MLB Draft

While the 2021 MLB All-Star Game was at the forefront of the sport this week, the 30 teams in the league also had their eye on future All-Stars during the MLB draft.

The Pittsburgh Pirates started the festivities by taking catcher Henry Davis with the No. 1 overall pick, and teams such as the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox all added potential future cornerstones in the early picks.

With that in mind, here is a grade and the notable early-round picks for each team.

The full list of every draft pick can be found here at MLB.com.

• Arizona Diamondbacks: A- (first-rounder SS Jordan Lawlar, second-rounder SS Ryan Bliss)
• Atlanta Braves: C+ (first-rounder P Ryan Cusick, second-rounder P Spencer Schwellenbach)
• Baltimore Orioles: C+ (first-rounder OF Colton Cowser, second-rounder 2B Connor Norby)
• Boston Red Sox: A (first-rounder SS Marcelo Mayer, second-rounder OF Jud Fabian)
• Chicago Cubs: B+ (first-rounder P Jordan Wicks, second-rounder 3B James Triantos)
• Chicago White Sox: A- (first-rounder SS Colson Montgomery, second-rounder 3B Wes Kath)
• Cincinnati Reds: B (first-rounder SS Matt McLain, first-rounder OF Jay Allen II)
• Cleveland: B (first-rounder P Gavin Williams, second-rounder P Doug Nikhazy)
• Colorado Rockies: C+ (first-rounder OF Benny Montgomery, second-rounder P Jaden Hill)
• Detroit Tigers: B (first-rounder P Jackson Jobe, compensatory pick P Ty Madden, second-rounder SS Izaac Pacheco)
• Houston Astros: C (third-rounder OF Tyler Whitaker)
• Kansas City Royals: C (first-rounder P Frank Mozzicato, second-rounder P Ben Kudrna)
• Los Angeles Angels: B (first-rounder P Sam Bachman, second-rounder P Ky Bush)
• Los Angeles Dodgers: B- (first-rounder P Maddux Bruns)
• Miami Marlins: A (first-rounder SS Kahlil Watson, second-rounder SS Cody Morissette)
• Milwaukee Brewers: A (first-rounder OF Sal Frelick, compensatory pick 2B Tyler Black, second-rounder P Russell Smith)
• Minnesota Twins: B- (first-rounder P Chase Petty, second-rounder P Steven Hajjar)
• New York Mets: A (first-rounder P Kumar Rocker, second-rounder P Calvin Ziegler)
• New York Yankees: B- (first-rounder SS Trey Sweeney, second-rounder P Brendan Beck)
• Oakland Athletics: A- (first-rounder SS Max Muncy, second-rounder 3B Zack Gelof)
• Philadelphia Phillies: B (first-rounder P Andrew Painter, second-rounder OF Ethan Wilson)
• Pittsburgh Pirates: A (first-rounder C Henry Davis, second-rounder P Anthony Solometo)
• San Diego Padres: B- (first-rounder SS Jackson Merrill, second-rounder OF James Wood)
• San Francisco Giants: B+ (first-rounder P Will Bednar, second-rounder P Matt Mikulski)
• Seattle Mariners: B (first-rounder C Harry Ford, second-rounder SS Edwin Arroyo)
• St. Louis Cardinals: B+ (first-rounder P Michael McGreevy, second-rounder OF Joshua Baez)
• Tampa Bay Rays: C (first-rounder SS Carson Williams, compensatory pick 2B Cooper Kinney, second-rounder 1B Kyle Manzardo)
• Texas Rangers: A (first-rounder P Jack Leiter, second-rounder OF Aaron Zavala)
• Toronto Blue Jays: B+ (first-rounder P Gunnar Hoglund)
• Washington Nationals: A- (first-rounder SS Brady House, second-rounder OF Daylen Lile)

          

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates wasted no time providing the first surprise of the draft when they selected Davis, the University of Louisville catcher, with the No. 1 overall pick instead of targeting Marcelo Mayer or Jack Leiter.

Davis' throwing ability stands out, but he is also an impressive hitter as a backstop and slashed .370/.482/.663 with 15 home runs and 10 stolen bases this past season.

Those types of numbers, as well as the ability to control a game from behind the plate, make him someone who could anchor Pittsburgh's roster for years to come.

The Pirates had an impressive draft for far more than Davis, though, as pitcher Anthony Solometo (No. 17), outfielder Lonnie White (No. 72) and pitcher/shortstop Bubba Chandler (No. 21) were all in the top 75 on the MLB.com top prospect list. Landing Chandler in the third round was particularly impressive. 

Stocking the farm system with so many potential impact players is exactly how the Pirates needed to build their foundation in this draft.

            

Texas Rangers

Pittsburgh's decision to take Davis with the first pick meant the Rangers were given the opportunity to select the top pitcher at No. 2.

Jack Leiter impressed at Vanderbilt with an 11-4 record, 2.13 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 110 innings while helping lead the Commodores to the College World Series championship round.

"If there is going to be a true ace in this draft, it's going to be Jack Leiter," ESPN's Dan Mullen wrote. "Leiter, along with Vanderbilt teammate Kumar Rocker, was the talk of college baseball this year and he has the stuff to match the hype for a franchise in need of high-end talent in its minor league system." 

The Rangers needed the pitching considering just three of their top 15 players on MLB.com's list of prospects in their system are pitchers.

They are lacking the high-end depth in their system they would surely like, and Leiter is someone who can quickly develop into an ace. That alone made this a successful draft for Texas.

            

Boston Red Sox

It's not often the team selecting at No. 4 gets the chance to land the top player in the draft, but the Red Sox may have done just that.

Shortstop Marcelo Mayer was No. 1 on MLB.com's list of the top prospects coming into the draft thanks to his multi-dimensional game. He is an impressive fielder with a strong arm who can also hit for average and power from the shortstop position. 

"Jack Leiter and Henry Davis were the two players most often connected to the Red Sox going into draft night, but instead they end up with a player many thought would go No. 1 overall," Mullen wrote. "If Mayer grows into his tools, he has the potential to be a Corey Seager-esque performer who has the glove to stick at a premium position."

Seager is quite the comparison, so it is no wonder that Boston jumped at the opportunity to select him at No. 4.

Xander Bogaerts is the All-Star shortstop in Boston now, but Mayer won't be ready for some time considering he is just 18 years old. He has the talent to eventually become a franchise cornerstone, and having multiple impact players even at the same position is a good problem to have for the Red Sox.

Having struggled to develop pitching for years, the Los Angeles Angels scouting department apparently made finding arms a priority during the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. 

As noted by JJ Cooper of Baseball America, the Angels drafted 20 pitchers with each of their 20 picks:

The Angels just selected TCU RHP Marcelo Perez in the 20th round. They did not select any position players in a 20 round draft. They have 20 pick. They picked 20 pitchers. Unreal. https://t.co/XeG8bnQ8RW

— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) July 13, 2021

Of the 20 pitchers the Angels selected, 19 of them were college arms. Mason Albright from IMG Academy was their only prep pitcher taken, in the 12th round. 

The Angels had 20 draft picks.

The Angels drafted 20 pitchers. pic.twitter.com/tjAIGIhMuf

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) July 13, 2021

Since college pitchers are more advanced in their development than high schoolers, the Angels could theoretically fill out their staff with several of these pitchers within the next two years. 

First-round pick Sam Bachman is the crown jewel of the group. The Miami (Ohio) product was selected No. 9 overall. He improved his command in 2021, walking just 2.6 hitters per nine innings after averaging 4.1 per nine innings in the previous two seasons combined. 

The Angels currently rank 26th in MLB with a 4.90 ERA. They haven't ranked higher than 19th in that category since 2017. 

Starting pitching is definitely going to be an area of need for the Angels this offseason. Shohei Ohtani and Patrick Sandoval are their only two starters under team control beyond the 2021 campaign.    

On the final day of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft, the very-early planning has already begun for next year's class. 

As was the case this year, there doesn't appear to be a clear-cut No. 1 pick. There is a strong mix of position players and pitchers at the top who have the potential to separate themselves from the pack over the next 12 months. 

Keeping in mind that many things are going to change over the course of the next year, here's an early look at what the first round of the 2022 MLB draft could look like: 

1. Arizona Diamondbacks: Elijah Green, OF (IMG Academy, Florida)

2. Baltimore Orioles: Carter Young, SS (Vanderbilt)

3. Pittsburgh Pirates: Brooks Lee, SS (Cal Poly)

4. Texas Rangers: Kevin Parada, C (Georgia Tech)

5. Kansas City Royals: Nate Savino, LHP (Virginia)

6. Miami Marlins: Nolan Schubart, 1B/OF (Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS, Michigan)

7. Minnesota Twins: Termarr Johnson, 2B (Mays HS, Georgia)

8. Detroit Tigers: Brandon Barriera, LHP (American Heritage HS, Florida)

9. Colorado Rockies: Bryce Osmond, RHP (Oklahoma State)

10. Washington Nationals: Tristan Smith, LHP (Boiling Springs HS, South Carolina)

11. St. Louis Cardinals: Robert Moore, SS (Arkansas)

12. Chicago Cubs: Ian Ritchie, RHP (Bainbridge HS, Washington)

13. Atlanta Braves: Dylan Lesko, RHP (Buford HS, Georgia)

14. Philadelphia Phillies: Druw Jones, OF (Wesleyan HS, Florida)

15. Los Angeles Angels: Chris Newell, OF (Virginia)

16. New York Yankees: Riley Stanford, RHP (Buford HS, Georgia)

17. Toronto Blue Jays: Nazier Mule, RHP/SS (Passaic County Tech HS, New Jersey)

18. Cleveland Indians: Jayson Jones, 3B (Braswell HS, Texas)

19. Seattle Mariners: Cayden Wallace, 3B/OF (Arkansas)

20. Cincinnati Reds: Brock Porter, RHP (Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS, Michigan)

21. New York Mets: Victor Mederos, RHP (Miami)

22. Oakland Athletics: Hayden Dunhurst, C (Mississippi)

23. San Diego Padres: Nick Dugan, RHP (St. Bernards HS, California)

24. Milwaukee Brewers: Brennan Milone, SS (South Carolina)

25. Tampa Bay Rays: Cole Young, SS (North Allegheny HS, Pennsylvania)

26. Boston Red Sox: Brandon Fields, OF (South Carolina)

27. Houston Astros: Spencer Jones, 1B (Vanderbilt)

28. Chicago White Sox: Gavin Klein, SS (Milton HS, Wisconsin)

29. Los Angeles Dodgers: Noah Schultz, LHP (Oswego HS, Illinois) 

30. San Francisco Giants: Connor Prielipp, LHP (Alabama)

Order based on current standings

    

Who is the No. 1 overall pick going to be?

Elijah Green

If the draft were being held today, Elijah Green would be in the driver's seat to go No. 1 overall. 

One reason it's not a slam dunk that Green goes No. 1 is teams have been shying away from high school prospects with that pick in recent years. The last non-college player to be selected first overall was Royce Lewis by the Minnesota Twins in 2017. 

Lewis appears to be living up to the hype, though he has yet to reach the big leagues. The 22-year-old is ranked No. 13 on MLB.com's top prospects list. His development was set back by a torn ACL suffered in February that will cause him to miss the entire 2021 season. 

Since 2009, Lewis, Mickey Moniak (2016) and Brady Aiken (2014) are the only high schoolers taken with the top pick. Aiken didn't sign with the Houston Astros, had Tommy John surgery the following year and has a career 5.18 ERA in the minors in 43 appearances with Cleveland after being selected No. 17 overall in 2015. 

Moniak has a .154/.283/.231 slash line in 19 games with the Philadelphia Phillies since the start of 2020.

Per Dan Zielinski III of Baseball Prospect Journal, the IMG Academy star is already 6'3" and 225 pounds with a five-tool skill set that includes "elite speed and exceptional arm strength."

In addition to the raw tools that make Green such an intriguing talent, he's more polished than a typical high school draftee that could help him advance through the minors faster than a normal 18-year-old. 

     

Carter Young

In terms of polish, skill set and positional value, Carter Young looks like the biggest threat to Green at No. 1 overall right now. 

The Vanderbilt star hit a solid .252/.341/.559 with 16 homers and 52 RBI in 61 games as a sophomore in 2021. 

Young did suffer a left shoulder injury late in the regular season that likely impacted his performance down the stretch. He only had two extra-base hits over the final 12 games, compared to 34 in the first 50 games. 

Per Joe Doyle of Prospects Live, Young would "likely have been the first college shortstop off the board and quite possibly the first college hitter off the board" if he had been draft-eligible in 2021. 

Doyle noted scouts have no concerns about Young's ability to stay at shortstop "thanks to quick, athletic actions for the position."

The power tool is something of a question mark for Young right now, but the hit tool and defensive ability are both good enough to keep him in the mix for the top pick in 2022. 

    

Kevin Parada

Speaking of positional value and skill set, Kevin Parada could become the first-ever Georgia Tech player to go No. 1 overall. 

In April, Drew Wesolowski of Perfect Game came away very impressed with Parada after scouting the Yellow Jackets:

Kevin Parada one of the top Freshman prospects in the country. Smooth stroke as he drives it into LCF gap. Plus defender behind the dish & handles the staff with confidence. A name to remember going forward. pic.twitter.com/YmnJ1C55wd

— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) April 1, 2021

Wesolowski called Parada "nothing short of one of the most fundamentally sound backstops in the country" behind the plate and showed a natural ability to barrel the ball as a hitter. 

Georgia Tech has a strong history of developing catchers for the MLB draft. Matt Wieters was selected No. 5 overall by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007. Joey Bart went second to the San Francisco Giants in 2018 after being named ACC Baseball Player of the Year. 

Parada hit .318/.379/.550 with nine homers and 42 RBI last season as a freshman. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates just made Henry Davis, a terrific offensive player with some questions about his long-term ability to play catcher, the top pick in this year's draft.

Parada isn't quite the offensive player that Davis is, but the gap isn't that far off. And there's little doubt he can stay behind the plate in professional baseball.  

Pitching prospect Irv Carter had a major league reaction when he was drafted to become a professional pitcher.

After the Toronto Blue Jays selected him with the No. 152 overall pick of the 2021 MLB draft on Monday, Carter and his family embraced in an emotional celebration:

This reaction to being drafted is everything 🙌 @Irvcarter42

(via @ABLichtenstein) pic.twitter.com/QWboI9O8si

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) July 12, 2021

The American League East team might have found some value in the Calvary Christian Academy (FL) product. He checked in as the 118th-best prospect on MLB.com's top prospects list.

MLB.com's scouting report pointed to a fastball that could consistently check in at the mid-90s, as well as "a very good slider" and solid changeup.

Toronto, which is in third place in the AL East at 45-42, also selected pitcher Gunnar Hoglund with the No. 19 overall pick. Perhaps he and Carter can one day anchor the team's rotation if they live up to their potential.

The first day of the 2021 MLB draft is complete, and while 36 players heard their names called on Sunday night, there is still a wealth of talent available for the final two days and 19 rounds of this year's draft.

As part of our predraft preparation, I wrote up a number of scouting profiles to be used in our live grades article. It's a way to stay ahead of the curve timing-wise while still providing in-depth analysis about each player.

There are inevitably a handful of those profiles that go unused. So here's a closer look at some of the best talent still on the board entering Day 2 of the 2021 MLB draft.

      

INFIELDERS

C Adrian Del Castillo, Miami

A lackluster spring in which he hit .275/.380/.395 with 17 extra-base hits in 237 plate appearances has taken a bite out of Del Castillo's draft stock, but he still profiles as one of the better college hitters in the class. He has a smooth left-handed swing and is willing to work a walk. He also showed some power potential when he slugged 12 home runs as a freshman. The big question is whether he can stick behind the plate defensively, and a move out of the crouch would obviously put significantly more pressure on his bat.

      

3B/SS Wes Kath, Desert Mountain High School (AZ)

Kath is seen by some scouts as "a slightly more athletic version of Red Sox prospect Triston Casas," and he offers a similar hit-over-power present profile with the potential to develop into a serious power threat as his 6'3", 200-pound frame continues to fill out. He has a better shot of sticking at shortstop than Izaac Pacheco and Colson Montgomery—two of the other top high school bats in the class—but he's lacking in quick-twitch athleticism and may ultimately wind up at third base.

    

2B Cody Morissette, Boston College

A three-year starter at Boston College, Morissette announced himself as one to watch when he hit .448/.522/.655 in 15 games before the 2020 season was halted. A hand injury slowed him this spring, but he still hit .321/.398/.497 with 16 extra-base hits in 191 plate appearances while showing a smooth left-handed stroke and good bat-to-ball skills. He's not flashy, but he's polished with a high floor and a plus hit tool.

    

2B Connor Norby, East Carolina

A Golden Spikes semifinalist, Norby hit .415/.484/.659 with 15 doubles, 15 home runs and 51 RBI in 61 games this spring, swiping 18 bases in 22 attempts while playing a strong second base. He gained valuable exposure playing for an East Carolina team that went 44-17 and reached Super Regionals, and he had two of the team's five hits in its two losses to Vanderbilt to close out the year.

     

3B/SS Izaac Pacheco, Friendswood High School (TX)

With tantalizing raw power and a fringy hit tool that results in plenty of swings and misses, Pacheco is the prototypical boom-or-bust prep power hitter. His 6'4", 225-pound frame has already filled out to the point that he's almost certain to shift to third base early in his pro career after playing shortstop in high school. If he can rein in an approach that often sees him selling out for over-the-fence power, he could develop into one of the better bats in this class.

     

2B Peyton Stovall, Haughton High School (LA)

Stovall hit a blistering .505/.664/1.031 with 14 home runs, 23 steals and 42 walks this spring to send his draft stock soaring. He profiles as one of the best pure hitters in the class with a smooth left-handed swing and sneaky power potential, but a limited defensive profile raises some questions. He played shortstop in high school, but he doesn't have the arm strength or quickness to stick there at the next level and will likely be limited to second base. That puts a lot of pressure on his bat.

     

OUTFIELDERS

OF Joshua Baez, Dexter Southfield High School (MA)

Baez is an imposing 6'4", 220-pound slugger with 70-grade power and a rocket for an arm, giving him the prototypical right fielder profile. He has a good feel for hitting and a plan at the plate, but he "swings through pitches while trying to hit the ball 600 feet every time," as MLB.com put it. If he can rein in his approach and smooth out his swing mechanics, he could be a perennial 30-homer slugger. The fact that he just turned 18 years old on June 28 is also a point in his favor.

    

OF Jud Fabian, Florida

Let's start with the good. Fabian ranked among the NCAA leaders with 20 home runs this spring, and he did it while showcasing all the defensive tools necessary to stick in center field long term. However, he also hit just .249 with 79 strikeouts and a 29.4 percent strikeout rate, raising some significant red flags about his ability to handle pro pitching. The upside here is significant, but so is the risk.

    

OF Christian Franklin, Arkansas

Franklin has one of the more complete profiles among this year's college outfielders. He hit .274/.420/.544 with 30 extra-base hits and 11 steals this spring, showcasing the potential to be a 20/20 player at the next level. His 28.5 percent strikeout rate is a red flag, but he has shown enough on-base ability and defensive acumen in center field to look past his swing-and-miss rate.

    

OF Will Taylor, Dutch Fork High School (SC)

A 247Sports 3-star athlete committed to play football and baseball at Clemson, where he would line up as a slot receiver and center fielder, Taylor was also a two-time state champion wrestler during his time at Dutch Fork High School in South Carolina. He is more polished than the average multi-sport athlete, though it's unclear how much pop he'll have at the plate. At the very least, his elite athleticism and plus speed give him a high floor as a surefire future center fielder.

    

OF Tyler Whitaker, Bishop Gorman High School (NV)

One of the biggest risers of this year's draft class, Whitaker had a terrific spring for Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman. In terms of raw tools, he stacks up to any prep prospect in this class with a rare 60-power/70-speed combination and a projectable 6'4", 195-pound frame that should allow him to add further strength. His hit tool is the question mark with significant swing-and-miss to his game, but he's a gamble who could pay huge dividends.

    

OF Lonnie White Jr., Malvern Prep (PA)

Aside from his upside on the baseball field, White is also a 4-star wide receiver recruit who is committed to play both sports at Penn State next year. The 6'3", 225-pound outfielder has a 55-hit/60-power offensive profile, and while he has limited remaining physical projection, he is already a strong, explosive athlete. He could take off with his full attention turned to baseball, but is he signable?

    

OF Ethan Wilson, South Alabama

Wilson slugged a South Alabama freshman record 17 home runs in 2019, and while he has since developed into more of a contact hitter, he still possesses plus raw power. He batted .318/.419/.528 with 25 extra-base hits and more walks (33) than strikeouts (21) this spring, and he stands out in a draft thin on productive college hitters. As with many of the other smaller-school prospects who didn't have a chance to play in the Cape Cod League last summer, the biggest question is how he'll fare against top-tier competition.

   

OF James Wood, IMG Academy (FL)

Kiley McDaniel of ESPN pointed to Wood as the best high school prospect who could end up on a college campus. The 6'7", 240-pound outfielder has tremendous offensive upside with loud raw power, but he struggled this spring after transferring from his hometown in Maryland to IMG Academy in Florida, striking out at a high enough rate to raise some red flags. Big risk, big reward.

     

RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS

RHP Chase Burns, Beech High School (TN)

Burns joined the second tier of high school arms by running his fastball up to 100 mph on the showcase circuit last summer. The 6'4", 215-pound righty backs his heater with a good slider and curveball, along with a developing changeup. With some effort in his delivery and inconsistent command, there is obvious reliever risk, but he has No. 2 starter upside if everything clicks.

     

RHP/SS Bubba Chandler, North Oconee High School (GA)

One of the best athletes of the 2021 draft class, Chandler is a 3-star quarterback recruit who is committed to play baseball and football at Clemson. He is also a legitimate two-way talent as a hard-throwing pitcher and a power-hitting shortstop. With a strong 6'3", 200-pound frame and two plus pitches in a fastball that touches 97 mph and a high-spin curveball, his future appears to be brightest on the mound.

    

RHP Jaden Hill, LSU

Hill is one of the most polarizing prospects in the draft. An athletic 6'4", 235-pound right-hander who was a 3-star quarterback recruit out of high school, Hill has flashed frontline stuff on the mound with an upper 90s fastball and a plus-plus changeup. However, he tossed just 51.1 innings in three years at LSU, and his 2021 season ended after seven starts when he underwent Tommy John surgery after looking more hittable this spring pre-injury.

   

RHP Ben Kudrna, Blue Valley Southwest High School (KS)

One of the breakout pitching prospects of last summer's showcase circuit, Kudrna solidified his status with a strong spring that included a three-hit shutout in the Kansas 5A state title game. With a mid-90s fastball, a sharp slider and a projectable 6'3", 175-pound frame, he has significant upside. The development of his changeup and continued physical growth will determine his ceiling.

    

RHP Tommy Mace, Florida

The No. 88 draft prospect in 2017, Mace was selected in the 12th round by the Cincinnati Reds but honored his commitment to the University of Florida. The big 6'6", 230-pound right-hander went 6-2 with a 4.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 113 strikeouts in 90.1 innings this spring. He is more floor than ceiling with average stuff and will likely be a pitch-to-contract, sinker/slider guy at the next level.

      

RHP/SS Spencer Schwellenbach, Nebraska

Schwellenbach won the 2021 John Olerud Award as the best two-way player in the country. He hit .284/.403/.459 with 19 extra-base hits as Nebraska's starting shortstop while also posting a 0.57 ERA and 9.7 K/9 with 10 saves as the team's closer. His offensive game has been steadily improving, and he is just scratching the surface of his potential on the mound. With three plus pitches, good command and a strong 6'1", 200-pound frame, he could conceivably handle a starting role.

    

LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS

LHP Ky Bush, Saint Mary's (CA)

Bush posted a 12.69 ERA with 77 hits and 21 walks allowed in 39 innings as a freshman at Washington State in 2019. He spent his sophomore season at Central Arizona JC before transferring to St. Mary's this spring, and his stock has skyrocketed. The 6'6", 240-pound lefty had a 2.99 ERA with 112 strikeouts in 78.1 innings, showcasing improved command after getting himself into better physical shape. Few have done more to boost their draft status this spring.

    

LHP Matt Mikulski, Fordham

Undrafted in 2020, Mikulski returned to Fordham for his senior year and boosted his stock considerably. He cleaned up his mechanics and saw an increase in his fastball velocity, going 9-0 with a 1.45 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 68.1 innings to steadily climb the list of college arms. His stock as a starter is trending up, and he also has a high floor as a reliever with a good fastball/slider combination.

     

LHP Anthony Solometo, Bishop Eustace High School (NJ)

A pop-up prospect on the showcase circuit last summer, Solometo continued his rise up draft boards this spring. The 6'2", 210-pound southpaw has a lively mid-90s fastball and a plus slider, and his stuff plays up thanks to a funky delivery and an arm slot reminiscent of Madison Bumgarner. The upside is there for him to wind up as the best prep arm in this class.

      

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.