2022 MLB Draft Top Prospects

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Ivan Melendez
Texas 1BNotes:HT: 6-3 | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Marlins '21 (16)
Age At Draft: 22.4
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 50. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 55. Arm: 50.
Melendez has put together a monster spring for the Longhorns. Heading into postseason play, the 6-foot-3 225-pound slugger had made a legitimate run at the Division I triple crown, registering a top 10 batting average at .406, tied for the lead in home runs with 29 and just two RBIs short of the nation’s leader with 87. The Longhorns’ first baseman brings a relaxed but aggressive approach with him to the plate. He likes to sink into his lower half before letting his hands fly. Unlike a lot of power hitters, Melendez rarely overswings. With more of a bat-to-ball approach, he allows his power to come naturally rather than forcing the issue. Melendez’s spray chart is a work of art. He has the ability to drive the ball the other way with authority, and opposing arms are cautious of attacking zones where Melendez can get extension. Some teams will find success if they’re able to pitch inside effectively or get him to chase spin down in the zone, but the attempts come with a warning, as Melendez will crush mistakes that catch too much of the plate. Melendez has strong plate discipline, as he walked more than he struck out heading into NCAA Tournament play (47 to 43). Melendez’s skill on the defensive side is equally impressive. He committed just one error all spring with a .998 fielding percentage, and he should have no problem holding the position down at the pro level. Melendez moves fairly well for a big man, too, as he’s not a clogger on the basepaths. Melendez’s performance has put him in a favorable spot for July’s draft. He’ll likely be the earliest first baseman off the board and could be a quick riser up the minor league ladder.Less - 461Last: 460
Luke Franzoni
Xavier 1BNotes:HT: 6-2 | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.1
Franzoni’s 29 home runs during the 2022 season trailed only Texas’ Ivan Melendez for the nation’s Division I home run crown. He easily broke Xavier’s single-season home run record and is also the school’s career home run record holder with 52 homers in four seasons. Franzoni got a lot bigger after focusing on lifting weights during the pandemic, and that paid off this season. Franzoni hits with a very simple and upright setup. He likes to get his arms extended. Much of his power this year came when he drove pitches on the outer third of the plate out to right center field. Franzoni headed to the Cape Cod League after the spring season to get additional at-bats against quality pitching. He moved to first base this year after playing right field earlier in his career. A below-average runner, he’s limited in his range at either spot. A team drafting him would be counting on his power surge this year being sustainable in pro ball.Less - 474Last: 473
Murphy Stehly
Texas OF/INFNotes:HT: 5-10 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 23.8
Stehly was a productive hitter for Orange Coast (Calif.) JC for two seasons before transferring to Texas for the Covid-shortened 2020 season. He spent two abbreviated seasons serving as a utility infielder before a breakout 2022 campaign where he erupted offensively. Stehly’s season wasn’t quite as impressive as teammate Ivan Melendez (whose was?) but he still slashed .367/.424/.662 with 19 home runs, 23 doubles and eight stolen bases. Stehly had a pull-heavy approach that served him well and he made plenty of contact overall, while obliterating the 93+ mph velocity he saw. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound hitter has a notable hand drop during his load, with a low-placed handset at launch position that could lead to timing or contact issues at the next level, but his 13.7% strikeout rate this spring was more than respectable given his power production. Stehly mostly played right field this spring but has played all four infield positions with Texas. The same draft models that will love his 2022 production will be critical of his age on draft day, as the second-team All-American turns 24 in September.Less
