With the 2018 MLB draft roughly a month and a half away, it’s a good time to take a look at the top players in this year’s class.
For the last couple of years, Benjamin Chase has provided MLB draft coverage at Call To The Pen, including mock drafts and player profiles as the draft gets closer.
The first mock draft will come out on April 30th, but as April works its way to the end of the first month of the big league season, some high schools are just getting underway in the cold-weather states, while warm-weather states are mid-way through their seasons.
Who are the top high school players for this year’s draft? We will look in an alphabetical order.
Jordyn Adams, OF, North Carolina HS – Many assumed the star wide receiver recruit would choose football over baseball, but as he climbs draft boards this springs, he could be enticed out of his college commitment with the right signing bonus.
Will Banfield, C, Georgia HS – Very good defensive catcher has plus raw power, but many are concerned he won’t hit enough to get to the power.
Austin Becker, RHP, Ohio HS – Incredible three-pitch mix from a cold-weather state put Becker on the map, and how he performs once the season really gets going in Ohio could lead to him flying up boards.
Triston Casas, 3B, Florida HS – Huge lefty power that showed well last season in the NHSI and once again this year will likely end up at 1B, but has the big power to possibly be a day one MLB draft pick.
Nander De Sedas, SS, Florida HS – Excellent hard contact from both sides of the plate, De Sedas has mixed reviews on his range at short, but very good arm and hands could move easily to third and be a plus defensively.
Mason Denaburg, RHP/C, Florida HS – Excellent fastball with movement and a slider will likely make Denaburg a pitcher, but also has a power profile behind the plate.
Xavier Edwards, SS, Florida HS – A switch-hitter with plus speed, Edwards has been seen by some as a future CF, but has shown improved work at SS this spring along with some loud contact.
Nolan Gorman, 3B, Arizona HS – Incredible power and a lightning-quick bat, but length to his swing concerns some scouts and could drop him out of what was a likely top 10 slot coming into the spring.
Jordan Groshans, IF, Texas HS – Sliding over to third in showcases over the summer really played up Groshans’ glove, which could bump up his stock along with a line-drive oriented swing that can make loud contact pole to pole in the outfield.
Ethan Hankins, RHP, Georgia HS – Hankins made fools out of hitters over the summer, but a spring injury could cost him the chance at a top 3 selection in the draft, though he should still be a top 10 selection without question with a high-90s fastball, premium change, and a wicked curve when it’s on.
Jarred Kelenic, OF, Wisconsin HS – Emerging as the top high school talent in the draft on many boards, Kelenic has absolutely launched baseballs this spring and has a plus-plus arm in the outfield. Kelenic also happens to flash double-plus speed as well just for good measure.
Adam Kloffenstein, RHP, Texas HS – One of the younger arms in the draft, Kloffenstein has filled into his frame and seen his velocity jump on top of very good feel for two breakers. Could fly up boards as the draft gets closer.
Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Arizona HS – Already in the mid-90s with his fastball with a projection frame, but Liberatore’s best pitches could be his change and curve, even if that fastball adds a couple more ticks. Arguably the top high school arm on the board.
Parker Meadows, OF, Georgia HS – Brother of Pirates prospect Austin Meadows, Parker has a wide variation of where he could land in the MLB draft due to incredible tools, but a very raw body that many struggle to project how it will fill.
Noah Naylor, C, Canada HS – Brother of Padres prospect Josh Naylor, Noah has similar raw power as his brother, but his defensive profile behind the plate is in question outside of his plus to double-plus arm.
Kumar Rocker, RHP, Georgia – Incredibly thick, Rocker throws triple digits with his fastball and has a plus curve, but little feel (or need) for a change currently, so teams will be projecting on his ability to add the third pitch.
Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Texas HS – Rodriguez saw his velocity jump to the mid-90s and added impressive strength over the winter, which has pushed him into first round MLB draft discussion.
Connor Scott, OF/LHP, Florida HS – Most teams see Scott as an outfield project, with raw plus power and raw double-plus speed along with a plus arm, but a team could also go against the grain to use that impressive arm, which has snapped off some wicked breakers to pair with his low-90s heater this spring.
Anthony Seigler, C, Georgia HS – Probably most noted in many circles for his switch-pitching on the mound, Seigler has worked all over the field and draws comps to Austin Barnes in his athleticism behind the plate and has some projection in his switch-hitting bat.
Mike Siani, OF, Pennsylvania HS – Highly-regarded for his feel for the game, Siani has a plus arm off the mound, but his excellent knack for putting barrel to ball could lead to him sneaking up the board similar to 2016 fellow Pennsylvania first round pick in the MLB draft, Alex Kirilloff.
Carter Stewart, RHP, Florida HS – Stewart showed out at NHSI, with a curve that is a Statcast darling with its incredible spin rate. He’s very similar to Blayne Enlow in the 2017 MLB draft class, who had arguably the best HS curve in that class, yet somehow fell to the 3rd round.
Alek Thomas, OF, Illinois HS – Physically built like a top of the order hitter, Thomas’ father works as a strength coach in MLB, which explains the surprising loud contact he generates from what appears a lean physical profile.
Lineras Torres, Jr., RHP, New York HS – Very young with incredible velocity on his mid- to upper-90s fastball and his double-plus low-90s slider, Torres has the makeup of an elite closer or a dominant starter.
Brice Turang, SS, California HS – In an oddly weak California class in the top end, Turang stands out with defense that could arguably play in the bigs right now. He’s showing well this spring offensively, and he could push up the MLB draft board in June if that can sustain.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Mike Vasil, RHP, Massachusetts HS – Not knockout stuff, but a quick worker with very good feel and ability to get excellent plane could allow Vasil to move quickly for a HS arm.
Ryan Weathers, LHP, Tennessee HS – Incredible athlete that was a leader on his high school’s championship basketball team, Weathers has a plus fastball and a pair of offspeed offerings that flash above-average with big league pedigree.
Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia HS – Always known for his fastball and its movement, Wilcox has shown the ability to control a pair of above-average offspeed pitches, which could push him into early first day discussion in June.
Cole Winn, RHP, California HS – Impressive 4-pitch mix without a plus pitch, but good feel of four that can all rate 55 on the scouting scale, which could make him a late 1st/early 2nd round pick in the 2018 MLB draft.
Next: CTTP's Top 150 prospects
That is the top high school prospects for the 2018 draft. Who are you hoping that your team will grab?! Comment below!!