2019 High School Baseball All-American Teams

The Baseball America end-of-season High School All-America Teams are selected by BA staff after consulting with scouts and high school coaches. In keeping with the BA tradition of looking at both the present and future, players are honored for both their production and their tools.

Ethan Hearn, C, Mobile (Ala.) Christian HS

Hearn wasn’t fazed by Alabama’s 4A competition and did what scouts expected from the top-ranked backstop in the class, hitting .482 with 11 home runs and 11 doubles. His lefthanded power pairs nicely with his defensive skills and plus arm behind the plate. Hearn was the first high school catcher selected in the draft.

Brett Baty, CI, Lake Travis HS, Austin

Baty posted the highest average (.624) and most home runs (19) of any All-American and did so against impressive Texas competition. He is perhaps the most complete prep bat in the country. He seemed like a lock to move to first base a year ago but has improved his defense at third this spring.

Keoni Cavaco, CI, Eastlake HS,Chula Vista, Calif.

The biggest surprise of the season, Cavaco wowed scouts all spring with his plus power, plus arm strength (both from the left side of the infield and on the mound) and plus speed. He hit .429 against Division I Southern California competition and helped Eastlake win the CIF San Diego sectional.

Bobby Witt Jr., MI, Colleyville (Texas), Heritage HS

Witt did everything teams wanted to see this spring while meeting high expectations. He played elite defense and hit .500 with 15 home runs and 17 stolen bases while leading his Colleyville club to a 5A Texas state championship. The Royals made him the second overall pick in this year’s draft.

CJ Abrams, MI, Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, Ga.

Abrams showed elite contact ability this spring against stiff Georgia competition. He drove the ball for extra-base hits (17 doubles) while proving to be a nightmare on the bases for pitchers and catchers with 80-grade speed he used to swipe 33 bags. Abrams also showed improvement defensively at shortstop.

Riley Greene, OF, Hagerty HS, Oviedo, Fla.

Greene continued to look like the best pure hitter in the class. He hit .420 against Florida 8A competition and helped push Hagerty to the regional semifinals. Scouts were excited about the progress of his supplemental tools—running, throwing and fielding—while he patrolled center field for Hagerty in key tournaments.

Corbin Carroll, OF,Lakeside HS, Seattle

Carroll doesn’t play against elite competition, but he dominated his Washington 3A opponents. Carroll hit .540 with plenty of pop (nine home runs, five doubles, five triples) while playing standout defense in center field. There are few holes in Carroll’s game, particularly now that his arm strength has improved.

Hudson Head, OF, Churchill HS, San Antonio

Head wasn’t seen much on the showcase circuit last summer but quickly wowed scouts with his quick-twitch athleticism this spring—enough to make him the Padres’ third-round pick. He has exciting power-speed potential and plenty of upside as a defensive outfielder. Head hit .615 with 13 home runs and 34 steals.

Gunnar Henderson, DH, Morgan Academy, Selma, Ala.

Henderson’s biggest improvement this spring was with his defense at shortstop, but he continued to produce with the bat like he did on the showcase circuit a year ago. He hit .554 with power (11 home runs, 17 doubles) and speed (31 stolen bases). Henderson was the fifth prep shortstop drafted this spring.

Matthew Allan, SP, Seminole HS, Sanford, Fla.

Allan’s improved control and premium stuff elevated him to the top-ranked prep pitcher in the class. He used a mid-90s fastball and hammer curveball to strike out 108 batters and walk just 14 over 56 innings this spring while also posting an 0.99 ERA. He fell to the Mets in the third round only because of signability.

Daniel Espino, SP, Ga. Premier Academy, Statesboro, Ga.

Espino overwhelmed Georgia opponents this spring with the best pure stuff in the class. Hitters routinely chased both of his plus breaking balls outside of the zone, and he allowed just two earned runs over 44 innings. He struck out 109 batters and walked nine. The Indians drafted him 24th overall.

Jack Leiter, SP, Delbarton HS, Morristown, N.J.

The top-rated pitcher out of the Northeast, Leiter didn’t throw as much as some of the other All-Americans, but when he did pitch he was lights out. He struck out 61 in 33.2 innings (16.3 per nine) and touched 97 mph with his fastball. Leiter fell to the 20th round because of his strong Vanderbilt commitment.

Brennan Malone, SP, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.

Malone’s biggest area of growth this spring was in the development of his breaking ball, which more consistently graded as plus against high-quality hitters. He allowed just two earned runs over 51 innings with 69 strikeouts and 14 walks. The Diamondbacks drafted him with the third of four first-round picks.

Quinn Priester, SP, Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.

Priester showed immense upside with a natural feel for throwing strikes along with high-end pure stuff to go along with an 1.18 ERA against 4A Illinois hitters. He struck out 64 batters in just 41.2 innings. Priester gained helium all spring and ultimately was the first prep pitcher drafted by the Pirates at No. 18 overall.

SECOND TEAM

THIRD TEAM

Friday MLB Notes: D-backs 2019 Draft Bonanza Paying Big Dividends

Teams with previous bonanzas rarely hit on more than 2-3 of their picks. The D-backs, at this early stage, appear to have hit on nearly all of theirs.