The Top 20 New York Mets prospects headlined by Brandon Sproat
The Top 20 Atlanta Braves prospects headlined by Drake Baldwin
The Top 20 Toronto Blue Jays prospects headlined by Trey Yesavage
The Top 20 Baltimore Orioles prospects headlined by Samuel Basallo
In recent years, we have had more evaluators contribute to the Top 100 list. However, this year we have decided to combine Matt Thompson and Rhys White's lists to create the midseason Top 100 list. This update reflects how we view the prospects as things stand, with their fit within their organizations to be reflected at a later time.
We have included the 2024 draftees in this updated version, with the assumption that everyone here will sign and play some form of affiliated baseball this season for the team that drafted them. This year’s draft was not known for its strength or depth, leading to a record low number of recent draftees making the midseason list. It is not easy to properly assess how recent college players will slot into their respective organizations, but we believe we did a good job of comparing them to their new peers. Evaluating high school/prep talent through the same prism is harder, but we are confident in the way we stacked them up against other fellow minor leaguers.
There was no debate for the top prospect this year; it was clearly James Wood, who provides eye-popping power and more than enough plate skills to make us confident in him atop our list. He has overtaken Jackson Holliday for us. While we believe Holliday will be a really good major leaguer and have him right behind Wood, we are more confident in Wood being the better player short and long-term. Rhys and Matt had a pretty similar top 10, with Dylan Crews and Junior Caminero being flipped on their lists. The same goes for Samuel Basallo and Jackson Jobe, who were also flip-flopped on their respective lists.
The biggest riser this year is recent major leaguer Jacob Wilson. He has hit the ground running this season, and a year after being drafted, he is now a big leaguer. He has shown that minor league pitching is no match for him. He doesn’t hit the ball hard, but he has enough power that opposing pitchers have to respect him. He is one of the highest-floor prospects to come out in a while and was fast-tracked through the Athletics’ system.
On the flip side, one of the biggest fallers is Colson Montgomery. He is still a top 60 prospect for us, but he was viewed as someone who was going to break into the top 10. Things for him as a hitter have gone backward. He isn’t hitting like he has before this season, and his power has taken a step back as well. The encouraging development in Montgomery’s game is that he has taken a big step forward as a shortstop defender. However, the building blocks of his skill set have regressed this season, pushing him down our list.
It is important to note that the minor leagues as a whole are weaker. This is a result of several factors. Teams are more aggressive than ever in promoting prospects to the majors. Plus, we have a cutdown of the minor league spots in general, lessening the pool. This is one of the weaker crops of top 100 prospects in recent memory.
All this to say, here is the Prospects Live Midseason Top 100 Prospects list.
1. James Wood, OF Washington Nationals
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 10
2. Jackson Holliday, SS/2B Baltimore Orioles
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 1
3. Junior Caminero, 3B Tampa Bay Rays
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 4
4. Dylan Crews, OF Washington Nationals
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 6
5. Samuel Basallo, C Baltimore Orioles
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 7
6. Jackson Jobe, RHP Detroit Tigers
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 13
7. Coby Mayo, 3B Baltimore Orioles
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 25
8. Carson Williams, SS Tampa Bay Rays
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 35
9. Jasson Dominguez, OF New York Yankees
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 27
10. Walker Jenkins, OF Minnesota Twins
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 8
11. Brooks Lee, 3B Minnesota Twins
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 23
12. Noah Schultz, LHP Chicago White Sox
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 62
13. Andrew Painter, RHP Philadelphia Phillies
Highest Level: INJ | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 11
14. Marcelo Mayer, SS Boston Red Sox
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 36
15. Colt Emerson, SS Seattle Mariners
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 41
16. Travis Bazzana, 2B Cleveland Guardians
Highest Level: NCAA | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: N/A
17. Jacob Wilson, SS Oakland Athletics
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
18. Lazaro Montes, OF Seattle Mariners
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 53
19. Xavier Isaac, 1B Tampa Bay Rays
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 74
20. Jordan Lawlar, SS Arizona Diamondbacks
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 15
21. Kyle Teel, C Boston Red Sox
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 45
22. Roman Anthony, OF Boston Red Sox
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 33
23. Charlie Condon, OF Colorado Rockies
Highest Level: NCAA | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: N/A
24. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF Minnesota Twins
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 24
25. JJ Wetherholt, SS St. Louis Cardinals
Highest Level: NCAA | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: N/A
26. Tink Hence, RHP St. Louis Cardinals
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 81
27. Heston Kjerstad, OF Baltimore Orioles
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 61
28. Chase Dollander, RHP Colorado Rockies
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 60
29. Adael Amador, 2B Colorado Rockies
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 21
30. Kevin McGonigle, SS/2B Detroit Tigers
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
31. Cole Young, SS/2B Seattle Mariners
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 38
32. Chase Burns, RHP Cincinnati Reds
Highest Level: NCAA | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: N/A
33. Aidan Miller, SS Philadelphia Phillies
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
34. Cade Horton, RHP Chicago Cubs
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 17
35. Hagen Smith, LHP Chicago White Sox
Highest Level: NCAA | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: N/A
36. Owen Caissie, OF Chicago Cubs
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 68
37. Max Clark, OF Detroit Tigers
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 30
38. Dalton Rushing, C Los Angeles Dodgers
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 63
39. Ethan Salas, C San Diego Padres
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 12
40. Bubba Chandler, RHP Pittsburgh Pirates
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 76
41. Matt Shaw, 3B/2B Chicago Cubs
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 29
42. Quinn Mathews, LHP St. Louis Cardinals
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
43. Spencer Jones, OF New York Yankees
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 32
44. Ralphy Velazquez, 1B Cleveland Guardians
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
45. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B Texas Rangers
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 99
46. Bryce Eldridge, 1B San Francisco Giants
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 64
47. Moises Ballesteros, C/1B Chicago Cubs
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
48. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP Milwaukee Brewers
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 40
49. Luke Keaschall, 2B Minnesota Twins
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
50. Brandon Sproat, RHP New York Mets
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
51. Colson Montgomery, SS Chicago White Sox
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 18
52. Thomas White, LHP Miami Marlins
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
53. Rhett Lowder, RHP Cincinnati Reds
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 52
54. Jett Williams, SS New York Mets
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 34
55. Chase DeLauter, OF Cleveland Guardians
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 31
56. Starlyn Caba, SS Philadelphia Phillies
Highest Level: CPX | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
57. Kyle Manzardo, 1B Cleveland Guardians
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 69
58. Angel Genao, SS Cleveland Guardians
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
59. Justin Crawford, OF Philadelphia Phillies
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
60. David Festa, RHP Minnesota Twins
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
61. Zebby Matthews, RHP Minnesota Twins
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
62. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP Kansas City Royals
Highest Level: NCAA | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
63. Leodalis De Vries, SS San Diego Padres
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 71
64. Josue De Paula, OF Los Angeles Dodgers
Highest Level: High-A| 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 50
65. Braden Montgomery, OF Boston Red Sox
Highest Level: NCAA | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: N/A
66. Jonny Farmelo, OF Seattle Mariners
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
67. Drew Gilbert, OF New York Mets
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 48
68. Caden Dana, RHP Los Angeles Angels
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
69. Brayden Taylor, SS/3B Tampa Bay Rays
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
70. Max Meyer, RHP Miami Marlins
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
71. Jefferson Rojas, SS Chicago Cubs
Highest Level: high-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
72. Jace Jung, 3B/2B Detroit Tigers
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 91
73. Jeferson Quero, C Milwaukee Brewers
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 44
74. Felnin Celesten, SS Seattle Mariners
Highest Level: CPX | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
75. Jaison Chourio, OF Cleveland Guardians
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
76. Tyler Black, 1B Milwaukee Brewers
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 70
77. Victor Scott II, OF St. Louis Cardinals
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 47
78. Luis Morales, RHP Oakland Athletics
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
79. Agustin Ramirez, C New York Yankees
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
80. Emiliano Teodo, RHP Texas Rangers
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
81. Santiago Suarez, RHP Tampa Bay Rays
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
82. Bryce Rainer, SS Detroit Tigers
Highest Level: HS | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: N/A
83. Konnor Griffin, OF Pittsburgh Pirates
Highest Level: HS | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: N/A
84. Chandler Simpson, OF Tampa Bay Rays
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
85. Brock Wilken, 3B Milwaukee Brewers
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 72
86. Justin Wrobleski, LHP Los Angeles Dodgers
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
87. Cade Povich, LHP Baltimore Orioles
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
88. Edgar Quero, C Chicago White Sox
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 100
89. Kristian Campbell, 3B Boston Red Sox
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
90. Cooper Pratt, SS Milwaukee Brewers
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
91. Brady House, 3B Washington Nationals
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 66
92. C.J. Kayfus, 1B Cleveland Guardians
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
93. George Klassen, RHP Philadelphia Phillies
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
94. Termarr Johnson, 2B Pittsburgh Pirates
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 42
95. Henry Bolte, OF Oakland Athletics
Highest Level: Double-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
96. Alfredo Duno, C Cincinnati Reds
Highest Level: Single-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
97. Thayron Liranzo, C Los Angeles Dodgers
Highest Level: High-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 97
98. Drew Thorpe, RHP Chicago White Sox
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: 43
99. Nacho Alvarez Jr., SS/3B Atlanta Braves
Highest Level: Triple-A | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
100. Hayden Birdsong, RHP San Francisco Giants
Highest Level: MLB | 2024 Preseason Top 100 Rank: UNRANKED
The first day of the MLB Draft has come and gone and man, what a night it was.
We saw plenty of history, including the first-ever teammates to go 1-2 in the draft, as well as the fewest amount of prep arms in the first round in quite some time. It was a relatively tame night, as well, as little chaos occurred, which is a change from what previous years have given us. But which classes and picks stand out the most from Day 1? That’s what I’m here to break down.
We’ll dive into six hauls and six individual picks that stood out and garnered my attention throughout the night, as well as give a bit of insight into what we could say on Day 2.
Picks: 1B/RHP Bryce Eldridge (16), SS Walker Martin (52), LHP Joe Whitman (69)
The Giants currently have the cream of the crop in terms of a haul this draft. Eldridge being selected as a two-way isn’t a shock, as that is likely the reason as to why he’s a first rounder to begin with. Unlike Crawford, I think Eldridge has a better chance to be a starter with the nature of his stuff, plus the bat is pretty underrated with plenty of power. He’ll be one interesting follow.
The Martin pick came as a bit of a shock admittedly, especially given the fact that he played with a back injury throughout the spring. However, I like the aggressiveness from the front office here. Martin’s bat is legit, as he’s got one of the better hit tools in the prep ranks, plus the power got better this spring. You can question where he fits defensively, he’s got the athleticism to start in the dirt with a move to a corner spot not out of the question. But the bat is the calling card here.
Lastly, Whitman is a phenomenal pick at 69. We thought he could find his way into the backend of the first and given the success the Giants pitching development team has seen the past few years, there’s plenty to like with Whitman’s profile. The fastball has potential, the slider is already a plus pitch, and the change-up is effective. The pick seems eerily similar to Carson Whisenhunt from a year ago.
Overall, it’s a pretty high risk, high reward class. I’m interested to see what the Giants do on Day 2, especially with under $10 million at their disposal in pool money. Maybe it’s a bit more of the college underslot demographic they go after, but I’d imagine Whitman may command a bit less and provide some savings.
Picks: C Kyle Teel (14), SS Nazzan Zanetello (50)
If I were Boston, I’d of been incredibly giddy to have Kyle Teel fall into my lap like that. Teel was a consensus top-ten guy, even being the third-best collegiate bat on our board. It’s as legit of a bat as you can find in the country, winning the ACC Player of the Year and having a potentially plus hit tool with pretty robust power. He’s likely someone that will end up peppering the Green Monster in due time. While he isn’t your stereotypical catcher, he’s very athletic back there and deserves every chance to stick there. This could be an early candidate for the steal of the first round.
With Zanetello, you’re getting a freak athlete. He’s got legitimate five-tool potential in his profile. He’s hit everywhere he has gone and the mix of very quick hands/bat speed will give him a rather robust power profile once he’s physically mature. Let’s not forget the speed he has, which grades out as plus to potentially double-plus, and a very strong arm that has hit 98 MPH, and you’ve got a very solid prep player. He was drafted as a shortstop and he should be given every chance there, though I do believe he’s either a third baseman or a right fielder.
It might only be two picks, but I don’t think Boston could have done much better here.
Picks: RHP Noble Meyer (10), LHP Thomas White (35), OF Kemp Alderman (47)
Man, what the Marlins did with their first two picks was perfect.
We’ll start with Meyer, who was the lone prep arm to be selected in the first round. We’ll jump into this later on, but I absolutely love the fit here. He’s already got a robust pitch mix, but with the way the Marlins develop change-ups, it’s just such a fun idea to think about the potential here. With White, they double down on the prep demographic and they have the pool money to get him signed. White has long been a famous name and has excellent stuff, getting into the mid-90s with a lively heater and a robust secondary arsenal, though getting that delivery in sync and scattered command gave him some fits. The Marlins know their strengths here and I’m excited about it. There’s a ton of upside here.
Alderman is also a fun profile to dive into. He has some of the best power in the entire class, consistently having exit velocities get above the 110 MPH threshold. If Miami can get him to tone down the aggressive approach and improve the contact rates, there’s a ton to like with the bat. Defensively, he’s destined for a right field spot thanks to an absolute bazooka of a right arm.
Time will ultimately tell on how these guys develop, especially Meyer and White, but if I’m a Marlins fan, I couldn’t be any more excited about their picks.
Picks: INF Tommy Troy (12), INF LuJames “Gino” Groover III (48), LHP Caden Grice (64)
The Diamondbacks’ Day 1 class is insanely fun and screams upside, especially on the offensive front.
The selection of Troy was celebrated amongst the draft team here at the site. We think he’s one of the best bats in the class with a sound approach, robust power, as well as being able to handle velocity. He had zero whiffs against pitches above 95+ MPH in 2023, which while it is a smaller sample size, it’s quite impressive. Defensively, he might end up at second base, but I like the idea of starting him out on the left side of the infield. It’s a very fun profile.
Groover does provide a bit more questions regarding the defense, but there’s no questioning the offensive ability. Groover’s MO is hitting, utilizing the whole field with a short, compact swing and having excellent plate discipline. He managed to get more into his power in 2023 as well, which was very encouraging to see. He’s likely destined for either second base, first base, or even left field, but I’d imagine Arizona will let him man the hot corner for a bit.
Lastly, Grice being a P.O. is a fun pick. Arizona is quite progressive with their arms and while Grice does have 70-grade power, the hit tool was likely never going to materialize. He was very good down the stretch for Erik Bakich with a low-90s heater that has sink, as well as a solid breaking ball and change-up. He’s relatively fresh too, as he didn’t really pitch heavily until this season. I like the fit here.
Picks: C Blake Mitchell (8), RHP Blake Wolters (44), OF Carson Roccaforte (66)
Yes, you can scream at me all you want about the prep catching demographic and how risky it is, but at the end of the day, Mitchell felt like the one to buck that trend. It’s not often that you get someone of his caliber at the position and he’s viewed as reasonably safe offensively, as he has a robust hit/power combination. He won’t get a chance to pitch like he did in high school, but rather he’s going to stick behind the dish long-term. He’s athletic and agile back there, plus the cannon of an arm that he has garnered double-plus grades. There’s a ton to like with the profile he has and I’d be very interested to see the monetary figure he gets.
With Wolters, the Royals get a very solid arm. He came into his own this spring, turning into a legitimate power pitcher with a loud fastball that gets into the upper-90s with very solid life to it. The slider will need to be more consistent, but it flashes. At its best, it’ll be a power slider in the mid-80s with nasty bite and tilt, though it becomes a slurvy breaker with gradual break when he doesn’t execute. The change-up needs refinement, too. I do trust the Royals development team enough to work their magic here.
Lastly, Roccaforte is a fun pick in the second round. While the home run power wasn’t the same as what it was in 2022, Roccaforte’s batted ball profile is incredibly fun to dive into. It’s very easy power and while there’s some things to iron out with the swing, there’s a lot to like there. He’s an above-average runner that has a chance to stick at the eight with solid route running and great defense. He’s got high grades on models, too.
Picks: OF Max Clark (3), INF Kevin McGonigle (37), INF Max Anderson (45)
Could this be a bit of a hot take? Maybe. It’s hard to pass up on a talented college bat in Wyatt Langford, but Max Clark is the kind of bat you feel comfortable passing on Langford for.
Clark’s offensive profile is a bit power limited when compared to the other names in the top five, he’s likely going to max out at average to above-average power when all is said and done. However, he’s a potentially plus hitter with a smooth left-handed swing that’s short to the ball and he can shoot the ball to all fields with ease, as well as having a pretty sound approach at the dish. What does give him the edge over someone like Walker Jenkins is the defensive upside here. He’s got a solid chance to stick in centerfield with very solid speed, route-running, and defense at the next level. Detroit did very well here.
McGonigle can be seen as a bit of a steal in the compensation round given the offensive upside and the first round grade we gave him. It’s pretty similar to what Clark’s bat is, a plus hitter with potentially above-average power when all is said and done. He has a lengthy track record of hitting everywhere he has gone and doesn’t strike out a ton against solid competition. If there’s anything to knock McGonigle on, it’s the fact that he’s likely limited to second base. He was drafted as a shortstop, but given the muscle he added and limited arm strength, a move seems likely down the line. But you can’t argue with an offensive-minded second baseman.
Lastly, Anderson had some helium in the last couple of weeks and felt destined to go higher than the ranking we gave him. Surely enough, here we are, as Anderson went 16 spots higher than our ranking. Anderson just flat-out hits, slashing .414/.461/.771 in the spring with Nebraska with very solid power output, particularly to the gaps. He does chase quite a bit and the walks aren’t where you’d want them to be, but he does a very good job of limiting the strikeouts. His defense is a question mark, though, given the lack of arm strength and range at second base. He’s likely a first baseman at the next level.
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays
I’ve seen a bit of scuttlebutt about Walters being a relief-only guy during his time at Miami, so I raise you this: he was one of the best closers in ACC history. Plus, given the electric nature of the fastball and the potential to move quickly as a bullpen ace in Cleveland’s system, I absolutely love the fit here. Walters has a unique fastball with a low release, flatter VAA, and excellent command. It was an incredibly dynamic pitch in college, and while you could say he’s a one-pitch pony, Walters has seen improvement in the breaking ball department, ditching the loopier curveball for a harder slider with solid bite. Cleveland’s pitching development is amazing, too. It’s hard not to love this pick.
Atlanta’s farm system is littered with a ton of arms, so why not add Waldrep to the fold? This feels like a steal given the nature of his stuff, particularly the off-speed, but I believe the Braves can be a development team that can fix his fastball. We already know how good the off-speed arsenal is, as the splitter is a legitimate 70-grade pitch and the curveball/slider are both above-average, but if Atlanta can fix his fastball command, this has the makings of another quick riser in that system. It’ll also help him live out his potential as a starter. If I’m Atlanta, I’m very happy that Waldrep fell this far.
I know I’ve already touched on how much I like this pick and the upside, but it’s one of my favorite fits in the draft thus far. Miami knows how to develop pitching, there’s no question about that, and Meyer has one of the best pitch mixes in the class that’s led by his plus slider. But if there’s anything I’m excited about here, it’s the development of his change-up. We’ve covered it in Deep(er) Drives, but the one thing industry folks wanted to see was more change-up usage. Miami knows how to develop the pitch and given the fact that Meyer has already made some tweaks to the pitch over the past year, I like the potential here.
Houck sliding this far was not on my bingo card, especially given we had him mocked to the Diamondbacks at 12. Houck’s upside is tremendous and he’s incredibly athletic. It’s a very solid swing from the right side and with the projectable nature of his frame, the power potential is quite high. There’s also enough to suggest that he sticks at shortstop long term with his twitch, range, and arm strength. The Mets may have gotten a legitimate steal with their first pick here.
Yeah, this was a match made in heaven. The Cardinals needed this kind of bat in their system and Davis fell right into their laps. He’s really evolved as a hitter in the past year, dropping the whiff and chase rates and shortening up the swing, all while keeping the robust power he’s always had. It’s likely that he gets a chance to start in center field, but in all likelihood, a move to a corner spot seems likely. I really, really like this fit.
The Twins were big winners in the draft lottery back in December and they get someone who fits their M.O. perfectly. While the medical history pushed some teams away, the upside here is amazing. It’s a potential 60-hit/60-power bat with Jenkins, as he has robust bat speed and impressive bat-to-ball skills that you don’t find often in a prep bat. He’s likely a fit for right field instead of center moving forward, where his strong arm should play very well. He’s got the speed to handle center, but he likely outgrows the position. All in all, Minnesota likes their high-OBP and power guys and Jenkins fits that bill.
As part of a new series accompanying the launch of the Prospects Live Mock Draft Machine, I’ll be highlighting draft day scenarios for a number of teams. What better way to use or new tool then put it to work before July 9th rolls around. To see where to start, I took to Twitter to see what team(s) the readers wanted to see me dive into.
The readers spoke and it felt apropos that the first team I saw mentioned was the much-discussed Cincinnati Reds. Thanks to a strong, young core of players like Jonathan India, Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, Hunter Greene, and of course Elly De La Cruz; it appears the buzz around the Redlegs is only intensifying. If you sensed a theme in the names I mentioned regarding the core of the team, you were right. The middle of the infield looks to be crowded for a long, long time. Cruz, India, McLain, Steer, Arroyo, Collier, and Marte are all names who should take the majority of playing time in the middle of the diamond for the foreseeable future.
Could those influence draft day decisions this coming July? We know teams don’t typically draft for Major League positional needs, but in a draft with strong frontline college pitching and stout prep outfielders; you have to wonder if the Cincy decision-makers sense a window creaking open and look to seize the opportunity. No matter what avenue they choose, the picks at hand offer plenty of intrigue.
Let’s set the scene on what the Reds have in this draft, specifically the first five rounds:
Picks:
7th overall ($6,275,200)
38th overall ($2,255,100)
43rd overall ($1,998,200)
74th overall ($975,100)
105th overall ($640,300)
141st overall ($451,100)
Overall, the Reds have the sixth-highest available bonus pool in the league, totaling $13,785,200. So what would likely scenarios be?
In this simulation, things end up working out on the chalky side. The top five players on the Prospects Live Draft Board get selected in succession to each other, while the Oakland Athletics serve as a bit of a wildcard. Being in a situation where it looks as if they are a few years from playing competitive baseball, they aim for a high-upside, middle-of-the-diamond player in Arjun Nimmala. This allows the Reds to have their choice of the litter in regard to players like Dollander, Lowder, Teel, Meyer, Gonzalez, and Wilson.
As you can see, acting as the decision maker here, I chose Kyle Teel and paid him the full slot value. Teel is one of the premier college bats in this class, a pure athlete who gets high marks behind the plate. Some even say he plays catcher like a shortstop, which points towards a profile that stays behind the dish. Beyond that, you’re simply buying a high-level bat. A .418/.484/.673 slash line should tell you all you need to know.
Later in the draft, we are able to catch one of the prep shortstops as Adrian Santana finds his way down to pick No. 38. Feels as if with the amount of high-level prep SS in this class that one is bound to slip just a touch. We’re able to reign in Santana Jr. at just over slot value.
With our third selection, we are able to snag a potential frontline starter in Brandon Sproat. The stuff certainly suggests frontline, however, tweaks to the overall profile are needed. The organizational pitching infrastructure in place offers us to trust that the staff can make adjustments with Sproat and turn this into a great pick. The same can be said for Nick Maldonado who we snagged at pick No. 105 after selecting an extra high-upside prep middle infielder in Trent Caraway at 73 because you can never have enough of those. Jake Cunningham rounds out our five picks to offer just a touch of slot relief, but it’s certainly no throwaway. Cunningham possesses tools that are off the charts, putting it all together will be the test. If it clicks, we’re talking big leaguer.
In this simulation, we catch a falling Max Clark. This is certainly not an outlandish happening. There's a real chance with the chaos of the MLB Draft that one of Jenkins or Clark finds their way to pick No. 7. For as long as this draft class has been talked about, Clark has been tabbed as one of, if not the best talent in the whole class. It’s an otherworldly high school stat line that includes a batting average in the .600s. Clark is more than a basher, it’s tools across the board. Speed, defense, plate discipline - Clark does it all well. Getting this type of upside at a position of need, at this type of value feels like a no-brainer for the Reds. We do have to pay a touch over-slot to make it happen but Clark feels worth it.
We find a similar profile with Colton Ledbetter at Pick No. 38. However, Ledbetter comes from the college ranks and may not have the sky-high ceiling of Clark - the profile is semi-reminiscent. Tanner Witt at pick No. 43 follows a similar path to that of Sproat and Maldonado from Scenario 1. Witt lacks the typical track record thanks to missing a large portion of 2023 due to injury but it’s a bet on the traits and pitching development infrastructure.
Wolters is a prep arm who has a major helium attached to his name right now. Up to 98 MPH, the big-bodied righty is gaining serious steam. If we’re lucky enough to see Wolters fall this far, we likely have to pay up to keep him from honoring his commitment to Arizona. We make it happen and go over-slot for Wolters but bring it back down to earth with the succeeding picks in Carson Roccaforte and Marcus Brown. A couple of guys who have seen major success at high-level college programs. Roccaforte falls in line with the Ledbetter profile and Brown is reminiscent of Trey Faltine, a fellow shortstop and Reds’ selection from 2022.
With the excitement level rising at the major league level, the opportunity within the 2023 Draft should offer just as much excitement for Cincinnati fans. Largely because this draft class is abnormally stout in its’ top fifty prospects. Just so happens the Reds hold three picks in the top 43. It’s an advantageous situation for a team looking to supplement an already young core. Flexibility is paramount in the chaos-filled MLB Draft. Reds’ brass will have plenty of that.
Who do you think the Reds should target at No. 7?
A new year, a new board and new ranks. The Top 300 is here. With the summer showcase circuit behind us and college fall ball in the rearview mirror, we’re ready to re-rank the 2023 draft class. Our team has taken in 9 showcase tournaments and been closely monitoring fall scrimmages. We’ve collected data and pitch metrics from guys showcasing their summer gains and, boy, do things look promising. Some guys are breaking out.
A new year, a new board and new ranks. The Top 300 is here. With the summer showcase circuit behind us and college fall ball in the rearview mirror, we’re ready to re-rank the 2023 draft class. Our team has taken in 9 showcase tournaments and been closely monitoring fall scrimmages. We’ve collected data and pitch metrics from guys showcasing their summer gains and, boy, do things look promising. Some guys are breaking out.
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:
The 2021 and 2022 MLB Drafts were both a bit prep-heavy at the top featuring five and four preps in the Top 10 picks respectively. It was high school shortstops galore. Early projections point to 2023 being a bit heavier on the college side; generally a good sign for the health of a draft class historically speaking.
A new year, a new board and new ranks. With Prospect Development Pipeline and the Perfect Game National Showcase in the books, we’re prepared to release our Top 100 prospect. These will shift in the coming months after Area Code Games, East Coast Pro and World Wood Bat Championships, but we’re feeling pretty good about where things currently lay.
