As we prepare to enter the new year, it’s never too early to start covering the MLB Draft. This 2020 MLB Draft class, in particular, is loaded with high level talent at both the collegiate and prep level.
At Prospects Live we’ll be rolling out several different pieces highlighting some of the top draft prospects across the country. These will be broken up by region and while all of these individual players won’t get drafted, it’s possible that most of them will receive that phone call they’ve always dreamt of.
Let’s take a look at some of the best high school prospects in the Midwest.
Illinois
Ed Howard, SS, Mount Carmel, Oklahoma commit
Howard is the top prep player in the Midwest for the 2020 high school class. Standing at 6-foot-2 and roughly 185 pounds, Howard is a twitchy athlete without a high ceiling but a relatively safe floor. He swings a quick bat from the right-handed batters box that takes a short path to the baseball, but constantly produces barrels. There’s not much power to his game right now and there doesn’t project to be much at the next level, but Howard constantly barrels up the baseball.
He’s widely regarded as an elite defensive shortstop and might be the best pure defender in this entire class. One scout told me that Howard is "arguably the best defensive shortstop that has ever come through the Midwest” and there’s little-to-no doubt that he will stick there moving forward. He has the athleticism, footwork, hands, and arm that you want to see in a big league caliber shortstop. Howard has a relatively safe floor as an everyday big league starter, mostly because of his glove, but if the bat continues to progress, he could be something special.
Ben Hernandez, RHP, De La Salle, University of Illinois-Chicago commit
Hernandez is the top prep pitcher in the state of Illinois, and if you ever get a chance to watch a handful of his innings in person, you’ll know why. He’s a durable 6-foot-2, 205 pound right-hander with not much projection left in his build. Hernandez works with rhythm, consistently repeating his clean delivery and throws with easy effort from a high 3/4 arm slot.
His fastball works between 90-92 mph, but can touch 94 mph with occasional sink. His best pitch is his changeup, that plays between 81-84 mph with legit sink and is already a swing-and-miss offering. It’s very possible that he has the best changeup among any prep pitcher in this class. Hernandez’ third pitch is a curveball that sits in the low 70s and still needs to develop more. He’s an interesting pitching prospect that could shoot up draft boards if he has a strong spring season.
Christian Knapczyk, MIF, Joliet Catholic, Louisville commit
A Louisville commit, Knapczyk is every coach’s dream of a baseball player. Scouts have raved about his leadership abilities on the field and he showcases a high baseball IQ every single time he steps foot on the diamond. Knapczyk is an above-average athlete and plays with a high motor.
At the plate, Knapczyk has a simple swing from the left side with present bat speed and consistently makes contact with the baseball. There isn’t much power to his game, nor does there project to be given his 5-foot-9 build, but he controls the barrel well and consistently puts the ball in play to all fields. Defensively, Knapczyk has the athleticism, arm, and instincts to stick at shortstop in the long term, but he would excel at second base should he eventually have to move over. He probably finds his way on campus at Louisville, but the tools are there for him to be a professional baseball player either now or in a few years.
Jack Mahoney, RHP, St. Viator, South Carolina commit
Mahoney is an intriguing prospect because he’s listed as a shortstop, but looks the part on the mound and projects better as an arm. Standing at a strong and athletic 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Mahoney threw a perfect game for Top Tier Americans this past summer in the NPI tournament, one of the best summer ball tournaments in the country.
Mahoney’s fastball sits between 88-91 mph but has touched 93 mph in the past and primarily works down in the zone. His changeup is his primary secondary offering, playing at 82-83 mph while playing well off his fastball and staying down in the zone. He’s shown a 12-to-6 breaking ball before that he can throw for strikes, but is still behind his changeup in terms of development. It’s likely he finds his way on campus, but someone may take a shot on him in the later rounds.
Jack Payton, C, Brother Rice, Louisville commit
Payton might be the best individual player on one of the best high school programs in the state of Illinois. A Louisville commit, Payton is an above-average bat with strong defensive skills behind the plate. He's a well-proportioned 5-foot-11, 185 pound backstop.
The right-handed hitting Payton has a simple setup in the box and swings a quick bat. He gets extension in his swing and creates power with his explosive lower half, allowing him to drive the baseball into both the left and right field gaps. Payton is athletic behind the dish with a quick release and strong arm that help him consistently record pop times in the 2.00-to-2.04 range. He’s shown quality receiving skills and is an adept blocker, leaving me with no concerns that he can stick behind the plate moving forward.
Drake Westcott, 1B, Edwardsville, Louisville commit
Westcott is the type of player that would stick out like a sore thumb if you just happened to stroll past a baseball field. He’s a physical 6-foot-3, 205 pound first baseman that is a quality athlete for someone his size.
Westcott has a relaxed setup at the plate, but his swing his essentially tailor-made to elevate the baseball. There’s some present pull-side power in his swing and he consistently hits the ball in the air, but mostly to his pull side. He does have some feel for the barrel and there may be some sort of hit tool as he develops, but for now, it’s mostly a power swing. Defensively, Westcott has made improvements with his footwork at first base and looks the part of a player that could stick there moving forward. His physicality is going to interest scouts, but it’s likely he finds his way on campus.
Jack Crowder, RHP, Plainfield East, Illinois commit
If I had to bank on one player in the entire state of Illinois to have a massive spring season and drastically up his draft stock, it would be Jack Crowder. The physical 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-hander has a clean delivery, with not much effort, that he repeats well.
Crowder’s fastball works primarily between 90-92 mph and has touched 94 mph in the past with late life and occasional run. His breaking ball is thrown from the same arm slot as his fastball and shows 11-to-5 shape, playing at 73-75 mph. Crowder showed a changeup that sat in the low-80s with occasional fade. His stuff is still fairly raw, but he’s not too far off from having two solid secondary pitches that will play off his fastball well. A strong spring season in front of the right people may put him on the draft radar, but if he makes it to campus, definitely keep his name in mind once his draft year rolls around.
Ben Wiegman, RHP, Carmel Catholic, Louisville commit
Wiegman is another physical right-hander that calls Illinois home. The physical 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander has some strength to his frame, but there’s not much projection left for him. He has kind of an awkward delivery that seems a bit rushed, but he does repeat it well and consistently throws strikes. Wiegman is an uncomfortable at-bat as he creates deception working across his body.
His fastball sits between 90-92 mph with arm side run and touched 94 mph this July. His breaking ball showed 12-to-6 shape and is thrown with a slightly decelerated arm action. He doesn’t really throw his changeup much. Similar to Crowder, a strong spring season for Wiegman would also skyrocket his draft status, but I think it’s more likely he finds his way at Louisville.
Isaiah Jackson, OF/RHP, Champaign Central, Uncommitted
The first time I saw Isaiah Jackson was at the PBR Midwest Pro Case in July. I had no idea who he was, but after the event was over, there wasn’t a prospect there that impressed me more than Jackson. His lengthy, lean 6-foot-5, 185 pound frame is super projectable and there is real upside to his game given his true athleticism. That said, Jackson is still fairly raw overall as a prospect and there is some refinements that have to be made for him to take that jump.
Jackson ran a 6.65 60-yard dash at that PBR Pro Case and threw 93 mph from the outfield with real life. He showed promise at the plate, spraying the ball to all fields and showcasing some power potential. He started on the mound in the gameplay section of that event and showed an athletic delivery but throws with clear effort. He has a really loose arm with truly elite arm speed and is an uncomfortable at-bat given how long he is. His fastball played at 89-92 mph, but touched 94 mph with life. His secondary offerings are still raw, but his curveball showed 12-to-6 shape and is significantly slower than his fastball. Jackson is still uncommitted and is likely to take the JUCO route if he does end up going to college, but there is certainly going to be a team that sees him at some point and falls in love with the potential upside that he has on both sides of the ball.
Clayton Johnson, RHP, Prophetstown, Illinois commit
Johnson is an absolute monster of a human being, standing at a physical 6-foot-8, 235 pounds. He controls his body well for someone that size and actually repeats his delivery on a consistent basis, which is difficult for someone who is that tall.
Johnson’s fastball isn’t overpowering, primarily sitting between 85-86 mph and touching 88 mph, but the extension he creates downhill has to make that fastball look harder than it is. There is no way any at-bat against Johnson is comfortable. His best secondary pitch is a sinking changeup that has real swing-and-miss potential and plays between 78-80 mph. There may not be room for him to add more velocity to his fastball, but for someone that tall, there might be a team that believes they can maximize his potential.
Tre Hondras, OF, Homewood-Flossmoor, Michigan commit
A truly elite athlete, Hondras showed well at the PBR Midwest Pro Case in July. He’s not very projectable and is likely already fully matured, but Hondras is an interesting name to keep in mind as the late rounds of the draft unfold.
Hondras swings a quick bat from the right side that has some sneaky pop to it. You wouldn't think a guy with his frame would hit for power, but he generates power with his hands and the ball jumps off his bat with ease. Defensively speaking, there’s no question that Hondras can stick in center field moving forward as a quality up-the-middle defensive player. Given his athleticism, Hondras is a guy that could certainly catch teams’ eyes come draft time.
Zach Hise, RHP, Joliet Catholic, Missouri commit
A recent Mizzou signee, Hise has seen his prospect status rise after an impressive summer performance for a quality Chicago Elite travel team. He’s a fairly lean 6-foot-5 right-hander that should continue to mature and fill out that fairly impressive frame. Hise works exclusively from the stretch.
Hise’s fastball touched 92 mph this summer and regularly sits 90-92 mph. He’s an uncomfortable at-bat given his length and methodical delivery, which is not easy to time up. Hise showed a slider that sat between 74-77 mph that he trusts and will use as a swing-and-miss offering. His changeup played at 76-79 mph with primarily straight movement. Hise is the type of prospect that could continue to physically develop and improve his game this off-season, which would certainly help his draft stock. A monster spring from him, given his upside on the mound, would certainly get him drafted.
Wisconsin
AJ Vukovich, OF, East Troy, Louisville commit
Vukovich is the top ranked player in the state of Wisconsin for the 2020 class. He’s a projectable 6-foot-5, 210-pound corner infielder with so much room to fill out as he continues to mature. Vukovich started to garner national prep headlines when he finished second in the high school home run derby this past July.
Vukovich is a long-levered athlete that, like Westcott mentioned above, is primarily a power-hitting corner infielder. His swing can get long at times, but he makes up for it with above-average bat speed. The one aspect of his offensive approach that is a bit concerning is his high leg-kick trigger. His timing is a bit off at times, which is clearly concerning as he’s about to enter the professional ranks. It’s hard to ignore the true raw power in his game, however, and he does real damage when he barrels up the baseball. Defensively, Vukovich is currently listed as a third baseman, but a move over to first or a corner outfield spot at some point in the near future would probably benefit more. He’s an above-average athlete with an above-average arm, but the defensive actions currently lack to play a strong third base moving forward and his athleticism will play in the outfield. There are some aspects of his game that are still raw, but there is clear upside in Vukovich. He’s probably not going to make it to Louisville and going to the right organization could really help him.
Tyler Chadwick, RHP, Marshall, West Virginia commit
Chadwick has the most electric stuff of any pitcher in the state of Wisconsin. He’s a big kid, standing at 6-foot-5 and roughly 200 pounds with some more maturity likely to come. His delivery is clean and he doesn’t throw with much effort, leaving me to believe that there is more left in the tank for Chadwick.
Chadwick reportedly touched 96 mph with his fastball this summer, but he’s primarily going to sit between 90-93 mph on any given night. His breaking ball shows 11-to-5 shape and is firm, playing at 76-80 mph with sharp break. He’s a two-pitch guy right now, but Chadwick’s ceiling is really high. It’s hard to imagine a team not taking a shot on him in the first 10 rounds.
Max Wagner, 3B, Green Bay Preble, Clemson commit
While Vukovich might be the most powerful bat in this 2020 Wisconsin class, Wagner is arguably the most polished bat. All this kid does is hit and given his success against high-level competition this summer, there’s no reason to believe that he will continue that at the next level.
Wagner has a well-rounded offensive game, as he hits for both contact and power. He has great feel for his bat, doesn’t have much swing-and-miss to him, and consistently drives the baseball into the gap. There’s raw power in his swing and we saw some of that start to translate over to gameplay this past summer. In terms of his defense, Wagner is a question mark as to where he’ll play at the next level. He’s currently a third baseman, but he played behind the dish at times this summer and could also move over to second base at some point in the near future. His draft value will significantly increase if he can show well behind the plate this spring given his above-average bat.
George Klassen, RHP, Port Washington, Minnesota commit
Klassen is an intriguing draft prospect because he already has a decent fastball, but there’s clear projection left in his game. He’s 6-foot-2 and only weighs 185 pounds and should add muscle as he continues to mature given that he’s only 18 years old. Klassen works from an over-the-top-slot and does a good job of hiding the baseball throughout his delivery, despite some effort.
Klassen’s fastball consistently sits between 90-92 mph with life, but he does lack control. His breaking ball is firm, playing at 79-80 mph with real 12-to-6 break and is thrown with aggression. The same goes for his changeup, which plays at 83-86 mph, but is not very effective given how close the velocity is to his fastball. Klassen does have a little bit of a control issue: he made an appearance on 9/13/19 where he walked three, hit three, and struck out nine batters in three innings pitched. If he can harness his stuff and consistently pound the zone, he’s an intriguing draft prospect. This spring will be crucial for him.
Indiana
Bryce Eblin, SS, Center Grove, Alabama commit
Eblin is an explosive athlete that, despite being only 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, has an absolutely electric arm. He’s touched 92 mph on the mound and has recorded throws of 90+ mph across the diamond as well.
At the plate, Eblin is a twitchy athlete with great bat-to-ball skills. His swing is quick and easy while taking a short path to the baseball and there is some present pull-side power. There is not much swing-and-miss to his game. Defensively, Eblin showcases his athleticism in the field with a quick first step and certainly has a strong enough arm to stick at shortstop. It’s likely we see him at Alabama, but he’s a name to remember for the 2022 MLB Draft class.
Kip Fougerousse, 3B, Linton, Indiana commit
Fougerousse is a physical, mature 6-foot-3, 215 pound corner infielder with a strong lower half. Scouts will fall in love with his frame and the true raw power that’s in his game.
Fougerousse has an aggressive swing and looks to drive the baseball every time he steps into the batters box. It’s impossible to ignore how powerful he is and how different the baseball sounds when it jumps off his bat. There’s present bat speed in his swing, but he sometimes catches himself out in front given the natural aggressiveness in his offensive game. Defensively, Fougerousse played athletic in the field and trusts his smooth hands. He has a strong enough arm to stick at third base and I think he’s better suited there than first base. His commitment to Indiana is reportedly strong, but he’s going to turn heads prior to this draft.
Costa Sirounis, RHP, Munster, Indiana commit
Physical might be an understatement when describing Sirounis, as the 6-foot-6, 225 pound Indiana native is an absolute monster. He’s already fully matured by my estimations, but that frame is enough to at least get scouts attention.
Sirounis is a powerful presence at the plate, but he’s primarily listed as a pitcher. His delivery and arm action are clean with little-to-no effort. Sirounis’ will run his fastball up to 94 mph, but it primarily sits between 90-92 mph and is fairly straight. His changeup is 79-81 mph and is thrown with a slightly decelerated arm action, but does flash sink. He showed real feel for a 12-to-6 breaking ball that plays in the mid-70s and could be a potential above-average offering. It’s hard to envision a scenario where a team doesn’t at least take a shot on him given the upside.
Iowa
Carter Baumler, RHP, Dowling Catholic, TCU commit
Baumler is the top-ranked player in the Iowa 2020 class and rightfully so. He’s a strong 6-foot-2, 195 pound kid that could still add 10-15 pounds of muscle onto an already durable frame. His delivery is clean, athletic, and easily repeatable without much effort.
Baumler will run his fastball up to 94 mph, but primarily sits between 90-92 mph with life. He’s going to add more velocity as he continues to physically mature, which is obviously an encouraging sign in terms of his draft status. His curveball is his best secondary offering, playing primarily in the high-70s or low-80s with real depth and has showed signs of an above-average pitch. He doesn’t throw his changeup much but he’s going to have to throw it more as he enters the professional draft. The ease in his delivery and his ability to consistently throw strikes gives Baumler a safe floor and he’s a lock to get drafted.
Calvin Harris, C, Western Dubuque, Mississippi commit
Harris is an explosive athlete that was arguably the top performer at the PBR Midwest Pro Case in July. He’s an extremely athletic 6-foot, 195 pound backstop with a strong overall build and a powerful lower half.
Harris ran a 6.78 60-yard dash at the event, which is obviously well above-average for a catcher. His swing from the left side is short and simple and he consistently just finds a way to barrel up the baseball. There isn’t much over-the-fence power to his game, but he does pepper the gaps with line drives. Harris has an impressive bat, but he’s a standout behind the plate. He consistently recorded pop times between 1.86 and 1.94 seconds at that specific event with fluid footwork, a quick release, and just absolutely explodes out of the crouch from behind the plate. There is no reason to believe that he can’t stick behind the plate as he continues his baseball career. A left-handed hitting catcher with an advanced glove, Harris is a draft guy in my eyes.
Minnesota
Max Carlson, RHP, Burnsville, North Carolina commit
Carlson is the top-ranked prep player in Minnesota’s 2020 class. He’s a lean, projectable 6-foot-1 right-hander that can certainly add more muscle to his build as he continues to mature. His delivery is fairly clean and he has a lighting quick arm from a high 3/4 slot. His brother Sam was a second-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft.
Carlson’s fastball sits in the low-90s, but there’s clear reason to believe that he’s going to add velocity as he continues to mature. His breaking ball is firm with tight spin and he’s showed feel for the pitch with an ability to throw it for consistent strikes. He’s also showed a changeup with natural sinking action that plays in the bottom of the zone, but is thrown with a slightly different arm slot than his fastball. It’s not hard to see the upside in Carlson and it’s hard to believe he’ll find his way onto North Carolina’s campus.
Nebraska
Trey Frahm, RHP, Elkhorn, Kansas State commit
Frahm is a strong, physical right-handed pitcher that sports a durable frame despite being only six feet tall. He is the top-ranked player in the Nebraska 2020 class and showed some impressive stuff on the mound this fall.
His delivery is a tad bit awkward with some effort, but Frahm ran his fastball up to 94 mph this September and sat between 92-93 mph in that brief appearance. His breaking ball showed slurve-like actions with 10-to-4 shape and primarily played in the low-70s, but does play well off his fastball. Frahm is likely a reliever in the long-term and should make his way to Kansas State.
Ohio
Mackenzie Wainwright, OF, St. Edward, Ohio State commit
Wainwright is the top-ranked player in Ohio’s 2020 class. He’s also one of the youngest players in the entire high school class, meaning there’s so much room for him to continue to develop his game as he potentially enters the professional ranks.
At the plate, Wainwright has a simple swing with a minimal load, but there are some inconsistencies to his overall offensive game. He sometimes gets a little too pull-happy and gets out in front because he doesn’t always let the ball travel into the zone. There’s also not much power to his game and he’s likely a contact oriented offensive player moving forward. Defensively, Wainwright is athletic enough to stick in center field, but there are question marks surrounding his arm strength. He’s still a raw baseball prospect, but his athleticism paired with his age have to intrigue some professional scouts.
Wyatt Hudepohl, RHP, St. Xavier, Kentucky commit
A Kentucky commit, Hudepohl does have some physicality to his frame with more to come. He’s a strong 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander that should continue to fill out as he gets older.
Hudepohl is primarily a two-pitch guy right now, with his fastball playing between 89-91 mph and touching 93 mph on occasion. His curveball plays in the mid-70s, but it’s fairly raw and he doesn’t have much pitch ability. Hudepohl would be a major developmental project for a professional team to take a shot on, but the upside is there given his physicality and future projection.
Andrew Clelland, RHP, Harrison Central, Ohio State commit
Very similar to Zach Hise of Illinois, Clelland is a high upside right-handed pitcher with a ton of projection to his game. He’s currently a lean 6-foot-5, 190-pound arm that, as you can imagine, is going to fill out as he continues to mature.
Clelland is an interesting prospect at the plate as well, but given the upside he has on the mound, it’s likely we see a full-time switch relatively soon. He has a clean delivery and fluid high 3/4 arm action without clear mechanical flaws. His fastball plays in the high-80s, and while that number isn’t sexy right now, you have to look to the future when it comes to projecting a guy like Clelland. His secondary stuff is still relatively raw, but he’s shown feel for his curveball that plays in the low-70s. He’d certainly be a project pick if a team does take a chance on him.
Michigan
Werner Blakely, SS, Detroit Edison, Auburn commit
Blakely is the top-ranked player in the Michigan 2020 class. He is, without a doubt, one of the most electric athletes in the entire state of Michigan. A 6.50 60-yard dash runner, the left-handed hitting Blakely is an impressive prospect.
Blakely has great feel for himself at the plate with strong bat-to-ball skills. He swings a quick bat that takes a level path through the zone and consistently makes contact with the baseball from the left-side of the plate. There is clear projection to Blakely’s frame, he’s only 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds, so there’s reason to believe he could add some power as he grows into his build. Defensively, the athleticism and natural defensive actions that Blakely has lock him into shortstop in the long-term. He has an above-average arm and has thrown 90 mph across the infield before. A left-handed hitting, highly athletic prospect with projection and the defensive actions to stick at shortstop, Blakely could easily get scooped up by a professional team.
Missouri
Tavian Josenberger, MIF, Park Hill, Kansas commit
Josenberger is a highly athletic, high ceiling middle infield prospect from Missouri. He also attended the PBR Midwest Pro Case, where he showed well.
A switch hitter, Josenberger swings a quick bat from both sides of the plate and consistently makes contact with easy bat speed. He’s not going to crush baseballs, but his contact-oriented approach produces solid line drives to all fields. Defensively, Josenberger has the natural instincts, hands, and footwork to stick at shortstop moving forward. He’s better suited to play there than second base, but would be a quality defender at second base if he needed to make a move over there. Josenberger’s athleticism alone is intriguing, but given his natural baseball abilities, he could certainly be a draft guy come June.
CJ Cepicky, OF, Vianney, Missouri commit
All three of these Missouri prospects were at the PBR Midwest Pro Case, but it was Cepicky that stood out as one of the events top performers hands down. An uber-athletic outfielder, Cepicky is going to see his draft status skyrocket if he continues to build off the impressive performance he put on at the Pro Case in July.
Cepicky has incredible bat speed with strong hands and consistently barrels up the baseball. There is clear pull-side power to his game and he will demolish anything on the inner-half of the plate if he hits it out in front. The two batting practice rounds he put on were easily the most impressive of the entire event. Defensively, Cepicky showed well in the outfield and has a strong arm with a loose arm action. He’s a prospect on the rise and is someone that could certainly get drafted in June.
Garrett Rice, 3B, Willard, Missouri commit
Rice isn’t as highly touted of a prospect as Josenberger or Cepicky, but the true power and physicality to his game is impressive. Rice is built like an Ox, standing at a sturdy 6-foot-2, 225 pounds with well-proportioned strength. He recorded an exit velocity of 100 mph, with a wood bat, at the PBR Midwest Pro Case this past July.
Rice is a fast twitch athlete at the plate with quick hands and present bat strength. He crushed the baseball when he was on time and the ball just sounded different off his bat. It’s a fairly aggressive swing with clear intent to mash and there’s present pull-side power to his game. Defensively, there is some concern to me that Rice is going to struggle to stick somewhere in the field. He doesn’t have the actions to stick at third base in the long-term, so a move to first base is likely or he may even be a bat-only guy moving forward. It’s possible that he goes to college to improve his defensive game, but the power will play at the professional level.