94 with some tail to go with a horizontal movement that has flashed plenty of depth. The curve is inconsistent, looking unpolished in some outings, but works as the go-to offering when the fastball command is off, which isn’t often. The change sits in the low 80s with late fade giving him four legit pitches.
21. Dylan Cupp, SS, Cedartown HS (GA) – A smart ballplayer, instincts and fluid actions make him one of the better up the middle gloves in this prep class, although the arm is fringy so there may be a future move to second. He has a quick bat and his hips fire in sync with the hands allowing him to drive the ball better than most prep bats, although the wide base does leave some question as to how much that power can improve. He does have a mild leg kick but he times it well and has quick wrists making the hit tool the one that carries the most projection at the plate. The upside of Cupp is dependent on the future power potential and arm strength, some clubs might like it, others might not, but it only takes one to fall in love to rocket up a draft board.
22. Gavin Grahovac, OF, Villa Park HS (CA) – You will get a ton of different opinions on where Grahovac ends up defensively long term, some think he can stick as a catcher, some see him in the dirt, but ultimately it will probably be a corner outfield spot. He doesn’t have a cannon of an arm, but he has enough and it is accurate which will keep right an option, and he makes really good reads and takes efficient routes so there is an outside shot he can make it in center. At the plate is where he stands out though, as he has a strong wide base hips that clear well and really good balance allowing him to make plenty of contact and the loft in his swing it suited well to drive the ball out of the ballpark.
23. Walker Martin, SS, Eaton HS (CO) – The best word to describe Martin’s game is “smooth”. He has smooth mechanics in the field and his left handed swing is as smooth as there is in the class. On top of that, he has some of the best bat speed and finds barrels. The ball leaves the bat on a line the majority of the time and, while there may be average home run power in the profile, the extra base hit potential is well above average. He has started to show the fact he can drive the ball to all fields with a couple solid opo doubles at the PG National and could be one of the better Colorado prep position players ever selected.
24. George Lombard Jr., SS, Gulliver Schools HS (FL) – The son of Detroit Tigers bench coach, the Jr. Lombard is, unsurprisingly, very fundamentally sound. His transfer from glove to throw is super quick and will keep him up the middle even if some don’t love his arm, I think it is enough to stay at short. The ball really jumps off the bat thanks to his quick bat with a short swing to the zone. There might not be a plus tool in the mix, although raw power is close, but he doesn’t have a tool that is below average either.
25. Zander Mueth, RHP, Belleville East HS (IL) – It is easy to drool over a 6’6” righty still under 200 lbs. with a sinking fastball already up 95, but there is actually some polish in the long body too. The fastball command is already pretty good and the long lovers in his low 3/4 delivery are repeatable which is more than you can say about most prep prospects with his profile. The change is currently firm with some fade but shows potential, and the slider is between 80-84 and works better as the 83-84 sharp late action version than the 80-81 bigger running version. In the end he could end up with a power sinker-power slider combo that is deadly out of the bullpen, or see that change develop and become a quality rotation piece.
26. Liam Peterson, RHP, Calvary Christian HS (FL) – Peterson has a lot to really like, and a lot to be concerned with. His delivery is very hitchy with a short arm 3/4 slot with late effort, but there is life in that quick arm and the ball really jumps out of his hand. He has two breakers, a curve in the lower 70s with more of a 1-7 shape but he has a slider that really runs in the 77-78 range that flashes plus. The change sits 83-85 and will run for days, also has a plus potential. The fastball is, you guessed it, a runner sitting 91-95 that plays up with the arm action and will probably add velo to his long projectable frame.
27. Raffaele Velazquez, C/1B, Huntington Beach HS (CA) – Better known as Ralphy, the current catcher will probably end up at first base, but the arm is very accurate and could help him stay behind the dish longer than some may think. Regardless of where he plays, there is one big piece to his game it takes no time to discover, dude has power! The ball absolutely flies off the bat and has plus plus power potential from a left handed swing that has a good low hand load and real bat speed. He has a knack for finding the barrel so the are Ks in the bat, but not as much as you expect from a your power hitter. He will get greedy at times and pull off the ball, but he typically stays closed and mashes.
28. Will Gasparino, OF/1B, Harvard-Westlake (CA) – The fact he is the son of Los Angeles Dodgers scouting director Billy Gasparino will be mentioned just about anytime Will gets brought up, but his game stands on its own. He is 6’6” tall and barely 200 lbs. but has plus speed, a plus arm, and an accurate arm that will allow him to play in right field and really thrive there. He naturally has long levers and has plenty of swing and miss in his game currently, but that should calm down as he fills out and allow him to tap into his genuine raw power. Gasparino took some massive steps forward in the summer and looks to do so again come the spring with an always loaded Harvard-Westlake team.
29. Colt Emerson, SS, John Glenn HS (OH) – Emerson is a guy a lot of scouts really love, but I am more luke warm on him. He has very smooth infield actions but doesn’t have great range or a great arm so his future is probably that of an above average defensive second baseman. His swing is very much one that thrives on driving the ball inside out and using the opo gap to get his extra bases.
30. Drew Burress, OF, Houston County HS (GA) – Currently an above average runner, center field is his current projected position although much grown from his 5’9” 175 lbs. frame and he could slow enough to move to a corner. If he does, the arm is more than enough to play in right and could even be plus there. He is very instinctive in the field and on the bases. He has a very open stance with a leg kick, but he gets the foot down early which allows him to time pitches well, although there are a lot of moving parts and it probably needs to be calmed down some. He can really drive the ball thanks to his quick hands and healthy hacks, which again lead to swing and miss, but the power is real.
31. Braden Holcomb, 3B, Foundation Academy (FL) – The most common physical comp you are going to see is Brady House, and it makes sense, but the game isn’t at that level. Holcomb is currently a shortstop and does have fluid actions, but the range just isn’t there for me and the arm is such a cannon and accurate it will be great at third. He showed far too much swing and miss at the PDP league, but he also had one of the hardest hit balls in the HS All American Game at Dodger Stadium. Really he is a power arm power bat third base profile with a lot of contact concerns, which does still play in this generation.
32. Trent Caraway, SS/3B, JSerra HS (CA) – Currently listed as a shortstop, the actions are stiff and just not fluid enough there and an early move to third is likely in his future, but he has plenty of arm for third. He is a better than average runner who shows solid bat control that stays in the zone a long time and has real bat speed. There is some loop in the swing and the actions so it is absolutely a power over hit approach but he has been a producer on the showcase circuit so there is little doubt he can handle top tier arms.
33. AJ Ewing, SS, Springboro HS (OH) – Ewing has a good chance to stick at short as he has a good glove, enough range, and enough arm to be an average defender there. At the plate, the hit tool will be what carries him as he has a smooth swing with good balance and timing despite a healthy leg kick. He has very good bat control and speed to go with a good eye at the plate that allows him to barrel up the ball with frequency and displays more pop than the body suggests. He does have a knack for pulling his head off the ball which is just a mild concern but something worth keeping an eye on.
34. Hunter Dietz, LHP, Calvary Christian HS (FL) – It seems like pitchers keep getting bigger each year, and Dietz is a good example of that as he is a 6’6” and 230 lbs. lefty. He gets decent drive from his lower half and good extension from a 3/4 slot delivery that allows his fastball in the low-90s to play up and does run it up to 95 at times. He has a change that needs plenty of development but it has shown decent signs in his limited use of it. The important secondary offering of his is the “gyro slider” which is a heavier velo and lighter two-plane break that plays really well off his fastball. There is definitely reliever risk in Dietz, but he could easily stick as a starter if that change properly develops.
35. Ryder Helfrick, C, Clayton Valley (CA) – If you have only seen Helfrick in the All-American Game at Dodger Stadium, you would have real concerns about his ability to stick behind the plate as he had a poor performance with far too many balls getting away from him. In reality, that was a bad day and he actually has good hands behind the dish and is a good receiver with a plus arm. At the plate, he has a really strong top hand in his swing that tends to find the barrel often. He has a good hit tool thanks to his ability to get the bat to the zone quick but stays in the zone to make solid contact where the ball jumps off the bat.
36. Zach Wadas, OF/1B, Hamilton HS (AZ) – While Wadas has a wide base and some leg kick, his hips clear the zone well and he has a very advanced eye at the plate. He uses those hips firing to generate massive power and might have the best future power tool of any prep player in the class. He has plenty of power currently and will only add more as he adds to his frame. That adding to the frame will likely lead to him being moved out of the outfield to a pure first baseman, but the bat will be more than enough to play even with that positional limitation.
37. Ethan McElvain, LHP, Nolensville HS (TN) – A lefty arm from a 3/4 to a bit higher arm with a high leg kick, plenty of leg drive, and the ability to repeat the delivery is a very good spot to start. Add to that the fact he sits 90-93 and runs a fastball up to 95 on a pitch that has some rise to it making it even harder to square up. He has a quality slider sitting 78-80 with some good 2 plane action with a bump in the middle of it rather than big movement. He doesn’t currently have a third offering, but he has the makings of a quality reliever as it stands and upside of a rotation piece if he can develop a third offering.
38. Barrett Kent, RHP, Pottsboro HS (TX) – A good bodied Texan righty with a loose right arm, Kent has the makings of a future workhorse starter. There is some late effort in the finish that sees him fall to the first base side a little and there is a mild elbow bend at times, but the delivery is pretty clean otherwise. The fastball has late tail sitting 91-93 but has been up to 96. He has a cutting slider that is a quality second pitch, and a developing change and curve as well. There isn’t a ton of ceiling for Kent, but there is a rather high floor for a prep arm, so he is never going to be a game change, but could easily be a future big league contributor.
39. Aidan Keenan, RHP, Live Oak HS (CA) – With a very low 3/4 delivery bordering on sidearm, there is plenty of movement in Keenan’s pitches, although the fastball does flatten out at times and becomes very hittable. When at it’s best, the fastall sits 92-95 with sink and run from a whippy arm. His breaking ball is a sweeping runner of a slider between 75-78 but covers a ton of horizontal ground. MOst likely a future reliever, the arm action and stuff could make him a quality high leverage arm.
40. Jonny Farmelo, OF, Westfield HS (VA) – Farmelo can hold down center currently but a move to a corner is most likely as a pro. He has an accurate arm to go with above-average arm strength so he could find himself a home in right. He is good getting bat to ball and is hit first, although he has gap power and the ball does jump, so there may be average to better home run power in his future. His balance at his feet do leave me with some concern, but he has managed to hit well against good arms on the showcase circuit.
41. Garrett Baumann, RHP, Hagerty HS (FL) – Stuff is inconsistent with Baumann as I have seen him sit 90-92 and I have seen him sit 96-97. Either way, the ball coming out of a 6’8” frame makes it play harder than whatever the radar gun reads on the given day. He has a slurvy slider that can show really good 2 plane break at times, while being more of a runner at others. His best pitch is a change that sits between 84-88 with a ton of late dip and run. The delivery itself is a bit stiff, but the arm has looseness to it although it can be inconsistent between his quick arm back to getting up into his delivery, but he is a big prep arm, so that is somewhat expected.
42. Tre Phelps, 3B, Georgia Premier Academy (GA) – His proper name is Edward Phelps III, but naturally goes by the name Tre, Phelps is an athletic and strong third baseman. He can get up the line and beat out the occasional grounder, but the line drive swing with healthy hacks is the primary driver in his game. The ball really jumps although he can pull off the ball with less than two strikes, he goes from a mild step swing to a no step swing with two strikes and really battles. He has also shown a loud and fun personality, suggesting he would be a quality clubhouse guy on top of his ability on the field.
43. Justin Lee, RHP, Notre Dame HS (CA) – Not sure I have ever put a plus potential grade on a prep split before, but that is just what I have done for Lee. The pitch is something he just learned this summer and it is an absolutely filthy split grip change that sits 79-84 and absolutely falls off the table. He can run his fastball up to 95 and has a decent slider sitting 82-85. He works solely ou tof the stretch, but he has good balance, extension, and leg drive to go with one of the better right handed pick moves in the class.
44. Kendall George, OF, Atascocita HS (TX) – George’s whole game starts with the wheels where he has top of scale speed and it helps him in the field and at the plate. He can beat out a grounder and covers a ton of ground in the outfield where he is a plus defender in center. He has great instincts and takes good routes to the ball, although the arm is below average, so his defensive value does all come from his ability to hold down center. At the plate he is more of a slap hitter who can be late on quality fastballs, but the mechanics are solid and some minor adjustments with quality coaching and he should develop into good gap power.
45. Wes Mendes, LHP/OF, Tampa Jesuit HS (FL) – While Mendes is a quality prospect as an outfielder, his future almost certainly is on the mound. He suffered a ruptured appendix over the summer and was still working on regaining his strength throughout the showcase circuit, but still looked solid despite his diminished strength and stamina. He has a developing change and a quality curve to go with a fastball that gets into the low 90s. He has a well balanced and measured delivery that will allow him to stick in a rotation and handle a heavy workload.
46. Andrew Wiggins, OF, Heritage Christian Academy (IN) – Wiggins is a power bat corner outfielder who has a presence about him on the field. His range and speed is average but he has a good arm so fitting into right field should be just fine for him. The swing is far from perfect as he steps to the 1B side as a lefty bat and can pull off the ball and get beat on the outer half. Despite that, he has very quick hands that get the bat to the zone quickly, the bat stays in the zone well, and the bat speed offsets the length in the bat plane and creates genuine power. When he makes contact, which is something he does more often than the swing would suggest, the ball really jumps, he just needs some tweaks to the swing and he could really thrive.
47. Daniel Cuvet, 3B, ESB Academy (FL) – With as much raw power as any in this prep class, Cuvet is about as prototypical a power-power 3B as it gets. He has a massive arm, although he can get too confident in it and make plays closer than they need to be, and absolutely demolishes baseballs. There is plenty of swing and miss in the bat which does raise some concerns, but less in today’s game than a generation ago. He is one of the younger players in the class despite having a very mature and strong body. There is some fear he outgrows 3B and ends up as a lumbering right fielder or 1B, but the bat will play regardless of where he ends up defensively.
48. Steven Milam, SS, Centennial HS (NM) – Don’t let his diminutive size fool you, 5’8” and just 165 lbs., Milam can flat out hit. He is as pure a switch hitter as this prep class has and he can drive the ball well, although power will never be a big part of his game. He has all the defensive chops to stick at short, but the arm is fringy there and a move to second is most likely in his future. If he does move to the keystone spot, he could be a plus defender with decent range and incredibly soft hands.
49. Alexander Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken HS (RI) – Clemmey makes for some of the most uncomfortable at-bats for hitters in this draft class. He has a fastball that sits 92-94 but has been as high as 97 with a changeup at 83 with a ton of tail and a breaking ball that is 79-81 but a bit slurvy currently. His stuff is legit and the fact he is a 6’5” lefty only makes it that much more intriguing a package. Problem is his arm can really trail behind his body and miss arm side, making an already uncomfortable AB even more uncomfortable for lefties. At the Perfect Game All-American Classic he went HBP-BB-BB in consecutive batters highlighting the main concern, lack of command. There is real reliever risk, but the stuff is so good a team will likely give him a shot early on day two.
50. Cole Schoenwetter, RHP, San Marcos HS (CA) – Unlike Clemmey ahead of him, Shoenwetter is a very polished pitcher who can command three pitches with ease. He varies his arm slot between 3/4 and lower 3/4 but that doesn’t impact that command. His fastball comes with easy velo and suggests it will improve over the years but currently sits 90-94. He has a knuckle curve that has two different shapes at both a true 12-6 hammer and another version with more depth at a 1-7 shape. He also mixes in a change that does lag behind the other two but shows real potential.
Shaun Kernahan is the MLB Draft correspondent for Prospects1500. When not at a game, chances are the TV and/or tablet has a game on and he has a notepad out taking notes. When not scouting draft prospects, he is the Director of Baseball Operations for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league in Colorado. Shaun can be found on Twitter at @ShaunKernahan.
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Shaun Kernahanhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/skernahan1500/
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Shaun Kernahanhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/skernahan1500/
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Shaun Kernahanhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/skernahan1500/
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Shaun Kernahanhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/skernahan1500/
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