I could continue to tweak this up to the draft. Just scrolling thru it, there are things I'd like to change but that's how it works. These are MY top 400 prospects, not a consensus list.
Rank
Name
pos#
School
College/ HS Location
LG
15 Level
Commitment/College
1
Alex Bregman
SS
LSU
Louisiana State
College
JR
Louisiana State
Alex Bregman is polarizing. He has been since HS. He is not built like a prototypical short stop and doesn't have the lithe build and the smooth actions of a future gold glover but I have seen him make plays and throws that would be excusable for a SS not to make. The routine play is the more crucial play and he makes them every time. He should stick at SS unless the drafting team has an existing player with superior skills. The bat is the real reason to be excited about Bregman. He hits everything hard. He smokes line drives, he can hit a ball 400' with ease. He does get pull happy and it can cause him to struggle but the skills are there for him to be a star.
2
Carson Fulmer
RHP
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt
College
JR
Vanderbilt
Carson Fulmer is a polarizing pitcher. He is a short righty with a funky delivery. He has a fastball that sits in the 93-95 range and can touch 97. He has a nasty slider and developing change. He flat out doesn't need the change in the best conference in college baseball. That says a lot. He holds his velocity late in games, even with the unusual delivery. I see him as a potential front line starter and at worst, a dominant closer. I may be higher on him than any other draft prospect writer and I'm okay with that. If you look back at the best players in drafts, relievers are up there. Even if he doesn't work out as a starter, he's still a star to me.
3
Dansby Swanson
SS
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt
College
JR
Vanderbilt
Dansby Swanson is smooth and has actions that tend to make you think he will stick at SS. I haven't seen Swanson play SS enough to know that he will stick there but most think he will. I have only seen him play 2B and play SS on turf, so I'm not sure what level of skills he has defensively. At the plate, he has excellent on base skills, good plate discipline and a great swing that is conducive to ripping doubles. He doesn't have a lot of over the fence power but will grow into 10-15 HR potential. He is a lock to go in the top 5 of this draft.
4
Brendan Rodgers
SS
Lake Mary
FL HS
HS
HS
Florida State
Brendan Rogers seems like the clear consensus to go 1-1 this year. So likely, he'll go #2. The Diamondbacks seem to be doing things to the beat of their own drum, so who knows. Either way, he is the clear cut best prospect in this draft. That isn't to say he has franchise changing skills, only the fewest weaknesses. He is a solid defender at SS and will likely stay there. He's athletic, he is polished and has all the tools you want in a top prospect. He has power with potential to hit 25-30 at some point. He has some swing and miss but should likely hit .280-300 most of the time. To me, the peak is J.J. Hardy with higher average. He is a near lock to be a big league regular and there is a chance he is a star.
5
Dillon Tate
RHP
UC Santa Barbara
UC-Santa Barbara
College
JR
UC-Santa Barbara
Dillon Tate is a big physcial righty who, up until an injury to a guy in the UCSB rotation, was slated to pitch out of the bullpen this year. That injury may have made Tate millions. He was able to start, hold his velocity in the mid to upper 90's late into games and show the nasty slider and above average change that give many confidence to say he is the best arm in this draft. I won't go that far but he is very good. He has a short track record. He has a lot of moving parts in his delivery and has plenty of effort as well. That seems to be overlooked by those who like him but it is a major fault of Fulmer. I'm not sure why it isn't with Tate. He has the stuff to be a #2 or 3 starter if it all works out but the short track record and the lack of dominance bothers me some.
6
Kolby Allard
LHP
San Clemente
CA HS
HS
HS
UCLA
Kolby Allard is the most polished prep lefty in this draft and may have the highest ceiling as well. Justin Hooper is alos in that conversation but Allard has excellent command, can hit 97 and sit in the low to mid 90's from an easy, repeatable delivery. He has a nasty breaking ball which most scouts would label plus. His height is a knock and he only started two games this spring before a back injury knocked him out of action. He may be able to have some pre-draft workouts but it's still up in the air.
7
Kyle Tucker
OF
H.B. Plant
FL HS
HS
HS
Florida
Kyle Tucker is the younger brother of recently promoted Astros OF and former Florida star Preston Tucker. Kyle is a taller, leaner, more athletic player than his bro. Kyle reminds me of Christian Yelich physically and could be a similar player. Tucker has a unique swing that will remind you of Ted Williams and Stan Musial. He keeps his hands low and has a natural uppercut but he lacks the snap and bat speed that the legends possessed. Tucker may develop it with time and adding strength and that is why he will be one of the first prep players taken. If a team thinks he can stick in center field, he could go in the top 5.
8
Daz Cameron
OF
Eagles Landing
GA HS
HS
HS
Florida State
Daz Cameron is one of the most polished prep products in this draft. He has been a very good prospect for years and many expected a jump in his tools. It really hasn't happened but he still has solid average or better tools across the board and that is impressive. He has the bloodlines to succeed as well, being the son of Mike Cameron. Overall, he lacks star impact potential but is a safe bet to be a big league starter in center field. He may end up moving to a corner in time but not real soon. I have heard recently that he is looking for top of the draft money, so I don't think he will be a target of any team looking to overdraft and sign him to an underslot deal as I earlier suspected. I think he will go in the top 15 picks and bypass Florida State.
9
Mike Nikorak
RHP
Stroudsburg
PA HS
HS
HS
Alabama
Mike Nikorak is a prep arm from the Northeast, so he doesn't have much for mileage on his arm or polish. He is a pretty raw pitcher and will take quite a bit of time to get to where he needs to be. He is strongly built and can hit 97, so the base of what you need to be an ace is there. He has a good breaking ball and change and could develop into weapons. His spring was up and down but it was only 29.2 Innings, so it's hard to really evaluate. He has the potential to be a front of the rotation starter and should at least be a #3/4 starter or closer if something goes wrong (barring injury). I can't see him getting past the 15th pick. If he goes to college, he's committed to Alabama.
10
Ian Happ
OF
Cincinnati
Cincinnati
College
JR
Cincinnati
Ian Happ looks the part. A strongly built, 5'10, 200 pound athlete that can move. He is quick but not a burner. I'm not sure he can stick in CF but he will start his pro career there. He may even be tried at 2B as he played there in the past. His arm is an asset. It isn't a rocket but it's accurate. He probably profiles best in LF. At the dish, he has a quick bat from both sides. He has good contact ability and impressive gap power that will lead to some HR's just from being hit hard. He is one of the safest picks in the draft to just make it to the bigs and provide results on offense and defense.
11
Walker Buehler
RHP
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt
College
JR
Vanderbilt
Walker Buehler is exactly what every team would be looking for in an arm if he was 3 inches taller and weighed 40 pounds more. He is a thin, atheltic pitcher that has four good pitches. His fastball sits in the low 90's. He has an above average breaking ball on occasion but I think he'll be better off ditching one of the breaking balls to focus on one. His change is his best off-speed pitch. He has good command and repeats his delivery well. I think he is likely a mid-rotation guy with a small chance that he is better than that but not much of a change he isn't at least a good back of the rotation arm. He is a safe pick as long as you aren't worried he'll fall apart due to his build but I think that concern is fruitless with Buehler. Pitchers get hurt about 1/3 of the time so he could easily get hurt. Every pitcher could.
12
Garrett Whitley
OF
Niskayuna
NY HS
HS
HS
Wake Forest
Garrett Whitley may have the highest ceiling of any player in this draft. He is physically mature so there isn't a lot of room for projection. There doesn't need to be any. He is already strong and has a really fast bat. His power could be plus or better. He can run enough for center field and the fact that he doesn't need to bulk up and can still stick is a plus. There is a chance Whitley is a superstar center fielder. There is also a chance he can't hit pro hitting and he's another Donovan Tate. I think he will get picked in the top half of the first round and sign but if he doesn't, he's going to Wake Forest.
13
D.J. Stewart
OF
Florida State
Florida State
College
JR
Florida State
D.J. Stewart can hit. He has raked since he stepped foot onto campus at Florida State. He's 6', 230, but he's very atheltic for his size and moves fairly well. He won't be an asset in LF but he won't be a detriment. At the plate is where he will be an impact player. He has as much usable power as anyone in the draft but he is more of a mistake hitter right now. I think with time and facing better pitching, he will tap into it more often. He has shown the ability to make adjustments mid-at bat and has a great approach. While he isn't hitting as much this year as last, he is walking 25% of the time. He has a presence in the batters box that no one outside of A.J. Reed has possessed in the last few years. Whoever takes him could be getting a first division regular in LF and he could be in the majors in a little over a year.
14
Andrew Benintendi
OF
Arkansas
Arkansas
College
SO
Arkansas
Andrew Benintendi has come out of nowhere, almost literally this year. He is a draft eligible sophomore by a couple weeks. He doesn't have a track record because he didn't play in the Cape Cod League or for Team USA. He did not stand out as a freshman. He was a good defender but didn't hit much. He was a guy I expected to watch some this year and focus on next year because I missed out that he was a D.E.S. as many scouts did as well. This spring he has hit better than almost anyone in the country. The power is real. He has quick wrists and rips the ball. He has the total package as a center fielder. He isn't a physical presence but he has everything else to grow into a starting big league CF in just a couple years as he has a good approach already.
15
Tyler Jay
LHP
Illinois
Illinois
College
JR
Illinois
Tyler Jay has a big arm. He can hit 96 and work close to that out of the pen. He loses a few MPH's the longer he works but he has shown this season that he can go 6 innings, even though he is Illiois' closer. They have been on great run this year and he's been a big part of it but I have to think that he could have solidified his draft position if he would have been a starter this year. This is similar to Dillon Tate but he ended up starting due to an injury. Jay has four pitches unlike most college relievers. He has the plus fastball, a wipeout slider but also throws a breaking ball and change, giving weight to those saying he could start. He is physically close to maxed out and has a short track record. Jay could go right to the majors after being picked if a team had a spot in their pen but he could take time if they try to convert him to starting.
16
Beau Burrows
RHP
Weatherford
TX HS
HS
HS
Texas A&M
Beau Burrows is a big armed righty who can sit 93-95 and hit 98. I don't think that velo will maintain in pro ball and I think he'll be 91-94 with the extra gear when he needs it on occasion. He has a sharp 12-6 curve ball and an impressive change that has good tumble. In a draft in which everyone says lacks impact, Burrows has an arm that has hit 98 this spring and isn't even projected to go in the first round by some sources. Burrows has a bit of a funky delivery where he leans back as he should be sending his momentum forward and he's only 6' tall. There have been times as I've looked at rankings that he's been my #1 prep arm. If I were a scouting director, he would be one guy I would spend a lot of time analyzing because he could be the best prep arm in this class as well.
17
Nathan Kirby
LHP
Virginia
Virginia
College
JR
Virginia
Nate Kirby ended the year with a potentially arm related injury (lat muscle) so he was unable to show consistency this spring but he was able to showcase his low 90's fastball topping out at 94. He also showed a large improvement on his change and more frequent use of a slower curveball to go along with his wipeout slider. His slider is inconsitent but it's a plus pitch when it's on. His change may now be a better pitch than even his slider. Consistency is his biggest problem. He has struggled with command and control his entire college career but if a pro team can help him, he could be in a big league rotation fairly quickly. He is a mid-rotation guy with potential for more.
18
Nick Plummer
OF
Brother Rice
MI HS
HS
HS
Kentucky
Nick Plummer is one of the best hitting prep prospects in this draft. He has similar pros and cons to D.J. Stewart. He is limited defensively to left field, although Plummer could probably play CF for a year or two in the low minors. He has a short, compact swing with a line drive approach. He is solidly build so the power should play to at least average down the line. He runs well and should be an asset in LF. Here is the problem that I see. He is from Michigan. He has a short track record and he has yet to show any true weaknesses. How do you properly rank a player that is all projection and hasn't failed. Well, you can't knock him for what you haven't seen, so he will be ranked highly. I agree that he should rate high but if he projects as a future LF with an above average or better bat, that's D.J. Stewart but three years further away from the majors and with more risk, albeit with potentially higher ceiling. So why is Plummer rated in the 10-15 range but Stewart in the 25-30 range? It looks to me that whoever takes him should be thinking he will be a CF with a similar bat to Stewart. Just something to think about. If he doesn't sign, he is going to Kentucky and could be a draft eligible sophomore, depending on the cutoff date.
19
Kyle Funkhouser
RHP
Louisville
Louisville
College
JR
Louisville
Kyle Funkhouser has a big arm as well sitting 92-95. His delivery is cleaner than that of Fulmer and Tate but he doesn't repeat it as well as either of them. That is much of the reason he has had higher walk rates than you'd like in a top 5 to top 10 pick. That being said, velocity like he has can't be taught. He throws a solid breaking ball and a better change. He should have the stuff to be a #3 starter in the majors with potential for more if he can command his stuff better.
20
Austin Smith
RHP
Park Vista Community
FL HS
HS
HS
Florida Atlantic
Austin Smith is a big righty with a ton of potential. He has gained strength and velo this spring and is up to 95 and sits in the low 90's after topping out in the low 90's last summer with a few flashes of higher velo. He has an easy, repeatable delivery. He throws both a slider and curveball and shows good spin but both are still works in progress, as is his change. Smith has a ways to go to be a finished product but there is a chance he ends up the best prep arm in this class. If he doesn't sign, he will go to Florida Atlantic and be a draft eligible sophomore. He's older than a lot of the arms in this draft and that means he may have already seen his big jump in velo and strength.
21
Justin Hooper
LHP
De La Salle
CA HS
HS
HS
UCLA
Justin Hooper is a tall, athletic pitcher that look like a tight end on the mound. He really struggles repeating his delivery but the arm strength is elite. He can hit 97 and is able to maintain his velocity deep in games. He is able to spin a good slider but he doesn't repeat it well at all. His change is solid as well. He is a raw product. He will need time to develop. Tall pitchers always take time, lefties sometimes take a bit longer as well so Hooper could be a guy who needs 5 years to get to where he needs to be. He could end up at UCLA and be a dominant top of the draft arm. He could go to UCLA and not be able to throw strikes and get thrown in the bullpen and only get 50 innings over the next three years. If I were a team with multiple early picks, I would target him. He is a project that is worth the time and effort but I could see him sliding into unsignable territory if teams aren't sure they want to pay him.
22
Chris Betts
C
Woodrow Wilson
CA HS
HS
HS
Tennessee
Chris Betts was the best of the catchers before Tyler Stephenson showed up. He has huge power potential and while his body type may not allow him to catch for his entire career, his bat should be enough to carry him. He has a strong arm and good actions behind the dish. I would consider him a better defensive catcher than someone like Kyle Schwarber with similar potential with the stick in a few years. His bat should be good enough to play at 1B if he has to move off C. If he doesn't sign, he is going to Tennessee.
23
Trenton Clark
OF
Richland
TX HS
HS
HS
Texas Tech
Trenton Clark has high end speed. He should be able to play a good center field with it. His arm is below average and is a LF/CF type arm. He is more suited to be a speedy defense first player but some have been enamored by his ability to put the bat on the ball. He has an unusual swing but it should play well for contact but I don't know how much power he will have. I see his floor as Ben Revere with better approach. That should get him taken by the 20th pick. If he doesn't sign, he will go to Texas Tech.
24
Ashe Russell
RHP
Cathedral
IN HS
HS
HS
Texas A&M
Ashe Russell is similar to what Phil Bickford was in 2013. A big arm that is up to 97 with sink. One big difference is that Russell has a long track record. He was consistently good all last year and has done well this year. He has an above average slider and a change but doesn't profile as a front end starter. He could be a solid #3 and if the slider improves he could be better. There is some effort to his delivery and he needs to bulk up a little but I can't see him geting past top first round. If he doesn't sign, he is going to Texas A & M.
25
Cornelius Randolph
2B
Griffin
GA HS
HS
HS
Clemson
Cornelius Randolph is a bit unique. He doesn't have a strong position. He plays SS in high school but he won't in pro ball. He may end up at 2B and he could play 3B. The actions are good and the arm is strong. I haven't seen him enough defensively to know if he has the quickness for the hot corner. The bat should play wherever he ends up. He hits the ball hard and makes consistent contact. He has a short swing that should lead to high averages and solid power potential. He could be an above average regular wherever he plays.
26
Mitchell Traver
RHP
Texas Christian
Texas Christian
College
JR
Texas Christian
Mitchell Traver looked like a 3rd-4th round guy out of high school but he was injured and went undrafted. After missing his freshman year due to thoracic outlet syndrome, then Tommy John surgery, he hardly pitched in the first two years at TCU. Traver showed well this summer in the Northwoods League and for his size, repeats his delivery very well. He has a heavy low 90's fastball that can hit 95. His breaking ball is average at best and his change is a work in progress but there are all the pieces for a future #3 starter who eats innings and gets a lot of weak contact and ground balls. His change and breaking ball should get to be average with reps. He could also return to TCU to try to solidify his stock but he has thrown 62 IP this year and has been the best pitcher on one of the best college rotations. I am probably the high guy on Traver but I'm comfortable with that. He has everything he needs to succeed, including the drive.
27
Tyler Stephenson
C
Kennesaw Mountain
GA HS
HS
HS
Georgia Tech
Tyler Stephenson wasn't even on my radar this spring. He was below the top 1500 picks on my list and here he is in the 1st round. That is what a great spring can do. I didn't have any notes on him from last summer. I've only seen a couple videos of him and have to agree with the consensus that he is the top prep catcher in this class. I don't like the start of his swing. The trigger is slow. Beyond that, he has everything that a star catcher would have. He is big, that is a bit of a concern but it hasn't hampered many other catchers. If he doesn't sign, he is going to Georgia Tech.
28
Brady Aiken
LHP
IMG Academy
UCLA
College
J1
UCLA
We all know the stuff we can know about Aiken. If he was a product at Wal-Mart, he'd be opened previously, taped back together with a big yellow sticker with a new price only a little less than the original. Why is it opened? Why was it returned? It looks ok, doesn't it? Only the people who have access to what we don't know actually know where he will go and what his deal is. I know that's hard to follow. That's the story of Brady Aiken. Big arm, up to 97. Good athelte, good stuff, plus slider, change, eveerything you want from a top of the rotation arm. The Tommy John Surgery and whatever else is going on with him is the question.
29
Dakota Chalmers
RHP
Lakeview Academy
GA HS
HS
HS
Georgia
Dakota Chalmers really jumped on the scene last summer sitting 90-94 with one of the better breaking balls in the class. He throws a hard slider but also can break off a slower bigger breaking curveball. This spring, he has hit 97 from his rail thin frame. There is plenty of effort from his delivery but as he gets stronger, he may be able to tone that down some to gain command and consistency. He has a decent change as well, so he has a four pitch mix and high end velo. Chalmers will need time to bulk up and gain consistency but there is frontline potential here. The other side is that he has a ton of velo from a small frame and he could need TJ surgery shortly due to the big velo jump. Time will tell but he is a high risk, high reward kind of arm.
30
Donny Everett
RHP
Clarksville
TN HS
HS
HS
Vanderbilt
Donny Everett has one of the best fastballs in the prep class, if not the best. He can hit 100 but it takes some effort. He can sit in the low to mid 90's as a starter. He has a hard breaking ball but it's average at best. He hasn't used his change much either. He is physically mature and there isn't much projection left. He throws hard enough to be an impact arm but the secondaries will have to improve for him to be an impact arm. The high effort makes me worry that he won't be able to gain command enough to be more than a back end of the bullpen arm or a #3/4 starter that has flashes of brilliance but is often frustrating.
31
Jonathan Harris
RHP
Missouri State
Missouri State
College
JR
Missouri State
Jon Harris is one of the hardest players near the top of the draft for me to peg. I haven't seen him much and what I have, nothing stands out. Reports are that all four of his pitches can be plus. His fastball can hit 95 and sit low 90's. He has a curve and a slider as well as a change. What I have seen looks more average than plus and the command isn't great. It's clear he is one of the best arms in this draft but I don't know if he will be better than a back end starter. If he improves his command and his stuff regualtes to closer to plus than average, he could be a #2 starter and that is what a team that takes him high is hoping for/confident in.
32
Cody Ponce
RHP
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly Pomona
College
JR
Cal Poly Pomona
Cody Ponce is a big, durable looking innings eater. That's the stereo type but Ponce came down with shoulder fatigue, furthering the notion that just because a guy looks durable doesn't mean he will be and vice versa. That being said, when Ponce is on, his fastball is 90-95. He has two breaking balls that he throws inconsistently. His slider can be a true slider and other times more of a cutter. He also throws a slower curveball but none of the breaking balls are consistent. His best secondary offering is his change. The breaking balls show potential and with good coaching he could figure out consistency. He could turn into a four pitch starter that could front a rotation but I think he is more of a #3/4 guy unless he really figures it out and even if that fails, he could be a back of the pen guy. He's an impact arm.
33
Chandler Day
RHP
Watkins Memorial
OH HS
HS
HS
Vanderbilt
Chandler Day is another long, lean athelte. He is very thin and needs to add some bulk to his frame but right now he sits 88-91 and can hit 94. He has a really quick arm and I could easily see him adding velo with strength. He may struggle to add weight though, as he has an ectomorphic frame. He currently has an above average breaking ball and change. He is polished for a prep arm and he's young for the class. The fact that he is commited to Vanderbilt will make him tough to sign and I could see him filling a rotation spot that Fulmer and Buehler reliquish when they sign. Day could be a weekend starter as soon as he steps on campus, stuff wise but if I were a pro team I would target him. I could see him being a top 10-15 pick in three years.
34
Josh Staumont
RHP
Azusa Pacific
Azusa Pacific
College
JR
Azusa Pacific
Josh Staumont is a hell of an arm. He can hit 100 and work in the mid 90's and can maintain it deep into games. He has a plus breaking ball and an average or better change. He has some of the best stuff in the draft. Command is the problem. He is very inconsistent with his release point. His delivery seems methodical and like he's thinking about it as he does it. I really think that with reps and confidence he will gain consistency and if he does gain consistency, he could be a front line starter. If he doesn't he can be an impact bullpen arm.
35
Kep Brown
OF
Wando
SC HS
HS
HS
Miami
Kep Brown has had a rough spring. Early on in the season, he tore his achilles tendon. Before the injury, he was looked at as a one of the best power bats in the draft class. He has a lot of present stregth and a good swing. It can get long and he could have some swing and miss but that isn't a big issue as long as the power plays and it should. He has a strong arm but if he slows down a lot after the achilles injury, he may end up in LF. The bat should play wherever he ends up defensively. He is commited to Miami if he doesn't sign. One interesting thing about Brown is his age. He is almost a year younger than Brendan Rodgers. He is only two months older than top 2016 prospect Seth Beer.
36
Riley Ferrell
RHP
TCU
TCU
College
JR
TCU
Riley Ferrell is a future closer. He could be in a big league pen as soon as he signs. He throws 92-95 and can hit 98. He has a nasty downer breaking ball that is 83-86 and is unhittable when on. He can throw a change but he rarely uses it. He is the rare arm I wouldn't even consider starting and would just throw him into the big league pen. If a team wanted to be careful, they could send him to AA and let him aclimate to pro ball but I just don't see a reason.
37
Ryan Mountcastle
SS
Hagerty
FL HS
HS
HS
UCF
Ryan Mountcastle is not a future short stop. I don't know where he will play. I don't really care where he will play. Probably 3B or a corner OF spot but what I do care about is the bat. Mountcastle has impressive bat speed. He doesn't have the cleanest swing but he hits line drives from line to line and has the raw power to hit plenty of home runs. He hit well in the games I've seen him and I have a lot of faith that he will be one of the better hitters in the draft. He has a good arm, good enough for 3B and he has enough foot speed to be useful as a corner OF. If he goes to school, he is committed to UCF but I don't think he'll get there.
38
James Kaprielian
RHP
UCLA
UCLA
College
JR
UCLA
James Kaprielian has really increased his draft stock this year by showing velocity that he had shown in the bullpen in the past but in starts this year. He has been able to hit 95 at the start of games and work his way down to that 90-92 range by the later innings. His plus breaking ball is an out pitch and he can throw an average change as well. His slider is a swing and miss pitch and he can slow it down to show a different look as well. He does tip it some by slowing his delivery but low level hitters won't pick up on it. His stats have been remarkably similar the last two years and he looks like a safe pick to be a #3/4 starter in a few years.
39
Peter Lambert
RHP
San Dimas
CA HS
HS
HS
UCLA
Peter Lambert is an atheltic righty that sits 88-92 but can dial it up to 94. He has a big breaking ball that could use tightening but it something he can work on in pro ball or at UCLA to improve it to a potentially plus pitch. It's too much for young hitters to handle much of the time and he has strong K rates due to it. He has a change that's usable and could end up above average as well. WIth polish, Lambert could be a strong mid rotation arm. If he goes to UCLA, he could be a high first round pick if he develops as I expect.
40
Ke'Bryan Hayes
3B
Concordia Lutheran
TX HS
HS
HS
Tennessee
Ke'Bryan Hayes is the son of former big league 3B, Charlie Hayes, and that says a lot. Ke'Bryan is an awful lot like his dad. He is a 3B, good bat, solid contact ability. He has a strong arm. His dad topped out in 1993 with a 3 WAR season and I could see Ke'Bryan end up with a similar ceiling. He could be an impact bat. His swing strong and produces power. It can get long and I could see him having some swing and miss issues but he is the best 3B prospect in the prep class. He is committed to Tennessee if he doesn't go pro, which I can't see happening.
41
Juan Hillman
LHP
Olympia
FL HS
HS
HS
UCF
Juan Hillman is young for the draft and is tough to analyze due to that. Whereas Austin Smith may have already taken that big jump in velo some get the year after they are drafted, Hillman may not get that until next year, and it may never happen. He hit 92 last summer and worked 88-92 with command. This spring he was more in the 87-89 range. Not what a lot of people wanted to see. The ability to command is still there but neither the curve or fastball improved. He has a plus change and if he can tick up the velo a little, he's the kind of guy who should go in the 20's in this draft. Based on projection, that's where he could go but I think most will play it safe and he could be one of the guys who slides enough to get to campus. He is commited to UCF and could really improve his stock there.
42
Phil Bickford
RHP
Southern Nevada
Southern Nevada
College
J2
Southern Nevada
Phil Bickford has taken an odd path. Former 1st round pick. Dominant D1 starting pitcher. He left to go to a JuCo this year and no one really knows why. The stuff hasn't improved since the 2013 draft. He still throws low 90's and can get up to 97. The breaking ball is still plus on occasion but is inconsistent and the change is average with potential. He is just two years older, that's all. He has shown he can dominate college hitters but hasn't shown he can be consistent. I like Bickford but much less than most. I think he's a #3/4 starter and potentially an impact reliever.
43
Kevin Newman
SS
Arizona
Arizona
College
JR
Arizona
Kevin Newman is a special hitter. He is the only player ever to win two batting titles in the Cape Cod league. He has almost no power. He can hit some doubles but there is no current over the fence power. He has enough speed to steal some bases and impact the game on both sides of the ball. The question is if he can stick at SS. Some think it is an absolute lock that he is while others see him as a 2B. I don't have a strong opinion on it, as I haven't seen him enough. I see him as less likely to stick than Bregman and Swanson and that is reflected in my rankings. Even if I saw Bregman as a 2B, I still prefer Bregman. That being said, the first time I saw him on film, the first player I thought of was Derek Jeter.
44
Alonzo Jones
2B
Columbus
GA HS
HS
HS
Vanderbilt
Jones may be drafted as a short stop but I don't know that he can stick there. He is more methodical than natural there and will need reps if he intends to play there in the future. He is a great athelte. He can fly and is one of the faster players in this draft. He is also a switch hitter. He's more natural from the right side but isn't bad from the left. Again, reps will help. He's a high ceiling guy that will need a lot of polish. He's commited to Vanderbilt if he doesn't sign and that may very well be where he ends up in 2016.
45
David Thompson
OF
Miami
Miami
College
JR
Miami
David Thompson was an impressive freshman at Miami. He was hurt much of his sophomore year and has been in and out of the lineup again this year but he has hit a ton when he has been in the lineup. He also hit well in Cape Cod last summer. He is a bat first player who will be a LF in pro ball. He is a good athelte but he won't be a defensive asset wherever he plays and it's possible he ends up at 1B. The bat will have to carry him but I think he can be a .280/.350/.450 kind of guy.
46
Nick Shumpert
SS
Highlands Ranch
CO HS
HS
HS
Kentucky
Nick Shumpert has one of the higher offensive ceilings of any short stop in this draft. He has above average or better power and could hit 20+ home runs. He has impressive bat speed but sells out for power. I'm not sure he will hit for enough average to fully realize it but there is a chance and the fact that he is an excellent athlete and has good bloodlines, he will go off the board early. He is former big leaguer Terry Shumpert's son. As a defender, he has a good arm and soft hands. There is a chance he moves off SS to 3B or even 2B.