2023 MLB draft rankings 3.0: Top 300 prospects

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It's MLB draft week and that means it is time to expand my ranking of the top prospects in this year's draft class to 300 players.

While my upcoming mock draft later this week will attempt to predict which teams will draft specific players, this, for my money, is the much more important aspect: how good I think the players actually are.

Behind the scenes, I've updated my overall minor league top 100 rankings (here's my recent top 50) to make adjustments and to remove the graduated players, so I can tell you where the top players in the draft would slot on that list the moment they sign. I've also included FV grades so you can see where those players would slot in your team's overall prospects rankings (AL and NL). I've also included tool grades for all of the players above a 40 FV, which is the cutoff I use for pretty common prospects (i.e., 40 FV or lower), while any player ranked above that has universal trade value and a real chance to be a good big leaguer.

This year's class is highlighted by a tier of three SEC prospects who have separated from the pack. Which one is No. 1? It's time to find out.

Mock draft: 2.0 | Draft guide for all 30 teams

60 FV tier

1. Wyatt Langford (21.7), LF, Florida

Hit: 35/60, Power: 50/65, Speed: 65/60, Field: 45/50, Throw: 50/50

I'm a flip-flopper. I had Langford first in these rankings to start the year, then he got hurt and Dylan Crews made the swing adjustments I was looking for, Paul Skenes caught fire and Langford slid down to third in early May. I maintained that Langford and Crews were a coin flip to start the year and that all three were close in May. It's somehow even closer now. Here's where these three will rank on my minor league prospects list once they sign:

Langford: 9th

Crews: 10th

Skenes: 13th

For reference, the top prospect in a draft normally lands around 20th to 30th right after they sign, so this helps underline that all three are the best since Adley Rutschman went No. 1 overall in 2019.

Now, to the reason for the flip. Obviously, you can put these guys in any order and it's totally defensible. My reason for separating them is that I will almost always move a pitcher to the back of a group of similar players. If Skenes proves to be on the Stephen Strasburg/Gerrit Cole/David Price tier, then I still have him ranked in a decent spot on the minor league prospect rankings, but he should've won this coin flip. I'm fine with that because I don't want to get in the habit of expecting prospects to be the exception to the rule. If Skenes had done this for two years instead of one, I might be on board for that, as unfair as that sounds. In short: whether it's true of Skenes or not, more unpredictable stuff happens to pitchers than hitters.

As for Crews vs. Langford, they're two incredibly talented outfielders with comparable tools and performance, but the key for me is Langford developed later -- I scouted Crews when he was 15 and didn't know who Langford was until last spring -- and has more upside with raw power and speed. I also got that same breakdown from some of the evaluators I respect the most in the past few weeks. Given those narrative elements, I'd rather lean into the reason we scout (I co-wrote a book about it) and the reason for development and lean toward the guy with a little more in the tank.

That's the difference for me, between ninth and 10th and 13th on my minor league prospect rankings, normally something that's seen as so close I don't need to explain it.

My main critique of Langford is that his somewhat regular 65- and 70-grade run times don't always show up on the bases or in the field. Stealing bases isn't a huge part of Florida's program and Langford hasn't gotten a ton of reps in center field yet, something that will happen in pro ball -- even if I expect both him and Crews to eventually land in corner spots. It was also telling when speaking with the scouts I think are the best, the physical comps I got for Langford -- who he most physically looks like in uniform -- was either Mike Trout or an NFL player.

2. Dylan Crews (21.4), CF, LSU

Hit: 35/60, Power: 50/60, Speed: 55/55, Field: 45/50, Throw: 55/55

Crews lands here with one tick lower in-game power expectation and two ticks lower present speed. I think Crews will be an average defensive center fielder who becomes fringy later in his 20s. For a team with a plus defender at the position, he'll get moved to a corner immediately and if not, then I think he'll play his way there eventually. But since I think he starts his big league career there, I'll list him as a center fielder now.

3. Paul Skenes (21.0), RHP, LSU

Fastball: 65/70, Slider: 65/70, Curveball: 50/55, Changeup: 50/55, Command: 45/55

Skenes has a totally compelling case to be first on this list, but lands at third. I wonder how much he'll be able to pitch in pro ball this summer given his workload at LSU. I also wonder how aggressive the team that picks him will be with his assignment. If he's going an inning or two at a time, I think he'd be effective now in the big leagues, but it's another issue if tossing him in the deep end, only using two pitches, is best for his long-term development.

One more thing that most casual fans don't know is Skenes was a prospect as a catcher as recently as a year ago, with huge power. He could be a super fun pinch-hit option in extra innings.

55 FV tier

4. Walker Jenkins (18.4), RF, South Brunswick HS (NC), North Carolina commit

Hit: 30/55, Power: 40/65, Speed: 55/50, Field: 45/55, Throw: 55/55

If you aren't familiar with Jenkins, watch this, and I dare you to do it less than five times. He has such incredibly short separation/load in his swing and creates 30-homer type power, while also being a good enough athlete to have a chance to play center field. He's the best prep hit/power combo since Bobby Witt Jr. in 2019 and has a shot to be the face of a franchise. He'll rank 21st on my minor league prospect list when he signs.

5. Max Clark (18.5), CF, Franklin Community HS (IN), Vanderbilt commit

Hit: 30/60, Power: 30/50, Speed: 65/65, Field: 50/55, Throw: 60/60

Not to be outdone, Clark has been right there with Jenkins for years at the top of this class and is a near coin flip in these rankings. Clark is a different type of player, with electric speed and a compact frame with shades of a bigger version of Corbin Carroll. One scout called him "Johnny Damon with a plus arm." Clark will rank 29th on my minor league prospect list once he signs.

45+ FV tier

6. Jacob Gonzalez (21.1), SS, Ole Miss

Hit: 35/55, Power: 40/50, Speed: 50/50, Field: 45/50, Throw: 55/55

And now the drop-off. The three players in this tier could be in any order and this grade means they are in the 125 to 190 area of a minor league prospect list, to illustrate how big of a drop-off this really is. Gonzalez is a super productive lefty-hitting shortstop from the SEC, exactly the kind of player scouts complain doesn't exist. The drawback is there isn't a true plus tool like you get with Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson as draft prospects, but that's nitpicking.

7. Kyle Teel (21.4), C, Virginia

Hit: 35/50, Power: 40/55, Speed: 45/40, Field: 50/55, Throw: 55/55

Teel shot up boards this spring as he continued to improve defensively, grading as plus for some scouts. Offensively, I don't love what he did with his swing (in short, he could shorten his hand path and may have to in the upper minors) but it's worked for him this year and the offensive tools have been real since high school.

8. Rhett Lowder (21.3), RHP, Wake Forest

Fastball: 50/55, Slider: 50/55, Changeup: 55/60, Command: 45/55

Again, putting a pitcher at the back of a tier. Lowder has steadily progressed in college with three above average pitches, with his changeup flashing plus when it's on. His efficiency and polish are what sets him apart from other college starters with above average stuff. He isn't huge or especially projectable and operates from a slightly lower slot with both two- and four-seam fastballs. Lowder is very likely to become a big league starter, but the question is if he will be a second, third or fourth starter.

45 FV tier

9. Noble Meyer (18.4), RHP, Jesuit HS (OR), Oregon commit

Fastball: 50/60, Slider: 60/70, Curveball: 50/55, Changeup: 45/55, Command: 40/50

Meyer started to look like the top prep arm in this class by the end of the summer, then that became very clear at the beginning of the spring. Meyer has been sitting in the mid-90s, occasionally hitting the upper-90s and unleashing the best breaking ball in the draft outside of Skenes' slider. Scouts see all the starter traits and have raved about their interviews with Meyer. One pause for analysts is the bat-missing characteristics of his fastball are just OK. Scouts see all the starter traitsTeams have fear about taking prep righties this high, so he might float into the middle of the first round, but I don't have to worry like they do over this ranking. This kid could be special, get on board.

10. Matt Shaw (21.6), 2B, Maryland

Hit: 35/55, Power: 35/55, Speed: 55/50, Field: 45/50, Throw: 50/50

I've liked Shaw the most of this run of college position players from my in-person looks. At first, his swing looks to be too busy, but then you see that he can repeat it to put up numbers. His frame does not look like that of a shortstop, and he isn't, but his hands are plenty good for other spots on the infield. He feels like Justin Foscue, who went 14th overall in the 2020 draft out of Mississippi State, but maybe a better hitter.

11. Arjun Nimmala (17.8), SS, Strawberry Crest HS (FL), Florida State commit

Hit: 25/50, Power: 30/60, Speed: 50/50, Field: 40/50, Throw: 60/60

If you read the Noble Meyer blurb and got excited about the risk because it meant a giant upside, I've got the position player for you. I wrote a feature on Nimmala's unusual path. In short, Nimmala is a projectable prep shortstop who is giving scouts Carlos Correa, Javier Baez and Alfonso Soriano vibes at the plate while he trains in the offseasons with his idol, Francisco Lindor, to increase his chances to stick at the position.

He is incredibly physically gifted, is young for the class, is universally praised for plus makeup and is just scratching the surface, but scouts wonder if he'll hit enough for all of this to matter. To his credit, Nimmala has every one of the components to be able to hit, so I have faith it'll work, but scouts get nervous when that isn't obvious.

12. Enrique Bradfield Jr. (21.6), CF, Vanderbilt

Hit: 35/60, Power: 30/35, Speed: 80/80, Field: 70/70, Throw: 50/50

If your eyes glaze over reading about boring college position players with average tools, then Bradfield is for you. He's an 80-grade runner who is at least a 70 defender in center field, can hit and has steadily gotten better every spring of the seven years that he has been scouted (he was prep teammates with Mark Vientos and Triston Casas).

Bradfield's in-game power is a point of contention but he is the type of player who shouldn't be lifting the ball much, so the desire is more to regularly get the ball over the shortstop's head and wear out the gaps than to hit homers. Like Schanuel and Connor Burns, Bradfield's polish and skills fit well with a quick trip to the majors.

13. Brayden Taylor (21.0), 3B, TCU

Hit: 35/55, Power: 35/50, Speed: 50/50, Field: 45/50, Throw: 50/50

Taylor had a slow start this spring but caught fire late, solidifying a spot in the top-20 picks, possibly in the top 10. He has one of the best approaches in the draft and the loft to get to all of his solid-average power in games. Taylor can play second or third base and is a solid hitter, so the range of outcomes isn't that wide, which explains why so many teams looking for a safe big leaguer with everyday upside are showing interest.

14. Hurston Waldrep (21.3), RHP, Florida

Fastball: 50/55, Slider: 50/60, Curveball: 50/55, Changeup: 60/65, Command: 40/50

As Dollander sputtered this spring, Waldrep's fortunes improved as the use of his nasty splitter continued to increase. It's a plus-plus pitch while his fastball is OK considering it's mid-90s velocity, a 55-grade pitch. Waldrep has a feel for two above-average breaking balls but the questions scouts ask are more about his precision and command, if he can turn over a lineup as a durable starter. That question will dictate if Waldrep goes closer to 10th or 20th, but he seems like a strong multi-inning leverage type at the least.

15. Chase Dollander (21.6), RHP, Tennessee

Fastball: 55/60, Slider: 50/60, Curveball: 45/50, Changeup: 50/55, Command: 40/50

Dollander entered the spring with a slight lead over Skenes as the top pitcher in the draft, but quickly lost that spot and confused scouts all spring. I must have had a half-dozen scouts walk up to me this spring to ask if I knew what was wrong with Dollander. It wasn't like he was hurt or even bad, but he wasn't his normal self. I landed about where most teams did, that his delivery was getting too east/west, or he was spinning/coiling too much in his windup so that he wasn't online, undermining his command and consistency of his slider. At his best, Dollander has four above-to-plus pitches and kind of looks like Jacob deGrom physically, but this spring he's looked more like a pitcher that mediocre pitching development clubs should skip.

16. Colin Houck (18.8), SS, Parkview HS (GA), Mississippi State commit

30/55, Power: 30/60, Speed: 50/45, Field: 40/50, Throw: 55/55

Houck is a three-star quarterback recruit who has chosen baseball and comes from one of the best prep programs in the country, producing Matt Olson and Jeff Francoeur. It hit me watching Houck at a tournament early this spring: He's a spitting image of Evan Longoria. Physically, swing mechanics and even defensive actions look very similar.

Houck has some tightness in his lower half that limits his range on the third or fourth step into the hole and he'll likely add more strength, so I think he'll slide over the third and be above average defensively, but he's certainly fine at shortstop. Houck projects for plus power and stays inside the ball really well, but that limits how much he can pull and lift inside pitches. This is something Josh Jung solved pretty quickly in pro ball, but you never want to assume that will happen.

17. Jacob Wilson (21.3), SS, Grand Canyon

35/60, Power: 30/40, Speed: 50/50, Field: 45/50, Throw: 55/55

Wilson is the son of former Pirates shortstop Jack and it shows with how polished he is. He's a sure-handed defender at shortstop with incredible bat-to-ball skills: He had 5 strikeouts in 48 games this spring. The issue is that, despite his 6-foot-3 frame, Wilson doesn't have much power in his swing and doesn't project to add much. For teams that are focused on upside, they push Wilson down the board wondering if he'll be more than a 1.5-2.0 WAR player with below average offensive contribution. If a team sees a way to unlock 15 to 20 homers, Wilson could be an outstanding player.

18. Yohandy Morales (21.8), 3B, Miami

Hit: 30/50, Power: 40/60, Speed: 55/50, Field: 45/50, Throw: 60/60

Morales was generally lumped with current Orioles 3B prospect Coby Mayo out of high school as they were similar long-limbed prep third baseman in South Florida who had similar second-round asking prices. Mayo signed and became a top-100 prospect in the Orioles hitter development machine and Morales made more gradual progress in Coral Gables. Morales has the feel to be a 50-grade hitter if he continues cleaning up his pitch selection, which could help him tap into 30-homer type power. One scout said "Yo-Yo" reminded him of Nick Castellanos because he thinks Morales eventually moves to the outfield when he finishes filling out his 6-foot-4 frame.

19. Tommy Troy (21.4), 3B, Stanford

Hit: 35/50, Power: 35/55, Speed: 55/50, Field: 40/50, Throw: 50/50

I've generally seen Troy at the end of this run of college infielders because, for me, he's both power-over-hit in approach and has a chance to get pushed to the outfield long-term. I don't doubt that Troy will hit and have some pop, but I worry he's just a solid player who fits at all four corners without being an impact type.

20. Bryce Eldridge (18.8), 1B/RHP, James Madison HS (VA), Alabama commit

Fastball: 50/55, Slider: 50/55, Changeup: 40/50, Command: 40/50

Eldridge wants to play both ways in pro ball, and he's justified in thinking that. He's a second-round talent on the mound and a clear first-rounder as a hitter, even when limited to first base. He is 6-foot-7 and unsurprisingly has plus power, but surprisingly had some of the best contact rates on the summer circuit, too. When healthy, he'll sit in the mid-90s on the mound and rely on an above-to-plus slider, but had an ankle injury much of the spring that had him more in the 90 to 93 mph area.

21. Kevin McGonigle (18.8), SS, Monsignor Bonner HS (PA), Auburn commit

Hit: 30/60, Power: 25/50, Speed: 50/50, Field: 40/45, Throw: 50/50

McGonigle fits the kind of hitter I've consistently been higher on than most of the industry: pure hitter with shorter limbs, medium power, good-not-great defensive ability. Tyler Black, Sal Frelick, and Eric Brown Jr. were this type and were all taken by the Brewers while the Astros took my strongest feeling of players in this bucket, Drew Gilbert, last year. I'm not quite as sold on him as I was on Gilbert, but McGonigle is next up with all the traits that matter. He's a plus hitter who dominated over the summer and can play the infield while also having sneaky in-game power. Don't complicate this, MLB teams.

22. Nolan Schanuel (21.3), 1B, Florida Atlantic

Hit: 35/60, Power: 35/60, Speed: 40/35, Field: 45/50, Throw: 50/50

Schanuel slowly moved up boards all spring as scouts realized he may possess the best hit/power combo of everyone outside of the top-five players in the country. He put up fantastic numbers (1.482 OPS, 19 homers, 71 walks) and more than a few teams think he's at least 60-grade at hitting, pitch selection and in-game power, with ability on the bases (14/15 on stolen bases). This pick could look bad if he runs a 35% strikeout rate at High-A after signing, but he could also be in the big leagues in less than a year.

23. Brock Wilken (21.0), 3B, Wake Forest

Hit: 30/45, Power: 40/60, Speed: 35/35, Field: 40/45, Throw: 60/60

Scouts suspect with a full 2020 spring, Wilken would've been drafted high enough to turn pro but he got to Winston-Salem and immediately looked like a first-rounder. He's always looked more like a first baseman than third baseman long-term, but I'm not ready to close the door just yet. He has 30-homer caliber power and knows how to get to it in games, but some scouts wonder if his bat speed will make him more of a .230 hitter, and thus a platoon type, than a .250 hitter and clear starter.

24. Aidan Miller (19.0), 3B, Mitchell HS (FL), Arkansas commit

Hit: 25/50, Power: 30/60, Speed: 50/45, Field: 45/50, Throw: 60/60

Miller is a long-famous player who has looked like a young version of peak Josh Donaldson since he was 15 years old. Scouts were at his games in part because his older brother Jackson got $1.29 million from the Reds in 2020. Miller missed most of the spring with a broken hamate bone in his hand but was back in time for pre-draft workouts. His age will hurt him with model teams, and he's grown into a definite corner fit, which also makes other teams pause.

25. Thomas White (18.7), LHP, Phillips Academy HS (MA), Vanderbilt commit

Fastball: 50/60, Curveball: 50/60, Changeup: 50/60, Command: 35/50

White was famous as a freshman in high school, into the low 90's as a projectable lefty with three pitches. I first scouted him more than two years ago and he was up to 95 mph. In the last year, he basically hasn't strung together five good starts in a row, usually due to command, with scouts wondering if it will always be an issue for the 6-foot-5 left-hander. As a former Braves scout I'm getting Sean Newcomb flashbacks. When he's on, there are three plus pitches and he looks like a big leaguer at age 18. The industry vibe is he'll be someone's second pick for $3-plus million like Brock Porter was last year.

26. Walker Martin (19.4), SS, Eaton HS (CO), Arkansas commit

Hit: 25/50, Power: 30/55, Speed: 60/60, Field: 40/50, Throw: 50/50

Martin has the same very high variance to his career as Jackson Merrill did at this time a few years ago. Merrill is now a top-ten prospect in the sport, but teams had literally zero track record of him hitting with a wood bat against 90+ mph pitching. Martin did well in limited summer looks but is very old for the class and faced a low level of competition this spring. There are also some Colson Montgomery vibes here. Similarly, Martin could end up a 55-grade hitter with 60 power, 60 speed and play in the infield, but he could also spectacularly bust relative to where he'll likely be drafted.

27. George Lombard Jr. (18.0), SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL), Vanderbilt commit

Hit: 30/55, Power: 30/50, Speed: 55/55, Field: 40/50, Throw: 55/55

It's not quite Andruw Jones, Matt Holliday, or Carl Crawford from last summer's first round, but Lombard Jr. also has big league bloodlines from his father. Lombard isn't a slam dunk shortstop, with many scouts projecting him to second or third base, but they love his makeup and think he's one of the safest bets to hit in this prep position player class.

28. Colt Emerson (18.0), SS, Glenn HS (OH), Auburn commit

30/55, Power: 30/50, Speed: 50/50, Field: 45/50, Throw: 55/55

Emerson has shades of the Jacob Gonzalez toolset from the prep ranks. He's an average runner who can probably stick at the position, but isn't flashy, and has solid-average offensive upside.

29. Blake Mitchell (18.9), C, Sinton HS (TX), LSU commit

Hit: 30/55, Power: 30/50, Speed: 35/35, Field: 45/50, Throw: 70/70

Mitchell has been up to 97 mph on the mound but is a superior prospect as a catcher, where he projects to stick long-term and his 70-grade arm is still a weapon. Teams are rightly nervous about the old-for-the-class prep catcher demographic -- some teams picking in the 20s told me they wouldn't take him there -- but there are multiple more traditional orgs on Mitchell in the top ten picks.

30. Jonny Farmelo (18.8), CF, Westfield HS (VA), Virginia commit

Hit: 30/55, Power: 30/50, Speed: 65/60, Field: 45/50, Throw: 55/55

I liked Farmelo over the summer and thought he was an athletic right fielder with a nice hit/power combo. He got a tick or two quicker this spring and now looks like a center fielder long-term. His setup is a little funky so there may not be a 60-grade tool other than speed, but the scouts I respect most about hitters really love this guy.

40+ FV tier

31. Chase Davis (21.6), RF, Arizona

Davis has always had huge raw power and a swing designed to get to it in games, but without enough contact to truly profile as a first rounder in a corner outfield position. This spring he took a big step forward in that regard, but his 55-grade speed still doesn't show up much in the field or on the bases.

32. Roch Cholowsky (18.2), SS, Hamilton HS (AZ), UCLA commit

Rumors have Cholowsky's price near $4 million, making him the top prospect with a strong chance to get to school. He's a standout defender who can hit, but the question is how much overall offensive impact he'll make

33. Adrian Santana (17.9), SS, Doral Academy HS (FL), Miami commit

As a 17-year-old shortstop with contact skills from both sides of the plate, Santana will naturally appeal to numbers-oriented clubs because draft models love those qualities. He's also an 80-grade runner with a plus arm and a plus glove at shortstop, which helps bring in the more traditional clubs. The only real question is if there's enough power to be more than a low-end regular.

34. Sammy Stafura (18.6), SS, Walter Panas HS (NY), Clemson commit

I knew Stafura was rising when I was getting early-spring texts from scouts leaving his games asking me where he was going to be drafted. One was enthused and told me he was a 65-grade runner who can play shortstop and has 20+ homer upside but "I'm still undecided because I don't know if he'll hit." A handful of teams have him well inside their top 30, with many believing the Yankees are highest on the local product.

35. Dillon Head (18.8), CF, Homewood Flossmoor HS (IL), Clemson commit

Head is another true 80-grade runner who can also hit and he also has the same question as Santana: is there enough impact in his bat?

36. Jack Hurley (21.3), CF, Virginia Tech

Hurley made strides this spring with approach and contact like Davis, but there's still a faint whiff of Jeren Kendall to his profile. If he hits, there's considerable upside: he's a plus runner, above average defender in center field, and has a feel for getting to his above average power in games.

37. Brice Matthews (21.2), SS, Nebraska

Matthews was a data nerd favorite entering the spring for his above-average power/speed combo and steadily rose throughout the spring. He's a middle infielder, maybe a shortstop, and has a power-over-hit approach, but has a premium set of tools and strong performances.

38. Joe Whitman (21.8), LHP, Kent State

Whitman wasn't much of a prospect at Purdue, leading to a transfer and he steadily rose all spring, now with a chance to get inside the top 30 picks after a strong Cape Cod League outing. He works 92-95 mph, his slider flashes plus, his changeup flashes above average and there are starter traits from the late bloomer.

39. Trent Caraway (19.2), 3B, JSerra Catholic HS (CA), Oregon State commit

Caraway is old for the class, plays for one of the top prep programs in the country and is physically mature, likely sliding from shortstop over to third base long-term. The industry is well aware of the risk in overrating this sort of profile, but Caraway is also a proven infielder with above-average hit/power upside, so he likely won't get out of the comp round.

40. Drew Burress (18.5), CF, Houston County HS (GA), Georgia Tech commit

Burress is 5-foot-9 but we're a bit more enlightened now as an industry, so we can look past that when skills are present. Burress has them -- four above-to-plus tools -- and his weakest is power but he's a tightly wound, compact hitter who delivers above average bat speed, so there's some power upside.

41. Charlee Soto (17.8), RHP, Reborn Christian HS (FL), UCF commit

Soto would've been a slam dunk first-rounder about 10 years ago: he sits in the mid-90s, tickles 99 mph, has a regularly plus slider and above-to-plus splitter. He has enough feel to project starter upside, but the characteristics of his heater make it play below his velocity in games. If he's pitching 92-94 mph, scouts worry how effective he'll be and that's often what happens to pitchers as they mature into their mid-20s.

42. Ty Floyd (21.9), RHP, LSU

Floyd blitzed up boards with a heroic Omaha performance that made clear the formerly faint whiff of Spencer Strider to his profile. Floyd has easy plus velo and the kind of flat approach that helps the shape of his riding fastball play up. As a strong athlete with an above-average slider, you can see him getting to the big leagues quickly, but he was eligible for last year's draft and didn't sign as scouts questioned his command.

43. Ralphy Velazquez (18.0), C, Huntington Beach HS (CA), Arizona State commit

I don't think Velazquez has a very good chance to remain behind the plate and he'd slide over to first base if he has to change positions. With Xavier Isaac last year, Bryce Eldridge this year, and Triston Casas a few years back, the industry is getting OK with elite prep first baseman going at high picks, though. Velazquez may be a 55-grade hitter with 60-grade in-game power, so a non-zero chance to catch makes that compelling around this area.

44. Josh Knoth (17.9), RHP, Patchogue-Medford HS (NY), Ole Miss commit

There's some Lance McCullers Jr. or Matt Brash to Knoth's profile. At his best, Knoth is up to 97 mph, sits 93-96 and unleashes a plus-plus banger with over 3000 rpm of spin. There's some effort and inconsistency and he's 6-foot-1, but Knoth is athletic and seems to be just scratching the surface.

45. Tai Peete (17.9), SS, Trinity Christian HS (GA), Georgia Tech commit

Like Santana, Peete is a young-for-the-class switch-hitting shortstop who draft-model-reliant clubs love. Unlike Santana, Peete has plus raw power and is also a top-five-rounds prospect on the mound, though he didn't pitch this spring. The risk with Peete is that he's a power-over-hit type, with some teams out for what the price to sign him will be, but there are about three to five clubs that are all in with late first round grades.

46. Steven Echavarria (17.8), RHP, Millburn HS (NJ), Florida commit

Echavarria was an intriguing follow over the summer with average raw stuff and some feel that he blossomed this spring, getting his heater into the upper-90s. He's the type of prep righty who projects easily as a starter and has above-average traits to the eye and in the data that almost every team is in on, depending on their tolerance and budget for the riskiest player demographic in the draft.

40 FV tier

47. Kemp Alderman (20.9), RF, Ole Miss

His exit velos are so high that they broke the formula I use to translate them to the 20-80 scale; it gave him 85-grade in-game power. He's also a real athlete, with 55-grade speed and a 60 arm that's dabbled with catching in the past. If he can hit .250 in the big leagues, he could be an All-Star. If he makes it to pick 53, Orioles GM Mike Elias may do a backflip as he's turning in the card because this is exactly the kind of player the O's excel at developing.

48. Cade Kuehler (21.0), RHP, Campbell

Kuehler's fastball characteristics are excellent, so his 93-96 mph heater that peaks at 98 mph as a starter may be a plus-plus pitch. He has enough feel and above average offspeed pitches to project as a solid starter, with a fallback as a closer.

49. Luke Keaschall (20.9), 2B, Arizona State

A transfer from San Francisco, Keaschall won't light you up on your first look, but he's an above-average hitter with above-average speed. His arm is a bit shy for a shortstop, but he has sneaky power that many progressive clubs love to bet on improving in pro ball with better instruction.

50. Jake Gelof (21.4), 3B, Virginia

Gelof is much easier to appreciate on first look: he has a pull and lift approach with plus raw power, so he's often peppering the left-field wall. Scouts wonder if he'll have to slide over to first base and if his swing/approach will work against better stuff.

51. LuJames Groover (21.1), 3B, North Carolina State

Groover also may have to slide off of third base, but he's a better pure hitter than Gelof. Groover had surprisingly strong exit velos this spring, which could turn into more homers with a bit more loft.

52. Kendall George (18.7), CF, Atascocita HS (TX), Arkansas commit

George is an 80 runner, plus defender in center field and has real contact skills. His arm and power are both well below average and limit his upside, but it sounds like there's lots of interested clubs in the second round.

53. Colton Ledbetter (21.7), CF, Mississippi State

A Samford transfer, Ledbetter has a shot to stick in center field and has roughly average hit/power tools, so there's a path to a low-end regular.

54. Alex Clemmey (17.9), LHP, Bishop Hendricken HS (RI), Vanderbilt commit

Clemmey has possibly the most electric stuff in the draft: up to 99 mph and a plus hook as a 6-foot-6, arms-and-legs lefty. He hasn't quite corralled those limbs yet to throw regular strikes, but he's also a northeast arm who is young for the class, so teams can imagine almost anything.

55. Paul Wilson (18.6), LHP, Lake Ridge HS (OR), Oregon State commit

Wilson usually shows solid-average stuff with starter feel but the 6-foot-3 lefty has popped 96 mph and his curveball shows 55-grade upside at times, so many scouts think he'll shoot up in the next few years.

56. Brandon Sproat (22.8), RHP, Florida

Sproat didn't sign out of high school as a seventh-round pick by the Rangers in 2019, then again as a third-rounder by the Mets last year. He has been regularly up to 100 mph with a sinker and this spring his changeup was a regular plus pitch, but there's a relief risk as he's still a control (strikes) over command (precision) type and is now nearly 23 years old.

57. Cole Carrigg (21.1), C, San Diego State

Carrigg is a legitimate pro prospect as a catcher, shortstop and center fielder. He's a plus runner with a plus-plus arm and an above-average hit tool, but well below average power.

58. Caden Grice (21.1), LHP/RF, Clemson

Grice has 70- to 80-grade raw power from the left side but emerged as more of a pitching prospect this spring. His fastball and slider are both 55-grade pitches and he grew into a starter role down the stretch.

59. Jace Bohrofen (21.7), RF, Arkansas

Bohrofen has been a notable prospect for about five years and this year finally delivered on that promise. He has the look of a low-end everyday right fielder.

60. Juaron Watts-Brown (21.4), RHP, Oklahoma State

A transfer from Long Beach State, Watts-Brown had an inconsistent spring but the makings (above-average four- pitch mix, starter traits) are still there for a strong pitching development club to clean up.

61. Cameron Johnson (18.4), LHP, IMG Academy HS (FL), LSU commit

The good is very easy to get excited about: sturdy 6-foot-5 lefty up to 100 mph with a 55-grade slider and he throws it over the plate pretty well. He missed some time with arm soreness this spring, his command is below average, and at that velocity, he has an awkward finish to his delivery.

62. Michael Carico (20.9), C, Davidson

He missed time this spring with a broken bone in his wrist, but scouts can't get past the positive signs here: young for the class, good shot to stick behind the plate, above-average raw power, and truly bananas numbers. As a 19-year-old sophomore last season, he put up a 1.402 OPS with 21 bombs.

63. Mike Boeve (21.1), 2B, Nebraska-Omaha

There's shades of my longtime fav Tyler Black; mid-major hit-first profile with below average power but good feel for the game.

64. Nazzan Zanetello (18.1), SS, Christian Brothers HS (MO), Arkansas commit

His athletic testing is excellent and he creates a ton of bat speed with a small hand move, but scouts are split on how good his tools translate to baseball.

65. Joey Volchko (18.0), RHP, Redwood HS (CA), Stanford commit

Stanford commit means tough sign but some teams might be into Volchko enough to meet his price. He was a spring riser with above-to-plus fastball/slider combo and the components to dream as a starter.

66. Mitch Jebb (21.1), 2B, Michigan State

He has a funny swing and his arm is a bit shy for a shortstop, but the numbers teams are in because he's a plus runner that can hit, with sneaky pop and positional versatility.

67. Mac Horvath (22.0), 3B, North Carolina

One of the better 22+ year olds this year, he's an above average athlete with plus power that can play all four corners and maybe center field, but will come with below average contact rates.

68. Jackson Baumeister (21.0), RHP, Florida State

Second-round talent out of high school had lots of markers for growth and was good for the Seminoles, but hasn't quite put it all together yet.

69. Kiefer Lord (21.0), RHP, Washington

Transferred from a Division III college and showed above-average stuff this spring with a shot to stick as a starter, but his outcomes were uneven.

70. Blake Wolters (18.8), RHP, Mahomet Seymour HS (IL), Arizona commit

The 6-foot-4 righty's velo exploded this spring, hitting the upper-90s often and the arm speed made his slider a 55-grade pitch. He's an athlete with a hoops background, but is still raw.

71. Alonzo Tredwell (21.0), RHP, UCLA

The 6-foot-8 righty missed his prep senior season to Tommy John surgery, was a reliever as a freshman and started this spring, though missed some time with a back issue. He has solid-average stuff and above-average control.

72. Antonio Anderson (18.0), SS, North Atlanta HS (GA), Georgia Tech commit

6-foot-3, switch-hitting shortstop with a shot to stick at the position and above-average hit/power upside.

73. Tanner Witt (21.0), RHP, Texas

A late-first-round prospect out of high school (mid-90s, plus hook, data friendly, two-way athlete) who opted for college, Witt had Tommy John surgery last spring and returned this spring with uneven performances.

74. Liam Peterson (18.0), RHP, Calvary Christian HS (FL), Florida commit

Had late first momentum off of the summer and now is a threat to get to college. 6-foot-5 righty is regularly in the mid-90s and has shown a 55-grade hook with the feel to start at his best.

75. Landen Maroudis (18.6), RHP, Calvary Christian HS (FL), North Carolina State commit

Played on one of the best teams in the country, would often come in from shortstop and show three above-average pitches, hit 96 mph. Scouts love to dream on this sort of athleticism, delivery and the upside once he drops hitting and fielding from his routine.

76. Cooper Pratt (18.9), SS, Magnolia Heights HS (MS), Ole Miss commit

Polarizing prospect who will be a tough sign. He can probably hit and play a decent shortstop, but scouts are split on his swing and power upside.

77. Caden Sorrell (18.3), CF, Marcus HS (TX), Texas A&M commit

6-foot-3 with a low-effort lefty stroke, power potential, plus speed and a plus arm in center field profile

78. Ethan O'Donnell (21.2), CF, Virginia

Plus runner who can stick in center, hit about .260 and has sneaky pop for 10-15 homers annually.

79. Kyle Karros (21.0), 3B, UCLA

Yep, another Karros in the Los Angeles area. He can hit and play third, and there's some power that can be teased out, like a slimmed-down Zack Gelof (60th overall to Oakland in the 2021 draft).

80. Travis Honeyman (21.7), RF, Boston College

Outfield tweener who is a good athlete with average-ish offensive upside

81. Carson Roccaforte (21.3), CF, Louisiana Lafayette

A plus runner and defensive center fielder, can hit, and has some pop, so you can imagine him becoming an everyday player

82. Eric Bitonti (17.8), SS, Aquinas HS (CA), Oregon commit

Probably a third baseman and I'm not sure how much contact he'll make, but he has plus lefty raw power and is very young for the class.

83. Tommy Hawke (20.9), CF, Wake Forest

Smallish 80 runner that knows how to use his speed in all phases and has some feel to hit. I hope the Red Sox draft him so I can hear his name said with a thick Boston accent.

84. Maui Ahuna (21.3), SS, Tennessee

Confusing prospect with everyday tools but inconsistent performance and swing changes.

85. Seth Keener (21.8), RHP, Wake Forest

One of the many Wake power arms with starter upside, above-average stuff.

86. Drue Hackenberg (21.3), RHP, Virginia Tech

Exactly the kind of "boring" (solid-average stuff, durable workhorse) major conference starter that goes in the back of the second or third round. Depending on your sport, you'll find it more interesting that he's the brother of Adam (baseball), Brandon (soccer) and Christian (football).

87. Cole Schoenwetter (18.8), RHP, San Marcos HS (CA), UC Santa Barbara commit

Up-and-down spring, but a 6-foot-3 righty with projection and a starter look to go with three above-average pitches.

88. Travis Sykora (19.1), RHP, Round Rock HS (TX), Texas commit

A little bit of Hans Crouse about him as a big quirky righty with huge stuff: up to 100 mph, flashes plus slider and splitter. He's a big 6-foot-6 with below-average command and is old for the class, so the worry is he's a reliever that may benefit from two years in the SEC.

89. Cole Foster (21.8), SS, Auburn

Decent shortstop with average offensive upside, even if that doesn't sound inspiring, he shouldn't get out of the third round.

90. Ryan Lasko (21.0), CF, Rutgers

Center-field athlete with a plus arm and solid offensive upside.

91. Tre Morgan (20.9), 1B, LSU

Young for the class, can play an outfield corner, can hit, and has some pop; could be a candidate to be unlocked with more pull/lift to his swing.

92. Josh Rivera (22.7), SS, Florida

Giving some Jonathan India vibes as a longtime famous Florida prep infielder who put it together late in his time in Gainesville.

93. Hunter Owen (21.3), LHP, Vanderbilt

Looked like a second rounder early in the spring but missed time with arm fatigue. Big 6-foot-6 lefty relies on an above-to-plus slider and low-90s heater.

94. Will Sanders (21.3), RHP, South Carolina

Looked like a first rounder early in his time in Columbia but had up-and-down spring and finished poorly; could be a steal like Jonathan Cannon was last year.

95. Zach Levenson (21.3), LF, Miami

Limited a bit by left field fit, but performed this spring and has a whiff of Josh Willingham to his game.

96. Hiro Wyatt (18.9), RHP, Staples HS (CT), USC commit

Late-spring riser in the northeast who was up to 97 mph, flashing 55-grade slider and starter look at his best.

97. Sean Sullivan (21.0), LHP, Wake Forest

Low-slot lefty doesn't throw that hard but has data-friendly shape to his stuff and bananas numbers: 59.2 IP, 20 BB, 90 K.

98. Grant Taylor (21.1), RHP, LSU

Had big relief risk in high school and missed this spring with Tommy John surgery, but had late 1st buzz as a potential starter due to a strong summer

99. Roc Riggio (21.0), 2B, Oklahoma State

Power-and-patience type with limited defensive value has been a standout since early in his high school class. Teams are almost certain he's a big leaguer.

100. Brock Vradenburg (21.2), 1B, Michigan State

6-foot-7 data darling popped up with loud performances this spring and continues to rise (maybe inside the top 70 picks?) on the heels of a strong combine workout.

101. James Ellwanger (19.0), RHP, Magnolia West HS (TX), Dallas Baptist commit

Spring pop-up arm gives some Justin Lange (34th overall in 2020) vibes with potential plus stuff and relief risk.

102. Camden Kozeal (18.7), SS, Millard South HS (NE), Vanderbilt commit

One of many tough-to-sign Vandy commits is the type (hit first, sure-handed defender) that goes higher out of college.

103. Zane Adams (19.0), LHP, Porter HS (TX), Alabama commit

Spring riser with velo into the mid-90s, above-to-plus breaker, and projection left in his 6-foot-4 frame.

104. George Wolkow (17.5), RF, Downers Grove North HS (IL), South Carolina commit

Reclassified from the 2024 class so he's now among the youngest in the class and at 6-foot-7 is also among the tallest. Gives some Joey Gallo, Matt Olson, and Spencer Jones vibes and could be really good if he hits .250 -- but some teams worry he won't.

105. Bishop Letson (18.8), RHP, Floyd Central HS (IN), Purdue commit

Projectable 6-foot-4 righty is a late riser with a data-friendly collection of three above-average to plus potential pitches.

106. Braden Holcomb (18.7), SS, Foundation Academy HS (FL), Vanderbilt commit

The 6-foot-4 hoops and football standout is now a full-time baseball player and may need to slide to third base but has above-average hit/power potential, high price tag.

107. Grant Gray (19.1), CF, Norco HS (CA), UCLA commit