A.J. Simcox

The SEC has an especially strong group of shortstops this year, led by Vanderbilt's Dansby Swanson and LSU's Alex Bregman, who could be two of the first five picks in this year's draft. Simcox doesn't match their upside or production, but is a solid prospect in his own right. Even before playing for the Volunteers, Simcox was a fixture in the program. His father, Larry, was a longtime assistant coach at Tennessee and A.J. served as the Volunteers bat boy for eight years when he was growing up. Simcox has been Tennessee's starting shortstop since he arrived on campus and is a steady defender who is expected to be able to stay at the position as a professional. Simcox has good hand-eye coordination and a line-drive swing, but he hasn't developed much power during his college career. His defense gives him a chance, but he'll have to prove he can hit enough to be an everyday player as a professional.