2016 Draft Tracker
SEE ALSO: Mock Draft Archive
SEE ALSO: Draft Order
SEE ALSO: Bonus Pools
This is Baseball America’s 2016 Draft Tracker.
Follow along with us here as the picks get announced. We’ll be updating the picks from the first round, with our scouting reports from the BA 500 posted for free.
If you want to see our scouting reports for picks after the first round, head over to the BA Draft Database and follow the draft as it happens from there (subscription required for scouting reports). And to get those scouting reports, subscribe now!
1. PHILLIES: Mickey Moniak, of, La Costa Canyon High, Carslbad, Calif.
Moniak starred for USA Baseball’s 18U national team last summer, helping the team win a gold medal while teaming with fellow Southern Californian Blake Rutherford in the American outfield. The two players regularly are compared to each other, with Moniak having a strong spring and moving up draft boards, with many ranking him ahead of Rutherford. He’s a hitter with feel for the barrel that evokes comparisons to Christian Yelich, a fellow SoCal prep outfield product, and solid power to the gaps. Moniak runs above-average underway but explodes around the basepaths and earns plus defensive grades in center field, capable of highlight reel catches as he turned in during the 2016 Area Code Games. He’s committed to UCLA.
Twitter handle: @MickeyMoniak
2. REDS: Nick Senzel, 3b, Tennessee
Senzel comes from a lauded 2013 Tennessee high school class that included fellow top prospects Jordan Sheffield and Will Craig. Senzel played at the powerhouse program at Farragut High alongside Kyle Serrano, but he was not drafted out of high school. Senzel showed solid tools at the East Coast Pro showcase prior to his senior year, but was not a high priority player for scouts to evaluate in high school. After two years at Tennessee, Senzel’s stock exploded last summer when he was the MVP of the Cape Cod League. His carrying tool is his righthanded bat. Senzel is a patient hitter with a mature approach and a swing that’s geared up for line drives. He makes consistent hard contact in games and in batting practice. Senzel shows the ability to drive the ball with authority to the opposite field or to his pull-side gap. He hits more for doubles than home runs at this point, but he can show raw power in batting practice when he’s asked to, leading some evaluators to believe that he will develop more game power as he continues to mature. This spring, Senzel has shown significantly improved defense in the infield, shifting to shortstop later in the season from third base. He reacts quickly and shows solid first-step quickness. Senzel has average arm strength and projects to stay in the left side of the infield. He runs well, with average speed down the line, but he has good baserunning instincts, allowing his speed to play even better.
Twitter handle: @LilSenzii
3. BRAVES: Ian Anderson, rhp, Shenendohowa High, Clifton Park, N.Y.
Anderson’s prospect balloon started to inflate in the summer prior to his junior year, when he showed off his lanky, projectable frame at the Metropolitan Baseball Classic. Then, during his junior year, Anderson pitched against 2015 first-round pick Garrett Whitley. Anderson went on to become a regular on the showcase circuit. The wiry Vanderbilt signee showed a promising fastball in the summer, regularly sitting 89-93 and bumping 94. In the spring, Anderson’s velocity peaked even higher early in the season, reaching as high as 96 mph. The righthander complements his fastball with a late-breaking curveball in the upper 70s, which grades out as an above-average pitch, and a devastating mid-80s changeup, which garners plus grades from scouts. Anderson throws all three pitches from an identical release point, making his pitches difficult for hitters to identify. Anderson added a little bit of weight to his 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame over the winter, but scouts are dreaming on him continuing to get stronger, wondering just how high his ceiling could be if he can add more strength. Anderson has battled pneumonia and an upper body injury this spring, but he’s shown enough at this point to put himself firmly in the first round, and he could go as high as the top five if he proves himself to be healthy over the final weeks of the season.
Twitter handle: @ian_anderson15
4. ROCKIES: Riley Pint, St. Thomas Aquinas High, Overland Park, Kan.
Just two years after high school righthander Tyler Kolek went second overall largely on the basis of a 100 mph fastball, Pint is a much better version of the same template with an exceptionally fast arm. Pint sits at 97-98 mph, regularly bumps 100 and has touched 102 with a fastball that has sink and tailing action. He also throws an 89-91 mph potentially plus changeup with deception and fade. He even has two separate breaking balls–a curve and a slider that both flash above-average. Pint is athletic–he was an excellent basketball player before focusing on baseball and he’s thrown less than many top high school arms. His delivery causes some concerns as he lands into a stiff front side, has a head whack at release and has some recoil which has at times caused his control to waver. In a best-case scenario he becomes a Justin Verlander-esque front-line ace. Like Pint, Verlander had problems with a stiff front side and control issues as an amateur but the Tigers were able to tweak it.
Twitter handle: @RileyPint
5. BREWERS: Corey Ray, of, Louisville
A 33rd-round pick of the Mariners out of a Chicago-area high school, Ray opted to head to Louisville instead of signing, earned a spot in the starting lineup late in his freshman year and has been a star for the Cardinals ever since. Scouts have few concerns about his hit tool as they expect him to be at least an average hitter, especially after the refinement of his approach this spring. He has a short stroke and is balanced at the plate with a wide stance. Scouts had worried about Ray’s ability to hit lefthanders but as of early May he had an .865 OPS against them. Ray shows plus raw power and projects to hit 15-18 home runs as a pro. He’s a plus runner with the eye for stealing bases–he’s topped 30 steals for a second consecutive year and he’s done it with an 85 percent success rate. The questions with Ray revolve around his eventual defensive position. Scouts seems almost evenly divided over whether he’s a solid average to tick-above-average center fielder or a future left fielder. Even as a left fielder, Ray does enough things well to be a big league regular, but his eventual impact will be determined by whether he can stay up the middle.
Twitter handle: @FutureIs_Bright
6. ATHLETICS: A.J. Puk, lhp, Florida
The top-ranked player in Florida’s top-ranked 2013 recruiting class, Puk has developed into a potential top overall pick in college. He broke out as a sophomore, helping Florida to the College World Series and then pitching for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. A Preseason All-American, Puk was inconsistent at the start of the season and was briefly sidelined by back spasms. But he has since rounded into form and again looks the part of dominant starter. Puk throws his fastball in the mid to upper 90s and thanks to the downhill angle and the excellent extension his 6-foot-7 frame enables him to get, the pitch plays up even further. Puk’s slider and changeup both could use further refinement, but both have a chance to develop into average offerings. His slider sits in the mid-80s with horizontal sweeping action, though it can sometimes back up. Puk repeats his arm slot well and gets his torso over his front side consistently. When he stays balanced and online, he is very difficult for hitters to square up, even if they make contact. He throws a lot of strikes, particularly for someone of his size, and can locate his fastball to both sides of the plate. Puk’s overall skillset and body of work have positioned him to be the first college pitcher drafted, and he has the potential to become Florida’s first ever No. 1 overall pick.
Twitter handle: @Aj_puk11
7. MARLINS: Braxton Garrett, lhp, Florence (Ala.) High
Garrett has performed well on some big stages in the last year, helping Team USA win the gold medal at the 18U World Cup last fall and then throwing a four-hit shutout at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational in March. Garrett has the stuff to match his results. His curveball is his best pitch, earning easy plus grades for its tight spin and late 11-to-5 break. He is able to command his breaking ball, allowing him to throw it for strikes or make it a chase pitch to both righthanders and lefthanders. Garrett’s fastball sits in the low 90s and his changeup shows excellent promise, giving him the potential for three above-average or better offerings. He has a balanced, easy delivery that he repeats extremely well, allowing him to fill the zone with quality strikes. Garrett is committed to Vanderbilt.
Twitter handle: @BraxGarrett
8. PADRES: Cal Quantrill, rhp, Stanford
Quantrill’s father Paul pitched in the majors for parts of 14 seasons and is Canada’s all-time leader in games pitched. Quantrill grew up around big league clubhouses and starring for Canadian national teams before arriving at Stanford, after turning down the Yankees as a 26th-round pick in 2013. He made his reputation as a collegian instantly, becoming the first Cardinal freshman to start Opening Day since Mike Mussina in 1988 and leading the team to a regional victory at Indiana. He pitched in relief on one day’s rest in the regional, beating Kyle Schwarber, Sam Travis and the Hoosiers, and was the Coastal Plain League’s No. 1 prospect that summer, including a start where he flashed premium stuff against USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. However, Quantrill has made just three starts since then, all of them in 2015. He had Tommy John surgery March 20 that year and hasn’t pitched in a game since. Stanford and his family have remained mum on his return. When healthy, Quantrill pitches off an 89-94 mph fastball with sinking life and a plus changeup with similar life and action. He has thrown both a slider and curveball in the past, flashing average with a slider in the 78-80 mph range. If Quantrill doesn’t return to the mound for the Cardinal, he’ll likely throw bullpens or simulated games just before the draft, presenting a true wild card for June.
Twitter handle: @cal_quantrill47
9. TIGERS: Matt Manning, rhp, Sheldon High, Sacramento
Manning’s 6-foot-11 father Rich spent parts of two seasons in the NBA, and Matt’s brother Ryan took a medical redshirt basketball at Air Force this winter, where he’s a 6-foot-6 wing. The younger Manning stands 6-foot-5, averaged 19.4 points per game this winter in hoops and is signed to play both sports at Loyola Marymount. Manning has plenty of projection remaining in his frame, which has room to carry much more than his listed 195 pounds. Manning has made a jump from last summer’s showcase circuit, with his significant athletic ability allowing him to improve by leaps. He’s shortened his arm stroke in the back, allowing him to repeat his release point and improve his command of the strike zone. He’s pitching with a plus fastball that has reached 96-97 mph, with some reports of him up to 99, and was throwing more strikes with his curveball and changeup. It’s a spike curveball that at times is a hard power downer. His secondary pitches remain inconsistent, but he’s repeating his delivery better than ever, emerging as the draft’s top pitcher in the Golden State.
Twitter handle: None.
10. WHITE SOX: Zack Collins, c, Miami
Collins has had a prolific career at Miami since deciding to attend school and pass on signing with the Reds as a 27th round pick in 2013. He was the Freshman of the Year in 2014 and continued producing at an elite rate throughout his career for the Hurricanes. Through April, he was hitting .417/.580/.713 with nine home runs while serving as Miami’s regular catcher. Collins has plus power, and does a good job of getting to it in game action. He has excellent plate discipline, working counts and waiting for pitches that he can drive. He has walked twice as often as he has struck out this spring. Coming into the year, many doubted Collins’ ability to stay behind the plate as a professional. But he has shown marked improvement this spring. While it’s unlikely he’ll ever be an above-average defender, he has enough catch-and-throw skills to give him a chance to catch as a professional. Thanks to his improved catching skills and another big spring at the plate, Collins looks like a likely first-round pick.
Twitter handle: @zackcollins0
11. MARINERS: Kyle Lewis, of, Mercer
In 2013, Georgia area scouts saw Lewis as a first baseman at Shiloh High. He had some power but his bat was raw. Undrafted that year, Kyle Lewis elected to attend Mercer, where he has blossomed into a top-of-the-draft talent. Lewis was more of a role player for the Bears as a freshman, but his stock soared as a sophomore, when he swatted 17 home runs and batted .367. Lewis went to the Cape Cod League for the summer and cemented himself as a first-rounder, showing power, arm strength and athleticism. Lewis is a righthanded hitter with plus-plus raw power. He has some swing-and-miss to his game, and his swing plane can be somewhat steep, but he’s developed a reputation for destroying mistake pitches and working at-bats until he gets the pitch he’s looking for. Lewis plays center field at Mercer and is likely to begin his pro career in center, but most feel that his tools will play better in right field. Lewis posts below-average run times to first base, reaching the bag between 4.3 and 4.6 seconds regularly, but his speed is better under way and some scouts like his defensive instincts. Should he have to move away from center, Lewis should fit well in right due to his excellent arm, which scouts have graded above-average to plus. There is some concern among evaluators about how Lewis’ success in the mid-major Southern Conference will carry over to pro ball, though his strong performance in the Cape Cod League has mostly muted those concerns.
Twitter handle: @Klew_20
12. RED SOX: Jason Groome, lhp, Barnegat (N.J.) High
Groome is a physical lefthander with potential for a potent three-pitch mix. He spent his junior season at IMG Academy before moving back home to New Jersey for his senior year. He has wide shoulders and thick, well-developed muscles. Groome’s fastball can reach into the mid-90s, touching as high as 97, and he shows the ability to locate the pitch down and to either side of the plate. As he settles in, Groome usually pitches in the low 90s, sitting at 90-94. His best secondary pitch is a menacing curveball, thrown with upper-70s velocity and plus bite. He’ll have to work on staying on top of and behind the pitch more consistently, but it could develop into a plus-plus pitch down the line. Groome also mixes in a changeup, which he’s able to spot down in the strike zone. He has a sound delivery with a clean arm, with the strength to repeat his mechanics. Physically, Groome is as gifted as any player in the class. He is also younger than many of his peers, not turning 18 until August. Groome is committed to Vanderbilt, but he is expected to sign if he’s selected as high as his tools would indicate.
Twitter handle: @jaygroome55
13. RAYS: Josh Lowe, 3b, Pope High, Marietta, Ga.
Lowe is one of the best pure athletes in this year’s class. He comes from a strong baseball tradition; his father was a fifth-round pick out of high school, and his older brother Nathaniel plays first base for Mississippi State. Lowe showed potential both as a pitcher and as a hitter on the showcase circuit. He has a lean, 6-foot-4 frame with wide, sloped shoulders. Lowe dropped jaws when he displayed his plus-plus raw power during batting practice at the East Coast Pro showcase in August, and hit well in games on the showcase circuit. He does have some swing-and-miss to his game, and has been hot and cold at times this spring, leading different teams to evaluate him differently based on when they’ve seen him. Lowe is a plus runner and he has plus arm strength at third base, though his defense will need refinement going forward. On the mound, Lowe has shown a promising fastball at 91-94, a plus changeup and a wipeout slider. Some evaluators believe he could be a high draft pick even if he were only a pitcher, but his offensive upside will likely land him in the first round.
Twitter handle: None.
14. INDIANS: Will Benson, of, The Westminster Schools, Atlanta
Benson has arguably the best bat speed in the class, prep or high school. He’s a lefthanded hitter with a deep load and a barred lead arm in his swing. Benson showed plus-plus raw power throughout the summer, though his ability to get to his power is still a question due to concerns that some scouts have about his hitting ability. Benson does not consistently use his lower half, forcing him to commit to swinging at pitches early. His bat path can be a bit steep, leading to a tendency to roll over pitches and hit them on the ground with topspin. His measurables are solid, with a strong arm for right field and plus speed in the 60-yard dash, though his aggressive swing can cause him to get out of the box slowly, leading to below-average run times to first base. Benson’s 6-foot-5 frame and Atlanta-area roots lead to comparisons to Jason Heyward, but the questions on hitting ability make him a boom-or-bust type of prospect. Benson values his academics and is committed to play at Duke.
Twitter handle: @_thekidbilly_
15. TWINS: Alex Kirilloff, of, Plum High, New Kensington, Pa.
Kirilloff is one of the better quick-twitch athletes in this year’s class. The son of a hitting coach, Kirilloff’s offensive game is built around his exciting power potential. He is a lefthanded hitter with plus raw power. Coming from the Pittsburgh area, Kirilloff’s lack of exposure to high-level pitching showed on in the showcase circuit, as he often chased pitches outside of the strike zone and struggled to consistently time quality pitching. As some of that rust shook off, Kirilloff began to emerge offensively, with strong performances towards the end of the summer. He also played first base for much of the showcase circuit, but he has solid-average raw speed and has played center field for his high school team this spring. Kirilloff has a exceptional arm, which earns plus or better grades from scouts, making him a natural fit for right field if he moves off center field at the next level. There are some mechanical concerns with his swing, as he bars his lead arm, but he’s shown the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field at times. Kirilloff is deeply religious, and he committed to Liberty as an underclassmen. His games this spring have drawn hoards of evaluators, including general managers.
Twitter handle: @AKirilloff19
16. ANGELS: Matt Thaiss, c, Virginia
When Thaiss came to Virginia from Jackson (N.J.) Memorial High, he wasn’t proficient enough behind the plate to catch every day and played sparingly his freshman year. Injuries forced the Cavaliers’ hand in 2015, and Thaiss became the primary catcher, where he’s been for two springs. He has more than enough arm for the position, but many scouts aren’t sold on his receiving and blocking skills despite the work he’s put into both. Thaiss’ lefthanded bat is his most lucrative tool; there’s little doubt he’ll hit. He’s been a force in the middle of Virginia’s order for two seasons, spraying line drives and packing above-average power into his 6-foot, 195-pound frame. Thaiss has excellent feel for the strike zone and rarely strikes out. Through his first 182 at-bats this spring, he struck out just eight times to 32 walks. Thaiss’ bat will get him drafted, but he could go early to a team that believes in his catching ability.
Twitter handle: @Matt_Thaiss
17. ASTROS: Forrest Whitley, rhp, Alamo Heights High, San Antonio, Texas
Whitley impressed last summer on the showcase circuit and with Team USA’s 18U team but scouts were a little less enamored with his body. Whitley had a great 6-foot-7 frame, but at 250 pounds he was a little soft with too much weight in his butt and belly. To his credit, Whitley has worked hard to lose 20-30 pounds for his senior season, while keeping his arm strength. He did break the thumb on his non-throwing hand during workouts, forcing him to miss a little time, but he’s shown no ill effects since returning to the mound. Whitley sits in the low-90s and has touched 96-97 mph and mixes in a tight high 80s slider that sacrifices depth for power. He also throws a curveball and changeup that need further refinement. Whitley is a Florida State signee, but he projects to go well enough in the draft to keep him from college.
Twitter handle: @ForrestWhitley
18. YANKEES: Blake Rutherford, Chaminade College Prep, Canoga Park, Calif.
Rutherford has size, strength, athleticism and power potential for scouts to dream on, and would likely be the consensus top prep bat in the class if he had a more consistent spring or if he were a year younger. Rutherford turned 19 as the calendar turned to May, offering less projection than other prep outfielders, with a physically mature 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Scouts have to project on Rutherford’s home run power; he’s produced this spring after being the biggest bat last summer for USA Baseball’s 18U team. However, he hasn’t taken the next step with his power, at times trying too hard to pull and yank balls for power. When he stays with his approach, he’s as impressive as any prep hitter in the class, with power to all fields, a line-drive swing path that covers the plate and the athleticism for center field. Some scouts see him as a potential power-hitting center fielder in the Jim Edmonds mold.
Twitter: @BlakeRuth2
19. METS: Justin Dunn, rhp, Boston College
In 2015, Chris Shaw became the fifth first-rounder drafted out of Boston College. This year, Dunn could be the sixth. The athletic righthander began the season pitching out of the bullpen, but his lightning quick arm and promising offspeed pitches forced him into the Eagles’ rotation. Dunn is slight in stature, with some scouts questioning his listed 6-foot-2, 184-pound frame. While he is short physically, his stuff isn’t. He pitches consistently at 92-95 and touching as high as 97 at times with his fastball. His best secondary pitch is his slider, thrown with tight spin, vertical shape and mid-80s velocity. He throws a curveball that has similar shape to his slider, but breaks more loosely and grades out as a below-average pitch, though its presence can disrupt hitters’ timing. Dunn has shown feel for a changeup at times, showing the ability to locate the pitch at hitters’ knees. His performance as a starter has encouraged teams that he can start long term, as he has held velocity well deep into his outings.
Twitter handle: @Dunn_Deal19
20. DODGERS: Gavin Lux, ss, Indian Trail Academy, Kenosha, Wis.
In a draft lacking in true shortstops, Lux impresses because he’s one of the few high school shortstops in the draft class with a solid chance to remain at the position. A quick-twitch athlete with the hands, actions and a little of the flash that shortstops often have, Lux lacks only ideal arm strength. It’s solid average and it’s accurate with a quick release, but many teams like to see shortstops have a plus arm. He’s an above-average runner, though his feet move quickly. At the plate, Lux has a pretty lefthanded stroke that has shown improved power as he’s matured and added weight and strength over the past year. The track record of Wisconsin high school draftees is sparse and rather disappointing, but Lux’s smooth actions and athleticism separate him from the typical Wisconsin product. He should be a solid early-round pick who had late helium, which will make it hard for him to stick with his Arizona State commitment.
Twitter handle: @TheRealGavinLux
21. BLUE JAYS: T.J. Zeuch, rhp, Pittsburgh
Zeuch established himself as a prospect to follow with a strong freshman campaign, and then he develop into the ace of Pitt’s staff as a sophomore. He missed the beginning of this spring with a groin injury, but got off to a strong start when he did take the mound. Zeuch’s best pitch is his fastball, which sits at 92-94 and sometimes touches higher. Zeuch’s extra large, 6-foot-7 frame allows him to generate solid extension towards home plate, making his pitches even more difficult for hitters to pick up out of his hand. His fastball also shows both sink and arm-side run, making it an effective ground ball-inducing pitch. His offspeed pitches, a slider and changeup, receive fringe-average grades from scouts, but he has solid command of his arsenal and repeats his delivery well. The development of his offspeed pitches will dictate his ultimate ceiling.
Twitter handle: @tjbigz2zeuch
22. PIRATES: Will Craig, 3b/rhp, Wake Forest
Craig went to the same high school as current Tigers lefthander Daniel Norris—Science Hill High in Johnson City, Tenn. He was also a member of the same 2013 Tennessee prep class that included Nick Senzel and Jordan Sheffield, among others. Most schools who saw Craig in high school liked him more as a pitcher, but he’s flipped the script at Wake Forest, where he’s been one of the country’s best statistical hitters. With his thick 6-foot-3, 235-pound body, Craig has hit double-digit home runs the past two springs and has great feel for the strike zone. But due to the hitter friendliness of Wake Forest’s home park and a lackluster showing in the Cape Cod League last summer, some scouts question how much Craig’s power will translate with a wood bat. Craig’s future position is also in question. He has the arm strength to play third—he throws in the low- to mid-90s off the mound—but his body and range could force a move to first base.
Twitter handle: @Wcraigers22
23. CARDINALS: Delvin Perez, ss, International Baseball Academy, Ceiba, P.R.
After a few down years, the talent level in Puerto Rico has rebounded in this year’s draft class, with Perez leading the way. He is on track to be the highest drafted player from the island since Carlos Correa went first overall in 2012. While Perez and Correa are both Puerto Rican shortstops, the comparisons don’t go much further. There are few questions about Perez’s ability to stay at shortstop; he shows first-step quickness, range to both sides, a plus or better arm, athleticism and smooth infield actions. He has excellent instincts and can make highlight reel plays look easy, though his quick feet and powerful arm can be difficult for him to control at times. Perez is not as advanced offensively. He is a plus runner with excellent bat speed and can hit blistering line drives, but his pitch recognition and plate discipline will need to improve to allow him to make consistent contact. As a result, he is one of the biggest risk-reward players in the class. Perez is not committed to college and will not turn 18 until November.
Twitter handle: @nivledprez810
24. PADRES: Hudson Sanchez, ss, Carroll Senior High, Southlake, Texas
Like many high school shortstops, it’s unlikely that Sanchez will ever see a 6 written by his name on a big league lineup card, but that doesn’t really dissuade scouts’ interest as he has shown enough power to potentially the slide over to second or third base. Sanchez has shown average raw power on the showcase circuit with an improving bat control, although he does struggle with getting caught on his front foot too often. Sanchez is an average runner who will likely slow further as he gets bigger. His hands work well and he has good body control, but his arm will likely force an eventual position switch. He throws from a lower arm slot with a fringe-average arm that doesn’t have much carry unless he sets his feet. Sanchez is one of the youngest players in the draft class–he’ll turn 18 in October. He has signed with Texas A&M and has the polish to step in and play right away if he doesn’t sign out of high school.
Twitter handle: None.
25. PADRES: Eric Lauer, lhp, Kent State
Everything has gone well for Lauer as a junior. Kent State’s Friday starter has seen his velocity tick up to 90-92 mph from the 88-90 he sat in the past with a free-and-easy delivery. He’s dominated the MAC this year, ranking among national leaders with a sub-1.00 ERA for most of the season and he’s finished off his business degree in only three years. Lauer has dominated college hitters with a four-pitch mix. He can work his fastball in and out and up and down. He generally works down in the zone, but will elevate above a hitter’s hands late in counts. He has improved his mid-70s curveball to the point where it flashes average, using it to set up a short, late 82-86 mph above-average slider. He doesn’t use his changeup all that often, but it flashes average as well.
Twitter handle: @e_lauer10
26. WHITE SOX: Zach Burdi, rhp, Louisville
Burdi is part of the first family to ever have two members of the century club. His older brother Nick, a reliever in the Twins organization and 2014 second-round pick, has touched 100 mph pretty regularly going back to his days at Louisville and now Zach has done the same. Burdi sits 97-99 and touches 100 regularly as the Cardinals’ closer. Burdi pitches from an extremely closed setup. Working exclusively from the stretch he sets up on the far righthand side of the rubber with his front foot pointed back towards shortstop as he begins his delivery. Using a very modest leg lift, Burdi generates exceptional velocity because of a very fast arm. What separates Burdi from most college relievers is his three-pitch mix. Because his arm works well and he has a plus changeup as well as a less consistent but hard 85-89 mph slider that has flashed plus, there are scouts who believe that some team will take him early to see if he can start. But many scouts believe his future lies in the bullpen where his fringe-average control fits better.
Twitter handle: @idrubkcaz15_U
27. ORIOLES: Cody Sedlock, rhp, Illinois
Sedlock pitched only sporadically as a freshman and sophomore at Illinois as he waited his turn behind upperclassmen like Tyler Jay and Kevin Duchene. This year, Sedlock moved into the Friday starter role and has responded with flashes of dominance as every offering has gotten better. Sedlock’s curveball and slider both are above-average at their best and his changeup flashes average as well. His low-to-mid-90s fastball shows good plane and sink. Sedlock’s dominance this year has come with some caveats. He’s pitched a lot–he had a 10 ? inning, 132-pitch, 14-strikeout outing against Ohio State and he’s topped 110 pitches in five of his first 11 starts.
Twitter handle: @CodySedlock
28. NATIONALS: Carter Kieboom, Walton High, Marietta, Ga.
Kieboom comes from a baseball family; his older brother Spencer is a prospect in the Nationals’ system, and his brother Trevor plays at Georgia. Carter is the best prospect of the brood. He showed impressive timing and bat speed at the plate throughout much of the showcase circuit leading up to his senior year, though he had a rough week at the WWBA tournament in Jupiter, Fla. This spring, Kieboom showed impressive first-step quickness and range at shortstop, leading some evaluators to believe that he can stick at the position, at least early in his career. Kieboom’s selective approach offensively is ahead of his years, but not necessarily conventional for his gap-to-gap skill set. He has some rough edges to him, but has done enough to push himself into day one consideration. Earlier in his high school career, he pitched ambidextrously, though his future is a shortstop. Kieboom is committed to Clemson.
Twitter handle: @Big_BOOM5
29. NATIONALS: Dane Dunning, rhp, Florida
Drafted in the 34th round out of high school by the Blue Jays, Dunning chose to go to Florida, and was a key piece in its top-ranked recruiting class in 2013. Due to the Gators’ depth, he has been used mostly as a midweek starter and out of the bullpen during his college career, but has still logged significant innings. Dunning runs his fastball up to 95 mph when he works out of the bullpen, but typically sits in the low 90s over extended outings. His changeup and slider both have a chance to be average offerings, but his slider is inconsistent. Dunning fills up the strike zone and, in early May, had nearly halved his walk rate this season. Though scouts haven’t gotten to see him start as often as they would like, Dunning has many of the tools necessary to be a starter and will likely begin his professional career in that role.
Twitter handle: None.
30. RANGERS: Cole Ragans, lhp, North Florida Christian, Tallahassee, Fla.
For the third straight year, North Florida Christian High, a small school in the state capital, has a top 100 prospect. In each of the last two years, it has been a Sands brother, first Carson (No. 53 in 2014) and then Cole (No. 79 in 2015). Carson signed out of high school as a fourth-round pick to the Cubs, while Cole went on to nearby Florida State. Ragans will follow in the footsteps of one of his former teammates, as he too is committed to the Seminoles. He stands out for his overall package and advanced understanding of his craft. He throws his fastball in the low 90s, reaching 93 mph at times. His curveball is his best offspeed offering and has above-average potential. He has worked to develop his changeup, which could be an average pitch in time. Listed at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Ragans is at his best when he uses his height to throw his fastball with a downhill plane and is spotting it low in the zone. He doesn’t do that consistently yet, but his athleticism gives him a chance to improve his command as he matures.
Twitter handle: @ColeRagans
31. METS: Anthony Kay, lhp, Connecticut
A 29th round pick of the Mets out of high school, Kay was one of three promising Long Island prep arms, with Stephen Woods and Matt Vogel also showing promise. All three chose to go to college, and Kay has emerged as the best of the group. The ace of UConn’s staff, Kay throws three pitches for strikes. His fastball works in the low 90s and touches 95 early in his starts. Scouts see his changeup is an above-average or plus pitch; it shows both fade and tumble and generates swings and misses from righthanded hitters regularly. Kay has a tendency to throw his changeup from a slightly lower arm slot, giving scouts concerns that elite hitters will be able to see the pitch coming. He throws a breaking ball with slurvy shape. Kay usually throws the pitch against righthanded hitters, and has not thrown it with conviction this spring. Kay is on the shorter side, standing at 6-foot, but he has a wide, sturdy build.
Twitter handle: None.
32. DODGERS: Will Smith, c, Louisville
As crosscheckers and scouting directors piled up frequent flyer miles and Marriott points to get to Louisville to see Corey Ray, Zack Burdi, Kyle Funkhouser, Drew Harrington and Nick Solak, they couldn’t help but also notice Smith. Smith is a solid-average receiver who has proven his ability to handle quality stuff by catching the plus stuff on Louisville’s staff. He’s very athletic for a catcher (he’s a plus runner) and has shown an average arm (he’s thrown out 44 percent of base stealers). At the plate, Smith has below-average power but shows the ability to pull the ball over the fence. Smith does make plenty of contact; he had struck out in only 7 percent of his plate appearances this year and had been hit by more pitches (15) than he’d struck out (11) heading into the final week of the regular season. Smith doesn’t project as any more than an average hitter, but it’s hard to ignore his .360 batting average and his .400-plus average and .500-plus on-base percentage in ACC games.
Twitter handle: @Will_Smith30
33. CARDINALS: Dylan Carlson, of, Elk Grove (Calif.) High
Carlson’s father Jeff has been the baseball coach at Elk Grove (Calif.) High outside of Sacramento for a dozen years and also coaches the JV football team and is the varsity defensive coordinator. The younger Carlson, an Under Armour All-American last summer, is a scouts’ favorite for his makeup and tools. He has started to fill in his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame, and he has a sound swing from both sides of the plate with growing strength. He’s not exceptionally twitchy but has baseball athleticism with near-average speed and average arm strength in the outfield. Carlson could be a premium defender at first base or fit on an outfield corner, and he could stick in center field short-term for Cal State Fullerton. Scouts see a baseball rat who turns 18 in October and inherited some of his father’s sports savvy and passion and combines it with toughness he got him his mother Caryn, a breast cancer survivor now fighting transverse myelitis, an inflammatory disorder that has limited her to a wheelchair.
Twitter handle: @DCarls_06
34. CARDINALS: Dakota Hudson, rhp, Mississippi State
Tall and raw-boned out of high school, Hudson has added 25 pounds over three seasons at Mississippi State. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder found the range last summer in the Cape Cod League and has continued the momentum, for the most part, as a junior after pitching just 34 innings in his first two seasons for the Bulldogs. Hudson was contending to be the No. 2 college pitcher in the class, after Florida’s A.J. Puk, thanks to a four-pitch mix that starts with a fastball that at its best sits 94 mph and ranges from 92-96 mph. His velocity and command have wavered a bit as he blew past his career high for innings. Hudson’s hard curveball is plus on its best days in the 78-82 mph range, and he complements it with a an upper-80s cutter and solid-average changeup that help him combat lefthanded hitters better than in the past (.267 opponents average vs. .229 for righthanded hitters). Hudson’s fastball command is below-par for the typical top-10 pick but his electric stuff could push him up into that range.
Twitter handle: @hudsondakota
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