Ryan Spikes

Parkview High in Lilburn, Ga., has been one of the best high school programs in the country over the last few decades and seems to consistently produce high-level players. The program is responsible for top-50 picks Jeff Francoeur (2002), Matt Olson (2012) and Josh Hart (2013) in addition to a number of other draftees. Spikes is the latest of a long tradition at the program and while he’s only listed at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, he has an exciting tool set. He has a compact swing that suits his compact build, with impressive contact ability and more power than you would expect. Teams were impressed with the exit velocities he produced at various events throughout the summer, so even if he’s not a huge home run hitter, he should run into plenty of extra-base hits in the gaps. He has solid plate coverage at the dish and a line-drive stroke that suits him well now. Previously, scouts were a bit skeptical of his run tool, but he’s progressed in that area and has shown consistent above-average running ability, with plus speed underway. Some scouts think he might be better served to move to second base, but he has above-average arm strength to stick on the left side of the infield and middle infield actions with a quick exchange around the bag. Spikes is committed to Tennessee but has performed well enough that some teams might try and get him among the top-five rounds or so.