We’re days away from the 2023 MLB Draft in what’s become an incredibly deep draft class. There is plenty of talent to go around, including a consensus 60-grade overall player in Dylan Crews out of Louisiana State. This seems to be the first draft in a long time since there has been this strong of talent at the top of the board. I had the opportunity to catch a bunch of the top college draft picks in the Maryland and Virginia area with Prospects Live. Here are my five favorite players I saw during my live looks with Prospects Live.
Kyle Teel, C, University of Virginia (#11, 2023 MLB Draft Top 400)
I easily came away most impressed with Kyle Teel. I had the opportunity to see Teel against the University of Rhode Island early in the season. Rhode Island’s pitching staff didn’t give him much of a test, but he was still quite impressive. He by far has the best approach I have ever seen at the plate. His ability to fight off pitches and stay in the at bat is something I have really only seen from major leaguers. As soon as he finds his pitch, he’s able to drive it with solid contact through the zone.
He was also impressive behind the dish. His arm is an absolute cannon. In this series, he had quite a few snap throws back to first and almost got guys a few times. He is super athletic behind the plate and does a great job blocking. Teel could improve his receiving skills a bit, but that aren’t bad enough to cause much concern. Teel is just a guy you can see making a quick ascend to the big leagues and being there for quite a while. He has a very safe floor with a lot of ceiling to keep growing.
Matt Shaw, SS, University of Maryland (#23, 2023 MLB Draft Top 400)
The Maryland shortstop is just a firecracker. He struggled in the series I saw against Rutgers, but man he really has brought the juice since that series. Shaw was just swinging early and often against Rutgers pitching and looked a bit lost. He’s clearly turned that around. He is a sum-of-all parts type of player at the plate as he has an incredible feel for the strike zone which leads him to walking a ton and striking out a lot less. When he makes contact, it’s hard. The ball jumps off his bat for his small, compact stature.
On the base paths, Shaw is easily a plus runner. He can beat out a slow ground ball at times and has great instincts once he is on. He’s a guy you can likely expect double-digit stolen bases from. Defensively, it is hard to see Shaw sticking at shortstop. His arm is probably his biggest weakness as he tends to struggle to get enough force behind his throws. He’s able to get to balls laterally, but lacks a ton of range. He is likely better suited for second base and could make a legitimate home there. Shaw has all the tools to get a day one call. The bat and speed will have many teams excited to land him.
Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers University (#72, 2023 MLB Draft Top 400)
Boy, was Ryan Lasko fun to watch this year in the series versus Maryland. He faced two other MLB draft prospects in this series, Jason Savacool and Nigel Belgrave, and seemed unfazed by either. It seemed like every time Lasko was at the plate, he was contributing offensively. The pop is LOUD. The power is raw, but when he taps into it, the ball flies into outer space. The entire series he showed an uncanny ability to get barrel to ball. His hit tool has been of some concern, but he had no trouble picking up spin in that series. Brian Recca noticed some inability to catch up velocity up in the zone which could be one of his main concerns. Lasko carries a ton of confidence and swagger at the plate as well.
On the other side of the ball Lasko is very entertaining to watch as well. He’s an above-average fielder and runner which gives you lots of signs he can stick in centerfield. His arm is easily a plus tool. The ball has a ton of carry on it and is right on the line. Lasko carries a ton of confidence and swagger. He’s an absolute grinder on the field and a guy who will give you 110% each day. A team will really enjoy bringing him into the system.
Ethan O’Donnell, OF, University of Virginia (#97, 2023 MLB Draft Top 400)
O’Donnell is kind of an under-the-radar guy I came away really impressed with. At the plate, the lefty has quick hands through the zone and does a good job on getting the barrel to the ball. He is constantly making hard contact. The swing seems made for average more than pop, but he does a very good job at driving the ball in the gap. He has a simple and smooth swing. There aren’t a lot of moving parts which you like to see. It’s compact paired with a really well-balanced stance.
On the bases, O’Donnell is a plus runner. He has good instincts and is a threat to steal a bag. He’s also not afraid to stretch a single into a double. In the outfield, he really relies on his athleticism and speed to track down balls. He didn’t get too many defensive plays while I was there but just based on what I did see he looks like he could stick in centerfield long term.
Jake Gelof, 3B, University of Virginia (#56, 2023 MLB Draft Top 400)
Plus power is Gelof’s calling card. The ball is just loud off of his bat. It isn’t just pull power either. Gelof is able to use the whole field. He has a tendency to be aggressive early with his approach which can lead to a bit more swing and miss. As he starts to face better pitching at the pro level, he will need to improve on his swing decisions. He’s already made some adjustments to his approach to increase his walks and patience, but it will be something he needs to keep working on.
On the field, he has an above-average arm that may allow him to stick at third base. The ball has great carry across the diamond and he is fairly accurate. He is an average defender and looked to lack some athleticism, especially when he charged for a ball on the ground. He was a bit clunky so he could potentially move to first base, but with how his bat plays, that shouldn’t be too much of a concern. Either way, he will be a corner bat.