2021 Iowa Top MLB Draft Prospects

Today, Baseball America rolls out its state-by-state rankings for the 2021 MLB Draft. Additionally, you can find our:

500 Draft Rankings | 2021 MLB Mock Draft | MLB Draft Tracker

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1. Brody Brecht, RHP, Ankeny (Iowa) HS (BA RANK: 101)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 185 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Iowa

Brecht is an Iowa football recruit and a four-star wide receiver prospect according to 247Sports. Listed at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, he certainly has the size for a wideout, but he’s also looked impressive this spring on the mound. Brecht is a late riser who teams were running in to see after he got on the mound, and he showed a fastball that reached 97 mph and a plus slider. Those are two extremely loud pitches for a player who lacks significant scouting history and will likely be an enigma for teams given that and his football commitment. He has the frame and the athleticism that scouts love to see on the mound, but there’s also a lot of moving parts in his delivery that will need to be ironed out in the future. He throws with effort and has a deep, plunging action in the back of his arm stroke that could lead to spotty command and inconsistencies with his secondaries, but he also has the physical projection in his frame to potentially throw 100 mph one day.

2. Ian Moller, C, Wahlert HS, Dubuque, Iowa (BA RANK: 273)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Louisiana State

The 18-year-old catcher impressed last summer at premium showcases but has had a lot of inconsistencies exposed this season, leaving a ton of question marks for evaluators. Moller has feel for the barrel and a decent path, but scouts are split on the swing. He has huge raw power potential but he can get really pull happy with a tendency to drop his back shoulder and try to lift everything, causing him to run into swing-and-miss trouble. The Louisiana State commit was impressive defensively early on and is athletic behind the plate, but he’s had concerning lapses where he doesn’t block a ball or will drop one. He has soft but strong hands and the ability to block and is quick with his exchange, but inconsistency is his kryptonite. The arm has potential to be plus, but he also doesn’t show the arm strength routinely. The 6-foot, 195-pound backstop is a well below-average runner, but it doesn’t impact his catching profile much. Moller needs to tighten up his tools because they’re there, but he doesn’t always show them in game settings.

3. Trenton Wallace, LHP, Iowa (BA RANK: 291)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 200 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound lefty transitioned from being Iowa’s right fielder into the Hawkeyes’ Friday night starter and impressed early on with a fastball sitting between 90 and 93 mph, and a slider, curveball and changeup that can all be average to back it up. He’s tough and competitive, with an easy delivery that he is able to repeat and good feel on the mound. The stuff isn’t overwhelming but he’s a lefty who can pitch, throw strikes, and compete. Wallace made 13 starts for Iowa this season, posting a 2.34 ERA over 73 innings, allowing just three homers, walking 37 and striking out 106.

4. Will Stevens, RHP, Iowa Western JC (BA RANK: 443)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 220 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Wichita State

Stevens has impressed for the Reivers this season. The 19-year-old parks his fastball between 94-97 mph with a good slider, though he hasn’t been consistent with his strike-throwing ability. He made 12 appearances with five starts at Iowa Western this year, posting a 2.28 ERA over 27.2 innings with 15 walks and 41 strikeouts. His ceiling is likely as a reliever, but he can spin his breaking ball and he has velocity.

5. Jackson Wentworth, RHP, Waukee (Iowa) HS (BA RANK: 479)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 180 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Kansas State

Wentworth is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound righthander who impressed early but has drawn more questions of late. He’s been up to 94 mph but lost some velocity this spring on his fringe-average fastball, though he is able to throw strikes with it. The 18-year-old has an ability to spin the breaking ball and his curve is a mid-70s hammer with impressive depth and solid metrics. He’s shown fastball command and feel for landing his breaking pitch but the strikes haven’t been as good this year as they were previously. The Kansas State commit remains on the radar in the Midwest.

6. Conner Mackay, RHP, Iowa Western JC (BA RANK: 496)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 210 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Dallas Baptist

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound righthander at Iowa Western has been up to 94 mph, he has some riding metrics to go with his fastball, and he can really pitch. This year for the Reivers, Mackay made 11 appearances and eight starts, throwing 43.2 innings, walking 18 and striking out 64 over that span, good for a 1.85 ERA. He’s committed to Dallas Baptist.

7. Ernie Day, RHP, Iowa Western JC
Source: JC • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 225 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Iowa

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound righty at Iowa Western has sat 88-93 mph with his fastball and flashed a decent breaking ball with feel to pitch. Day started eight games for the Reivers this season and threw 32 innings, walking 17 and striking out 47.

8. Drew Irvine, RHP, Iowa
Source: 4YR •

 

9. Ben Probst, RHP, Iowa
Source: 4YR •

 

10. Tommy Ray, RHP, Logan JC
Source: JC •

 

11. Payton Zabel, RHP, Iowa Western CC
Source: JC •

 

12. Wyatt Wendell, RHP, Indian Hills CC
Source: JC •