A new year, a new board and new ranks. With the summer showcase circuit behind us and college fall ball in full swing, we’re ready to re-rank the 2023 draft class. Our team has taken in 9 showcase tournaments and been closely monitoring fall scrimmages. Some guys are breaking out. As always, our boards are built on three pillars:
Our team’s Live Looks.
Trackman, Rapsodo and data analytics.
Conversations within the industry. What are scouting executives, cross-checkers and area scouts seeing at the ballfields?
This Top 200 really establishes a few things:
This year is shaping up to be a pretty healthy year for the draft. It would appear better than the last two classes.
There’s some extremely impressive talents in the college ranks.
Updated: 10/20/2022
1. Chase Dollander
Right-Handed Pitcher, Tennessee
The real deal. A buttery delivery with a low-launch, three-quarter arm slot and electric arm speed. Some evaluators compare the way he moves to Jacob deGrom. The fastball eats. It’s got ride, run and immense deception. He can run it up to 99 and he'll hold mid-90's throughout his outings. Dollander mixes in a bevy of pitches, but it's his tight, sweeping slider that gets whiffs. Some scouts project it double-plus and the best breaking ball in the class. Dollander offers a big, high-70's curveball with huge sweep, though he's hardly had to use it. He'll also flash a changeup. Dollander has premium command, pitch-ability, athleticism and polish. Pretty much the complete package. The argument can be made he's the best college pitching prospect in over a decade.
2. Dylan Crews
Outfield, LSU
Crews burst onto the scene as a true freshman, crushing baseballs, earning All-American honors almost unanimously. He carried that over into an equally impressive sophomore campaign in 2022. Crews produces elite exit velocities and balances the raw power with a strong approach and feel for the strike zone. He doesn't strike out and draws a ton of walks as well, though the swing-and-miss can get streaky against better stuff. In the field, Crews is likely destined for right field where his plus throwing arm and above average speed will be valuable assets. Crews is as close to a 5-tool talent as you’ll find in this class and could move quickly through the minor leagues given his position and skillset with the bat. He’s got a way about impacting the game in every aspect of the game.
3. Jacob Gonzalez
Shortstop, Ole Miss
Gonzalez almost never strikes out, and he makes a ton of contact as well. This kid has fantastic eyes at the plate and can anchor any lineup he’s thrust into. His batted-ball values have been loaded too. Really loud. He's got juice to the pull-side and only projects to develop more as he ages and works to understand what he's capable of. Some scouts question the swing mechanics at the next level as Gonzalez has a tendency to throw open his hips at times, but his production has never wavered against premium college stuff. Defensively, it's a solid average glove with an above average arm, though his size may ultimately shift him to third base. Gonzalez isn't a burner and probably won't be a base-stealer as a pro, but he’s a very good athlete.
4. Max Clark
Outfield, Franklin Community
Max Clark is a premium high school hitter. One area scout called him "The next Jarred Kelenic, with more physical upside." Clark has a fantastic feel for the strike zone and has a swing catered toward using the entire field. He's a pro hitter. Clark doesn't try to hit homers. He's a line drive machine. That said, he's really begun developing into plenty of game power and should run into 20+ homers at his peak. Clark figures to stick in centerfield where his double-plus run times and fantastic routes should age beautifully. The floor here is pretty substantial as far as prep bats go. If there's one critique, scouts do question where the body can go from here. He's already incredibly strong and the physical projection portion of his profile may be lacking.
5. Wyatt Langford
Outfield, Florida
Langford has been an offensive force for the Gators providing plenty of punch and impact at the plate in Gainesville. This is a premium power bat with easy plus raw power to all fields. He's also a solid-average runner, but the legs play up thanks to strong instincts and burst in the field. He's probably destined for left field at the next level being pushed over by a superior defender up the middle. His speed will be an asset at any outfield spot, but he does have a fringy arm that may preclude him from right field. Still, this bat will be drafted for the juice. It's one of the more impactful bats available in 2023.
6. Walker Jenkins
Outfield, South Brunswick
Jenkins is long, lean, athletic, and projectable at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, showcasing some of the best bat speed and power in the class. He’s comfortably a plus runner with a huge arm that will play at any outfield spot. He's performed at every stop along the amateur circuit and earned a spot on Team USA 18u as an underclassman. This is one of the premier bats in the 2023 class, even if he does physically mature into a corner role when it's all said and done. We’re talking about an thunderous bat that should hit for average and power. There are skeptics who worry about a myriad of injuries that have plagued Jenkins during his prep career. Jenkins has missed time with hip issues, hamstring issues and a broken hamate bone, something teams will need to consider.
7. Jacob Wilson
Shortstop, Grand Canyon
Jacob Wilson has been one of the most accomplished, mature hitters in the country during his stay at GCU. He's got a prolific eye at the plate with an extremely advanced approach and a grand willingness to use the whole field. Wilson never strikes out. Like, ever. In 2022, he took 25 free passes, punching out just seven times. Wilson showcases 40-grade power but many believe he'll grow into fringe-average pop in the pros. He's an average defender at shortstop and could comfortably move to third base or second base. Elite instincts on the field and makeup off the field, Wilson checks a ton of boxes and is a very popular figure among his peers and evaluators.
8. Hurston Waldrep
Right-Handed Pitcher, Florida
Waldrep transferred out of Southern Miss to Florida for his junior year after some impressive undergrad campaigns. The fastball gets up to 99 with immense hop at the top of the zone and true bat-missing qualities. The slider is thrown firm and short with late two-plane tilt that Waldrep gets hitters to chase regularly. The curveball may have the most potential of all his secondaries, but landing it for strikes consistently has come and gone. He's also flashed an above average splitter, though it's inconsistent both in shape and execution. Waldrep has a super-athletic frame with well-proportioned strength and a wicked quick arm. He's a true power pitcher with a bulldog mentality on the bump.
9. Brayden Taylor
Shortstop, TCU
TCU's Brayden Taylor handled himself very well against the older and stiffer competition on the Cape this past summer for Falmouth after big years at TCU. Taylor has a short, simple swing from the left side with good upper body rotation and whippy bat speed. Taylor’s profile is actually carried by the bat, showcasing loud line drive and fly ball exit velocities to his pull-side. Taylor shows a keen eye at the plate, refusing to expand his zone in favorable counts and commonly walking more than he punches out. He played a bit of second base, but with good range to his right and a strong arm, he projects a more natural fit at third base if he’s forced off the shortstop position. He is an average runner.
10. Rhett Lowder
Right-Handed Pitcher, Wake Forest
The reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year, Lowder has some of the best pitchability in the entire class. He's been into the mid-90's with the fastball, sitting in the low-90's later into starts with running life, mixing it with a good slider in the low-80's and a diabolical change-up with late parachute and fading life out of the zone in the mid-80's. It’s one of the best changeups in the class and comfortably projects plus. He can pitch backwards off the slider and change-up with ease and has good command and feel of his entire arsenal.
11. Enrique Bradfield
Centerfield, Vanderbilt
If Enrique Bradfield isn't the fastest player in the country, he's in the conversation. Bradfield will never been a thumper, but he's got elite vision at the plate, hardly ever expands the zone and walks just about as much as he strikes out. His frame still has room to add some muscle, so it wouldn't surprise scouts if he ended up with enough juice to run into double-digit homers at his pro peak. The story here, however, is a guy who really knows how to get on base and is a nightmare for the opposition when he runs. In the field, he's comfortably a plus defender in center. He's doesn't fit the top-of-the-draft prototype of recent drafts, but we're betting on his dynamic glove and speed. He's a Kenny Lofton type of spark-plug that provides far more value than his slugging percentage will ever indicate.
12. Travis Honeyman
Outfield, Boston College
Honeyman has essentially been a steady performer throughout his college career, both on campus and in wood-bat summer leagues. A primary left fielder, Honeyman is an above average runner with high-level instincts. He's got a fringy arm, and will almost certainly stay in left field moving forward. Honeyman really began to turn heads as one of the better hitters on the Caps this past summer. It's solid-average power at the plate, mostly to his pull-side. Honeyman is a solid player in almost every aspect of the game and is a bit of a sum-of-his-parts type of player.
13. Paul Skenes
Right-Handed Pitcher, LSU
Paul Skenes was a phenomenon for Air Force as a freshman and sophomore before transferring. While he has some two-way potential, Skenes is a more upside on the mound working from a three-quarter arm slot with smooth mechanics, a short-arm action, hiding the ball on his back hip and creating a lot of deception. Skenes’ velocity sits in the low 90s as a starter, up to 95, but can get up to 98 in relief. He generates plenty of carry on the heater, with spin rates in the 2400 RPM range. Primary secondary offerings include a fall-off-the-table split-change and a short breaking slider, both in the low-to-mid 80s. At the plate, Skenes has some contact issues but really excels at finding the barrel and has legitimate slugging potential. Evaluators certainly prefer the arm, but the two-way upside is en vogue.
14. Aidan Miller
Third Base, JW Mitchell
Miller is one of the most physical preps in the 2023 class. He's big and athletic with explosive power that stems from a combination of raw strength and excellent bat speed. Miller is a consistent high-performer on the amateur circuit and his mammoth power finds it way into games already. He can run a fastball into the low-90s on the mound, but his future is likely swinging a bat. The body is already very thick and muscular, so he'll need to maintain his athleticism as he gets older. For now, it's comfortably a third base profile, with a corner outfield or first base role possible as he ages.
15. Arjun Nimmala
Shortstop, Strawberry Crest
Long, lean and explosive describe Nimmala well. He started tapping into big power on the showcase circuit but still remains super projectable and likely to add plenty more strength. Right now, it's more power-over-hit, but scouts think the hit tool could be average too. There's potential here to be an athletic impact bat on the left side of the infield, likely at third base at the next level. Nimmala will be just 17 years old at the time of the draft and offers some of the most intriguing athlete upside at the top of the class.
16. Kevin McGonigle
Shortstop, Monsignor Bonner
McGonigle is a smaller, twitchy infielder with lightning for hands and impressive core strength at the plate. He's hit absolutely everywhere he's gone, showcasing the bat to scouting executives on a number of occasions throughout the u17 circuit. It's a compact, strong, sometimes rotational cut that creates big pound-for-pound pull-side power, though McGonigle is in no rush to sellout for the juice. He'll ambush pitches over the right field fence, but it's not necessarily his game. This is a hitter with an advanced approach at the plate before anybody will label him a slugger. McGonigle has a loose, flashy glove with a bouncy actions on the dirt. He possesses an average arm and his feet can get short and choppy on balls his to his left and right. Some believe the profile is best suited as an impact second baseman, though proponents point to his athleticism, lateral burst and sparky actions as reasons to let him develop as a SS.
17. Cade Kuehler
Right-Handed Pitcher, Campbell
Kuehler developed extremely quickly upon arriving to Campbell. He's got a super-quick arm and natural deception that's been hell on the opposition. The fastball is already up into the upper-90s with top of the scale ride. He's really dialed in a slider/cutter that flash plus when he's got feel for it. Kuehler will need to continue throwing more strikes and ironing down the effort in his delivery as he develops and gets more college innings under his belt, but there's definitive day one upside here if the track record and production continue to impress.
18. Noble Meyer
Right-Handed Pitcher, Jesuit
Jesuit HS in Portland, Oregon has become a total pitching factory. From Mick Abel to Nelson Keljo, Jesuit has a knack for developing arms. Meyer burst onto the scene during the 2022 showcase circuit with a fastball up to 98 featuring arm-side run and some ride. It's a deceptive slot that's tough to pick up too. His slider works into the mid-80s with sweeping action and short vertical tilt. Meyer offers a mid-80s changeup that lags behind his other two weapons, but shows enough promise for scouts to slap a future 50 grade on the off-speed offering. Meyer is also an impressive athlete coming from a 6-foot-5, long, lanky frame. He checks a lot of boxes.
19. Jack Hurley
Outfield, Virginia Tech
Hurley is a bit of a five-tool player who can impact the game in every aspect. He's got the hit tool and the raw power, and he's got the speed to steal double-digit bases as a pro. If there's one critique here, it may be that the throwing arm is below average, maybe a touch better than that. Hurley comes packed in an athletic frame with well-proportioned strength and organic loft built into his swing. He doesn't have to sellout for power or force things to his pull-side. He does a good job staying up the middle of the field and letting his bat speed handle the rest. Hurley has gone through occasional periods of swing-and-miss, coming almost exclusively by way of the changeup, but that's a development piece that should come as he ages. This is a big league regular bat.
20. Tommy Troy
Shortstop, Stanford
A very well regarded prep bat, Troy built off a strong freshman campaign at Stanford with an arguably stronger summer at Wareham. With notable power for his size, Troy has shown himself capable of going out to all fields, and finds a ton of barrels. Strong eyes and quick twitch gives him the ability to make good swing decisions consistently, and it is rare to see him post poor at-bats. Troy typically takes the field at second base, and has a strong arm for the position with soft hands, smooth actions and good transitions around the bag. He'll likely be tested at shortstop for the Cardinal moving forward, but this is a definitive middle infield profile.
21. Eric Bitonti
Shortstop/Third Base, Aquinas
Bitonti offers one of the most visually appealing swings in the entire prep class. High-level hit/power combo that’s well balanced throughout as a left handed hitter and a bat path that’s conducive to all-fields power. Ultra projectable, long frame that Bitonti incorporates extremely well into both his swing and throws across the diamond showing staying power on the left side of the infield. The Oregon commit shows an immense package of tools that could end up proving to have day 1 type potential. The cherry on top? Bitonti won't turn 18 years old until December following the draft. He's incredibly young.
22. Thomas White
Left-Handed Pitcher, Phillips Academy
There are those that believe White is the best prep southpaw prospect available in any draft since Steve Avery was selected no. 3 overall in 1988. Better than Brien Taylor. Better than McKenzie Gore. Better than the whole lot of them. White has been a totem on the prep scouting scene since he was 13 years old. It's a whippy arm with huge projection, but already shoving gas. White has been up to 96 and many believe he'll approach triple digits when it's all said and done. He's shown feel for spinning the baseball, primarily a low-to-mid 70s curveball with tight tilt that projects. White can also pronate and turn over a changeup. At this stage, both of his secondaries are a work-in-progress, but show big promise. Given his size, his move down the mound and subsequent extension, the baseball explodes on hitters with life at the top of the zone. Skeptics do question the fastball command, however. That’ll be a big part of his development.
23. Blake Mitchell
Catcher, Sinton
Mitchell is a do-it-all player and the epitome of a high school star. On the mound, he's been up into the low 90s with a promising slider. When he's not pitching or behind the plate, he's shown quick, athletic actions at shortstop. Some think he's got a home on the mound. Some believe he's a future power-hitting infielder. But his actions behind the plate have many believing he's a prototype backstop of the future. Mitchell, a left-handed hitting thumper, has significant raw power and feel for driving the baseball without selling out for the juice. He can get pull-happy, but has shown a willingness to use the left-center field gap when it's prioritized. Behind the plate, Mitchell has an above average arm with upper-tier athleticism for the position. His receiving skills are impressive considering his age and how he's been deployed as a Swiss Army Knife in the past. It's an above average arm that many believe could eventually sit plus as he settles into the position. Prep catchers can be a tough demographic, but Mitchell has all the building blocks of a really significant prospect.
24. Will Sanders
Right-Handed Pitcher, South Carolina
Sanders has the massive size and stuff to headline a rotation at any level. He's got the mid-90s velocity and consistency with the fastball that scouts like to see, though to this point, he's had a hard-time missing bats with the pitch. Sanders' go-to out pitch has been a solid slider with good shape and great consistency. He's also got some of the best feel for a changeup at the top of this class. Developing a more-effective fastball is the most important move for Sanders in his immediate future.
25. Yohandy Morales
Third Base, Miami
Morales was a popular draft name in 2020 with multiple teams having thrown money his way during the draft. He turned them down and elected to head to Miami to further his development. Morales had a very noisy swing in high school but it's quieted down considerably. He's much more direct to the ball these days without the anxious hands and feet in his load. An aggressive hitter, Morales isn't looking to walk, but he does limit his strikeouts to a reasonably healthy degree. He generates big exit velos and finds a lot of barrels, though his misses are too often dribblers on the infield. There is swing-and-miss present here too. That, however, should improve with time and reps. At his best, "YoYo" does a ton of damage to the baseball and projects as a third baseman with an average hit tool, above average power, a solid average runner and a reliable glove.