MLB Draft for 2024

A native of Sydney, Australia, Bazzana came to the United States and immediately made an impact with a .902 OPS as a freshman. He upped that to 1.122 with 11 homers and 36 steals a year later, then raised his profile even more when he won the Cape Cod League batting title (.375) and MVP Award, putting him near the top of most Draft boards. The left-handed-hitting infielder is compact and strong with plenty of bat speed. He has an advanced approach at the plate with a ton of raw power he taps into, though he can occasionally be susceptible to offspeed stuff on the outer half. He's proven he can hit lefties as well as righties. A plus runner, he's a legitimate base-stealing threat. While some worry about where he can play defensively, some scouts think he's going to be just fine at second base. His athleticism helps him have good range, he has enough arm for the spot and he can turn the double play effectively. A second-base profile isn't one often seen at the top of a Draft, but the conviction in his bat is so strong, he's going to get a lot of attention in the top 10.

"Though Burns reached 100 mph with his fastball and drew some first-round interest as a Tennessee high schooler, he fell to the Padres in the 20th round of the 2021 Draft because he was set on pitching at Tennessee. He starred in the Volunteers' rotation as a freshman but logged a 6.10 ERA in eight starts in 2023, prompting a move to a long-relief role in which he thrived. He ranked third in NCAA Division I in strikeout rate (14.3 per nine innings) and helped Tennessee reach the College World Series, then opted to transfer to Wake Forest. He could be the first pitcher selected in a July following a spectacular junior season that has included Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year accolades and the D-I lead in strikeouts (191 in 100 innings) entering regional tournament action. Burns operates at 97-99 mph and reaches 102 with his heater, but it's fairly straight and batters get a good look at it coming out of his high arm slot, so it gets hit harder than it should at times. His tight slider is a true beast that sits in the upper 80s and has generated a 60 percent swing-and-miss rate during the last two seasons. He also owns a plus low-80s curveball. Burns rarely uses his upper-80s changeup but it can be a plus pitch with significant fade when it's on. He has a history of throwing strikes and has improved his overall command this spring, though he's still going to need to locate his fastball with more precision at the next level. He has the ceiling of a frontline starter but comes with a bit of reliever risk."

Scouts and college recruiters took little notice of Condon when he was a physically underdeveloped Georgia high schooler, and he wound up going to Georgia as a walk-on. He redshirted in 2022 as he continued to gain strength, then earned national freshman of the year honors last spring by slashing .386/.484/.800 with a Southeastern Conference freshman-record 25 homers. He won the Golden Spikes Award and SEC Player of the Year accolades while posting even better numbers this spring, leading NCAA Division I in batting .433), slugging (1.009), OPS (1.565), homers (37), extra-base hits (58) and total bases (233). A leading candidate to go No. 1 overall, Condon should surpass Jeff Pyburn (No. 5 overall in 1980) as the highest-drafted player in Bulldogs history because he has a huge offensive ceiling. He has top-of-the-scale raw power that plays from foul pole to foul pole and his combination of bat speed, strength and leverage in his 6-foot-6 frame allows him to mishit balls yet still drive them out of the park. Despite his long arms, he keeps his right-handed swing relatively compact and controls the strike zone while repeatedly making loud contact against all types of pitching. Though he's a below-average runner, Condon is reasonably athletic and covers ground with long strides once he gets going. After splitting time between first base and the outfield corners as a freshman, he has played all three outfield spots and third base this spring. He's not quick enough for third or center but he does have solid-to-plus arm strength and can provide average defense in left or right field.

Wake Forest originally recruited Kurtz as a left-handed pitcher, but over the course of winning consecutive Tennessee Division II 2-A state baseball championships at Baylor School (Chattanooga), he emerged as a superior prospect as a hitter. After batting .344/.498/.695 with 39 homers in his first two college seasons, he entered 2024 as a candidate to go first in the Draft. He got off to a slow start and missed two weeks with a shoulder injury, then went on a rampage shortly after he returned and homered 14 times in nine games, including six blasts in seven at-bats. He also topped NCAA Division I with 78 walks. Kurtz's signature tool is his well-above-average power to all fields, the product of outstanding bat speed, strength and a left-handed stroke designed to drive balls in the air. More than just a slugger, he's a complete hitter with no discernible weakness who crushes left-handers and right-handers and all types of pitches. He controls the strike zone, covers the entire plate and hits the ball with authority all over the ballpark. Kurtz also plays a quality first base and has average arm strength. The only blemishes on his game are his below-average speed, which doesn't really matter given his position and offensive upside, and an injury history that includes a broken rib that knocked him out of the end of the 2023 College World Series. If he's as good as scouts believe he is, he could turn into Jim Thome with defensive value.

After blowing out his elbow as a high school sophomore and having Tommy John surgery, Smith bounced back to tie a Texas prep record with seven no-hitters as a senior in 2021. He might have factored in the top three rounds that July if not for his strong commitment to Arkansas. He has better stuff than any southpaw in this Draft and could be the first pitcher selected after finding more consistency this spring. He won Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and led NCAA Division I in opponent average (.144) and strikeout rate (17.3 per nine innings), setting a record in the latter category. Smith operates at 94-97 mph and touches 100 with his fastball, which plays up because his funky delivery creates deception and riding action. His best offering is an 83-87 mph slider, which features sweep and depth while destroying lefties and keeping righties at bay, and he also can turn it into a cutter that reaches 91 mph. He uses an upper-80s splitter as a change of pace, and while he struggles to locate it well, it has intriguing tumble when it's on. Smith employs far from a textbook delivery, working from a low-three-quarters slot with some crossfire that makes it tough to pick up his pitches and also to throw strikes at times. He has improved his control and performance in 2024, highlighted by striking out 17 over six innings on just 78 pitches against Oregon State, with some evaluators calling it the most dominant game they ever had seen. He has a strong 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame built for durability and could become a frontline starter if he continues to harness his stuff.

While calling him the “next Shohei Ohtani” might be unfair, Caglianone is the best two-way player in the nation, an easy early choice for the John Olerud Award given to college baseball's best hitter/pitcher. He has some standout tools both on the mound and at the plate, though big steps forward as a hitter this spring have led most scouts to prefer his left-handed bat over his left-handed arm. A 6-foot-5 physical beast, Caglianone has top of the class left-handed raw power, and he gets to it, as evidenced by his Division I-leading 33 home runs in 2023. He's very aggressive in the box and there was concern about his tendency to chase pitches out of the zone (44 percent chase rate last year), but he doesn't strike out a lot and makes a lot of hard contact. He's cut his miss and chase rates in 2024 and has a miniscule strikeout rate this spring. He's solid defensively at first base as well. The Tommy John surgery survivor struggled to find the strike zone in his first collegiate pitching action last year, but a more compact delivery was helping him stay around the zone more, even if his walk rate still remained high. He touches triple digits with his fastball and he introduced a 90-mph cutter that he featured more than his slider this fall to go along with a solid changeup. He might be a top-of-the-first-round bat, with some seeing him more as a second-rounder on the mound.

A Pittsburgh area native, Wetherholt stayed in the region by heading to West Virginia for college ball. He had a solid freshman season then broke out as a sophomore, winning the Division I batting title and earning Big 12 Conference Player of the Year after hitting .449/.517/.787 with 16 homers and 36 steals. He performed well both for Team USA and in a brief stint in the Cape Cod League to set the stage for a big junior season. Excitement for an encore has been dashed as a recurring hamstring issue that first cropped up over the summer has sidelined him repeatedly this spring. Wetherholt might be the best pure hitter in the class and there are some area scouts who think he's the best amateur bat they've ever seen. The left-handed hitter drives the ball to all fields with authority with excellent pitch recognition and elite bat-to-ball skills that resulted in a miniscule 10 percent miss rate in 2023 with the Mountaineers. He has shown the ability to hit the ball over the fence in all directions and should have at least average power at the next level. A plus runner who is a legitimate base-stealing threat when healthy, the only real question about Wetherholt has been his defensive home. He was hoping to improve that area of his profile by playing shortstop for the first time this spring, but the hamstring issue kept him from seeing too much time on the dirt. Some feel he has the arm and feel to do it, while he'll have to focus on being consistent in making the routine plays. Even if he profiles as a second baseman, though, his bat belongs near the top of Draft boards.

A Connecticut prep school product, Moore posted a 1.062 OPS as a semiregular at Tennessee as a freshman and encored with a 1.046 OPS next spring. He has taken his production to a higher level this spring, leading NCAA Division I with 111 hits, ranking third with 34 homers (a school record) and setting another Volunteers mark with 61 career blasts. He hit for the cycle in Tennessee's College World Series opener and led off the clincher with a home run en route to the program's first-ever national championship. Scouts appreciate the way he'll rise to the occasion and play above his tools, but there also are times when he tries to do too much. Solidly built at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Moore looks to do damage with an aggressive approach. His mindset, bat speed and strength give him power that plays to all fields and 25-homer potential, and he works deep counts in search of pitches to drive and draws a healthy amount of walks. His right-handed swing can get overly long and he still chases too many pitches out of the zone, but he's making more consistent contact in 2024. Though Moore's big hacks lead to below-average run times out of the batter's box, he can show solid speed once he gets going and looks to steal and take extra bases. He can make some fine plays in the middle infield but also can botch some routine ones and needs more defensive consistency. He played briefly at shortstop this year but his average arm strength means he's probably more of a second baseman, and it's possible that he could wind up in center field.

For the second time in the last six Drafts, Jackson Prep (Flowood, Miss.) features one of the most tooled-up prospects in the high school class. While Jerrion Ealy opted to pursue a football career, Griffin is a full-time baseball player and could be the first prepster drafted in July. He reclassified from the 2025 Draft to 2024 after leading Jackson Prep to a Midsouth Association of Independent Schools 6-A state championship as a freshman, then helped the Patriots win titles in each of the last two seasons and topped national high schoolers with 85 stolen bases this spring. Griffin has a big league frame at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds and he possesses five-tool potential. His size does add some length to his right-handed stroke and he has some timing issues he's ironing out at the plate, but he controls the strike zone well and makes regular contact. His combination of electric bat speed, strength and leverage could translate into 30-homer power as he learns to drive the ball in the air more consistently. Griffin also has well-above-average speed, giving him 30-30 upside. Scouts project him as a plus defender at shortstop and a possible Gold Glover in center field. The Louisiana State commit covers plenty of ground with long strides at both positions and also offers a strong arm that has been clocked up to 96 mph off the mound. His makeup is as impressive as his physical ability.

King starred for two seasons at NCAA Division II Wingate (N.C.), fashioning a 47-game hitting streak in 2022-23 and slashing .411/.457/.699 with 11 homers and 13 steals as a sophomore. He has proven himself with wood bats, winning MVP accolades in the Valley League in 2022 and distinguishing himself with the U.S. collegiate national team and in the Cape Cod League last summer. He has started games at four positions this spring after transferring to Wake Forest and is one of three Demon Deacons projected to go in the first round. King excels at putting the ball in play with a compact right-handed stroke geared for hitting line drives to all fields. He needs to improve his plate discipline, however, because he swings and chases too much, making a lot of weak contact and cutting into his walk totals. While he has added 20 pounds since arriving in college and has impressive bat speed, his approach and flat stroke may not be conducive to more than 12-15 homers per year. With well above-average speed and solid arm strength, King is a versatile defender. He opened this season as a center fielder before settling in at third base, also seeing action at shortstop and second base. He'd have the most pro value at shortstop, though he's merely average there and would need to polish up his actions and throwing accuracy. He's solid at the other spots and may fit best in the outfield because his hands are just OK.

Before the 2024 high season began, people looked at Rainer as an exciting two-way player. The Harvard-Westlake standout showed off skills in the box and on the mound during the summer showcase circuit and performed double duty for USA Baseball's 18U team in international competition. The consensus was that while Rainer seemed to want to hit, scouts thought he had tremendous upside on the mound, albeit shown in smaller samples. The Rainer who showed up for his senior season, however, was bigger, stronger and faster. He was the best player at the National High School Invitational this spring and while he still pitches a little, he's vaulted himself to the top half of the Draft as a position player. Rainer has a ton of tools in all directions. At 6-foot-3 and listed at 195 pounds, he has a strong and projectable body. While his swing used to get long at times, with a tendency to wrap the bat behind his head, a stronger Rainer has shown the ability to make consistently hard contact from the left side of the plate. He had the top four exit velocities at the NHSI in April and has shown he can drive the ball to all fields. He sticks to a game plan and doesn't chase or strike out, allowing him to tap into what could be plus power in the future. There are no longer questions about where he might play defensively. He ran and moved better at shortstop over the summer than some expected, a trend that continued this spring, recording plus run times occasionally and showing he has every chance to stick at the premium position. His easily plus arm that fires mid-90s fastballs from the mound (with a good breaking ball) works from all parts of the infield and if for some reason he had to move to third, he could be a Gold Glove caliber defender there. Like most big left-handed hitting shortstops, the Texas recruit has garnered some Corey Seager comps, and there's a good chance he lands in the top half of the first round.

Teams were split on whether Montgomery had a brighter future as a hitter or pitcher when he was a Mississippi high schooler in 2021, but that decision was put on hold when he went undrafted because of his Stanford commitment. After he hit 35 homers and battled the strike zone in two years with the Cardinal, it's now obvious that he'll be an outfielder when he turns pro. He slammed 27 homers this spring after transferring to Texas A&M ans will become the highest-drafted position player in Aggies history, surpassing Tyler Naquin (No. 15 overall in 2012), despite breaking his right ankle in the super regionals. Montgomery had more of a hit-over-power profile in high school but that has reversed in college. A switch-hitter with strength and a quick, aggressive stroke from both sides of the plate, he does more damage as a lefty hitter and his plus power plays to all parts of the ballpark. He has improved his plate discipline and his ability to handle breaking balls during the last two seasons, but he still swings and misses at pitches in the zone a bit too often and will chase non-fastballs. With average speed and plus-plus arm strength, Montgomery fits best in right field. As a pitcher, he can reach 96 mph with his fastball and miss some bats with his low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup. His lack of control and command limit his effectiveness, however, and he has a much higher ceiling and floor as an outfielder.

After an all-state career at Pope High School in Georgia, Tibbs headed to Florida State for college ball. He's done nothing but hit with the Seminoles, with a combined 1.066 OPS over his first two seasons, including hitting 17 homers and slugging .682 as a sophomore in 2023. He put himself even more on the Draft map by continuing to rake with a wood bat, hitting .303/.390/.472 with six homers in the Cape Cod League over the summer, then vaulted into the first-round landscape with a huge junior campaign. It will be Tibbs' bat that gets him drafted in the first few rounds. The left-handed hitter is confident and smart at the plate, with an approach he's improved over his time at Florida State, cutting his strikeout rate and upping his walk rate considerably from his freshman to his sophomore seasons, and even more so this spring. He punishes fastballs and has been showing the ability to get to his average power and drive the ball to all fields, though he's struggled more with breaking stuff in the past. Tibbs is likely limited to left field at the next level because he is a below-average runner and some wonder if he might have a possible home at first base, a spot he saw considerable time at with the Seminoles a year ago. There might be more floor than ceiling here, but there's enough bat to think he could be the first Florida State hitter to go in the top two rounds since the Reds took catcher Mat Nelson No. 35 overall in 2021.

A Top 100 prospect as the 2022 Draft approached, Smith's commitment to Florida State as well as the fact that he was over 19 years old -- old for some team's Draft models -- led to him not being selected. While he hit a dozen homers as a Seminoles freshman, he struggled at times to catch up to the higher level of competition. He caught up in a hurry over the summer, earning Most Outstanding Pro Prospect honors in the Cape Cod League after finishing with a .981 OPS, and he's upped his game again during his Draft-eligible sophomore season. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Smith already looks the part with plenty of now strength. How much he hits will help dictate how consistently he can get to his plus raw power, and he's answered that question well last summer and this spring. He struggled to stick to an approach and have quality at-bats during his freshman year, often chasing pitches out of the zone, but that was vastly improved on the Cape, with his miss rate dropping from 29 percent to 19 over the summer. It's a trend that's continued in 2024 as Smith continued keep the swing-and-miss to a minimum. Smith runs better than he did in high school and has the chance to be a very good third baseman, with a strong arm, at the next level. His ability to duplicate, and even surpass, what he did on the Cape during his sophomore campaign in Tallahassee has allowed him to be the kind of college performer who is rising up boards.

A natural left-hander, Cijntje began throwing right-handed as a 6-year-old because he wanted to emulate his father, Mechangelo, who played professionally in the Netherlands, and he liked wearing his dad's glove. He gained notoriety for his switch-pitching as a member of Curacao's team at the 2016 Little League World Series, and clubs considered him a mid-rounds prospect in the 2022 Draft, where his signability dropped him to the Brewers in the 18th round. He has bounced back from a rough freshman season at Mississippi State to become one of the top sophomore-eligibles in this year's crop. Evaluators say Cijntje has better stuff and projects as a Marcus Stroman-esque starter as a righty vs. profiling more as a reliever as a lefty. From the right side, he operates with a 94-96 mph fastball that tops out at 98 with carry up in the zone, and he backs it up with a mid-80s slider that reaches 91 with good depth and a slightly harder changeup with fade. As a southpaw, he works from a low slot with a sweepier low-80s breaking ball and a low-90s heater that doesn't miss many bats. Cijntje is pitching right-handed against lefty hitters more often in 2024, and many scouts would like to see him do so full time. While his 5-foot-11 build creates questions about his long-term durability as a starter, he's strong and athletic. He has significantly improved his strike-throwing as a sophomore and could develop average control as he gains more experience.

Morlando's track record of performing against top competition includes winning the High School Home Run Derby and the MVP award at the High School All-American Game at the All-Star Game last July. He also starred with the U.S. 18-and-under team in each of the last two years. But his stock has dropped this spring amid questions about his usable power and athleticism, making it unlikely that he'll go in the first round as once projected. Gatorade's South Carolina prep player of the year, Morlando has advanced feel to hit, showing the willingness to work counts and to make two-strike adjustments. He has bat speed and strength in his 6-foot-3, 198 pound frame, but the pop he displays in batting practice hasn't translated into game power last summer or this spring. He can get pull-happy and his left-handed swing can get uphill on occasion. While Morlando has caught and played some third base in the past, he's destined for left field or first base, making power imperative. He can post solid 60-yard dash times but plays as more as a fringy to average runner and possesses similar arm strength. He'll be 19 on Draft Day and eligible again in 2026 if he attends college at South Carolina.

Because he comes from the southern half of Texas and is one of the fastest players in his Draft, Payne elicits comparisons to Kendall George, the Dodgers' top pick (supplemental first round) in 2023. While he can't quite match George's top-of-the-scale speed, Payne is more aggressive on the bases and should provide more impact at the plate. He won't turn 18 until a month after the Draft, making him one of the youngest players in the high school class and enhancing his appeal to teams that put an emphasis on age. With a compact, flat left-handed swing, Payne likes to use his quick hands to smack grounders to the left side of the infield and his plus-plus speed to beat them out. He opens up early at the plate in an attempt to get down the line as fast as possible, yet he still manages to make repeated contact. Though he'll never be a slugger, he has enough bat speed and projectable strength to hit 15 or more homers per season once he learns to look for pitches he can drive. Payne focuses on getting on base and creating havoc with his speed. The Houston recruit has good instincts on the bases and in center field, where he has the ingredients to become a plus defender. He has fringy-to-average arm strength that's playable in center.

Gillen emerged as one of the top talents in Texas' 2024 high school class three years ago, only to be slowed by a torn labrum that required shoulder surgery as a sophomore and a knee injury as a junior. Finally healthy again this spring outside of a minor groin ailment, he has pushed his way ahead of the rest of the Lone Star State prepsters. He projects to become the first first-rounder from Westlake HS (Austin) since Kelly Gruber went 10th overall in 1980. Gillen may have the best bat of any high schooler in this Draft. He has a disciplined approach, quick hands and a sweet left-handed swing that combine to produce line drives to all fields. His hitting ability will allow him to get to most of his plus raw power, giving him a 20-homer floor, and he should develop more pop as he adds more strength to his physical 6-foot-2 frame. Scouts get run times from solid to well-above-average on Gillen, who looks more dynamic than he did last summer now that his knee injury is further behind him. The Texas recruit has better range to his left than his right at shortstop, but his arm hasn't bounced back from labrum surgery and will dictate a position change at the next level. He could become an offensive second baseman, his quickness makes center field a possibility and at worst he should produce enough offense to profile in left field.

Benge was set to begin his freshman season at Oklahoma State when his elbow gave out in February 2022, leading to Tommy John surgery that cost him the entire year. The Cowboys turned him loose as a hitter and handled him more carefully as a pitcher last year, when he was a semifinalist for the John Olerud Award for college baseball's best two-way player. He's a legitimate prospect both ways, showing first-round potential at the plate and third-round upside on the mound. Few college hitters in this class can match Benge's combination of bat-to-ball skills and high exit velocities. A left-handed hitter, he controls the strike zone and uses the opposite field exceptionally well. He should have solid power thanks to his combination of hitting ability and bat speed, and he did a better job of turning on and lifting more pitches as this spring progressed. Benge has average speed and is quicker once he gets going. He's a solid defender with plus arm strength in right field, and he perhaps could fill in as a center fielder on occasion. He's intriguing as a quick-armed right-hander with a fastball that reaches 96 mph, a solid slider and the makings of an average changeup and control, but he prefers hitting and has focused more on that this spring.

East Carolina will have a pitcher selected in the top two rounds for the third time in four Drafts, with Yesavage following in the footsteps of 2021 first-rounder Gavin Williams and 2022 second-rounder Carson Whisenhunt. A reliever as a freshman, he moved into the Pirates' rotation last spring and was a consensus second-team All-American. He dominated as a junior, finishing among NCAA Division I leaders in ERA (2.02, fourth), strikeouts (145, fifth) and opponent average (.154, second) while establishing himself as a top-15 pick. The American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, Yesavage has a quality four-pitch arsenal highlighted by a mid-80s slider/cutter with more depth than lateral movement. His fastball parks at 93-95 mph and peaks at 98, overcoming a lack of life with plenty of carry from a high arm slot. He also has a low-80s spike curveball and a splitter with similar velocity, and both miss bats as well. More physical than athletic at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Yesavage has some effort in his delivery but it doesn't prevent him from throwing strikes. Improved fastball command has keyed his success in 2024 after his heater got pounded at times in the past when he didn't locate it up in the zone. He now looks like a mid-rotation starter after refining the consistency and control of his stuff.

Culpepper might go from an unheralded Tennessee high schooler to Kansas State's first-ever first-round position player. Bothered by a hamate injury for much of his sophomore season, he starred at the Big 12 Conference tournament and was the top hitter (.471/.526/.853) on the U.S. collegiate national team during the summer. He moved from third base to shortstop as a junior, batting .474 in the NCAA tournament (including hitting for the cycle against Louisiana Tech) as the Wildcats reached the super regionals. A right-handed hitter, Culpepper has a disciplined approach that prioritizes making consistent contact and using the entire field. He has well-above-average bat speed and enough strength to produce average power, yet he has a flat swing and rarely drives the ball in the air. He slugged just .318 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer and may top out at 12-15 homers per season. Culpepper handled shortstop on the Cape and in fall practice better than scouts expected, though he probably lacks the lateral quickness to play there regularly in the big leagues. He has at least plus arm strength and is a potential Gold Glover at third base, though that position would demand more power production than shortstop. He's an average runner and an opportunistic basestealer.

North Carolina has produced nine first-round position players, including first (B.J. Surhoff) and second (Dustin Ackley) overall picks, but the Tar Heels may never have had anyone as tooled up as Honeycutt. He quarterbacked and hit Salisbury (N.C.) HS to state 2-A championships in football and baseball in 2021, but he was physically underdeveloped and mostly flew under scouting radars despite the Giants drafting him in the 20th round. He broke into college baseball by hitting a school-record 25 homers and stealing 29 bases as a freshman and has recorded similar numbers this spring, setting new Tar Heels marks for single-season (28) and career (65) homers while winning his second straight Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award. Honeycutt comes with at least plus tools across the board with one notable exception: his bat. He carried a 30 percent strikeout rate as a freshman, cut it to 20 percent as a sophomore (when he wasn't nearly as productive) and has seen it shoot back up to 28 percent as a junior. He has a decent right-handed swing but needs to refine his pull-heavy approach, do a better job of making in-zone contact and cut down on his chases. How much Honeycutt hits will determine if he becomes Drew Stubbs or better than that. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, he creates well-above-average raw power with bat speed, strength, leverage and loft. He has similar speed and fine instincts, making him a basestealing threat and a potential Gold Glover in center field, where his plus arm is stronger than most at the position.

The 2023 Draft was a good one for athletic high school shortstops in Florida, with Arjun Nimmala, George Lombard Jr. and Adrian Santana all going in the top 31 picks. The 2024 crop might not be as top heavy, but Lindsey has burst on the scene this spring to create buzz as a player with as much helium as any in the class. A former quarterback, Lindsey missed the summer showcase circuit because of injury but had scouts of all levels running to Hardee Senior High School to see him action. A premium athlete who can record 80-grade run times, Lindsey has already taken a big step forward in all facets of the game after deciding to stop playing football and focus on the diamond. He has a better feel for the game than some might think based on his multisport background. He has a short, right-handed swing geared to making contact and sending line drives up the middle. He may never be a huge power guy, and he does need to add strength, but as he's started to catch the ball out front, he's impacting the ball more, with some pop to come. He has solid strike zone awareness with good swing decisions and takes walks against lesser competition. Lindsey's defensive polish has also improved considerably this spring. He should be given every chance to stick at shortstop with at least an average arm and more than enough range to make all the plays. Even those not convinced about the premium spot know he'll stick up the middle on the dirt, and the University of Florida recruit's name was popping up in first-round conversations as the spring season wore on.

A cousin of Ken Caminiti, Cam Caminiti was thought to be one of the best players in the 2025 Draft class when he reclassified for 2024. That made him one of the youngest players in the class, one who will still be 17 years old at the time of the Draft. A solid two-way player who could be a prospect as a hitter, he separated himself on the mound with strong performances on the summer showcase circuit and continued his dominant performances back home in Arizona this spring. Caminiti has the potential to have four legitimate pitches in the future, with projection to all of them. He already throws plenty hard enough, with a fastball that can touch 98 mph and sat 93-95 mph this spring, and scouts feel there's more in the tank. He commands it well and it misses a lot of bats thanks to ride and carry up in the zone combined with deception in his delivery. He can show a distinct curve and slider, though both can get loose because of inconsistent finish, and there is a bit of a split camp among scouts over which is the better offering, but he answered a lot of concerns about his feel to spin this spring. He hadn't used his changeup much at all prior to this year, but it became a real go-to pitch for him, giving him another at least above-average offering. The athleticism Caminiti shows when he's playing center field helps him on the mound and there's confidence he'll be able to use his repeatable delivery and be a consistent strike-thrower as he matures. Committed to LSU, he has the chance to be the first Arizona prep pitcher to be taken in the first round since Matthew Liberatore went No. 16 overall to the Rays in 2018.

Gatorade's 2023 Oklahoma high school player of the year as a junior, Mayfield took the summer off following a heavy workload en route to the Oklahoma 4-A state semifinals. Scouts had him on their radar but weren't expecting him to break out and become a potential first-rounder this spring. He starred at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February, touched 96 mph in his first game a month later and never let up while repeating as the state's Gatorade winner.. After working with an upper-80s fastball last spring, Mayfield is dealing at 92-95 mph and reaching 97 with armside run and carry. He already possesses an advanced changeup that parks in the low 80s and drops at the plate, making his heater even more effective. His slurvy upper-70s breaking ball stands out more for his ability to locate it than its power or shape. Mayfield creates extension with his fluid delivery and repeats it well, enabling him to put his pitches where he wants. The Oklahoma State recruit is a bit scary for some teams because of a lack of track record and data from the showcase circuit, and some clubs will quibble with his age (19 years, 5 months on Draft Day), but his upside is obvious. He may have more projection remaining and shares some similarities with Jordan Wicks -- while being a much better prospect at the same stage.

Illinois' top high school prospect in 2021, Hess turned down overtures from pro teams in order to attend Alabama. The Crimson Tide produced just two first-round picks (Joe Vitiello, Taylor Tankersley) in the first 59 Drafts, but Hess has the stuff to become the third. He has stayed healthy this spring after missing time in each of his first two college seasons, though his control has regressed and probably will knock him out of the top 30 picks. Hess' best offering is a four-seam fastball that sits at 92-96 mph and reaches 99 with run and carry up in the strike zone. His mid-80s slider with two-plane depth gives him a second plus offering and he can turn it into a shorter, harder cutter. He also can employ an average mid-70s curveball to give batters a different look but has lost faith in a fading mid-80s changeup that showed flashes of becoming a solid offering in the past. Built along the lines of Lance Lynn at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Hess posted a 49/8 K/BB ratio in 36 1/3 innings as a sophomore before his walk rate nearly tripled this year. His strong frame and clean delivery should lend themselves to durability, but he repeatedly has had health issues that included a stress fracture in his back in high school and a flexor strain in 2023. He has the upside of a No. 2 starter but will need to throw more strikes to reach it.

Teams that weigh age heavily won't be interested in Nori, who'll turn 20 three months after the 2024 Draft and is easily the oldest high school player in MLB Pipeline's rankings. There also are evaluators who believe his all-around tools are comparable to Alek Thomas' at the same stage and think he's a better bet to hit than fellow Michigan prepster Caleb Bonemer. His grandfather, Fred Nori, recruited Kyle Schwarber to Indiana as an assistant coach, and his father Micah is a longtime NBA assistant coach currently with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Part of a state Division 1 championship team this spring, Nori has a mature approach at the plate, controlling the strike zone and looking to make consistent contact to all fields. He has a quick, direct left-handed swing and will shorten his stroke with two strikes. While he's strong and shows average power during batting practice, he focuses on producing line drives rather than launching balls during games. Nori posts top-of-the-scale 60-yard dash times and is a well above-average runner who's aggressive on the bases. A Mississippi State commit, he chases down balls from gap to gap as a no-doubt center fielder and his solid arm strength is another asset. He's physically maxed out and offers no projection, but he has plenty of talent and scouts love his makeup as well.

After drawing little interest from pro teams or major college programs as a Texas high schooler, Janek has developed into arguably the 2024 Draft's best catching prospect after three years at Sam Houston. His stock surged at the 2023 Karbach Classic, where he went 5-for-13 with a pair of doubles, squared up a 97-mph fastball from Louisiana State's Chase Shores and backpicked a runner. He continued to impress in the Cape Cod League last summer and played his way into first-round consideration this spring while winning the Buster Posey Award as college baseball's top catcher. With impressive bat speed and good strength, Janek creates plus raw power that translates into average game pop with most of his home runs driven to his pull side. While he's an aggressive right-handed hitter who looks to launch balls and frequently chases pitches out of the strike zone, he's showing more patience and doing a better job of using the entire field in 2024. Though he has below-average speed, he runs better than most catchers and will steal bases if opponents don't keep him honest. Conference USA's 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, Janek is agile behind the plate and does a nice job framing pitches. He can get lackadaisical with his receiving, which grades as merely average until he cleans it up. He controls the running game with his plus arm strength and quick release.

Gatorade's Arkansas high school Player of the Year as a junior in 2023, Caldwell continued to play well on the showcase circuit before he broke a fibula during the USA Baseball 18-and-under trials in August. Though he lacks size, he's a dynamic player who's an outfield version of the Mets' Jett Williams. Williams played his way into the first round in 2022 and Caldwell may have done the same in 2024 after leading Valley View HS (Jonesboro) to the Arkansas 5-A championship and repeating as Gatorade's top player in the state. Caldwell is an advanced hitter with a mature approach who makes consistent line-drive contact to all fields. His 5-foot-9 frame means he has shorter levers and a smaller strike zone than most prospects, and he parlays them into a quick left-handed stroke and on-base ability. While he won't be a slugger, he has impressive bat speed and enough strength to provide 15 or more homers per season. An aggressive player who delivers constant energy, Caldwell has well-above-average speed and makes things happen on the bases. The Mississippi recruit is a quality defender who covers a lot of ground in center field and will have no problems remaining there in pro ball. His fringy arm strength is fine for center.

Moore was one of the best high school hitters in the 2022 Draft class, a left-handed-hitting catcher who drew some comparisons to 2020 first-round pick Tyler Soderstrom. He became the highest-ranked hitter on MLB Pipeline's Draft Top 250 not to sign, instead heading to Stanford. He had a tremendous first half of his freshman year before fading a bit in conference play and a solid fall had scouts excited to see what he can do in his Draft-eligible sophomore season. He got off to a slow start production-wise, but the underlying metrics were still good enough to keep him from sliding too much. There is still confidence that Moore will hit at the next level. He makes a lot of hard contact to all fields and has easily plus raw power he showed he can tap into with 15 home runs as a freshman. He's shown he can have an advanced approach at the plate, including doing damage with two strikes, though he wore out catching every day in his first year of college. While his surface numbers were down for much of his sophomore season, he still had elite chase rates and swing-and-miss rates in the zone. If teams think he can be an average catcher, he could easily be considered a top 10 pick, but scouts aren't quite as convinced on his glove as they are on his bat. He's not a bad receiver and moves decently enough, with some scouts seeing improvement behind the dish this spring. He'll flash an average arm, but it's often more fringy, though some of that can be cleaned up with improved footwork. Even if a team thinks he'll need to move to first base, his offensive potential could make him a first-rounder.

Waldschmidt was lightly recruited and scouted as a Florida high schooler because he injured his arm in a home-plate collision as a freshman catcher, could only DH as a sophomore and lost most of his junior season to the pandemic shutdown. He posted a 1.043 OPS in his first college season at the College of Charleston, then dipped to .872 in 2023 after transferring to Kentucky. He was off to a hot start in the Cape Cod League when he stepped in a hole making a throw from the outfield, blew out his left knee and required ACL surgery that limited him to DH duties in the first three weeks of this season. Since getting fully healthy, he has wowed scouts with his tools and performance while dazzling analysts with his metrics, pushing his way into the first round. Few players in this Draft can match Waldschmidt's ability to make contact, avoid chasing pitches and produce high exit velocities. He has a very patient approach and a quick right-handed stroke that looks less uphill than it did in his first season with the Wildcats. He uses the entire field but also has an affinity for driving balls in the air to his pull side. As Waldschmidt has gotten healthier, his run times have improved from fringy earlier in the season to solid with flashes of plus. The only real knock on him is that he's a subpar left fielder who looks tentative at times, though some evaluators wonder if his quickness should merit a look in center field at the next level. He played primarily third base at Charleston but his below-average arm doesn't fit at the hot corner.

The University of Virginia baseball program has routinely churned out tremendous Draft talent, highlighted by Ryan Zimmerman and Chris Taylor on the position-player side, with recent early-round picks Kyle Teel and Jake Gelof in 2023 and Jake's older brother, Zack, in 2021. O'Ferrall doesn't quite have the thump those predecessors showed, but he has performed for two years running in the ACC and was one of the best hitters for Team USA over the summer. While O'Ferrall doesn't have any eye-popping tools, he gets every ounce out of his abilities thanks to plus instincts and makeup. He knows who he is as a hitter, with impressive bat-to-ball skills and an ability to work at-bats. He draws walks and gets on base, and while there isn't a ton of impact or power, he has a very good feel for the barrel. He's a tick-above-average runner, but is smart on the basepaths and can steal a base. Just like with his offensive game, O'Ferrall is greater than the sum of his parts in the infield. He might have just average arm strength, but it plays better because he uses his feet well and always puts himself in the position to get rid of the ball quickly and accurately. He has good footwork and enough range with a good chance to stick at shortstop long-term. His performance puts him in the top few rounds, and if he shows any strength gains in 2024, he could float up boards.

A standout catcher at powerhouse Barbe HS (Lake Charles, La.), DeBarge was too small to draw pro interest out of high school. He moved to shortstop after arriving at Louisiana-Lafayette and is a better prospect than recent Ragin' Cajuns standouts at the position: 2015 third-rounder Blake Trahan and 2020 fifth-rounder Hayden Cantrelle. He plays bigger than his 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame and earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year accolades this spring. An elite contact hitter, DeBarge recognizes pitches extremely well and rarely chases out of the strike zone or swings and misses. His right-handed stroke is quick, compact and flat, designed to put the ball in play so easily that it does cut into his walk totals. He has some sneaky power to his pull side but doesn't drive the ball in the air consistently and slugged just .297 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer. DeBarge has the tools and instincts to impact games in a number of ways. He has plus speed and uses it aggressively on the bases. His quick hands, strong arm and fine internal clock allow him to play a solid shortstop and he also looked good at third base on the Cape.

Burke tied Tennessee's freshman home run record with 14 in just 95 at-bats in 2022 but slumped a bit despite going deep 16 times last spring. He has been a more polished hitter as a junior, leading NCAA Division I with 30 doubles and setting another Volunteers mark with a 31-game hitting streak. He mashed his way into the top two rounds of the Draft while winning Southeastern Conference tournament MVP honors and helping Tennessee win its first College World Series championship. Burke has an impressive combination of bat speed and strength and leverage in his 6-foot-3, 236-pound frame, which generate plus-plus raw power and consistently high exit velocities. His left-handed pop plays to all parts of the ballpark, and he has grown to realize that he can hit home runs without swinging for the fences. After striking out in 31 percent of his plate appearances as a freshman, he has increased his contact rates by becoming less pull-happy, though he's still prone to chasing pitches out of the strike zone. While Burke has become more reliable at first base, he's still a below-average defender with limited range. With well-below-average speed and subpar arm strength, he has no other defensive options. Despite his lack of quickness, he's an opportunistic basestealer who will take advantage if opponents forget about him.

Wisconsin is an underrated source of talent and produces a quality high school infielder seemingly every year. The latest is Dix, who comes from the same Whitefish Bay HS program that spawned Craig Counsell. Dix has a similar gamer mentality but better tools, though he was hampered on the showcase circuit last summer by a right shoulder injury that required labrum surgery in the fall. A switch-hitter, Dix employs a simple stroke and a disciplined, all-fields approach that allows him to make consistent contact from both sides of the plate. His shoulder slowed down his swing last summer, but when healthy he has enough bat speed and projectable strength to provide 15-20 homers per season. His offensive game resembles that of D.J. LeMahieu, though Dix is a more twitchier athlete. While his defense was difficult to evaluate last summer because his shoulder injury reduced his solid arm strength to well-below-average, Dix has a good chance to stick at shortstop. He has solid speed and good hands, and he showed off his versatility by playing all four infield positions at the Area Code Games. The Wake Forest recruit gained respect with his desire to test himself against quality competition despite not being at full health, and scouts praise his work ethic and leadership.

Doughty wasn't on the radar much, and wasn't at all of the high profile showcase events over the summer, but came on the scene in a big way at the Area Code Games with some serious swing-and-miss stuff. He didn't pitch in the fall for Chaparral High School in California, but the scouting industry was buzzing this spring when he came out of the gate showing that what he did late in the summer appears to be for real. While Doughty isn't all that big at 6-foot-1, he is compact, strong and extremely athletic on the mound. He has a quick arm that fires fastballs up to 96-97 mph with life and solid command. He misses bats with it and even more so with his power low-80s curve, that tops 3,000 rpm and features tight break. He has an 83-85 mph slider with two-plane late lateral movement, and some think both breaking pitches could be plus in time. He has some feel for a changeup, but he doesn't throw it much. Doughty's athleticism helps him find the strike zone very consistently, especially given his power repertoire. Those who were around him at the Area Code Games also saw plus makeup, a kid who was a sponge for pitching knowledge, something he would take to Oklahoma State should the Draft not go his way. Since he's come out and shown he can dominate like he did late last summer, he may never make it to campus, with his name coming up in early-round discussions.

Hailing from a Notre Dame High School program in California that has produced Hunter Greene and Giancarlo Stanton among other former big leaguers, Sterling is a solid two-way player in high school, one who has both pitched and hit against good competition on the summer showcase circuit as well as for Team USA. Most scouts like him more on the mound than in the batter's box, and there was a split camp this spring as his stuff fluctuated throughout his senior season. While Sterling will play shortstop and likely pitch once a week during the high school season, it's his upside on the bump that has the industry excited. He has a loose, clean arm action coming from a three-quarters slot and a lean, athletic body that points to a lot of projection. He's already throwing his fastball in the 92-mph range, touching 94 with ride and run, and he can really spin the baseball with a plus 80-mph curve he can throw for strikes and an effective mid-80s sweeper. His changeup is an emerging pitch and could eventually give him a fourth above-average-or-better offering. There were times this spring when his stuff trended in the wrong direction, though some scouts felt that might have been a matter of fatigue from playing shortstop regularly when he wasn't pitching. Sterling's athleticism helps him repeat his delivery. He should be a solid strike-thrower in the future, and there should be more in the tank velocity-wise to come as he matures. The Texas recruit will still only be 17 at Draft time, another factor working in his favor.

Despite displaying first-round stuff during his summer high school senior season and getting overtures of first-round money from pro teams in 2021, Brecht turned them down because he was set on playing wide receiver at Iowa. He redshirted in football in his first year with the Hawkeyes and played sparingly in his second before deciding to concentrate on baseball last March. He led NCAA Division I with a .143 opponent average in 2023 before getting off to a slow start this spring as scouts complained about how Iowa has messed with his pitches and mechanics. He made some adjustments on his own and finished strong, which should allow him to become the program's first first-rounder since Tim Costo in 1990. When he's on, Brecht's fastball and slider are comparable to those of Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in last year's Draft. He can sit at 96-99 mph and touch 101 with his heater, which has explosive running action and superior shape to Skenes' fastball, though Brecht doesn't locate his nearly as well. All that said, his best pitch is a slider that parks at 87-89 mph and peaks at 91 with plenty of horizontal and vertical action. Iowa has had Brecht use more sliders than fastballs, which hasn't helped him improve his well below-average command of the latter pitch. He also doesn't have a lot of feel for his sparsely used splitter, which averages 93 mph with promising tumble at its best. He finished third in D-I with 61 walks in 77 innings last spring, has had similar control issues this year, may never have average command and comes with considerable reliever risk. But he's also an exceptional athlete and baseball has his full attention, so he could take off with pro instruction.

Lomavita came out of a St. Louis High School program in Hawaii that produced such big leaguers as Jordan Yamamoto and Brandon League, but didn't garner much pro attention in his senior season in 2021. He started making a name for himself as a freshman at Cal, then raised his profile with a .979 OPS and 16 homers as a sophomore. Hitting well for two straight summers in the Cape Cod League hasn't hurt, making him one of the better catching prospects in the class. Lomavita's stock has soared as his bat potential has improved. He utilizes an unusual approach and swing mechanics from the right side, with the drop of his back leg to create a launch-oriented swing, but he routinely finds the barrel. He can drive the ball to all fields and really started to tap into his raw power in 2023 as he chased less and recognized spin better. The chase rate did creep back up this spring and Lomavita could use some approach refinement as he is a very aggressive hitter who swings at everything. He runs very well for a catcher and can steal a bag with excellent instincts on the basepaths. While his athleticism helps him behind the plate, he's still learning the nuances of receiving. He has plus arm strength, it would easily be a 60 arm from third base, but he's still learning to shorten his arm stroke and quicken his release behind the plate. He could handle the hot corner or even the outfield if needed, but there's no reason to think he can't stick behind the dish and he was appearing to win the Northern California college catcher battle with Stanford's Malcolm Moore.

Though White produced some of the best raw power and exit velocities in the 2021 class, pro teams wouldn't meet his asking price and he opted to attend North Carolina State. He homered three times in his first college game and nine times in his first eight contests en route to setting NCAA Division I freshman and Wolfpack records with 27 longballs. He transferred to Louisiana State as a sophomore and went deep 24 times while topping D-I with 105 RBIs and helping the Tigers win the College World Series -- despite injuring his right shoulder in the season opener and requiring minor surgery during the summer. White hit 24 more homers this spring to rank eighth all-time in NCAA Division I with 75 for his career, generating huge right-handed power to all fields with strength, bat speed and an uncanny ability to barrel balls. Known more for his slugging, he's underrated as a hitter who makes repeated contact with impressive exit velocities. Though he's overly aggressive and regularly expands his strike zone, he rarely swings and misses. As a well-below-average runner with average arm strength, White provides limited value on the bases and in the field. Mostly a DH as a freshman, he has primarily played third base since and likely will wind up at first base in pro ball. He lacks range and is erratic at the hot corner, though he earns praise for gritting through the 2023 season and filling a team need despite his bad shoulder.

A two-sport standout who was the starting quarterback and top starting pitcher for Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh, Shields was looking like he might be one of the more intriguing arms in the class of 2025. A decision to give up football and reclassify for the 2024 Draft immediately created some buzz, as did his performance at summer showcase events like Major League Baseball's PDP League. A bout with mono just prior to the start of his senior season slowed him out of the gate, but scouts were watching him as he returned to the mound and the weather in southwest Pennsylvania warmed. Athletic and super-projectable, Shields has plenty of raw stuff and it's easy to dream on more in the tank to come. He has starting pitcher traits, starting with a fastball that's up to 94 mph now. He can throw it to both sides of the plate, and thanks to some deception and solid ride with good extension, it misses a good amount of bats. So does his above-average slider -- a low-80s sweeper he can land for strikes and use to expand the zone. He also has good feel for an average changeup. Shields' athleticism is a plus on the mound, helping him to repeat his delivery consistently. Everything comes out easy for the left-handed Miami recruit, and he can throw all of his pitches for strikes. He'll still be 17 come Draft time, another plus, with the chance for him to have a big up arrow next to his name as the spring unfolds.

Thomas exhibited some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the Texas high school ranks in 2022, but he missed time with a wrist injury and was unsignable from a Texas commitment, so he went undrafted. Two years later, he's one of the best pure hitters and top sophomore-eligible prospects in the 2024 Draft. He's adding to his value by showing he can play center field in addition to first base for the Longhorns. Thomas has good feel for the barrel and doesn't try to do too much at the plate, letting his pretty left-handed swing work for him. He has traded some contact for power this spring, hitting the ball harder and showing that he should be able to provide 15-20 homers per season. He offers one of the higher floors among college bats and his ceiling continues to rise as he displays more pop. To complement his hitting ability, Thomas offers several other promising tools. He's a solid runner and quicker once he gets going, though he's not much of a basestealer. He provides a plus glove at first base and also is a solid defender with arm strength to match in center field.

Gatorade's Michigan high school player of the year in both 2023 and 2024, Bonemer put on some monster performances on the showcase circuit last summer. He homered twice at Perfect Game National and went 6-for-11 with three doubles at the Area Code Games but struggled at other events, so opinions vary based on when scouts saw him. Once considered a potential first-rounder by some clubs, he hasn't had a strong spring and is more likely to go in the second round. Bonemer features some of the best bat speed in this high school class, and it combines with his strength to give him well above-average raw power. How much it will translate into game production is a matter of debate because he aggressively looks to launch balls to his pull side, which leads to popups and strikeouts. He holds his hands high at the plate, which adds some length to his right-handed swing, but he also has little difficulty handling premium velocity. Bonemer's speed is tough to peg because he takes big hacks that lead to below-average home-to-first times, but he's average to solid once he gets going and can record plus times in the 60-yard dash. He has soft hands and can make throws from a variety of angles with solid arm strength at shortstop, though he may not have ideal quickness for the position at higher levels. The Virginia recruit profiles better at third base, where he could be an asset defensively.

Multi-sport standouts in high school can come in all shapes and sizes … and sports. Most prospects come from the football-baseball combination. Sometimes athletes will come from the basketball court to the diamond, but Dickerson pulls off a rarely-seen trifecta. The New Jersey star was late to baseball this spring because he was busy helping his Morris Knolls High School win a state championship in hockey. He didn't create much buzz early as a result, but he was more than making up for it with some serious helium as the season went on, positioning himself as perhaps the best prep bat in the Northeast. A strong and athletic right-handed hitter and middle infielder, Dickerson has some exciting offensive traits. Some have seen a very good feel for the barrel and an all-fields approach that focuses on the center of the diamond. Others feel his swing is more strength-based than bat speed, but he has a short and simple swing that he repeats easily and has shown the ability to adjust to make plenty of contact. Anyone who has seen him feels there's plenty of power for him to tap into, some of which was showing up more this spring. With a compact and strong build that reminds some of fellow Garden State product Mike Trout, Dickerson is a plus runner with some 6.3-60 times to his credit. He has good hands and easy actions, so he could start his career at short, though some feel his arm is a touch short for the premium position. He should be able to stay up the middle, with a move to second or center field distinct possibilities. He was moving up into top few rounds conversations, with teams knowing they'll have to sign him away from his commitment to Virginia.

Scouts flocked to Silverado HS (Las Vegas) in 2021 to see Tanner McDougal, who signed with the White Sox as a fifth-rounder, and Cortez, who had a better senior season and opted to attend Texas A&M. He has served in a variety of roles for the Aggies, opening this year as a starter before finding more success as a multi-inning reliever and dominating in the NCAA tournament (1.18 ERA, 29 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings) as A&M finished second at the College World Series. Few pitchers in this Draft generate as much velocity as easily as he does. With little effort, Cortez produces fastballs that park at 96-98 mph and peak at 100 with power sink that makes them almost impossible to lift. Hitters can't try to sit on his heater because he also has a power slider that ranges from 86-92 mph with plenty of horizontal and vertical action. He doesn't have much feel for an upper-80s changeup with modest fade and rarely uses it. Cortez's control has fluctuated wildly in college, as he pounded the strike zone as a freshman before walking nearly a batter per inning as a sophomore. He has thrown more strikes in 2024, though he's doing it by getting chases rather than consistently landing his pitches in the zone. Some clubs may consider trying him as a starter but a more realistic ceiling would be as a high-leverage reliever.

Massachusetts' top prep pitching prospect in 2021, Santucci cracked Duke's weekend rotation as a freshman and earned an invitation to try out for the U.S. collegiate national team that summer. He struck out 50 batters in 29 1/3 innings as a sophomore before getting shut down with elbow pain that required surgery to remove bone chips. He has a chance to surpass Bryce Jarvis (18th overall in 2020) as the highest-drafted Blue Devil ever, though control woes this spring and missing three late-season starts with a rib injury hurt his chances. Santucci misses a lot of bats with his 92-96 mph fastball, creating impressive carry and running action on a flat approach angle from a high arm slot. His low-80s slider can be a wipeout pitch with two-plane break at its best. His fading mid-80s changeup gives him a third weapon, though he doesn't use it very often and can struggle to land it in the zone. A premium athlete who also has gotten sporadic at-bats as an outfielder/DH at Duke, Santucci is focusing solely on pitching now. While he hasn't been a consistent strike-thrower, he has an easy delivery and the ingredients to develop average control. He could blossom into a mid-rotation starter.

Two Texas high school shortstops have shot up Draft boards this spring, with Theo Gillen ranking ahead of Sanford because he has more offensive upside but the latter providing more speed and defense. Sanford comes with big league bloodlines, as his father, Chance, was also an infielder who played 19 games with the Pirates and Dodgers in the late 1990s. He performed well at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in October and helped his cause by adding strength during the offseason. One of the best defensive shortstops in the 2024 high school class, Sanford has range to both sides and solid-to-plus arm strength. There's no doubt he can stay at the position, but his athleticism and tools would enable him to play almost anywhere on the diamond in a utility role. He produces consistent plus run times and is an asset on the bases. Though he has increased his bat speed from the left side of the plate as he has gotten stronger, there are some mixed reviews on Sanford's bat. The Texas A&M recruit has a mature gap-to-gap approach and makes good swing decisions, but he has spread out more with his legs this spring in search of contact. He'll probably need to rework his setup in pro ball and may top out at 15 homers per season.

North Carolina State has sent Andrew Knizner and Patrick Bailey to the big leagues in recent years, and Cozart is the next catcher in the Wolfpack pipeline. There are differences of opinion as to whether his offense or defense stands out more, but the consensus is that he's one of the top catchers in the college class. That alone should put him in the top two rounds, and he could go higher after starring during the Wolfpack's run to the College World Series. After struggling offensively as a freshman, Cozart is hitting the ball with more authority. He makes consistent contact and drives the ball in the air on a regular basis. He offers 20-homer potential from the left side of the plate and his pop plays from left-center to the right-field line, though it's the product more of strength than bat speed. Though he's bigger than most catchers at 6-foot-3, Cozart gets the job done as a receiver and has a knack for stealing strikes, but his framing is so pronounced that it may not play as well in pro ball. He has average arm strength but will display solid pop times on occasion. A well-below-average runner, he'll slow further as he accrues more wear and tear behind the plate.

Hall made a huge impression at the Area Code Games in August, when he struck out 10 of the 18 batters he faced, including nine with a fastball that had an event-best peak velocity of 97 mph. He's a consensus second-round talent heading into his senior season, though there are some scouts who believe he's on an upward trajectory that could make him the first prep pitcher drafted. He may have to go early to be lured away from a Vanderbilt commitment. Hall relies heavily on a fastball that sits at 91-94 mph and reaches 98 with explosive life up in the strike zone. With his athleticism and projectable 6-foot-3 frame, he could regularly deal in the mid-90s once he gets stronger. He throws two distinct breaking balls, with his low-80s slider showing more promise and getting more chases than his mid-70s curveball, which lacks consistency but elicits swings and misses. Though Hall barely uses his mid-80s changeup, it could become an average pitch once he employs it more and gains more velocity separation from his fastball. He moves well on the mound and works with a high arm slot that creates induced vertical break on his heater and depth on his breaking pitches. He already pounds the zone with his fastball but needs to improve his control of his secondary offerings.

One of college baseball's best two-way players in two seasons at Wichita State, Tolle transferred to Texas Christian for 2024. While his large frame and well-above-average raw power brought to mind former Horned Frogs slugger/lefty pitcher Luken Baker, Tolle surprisingly struggled at the plate and focused more on pitching this spring. Relying primarily on his fastball, he won Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year honors while striking out 105 in 69 innings and working his way into the top three rounds. Tolle uses his 6-foot-6 frame to create more extension (an average of 7 feet, 4 inches) in his delivery than most pitchers in this Draft. That enables his 90-92 mph fastball to play much better than its below-average velocity, and he shows the ability to run it in on lefties or bore it in on righties. His heater tops out at 96 and he uses it nearly three-quarters of the time, complementing it with an average sweeping slider that hovers around 80 mph. Tolle barely employs his low-80s changeup with mild fade. He's a below-average athlete with average control at best, yet college hitters can't touch his heater. He's a polarizing prospect whose proponents extol his fastball metrics while others see him as more of a multi-inning reliever than a starter.

Nebraska hasn't had a high school player drafted since 2019 but that should change with Lewis, who might sneak into the supplemental first round and become the state's highest prep position player selection ever. He got stronger and faster heading into his senior season and dazzled at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February, recording the quickest 60-yard dash (6.4 seconds) and finishing at or near the top of most of the athletic testing categories. He has shown increased pop in game action while leading Millard West HS (Omaha) to its second state Class A championship in three years and winning Gatorade Nebraska high school player of the year honors. Lewis has a quick left-handed stroke and is driving the ball harder and more consistently than he has in the past. He can get overly pull-happy as he looks to tap into more power and comes with some swing-and-miss concerns. He tends to tinker with his batting stance, but if everything comes together, he could develop into a .260 hitter with 20 homers per season. Lewis' 60-yard time translates more into solid-to-plus speed on the diamond, where he's aggressive on the bases and rangy at shortstop. The Arkansas recruit has inconsistent hands and actions on defense, and he doesn't always cut throws loose and make the most of his solid arm strength. If he can't stick at short, he would profile well at second or third base.

Left-handed pitching is always hard to find. Southpaws who are 6-foot-7, like Bateman, are bound to garner a lot of attention. The big lefty certainly found his way onto follow lists over the summer, showing glimpses of premium stuff at events like MLB's PDP League and the Area Code Games, giving him the chance to be the first player from Adolfo Camarillo High School in California to go in the first few rounds since Delmon Young was the No. 1 overall pick back in 2003. Bateman's size and his makeup could be separators as the spring unfolds, though his current two-pitch mix is nothing to sneeze at. He's shown he can touch 97 mph with his fastball and was sitting around 92 mph over the course of his summer showcase tour. He has a pretty true 1-to-7 type of curve, with big spin and depth at the plate. It's already a plus pitch. The development of a third pitch is a key area of growth for Bateman. Finding a changeup that works will continue to be something he'll have to focus on at the next level and could make him one of the best high schoolers to come out of this class. He showed improved strike-throwing over the summer and while his walk rate might concern some, he's largely been around the zone, and there's belief he'll keep trending in the right direction as he learns to get his large frame in sync consistently. The LSU recruit gets high marks for his work ethic, adding confidence that he can do what's needed to excel at the next level.

Cunningham had sporadic success in his first two years at Vanderbilt, recording a 6.33 ERA as a swingman. He was much more effective as a starter in the Cape Cod League, making two all-star game appearances and winning a pair of championships with Bourne. The summer version of Cunningham has shown up more often this spring as he has taken a step forward with his stuff and command, secured a rotation spot and worked his way into the top two rounds. While Cunningham's mid-90s fastball velocity with a peak of 97 mph is nothing new, he's doing a better job of locating his heater and keeping it off barrels with carry up in the zone. It plays extremely well with one of the best swing-and-miss changeups in college baseball, a hard upper-80s cambio that plummets at the plate. His sweeping mid-80s slider is an effective third offering. Improving his strength and athleticism has helped Cunningham do a better job of repeating his clean delivery. He's throwing more strikes and maintaining his stuff deeper into games. He exhibits the upside of a No. 2 or 3 starter and unlocking a better slider could help him get there.

Mathis got only a handful of at-bats while spending most of his 2022 freshman year at College of Charleston as a reliever. He became one of college baseball's top two-way players last spring, leading the Cougars in both OPS (1.014) and ERA (3.45) before finishing second in the Cape Cod League with 11 homers. The program's best position prospect since 2005 third-rounder Brett Gardner, he recovered from a slow start to slash .335/.472/.650 with 14 longballs this spring. While Mathis may not have the prettiest right-handed swing, it's an effortless stroke that produces consistent contact to all fields. He has solid power, driving most of his home runs to left-center, and might do more damage if he launched balls in the air more frequently. He controls the strike zone well and draws plenty of walks. Mathis has fringy speed and decent athleticism but is limited to first base despite his plus arm strength. Though some clubs viewed him as a potential back-of-the-rotation starter, he has focused on hitting this year while dealing with an elbow injury. His best offering is a mid-70s downer curveball that he commands well, and he also works with a low-90s fastball with running action and a fringy cutter and changeup that both park in the mid-80s.

The Illinois high school ranks produced a pair of first-round pitchers (Owen Murphy, Noah Schultz) in 2022 and another arm who got first-round money (Blake Wolters) in 2023. Sloan has a better combination of stuff and polish than any of them and should become a first-rounder in July. He dominated throughout the summer showcase circuit while getting swings-and-misses with three different pitches that could grade as plus once he's fully developed. Gatorade's Illinois high school player of the year, Sloan shows the ability to manipulate a 93-96 mph fastball that tops out at 99, as he can ride and run it at the top of the zone, cut it in on left-handers or sink it for ground balls. He has a more advanced changeup than most prepsters, throwing hitters off balance with a mid-80s cambio that fades and sinks. His low-80s slider is nearly as good, featuring two-plane depth and some horizontal action as well. Six-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Sloan has a strong lower half and is built to eat innings. A Wake Forest recruit, he uses his size to create extension and a flat approach angle to add deception. He repeats his delivery well and throws his entire arsenal for quality strikes.

Because he's an Alabama high school shortstop with a bigger frame than most at his position, Johnson gets compared to Gunnar Henderson. The 2023 American League Rookie of the Year was more athletic as a prepster, but Johnson has similar offensive upside at the same stage. He had an up-and-down summer, homering twice at the PDP League and starring at East Coast Pro, but scuffling at other events and with the U.S. 18-and-under team. Johnson is a mature hitter with a willingness to use the entire field, though some evaluators worry about the bat wrap in his left-handed swing. He doesn't have any trouble handling velocity, but he needs to do a better job of staying back on offspeed pitches. Most of his present power goes to his pull side, but as he gets stronger, his pop should play to all fields and he could provide 20 homers per year. Johnson can flash slightly above-average speed but figures to slow down a bit as he matures physically. Though the Alabama recruit has good hands and actions at shortstop, he likely will lack the range and quickness to stay there in the long term. He projects more as an offensive second baseman, and his solid arm strength also would enable him to handle third base.

The Pennington School is a private high school in New Jersey that has had just one player ever drafted in its history: Don Anderson, taken in Round 33 by the Pirates way back in 1967 (Frankie Hayes spent 14 years in the big leagues in the 1930s and 40s.) Meccage certainly has the talent to break that dry spell after showing off an intriguing combination of stuff, size and projection at summer showcase events like the PDP League and Perfect Game National. As the weather has warmed up in New Jersey, Meccage has continued to perform well. He has a big league body at 6-foot-4 and the potential repertoire to go with it. He was up to 95 mph over the summer and he continues to show he can consistently get to the mid-90s. He combines it with a hard slider, now in the 84-86 mph range, that could be plus in time. He's also working on a slower curve that could be a solid average offering, and both pitches are thrown with really high spin rates. He does have some feel for a changeup, but doesn't use it much at this level. There is some effort in Meccage's delivery and he's struggled at times with his command, but with two plus power pitches and a potential four-pitch mix, there's a lot to like. Add in some bloodlines -- his father was drafted and his uncle is the current bullpen coach for the Pirates -- and there are bound to be teams interested in finding out what it might take to sign him away from his commitment to Virginia.

Pitre starred on Canadian provincial teams and played for the national junior team, ranking as Quebec's best position player prospect in 2021 before heading to college at Kentucky. He played sparingly as a freshman before becoming a catalyst for the Wildcats the past two seasons. One of the better second-base prospects available, he could fit into the first five rounds. Pitre has a mature approach, working deep counts and concentrating on making all-fields contact so he can get on base. He's pulling more pitches and producing solid exit velocities in 2024, but he still has a flat left-handed swing that generates a lot of grounders and cuts into his power production. He struggled with wood bats in the Cape Cod League and may top out at 10 homers per season in pro ball. A solid runner, Pitre is an aggressive basestealer. He has good infield actions and covers a lot of ground at second base, where he's a quality defender. His fringy-to-average arm strength will limit his effectiveness at shortstop and third base if he winds up in a utility role.

Stephen served as a high-leverage reliever for Purdue as a freshman before becoming the Boilermakers' No. 1 starter as a sophomore. Following a strong summer in the Cape Cod League, he transferred to Mississippi State and has improved throughout the spring. His Draft stock has risen accordingly and he could sneak into the top three rounds. Stephen's fastball operates at 92-94 mph and touches 96, but it's most notable for natural carry that allows it to miss more than its share of bats. His best secondary pitch is a solid mid-80s changeup with significant fade. He also possesses a pair of average breaking balls with similar movement, favoring his mid-80s slider over his upper-70s curveball. Few college pitchers can match Stephen's feel for four pitches. He has the ability to get in-zone swings and misses as well as chases on each of his offerings, and he commands his fastball particularly well. He lacks a true plus offering but has a high floor as a No. 4 or 5 starter.

The son of former NASCAR driver Lyndon Amick, Billy barely played as a freshman or in the first month of his sophomore season at Clemson. After the Tigers inserted him in their lineup last March, he batted .413/.464/.772 and then continued to rake in a brief stint in the Cape Cod League. Unhappy with being limited to DH and first base by the Tigers, he sought an opportunity to play third base and transferred to Tennessee, where he became one of the most dangerous hitters in the Southeastern Conference and helped the Volunteers win their first College World Series championship. Amick has a quality right-handed swing and repeatedly barrels balls despite frequently chasing pitches out of the strike zone. His aggressive approach yields hard contact to all fields but does cut into his walk totals. His bat speed and strength create plus raw power that plays all over the ballpark and should translate into 20-25 homers per season. Amick has gotten the chance to man the hot corner for the Volunteers and looks like he'll be able to stay there in pro ball. Equipped with below-average speed and quickness along with average arm strength, he's a fringy to average third baseman who has looked more comfortable as he has gained more experience. He does have the work ethic to continue to improve but also may wind up at first base.

The University of Virginia baseball program lost a trio of big bats in the 2023 Draft -- first-rounder Kyle Teel, second-round pick Jake Gelof and sixth-rounder Ethan O'Donnell – but Anderson returns to help anchor the lineup in 2024. He's hit well since he set foot on campus, including posting a 1.118 OPS with 15 homers in 2023, putting him firmly on thes map. He's gotten the chance to raise his profile even more this spring by spending a lot of time trying to replace Teel behind the plate. Anderson is a switch-hitter with a feel for the barrel and plenty of power to tap into. It started to show up more consistently in 2023, but that didn't continue as frequently in his junior season. It shows up more as a left-handed hitter, with some loft in that swing. He has bat speed and strength right-handed as well, but he's more of a line-drive hitter from that side. While he caught in high school, Anderson had seen limited time behind the plate since he headed to Charlottesville. He got a lot of reps this past fall with some encouraging early reports, but the jury is still out about his defensive chops, with some thinking he might be too big to stick there at the next level. He'd mostly played first base prior to this spring and that might end being his best option. Anderson's bat is his carrying tool along with his plus makeup, and if he convinces scouts he can catch, he could shoot up boards.

As a Georgia high schooler, Holton was a top-three-rounds talent but slid to the Brewers in the 19th round of the 2021 Draft because he was committed to Vanderbilt. He immediately thrived as a member of the Commodores' weekend rotation, though he was shut down last May with an arm injury that hasn't been fully clarified. He pitched well early in 2024 but faded down the stretch, saw his velocity drop sharply in an abbreviated final regular-season start and missed the Southeastern Conference tournament. Holton's fastball operates at 93-95 mph and tops out at 98 with some arm-side run. He misses more bats with a low-80s slider that features horizontal and vertical action and shuts down left-handers. His upper-70s curveball was a solid offering in the past before regressing in 2023, and he also owns a sinking mid-80s changeup. Though scouts believe in Holton's stuff and competitive makeup, there are questions about his viability as a long-term starter. He's undersized at 5-foot-11 and missed time last spring, and he uses unorthodox tilt and a high arm slot in his delivery to create leverage. His mechanics can hamper his control and command, though he's throwing more strikes than ever in 2024.

Over the past few years, the mid-Atlantic states have produced some high quality high school bats that have gone in the first couple of rounds. In 2021, Jackson Merrill was a first-rounder from Maryland while James Triantos went in the second from Virginia. Last year, Bryce Eldridge went in the first round while Jonny Farmelo went No. 29 overall. This year, the top prep hitter from the region is Burkholder, a speedy outfielder who seemed to have an up arrow next to his name as the spring progressed. Burkholder already looks like he belongs with a strong and athletic frame that is “what they look like.” And he has some tools to match. The right-handed hitter was one of the best performers at last summer's East Coast Pro Showcase and has the chance to have real impact at the plate. He has plus raw power and can get to it in games at times, though he doesn't always square the ball up, relying on strength at times more than finding the barrel. When he is on time, he can drive the ball. The West Virginia recruit's standout tool is his well-above-average speed. His 70-grade wheels help him on the basepaths and in center field, where he has every chance to stick, with an average arm. He missed a little time with a hamstring injury this spring, but when he's healthy, he looks like he could be a plus defender up the middle. The speed is key -- if he slows down, that could make him more of a fourth outfielder type.

The list of high school catchers from Puerto Rico obviously starts with Yadier Molina, a fourth rounder back in 2000, but it also includes successful big leaguers like Geovany Soto (11th round, 2001) and Christian Vazquez (ninth round, 2008). While Luciano may not go as early as Molina did, solid performances in the PDP League last summer and at this June's MLB Draft Combine have helped cement him as a solid Day 2 option for teams searching for depth behind the plate. Luciano comes from the always-popular left-handed hitting backstop demographic. He has a hit-over-power profile right now, with a solid approach and an ability to make consistent hard contact. There's good line drive gap power right now, and he has shown the ability to turn on pitches and drive them to his pull side a bit more this spring compared to last summer, with some evaluators thinking he could grow into 12-15 homers a year kind of pop. He's not a runner, but he's athletic and won't be a base-clogger, even as he slows down over time behind the plate. Still just 17 on Draft day, Luciano has the kind of arm strength teams covet from their catchers, though he needs to keep working on his exchange to maximize that tool as well as his receiving and framing. The good news is the Miami (Ohio) recruit has been working on those facets of his game with none other than Molina, with confidence he'll be a very solid backup at worst, with the chance to develop into a big league regular the best case outcome.

As a Kansas high schooler, Dreiling drew comparisons to Tennessee star and eventual Astros first-round pick Drew Gilbert. Scouts liked his hitting ability and athleticism but had a hard time evaluating him after he injured his hamstring in the second game of his senior season, so he went undrafted before heading to Knoxville. He excelled in a platoon role as a freshman and has starred as an everyday player as a Draft-eligible sophomore in 2024, earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the College World Series after homering in all three games in the championship series as the Volunteers won their first national title. Dreiling has the chance to hit for average and power because he makes consistent hard contact to all fields. He drives the ball in the air while managing the strike zone, drawing plenty of walks and keeping his quick left-handed swing under control. After looking helpless against southpaws while going 0-for-16 against them in 2023, he has pounded them this spring. Dreiling has solid to plus speed once he gets going but still is learning how to use it. He isn't aggressive on the bases and was so rough defensively that he mostly DHed as a freshman. He has improved as a left fielder but probably won't be more than an average defender with a subpar arm and lacks the instincts for center.

For the second time in five years, Lincoln-Way East HS (Frankfort, Ill.) has a glove-first shortstop who's attracting scouts. Bell is more highly regarded at the same stage than Ryan Ritter, who turned down the Cubs as a 33rd-rounder in 2019 and emerged as a fourth-rounder out of Kentucky three years later. Bell hasn't performed well offensively as a senior, but his defensive prowess still could land him in the second or third round. One of the top shortstops in the 2024 high school class, Bell plays quicker than his average speed and covers ground to both sides. He's a smooth defender who can execute throws from any angle with solid arm strength. He also has a good internal clock and the athleticism to play all over the diamond if he becomes more of a utilityman than an everyday player. A switch-hitter, Bell has impressive bat speed and could develop 20-homer power if he makes projectable strength gains and improvements at the plate. But he didn't hit on the showcase circuit and has been too passive this spring, taking too many hittable pitches and not doing much damage. He'll turn 19 before the Draft, which will rule him out for some clubs, and he'll be a sophomore-eligible in 2026 if he attends Kentucky.

In 2021, the New Jersey high school ranks were teeming with pitching talent, with Chase Petty going in the first round and Anthony Solomento and Shane Panzini getting over-slot deals in the second and fourth. There's an intriguing trifecta of arms this year too, and while maybe not quite as high-profile as that 2021 trio, William Kirk, Bryce Meccage and Levonas, who showed off good stuff in the PDP League and Area Code Games, are all garnering a ton of interest. Thin and wiry strong in a Joe Kelly or Walker Buehler way, Levonas has big stuff despite his smaller frame. He was up to 96-97 mph over the summer and has continued that this spring, throwing the fastball in the 91-96 range. He can really spin two different breaking balls and depending on when he's been seen, both the low-80s slider and upper-70s curve have appeared better, flashing rpm north of 3,000. There's some feel for an upper-80s changeup as well that could be average. Over the summer, Levonas was a little inconsistent results-wise, but that has improved this spring with better control. He has tried to overthrow in the past, hurting his command. The Wake Forest recruit has high energy and intensity on the mound at all times and his raw tools could be enough for teams to strongly consider him in the top few rounds.

Larson was a high school standout in Iowa when he decided to pack his bags and head south to spend his senior year at IMG Academy. The left-hander arrived in Florida with some exciting but inconsistent stuff that was on display during the summer showcase circuit at events like the Area Code Games, and he's taken a step forward in his year in Bradenton. A 6-foot-3 southpaw who has a ton of ceiling, Larson has the potential to eventually have three plus pitches if they all click. With a fast and whippy arm, he already can run his fastball up to 96 mph, sitting in the 93 mph range, and it's easy to dream on more consistent velocity as he matures. When he executes it, his 79-80 mph slider is a true out pitch with depth, registering high spin rates in the process, but it can be slurvy at times. He has a firm upper-80s changeup that he doesn't use that often at this level, but has shown enough feel that some evaluators think it will give him a third plus offering. Larson's ceiling will be determined by how much he can continue to improve his control and command. It was spotty over the summer and it's gotten better this spring, a good trend for a cold-weather player who moved for more reps and better competition. Some may have seen some reliever risk in the Texas Christian recruit in the past, but the same could be said for All-Star Shane McLanahan, who has similar stuff in some scouts' eyes.

Standing out much more with his projectability than his stuff on the showcase circuit last summer, Hill seemed destined to attend Dallas Baptist. Then he made a huge leap this spring while pitching Grapevine HS to the Texas 5-A state championship and now projects to go in the top two rounds and bypass college. He's the Lone Star State's best prep southpaw prospect since Kyle Muller, who signed for $2.5 million as a Braves second-rounder in 2016. After parking around 89-90 mph and topping out at 93 with his fastball last summer, Hill has grown 3 inches, added 15 pounds and started dealing in the low 90s while reaching 96. His best pitch is a high-spin slider in the low 80s that he backfoots well against right-handers. He also has a solid upper-70s curveball with more depth and a low-80s changeup with sink and similar promise. Hill not only possesses four viable offerings but he also has the ability to throw them all for strikes. He still has room to add plenty of muscle to his lanky frame, so his repertoire could continue to get stronger. The biggest knock on him is a lack of history with quality stuff, though his upside at least as a No. 3 starter is hard to deny.

May started his college career at Pima Community College before heading to the University of Arizona for his sophomore season. After an inconsistent year in the Wildcats' rotation, May was on the move again, this time to Oregon State. With the exception of a month missed with an elbow strain, he has been a consistent anchor for the Beavers' rotation. A 6-foot-2 right-hander, May is largely a two-pitch starter in a Spencer Strider type of mold. His fastball sits in the 94-95 mph range, topping out at 97 mph, with good carry through the zone, though it doesn't elicit much swing-and-miss. He throws his plus slider more than his fastball, and for good reason. He often tops 3,000 rpm on the low-80s power breaking ball, a true three-quarters slider with a ton of depth that misses a lot of bats. He does show a little feel for a changeup but doesn't use it much. While May doesn't have pinpoint command, he is generally around the zone and should throw enough strikes at the next level to give him the chance to start. A little more of a third pitch might help, but the chance to end up with two plus pitches, as Strider has shown, can be plenty to start in the big leagues and a reason why teams are looking at May in the top few rounds.

Part of a deep crop of eastern Pennsylvania high schoolers in 2021, Holman was a top-five-rounds talent who lasted until the Blue Jays took him in the 20th round because of his commitment to Alabama. After spending two seasons with the Crimson Tide, he transferred to Louisiana State and should factor in the first two rounds of the 2024 Draft. He was the best pitcher on the U.S. collegiate national team last summer, striking out 15 in eight scoreless innings. Holman's fastball has dipped a bit in 2024, sitting at 92 mph and topping out at 94, but it plays better than its velocity because he commands it well and rides it at the top of the zone with quality induced vertical break. His best pitch is a low-80s slider that he also locates well and features two-plane depth. He also has an upper-70s breaking ball with similar shape and curveball velocity but doesn't have the same feel for it or a sparsely-used mid-80s changeup with some fade and sink. Holman has a high floor as at least a No. 4 starter because he throws consistent strikes with his two main offerings. He already shows aptitude for sequencing his pitches and mixing locations. He has a lean 6-foot-4 frame and more projection remaining than a typical college junior, so his stuff could get better.

In 2020, Isaiah Greene was a second-round pick out of Corona High School in California. In 2024, Corona's best chance at matching Greene's Draft status is Schiefelbein, a lefty who proved his mettle against top competition all summer. He's pitched for Team USA on multiple occasions and he was arguably the best pitcher on the 18U team in Taiwan in 2023, allowing just one run over nine innings, striking out 12. He continued to show he likes the spotlight by tossing a complete-game shutout to help Corona win the National High School Invitational in early April. At 6-foot-1, Schiefelbein isn't the biggest or most physical pitcher in the class, but the left-hander makes up for it by being one of the most competitive arms in the crop. He has a four-pitch mix, starting with a two-seam fastball that typically sits in the 90-93 mph range. He favors his true top-to-bottom curve, but it's more of a get-me-over kind of pitch. Scouts may prefer his harder slider, which has the chance to be a true out pitch. He has good feel for a changeup, which could be above average in time. There is some effort in Schiefelbein's delivery, particularly in his lower half, and he doesn't have the longest extension in the world. But the UCLA recruit has shown the ability to throw strikes and clearly knows how to navigate an at-bat. His makeup and ability to get outs against top competition make him the best pitching prospect out of Corona High School since Tristan Beck played there before heading to Stanford.

California's top high school pitching prospect and one of the best prep southpaws in the 2021 Draft, Jump slid to the Padres in the 18th round because of his strong commitment to UCLA. He injured his elbow midway through his freshman year, leading to Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2023 season. He transferred to Louisiana State, reuniting with former Bruins teammate Thatcher Hurd, and his stuff has returned to previous levels this spring. Hitters have a difficult time picking up Jump's fastball, which ranges from 90-95 mph with significant induced vertical break and carry at the top of the strike zone. It pairs well with his upper-70s curveball that has significant downer break coming out of his high arm slot. He also spins a low-80s slider with more lateral movement and has some feel for a fading low-80s changeup. Jump lacks typical starter's size but he has gotten stronger since having his elbow reconstructed and generates his stuff with arm speed more than effort. He attacks hitters and had a history of throwing four pitches for strikes before getting hurt. If he can maintain his stuff while upgrading his command, he could become a mid-rotation starter.

Johnson is a puzzle for scouts because he has quality stuff and strikes to go with a track record of success but also a scary delivery. The younger brother of M.D. Johnson, who holds Dallas Baptist's NCAA Division I record with 29 wins and now pitches in the Marlins system, Ryan could surpass Vic Black (49th overall in 2009) as the highest pick in school history. The 2024 Conference USA pitcher of the year, he set Patriots records for strikeouts in a season (151) and career (314) while finishing third in NCAA Division I in K/BB ratio (10.8). In an unusual look for a starter, Johnson uses his low-80s slider nearly half the time, but it's a weapon with plenty of lateral movement and he locates it well. His fastball can hit 100 mph and usually parks at 92-96 with arm-side run, though it doesn't dodge as many bats as might be expected. He has added an upper-80s cutter this spring and trusts it more than his upper-70s curveball and his fading mid-80s changeup, which are both fringy offerings. Johnson's mechanics include an abbreviated windup with a side step rather than a leg kick, a slingy low arm slot and a lot of effort. While that doesn't prevent him from throwing a ton of strikes and creates deception, his fastball and slider can vary from electric to ordinary. His delivery and intensity eventually should lead him to the bullpen, where he has late-inning upside.

A starter since he set foot on campus at Rutgers, Kuroda-Grauer started putting his name on the map when he hit .300 as a freshman. He showed a little more impact as a sophomore in 2023, earning an invitation to USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team Training Camp. From there he went to the Cape Cod League, where he struggled in the regular season but hit .444 in the playoffs. He carried that hot bat into his junior season, when he's been among the Division I leaders in hits, giving him the chance to be the second Scarlet Knights hitter to go in the early rounds in as many years. Compact, strong and athletic, Kuroda-Grauer does a lot of things well from the right side of the plate. He almost never strikes out and seldom swings and misses, combining his contact skills with an advanced approach that points toward becoming at least an above-average hitter in the future. Utilizing an upright stance and a simple swing, he works counts and makes good swing decisions. There hasn't been a ton of pop yet, but there is some belief he could grow into 15-homer power in the future. While he's not a burner, Kuroda-Grauer does run well and can steal some bases. Because of his above-average hands and actions to go along with a good internal clock, he has the chance to stick at shortstop, even though he has an arm that is just average. He could be a plus defender at second base should a move be necessary, but it's those bat-to-ball attributes that will help him join 2023 second-rounder Ryan Lasko as a Rutgers position player taken in the top five rounds.

Beam lost his last two high school seasons to the pandemic (2020) and internal brace surgery on his elbow (2021), but that didn't prevent him from making an immediate impact at Tennessee. He won Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year accolades in 2022 and was the best starter on the Volunteers' College World Series team last spring. One of the most polished and consistent pitchers in the college ranks, he allowed two runs in two CWS starts as Tennessee won its first national championship in June, though his arsenal was a little less effective this year than it had been previously. Beam would show flashes of three plus pitches in the past, but his stuff has played mostly average across the board in 2024. His best offering is a mid-80s changeup with fade and sink that works well with a fastball that operates at 93-95 mph and climbs to 98 with carry. He gets good depth on a low-80s curveball and also can mix in an upper-80s cutter to give hitters a different look. While Beam repeats his clean delivery well and provides regular strikes with all of his offerings, he isn't missing a ton of bats. He limits the damage by generating a lot of groundball contact but his floor stands out more than his ceiling. He's one of the safest bets in this Draft to make it as a big league starter.

The Messina brothers both have the talent to fit around the fourth round, though South Carolina catcher Cole is more likely to sign there than hard-throwing Palmetto State prep right-hander Carson. Cole played sparingly as a freshman first baseman in 2023 before hitting 17 homers and earning All-America accolades as a catcher last spring. His makeup may be more impressive than his tools, but he's equipped to contribute on both sides of the ball and impressed scouts with a strong performance at the Southeastern Conference tournament in May. A right-handed hitter, Messina showed a more adjustable stroke and did a better job of making consistent contact in 2023. He always has struggled to stay back on changeups but also is swinging and missing a lot more often against fastballs this year. He's still getting to his pull power and has 15-20 homer upside, and he does draw a healthy amount of walks. Messina has the leadership skills desired in a catcher and takes charge behind the plate. He's an average receiver with arm strength to match, and he moves fine behind the plate despite being a well-below-average runner. The 6-foot, 230-pounder will need to stay on top of his conditioning but has the work ethic to do so.

The McLain family had some strong baseball genes, with oldest brother Matt a first-round pick who got Rookie of the Year votes with the Reds last year, middle kid Sean a fifth-round pick of the Dodgers in 2022 and now the youngest, Nick, hoping to embark on his own professional path this year. Injuries have held him back, starting with a back problem that forced him to miss all of his freshman year at UCLA. He transferred to Arizona State, only to miss half the year because of a broken right hamate, then broke his left hamate to force him to the sidelines again in 2024. He came back too soon and struggled, but was getting hot in May, just in time to boost his Draft stock. While there aren't tall genes in the McLain family -- all three brothers are under six foot -- there does seem to be a bit of a hit tool gene. When healthy, he's a switch hitter who has the chance to provide a combination of average hit and power tools. He's better from the left side of the plate, but he's shown the ability to drive the ball from both sides, and the power started to show up more the further removed from the hamate injury he got, homering in five straight games at the beginning of May. When McLain first got to ASU, he ran a little better and showed some acumen for playing center field. He's gotten a little stockier and slowed down a bit, though the added strength has resulted in that uptick in pop. He probably fits best in a corner now, and his strong arm would profile well in right. A strong and healthy finish could help vault him into the top five rounds.

Bazzell impressed scouts with his bat and transition to catching as a Texas high school senior in 2021, but he went undrafted and headed to Dallas Baptist. He transferred to Texas Tech after his first semester, which required him to sit out the 2022 season, then played third base as a redshirt freshman. With Hudson White transferring to Arkansas, Bazzell is back behind the plate for the Red Raiders and has played his way into the top two rounds despite battling mononucleosis early this spring. Bazzell repeatedly barrels balls with a controlled right-handed stroke and a disciplined, all-fields approach. He rarely swings and misses or chases pitches out of the strike zone, and he made contact 92 percent of the time that he offered at fastballs in 2023. He hits balls hard but on a low trajectory and projects to hit 15 homers per season with a healthy amount of doubles, though there's more power in there if he looks to lift pitches more often. An underrated athlete, Bazzell has average speed but will slow down as he spends more time behind the plate. He moves well back there, should develop into at least an average receiver with more experience and has average to solid arm strength that plays up thanks to a quick release and good accuracy. He did a decent job at third base last spring and could handle filling in at any of the infield and outfield corners.

After starring as a freshman reliever at Florida SouthWestern State JC in 2022, Holiday transferred to Central Florida JC, led national JUCO pitchers with 141 strikeouts in 88 innings and earned Most Outstanding Pitcher honors as the Patriots won the Junior College World Series. On the move again to Oklahoma State as a junior, he topped the Big 12 Conference with 128 whiffs in 113 frames and ranked sixth in NCAA Division I with a 6.7 K/BB ratio. He dominated Florida with a complete-game two-hitter in NCAA regional play and could fit around the fifth round despite a lack of size and overpowering stuff. Holiday's fastball parks at 91-93 mph and tops out at 95 but plays better than its velocity thanks to his ability to locate his heater wherever he wants it, including with carry up in the zone. Hitters struggle to lay off his low-80s slider, and he has advanced feel for when to land it for strikes or let them chase it off the plate. His mid-70s curveball and low-80s changeup aren't nearly as reliable and serve mostly to give batters a different look. Employing a high leg kick and a stabbing motion with his front foot as it descends, Holiday adds deception without sacrificing control. He pounds the zone with his fastball and slider, consistently getting ahead in the count and putting hitters at a disadvantage. Scouts don't love 5-foot-11 right-handers but respect his pitchability and mound presence.

Prager was one of the more projectable left-handers in the 2021 Texas high school crop, but he was also the valedictorian of his high school class and set on attending Texas A&M, so he went undrafted. He cracked the Aggies' weekend rotation as a freshman but blew out his elbow, had Tommy John surgery in October 2022 and redshirted last year. He emerged as the ace of the College World Series runners-up this spring and should factor into the second or third round. While Prager hasn't added any velocity since high school, working at 90 mph and peaking at 93 with his fastball, it has been unhittable because it comes out of a high release height with a ton of carry and he commands it so well. His low-80s slider plays well off his up-in-the-zone heater, darting under bats with two-plane depth. His low-80s changeup has similar action and elicits more empty swings and chases than his other offerings. Prager doesn't light up radar guns but he keeps hitters off balance as well as any pitcher in the college ranks. His near-over-the-top delivery provides plenty of deception, and his ability to mix and command all three of his pitches also helps them play up. He's a high-floor mid-rotation starter and some scouts think he has more upside and velocity left in his tank.

Dohm spent his first two college seasons in the bullpen, pitching at Ball State as a freshman before transferring to Mississippi State. He created some first-round buzz after transitioning to the rotation this spring and posting a 1.50 ERA with a 32/4 K/BB ratio over 24 innings in his first four starts. But he missed the next month with a forearm strain, made an aborted comeback in April and returned in short outings in the second half of May. A healthy Dohm carves up hitters with a fastball that averages 94 mph and touches 97 with explosive carry up in the strike zone. He can miss bats with both of his breaking balls, getting a lot of empty swings with his mid-80s slider and a ton of chases with his deeper 79-82 mph curveball. He lacks feel for a too-firm changeup in the upper 80s, though it flashes some promising fade. Dohm has a strong 6-foot-4 frame and a simple delivery that allows him to pound the zone with his fastball and slider. He looks like a mid-rotation starter but his durability is a huge question after he also had forearm issues as a sophomore. His stuff and strikes did come back in May, and he cruised through two scoreless innings against a formidable Texas A&M lineup at the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Though some clubs considered Hartle the best high school left-hander in the 2021 Draft, his unwavering commitment to Wake Forest led to him going unselected. That won't happen again, though it's unlikely he'll go in the first round as projected entering 2024. After he notched 140 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings while earning All-America honors as a sophomore, his stuff and command have regressed this spring. Last year, Hartle displayed exquisite feel for four different pitches, starting with a fastball that averages 90 mph and tops out at 94 but missed plenty of bats because of his angle, sinking and boring action and command. His plus low-80s slider with two-plane depth was his best secondary pitch, though his upper-80s cutter wasn't far behind and his mid-80s changeup also had its moments. But his heater, slider and cutter haven't been as effective during his junior season. Hartle has an easy delivery that has allowed him to sling strikes and move his pitches around wherever he wants in the past. But he has lacked his usual precision in 2024 and gotten cutter-happy at the expense of his fastball. Once considered a lock to be at least a No. 4 starter in the big leagues with the upside of a No. 2, he now has scouts trying to figure out what happened and whether it can be fixed.

Oakie was part of a loaded Area Code Games White Sox staff that included six pitchers who could go in the first three rounds of the 2024 Draft. He struck out five of the 12 batters he faced at the event, touching 96 mph with his fastball and getting seven swings and misses on 15 sliders. Gatorade's Iowa high school player of the year, he could become the state's highest-drafted prep pitcher since 1965 first-rounder Bill Burbach. Working from a low three-quarters slot, Oakie imparts a lot of armside run and sink on a 92-94 mph two-seam fastball that peaks at 97. Given the flat vertical approach of his pitches, he might thrive with a harder four-seamer that could have terrific carry up in the zone. His mid-80s slider is already a plus offering with two-plane depth as well as horizontal movement and it could be a legitimate plus-plus weapon with further refinement. Oakie attacks hitters with two pitches, and while he's working on a sinking changeup, it's too firm and he rarely uses it in games. The Iowa recruit doesn't have an ideal starter's size or delivery and needs to improve the consistency of his strike-throwing, but he also has a quick arm and works with little effort. He earns praise for his makeup, which contributes to his mid-rotation starter upside.

Randall spent his first two years of college ball at the University of Arizona, pitching out of the bullpen as a freshman in 2022 but only appearing in one game in 2023 because of injury. He entered the transfer portal and landed at San Diego, where he has gotten the chance to not only stick in a rotation, but serve as the Toreros' Friday night starter. His ability to hold his stuff deep into starts has helped his Draft stock take off. While Randall has a big 6-foot-4 frame, the right-hander is able to throw multiple pitches for strikes. He's mostly a sinker-slider type, with a two-seamer that is up to 97-98 mph at times. It's a heavy bowling ball heater with sink, getting a ton of groundballs as a result. He does also have a four-seamer he can use up in the zone for a different look. He combines it with an 83-84 mph slider that misses a fair amount of bats and should be an above-average offering. There's some feel for a changeup, though he throws it too hard. Teams interested in Randall might want to give him the chance to start because he does have the ability to hold his stuff and there's enough repertoire there for him to have a shot to stick in a rotation, even if he needs to add something softer to the arsenal. A former catcher, he also throws enough strikes to give him a chance, though some think that sinker-slider combination could land him in high-leverage bullpen situations at the highest level.

Neely attended the same high school as Rockies prospect Zac Veen, who was a first-round pick in 2020, but went undrafted in 2021 and headed to the University of Florida. He established himself as a reliable reliever and thrived as the Gators closer in 2023, saving 13 games. He's largely pitched in relief again in 2024, though he's been given some opportunities to start, with mixed results, leaving his Draft outlook somewhat cloudy. While most of his collegiate work has come out of the bullpen, many scouts think his best chance at the next level might be as a back-end starter. His bulldog mentality and toughness on the mound stand out more than any of his individual offerings, but he could have a complete starter's repertoire. While his fastball has been up to 96-97 mph, it's averaged around 93 mph but misses bats with it thanks to its ride, especially when it's up in the zone. His slider is his go-to secondary pitch, and the mid-80s breaker can be a tight out pitch with power. He has a curve he doesn't use, though some think it could be very effective and he mixes in a solid average upper-80s changeup. Neely has never had pinpoint command but tends to be around the plate. Some teams may decide to send him out as a starter and see if something clicks, though he's lacked the consistency to be seen as a sure-fire future rotation member. He doesn't necessarily have the kind of plus out pitch teams like to see coming out of the pen. He does tend to step up in bigger moments, something teams considering him on Day 2 of the Draft might be banking on regardless of what role he has.

Relatively unknown in high school, Sirota was selected late in the 2021 Draft out of the Connecticut high school ranks by the Dodgers, but went on to play for Mike Glavine at Northeastern University in Boston. He had hit everywhere he'd been, from his first two seasons in college (1.060 OPS) to back-to-back turns in the Cape Cod League (.942 OPS), making the grand-nephew of Whitey Ford the best Huskies product since Carlos Peña went No. 10 overall in 1996. He failed to live up to top of the first round expectations by really scuffling for much of his junior season. Lean, athletic and strong, Sirota has an intriguing collection of tools. He has plus bat speed with excellent bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate, though his timing was off for much of the spring, keeping him from squaring up the ball as consistently as he has in the past. There's raw power for him to tap into -- he had 18 homers in his sophomore season -- and when combined with his plus speed, he has 20-20 potential at the highest level. That speed makes Sirota a legitimate long-term center fielder. He makes good reads and routes and has a tick-above-average arm to boot. He's a better, more physical player than the best college bat in the area last year, Travis Honeyman, who went in the third round, and while he may have fallen out of the first-round picture for many teams, his all-around tools and makeup should keep him from falling too far.

After beginning his high school career as a catcher, Hurd would have gone in the top two rounds of the 2021 Draft as a pitcher had he not chosen to attend UCLA. He pitched well for the Bruins before missing the final two months of his freshman season with a stress fracture in his back and transferring to Louisiana State. He battled the strike zone for much of 2023 and lost his rotation spot but rebounded to win the clinching games in the College World Series semifinals against Wake Forest and finals versus Florida. He projected as a possible first-round pick for 2024 before persistent control and command issues sunk his chances. Hurd shows a quality fastball/slider combination even when he struggles. His fastball ranges from 93-96 mph and tops out at 98 while taking a sharp right turn at the plate. His high-spin slider sits at 84-86 mph and reaches 91 with plenty of horizontal and vertical action. Hurd uses his 78-82 mph curveball rather than a too-firm upper-80s changeup to keep left-handers off-balance, though neither is effective. He's athletic and has a quick arm, so the ingredients are there for at least average control, which would allow him to pitch in the front half of a big league rotation. Some evaluators think his inability to find the strike zone will land him in the bullpen, where both his fastball and slider could play as plus-plus offerings in shorter stints.

The MVP of the 2019 Boras Classic as a California high school senior, Cranton sat out the 2020 season at Saddleback (Calif.) JC following shoulder surgery. He pitched sparingly in the next two years at Saddleback and San Diego State before transferring to Kansas, where he struggled as a starter in early 2023 before finding his niche as a reliever. He'll turn 24 three months after the Draft but interests clubs because his fastball has been untouchable this spring. After working in the low 90s at the outset of his Jayhawks career, Cranton now operates with a 96- 98 mph fastball that touches 100 with impressive carry. His heater ranked in the top 1 percent among college pitchers this spring in terms of chase rate (32 percent), swing-and-miss rate (38 percent) and in-zone swing-and-miss rate (30 percent). His slider parks at 86-88 mph and peaks at 91, playing as a plus pitch with depth at its best, though it can flatten out and get pounded at times. While Cranton has a long arm action and a lot going on in his delivery, he has improved his control as a redshirt senior. He has a ceiling of a late-inning reliever and will need to improve his slider and his command to get there. He's one of the oldest players in the Draft but is equipped to move quickly in pro ball.

Miller batted .394 in two years at Bishop State (Ala.) CC sandwiched around an MVP performance in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, but scouts generally want juco players to prove they can hit against better competition. He has done exactly that after transferring to Alabama for his junior season, becoming one of the most dangerous hitters in the Southeastern Conference. He has bashed his way into at least the top three rounds. Miller consistently puts the barrel on the ball from the right side of the plate and can handle velocity as well as breaking balls, with a tendency to get fooled by changeups his lone weakness at the plate. An intelligent hitter, he controls the strike zone and understands how pitchers will try to work him. His strength and bat speed give him 20-homer potential, mostly to his pull side, and he also will lace line drives to the opposite field. The big question with Miller is where he'll play in pro ball. He's a below-average runner with fringy arm strength who's adequate at best at third base. Evaluators debate whether he should stick at the hot corner vs. trying to make it as a Max Muncy-esque second baseman, and it's more likely he winds up at first base or in left field.

While the Canadian province of Alberta has produced some big league arms like Mike Soroka and Chris Reitsma, there has never been a high school hitter to be drafted and signed from the area to make it to the highest level. Flewelling, a young catcher who helped offset a relative lack of exposure by performing well at the MLB Draft Combine in June, hopes to be the first. Flewelling checks off one sought-after demographic box by being a left-handed-hitting backstop. He has a short path to the ball with decent bat speed that generates some power to the gaps and produced some elite-level exit velocities at the Draft Combine. It's not difficult to dream on more pop to come as he matures. Another plus in his favor is his age, as he won't turn 18 until November. While he's a bit raw as a catcher, he has some defensive characteristics that already stand out, showing off good lateral movement, blocking skills and exchange and some pop times under two seconds when throwing to second base. He gets high marks for his makeup and wants to stick behind the plate, something teams want to see from someone who will need to work to develop behind the dish. If a team doesn't take a chance on him at some point on Day 2 of the Draft, it's easy to think he could emerge from Gonzaga as a much better prospect in a few years.

As baseball has raced into the analytics era, one thing that makes a team's Draft model very happy is a young Draft-eligible player. When that player is a left-handed pitcher with potential plus stuff, that's even better. King, who was generating a lot of buzz as the spring progressed in Naples, Florida, ticks off a lot of those boxes as a southpaw with electric offerings who will still be just 17 years old when the Draft rolls around. King is tall and athletic with an NFL quarterback kind of build. The 6-foot-4 southpaw could eventually have three plus pitches in his arsenal. He already can miss bats with a lively fastball that sits in the low 90s and will touch 94-95 mph regularly, and it's easy to envision him throwing harder given his frame and already upward trajectory. He combines it with what is often a nasty high-spin power curve thrown typically in the upper 70s that can be a true out pitch. He will use a harder slurve to finish off left-handed hitters, and while his changeup is developing, he shows feel for it and throws it with excellent arm speed. A terrific athlete who is the best hitter on his team and could be a position player prospect if he focused on that, King does have a lot of energy and effort in his delivery, and not all scouts like his arm action. That can impact his command, though many scouts think the Miami recruit will be able to find a repeatable delivery and throw enough strikes at the next level, with a ceiling as a mid-rotation starter.

Diaw played his high school ball at Notre Dame High School in Southern California, the same program that produced Giancarlo Stanton and Hunter Greene. He stayed close to home to go to Loyola Marymount for college but had all but eight games of his freshman year wiped out because of a back fracture. After redshirting, he had a solid first full year in 2023 for the Lions, finishing with an OPS of .896. He missed time this year with a broken left thumb from a foul tip but returned in mid-April swinging a hot bat, then suffered a sprained wrist at the end of the year, though that wasn't expected to keep him from being seen my more scouts in the Cape Cod League this summer ahead of the Draft. A right-handed hitter, Diaw has the chance to be a solid offensive performer. He rarely swings and misses with an aggressive, early-count approach. His swing can be a little slow to start with a lengthy path, but he's pretty efficient through the zone once he gets his bat going. It's more of a hit-over-power approach, but he has the chance to hit a lot of doubles with a swing geared to drive the ball to right-center field in the future. He can run into some home runs, especially to his pull side, and some scouts think there's more raw pop to tap into. Diaw is athletic and runs well, showing some defensive versatility that intrigues evaluators. He hasn't been behind the dish a ton, but he is agile and has plus arm strength that could play there. He's seen time in all three outfield positions, and while he's best suited for a corner, he's capable in center. With the injuries behind him, Diaw could draw a lot of Day 2 interest thanks to his positional flexibility and potential with the bat.

Overn was known as one of the best athletes in Southern California during his high school days, when he played four sports. He went just up the road to play both football and baseball at USC. He gave up football to focus on baseball in 2023 and jumped into the Trojans' starting lineup, showing off that athleticism on both sides of the ball and finishing with a .932 OPS before trying out for Team USA and playing in the Cape Cod League. Overn is one of the fastest players in the Draft class, with some scouts hanging an 80 on his speed. He's a legitimate basestealer and that speed plays in center field, where he combines his wheels with good reads and routes to be a premium defender with an average arm. He's not just athletic; Overn has outstanding body awareness and control. A left-handed hitter, Overn knows what his offensive game is. He's used a handsy-slasher type of swing, but it's vastly improved from his high school days, when he would lack fluidity and crash on his front side. There's actually some raw pop there, but he focuses on drawing walks and putting the ball in play, with his speed helping his hit tool. He's the type of table-setter that's hard to come by, but scouts were tempered in their enthusiasm because of a lack of impact at the plate.

Sometimes it's not only about how a prospect performs on the summer showcase circuit, but how he adjusts over the course of it. While Harlan, the best position player in Pennsylvania for the 2024 Draft, showed off some intriguing offensive tools at a variety of events like the East Coast Pro Showcase, the Area Code Games and the Perfect Game WWBA World Championship in September, it was how he changed some things and adapted over the course of all those events that had scouts excited, though some were concerned that he appeared less athletic and flexible this spring. Harlan is a big, strong, physically mature corner infielder with some serious pop. He had more of a power-over-hit profile, with a little more strength than pure bat speed, but there is some belief the bat might eventually catch up with the raw power. He began the summer hitting from a crouch with a lower handset, but by the time he was in Jupiter at the Perfect Game event, he had raised his hands back up and was letting them work more freely, showing a better hit tool overall. Speed isn't a huge part of Harlan's game, but he's posted decent run times and been fairly athletic in the past. He seemed more bulked up and less agile early this spring, though he has at least an average arm and should have every chance to stay at third base. If the swing changes stick, he should have more than enough bat to profile well at the hot corner.

Sinnard logged a 7.18 ERA as a Western Kentucky freshman in 2022 before transferring to Indiana and having a spectacular sophomore year. He broke an 89-year-old Hoosiers record with 114 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings and looked like a potential second-rounder. Then he blew out his elbow in a NCAA regional start last June and had Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2024 season, though he began doing bullpen workouts for clubs in late May. Before he got hurt, Sinnard elicited plenty of chases and empty swings with a fastball that sat at 91-93 mph and reached 96 with high spin rates and carry. Both of his breaking balls were effective, with his 78-82 mph downer curveball missing more bats and his mid-80s slider/cutter getting more chases. He sporadically showed a low-80s changeup with depth that lacked much deception. Employing a high three-quarters arm slot with his 6-foot-8 frame, Sinnard presents an unusual look for hitters. Despite his size, he does a nice job of keeping his long limbs in sync and pounding the strike zone. If he can regain his stuff and refine his command, he could develop into a mid-rotation starter.

After missing the first two months of his freshman year with an injury, Spikerman joined Oklahoma's lineup and helped spark a run to the 2022 College World Series Finals. He slumped throughout the first half of 2023 before finishing strong, then was enjoying the best season of his career when he broke the hamate bone in his right hand in mid-March. He returned as a pinch-runner a month later and rejoined the lineup in May. Spikerman's double-plus speed is the key to his game. He makes a lot of ground-ball contact, using his quickness to beat out hits, and he's a prolific and successful basestealer. He also covers plenty of ground in center field and leaves no doubt that he can remain there at the next level. In his first two seasons, the switch-hitting Spikerman struck out too much for a player trying to serve as a catalyst, but he has made more consistent contact this spring. He never has displayed much power, though some scouts think he has enough strength and bat speed to produce 10-12 homers per season if he opens up his approach. A shortstop in high school, he has at least average arm strength and could see some action as a middle infielder in a utility role as a pro.

Forcucci wasn't much of a prospect coming out of San Marco High School, so he headed south to pitch at UC San Diego. He stepped right into the weekend rotation on Sundays as a freshman, eventually taking over the Friday night role. He spent most of the 2023 season as a starter as well, though he also pitched out of the Tritons' bullpen, showing good stuff and projectability. He was off to a very strong start as the No. 1 starter but was sidelined for an extended period after his fifth start of the spring. The 6-foot-3 right-hander has gained a few ticks velocity-wise since his freshman year, when he was averaging just under 91 mph with his fastball. In 2023, his heater averaged around 93 mph and touched 96-97 with plus life, something that continued at the start of his junior year. It's a pitch that rides and runs at the top of the zone. His mid-80s slider misses a lot of bats and features late turn. He'll throw an occasional slower curve early in counts, and while he doesn't use it much, he's shown feel for a solid changeup as well. Scouts love Forcucci's delivery as much as his stuff, with repeatable mechanics and an ability to throw strikes. The one question about the projectable right-hander concerns his durability. He's averaged around only four innings per outing during his two years at San Diego, and after impressing scouts early this fall, he had to shut down a planned outing because of back spasms. Missing time this spring hasn't helped answer those questions, as Forcucci still hasn't shown he can pitch deeper into games routinely.

Presbyterian hasn't had a big leaguer since World War II hero Lou Brissie, and it hasn't had a player drafted since the Diamondbacks popped Bud Jeter in the 25th round in 2023. After posting a 8.44 ERA in his first two college seasons and missing most of 2023 with elbow and shoulder issues, Eagen suddenly has emerged as the Blue Hose's best Draft prospect ever and a potential third-rounder. The Big South Conference Pitcher of the Year, he was very efficient with his fastball/curveball combo while setting a school record with 122 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings. Eagen's heater has jumped about 5 mph this spring, operating at 93-94 mph and touching 96 with carry and armside run coming out of a high arm slot. He's throwing his downer curveball harder as well, turning it into a plus low-80s offering, and he also can break out a mid-80s slider with similar shape. He barely uses his changeup in games, and it's too firm at 85-87 mph. Eagen has room to add more strength to his 6-foot-4 frame, so his stuff should continue to improve. His delivery doesn't feature excessive effort, and he repeats it well and pounds the strike zone. While he'll need to refine his changeup to succeed as a starter against better competition, his quality curveball gives him a good fallback plan as a reliever.

Cook played just four games in his first year at North Carolina because of a left shoulder injury that required surgery, then returned last season to set a Tar Heels freshman record by reaching base in 44 consecutive games. He bounced back from a rough summer in the Cape Cod League to emerge as one of the best pure hitters in the Atlantic Coast Conference this spring, and added muscle has led to increased power. The redshirt sophomore homered twice off lock first-rounder Chase Burns of Wake Forest in late March, going deep against a 101-mph fastball and an 89-mph slider. With a disciplined approach and a smooth left-handed swing, Cook controls the strike zone while making contact to all fields. He won't be a slugger but his strength gains and increased aptitude for driving balls in the air should produce in the neighborhood of 15 homers per season, mostly to his pull side. His .175/.313/.225 line with wood bats on the Cape is a concern for some clubs. Cook's speed, arm strength and defensive instincts all grade as fringy, which probably will relegate him to left field. He has played briefly at second base with North Carolina and in the Cape League, and a pro team may try him there. He's not much of a factor on the bases but doesn't clog them up.

Scouts coming to Cal's campus for some baseball in 2024, they can get a 2-for-1 deal. Catcher Caleb Lomavita might be the star attraction as a potential first-rounder, but evaluators also get the bonus of seeing Green's considerable tools in action as well, many of which were on display in a sophomore season that saw him hit 14 homers and swipe 29 bags before playing for Team USA over the summer. It's been more of the same as a junior, complete with concerns about his hit tool. Green possesses an exciting power-speed combination, but enthusiasm is dampened by his propensity to swing-and-miss. There's a ton of raw pop for him to tap into, and while he started turning on pitches and hitting balls out to his pull side as a sophomore, the left-handed hitter might be at his best when he lets the ball travel and he drives it the opposite way, something he was doing more of this fall. There was hope that was a sign of an improved hit tool, but his strikeout rate has continued to hover over 31 percent as it did during his first two years of college. His unorthodox mechanics at the plate -- he doesn't use his lower half – have continued to hamper him. Green is an easily plus runner, the kind of long strider who is even better underway. That helps him cover a lot of ground and could give him a chance to play center field, though some scouts think he might be better suited to left, and he's worked hard to build his arm strength from well below average in high school to average now. There's still a lot of ceiling here, but many teams will be scared off about his lack of consistent contact.

A native of Quebec, Langevin spent his first two college seasons at Wabash Valley (Ill.) CC and helped lead the Warriors to the finals of the 2023 Junior College World Series. He won Sun Belt Conference pitcher of the year honors after transferring to Louisiana-Lafayette in 2024 and finished third in NCAA Division I in strikeout rate (15.2 per nine innings). His fastball metrics were outstanding, as he ranked second in both overall (45 percent) and in-zone (42 percent) whiff rate. Langevin's heater is nothing special in terms of velocity, sitting at 92-95 mph and maxing out at 97, but everything else about it makes it a weapon. He generates high spin rates from a low slot, producing plenty of ride and run from a flat approach angle. He employs his fastball about 80 percent of the time, mixing in a sweeping low-80s slider and a fading mid-80s changeup. While Langevin has had some success as a college starter, he has been primarily a reliever and likely will continue in that role in pro ball. His delivery is more conducive to bullpen work, and he doesn't consistently land his slider and changeup for strikes, reducing their effectiveness. He'll need to refine his slider to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball at the next level.

Casey Saucke Sr. spent two years playing in the O's organization as a utility player. His son, who was the New York Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021 in Rochester, N.Y., before heading to the University of Virginia, has the chance to be better player than he was. He jumped on the stage when he posted an OPS north of 1.000 as a freshman, but he scuffled through his sophomore season, struggles which continued when he hit just .185 in the Cape Cod League. To his credit, he's looked much more like the freshman version of himself this spring, reinvigorating his Draft stock. There are those who feel Saucke is the best position player on a talented Hoos roster currently. The 6-foot-3 right-handed hitter has good bat speed with the chance to drive the ball to all fields. He's cut down both his miss and chase rates compared to his time on the Cape, and his ability to do damage in hitter's counts has helped him tap into his extra-base authority. There could be more power to come as he matures. An infielder in high school, Saucke has made right field his home at Virginia, with a strong arm that fits well there. A solid runner, there are some who feel he could handle center field, which could raise his profile. Virginia hitters often find more pop once they get into pro ball and a team that thinks there's more in the offensive tank for Saucke will consider him in the first few rounds.

Kent was a two-sport standout at his Illinois high school, playing wide receiver, quarterback and punting for three years while pitching varsity for four years and attracting the attention of the University of Arizona. He redshirted his freshman year in 2022, then worked mostly as a reliever in his first collegiate action, racking up 41 innings. His excellent performance as a starter in the Cape Cod League served notice that he might be ready to jump on the Draft map this spring, and he's done just that serving as a very effective Friday night starter for the Wildcats. An athletic 6-foot-3 left-hander, Kent can come at hitters with as many as five pitches. He is throwing his fastball a tick harder these days. After averaging around 89 mph last year and over the summer, he's been sitting comfortably in the low 90s and touching 95 this spring. His go-to secondary pitch is his changeup, which generates both swings-and-misses and ground-ball contact. He has both a low-80s slider and a mid-70s curve, with the former missing more bats, and he also folds in a cutter that is often similar to the slider. While Kent was effective on the Cape, he did struggle with consistent strike-throwing. He's improved that considerably this spring while handling the pressures of being the team ace. His ceiling might be somewhat limited without plus stuff, but if the gains he's shown this year are real, he has the kind of starting pitching traits from the left side that many teams covet.

A native of Mesa, Ariz., Campos stayed nearby when he left Red Mountain High School to go to Arizona State. He made an immediate impact, earning freshman All-American honors by hitting .357. He's kept producing since, with a .388 average and a Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year semifinalist nod as a sophomore. It's been more of the same this Draft season as he's continued to up his overall production numbers as a junior. A left-handed hitting backstop, Campos is all about making contact and getting on base. He rarely strikes out and draws a ton of walks, showing excellent pitch recognition and plate discipline. He has shown more ability to drive the ball this year, with more than double his previous season high in extra-base hits, though he's not expected to be a huge power guy at the next level. He can use all fields, even when he's left the yard, with his hit-over-power approach. Campos is a built like an old-school catcher in the Yogi Berra mold, at 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds. His defensive skills, from his arm to his blocking and receiving, are fringy, but all of it plays up because of his exceptional baseball IQ and makeup. He might best be suited in a backup role, and while he has played some outfield corner in college, scouts don't see that as an option in the future.

Ryan Clifford earned a seven-figure bonus out of Pro5 Academy (Apex, N.C.) in 2022 and has since played his way onto MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list as a member of the Mets' organization. But at the time he was drafted, there were some evaluators who thought another outfielder on the same club was a superior talent. Serrano opted to attend North Carolina State, where he has impressed with his bat-to-ball skills, yet disappointed with his power. He helped the Wolfpack reach the College World Series as a Draft-eligible sophomore this year but hit just .289 with 14 homers in two seasons. Serrano has a smooth, easy left-handed swing and a lanky 6-foot-5 frame that provides leverage. He makes consistent contact with ease despite his long limbs and can crush some balls in batting practice, but he doesn't drive the ball in games and is feeble against southpaws. He projected as a 25-30 home run threat in high school but hasn't grown into the bat speed or strength that scouts expected. Though he's a fringy runner out of the batter's box, Serrano moves well once he gets going. After playing first base as a freshman, he played a credible center field with average-to-solid arm strength this spring. He has good instincts in center, but he's probably destined for an outfield corner as a pro.

While Whitefish Bay HS shortstop J.D. Dix was the headline prospect in Wisconsin this spring, another high school hitter emerged during the course of the season. Rynders performed well at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February, a prelude to displaying improved strength and athleticism as a senior. The Kent State recruit could sneak into the first five rounds. Rynders stands out most with his plus raw power from the left side of the plate. He has a 6-foot-2 frame that provides strength and leverage, along with the room to add more muscle, though some scouts question his bat speed. He shows a willingness to use the entire field and has an easy swing, though it gets long and uphill at times. After exhibiting below-average speed on the showcase circuit last summer, Rynders has flashed solid run times this spring and projects as an average runner once he's physically mature. A high school shortstop, he lacks the quickness for the position and will move to third base when he enters pro ball. His average-to-solid arm strength should work at the hot corner, where he fits the power profile.

Growing up on Long Island, Schlesinger was once cut from a youth travel team. He used that slight as motivation to turn himself into the top pitcher in Suffolk County in high school, one who earned an invite to head south to pitch at Miami. He pitched out of the bullpen for his first two seasons with the Hurricanes and then threw well in relief in the Cape Cod League last summer. A move into the rotation this spring has led to uneven results, but his size, stuff and left-handedness had many teams interested in the top five rounds. Schlesinger has seen his stuff tick up velocity-wise as a junior. After averaging 88 mph with his fastball in 2023, he's averaged a tick over 92 mph this season, topping out at 97 mph. His slider can fluctuate anywhere from 80 mph up to the upper 80s, and it can miss bats when he stays on top of it, something that's tougher because he comes at hitters from a lower, almost sidearm slot. He does have good feel for a changeup that he can turn over well, though he doesn't throw the mid-80s pitch as frequently. The funk in Schlesinger's delivery and arm slot can be a blessing and curse. It can provide for an uncomfortable at-bat for hitters, but it's also led to inconsistent pitch execution and command, though he's done a better job of finding the strike zone this spring. He'll need that changeup against right-handed hitters if he wants to have a chance to start, but teams considering him early on in the Draft know he could be pretty nasty if he needs to go back to the bullpen.

Massey spent his freshman year as a starter at Tulane before transferring to Wake Forest and becoming a reliever on college baseball's best pitching staff in 2023. He was overpowering in short bursts, striking out 48 percent of the hitters he faced and limiting opponents to a .161 average. After the Demon Deacons lost three starters in the first three rounds of the 2023 Draft, he moved into their rotation this spring before missing four starts with hamstring and back injuries and returning to the bullpen in late May. Benefiting from Wake Forest's renowned pitching lab, Massey has souped up his stuff since changing schools, though it hasn't been as sharp in longer stints. As a reliever, he operated with a pair of well above-average pitches in a 93-97 mph fastball with explosive carry and an 82-85 mph slider that plummeted at the plate. Since he became a starter, both offerings have lost a tick or two of velocity and played more as plus offerings. Massey has added a 75-78 mph curveball with good depth but has trouble landing it for strikes, and he doesn't trust his mid-80s changeup with fade. Scouts think his aggressive, short-arm delivery is better suited for relief work, though it does create deception without hampering his control too much. He'll probably land in the bullpen after turning pro.

A 13th-round pick by the Red Sox as a Florida high schooler in 2021, Ehrhard was a catalyst for Oklahoma State as a freshman before slumping while dealing with a hamstring injury last year. He rebounded with a solid summer in the Cape Cod League, then slugged .627 this spring after posting just a .385 mark in his first two seasons. He may have played his way into the top five rounds and concluded his junior year by going 7-for-15 with five doubles and two homers in four NCAA tournament games. A right-handed hitter, Ehrhard has a disciplined approach with good feel for the barrel. He makes regular contact to all fields and enhances his on-base ability with an eye for drawing walks. After showing little power in the past, he started driving the ball in the air to his pull side more frequently in 2024 and now looks like he'll have double-digit home run power with wood. Ehrhard has plus speed and basestealing acumen, though he could be more aggressive on the bases. He has refined defensive instincts, covers ground in center field and has average arm strength. He'll profile more as a good fourth outfielder than a regular unless his power continues to develop.

One of the best prep athletes in the 2022 Draft, Jordan went unselected because he planned on playing baseball and football at Mississippi State. The three-star wide receiver recruit wound up giving up the gridiron and handled the rugged Southeastern Conference well, batting .336 and bashing 30 homers in two seasons. He has improved faster than scouts expected and could factor into the first round this July as a sophomore-eligible. Jordan may have more bat speed than anyone in the 2024 Draft, and his lightning-fast right-handed swing and strength produce huge exit velocities and at least plus power to all fields. He made strides with his pitch recognition and plate discipline as a freshman, inspiring confidence that his pop will translate at higher levels. He still needs to prove he can make consistent contact, because he swings through fastballs and chases breaking balls, weaknesses that contributed to a 29 percent strikeout rate this spring.While Jordan has at least plus speed and may have plus-plus straight-line quickness, he's still learning how to make the most of it. He's not aggressive on the bases and is shaky in the outfield, where he spent most of his freshman year in left. His arm has gotten a little stronger since high school and now grades as average.

One of the best high school hitters in the 2021 Draft, Stovall turned down first-round overtures from clubs to attend Arkansas. He didn't make the immediate impact expected, posting a .798 OPS on a College World Series club as a freshman and dipping to .718 last year trying to play through a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder that required season-ending surgery. After breaking his left foot in a preseason scrimmage and missing the first three weeks of this season, he has impressed scouts with his bat while playing improved defense at second base. Stovall still has one of the prettier left-handed strokes around and is making more consistent hard contact to all fields than he did in his first two years with the Razorbacks. He manages the strike zone well and has been more patient at the plate in 2024, doing a better job of waiting for pitches to drive. He hasn't quite grown into the average power once projected for him and might not be more than a 15-homer threat, though his pop does play from left-center to the right-field line. While Stovall isn't very physical or athletic, he's an intelligent player who squeezes the most out of his fringy speed and arm strength. He played first base in 2022 before shifting to second base last season, and he has eased concerns about his ability to remain at the keystone this spring. He has gotten a little quicker and his defense now earns average-to-solid grades from scouts.

Like Kansas State teammate Kaelen Culpepper, Neighbors has rocketed from fairly anonymous recruit to likely pick in the early rounds of the 2024 Draft. Though he's purely a reliever, he's the best relief prospect in the class and led the Big 12 Conference with 11 saves while posting a 1.85 ERA with 86 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings last spring. He wasn't as sharp early this year before missing a month with an oblique strain, but looked like his old self once he returned. Neighbors has three pitches that miss bats at exceptionally high rates. His fastball operates at 93-95 mph and reaches 99 with cutting and riding action and exceptional induced vertical break -- and it might be his third-best pitch. His 81-84 mph slider features two-plane depth and high spin rates, generating a 67 percent swing-and-miss rate in 2023, while his upper-80s cutter is nearly as nasty. Neighbors reminds some scouts of Craig Kimbrel with his compact, muscular frame and high-energy delivery. He's fairly athletic and repeats his delivery well, allowing him to provide consistent strikes, though his fastball gets more hittable when he doesn't locate it at the top of the zone. A potential closer who thrives on pressure situations, he shouldn't require much development time in the Minors.

After pitching in relief for Miami as a freshman, Ziehl moved into the Friday night starter role as a sophomore in 2023. He was moved to Saturday after a rough start to the season but ended up perhaps the Hurricanes' most consistent starter for a bulk of the year, with a 3.26 ERA over his last 13 starts. Once again installed as the No. 1 starter this year, Ziehl once again scuffled in his Opening Day start, but he's settled in to anchor the rotation and is now in top-three-round consideration. When he's at his best, the 6-foot right-hander has three solid pitches and the ability to use his stuff late into games. His fastball has averaged around 93 mph and is up to 95 mph as a starter, while he touched 97 mph out of the bullpen as a freshman. He used to rely more on sink with his heater but has shifted to higher spin four-seamers up in the zone, and he can move it around the zone well. His best pitch now is a hard cutter-like slider thrown in the mid-80s, and he has feel for a changeup that is particularly effective against left-handed hitters. While Ziehl isn't the biggest guy in the world, he's compact and strong at 223 pounds. He repeats his delivery well and has a strong history of throwing strikes. Scouts laud his makeup and toughness on the mound, wanting the ball in key situations and leading a staff. Some scouts think he might be best suited for a setup type role in a bullpen, where his stuff might tick up, while others give him every chance to stick in a rotation.

The top player in the state of Nevada for the 2024 Draft, Southisene has consistently performed well at showcase events, raising his profile by playing on USA Baseball's 18U team in 2022 and participating in MLB events like States Play in 2022 and the 2023 Dream Series. His twin brother, Tee, is also a decent 2024 Draft prospect, while younger brother, Tate, might be one of the better prep options from the Silver State in 2025. Southisene is undersized at 5-foot-9, but that won't keep teams from being interested in his solid all-around toolset. He might be a plus hitter in time, showing an ability to make hard contact with an advanced approach at the plate and an affinity for breaking down his at-bats and swing. He can try to get big and sell out for power at times, but when he stays within himself he finds the barrel against all kinds of pitching with excellent bat speed and should naturally get to solid power. A quick-twitch athlete, Southisene's plus baseball IQ and instincts enable all his tools to play up. His arm might traditionally be a little short, but because of his release, his hands and footwork, he has every chance to stick at shortstop. Teams willing to look past the Tennessee recruit's size could help him follow in the footsteps of such Nevada prep bats taken in the top three rounds as Justin Crawford and Tyler Whitaker.

Caron has improved throughout his three seasons at Nebraska, going from sporadic playing time as a freshman to leading the Cornhuskers to their first-ever Big Ten Conference tournament championship this spring. He earned tourney MVP honors after setting a league record with six homers in six games. That performance raised his profile in a down year for college catchers and could catapult him into the first four rounds. A right-handed hitter, Caron pounds the ball harder than most college players and has more power potential than most backstops. He's very strong and though he has a pull-heavy approach, his pop plays to all parts of the ballpark. He doesn't strike out excessively, but he can get aggressive and is susceptible to chasing non-fastballs out of the zone. Caron's below-average speed makes him quicker than most catchers, and he moves well behind the plate. His receiving and framing skills need to improve, though he has made progress, and he does a good job blocking balls in the dirt. He has solid arm strength but lacks consistency with the accuracy of his throws.

A three-year starter at James Madison, Trimble has decent all-around tools and tends to play above them. He showed off an intriguing power-speed combination in 2024, finishing with 14 homers and 16 steals, while also manning center field capably for the first time. He might best be suited for left field if he settles into one spot because he’s a fringy runner, and some scouts think there could be more power to unlock with an adjustment to his bat path. He gets very high marks for his makeup.

Dinges went from the Florida high school ranks to Tallahassee Community College and then on to Florida State for the 2024 season, finishing with a .998 OPS and 15 homers. Teams interested will be buying the power with some concerns about his hit tool. He served as DH quite a bit in 2024, and while he’s played some corner outfield, first base might be his best position. He did catch a bit in junior college, so a team might want to give him a look there.

William and Mary's baseball program had a run of producing big leaguers from 2001-2005 when Brendan Harris (Round 5, 2001), Chris Ray (Round 3, 2003), Bill Bray (Round 1, 2004) and Will Rhymes (Round 27, 2004) all touched the Majors. There hasn't been a former member of the Tribe to make it since, though two players from the school went in the top 10 rounds a year ago. Knowles has the chance to be a Day 2 selection after an effective year amassing 80 relief innings in William and Mary's pitching pod system. Knowles has a four-pitch mix that might give him the chance to start. His fastball sat around 91-92 mph and topped out at 95 mph, but it missed a fair amount of bats because of good carry up in the zone. His upper-70s curve plays well off of the heater, and it's a downer breaking ball with power shape. His hard cutter tops out at 90 mph, sitting around 86-87 mph with late action to it. His changeup is a distant developing fourth pitch. While Knowles is generally around the strike zone, if he wants to start, he's going to have to command all of his offerings more consistently after walking 4.4 per nine in 2024. At 6-foot, 205 pounds, he's physically maxed out, and there is a little effort in his delivery, leading some to believe he belongs in a bullpen, though a team may take him and at least give him the chance to start in pro ball.

Bucknell University in Pennsylvania has had just one player get drafted and reach the big leagues -- right-hander Eric Junge, a 1999 draftee -- and has had just two players get taken in the top 10 rounds in school history. Keys put himself on the map with a solid sophomore season for the Bison in 2023, followed by posting a 1.254 OPS in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League and slashing .385/.422/.769 in 10 Cape Cod League games last summer. He followed it up with a huge junior year, finishing with a .405/.535/.798 line to go along with 13 homers en route to winning Patriot League Player of the Year honors. Big and barrel-chested, Keys is a left-handed hitter who likely will be an analytics darling. He's improved his approach, walking more than he struck out in 2024, and makes consistent hard contact. He rarely swings-and-misses or chases and showed the ability to handle all kinds of stuff, particularly punishing fastballs. He's hit 26 homers the last two years combined at Bucknell, and while some scouts aren't sure the power will play at the next level, his pop with a wood bat in the summer leagues does provide a little more confidence. There's less surety about where Keys will play defensively at the next level. He's been a third baseman throughout his college career, but he's not athletic or agile enough to stick at the hot corner, and he made 11 errors there in 2024. A move to first is the most likely outcome, and there will undoubtedly be teams on Day 2 willing to roll the dice that his left-handed bat will play professionally.

Allsup has intriguing arm strength but also posted a 5.11 ERA in three seasons at Auburn and had little success as a starter. He did a better job of throwing strikes this spring with a fastball that parks at 94-96 mph and peaks at 100, but it gets hit because it lacks life and command. He gets swings and misses with a mid-80s slider and an upper-70s curveball, displaying more control with the slider. His upper-80s changeup features some fade but is too firm, and he's probably destined for the bullpen as a pro.

While Cal Poly might best be known these days as producing Twins prospect Brooks Lee, it's generated some solid pitching talent of late, with Drew Thorpe (White Sox) a Top 100 prospect and Bryan Woo (Mariners) reaching the big leagues in 2023. Unlike those two, Wright is a lefty, one who redshirted his freshman year in 2022 because of internal brace surgery on his elbow, pitched sparingly in 2023 but took a huge step forward while assuming the Friday night starter role in 2024. Wright is a smallish but athletic southpaw who stands out because of his ability to spin the baseball more than anything else. His slider is at least plus now, and some scouts think it could be a 70-grade out pitch in the future. It's a hard and tight low-80s sweeper, often with more than 20 inches of sweep across the plate. He gets swings and misses in the zone and can throw it to get chases just as effectively. The rest of his arsenal doesn't jump off the page in the same way, with a fastball that sits at 92 mph with a little arm side tail, a mid-80s cutter and a newer 85-mph changeup with some arm side life. The left-hander's ability to throw strikes has improved this year, and his premium athleticism -- he's run a 6.5 60-yard dash -- should help him repeat his delivery and lower three-quarters slot. He doesn't have the biggest frame in the world, and that, along with a lack of premium non-slider stuff, lead some to wonder if he can start long-term. He should be given the chance to by any team that takes him in the top five rounds, with the knowledge that his slider is already a big league caliber pitch that could work out of the pen.

Virginia Tech has built a recent reputation of developing hitters who go early in the Draft, with six players taken in the top five rounds over the previous two, led by 2022 first-rounder Gavin Cross. DeMartini has been part of the offensive upswing since his freshman year in '22, posting an OPS over 1.000 in his first two seasons. A shoulder injury forced him to a DH role for much of the 2023 season, and surgery to repair his labrum kept him out of fall action. He returned to the lineup and the field in the spring, and while the power returned, so did some concerns about his approach. DeMartini is a compact and strong left-handed hitter who looks to do damage. He has a power-over-hit profile with plenty of bat speed to drive the ball, with extra-base authority to all fields. After striking out in 25 percent of his plate appearances in 2022, he trimmed that to 17 percent as a sophomore by cutting his chase rate on breaking stuff, seeing a lot of pitches and upping his walk rate. He was still drawing free passes as a junior, but the K rate jumped back up, with some wondering if the repaired shoulder had forced a swing change that added holes in his path. A shortstop in high school, DeMartini moved over to third base at Virginia Tech with fringy footwork and hands. He had plenty of arm for the hot corner before the surgery, but he'll have to prove his repaired shoulder is 100 percent. A move to left field could be in his future, but it's the power potential a team will be buying in the first few rounds.

A three-year starter at Rice, Smith is a durable 6-foot-4, 230-pounder whose floor stands out more than his ceiling. He creates a lot of run and sink on a 91-94 mph fastball that reaches 96, but it gets hit when he doesn't command it well. He gets chases with his heater as well as an upper-80s changeup with similar movement that flashes plus and a low-80s slider that's less consistent. He fashioned a 4.23 ERA with a 78/31 K/BB ratio in 89 1/3 innings as a junior.

After barely participating in showcase events last summer, Cissell stood out with his athleticism at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February. He had the chance to play his way into the top three rounds with a strong spring, though unresolved questions about his bat would make that a reach for most clubs. A team intrigued by his upside still could make a run at signing him away from his Missouri commitment. A switch-hitter, Cissell has a smoother swing from the left side of the plate. While most scouts worry about his ability to make consistent contact against quality pitching, some evaluators do believe in his bat-to-ball skills. With his bat speed and plenty of room to add strength to his 6-foot-2 frame, his biggest proponents believe he'll grow into 20-homer power. Cissell is a plus runner who moves well on the bases and in the field. There are some mixed reviews on his actions and hands at shortstop, though he does have solid arm strength. If he can't stick at short, he might be a quality defender in center field.

After redshirting his freshman season at West Virginia in 2022, Hagaman worked largely out of the bullpen in 2023 and '24 before he had internal brace surgery on his right elbow. At his best, he was up to 97 mph with his fastball, though that premium velocity wasn’t always there this year leading up to the injury. He complements the heater with a good slider and changeup.

Tennessee has a history of players breaking out after having to wait their turn, including Trey Lipscomb, who barely played in his first three seasons with the Volunteers before becoming a 2022 fourth-rounder and landing in the big leagues less than two years later. The latest is Tears, who redshirted in 2022 and got just 56 at-bats last spring while dealing with oblique and hamstring injuries. He suddenly has emerged as one of the toolsiest players in college baseball and one of the most productive hitters on Tennessee's College World Series championship team. Tears has a relatively flat left-handed swing but creates at least plus raw power with his wicked bat speed and strength, generating a lot of hard line drives that carry over the fence to all parts of the ballpark. After often looking helpless against non-fastballs in the past, he's making better swing decisions and more consistent contact this spring. He shows the ability to put together quality at-bats and works walks when pitchers won't challenge him. A physical athlete with an outstanding work ethic, Tears earns fringy to well-above-average grades for both his speed and arm strength. He's slower out of the batter's box and quicker once he gets going, though he's not much of a basestealer. He has played mostly right field for the Volunteers, though some evaluators believe he could handle center field at the next level.

Tom Candiotti pitched for parts of 16 years in the big leagues, floating his knuckleball to a career WAR over 40. While his son, Clark, hasn't followed in the family knuckler business, he should get a chance to pitch professionally. It hasn't been an easy path, with Candiotti pitching at five schools in five years, starting at St. Mary's in 2020, spending two seasons at two different junior colleges (Vernon College in 2021 and Grayson County Community College in 2022), heading to Wichita State in 2023 and finishing his journey at Arizona this season. A consistent season in the Wildcats' weekend rotation has made him a very intriguing Day 2 senior sign option for teams. A 6-foot-4 right-hander, Candiotti proved to be a durable starter with three or four pitches at his disposal. His fastball tops out at 96-97 mph, and he pitches comfortably at around 93 mph. He backs it up with two distinct breaking pitches, a sharper, shorter mid-80s slider and a more power 12-to-6 downer type curve thrown in the 78-82 mph range, with both potentially being above-average offerings in the future. He does have a changeup that is usable, but he more often than not uses his two breaking balls as offspeed options. Because he's already 23, there might be an inclination to move him to the bullpen to get him up the ladder quickly. But Candiotti is big and strong and did an excellent job filling up the strike zone all spring, giving him all the ingredients to be a starter long-term.

After playing his first two college seasons at Western Illinois, Mitchell transferred to Indiana and batted .335/.458/.512 despite missing the first six games of the season with a broken hand. He'll flash plus-plus speed but isn't a prolific basestealer and has spent more time in college in right field than center. He's a smaller-framed guy with a quick left-handed swing and an understanding that his primarily role is to get on base. He has performed well with wood bats, earning all-star honors in the summer Northwoods and Cape Cod leagues.

A native Oregonian, Stuhr has had to bounce around quite a bit to get an opportunity, but he's always stayed in the Pacific Northwest. He spent a year pitching for Lower Columbia, a junior college in Washington, before transferring to Oregon State. After two years of not getting a single inning on a competitive mound, Stuhr moved on to Portland, where he's been a mainstay in the weekend rotation. He fanned 12 in his first start, and while his performance has been more uneven since that debut, he's shown enough arm strength to intrigue scouts in the area. A 6-foot-1 right-hander, Stuhr is a compact and strong hurler with four pitches at his disposal. He throws his fastball consistently in the 94-97 mph range with some carry, and he backs it up with two distinct breaking balls. The 84-87 mph slider is his best secondary option, and it misses a lot of bats in and out of the zone. His 80-83 mph curve is less consistent, but it does have some good downer action to it. He has some feel for a mid-80s changeup but doesn't land it for strikes consistently, and he even fiddles with a cutter thrown about the same velocity as the slider. While Stuhr has missed a ton of bats, he's struggled with his overall control and will need to work on his fastball command, though he may not have been helped by the Portland coaching staff forcing him to pitch backwards off of his slider too often. He might best be suited for a bullpen role, where that fastball-slider combination might play up, but there could be some untapped potential here given how little mound time he's received.

Jacksonville State's closer as a freshman and Friday night starter as a sophomore while getting a handful of at-bats as a first baseman each year, Causey transferred to Tennessee for 2024. The Volunteers used him as their Friday guy for the first month of conference play before bringing him in behind an opener. He tied for the NCAA Division I lead with 13 victories while helping Tennessee win its first-ever national title. Causey succeeds despite a mediocre 89-91 mph fastball that peaks at 93 with run and sink but gets crushed if he's not precise with his location. He banks heavily on a plus upper-70s changeup that fades and dives when it reaches the plate, keeping lefties in check and destroying righties. His slider is effective despite its mid-70s velocity because it has high spin rates and huge horizontal break, though it surprisingly gets a lot more in-zone swings-and-misses than it does chases. Causey creates a lot of deception with a sidearm delivery that provides wiffle-ball action to his changeup and slider. He pounds the zone but will need to refine his fastball command to prosper against more advanced hitters in pro ball. He projects as more reliever than starter at that level, but his baffling secondary pitches and strike-throwing ability could help him move quickly.

Johnson redshirted at Texas in 2021, claimed a bullpen role the next season and then starred as a starter down the stretch in 2023. He went undrafted last July after turning down third-round money and failed to build on that late-season momentum as a redshirt junior this spring, posting a 5.60 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings. His best offering is an upper-80s slider that tops out at 92 mph with two-plane depth, but his 93-95 mph fastball that peaks at 98 gets pounds because it lacks movement and command. His upper-80s splitter will tumble at times but rarely lands in the strike zone. His upright, high-tempo delivery lacks extension and will land him in the bullpen as a pro.

Antonacci batted .471 as a Heartland (Ill.) CC freshman before winning Division II JUCO Player of the Year honors in 2023, when he topped that level in hitting (.515), on-base percentage (.618), runs (105), hits (106), doubles (32) and RBIs (103) while leading the Hawks to a national title. His bat-to-ball skills and on-base ability translated to NCAA Division I this spring, when he hit .367 at Coastal Carolina and paced the Sun Belt Conference with a .523 on-base percentage. He's an overachiever who stands out more with his skills, instincts and energy than his tools. One of the most disciplined hitters in the college ranks, Antonacci takes a lot of pitches, rarely strays out of the strike zone and makes repeated contact against all types of pitches versus both left-handers and right-handers. A lefty hitter, he uses the opposite field well and draws more than his share of walks. His offensive upside is limited by his well-below-average power, however, as he produces lackluster exit velocities and rarely turns on pitches or drives them in the air. Though he has fringy speed, Antonacci is an aggressive baserunner who will steal when given the opportunity. A shortstop at Heartland, he moved to third base this spring and committed 15 errors in 57 games. He has average arm strength, is best suited for second base and should be capable of also handling the outfield corners in a utility role.

Jordan had a pretty busy summer showcase circuit, showing off his stuff at events like Perfect Game National, Major League Baseball's PDP League and the Area Code Games, while also being named to USA Baseball's 18U National Team Training Camp roster, though he did not make the team that competed internationally last year. After helping Viera High School (Fla.) finish as a state runner-up as a junior, he pitched the squad to another district title as a senior, then showed off some good stuff at the MLB Draft Combine this June. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Jordan certainly looks the part of a projectable prep right-handed pitcher, with some exciting stuff to go along with it. Pitching from a stretch delivery, he has the chance to have a solid three-pitch mix, though he hasn't always executed all three consistently. He can run his sinking fastball up to 95 mph, typically sitting around 92-93, and he averaged around 94 mph with the heater at the Combine. He doesn't always stay on top of his breaking ball, so it can be a bit soft at times, but when he gets to it, he's shown he can spin a low-80s breaker with some bite. He doesn't throw his changeup much, but he'll show one occasionally with some fade, especially against left-handed hitters. Scouts don't always love Jordan's arm action, as it can get long with a full arm swing in the back, and they felt his delivery slowed down too much at times this spring. He does tend to be around the strike zone, and there could easily be more in the tank stuff-wise as he matures, something teams will likely be thinking about if they select the Florida State recruit on Day 2 of the Draft.

The Missouri high school ranks feature three interesting shortstops. The consensus is that Snyder's polish and floor make him the best prospect of the trio, giving him the edge over Tytus Cissell's athleticism and Drew Dickerson's physicality. If he doesn't go early enough in the Draft to sign, Snyder could make an immediate impact as a freshman at Tennessee next spring. Gatorade's Missouri high school player of the year, Snyder is a steady right-handed hitter who makes good swing decisions and provides consistent contact. He didn't show much power on the showcase circuit last summer but has gained some strength and is hitting the ball harder this spring. His biggest backers believe he has 20-homer upside, though others think his pop is more fringy. Similar questions surround Snyder's ability to remain at shortstop. While he has flashed plus straight-line speed in the past, he has produced below-average home-to-first times this spring after adding muscle. He has reliable hands, solid arm strength and a good internal clock at shortstop, but diminished quickness could land him at third base.

Taylor declined first-round money as a South Carolina high schooler in 2021 and dropped to the Rangers in the 19th round because he wanted to double as a slot receiver and outfielder at Clemson. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on a special teams play as a freshman, leading to two surgeries, and eventually gave up football after catching seven passes in two seasons. Despite missing most of his first college baseball season recovering from the injury, he didn't look rusty at all while batting .362/.489/.523 as a sophomore last spring, then dropped to .230/.465/.480 in 2024 before a broken left wrist ended his season in mid-April. While scouts still appreciate Taylor's hitting ability from the right side of the plate and love his makeup, he hasn't developed as hoped. He uses an all-fields approach and his skill at working counts to get on base, but he hasn't grown into more than fringy power and has lost some speed since his knee injury. A two-time state wrestling champion in high school who has some wiry strength, he drove the ball in the air to his pull side more than ever this year before he got hurt, but he slugged .337 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer. Taylor once had plus-plus speed but is now an average runner with less burst on the bases and in the outfield. He compensates somewhat with good instincts and aggressiveness, though he plays left field for Clemson while projected 2025 first-rounder Cam Cannarella mans center. Taylor is a solid defender with fringy-to-average arm strength on the outfield corners and should be capable in center field.

Major spent most of his first two years at West Virginia pitching out of the bullpen, though he was initially supposed to start as a sophomore in 2023, a plan that was scrapped because of shoulder issues. He was slated to remain a reliever in 2024 when an injury to a fellow Mountaineer hurler forced him into the Friday night role, and Major initially ran with it to put him on the Draft map. He couldn't sustain his early success, and missed a month of the season, though he did return for Regional play. His Draft status was clouded when it turned out he needed surgery to repair his UCL. An undersized right-hander at 5-foot-11, Major does have some exciting stuff when he's healthy. He can run his fastball up to 96 mph, sitting around 93 mph more often than not. He can complement the heater with three secondary offerings, all thrown at around the same velocity. His 84-85 mph slider can have some bite to it, his mid-80s changeup features some arm-side fade, and he has a slightly harder cutter, up to 89 mph, that is effective. All three missed bats regularly and helped him strikeout 10.5 per nine in 2024. Given his size, the effort in his delivery and his below-average command (4.8 BB/9), not to mention the elbow surgery, Major will most likely find a home back in a bullpen at the professional level. Despite the injury, he may have shown enough stuff where a team could take him on Day 2 of the Draft and let him rehab under professional care, with the chance for him to move pretty quickly as a reliever once he's healthy.

Clarke was a bit of a high school pop-up prospect in Virginia at the start of the 2021 spring season, but even though he was a projectable left-hander with glimpses of plus stuff, he wasn't able to maintain a strong start and faded out of the Draft picture. He headed to Alabama to start his career but after not getting any mound time his first season, he went the junior college route and transferred to State College of Florida. He pitched sparingly in 2023 but was a regular member of the rotation in 2024, finishing among the nation's junior college leaders in strikeouts. In some ways, Clarke is still the raw and projectable southpaw who opened eyes early in 2021, but with a bit more of a track record. The 6-foot-4 lefty has plenty of fastball, and he relies heavily on the pitch. He can be up to 96-97 mph at times, sitting around 94, though it isn't thrown with a ton of life right now. His upper-70s curve has the chance to be a real out pitch with power, though he doesn't always commit to it, and he has a firm, upper-80s changeup that needs work. Clarke's control has been intermittent, and he walked 4.2 per nine during the 2024 season. While he might best be suited for a relief role, there's still some ceiling here, though teams will have to balance his upside and arm strength with his lack of resume beyond this spring -- and perhaps his Tommy John surgery in high school -- when deciding if they want to try to sign him away from heading to South Carolina next year.

Christian spent the first two years of his college career mashing at Division II Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, finishing second in the nation with 28 home runs in 2023. He showed it was no fluke by moving to nearby Division I San Diego and hitting 26 more homers and finishing with a 1.288 OPS. Christian earned West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors, helped by hitting .420 and slugging .970 in conference play and putting him firmly on the Day 2 Draft map. A massive presence with his 6-foot-5 frame from the right side of the plate, there's little question that Christian has plus strength and a ton of raw power to tap into. Questions start to come in regarding whether he'll hit enough to get to that power consistently in games at the next level. He absolutely punishes fastballs, but he has a bit of a grooved swing and some scouts worry about his pitch recognition as he struggled with spin. Even believers recognize it will likely be a power over hit profile. A strong and physical athlete, Christian worked hard on his outfield play, and there's confidence he'll be fine in right field, with enough arm for the outfield corner. He does have experience at first base to add some versatility to his resume, but teams considering taking him in the top 10 rounds will be looking past his lack of resume against good competition and believing he'll be able to use that power as a professional hitter.

Smith generated some first-round buzz as a South Carolina high schooler in 2022, but his price tag and reliever risk left him undrafted and he headed to Clemson. He battled the strike zone as a freshman last spring before impressing as much as any left-hander in the Cape Cod League during the summer. He showed improved velocity and better control of his secondary pitches this year before injuring his ankle in mid-March and missing a month.Smith's fastball sits at 91-94 mph and tops out at 96, just like it did in high school, and he'll ride it up or sink it down in the zone. He throws the strikes and misses the most bats with a sweeping low-80s slider that features high spin rates. He has a solid low-80s changeup that sinks and enough faith to use it against both lefties and righties. Though Smith has a three-pitch repertoire suitable for starting, he doesn't have a history of providing consistent strikes. He doesn't always keep his delivery in sync and maintain his direction to the plate, leaving him with fringy control. His ceiling may not be quite as high as once projected, but he still could become a mid-rotation option if he finds the plate more often.

Fountain needed just three years to set the Nebraska prep career home run record, going deep 26 times to surpass Cole Stobbe (25) and Jakson Reetz (24). Both Stobbe and Reetz became third-round picks out of high school and Fountain could go in a similar range after driving Norris HS to the state Class B championship. He finished with 31 homers in four seasons and also set state career records for RBI (154) and stolen bases (84). Fountain's 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame and massive right-handed power are reminiscent of Brady House, the 11th overall selection in the 2021 Draft. The ball jumps off his barrel thanks to his bat speed, strength and the loft and leverage in his swing. While he didn't perform well on the showcase circuit because his stroke can get uphill and he needs to refine his strike-zone management against better pitching, he didn't swing and miss excessively. There are divergent opinions about Fountain's hitting ability as well as his chances to remain at third base. His proponents believe he has underrated athleticism and solid-to-plus arm strength, while others think he lacks range and agility and will end up at first base. The Louisiana State recruit earns universal praise for his makeup and no one doubts that he has the work ethic to improve his defense.

Carter ran his fastball into the mid-90s as a Colorado high schooler, but a lack of polish and a commitment to Vanderbilt left him undrafted in 2021. The Commodores briefly cut him after he walked 10 in 5 1/3 innings as a freshman, but he returned to serve as a swingman last spring. He has the best stuff on their pitching staff but never has harnessed it and logged a 6.58 ERA with 31 walks in 39 2/3 innings this season. Few college pitchers can light up a radar gun like Carter, who operates at 96-99 mph and reaches 103 with a flat approach angle coming out of a high arm slot and explosive carry when he keeps his heater up in the zone. He has shown little feel for spinning a breaking ball or landing one close to the strike zone, with his low-80s curveball marginally more reliable than his mid-80s slider. He also struggles to locate his mid-80s changeup but it bottoms out at the plate when it's working. Strong and athletic at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, Carter has power stuff but often has to dial it back to try to find the strike zone. He has difficulty maintaining consistent mechanics and regressed this spring after making some encouraging progress with his control during the fall. He almost certainly will be a reliever in pro ball after having little success as a starter in college.

The Colorado high school pitcher demographic hasn't been a particularly productive one, with just two -- Case Williams in 2021 and Brock Burke in 2014 -- taken in the top five rounds in the last decade, though prep arms like Kevin Gausman and Kyle Freeland went on to college and big league careers. This year's class has two intriguing high school arms from the Centennial State, Trey Gregory-Alford and Shephardson, who had some serious helium as things warmed up this spring. A 6-foot-1 right-hander, Shepardson has the makings of two pitches that could be plus in time. He's throwing his fastball in the 91-95 mph range now, a high-spin heater with some arm side run and ride to it up in the zone. His slider is his go-to out pitch, thrown 81-85 mph, also with high spin, a hard breaker that misses bats. There's some feel for a mid-80s changeup, but it's a distant third pitch and he leans heavily on the fastball-slider combination, reminding some of a young Lance McCullers. Command has been an issue for Shepardson in the past, but he was doing a better job of throwing his two offerings for strikes this spring, helping his Draft stock. He's a solid athlete, so there's reason for optimism that he can continue to find the zone. Shepardson trains with his older brother, Blake, who is a reliever at the University of San Francisco and flirts with triple digits, and if the Draft doesn't work out, he'll head to join the Dons pitching staff as well.

While possessing fringy to average stuff across the board, Kmatz answered the bell every week for three years as a part of Oregon State’s rotation. His fastball sits around 91 mph and tops out and 94, but he commands the pitch very well. His best pitch is a mid-70s curve that he lands for strikes with decent downer action, and he sells his low-80s changeup -- a pitch that features good fade -- well with arm speed.

Part of a 2021 bumper crop of Iowa high school pitchers that also included likely 2024 first-rounder Brody Brecht, Wentworth went undrafted and headed to college as Kansas State's top recruit. He missed his first college season following Tommy John surgery and struggled to an 8.72 ERA when he returned last spring. He has pitched his way into the top five rounds after opening the season in the bullpen and joining the rotation in late April. Wentworth's fastball is fairly ordinary, sitting at 92-94 mph and peaking at 96 without much life, but his slider and changeup have posted swing-and-miss rates better than 50 percent this year. His low-spin slider parks in the mid-80s and features tremendous depth, while opponents have batted just .074 against his fading mid-80s changeup. His upper-80s cutter gets a lot of chases and shows signs of becoming a solid offering. Wentworth has some shoulder tilt in his delivery and throws with some effort, but he repeats his mechanics well and creates some deception while providing regular strikes. He has a sturdy 6-foot-1 frame and a chance to make it as a starter in pro ball if he can add some velocity or movement to his fastball. He may be better suited as a reliever who can work heavily off his slider and changeup.

After posting a .969 OPS at UC Irvine in 2023, Kendle was taken by the Cardinals in the 10th round of the Draft, but he opted to go back to school for his senior season. He responded with a .387/.479/.590 line. He has a chance to have decent tools across the board, with some pop, some feel for the barrel, an above-average arm and solid speed. At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, he’s compact and physical in a Tyler O’Neill kind of way.

Stafford has been a starter behind the plate for Cal Poly from the day he set foot on campus, playing with first-rounder Brooks Lee and fellow current Top 100 prospect Drew Thorpe in 2022. A freshman All-American that year, Stafford was a second-team All-Big West choice as a sophomore and continued to hit well in the Cape Cod League last summer, taking a break to play for Team USA as well. He's putting up the best numbers of his career at the right time during his junior season. Stafford's main pluses are his ability to make consistent contact from the right side of the plate and his overall athleticism that shows up on both sides of the ball. He's put up very good numbers in school and he's had more extra-base hits as a junior, showing the ability to drive the ball to all fields. At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, he's never going to have a ton of power, and there is some concern about his ability to handle premium velocity at the next level because of a perceived lack of strength.There is some twitchy athleticism to Stafford's game and he runs well, especially for a catcher. He has good range and a solid overall defensive package behind the plate with an above-average arm. Concerns about his size do carry over to whether he can handle a workload as a full-time professional catcher, and he has played some outfield in the past, though that obviously puts more pressure on the bat.

Cypress High School in Orange County, Calif., has produced a fair share of baseball talent over the years, including former top 10 picks Scott Moore (2002) and Josh Vitters (2007). But it hasn't had a player taken in the top 10 rounds since David Nick was a fourth-rounder in 2009. Montgomery, a strong, physical catcher who stood out in showcase events last summer like MLB's PDP League, the High School Home Run Derby last summer in Seattle and the Area Code Games, is hoping to end that draught. At 6-foot-4, Montgomery is a presence from the right side of the plate. There's plenty of raw power for him to tap into, and he's done it against good competition, including at the Area Code Games. He uses a small leg kick to help with timing, and while there is some length in his swing and he can open up too soon at times, he's done a good job overall of making contact against good pitching, both last summer and during his senior season. It remains to be seen if Montgomery can stick behind the plate long-term. He has plenty of arm for the position and does have some receiving skills to work with, but his size could kick him to first base or perhaps a corner outfield spot in the future. Regardless of where he plays, it's his bat that could get the Arizona State recruit off the board during Day 2.

Mathison surged late in his season as an Indiana high schooler in 2021 to finish among the national prep home run leaders with 16 in 33 games. But he wasn't crosschecked enough to warrant a bonus that would lure him away from his college commitment to Indiana, where he set a school freshman record with 19 homers. Once projected as a top-three-rounds pick, his stock has dropped after his performance dipped the last two years, and he didn't hit for power with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer. Mathison is a streaky hitter with plus raw power that plays to all parts of the ballpark and gives him 25-homer upside. He doesn't chase or swing and miss excessively, but he takes too many hittable strikes and falls behind in counts, leading to strikeouts. He will draw some walks, but his left-handed swing can get long and uphill, and there are questions about his ability to consistently do damage against pro pitching. A 6-foot-2, 215-pounder with quality athleticism, Mathison has plus speed but isn't much of a basestealer. His quickness plays better in center field, where he's a solid to plus defender. With average arm strength, he's capable of playing all three outfield positions.

Hertzler began his career at Liberty as a two-way player, one who didn't see an inning of competitive mound time as a freshman in 2022 and picked up just 11 at-bats. As a sophomore, he made 21 relief appearances and had 25 plate appearances. Focusing on pitching only in 2024, he took off as the Flames' Friday night starter, making 16 appearances (15 starts) and striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings. A big-bodied right-hander who stands 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Hertzler showed off four usable pitches in his first year as a starter. His fastball sits around 92-93 mph, but he's touched 95-96 mph at times, and it features some solid arm-side run. His go-to secondary offering is his low-80s changeup, thrown with good sink and fade, an offspeed offering that flashes plus. He has two distinct breaking balls, with both his mid-80s tighter slider and his slower, 80-81 mph curve showing bat-missing potential. Without a long resume as a starter, it remains to be seen if Hertzler can stick in a rotation at the next level, though he took a big step forward in his strike-throwing ability with the move to starting for Liberty in 2024. A team taking him on Day 2 of the Draft could very well give him the chance to keep starting at the outset, recognizing there might be some upside the further removed from playing both ways he gets and knowing that his stuff could tick up if he ends up in a bullpen down the road.

After relieving as a freshman a year ago and capping his first season with an NCAA regional playoff win over Kentucky, Foley made a relatively smooth transition to starting in 2024. He didn't allow a run in four of his first eight starts but exited his ninth with back issues. After missing two weeks, he returned with his stuff intact but his control less than its best, and he could factor into the top three rounds. Foley worked at 93-95 mph and touched 99 with his fastball coming out of the bullpen. He has shown similar average and max velocity in the rotation, maintaining it deep into games. The induced vertical break on his heater can be even more impressive than its radar-gun readings, making it a well-above-average offering at its best. His low-80s changeup can show some nifty fade and tumble at times, and it's more effective than his short mid-80s slider. An all-state tight end as an Indiana high schooler, Foley is extremely physical at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds. He's athletic for his size but does a better job of getting chases with his pitches than landing them in the strike zone. He needs to prove he's healthy and comes with reliever risk, but he's also an intriguing arm who will get a chance to develop as a starter in pro ball.

Todd Fitz-Gerald is the coach at national high school powerhouse Marjory Stoneman Douglas in South Florida. His older son, Hunter, is currently a first baseman in the Mariners' system. His younger son, Devin, is also an infielder who starred at Stoneman and, unlike his brother who was an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion University in 2023, has the chance to be taken at some point on Day 2 of the Draft this year. As might be expected for the son of a coach, Fitz-Gerald's tools play up thanks to his advanced feel for the game. He's a switch-hitter who is a natural right-handed hitter, but some scouts feel his swing is actually better from the left side. His feel for the barrel could give him the chance to be an above-average hitter eventually, and his power could grow into average in the future. He has below-average pure speed, but it plays up because of his instincts and aggressiveness on the basepaths. His overall tools remind some of a Brendan Donovan type of player. A shortstop in high school, most evaluators think he'll need to change positions at the next level. He might profile best at second base, but he has enough arm to give third base a try, though that obviously puts more pressure on his bat to have more impact. He's the type of player who is likely to always play above his tools thanks to his plus makeup and overall instincts, whether he starts his pro career now or heads to North Carolina State for college.

The last Ontario native high school pitcher to go in the top 10 rounds of the Draft was Jonah Tong, who headed to Georgia Premier Academy before the Mets took him in the seventh round of the 2022 Draft. Romeo didn't transfer to a United States high school program to get more exposure, but he did raise his profile by pitching for the Canadian junior national team and then showed off his stuff against older competition in MLB's Draft League before heading to the Combine in June. While nothing jumps off the page right now for the athletic 6-foot-3 right-hander, it's easy to dream on more stuff to come for Romeo. He has a loose, quick arm that typically fires fastballs in the 90-92 mph range, and he touched 93-94 in the Draft League and in the high school game at the Combine. His heater typically features good sink. He complements it with a solid low-80s slider that has good spin and bite to it, and while his changeup is a development pitch, he can show a decent one he sells with good arm speed that has some fade occasionally. Romeo is smart on the mound and throws strikes with all of his offerings. As he physically matures and fills out his frame, there should be more velocity and bite to his stuff. His willingness to challenge himself in the Draft League and be seen at the Combine shows where he wants to go, even if he heads to Florida State for college ball first.

Nate Eaton, a hitter who touched the big leagues in 2022 and 2023, went in Round 21 of the 2018 Draft to the Royals out of Virginia Military Institute. His younger cousin, Konner, is a left-handed pitcher who went from the Virginia high school ranks to George Mason. After throwing just one inning during his freshman year, he moved into the Patriots' rotation as a sophomore and has remained there, teasing with his raw stuff over two years, and in the Cape Cod League, without the consistent results to go with it. Eaton has an intriguing combination of size -- he's 6-foot-3 -- stuff, athleticism and left-handedness. He has a lively fastball he can run up to 94 mph, averaging around 92, with solid inverted vertical break. He complements it with a slider that is often above-average, albeit inconsistent. It's a low-80s sweeping breaking ball that can miss bats. He has a mid-80s changeup also comes and goes, but looks like it could be a third at least average pitch. The left-hander is athletic and offers some deception in his delivery, but his control and command are elusive. He's throwing more strikes than he did in 2023 or in the Cape Cod League last summer, though his overall performance has been a bit of a roller coaster. Teams that have seen him good and think they can unlock enough consistency to start may give him a shot in the top five rounds.

Collins had one of the highest offensive ceilings among catchers in the 2020 high school crop, but he wasn't signable away from a Georgia commitment and went unselected. He mostly DHed in his first two college seasons and was an outfielder/catcher in an injury-shortened third, never producing as originally anticipated. He has tightened up his left-handed stroke and played with more confidence during a breakout senior season, slashing .354/.574/.772 with 20 homers while ranking first in NCAA Division I in on-base percentage and sixth in OPS (1.346). Collins still focuses almost exclusively on launching balls to his pull side, but his shorter stroke has enabled him to make more consistent hard contact and get the most out of his plus raw power. His bat speed allows him to catch up to the fastball and he has feasted on heaters while hitting in front of potential No. 1 overall pick Charlie Condon. He's also no longer helpless against breaking balls and changeups. He works deep counts and excels at getting on base via walks and being hit by pitches. Though Collins has solid arm strength, he lacks the receiving ability to catch at the next level and barely has played behind the plate in 2024. His below-average speed makes the outfield corners a stretch, but he has worked hard to make the transition to first base this spring. If he continues to improve, he could become an average defender at first.

Those who have followed the Santa Barbara baseball program were not surprised that another strike-thrower appeared to be on his way to an early-round selection. Following in the footsteps of 2016 fourth-rounder Shane Bieber and 2021 first-round selection Michael McGreevy, Ager seemed to be the latest Gauchos starter ready to take his place in that group. After relieving as a freshman, he made a successful move into the rotation. Following a turn on Team USA's staff over the summer, he had a chance to be one of the best college arms on the West Coast, but his stuff and results regressed this spring, and he lost his rotation spot as a result. At his best, Ager can flash a four-pitch arsenal. He has shown the ability to pound the strike zone with a fastball that averaged a little over 92 mph and touched 96 in 2023. His best secondary offering is a low-80s slider that flashes plus and misses a lot of bats. His slower curve is a fringy get-me-over kind of pitch, but it works with his mix. And while he hasn't used it much, he'll show at least an average changeup. Ager's ability to repeat his delivery and throw strikes with all of his pitches -- he walked just 2.5 per nine in 2023 -- were big selling points to a future as a starting pitcher at the next level, but his walk rate has soared this year. He had an oblique issue in November that slowed him, and it's possible that's impacted him this spring. There's still some projection, with perhaps more in the tank, with teams still considering him in the top three rounds.

After a solid, albeit unspectacular sophomore season at UC Irvine, Hadeen headed to the Appalachian League and earned All-Star Game MVP honors in the summer circuit before finishing up with a stint in the Cape Cod League. He wasn't able to carry that over to what should have been his junior year, as a shoulder injury that required surgery shelved him for the season. He's returned with a vengeance this spring, putting up very good numbers for the highly-ranked Anteaters. A switch-hitting shortstop, Hadeen is all about contact, getting on base and defense. A bit more productive from the right side of the plate, he rarely strikes out and almost never misses a fastball. In addition to his high contact rates, he draws a ton of walks and has been able to use his speed to swipe some bags. How much impact at the plate he'll have at the next level remains to be seen, and he hasn't shown much extra-base authority to date, though some think he could grow into a little more strength in his 6-foot-2 frame. Hadeen is a solid defender with good hands and instincts at a premium position. That could give him the chance to stick at shortstop, though both his average arm and the questions about offensive impact could point to more of a utility type career in the future. Scouts laud his makeup and grinder mentality, giving teams more confidence he'll maximize the tools he does have as he enters pro ball.

Santa Clara University's best player was outfielder Randy Winn, and he's also the last position player to be taken in the top five rounds from the school, a third-round selection back in 1995. When Hipwell jumped into the starting lineup during his sophomore year in 2023 and posted a 1.206 OPS, there was anticipation in Northern California that the Broncos could have another early-round bat on their hands. That excitement was tempered when Hipwell was suspended and missed the first chunk of the season, though he did return in mid-April to try and answer questions about his tools and makeup. At his best, Hipwell can do some serious damage from the left side of the plate, and he was back to showing off some impressive offensive qualities after his suspension. He has quality at-bats with a solid approach, drawing tons of walks and working counts so he can do more damage. He has an ability to drive the ball to all fields and has routinely registered high exit velocities. Where Hipwell plays defensively remains a question. He's played both infield corners at Santa Clara, and his strong arm would profile very well at the hot corner, where some thought he could play long term. He seemed slow-footed and stiff upon his return, with scouts wanting to see if he could return to form as he gets more reps. Assuming concerns about the suspension can be answered, there's a belief Hipwell can hit, perhaps with first base or left field as a future defensive home.

As a freshman, Herring was one of the unsung heroes of Louisiana State's 2023 national championship, working 4 2/3 innings in relief to win an elimination game in the College World Series semifinals. He has been the Tigers' best bullpen option as a Draft-eligible sophomore this spring and too valuable in that role to get a shot in the rotation. Scouts believe he has the ingredients to succeed as a starter in pro ball. Herring's money pitch is a sweeping mid-80s slider with horizontal and vertical action that eats up both left-handers and right-handers. His fastball operates at 91-92 mph and maxes out at 94 with some armside run, though it doesn't have enough velocity or life to just throw it by hitters. There's still room to add strength to his 6-foot-2 frame, so he could throw harder in the future. Herring's delivery isn't the smoothest and his arm action is long, but that hasn't prevented him from significantly improving his strike-throwing in his second college season. To make it as a starter, he'll need to develop better feel for a too-firm changeup that he almost never uses. His slider and competitive edge could allow him to fill a high-leverage role in a big league bullpen.

Green flashed early-round talent as a North Carolina high schooler but slid to the Red Sox in the 15th round of the 2021 Draft amid signability concerns. He spent his first two college seasons bouncing around the infield at North Carolina State before transferring to Georgia Tech and becoming a full-time shortstop this spring. He has 20-homer shortstop upside, though both his hitting ability and defense draw mixed reviews. While Green has made more consistent contact as a junior, he still has an aggressive, pull-heavy mindset and chases too many pitches out of the strike zone. His right-handed swing can get long and features fairly ordinary bat speed, and he struggled with wood bats in the Cape Cod League, so there are concerns about his ability to do damage against better pitching in pro ball. He does have solid raw power and can drive the ball out of the park to the opposite field, though his approach means most of his homers carry to his pull side. Green has fringy speed out of the batter's box but is faster once he gets going. He has good actions and solid arm strength at shortstop but just average range and could lose a step if his 6-foot-3 frame fills out more. He has been erratic at short during his college career, which could prompt a move to third base and put more pressure on his bat.

Utah's top prep prospect in 2021, Keisel spent his college freshman season at Brigham Young before transferring to Oklahoma State. He struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings as part of a combined no-hitter in his Cowboys debut, but enjoyed little success afterward the past two years. Oklahoma State didn't trust his ability to throw strikes and used him just once the last five weeks of this season, after which he entered the transfer portal. Keisel sports one of the most effective fastballs in the college class. It sits at 93-95 mph and reaches 99 but is more notable for its shape, featuring an unusual combination of an extremely low release height with high spin rates and significant induced vertical break. It explodes through the zone and hitters have trouble catching up to it. Keisel relies on his heater two-thirds of the time because he can't find the strike zone with his tight low-80s slider or his mid-80s changeup with mild fade. He struggles to locate his fastball too, and it would still be effective if he just aimed for the heart of the plate. He has trouble repeating his low three-quarters delivery and may not be more than a one-pitch reliever, but it's a special fastball.

Bender played sparingly as a backup catcher as a Coastal Carolina freshman in 2022 before setting a Chanticleers record with 83 RBI last spring and then tearing up the Cape Cod League. He won MVP honors at the Cape all-star game and a championship with the Bourne Braves while finishing second in the batting race (.374) and first in steals (18 in 31 games). He hasn't driven the ball as consistently as a junior while spending most of the season at DH. Bender's right-handed swing is designed to crank home runs to his pull side, though some scouts wonder how much power he'll produce against better pitching. He generates his pop more with strength than bat speed and frequently chases pitches out of the strike zone. He does make a lot of hard contact and showed improved plate discipline while on the Cape and again this spring. Despite his shocking summer success as a basestealer, Bender is a below-average runner and not particularly athletic. He barely sees time behind the plate because teammate Caden Bodine is a superior catcher, and it may be a stretch for Bender to hack it in pro ball as a below-average receiver with an average arm. He plays a serviceable first base.

Auger began his college career at Hinds (Miss.) CC in 2021 before transferring to Mississippi State and blowing out his elbow in April 2022. He missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery and was used as a reliever for much of 2024, though he wowed scouts by striking out 13 in an eight-inning start against Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference tournament. Employing a high-three quarters delivery, he get plenty of chases with four different pitches. He primarily works with a 92-94 mph fastball that hits 97 and a mid-80s slider, and his fading mid-80s changeup and upper-80s cutter also show promise. He's nearly 23 but will be sought after as a discount possibility after recording a 3.35 ERA with a 50/17 K/BB ratio in 45 2/3 innings as a redshirt junior. Auger began his college career at Hinds (Miss.) CC in 2021 before transferring to Mississippi State and blowing out his elbow in April 2022. He missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery and was used as a reliever for much of 2024, though he wowed scouts by striking out 13 in an eight-inning start against Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference tournament. Employing a high-three quarters delivery, he get plenty of chases with four different pitches. He primarily works with a 92-94 mph fastball that hits 97 and a mid-80s slider, and his fading mid-80s changeup and upper-80s cutter also show promise. He's nearly 23 but will be sought after as a discount possibility after recording a 3.35 ERA with a 50/17 K/BB ratio in 45 2/3 innings as a redshirt junior.

Bagwell hails from a Collinsville (Ill.) HS program that has sent four players to the big leagues, including Tanner Houck, who graduated a decade ago. Bagwell created a lot of interest when he displayed a 96-97 mph fastball in the first inning of his first start as a senior, though he didn't maintain that velocity throughout the spring. It's unclear whether he'll go early enough in the Draft to lure him away from a Missouri commitment. Bagwell spent most of the spring operating at 89-94 mph with his fastball, which features good carry when he works up in the zone. He lacks consistency with his secondary pitches, though he can flash a solid 78-82 mph sweeping slider at times. His upper-80s changeup has some promising fade but it's too firm and he doesn't trust it. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Bagwell doesn't have a lot of projection remaining. There's some effort to his delivery and he battles his control at times while working exclusively out of the stretch, so he comes with reliever risk. But he also comes with more physicality and peak velocity than most high schoolers, giving him intriguing upside.

Shojinaga set a Kansas freshman record by hitting .378 a year ago, when he also earned an invitation to try out for the collegiate national team. He slipped to .335/.402/.485 this spring, and while he makes repeated contact with an efficient right-handed swing, he doesn't offer much beyond that. He has below-average power and speed and lacks a viable defensive home. A pro team may try him at catcher though he looked overmatched behind the plate during fall practice, and he's rough at third, second and first base. Second base may be his best option.

Colleran stayed relatively close to home when he chose to go pitch for Mike Glavine at Northeastern University in Boston and was feeling his way through his freshman year as a reliever in 2022 when his elbow blew out and required needed Tommy John surgery. He returned in time to pitch in a pair of summer leagues in 2023, throwing very well in the Cape Cod League, and while his 2024 season was more uneven, he showed off enough arm strength and pure stuff to make him a solid college reliever prospect for the 2024 Draft. Colleran showed off premium velocity all year at Northeastern, with a fastball that sat consistently in the 96-100 mph range, and showed it off by topping out at 99 mph at the Draft Combine in June, though it's more straight velo than it is fastball quality. His power 88-91 mph slider can be a true out pitch at times with good hard break to it, and he can even mix in an upper-80s split-change that can kill spin and could give him a third average pitch. The 6-foot-3 right-hander is a pure bullpen arm who is generally around the strike zone but is much more control than command. Part of the issue with his fastball is hitters get too good a look at it, something that could be corrected with some delivery adjustments at the next level, which area scouts think he'll be good at adapting to once he enters pro ball.

A native Oregonian, Holmes went from North Bend High School to Feather River Junior College in northern California to continue his career. After starting for two years, he was able to return closer to home and head to Oregon State. Not only has he made a smooth transition into the Beavers' bullpen in 2024, he's been one of Division I's saves leaders as the closer for one of the best programs in the nation. Holmes is a 6-foot-4 right-hander who comes after hitters from a funky low sidearm slot and a two-pitch mix. He'll throw his fastball in the 91-94 mph range, and it has good boring action on it, allowing it to play up. His slider is his go-to pitch, and he actually throws it more than his heater. It's a horizontal breaker he throws up to 83 mph with good spin, and it's been effective as an out pitch against hitters on both sides of the plate. While Holmes' walk rate is a bit high, he's actually around the plate more often than not and goes right after hitters. His ability to handle the spotlight of taking the ball in the ninth for a top-ranked team hasn't gone unnoticed, and he's the kind of college reliever who could move quickly to help a big league bullpen in a hurry.

The 6-foot-2 southpaw was a first-team All-Big Ten selection for the Golden Gophers, thanks to his 2.77 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 78 innings. He works 90-94 mph with his fastball and has a low-80s slider that plays well from his three-quarters slot.

After working at 88-92 mph most of the summer on the showcase circuit, Sullivan focused on getting stronger and it has paid off. His fastball velocity made a jump at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship last October and another in his first couple of starts as a senior. Sullivan's heater operated at 92-95 mph at the WWBA event and at 94-95 while touching 97 this April, and it features high spin rates that create carry up in the zone. He reaches 2,900 rpm with his slider and has two versions, an upper-80s cutter that tops out at 91 mph and a sweepier 82-85 mph option. His upper-80s changeup peaks at 91 mph with heavy sink and could use more velocity separation from his fastball. An athletic mover who gets down the mound well, Sullivan still is learning to locate his pitches. His fastball command suffers because he falls in love with his slider more than he should. A good student regarded as a tough sign because of his Notre Dame commitment, he may not get drafted early enough to forego college.

Ranked No. 84 on MLB Pipeline's preseason Draft Top 100, Turner saw his stock tumble after he batted .218/.409/.421 with nine homers and 12 steals. He lowered his hands in an attempt to produce more power and messed up his left-handed swing, which scouts didn't love to being with. He's a solid runner with good instincts in center field, but there already were concerns about his power with wood bats and now there are questions about his hitting ability.

Smith didn't have much in the way of results over his first two years at Irvine, hitting just .227 over 172 total at-bats, though he did perform well in the Appalachian League in the summer of 2022. Things really clicked for him in '24 as he was named Big West Player of the Year after hitting .401/.533/.637. He rarely struck out and didn’t swing and miss much overall, and his pitch recognition kept him from chasing too much. Even though he hit 10 homers, he’s more of a contact-first kind of hitter, with some unsure of his future impact at the plate. He’s a fringy runner who hopefully can handle an outfield corner at the next level.

A product of the same Kansas high school that produced former first-round fireballer Riley Pint, Brethowr provides more proof that they grow them big in that part of the country. The 6-foot-6 slugging outfielder began his college career at Arizona State, but after getting limited playing time as a freshman in 2022, he transferred to UC Santa Barbara and earned All-Big West First Team honors as a sophomore. He hasn't taken a big step forward in his junior season but he does provide a power bat possibility in the middle rounds. One of the most physical hitters in the country, Brethowr offers serious raw power from the right side of the plate, with some scouts thinking there might be 70 raw pop in his bat -- and it does show up to his pull side. Whether he can get to it consistently remains the question. While he's cut his strikeout rate down considerably this year, he continues to show a little bit of a slow trigger with the bat, and there could be more production unlocked with some swing adjustments. In the past, Brethowr has run well, especially for someone his size, but some lower-half injuries have slowed him down and he's likely to keep trending in that direction as he matures. He's limited to an outfield corner and has the raw arm strength to fit there. The team that takes him on Day 2 will be hoping it can maximize his power potential.

Moore started his college career at Danville Community College before spending two years at Menlo College and then heading to Oregon for his final season. A 24-year-old reliever, he’s all about power, showing a fastball in the 94-97 mph range, an 82-85 mph sider with some tilt and a firm 85-88 changeup. Repertoire could give him the chance to start, though command issues might impede that, with a role as a multi-inning reliever more likely.

The valedictorian of his high school class in the Portland, Oregon area, Brink stayed close to home when he chose the University of Portland for college ball rather than head east to Ivy League schools pursuing him. He pitched sparingly out of the bullpen as a freshman in 2021, and then Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2022 season. He began 2023 as a reliever but worked his way into the weekend rotation and earned first team all-WCC honors. He received that accolade again as Portland's Friday night starter in 2024, putting him firmly on Draft radars. A 6-foot-2 right-hander, Brink is more about his complete repertoire than any wow stuff. His fastball averaged around 92 mph this season, but he ran it up to 95 mph and commands it to all four quadrants. His best secondary offering is his circle changeup, a fading pitch that flashes plus that he sells with good arm speed. His 81-85 mph slider can be an out pitch and miss bats, and he can fold in a distinct upper-70s curve at times as well. Brink has been an outstanding strike-thrower this spring, showing very good command. While some feel his secondary stuff is fringy, all agree he earns plusses for his competitiveness on the mound. Teams that feel his success as Portland's ace this season is who he truly is should have plenty of interest on Day 2 of the Draft.

Molina spent his first two college seasons at Texas Tech and was the Red Raiders' top starter in 2023. After attending the U.S. collegiate national team trials that summer, he transferred to Arkansas. He pitched well early in the season before an ankle injury and control issues limited his effectiveness down the stretch. Molina depends on the carry of his fastball and the effectiveness of his changeup. Though he only averages 90 mph and tops out at 95 with his heater, he throws it two-thirds of the time and gets swings and misses thanks to its carry through the strike zone. His plus changeup grades as his best pitch, fading and sinking in the low 80s and helping his fastball play up. While Molina features two distinct breaking balls with depth, he has trouble landing his low-80s slider and mid-70s curveball for strikes and often misses badly with his curve. He threw more strikes at Texas Tech than he did this spring, and he'll need to do a better job of locating his offerings against pro hitters because he has little margin for error. His body got thicker this year, carrying 230 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame, and he'll have to devote more time to conditioning.

Andrade spent two years pitching out of the Rhode Island bullpen, serving as the closer in 2023 and then transferring to the University of Pittsburgh for a chance to start in 2024. It was an up-and-down season for the right-hander, throwing gems against Notre Dame and Florida State late in the year but faltering in the ACC Tournament. Despite the uneven results, his pure stuff has intrigued several teams as a late Day 2 possibility. When he's on, Andrade can get hitters out with a distinct four-pitch mix. His fastball averaged a tick over 93 mph this year and topped out at 96 mph, and he complements it with two breaking pitches. The slider, a hard mid-80s breaking ball with good bite when he executes it, is slightly ahead of his 79-83 mph curve, though that can have good depth to it as well, and the two do run into each other. He does show decent feel for a mid-80s changeup with fade at times. While he has the repertoire to do so, for Andrade to be able to start at the next level, he's going to have to harness his stuff more effectively and throw more strikes. His 6.1 walks per nine with the Panthers this spring represent a career low, but a team that thinks they can help him with his command could have a mid-round steal on their hands, knowing his stuff could tick up in shorter stints as a reliever.

A two-way standout for two years at the College of Southern Nevada, Cates moved on to Nevada-Las Vegas and focused on pitching only, settling in as UNLV’s Friday night starter and earning an All-Mountain West First Team nod. Cates is an extreme strike-thrower, walking just 1.5 per nine in 2024, with largely average stuff across the board. He has a fastball that typically sits 90-93 mph, a short 81-84 mph slider and a splitter in the low 80s that he uses to finish off hitters.

Hainline spent his first two years of college ball at Washington State before transferring to Oregon State, where he hit 11 homers while playing mostly shortstop and some third. There’s some offensive potential, with gap-to-gap power, which shows up more to his pull side, though he needs to cut down on his propensity to swing and miss. He’s played all three infield spots capably, with the chance to fill a utility type role at the next level.

The grandson of 1971 Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Patrick Sullivan, Joe stands out most with his plus speed and strong makeup. He played mostly left field at South Alabama in deference to Will Turner but is capable of manning center field as a pro and profiles better there with his gap power. He battled a hamate injury while hitting .266/.442/.531 with 14 steals in 38 games this spring.

A second-team All-Patriot League performer, Perich’s father Jeff was an assistant coach at Lehigh and a former Draft pick of the Yankees. Rafe posted an OPS over 1.000 in 2024, showing good power, a quick bat and some feel for the barrel. A former two-way player, he’s played third in college, but might end up at first.

Jewett spent his first two years pitching out of UCLA's bullpen, throwing well as a freshman and earning a Cape Cod League All-Star nod in the summer of 2022. He moved into the Bruins' rotation this year and served as their Friday night starter and showed signs of effectiveness in an up-and-down season that saw his stuff back up a bit in longer stints. When he was a reliever, the 6-foot-4 Jewett threw his fastball in the 94-97 mph range, but as a starter this year, he's been sitting around 92 and topping out at 94. His go-to pitch is his slider, a low-80s breaker that can have good bite to it at times. He also has a slower mid-70s curve that's not as effective as the slider and a mid-80s changeup. Jewett repeats his unique delivery well, but with an over-hand slot and short stride, hitters see his fastball in particular very well. He's generally around the strike zone, but he hasn't commanded the ball well consistently and hasn't adjusted to working as a starter effectively. His body and arm strength will surely garner interest, with most thinking a return to the 'pen would help his stuff tick back up.

While most of the scouting focus at Iowa was on the Hawkeyes' all-prospect rotation, they also have an outfielder who could go in the top five rounds. Petersen earned all-Big Ten Conference honors and starred in the playoffs to help Bourne with the Cape Cod League championship in 2023. He was posting a strong encore this spring before stress reactions in both his shins affected his swing and eventually ended his season in late April. A right-handed hitter, Petersen has improved his ability to make hard contact and his plate discipline throughout his college career. Though he shows some feel for driving the ball in the air to his pull side, some scouts question his ability to turn on quality fastballs and hit for power with wood bats. He slugged just .329 with wood on the Cape and may top out at 12-15 homers per year. Petersen is a consistent plus runner who will post occasional plus-plus times, and his quickness and instincts make him a dynamic basestealer. He spent most of his college career in left field despite his speed, so his ability to play center remains unproven. He possesses fringy arm strength that is playable in left or center.

In the past decade, Georgia high schools have produced several two-way talents who have become prominent picks, with Josh Lowe, Taj Bradley and Michael Harris reaching the big leagues and Bubba Chandler and Tai Peete on their way. The latest in that line is Cason, a four-sport star who figures to both hit and pitch at Mississippi State if he fulfills his college commitment. His combination of arm strength and athleticism could divert him from the Bulldogs into the top three rounds. Gatorade's Georgia high school player of the year, Cason has worked at 93-95 mph and touched 97-98 throughout his senior season, showing the ability to ride his fastball up or sink it down in the zone. He does a great job of killing spin on his low-80s split-grip changeup, which tumbles at the plate and shows signs of becoming a plus pitch. His tight slider has similar velocity and could become a solid offering with more development. One of the younger top prospects in the Draft, Cason gets down the mound well but his delivery can get too quick at times, leading to inconsistent control. He has thrown more strikes this spring and should continue to improve once he focuses on pitching full time. He also impressed at the MLB Draft Combine as a strong-armed shortstop with solid speed and power potential, but his future is brighter on the mound.

Indiana's best prep pitching prospect in 2021, Hayden posted a 7.01 ERA in his first two college seasons at Indiana before transferring to Indiana State. He still battled the strike zone with the Sycamores but found some success as a starter, recording a 3.81 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 78 innings. He can push his fastball to 98 mph but it usually sits at 92-94 and gets hit because it lacks life. His best offering is a solid mid-80s slider and he projects as a reliever at the next level.

Jenkins-Cowart was an immediate starter as a freshman at East Carolina and has been a steady presence in the Pirates' lineup for three seasons. Tall and gangly, he has a bit of a Hunter Pence feel to him, albeit with less athleticism. He'll need to make adjustments to his setup and swing against pro pitchers with wood bats, which could help unlock some more power. At 6-foot-6 and 212 pounds, Jenkins-Cowart has the size and strong hands to be a power hitter, and also has room to add more muscle. While the left-handed hitter can drive the ball out of the park to his pull side as well as the opposite field, he's very spread out at the plate and scouts think he needs to stand more upright and generate more leverage to provide enough pop in pro ball. He puts the bat on the ball almost too easily, generating too much suboptimal contact -- he didn't have an extra-base hit in 12 games with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer -- and cutting into his walk totals. Jenkins-Cowart will have to generate more offense to profile as a regular at the next level. He has good instincts in the outfield, but his below-average speed limits him to the corners. He's capable in right field, though his average arm strength may be a bit less than desired.

The only Major League player to ever come out of Northern Essex Community College in Massachusetts is former Cy Young Award Winner Steve Bedrosian, who went from the two-year school to the University of New Haven before being drafted by the Braves. Voelker is hoping he could be the second after a year that saw him earn NJCAA Division III first-team All-American status and help North Essex reach the College World Series. He led all junior college pitchers at that level in strikeouts and was second nationally in ERA while whiffing 18.6 per nine. He headed to the Cape Cod League to test his stuff against a higher level of competition in the hopes of boosting his Draft stock. Not recruited out of high school, Voelker had a solid first season at Northern Essex in 2022 but had to redshirt the following year because of a wrist injury. The 6-foot-4 right-hander came back with a vengeance this year, putting up video game type numbers with a fastball that was routinely up to 95-96 mph and a power breaking ball with good spin. There's even some feel for a changeup, though it's clearly his third pitch. While he has an ideal pitcher's frame and a delivery that works well, Voelker's command and control have been spotty, at best. That and his lack of track record against top competition will limit his stock somewhat, but there's some upside here for a potential Day 2 selection.

Nebraska dismissed Jelkin two months into his freshman season in 2022. He turned down the Dodgers as a 14th-rounder out of South Mountain (Ariz.) CC last July, opting instead to transfer to Houston. He logged a 3.41 ERA with a 46/10 K/BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings with the Cougars before blowing out his elbow and requiring Tommy John surgery. Before he got hurt, he operated with a hittable 92-95 mph fastball that peaked at 97, a low-80s slider with depth than showed flashes of becoming a plus pitch and a sinking mid-80s changeup. He has a promising combination of stuff and strikes but comes with severe makeup concerns that scare off several clubs.

For most of the past two years, Gourson has teamed up with Cody Schrier to make a formidable double-play combination at UCLA. The duo is back together for their Draft season, with Gourson coming off a solid sophomore campaign that saw him finish with a .953 OPS before playing his way onto USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team last summer, though he hasn't been able to match that success at the plate this spring. A left-handed-hitting middle infielder, Gourson has shown off a solid approach and a knack for finding the barrel since he set foot on campus. There isn't a ton of raw power to tap into, but there is extra-base ability, and he can hit all varieties of offerings hard to all fields, plus he isn't afraid of working counts and drawing walks (15 percent walk rate in 2023). While Gourson has played some shortstop in the past, he profiles best on the right side of second base at the next level because he's an average runner at best, and his arm is also just average. His bat is his carrying tool and it gives him the chance to be an offensive-minded second base type who goes in the top five rounds based on solid college performance.

The Pacific Northwest has produced some exciting high school pitching talent in recent years, from first-round Oregonians Noble Meyer and Mick Abel, both from Jesuit High School, to Washingtonians JR Ritchie, a 2022 comp round pick and Jackson Cox, taken in the second that same year. Swanson has the chance to become a 1-2 punch with Cox as products of Toutle Lake High School much in the way Meyer and Abel have, though he struggled to gain traction after transitioning from basketball to the diamond this spring. Like some of those who preceded him in the region, Swanson has a full repertoire and plenty of projection. The 6-foot-3 right-hander has thrown harder in each of the last few seasons, going from sitting 89-92 mph as a sophomore to now showing he can live in the 93-95 mph range with good carry, and there could be more velocity to come, though it fluctuated this spring. His tight 84-86 mph slider is often his best pitch, a sharp breaker with high spin and good depth. He'll flash a decent mid-80s changeup, but it's a work in progress with inconsistent depth. Swanson can get rushed and erratic in his delivery, causing issues with his command, and he can try to nibble too much, like he did at the Area Code Games, rather than trust his impressive stuff in the zone. He's had trouble with consistency this spring in finding the zone, but when the Oregon State recruit repeats his delivery, he can look like one of the better prep arms in the class, even if that hasn't shown up as much as some evaluators hoped to see before he began his senior year.

UC Irvine had one of its best seasons ever in 2024, tying a program record with 43 regular season wins. Much of the Anteaters' success has come thanks to an offense that makes a ton of contact and gets on base. Gleed made an impact playing nearly every day as a freshman, then participated in the Appalachian League that summer before hitting .300 with a .384 on-base percentage as a sophomore. He wasn't as productive in the Cape Cod League last summer but has hit extremely well in 2024 despite missing multiple stretches with a pulled hamstring. Even while not 100 percent, Gleed has shown very impressive contact skills from the right side of the plate. He doesn't swing and miss or chase much and really punishes fastballs. There is some extra-base pop for him to tap into, mostly showing up to his pull side so far, but power isn't likely going to be a huge part of his game. As he's limped through this season, Gleed has had stretches where he's been able to do little more than jog, but even when healthy, his below-average speed hampers him defensively. His offensive profile would be better if he could stay up the middle at second base, but his lack of agility makes him better suited for third. He has the arm strength for the left side, but the lack of power makes him a little more of a tweener.

Brody Brecht isn't the only former multisport athlete with upside on Iowa's pitching staff. Morgan comes from a basketball family -- both parents and all four of his siblings played in college, including a brother and sister who played professionally -- and had college scholarship offers to play shooting guard and quarterback before focusing on baseball. His ERA doubled from 3.72 as a sophomore to 7.45 this spring as scouts were critical of the Hawkeyes' pitch-calling and tinkering with his repertoire. Morgan throws five different pitches, including a 91-93 mph fastball that reaches 96 with a lot of armside run and carry that make it difficult to control, as did the fact that he threw it only one third of the time as a junior. His best offering remains his slider, though evaluators prefer the tighter mid-80s version he employed in 2023 than the slower and sweepier edition Iowa had him use this year. He also lost effectiveness and velocity on his now upper-80s cutter, and he can mix in an upper-80s changeup with sink and a low-80s curveball. Despite his twitchy athleticism and a sound delivery, Morgan issued 125 walks in 135 innings during three seasons in college. He might be better off paring down his repertoire and throwing more fastballs to improve his command of the pitch. At his best, he flashes three plus offerings and he has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter if he can provide a lot more strikes.

Florida's Durant High School baseball program's most successful baseball alum is Ryan Raburn, who went on to South Florida State College before being a fifth-round pick in 2001. The last time a Durant product went in the top three rounds was when right-hander Tyler Danish was a White Sox second-rounder in 2013. A strong spring could help Mobley compete for the earliest pick ever from the Tampa area school. At 6-foot-6, lengthy and lean, Mobley screams projection with plenty of now stuff to interest scouts. He's growing into a plus fastball, a heater that has crept up to touching 99 mph early in outings this spring. He lives in the 92-93 mph range now and it features more movement than carry because of a slightly lower slot. He has both a curve and slider, and they can blur into each other at times, with the latter likely the best option in the future. He can get on the side of it at times, so his breaking stuff can be inconsistent. He has a solid split-changeup with some depth. Mobley is a decent strike-thrower, though as is the case with a lot of high school arms, he's more control over command, and scouts don't love his arm action. He'll have turned 18 just prior to the Draft, which will help the Florida State recruit in many team models and his combination of upside and repertoire is sure to garner interest in the first few rounds.