2019 MLB Draft Prospects With Best Tools
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Image credit: Bobby Witt Jr. (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
Baseball America polled MLB scouts about the best high school and college prospects in the 2019 MLB Draft class. To see our BA 500 draft rankings, click here.
Table of contents:
BEST HITTER
High School
1. Riley Greene
2. Corbin Carroll
3. Brett Baty
College
1. Andrew Vaughn
2. Adley Rutschman
3. J.J. Bleday
Scout’s take on Andrew Vaughn: “He has a preternatural feel for the strike zone, tremendous power, looseness and a complete offensive profile overall.”
BEST POWER
High School
1. Rece Hinds
2. Brett Baty
3. Bobby Witt Jr.
College
1. Andrew Vaughn
2. Hunter Bishop
3. Kody Hoese
Scout’s take on Rece Hinds: “Biggest raw juice in the draft. Nobody can hit a ball as far as this kid.”
BEST SPEED
High School
1. James Beard
2. Dasan Brown
3. CJ Abrams
College
1. Greg Jones
2. Gabe Holt
3. Jake Mangum
Scout’s take on Greg Jones: “80 run tool. The best run tool I’ve ever seen live. He ran like a 3.9 from the righthanded batter’s box. It’s legit.”
Best Strike Zone Judgment
High School
1. Corbin Carroll
2. Riley Greene
3. Brett Baty
College
1. Logan Wyatt
2. Andrew Vaughn
3. Adley Rutschman
Scout’s take on Logan Wyatt: “As good as it gets at tracking the baseball. Incredible batting eye.”
Best Defensive Catcher
High School
1. Jonathan French
2. Ethan Hearn
3. Logan Tanner
College
1. Adley Rutschman
2. Cooper Johnson
3. Shea Langeliers
Scout’s take on Adley Rutschman: “He makes the toughest position look the easiest … He’s a better catcher than Austin Hedges.”
Best Defensive Infielder
High School
1. Bobby Witt Jr.
2. Nasim Nunez
3. Yordys Valdes
College
1. Bryson Stott
2. Cam Shepherd
3. Logan Davidson
Scout’s take on Bobby Witt Jr.: “One of the most talented high school shortstops I have seen in a long time. And great intangibles. Makeup is off the chart. He has poise and tools.”
Best Defensive Outfielder
High School
1. Corbin Carroll
2. Jerrion Ealy
3. Sammy Siani
College
1. Jake Mangum
2. Zach Watson
3. Dominic Fletcher
Scout’s take on Corbin Carroll: “Great routes. Really good instincts to the ball. He stays in center field. He shows you a 55-60 (grade) arm with good carry.”
Best Fastball
High School
1. Daniel Espino
2. Brennan Malone
3. Matthew Allan
College
1. Jackson Rutledge
2. Ryne Nelson
3. Alek Manoah
Scout’s take on Daniel Espino: “90-grade fastball because of not just the velo — it’s the movement … He has a low release point with a high-spin fastball … His fastball swing-and-miss rate is really, really good.”
Best Breaking Ball
High School
1. Matthew Allan
2. Jack Leiter
3. Daniel Espino
College
1. Zack Thompson
2. Jackson Rutledge
3. Ryne Nelson
Scout’s take on Matthew Allan: “Guys who can throw a good curveball, they have feel and wrist flexibility … He might have two 70-grade pitches with the fastball and curveball.”
Best Changeup
High School
1. Hunter Barco
2. Jimmy Lewis
3. Jack Leiter
College
1. Ethan Small
2. Nick Lodolo
3. Ryan Pepiot
Scout’s take on Hunter Barco: “It’s in there — I guarantee it … His change-up is going to be plus, I promise you.”
Best Control
High School
1. Jack Leiter
2. Blake Walston
3. JJ Goss
College
1. George Kirby
2. Garrett Stallings
3. John Doxakis
Scout’s take on George Kirby: “Kirby is pretty simple … He fills the zone and can throw strikes with every pitch.”
Best Athlete
High School
1. Jerrion Ealy
2. CJ Abrams
3. Bobby Witt Jr.
College
1. Hunter Bishop
2. Logan Davidson
3. Greg Jones
Scout’s take on Jerrion Ealy: “He’s a freak. Multi-sport guy … but his athleticism, arm strength, power and bat speed stand out. Dynamite athlete.”
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