Draft prep: Top 30 baseball prospects for June MLB draft
With baseball's draft approaching on June 9-11, Paste BN Sports looks at the top 30 draft-eligible prospects. The rankings were compiled by Frankie Piliere, a national prospect writer for D1Baseball.com. The board will be updated periodically based on performances and further evaluation (as of June 2):
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DRAFT ORDER: 1. Phillies; 2. Reds; 3. Braves; 4. Rockies; 5. Brewers; 6. Athletics; 7. Marlins; 8. Padres; 9.Tigers; 10. White Sox; 11. Mariners; 12. Red Sox; 13. Rays; 14. Indians; 15. Twins; 16. Angels; 17. Astros; 18. Yankees; 19. Mets; 20. Dodgers; 21. Blue Jays; 22. Pirates; 23. Cardinals; 24. Padres (Upton); 25. Padres (Kennedy); 26. White Sox (Samardzija); 27. Orioles (Chen); 28. Nationals (Zimmermann); 29. Nationals (Desmond); 30. Rangers (Gallardo); 31. Mets (Murphy); 32. Dodgers (Greinke); 33. Cardinals (Lackey); 34. Cardinals (Heyward)
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1. A.J. Puk
Position: LHP
Age: 21
School: Florida (Junior)
Best Tool: Fastball
The total package when he’s healthy, Puk has ratcheted up his game down the stretch of the college season, as the 6-foot-7 southpaw has shown scouts a 93-97 mph fastball to go with a devastating swing and miss slider. He has front of the rotation potential.
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2. Kyle Lewis
Position: OF
Age: 20
School: Mercer (Junior)
Best Tool: Power
A multi-faceted athlete with a prototype 6-foot-4, lean build and a more advanced hit tool than he’s credited for, Lewis has plus, all fields power, solid foot speed and a good first step in the outfield. He has a 30 home run, athletic right field profile at the next level.
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3. Corey Ray
Position: OF
Age: 21
School: Louisville (Junior)
Best Tool: Speed
Ray is the best combination of tools and polish in the college class. A 30 stolen base threat at the pro level, Ray is an elite runner that has developed 15-20 home run type power. His athleticism and multi-faceted game will allow him to advance rapidly.
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4. Jason Groome
Position: LHP
Age: 17
School: Barnegat High School (N.J.)
Best Tool: Curveball
Arguably the best prep lefty we’ve seen in the draft since Clayton Kershaw, Groome works from a silky smooth delivery and the ball explodes from his hand at 92-95 mph, topping upwards of 96-97. His 6-foot-5 frame and plus curveball make him the total package.
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5. Mickey Moniak
Position: OF
Age: 18
School: La Costa Canyon High School (CA)
Best Tool: Hitting
Perhaps the most advanced high school hitter in the class, Moniak still projects to add to his 6-foot-2 frame and hit for more power down the road. The UCLA recruit also proven to be an outstanding defender in the outfield.
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6. Riley Pint
Position: RHP
Age: 18
School: St. Thomas Aquinas High School (KS)
Best Tool: Fastball
Armed with as explosive a fastball as we’ve seen out of the amateur ranks, Pint works consistently at 95-99 mph and has hit 102 this spring. The lank 6-foot-4 LSU commit has improved his command and has shown better feel for his swing and miss slider.
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7. Delvin Perez
Position: SS
Age: 17
School: International Baseball Academy (P.R.)
Best Tool: Defense
An electrifying defender at shortstop, Perez can change a game with a highlight reel play. In the past year, he’s added strength to his 6-foot-3 frame and has evolved into a dangerous gap hitter as well, making him one of the most exciting talents in the class.
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8. Nick Senzel
Position: 3B
Age: 20
School: Tennessee (Junior)
Best Tool: Hitting
One of the nation’s best pure hitters, Senzel has turned himself into an all fields power threat. His hands are as fast as any in this year’s class, and his above average first step quickness and arm strength will allow him to project at third base as a pro.
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9. Ian Anderson
Position: RHP
Age: 18
School: Shenendehowa High School (N.Y.)
Best Tool: Command
At 6-foot-3, Anderson has a highly projectable frame and is surprisingly advanced for a northeast native pitcher. He shows an extra easy 92-95 mph fastball and has an advanced feel for an above average changeup and curveball.
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10. Zack Collins
Position: C
Age: 21
School: Miami (Junior)
Best Tool: Power
Collins may be the most pro ready bat in the college crop. He’s extremely disciplined and has power that plays to all parts of the field. Scouts have likened his potential impact to Kyle Schwarber’s. The only question is whether he can stick behind the plate.
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11. Braxton Garrett
Position: LHP
Age: 18
School: Florence High School (AL)
Best Tool: Curveball
A 6-foot-3 Vanderbilt recruit, Garrett is one of the most polished pitchers in the class. Armed with a better than plus curveball and a 91-93 mph fastball, Garrett has the skills to advanced quickly up the professional ladder.
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12. Dakota Hudson
Position: RHP
Age: 21
School: Mississippi State (Junior)
Best Tool: Fastball
At 6-foot-5 with long limbs and a 93-96 mph fastball, Hudson is a prototype. He has a low mileage arm by college starter standards, and his 88-91 mph cutter is one of the best weapons in the amateur ranks right now.
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13. Blake Rutherford
Position: OF
Age: 19
School: Chaminade College Preparatory (CA)
Best Tool: Hitting
An extremely advanced hitter from the prep ranks, this UCLA commit is ready to step right into pro ball. His power has continued to blossom and he has the speed and athleticism to make him a potential star at the next level.
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14. Alex Kirilloff
Position: OF
Age: 18
School: Plum High School (PA)
Best Tool: Power
A Liberty recruit, Kirilloff’s easy lefty power has teams all over the top of the first round highly intrigued. He’s an above average runner and has an athletic 6-foot-2 frame but the main selling point is his sweet, explosive swing.
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15. Joey Wentz
Position: LHP
Age: 18
School: Shawnee Mission East High School (KS)
Best Tool: Command
Known for both this powerful lefty arm and lefty bat, Wentz has taken the next step as a pitcher. He’s a highly projectable at 6-foot-5, and his 91-94 mph, above average curveball, and changeup make him a total package that has rocketed up draft boards.
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16. Matt Manning
Position: RHP
Age: 18
School: Sheldon High School (CA)
Best Tool: Fastball
Scouts rave about the 6-foot-6 Manning’s electrifying athleticism, and he’s the son of a former NBA player, Rich Manning. Manning throws a heavy 93-96 mph fastball, topping at 98 and his plus curveball has been the difference maker for him this spring.
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17. Justin Dunn
Position: RHP
Age: 20
School: Boston College (Junior)
Best Tool: Fastball
Arguably the fastest rising college pitching prospect in the class, the wiry 6-foot-2 Dunn has moved seamlessly from relief to starting. He has carried a 93-96 mph fastball effectively, and shown a plus slider, as well as an advanced changeup and curveball.
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18. Forrest Whitley
Position: RHP
Age: 18
School: Alamo Heights High School (TX)
Best Tool: Fastball
A towering 6-foot-7 Florida State recruit, Whitley has an explosive 92-96 mph fastball and he’s developed a plus, late breaking slider in the mid 80s. The ball comes out of his hand very easily, and his powerful frame has scouts envisioning a front end starter.
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19. Josh Lowe
Position: 3B
Age: 18
School: Pope High School (GA)
Best Tool: Power
A unique combination of power, speed, and elite arm strength, Lowe truly has superstar potential. Scouts project him as a potential 30 home run threat with above average athleticism at third base.
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20. Nolan Jones
Position: SS
Age: 18
School: Holy Ghost Prep (PA)
Best Tool: Hitting
Jones is a super, projectable 6-foot-4 athlete that scouts envision becoming a major lefty power threat as a professional. He may grow out of shortstop long term, but the Virginia commit has loud tools that would allow him to profile easily at third base.
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21. Jordan Sheffield
Position: RHP
Age: 21 (on draft day)
School: Vanderbilt (Junior)
Best Tool: Fastball
Sheffield has explosive stuff, and scouts are beginning to see the improvements they sought in the command department. The six foot righty hits 99 mph, working mostly at 93-97, and shows good feel for a sharp curveball and late diving changeup.
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22. Cal Quantrill
Position: RHP
Age: 21
School: Stanford (Junior)
Best Tool: Changeup
Quantrill is at the tail end of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but is a number one overall talent when healthy. At his best, the 6-foot-3 righty works at 92-95 mph with advanced command, has a plus-plus changeup and a sharp, late breaking curveball.
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23. Zack Burdi
Position: RHP
Age: 21
School: Louisville (Junior)
Best Tool: Fastball
Burdi’s 97-100 mph has tantalized scouts, and he’s touched as high as 102 this spring. There’s also a suspicion among scouts that Burdi may be capable of starting at the next level, but his exploding fastball and plus slider could allow him to fast track in relief.
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24. Will Benson
Position: OF
Age: 17
School: The Westminster Schools (GA)
Best Tool: Power
His lean, angular 6-foot-6 frame has scouts projecting him as a potential star, and the Duke commit knows how to use his long limbs to generate major leverage in his swing. He has plus tools everywhere you look and could be a 30 homer lefty bat as a pro
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25. Bryan Reynolds
Position: OF
Age: 21
School: Vanderbilt (Junior)
Best Tool: Plate Discipline
Reynolds is one of the safer bets in the class and that’s on the strength of his highly advanced plate discipline. His power has improved, he has excellent outfield range and he’s also an above average runner.
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26. Connor Jones
Position: RHP
Age: 21
School: Virginia (Junior)
Best Tool: Sinker
An extra polished 6-foot-3 righty, Jones will rely mostly on his 91-94 mph sinking fastball, which has topped at 96 this spring. He also has an above average splitter, a solid 12-6 curveball, and tight slider that he can throw for strikes.
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27. T.J. Zeuch
Position: RHP
Age: 20
School: Pittsburgh (Junior)
Best Tool: Fastball
Zeuch entered the spring as a four pitcher pitcher that intrigued scouts with his 6-foot-7 frame. His velocity is now up to 93-95 mph consistently, and he’s improved his already sharp slider, making him one of the most complete arms in the class.
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28. Robert Tyler
Position: RHP
Age: 20
School: Georgia (Junior)
Best Tool: Fastball
Tyler is armed with a blistering 94-98 mph fastball and an above average changeup to go with his powerful 6-foot-4 frame. Scouts would like to see improvement of his breaking ball, but his ability to maintain elite velocity makes him a unique commodity.
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29. Matt Thaiss
Position: Catcher
Age: 21
School: Virginia
Best Tool: Hitting
Thaiss has enough skills behind the plate, an area in which he’s shown major improvement this spring, to stick there long term. And scouts are all in on his ability to for a combination of average and power from the left side at the professional level.
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30. Jared Horn
Position: RHP
Age: 17
School: Vintage High School (CA)
Best Tool: Fastball
A late rising California committed righty, Horn has topped at 98 mph this spring and shown of flashes of a plus curveball. Scouts have also noted his plus athleticism and projectable 6-foot-2 frame.
GALLERY: OVERALL NO. 1 PICKS