While our 2021 Top Prospects list continues to expand and mature, today we take a look even further into the future and the 2022 class.
We think it’s important to note, while these are based on live looks and discussion with team scouts and industry executives, it is awfully early. Things change. Use this as a preliminary ‘Watch List’ of sorts. We’re not ranking players here, rather presenting who we feel are a handful of the top names. It will undoubtedly change.
That said, these appear to be the “dudes” to know at the top.
Elijah Green
Outfielder, IMG Academy
One of the most exciting players in the country, regardless of age, Green is a do-it-all, powder-keg package of explosively and controlled energy on the baseball diamond. He’s a physical specimen built different than his colleagues. Simply put, there’s not much Green cannot do. Green is probably the best prep prospect the MLB Draft has seen since at least Jo Adell in 2017, and even his profile was far less refined that what Green currently brings to the table. Some evaluators believe he could be a plus hitter with double-plus raw power. He’s currently a 70-runner with a 70-arm as well. Playing for one of the premier schools in the country, Green is exposed to good talent every spring. He’s excelled in showcases against old competition too. There aren’t too many warts in his game, and he’s currently the odds-on favorite to go 1.1 in 2022.
Kevin Parada
Catcher, Georgia Tech
It seems every other year we’re talking about a talented catcher coming out of Georgia Tech, and Parada certainly fits the bills as next in line. Scouts are in love with the whole package Parada brings to the table. He projects a plus hitter with plus power, maybe more. Behind the plate, he’s an above average receiver with a potential plus throwing arm and strong athleticism for the position. Parada burst onto the scene as a true freshman for the Yellow Jackets anchoring an impressive lineup that scored a lot of runs. Parada was a popular name in the 2020 draft, but with only five rounds and limited bonus pools, he went unselected, a mistake teams may regret for years to come. If history is any indication, Head Coach Danny Hall may let Parada call his own games in 2022, a luxury he provided to Joey Bart and Matt Weiters in their draft-eligible years.
Dylan Lesko
Right-Handed Pitcher, Buford
Lesko has long been considered the top prep arm in the 2022 class and his trajectory and growth over the last calendar year has done nothing to change that. Lesko has been up to 97 on the mound and the underlying data behind his fastball quality has continued to improve as well. Lesko couples the impressive gas with fantastic feel for a changeup with fade and tumble action. He works in a 2-seam fastball in the low-90s, a cutter in the upper-80s, and a tight, low-80s slider that he’s shown good feel and command for to both-sides of the plate against both handed-hitters. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Lesko has prototypical size for a starter, repeatable actions on the mound, and a quick, athletic arm that’s easy to project more development on.
Carter Young
Shortstop, Vanderbilt
Had Carter Young found himself draft-eligible in 2021, he’d likely have been the first college shortstop off the board, and quite possibly the first college hitter off the board. A slick piece of leather, Young projects to comfortably stick at shortstop long-term thanks to quick, athletic actions for the position. He can get to just about any ball to his right and glides through balls to his left, making most throws along the way. Scouts project Young a plus defender at the position with an above average arm. At the plate, Young is a switch-hitter who’s run into more power as he’s matured at school. He’s got more juice from the left side, but has shown increased pop from the right side as well. He’s projects least an above average hitter with average power. Should Young find more power in 2022, he’s got 1.1 upside. Evaluators believe he’s a blend of fellow Commodore shortstops Dansby Swanson and Austin Martin, both Top 5 picks in their respective drafts.
Peyton Pallette
Right-Handed Pitcher, Arkansas
Pallette is one of the most electrifying arms in 2022, a college class that appears to lack the depth of recent classes. He’s got a wiry, yet athletic frame at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, featuring an extremely quick right arm. The fastball has been as hot as 97 MPH in 2021, mostly sitting 92-95 MPH, holding velocity deep into starts. His curveball is a complete buzzsaw with sweep and good vertical tilt. It sits around 80 MPH and has some of the highest spin rates you will quite literally ever see. In 2021 against South Carolina, he broke one off at 3,530 RPM. Elite, elite zip. He flashes a change-up in the high-80’s, but it’s sparsely utilized and still a point of development. Command comes and goes, but he’s got big arm talent and is getting better as time goes on.
Ian (JR) Ritchie Jr.
Right-Handed Pitcher, Bainbridge Island HS
In a deep prep pitching class, Ritchie stands out for a loud package of both pure stuff and control/command. The 2022 prep pitching class has more guys touching 97 at 17 years old than maybe any other class in history. But not all of them can find the strike zone with consistency. That is where Ritchie thrives. The fastball sits 92-94 on most days, up to 97 in the summer of 2021. He has a firm, tight slider up into the mid-80s with late two-plane break that he also commands very well. Jordan Lawlar called it the best pitch he saw all summer in 2021. Ritchie also features a changeup he’s shown feel for with good arm-side fade that he deploys primarily against lefties. Ritchie has an extremely quick arm with elite mechanics and lower half strength. He’s a very good bet to start long-term, and has the potential to be the best prep arm to come out of Washington since Blake Snell or Tim Lincecum.
Hayden Dunhurst
Catcher, Ole Miss
Simply put, Hayden Dunhurst may have the best throwing arm of any draft-eligible catcher in recent memory. Throwing an 80 grade on any defensive tool can be a tough sell, but Dunhurst’s cannon hits the mark. The arm has been clocked at 90mph by area scouts on throws to second base, with pop times hovering between 1.80 and 1.85. Truly sensational. He’s an above average receiver and blocks balls in the dirt very well thanks to solid athleticism. Dunhurst’s hit tool has been better than many anticipated as he’s been a stalwart in the heart of the Ole Miss lineup, He projects at least an average hitter with average power, maybe more. It’s a thick, well-proportioned physical frame that some scouts think will add impact as he continues to grow and mature and make use of his plus raw power.
Tristan Smith
Left-Handed Pitcher, Boiling Springs HS
Smith is one of the top lefties in a loaded 2022 prep class. A strong 6-foot-2, 200 pound frame, Smith fits the profile of a future power pitcher with a rather effortless, crossbody delivery with plenty of deception. Smith’s fastball has been clocked as high as 95 MPH, usually sitting in the 90-94 MPH range. It’s an explosive pitch that comes out of a tough angle with high spin rates. His primary secondary is a sweeping slider that has primarily sat in the high-70’s that he commands well. Much like the fastball, his breaking ball has strong spin rates, reaching as high as 2,500 RPM. He rounds out his arsenal with a change-up in the low-80’s that he has good feel for. Smith is committed to Clemson.
Robert Moore
Second Baseman, Arkansas
Son of Kansas City Royals GM Dayton Moore, Robert was a highly regarded 2020 prep prospect before enrolling early at Arkansas prior to the 2020 season. A switch-hitter at the plate, Moore has a short and compact swing and has hit for average in his career at Arkansas, with a batting average hovering around .300. For a smaller player, Moore’s power has been surprising in 2021, tapping into a good bit of juice in Fayetteville. He’s got more pop from the left side of the plate, but both swing mechanics are similar. Moore oozes athleticism and has shown great range and defense at second base. Some scouts believe he has a shot at playing shortstop, but if he's forced to stick at second base he projects at least a plus defender.
Brock Porter
Right-Handed Pitcher, Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS
Porter is a cold-weather arm that brings plenty of heat to the table. The fastball has been clocked as high as 99 MPH this in 2021, sitting 93-95 with plenty of riding life. His best secondary is a plus change-up with parachute-like action in the upper-70’s/low-80’s and has showcased optimal spin rates in the 1,300-1,500 RPM range. He’s got a slider in the low-80’s and a curveball in the mid-70’s to round out his arsenal. He’s shown improved command and control as he's continued to mature, as well. If Porter's command can keep up with his huge arsenal, he has a chance to headline an impressive prep crop of arms. Porter’s college commitment belongs to Clemson.
Henry Williams
Right-Handed Pitcher, Duke
Following in Bryce Jarvis' footsteps, Henry Williams could be the next Blue Devil to become a day one selection come 2022. It’s an athletic frame and delivery for Williams, who stands an imposing 6-foot-5, 200 pounds. The fastball usually sits 90-93 MPH with good late run and has high spin rates, reaching as high as 2,500 RPM. The slider has good two-plane tilt with tight spin in the 81-85 MPH range and he commands it well. The change-up is an interesting pitch, as it has exceptionally high spin rates (upwards of 2,300 RPM’s) in the 85-87 MPH range with some late sinking life to it. There’s plenty of projection to his frame and it’s likely there's more velocity to come.
Gavin Cross
Outfielder, Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech isn’t the kind of school you would expect to produce a potential first round talent, but it’s hard to ignore what Gavin Cross brings to the table. He’s been a menace at the top of the Hokies lineup throughout his career, ending 2020 with a .369 batting average and following that up with another big 2021 campaign. He uses all fields at the plate with big bat speed and has shown some good power to all fields as well. In the field, he’s manned right field for a majority of the season for the Hokies, where he’s shown off a plus arm. He could find himself as the first Virginia Tech player drafted in the first round since Joe Saunders went 12th overall in 2002.
Jace Jung
Infielder, Texas Tech
There may be no more impressive hitter in all of college baseball over the last two years than Jung. Younger brother of 2019 first rounder Josh Jung, Jace is an electric bat coming from an unorthodox setup, but the results have been nothing short of incredible. An immediate full-time starter for the Red Raiders in 2020, Jung has 61 games under his belt as of May 10, 2021, slashing .340/.469/.699 with 20 homers. Jung is running an outlandish 20.2% walk-rate and striking out just 17.5% of the time. Defensively, Jung is probably a second baseman at the next level, though some believe he could slide to third base due to his power profile and fringe-average arm. Jung projects a plus hitter with the potential for plus power from a defensive position that often lacks that sort of impact punch.
Jared McKenzie
Outfielder, Baylor
There are evaluators who believe Jared McKenzie is the best hitter in college baseball right now. He burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2020, slashing .406/.453/.449. Now 20 years old, McKenzie has tapped into some serious juice in his sophomore campaign, slashing .387/.448/.580 with 8 homers as of May 10. At just 6-foot, 180 pounds, McKenzie doesn’t have the most physical frame, but it’s an incredibly mature approach with double-plus discipline at the dish. He reminds some scouts of Andrew Benintendi from about a decade prior, an advanced hitter who gets more out of his frame than you would expect thanks to sound mechanics and an all-fields approach. McKenzie is an average runner with the chance to play left field at a high level for a very long time.
Daniel Susac
Catcher, Arizona
Susac has made an awfully strong to win Freshman of the Year in 2021 slugging for an impressive Wildcats lineup. Through 43 games as a 19-year-old, Susac is slashing .359/.411/.655 with 12 homers and 16 doubles. Couple that with an impressive walk rate and playing a premium, up-the-middle position and you’ve got a potential draft star in 2022. At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Susac is a bigger body behind the plate but he carries his weight well and shows solid athleticism behind the dish. He’s thrown out over half of the would-be base-stealers who have tried to run on him as well. Susac projects at least an above average hitter with above average power at the big league level. He reminds evaluators of Ben Davis, a former first round pick by the San Diego Padres.
Parker Messick
Left-Handed Pitcher, Florida State
The conversation with Parker Messick always starts with the delivery and exceptional deception produced by the 6-foot, 230 pound southpaw. He works in the low 90s but presents strong spin rates and pitch metrics. He comes at hitters from a low release and creates and exploding fastball at the top of the zone. He couples the heater with a plus changeup in the low 80s, that presents firm fade and tumble; absolutely brutal against righty bats. He works in a curveball and a slider, though both lag behind his fastball and changeup a good bit, representing tough show-me offerings. Messick gets really high marks for his mean competitive streak and “come at me” attitude. He may not have the exceptional ceiling or frame of more traditional arms, but it’s a really fun, safe floor that could move quickly through a minor league system.
Tucker Toman
Third Baseman, Hammond HS
Toman is an extremely hard worker who projects massive bat speed and the potential for plus power from both sides of the plate, especially from the left side. From said left side, it’s an extremely narrow stance with rhythm and waggle and an explosive stride and cut toward the pitcher. It’s primarily pull-side power right now with big gap power to left-center. From the right side, he’s a little more spread out and reaches a bit more for the ball, a la Todd Frazier. Regardless, Toman produces big bat speed from both sides and projects to really impact the ball once fully developed. Considering the big swing, Toman will need to focus on putting together good at-bats as he begins seeing more and more advanced pitching. He projects an average runner with good actions on the dirt and third base and a potential plus throwing arm.
Druw Jones
Outfielder, Wesleyan
Son of MLB-great Andrew Jones, the younger Jones has the same tantalizing upside of his father with a better frame to boot. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Jones already possesses a supremely athletic body with the tools to match. He’s become way stronger in 2021 and really begun impacting the baseball at a high level. He’s not longer the gap hitter he was in 2020 and now figures to hit for at least above average power as he continues to mature. Jones has a high waist and long levers that produce substantial bat speed and 70-grade run times. He already plays a plus centerfield and figures to stick up the middle so long as he doesn’t grow out of the position. Jones is one name we’re watching early on as a potential 5-tool talent and future top ten pick.
Brooks Lee
Shortstop, Cal Poly
What immediately sticks out for Lee is just how big, strong and physical he is for a 20-year-old manning the shortstop position. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Lee is already physically matured and brings a ton of strength to the position. He’s a barrel-chested slugger, but bring fluid actions and soft hands to the dirt. Lee was a projected top 50 pick in the 2019 draft, but decided to attend Cal Poly to play for his dad, the team’s head coach. Lee’s swing can be divisive in scouting circles, but regardless, he’s a high-level performer hitting .320 with 7 homers through May 10. He doesn’t strike out much, but Lee is an aggressive hitter who doesn’t walk much either. He’ll need to watch his physique and mobility as he continues to add strength, but this is a potential elite offensive prospect.
Cole Young
Shortstop, North Allegheny
Cole Young has the makings of one of the smoothest shortstops in the 2022 class, sprinkled with components needed for the modern game. He’s fluid on the dirt with buttery hands and impressive actions to his left and right. Young has some bounce on the dirt with twitchy movements around the bag, projecting a plus defender. At the plate, Young has some organic loft in his swing but doesn’t sacrifice bat-to-ball ability with an all-fields approach. It’s a quiet, direct to the ball swing with zero wasted movements. His game is loose and fluid across all phases of the game. Already a plus throwing arm, Young has one of the more appealing infield profiles we’ve seen in the 2022 class.
Logan Tanner
Catcher, Mississippi State
Tanner was a big-time draft prospect in the 2019 cycle but decided to forego the big leagues for a chance to play in Starkville. He’s a big, strong, durable-bodied backstop with huge strength at the plate. He’s probably a fringe-average hitter, but it’s plus raw power with a sound, mature approach at the plate. Tanner comfortably has a plus arm and is one of the more advanced defensive catchers in college baseball with mobility and exceptional blocking and receiving skills. Despite his broad body (6-foot, 220 pounds), Tanner moves exceptionally well behind the plate and projects to stick behind the plate where he should provide plus value.
Brandon Barreira
Left-Handed Pitcher, American Heritage
It’s not often you find lefties like Barreira with the elite-level arm quickness this kid has. He’s been up to 97 this spring and really knows how to fill up a strike zone. Changeup has generally been his best secondary though the curveball has really begun to take giant strides in development. Just 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, Barreira doesn’t have prototypical starting pitcher size, but he possesses long levers, repeats well and doesn’t walk batters. In some ways, he’s a gassed up version of 2021’s Gage Jump. If a team believes Barreira can start long-term (which we unequivocally believe he can), the arm talent alone fits in the first round.