Top Texas 2019 MLB Draft Prospects
![](https://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/bba-media/9592/bobby_witt-jr_stacyjogrant.jpg)
![](https://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/bba-media/9592/bobby_witt-jr_stacyjogrant.jpg)
Image credit: Bobby Witt Jr. (Photo by Stacy Jo Grant)
To see our BA 500 draft rankings, click here. To see other states, click here.
State List Talent Ranking: ??????????
(Stars are listed on a 1 to 5 scale relative to what the state typically produces, with 1 being the weakest)
1. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS (BA RANK: 2)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 183 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Oklahoma
Witt Jr. has been famous for years, and not just because he’s the son of Bobby Witt, the No. 3 overall pick in the 1985 draft and a 16-year major league righthander. The younger Witt may equal or better where his father was picked, which would make them the highest-drafted father-son pairing ever. Witt has been expected near the top the 2019 draft class for years thanks to his size, speed and power. Last summer, he showed excellent power potential but also raised questions about his hit tool as he showed more swing-and-miss than evaluators would have liked. This spring, admittedly against lesser competition, Witt has shown a better approach and more bat-to-ball skills. He’s using the entire field more and staying more balanced at the plate, where in the past he showed a tendency to get a little pull happy and collapse his backside during his swing. Witt shows a solid awareness of the strike zone—when he got into trouble last summer it was because he was swinging and missing at pitches in the zone rather than expanding it. He has plus power that projects for 20-plus home runs at the big league level and potentially even more in the current overheated major league power environment. At shortstop, Witt is the top defender in the class and a future plus defender with elite hands, quick feet and a plus arm. He shows the ability to throw from multiple arm slots and make plays going to both his right and left with excellent throwing accuracy. He’s a plus runner who can impact the game on the bases. Scouts have long raved about his makeup and several said that his work ethic and drive will help him get the most out of his considerable tools. Witt will turn 19 years old right after the draft, so he is older for the class. He is seen as both a high-floor player as well as someone with one of the highest ceilings in the class because of his well-rounded toolset and strong odds of sticking at shortstop. If he is even a .230 or .240 hitter, he should have a lengthy big league career because of his defensive ability at shortstop, speed and power. If he proves to be an average or better hitter, he could become a franchise-caliber player.
2. Nick Lodolo, LHP, Texas Christian (BA RANK: 8)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-6 • Wt: 180 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Pirates ’16 (1 comp)
A first-team Preseason All-American, Lodolo is one of the few high-profile college pitching prospects with a long track record of starting in college. After the Pirates drafted Lodolo with the 41st overall pick in 2016 but failed to sign him, Lodolo made his way to Texas Christian, where he started 15 games as both as freshman and sophomore. Despite his durability, Lodolo was more solid than spectacular, posting a 4.35 ERA in 2017 and a 4.32 mark in 2018. He allowed more hits than scouts expected given his solid stuff, capped off by allowing more than 9.3 hits per nine innings as a sophomore. Lodolo has taken an impressive step forward as a junior, however. A 6-foot-6, 180-pound lefthander who still has room to fill out, Lodolo has pitched mostly off of two pitches this spring—a low-90s fastball that touches 94-95 mph with solid running life out of a lower arm slot and a sweepy breaking ball that flashes the makings of a plus pitch but needs more consistency. As a sophomore, Lodolo regularly showcased a changeup that had plus potential as well, but as his fastball command improved this spring (his walk rate went from 3.27 walks per nine innings in 2017 to 1.65 per nine through his first 10 starts in 2019), he has used the changeup less often. Lodolo’s stuff isn’t quite as loud as the typical top college starter of a draft class, but he is a high-probability major leaguer with above-average control of three pitches that are current average offerings but could be plus pitches in the future. He still has more projection than the typical three-year collegiate arm thanks to a lean body that can add more weight, and he was one of the best performers in the country through his first seven starts of the season before hitting a slight speed bump in April. Lodolo is a no-doubt starter who has proven to be a reliable Big 12 arm, but he profiles as a middle-of-the-rotation starter more than a No. 1 or No. 2 starter in the majors.
3. Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor (BA RANK: 9)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 190 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Blue Jays ’16 (34)
In a typical draft class, Langeliers would be a safe bet as the top catching prospect in the class, but this year he’ll have to settle for the No. 2 spot behind Adley Rutschman. Langeliers has a well-rounded arsenal across the board, but his strengths are on defense, where he has plus arm strength and threw out nearly 70 percent of basestealers as a sophomore. He also handled plenty of premium pure stuff last summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and handled it well. Langeliers is a polished pitch-framer, and he moves well behind the plate and shows impressive blocking ability from his 6-foot, 190-pound frame. If Langeliers never hits, he still profiles as a solid backup option in today’s game that focuses on pitch-framing ability. But he does have potential as a hitter as well, despite a down sophomore season when Langeliers hit just .252/.351/.496. Scouts think he can become an average hitter thanks to a balanced swing and solid understanding of the strike zone. While Langeliers struggled to hit in 2018, he still got on base at a decent clip thanks to a 13 percent walk rate. Last summer, Langeliers was second on Team USA in hitting with a .346/.393/.500 line, and he has solid-average raw power, most of which comes easier to the pull side. A broken hamate bone forced Langeliers to miss parts of February and March this season, but he has hit well since returning. His .322/.366/.494 slash line through his first 20 games of conference play has given scouts further confidence that his 2018 season was more of an outlier than the norm. Langeliers defensive toolset is too appealing for him to fall much further than the middle of the first round, and depending on how a team views his offensive upside, he could go among the top-15 picks.
4. Jackson Rutledge, RHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC (BA RANK: 14)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-8 • Wt: 260 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
Rutledge entered the season as the second-ranked junior college prospect in the class after fellow righthander Carter Stewart because of his high school pedigree, tantalizing raw stuff and imposing, 6-foot-8, 260-pound frame. Out of high school, Rutledge had a solid, 90-93 mph fastball with impressive sinking life, but he needed to improve both his secondaires and overall control. Rutledge threw just 15.2 innings as a freshman at Arkansas before going down with a season-ending hip injury. Following the season, he decided to transfer to San Jacinto (Texas) JC and expected to enter the 2020 draft as a Kentucky commit. Those plans changed, however, when Rutledge came out this spring showing some of the best pure stuff of any pitcher in the country with improved control. Rutledge has regularly been into the upper 90s with his fastball, and he has held that velocity into the sixth and seventh innings of his starts throughout the season. In addition, he’s shown a pair of plus breaking balls in both a slider and curveball. Previously, Rutledge threw a hybrid breaking ball that was more slurve-like, but after interning with Pro Pitching Performance last summer (while he rehabbed from injury) Rutledge worked to differentiate those pitches with Rapsodo feedback and now has two distinct, swing-and-miss breaking pitches. He also has a changeup that could be a fourth above-average offering. While he isn’t facing the strongest competition, Rutledge struck out 123 batters through his first 12 starts and 77.2 innings (14.25 strikeouts per nine) this spring, with just 28 walks (3.25 walks per nine). Since his time in high school, Rutledge has significantly shortened his arm action. It’s now a incredibly tight and compact delivery, to the point that some scouts wonder how he’s able to generate and maintain his velocity. The upgrade in arm action has allowed him to improve his control, but scouts think he’ll need to continue refining his command when he faces stiffer competition at the pro level. Regardless, his pure stuff and the deception he creates with his delivery should give him plenty of room for error as he climbs the ladder. Rutledge has the upside of a No. 2 starter, but he carries some reliever risk due to his size and history of control problems.
5. Brett Baty, 3B, Lake Travis HS, Austin (BA RANK: 15)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 218 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas
One of the best pure hitters in the draft class, Baty brings 70-grade raw power to the table with impressive strength and plus bat speed. He also has an advanced approach at the plate and a feel for putting the barrel on the ball. In every batting practice Baty takes, his power stands out. The ease with which he’s able to send the ball out of the park, both to the pull side and to the opposite field, rivals nearly any player in the 2019 draft. A big, 6-foot-3, 218-pound third baseman, Baty has improved his body composition over the past few years, turning some of his baby fat into muscle, which has helped improve his game both offensively and defensively. Originally, most scouts believed that Baty was destined for a transition to first base in pro ball because of his below-average footwork, suspect hands and a plus throwing arm that had strength but was erratic with a slow exchange. He’s improved across the board defensively this spring, now giving himself a chance to stick at third base, but winding up at first base may still be the most likely outcome. He’s hit anything and everything thrown at him in a competitive area of Texas, but the biggest knock on Baty’s profile is his age. He’ll be just six months away from his 20th birthday at the time of the draft, and he is one of the oldest high school players in the class. Many teams operate with draft models that significantly penalize hitters for that, although at some point it’s hard to ignore Baty’s potential as a middle-of-the-order hitter—no matter his age or position. Baty is committed to Texas, but he is unlikely to make it to campus and could be drafted early on Day 1 of the draft.
6. Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech (BA RANK: 17)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 215 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
Jung has been one of the most productive players in college baseball over the past three seasons. He was a first-team Freshman All-American in 2017 and a second-team All-American as a sophomore in 2018. His junior season has failed to reach the heights of his sophomore campaign, largely because he’s not flirting with a .400 batting average. But even if his offensive statistics have dipped, scouts remain comfortable that Jung can be an above-average or plus hitter in the future. He is big and strong, but his approach at the plate emphasizes hitting for average over power. He has a solid awareness of the strike zone and is happy to work deep in counts. Falling behind doesn’t seem to bother him either, as he’s shown he can work back from disadvantaged counts. When Jung does get a quality pitch to hit, his swing is geared to drive the ball up the middle or to the right-center field gap. There are plenty of examples of hitters who learn how to pull the ball as pros, but without significant changes, Jung projects as having average power, at best. Some evaluators have concerns that part of his hit-over-power approach comes from his average bat speed. There are even larger debates among evaluators about his defense. Some scouts look at his tight hips and below-average foot speed and project he’ll have to move to a corner outfield spot or first base. But Jung has good hands, an accurate, plus arm and the ability to throw on the run. He also does an excellent job charging in on balls. This season, the Red Raiders have moved Jung to shortstop and he’s looked reasonably comfortable there, even if it’s not a position he’ll play as a pro. The most likely result is Jung ends up as an average third baseman. Jung’s plate discipline, strong arm and his lengthy track record of hitting make him a likely middle-of-the-first-round pick, although the questions surrounding his agility and power potential stand in the way of him being considered in the absolute top tier of this year’s college hitters.
7. Braden Shewmake, SS, Texas A&M (BA RANK: 27)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 190 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
A lanky, 6-foot-4, 190-pound shortstop, Shewmake can handle any infield position but started all 61 games at shortstop for Texas A&M as a sophomore and has continued to hold down the position as a junior in 2019. He’s been among the most consistent hitters in the SEC over his three collegiate seasons, starting with a loud freshman campaign when he hit .328/.374/.529 with 11 home runs and 11 stolen bases and was voted first-team all-SEC. He has continued to hit at a high level, although Shewmake has not replicated his power numbers from his freshman season. Scouts wonder when he will start to physically fill out his frame and begin hitting for more power. He has good bat speed and some twitchiness with his hands at the plate, but he’ll eventually need to add more strength to tap into additional power with a wood bat. He struggled in 44 at-bats for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team last summer (.136/.250/.205), though his track record in the SEC will likely be emphasized compared to a much smaller sample with a wood bat. Defensively, Shewmake has all of the intangibles necessary to play shortstop, and he is a terrific in-game leader with athleticism. However, if he does begin to fill out physically, he has a chance to outgrow the position, and he doesn’t currently have the hands of an everyday, major league shortstop. Because of those concerns, many scouts are mixed as to where Shewmake fits best, defensively. He’s a plus runner who could handle all three outfield positions, if necessary, but teams will likely look to keep him in the infield before running him out to the grass. Shewmake is something of a conundrum to teams who view him as a player with a skillset that’s greater than his tools, and he might be best served in a super-utility role down the line. Either way, his track record of hitting should have him selected on Day 1 of the draft, and there’s more projection here if and when he starts to fill out physically.
8. J.J. Goss, RHP, Cypress Ranch HS, Houston (BA RANK: 33)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 185 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas A&M
Goss entered his senior season as perhaps the best No. 2 pitcher on any high school team in the country, as righthander Matthew Thompson also plays for Houston’s Cypress Ranch High. Thompson was a first-team Preseason All-American, while Goss was voted to the second team. This spring, however, Goss has been the more impressive arm, routinely throwing in the 90-96 mph range with his fastball, a plus slider and changeup. Goss’ slider is in the low 80s with tight spin, and he has impressive feel for his mid-80s changeup with solid fading life. Prior to his senior season, Goss showed impressive strike-throwing ability and worked mostly in the upper 80s with excellent feel to spin, but a commitment to improving his body over the offseason has allowed his stuff to tick up to the point where his pure stuff is now comparable to the best high school pitchers in the class. With a 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame and plenty of athleticism—he also plays outfield for Cypress Ranch—Goss has room to add more weight as he continues to mature physically. The best of another deep crop of Texas A&M pitching recruits, Goss has played his way into Day 1 consideration, if he wasn’t there already, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Goss drafted in the first round thanks to his ability to throw strikes and the recent improvement in his pure stuff.
9. Matt Canterino, RHP, Rice (BA RANK: 34)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
Canterino is one of the funkier pitchers in this year’s draft class. As he gathers on the rubber, he raises his arm in a pump, in-sync with his lead leg, brings his arms back to his body, pauses, and then explodes to the plate. While it looks unconventional and seems very segmented, Canterino’s arm is on time with his body and he repeats it well. Not to mention, it’s been very effective. Canterino has been Rice’s ace almost since the day he arrived on campus. He’s been durable, consistent and hard to hit, limiting opponents to a sub-.200 batting average for his three-year career as an Owl. It’s that consistency and solid stuff that appeals to scouts, who also like his solid, 6-foot-3, 222-pound frame. In a draft class without many potential front-of-the-rotation options, Canterino is a potential late first-round pick as a solid back-of-the-rotation arm. His low-90s fastball will bump up to 95 mph at times, and his slider has gotten better and better, to the point where it not earns above-average grades. Even when his slider isn’t at its best, he will still show four average pitches thanks to a decent curveball and changeup. He’s steadily improved his control and now shows the potential for above-average control. Canterino is one of the better high-floor options among the college arms in this year’s draft class.
10. Matthew Thompson, RHP, Cypress Ranch HS, Houston (BA RANK: 48)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 184 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas A&M
Thompson entered the year as the top prep pitcher in Texas and one of the most exciting pitchers in the 2019 class. He jumped onto national radars as an underclassman with big performances on the travel ball circuit thanks to his power fastball, feel to spin the ball and athleticism on the mound. All of those traits still exist for Thompson now, but his stock fell this spring as scouts saw his stuff come and go. His fastball has been 90-96 mph at times, but just as often he has thrown more in the 88-92 mph range, which concerned scouts who were already looking for him to improve his consistency from outing to outing. Thompson throws a mid-80s slider with sharp, late, two-plane break that’s one of the better sliders in the class. However, the pitch can at times blend into his curveball, which is typically in the upper 70s with more 11-to-5 shape than the horizontal bite of his slider. While Thompson has a fast, whippy arm action out of a high, three-quarter slot, scouts are concerned about his strike-throwing ability. Some teams would specifically point to a wrist wrap that Thompson has in the back of his arm stroke that could limit his control moving forward. While it hasn’t been the best spring for Thompson, he still has a projectable, 6-foot-2, 184-pound frame, excellent feel to spin the ball and natural, high-end athleticism that player development would love to see in an organization. Thompson is committed to Texas A&M.
11. John Doxakis, LHP, Texas A&M (BA RANK: 53)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 215 • B-T: B-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
A 6-foot-4 lefthander, Doxakis doesn’t have the biggest stuff, but when it comes to strike-throwing and deception, he’s among the best in the country. He works with a below-average or fringe-average fastball that spends more time in the upper 80s than low 90s, an average slider and a solid changeup that might be his best pitch. He has a rigid yet funky delivery that makes things more difficult for hitters, particularly given his ability to spot all of his pitches. After walking 2.8 batters per nine innings as a sophomore in 2018, Doxakis cut his walk rate by more than half (1.12 walks per nine) through his first nine starts in 2019 and also started striking out more batters. He’s added more physicality in his junior season, particularly in his lower half, but he projects as more of a back-of-the-rotation starter given his lack of pure stuff.
12. Josh Wolf, RHP, St. Thomas HS, Houston (BA RANK: 54)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 165 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas A&M
After showing solid stuff but topping out in the low 90s for most of last summer, Wolf entered the spring solidly out of Day 1 consideration and behind a number of other Texas prep pitchers. That evaluation quickly changed, as Wolf came out this spring with added strength—he’s listed at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds but is likely heavier than that now—and started pitching consistently in the mid-90s and touched as high as 97 mph. In addition to his much-improved fastball velocity, Wolf spins a nasty curveball that looks like a big league breaking ball and is a surefire plus offering. The pitch settles in the mid- to upper 70s, while Wolf also throws a mid-80s changeup that could use some refinement. While there are still some command questions with Wolf, he has also improved in that regard. Those who know him are impressed with his dedication to his craft on the mound and his understanding of what he’s trying to accomplish when he’s on the rubber. Previously, Wolf would have been a safe bet to reach campus at Texas A&M, and he is expected to be a reasonably tough sign. But now, he’s pitching at a clip that might push him into Day 1 consideration and make jumping straight into pro ball more likely.
13. Davis Wendzel, 3B, Baylor (BA RANK: 55)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 185 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Red Sox ’18 (37)
A teammate of 2017 No. 1 pick Royce Lewis at California’s JSerra High, Wendzel quickly found his home at Baylor. The hirsute Wendzel boasts one of the fullest beards and longest mullets in college baseball, making him easily recognizable. Big 12 coaches have noticed his consistent ability to barrel baseballs, and he’s also proven to be one of the most reliable defenders in the conference. Scouts liked Wendzel last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, but he was clear about his intentions to return to Baylor for his junior year. That’s why he slid to the 37th round to the Red Sox. He’ll likely not make it out of the second round this year, as he’s a well-rounded third baseman with a lengthy track record of hitting. Wendzel has more hitting ability than power, although evaluators believe he has the potential to get to average power eventually. He projects as an above-average hitter despite a less than picture perfect swing. There’s some length to his front arm as he begins his swing by dropping his hands in the beginning of his load, then powers it through the zone. But his excellent pitch recognition and strike-zone awareness make it work. Defensively, he’s an above-average third baseman with an above-average, accurate arm who is very reliable—he’d made only one error all year as of mid-May. He’s sneakily athletic and has even slid over to shortstop from time to time for the Bears. Wendzel doesn’t have the power potential of some of the other top third baseman in the class, but scouts’ comfort level with his well-rounded game will ensure he goes high in the draft.
14. Jimmy Lewis, RHP, Lake Travis HS, Austin (BA RANK: 56)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-6 • Wt: 200 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Louisiana State
Another one of the many high-upside arms coming out of the Texas prep ranks in 2019, Lewis is a scout’s dream at 6-foot-6, 200 pounds with professional bloodlines. Lewis’ father—also named Jimmy—was drafted by the Astros in the second round out of Florida State in 1991. The progression on the younger Lewis’ fastball over the past couple of years has only added to scouts’ excitement. As a sophomore, Lewis sat mostly in the 86-88 mph range, but he pounded the strike zone with a clean arm action and athleticism that looked promising for his future development. Then, this spring, Lewis increased his velocity into the low 90s, touching 95 mph. He also throws a breaking ball that projects as an above-average offering, while flashing a solid changeup as well. With two solid secondaires, a fastball that could easily become a plus pitch down the line, a large frame that’s easy to project on, athleticism and strike-throwing ability, Lewis is overflowing with starter’s attributes. He’s committed to Louisiana State and is expected to be a tough sign, but he’s pitched well enough this spring that a team might buy him out of that commitment in the second or third round.
15. Brandon Williamson, LHP, Texas Christian (BA RANK: 86)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-6 • Wt: 210 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Brewers ’18 (36)
After a solid season at Northern Iowa Area CC in 2018, Williamson fell to the Brewers in the 36th round because no team wanted to match his asking price. So instead of signing, Williamson moved on to Texas Christian, where he immediately stepped into the Horned Frogs’ weekend rotation. There’s a lot to like with Williamson, who pitches from an athletic, 6-foot-5 frame. He’s also shown steady improvement over the past two years, and he has a fluid delivery with a clean arm path. The one thing holding Williamson back is a lack of a clear plus pitch, although his 90-92 mph fastball will touch 94-95 mph at times and has the potential to be an above-average offering. He has both a curveball and a slider that are two distinct pitches, but both are fringe-average to average at best. He also has a fringe-average changeup. Williamson is relatively durable and has some projection remaining. As a reasonably productive lefthanded starter at a major college program, Williamson will likely be picked somewhere between the late second and early fourth round.
16. Sammy Faltine, RHP/SS, Fort Bend Travis HS, Richmond, Texas (BA RANK: 89)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 185 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas
If you’re looking for a scouts’ favorite among the high school class, you’ll hear Samson Faltine III (which is why he goes by Trey) mentioned a lot. Faltine can do a little bit of everything and is more impressive because of his versatility rather than any one standout tool. Faltine’s father stopped playing baseball when he emigrated from Venezuela to the U.S., but he worked with Trey from a young age, which is apparent in Faltine’s excellent baseball IQ. Faltine has capably played almost everywhere around the diamond—no one is going to waste the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder’s athleticism at first base and he’s never caught, but pretty much everywhere else is a viable option. The Texas signee is a legitimate two-way player who shows feel on the mound and a solid approach at the plate. As a pitcher, he doesn’t wow with overpowering stuff, but his average, 88-91 mph fastball (he can touch 92-93 mph) plays up because he locates it, it’s a high-spin pitch (2,700 rpm) and has solid, natural cut. His 74-77 mph average curveball has excellent shape and he locates it well. He’s toyed with a 78-80 mph changeup that flashed late fade last summer, and he’s added an 82-84 mph slider that shows above-average potential. As a pitcher, Faltine’s stuff may end up getting better if teams bet on his athleticism and future strength gains, and his feel will help him survive as he works to improve his stuff, but many teams like him better as a position player. Faltine’s best hope as a hitter is to play either shortstop or center field—he’s spent time at both spots—but he lacks elite speed, relying more on his routes and reads in the outfield and his first step and good hands at shortstop. Faltine has fringe-average raw power at best right now, and his swing is more contact-oriented than anything. He shows bat speed and barrel control, but he needs to drive the ball more as he matures. Faltine’s versatility means he’s not a refined defender at any position yet, but his feel for the game and excellent body control gives plenty of reasons to believe that the best is yet to come once he focuses on either hitting or pitching and picks a position. He could be a two-way star at Texas who plays both ways as a freshman, but as a potential late Day 1 or early Day 2 pick, he may never get to Austin.
17. Will Rigney, RHP, Midway HS, Waco, Texas (BA RANK: 91)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-5 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Baylor
A big, physical righthander out of Waco, Texas, Rigney has plenty of arm strength, showcased by a fastball that was mostly in the 90-93 mph range this summer and touched 95 mph. He also throws a slider that ranges from 79-84 mph and looked like a plus pitch at times with sharp, late bite. There were instances, however, when the pitch became loopy and hung over the plate. Rigney also showed good feel for a low-80s changeup with arm-side movement and fading action that could be developed as a third offering. This spring, Rigney has dealt with a forearm strain that limited his innings, but scouts think he has a frame—6-foot-5, 205-pounds—that will allow him to regularly throw in the mid-90s and hold innings as a big, power-armed righthander. Rigney is committed to Baylor.
18. Jared Triolo, 3B, Houston (BA RANK: 115)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
Coming out of high school in Texas, Triolo was Lake Travis’ star and two-time MVP who then handed the reigns to Brett Baty, one of the top prospects in the 2019 high school class. Triolo moved on to Houston, where he became a regular at third base and right field as a freshman. He’s been even better as a sophomore and junior, and as of late May he was hitting .327/.415/.505 with more walks (30) than strikeouts (29). With only average speed, he also picks his spots to run and had stolen 13 bases in 15 attempts as a junior. His best may be yet to come, as his hitting approach shows lots of opposite field doubles and solid strength. He has struggled to consistently pull the ball. If he can figure out how to develop his latent pull power, he could find average power to go with his average hit tool. That could be enough, as he’s a plus defender at third base with good footwork, solid lateral movement and good range. He can lose his focus sporadically on easy throws, but he has an above-average arm that is plenty for the position. Triolo could sneak into the back of the first day of the draft, but shouldn’t have to wait long on Day 2, at worst.
19. Gabe Holt, OF/2B, Texas Tech (BA RANK: 121)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-10 • Wt: 170 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
Holt took over as Texas Tech’s leadoff hitter from the first game of his freshman season and has been a steady presence as the Red Raiders’ table-setter ever since. He’s well-suited for the role as his ground-ball and line-drive approach relies on spreading the ball to all fields. Once he makes contact, his plus-plus speed and aggressive baserunning makes him a threat to always take the extra base. He’ll even turn grounders through the infield into doubles if the outfielders don’t charge aggressively enough. While Holt’s speed is easily his best tool, he has a chance to be an above-average hitter thanks to quick hands and a solid understanding of the strike zone. His power and his power potential are quite limited. His swing is not generally geared to driving the ball over the wall, as he has very little load. That’s probably smart because the 5-foot-10, 170-pounder doesn’t really have the size or strength to hit more than 5-10 home runs a year. Holt is an excellent basestealer who could top 60 steals in his first two seasons at Texas Tech. Defensively, Holt has yet to find a true home. He was Texas Tech’s second baseman for much of his freshman season, but he’s below-average there and will need to improve his actions and soften his hands to play there in pro ball. He’s spent most of the past year and a half in right field, but his routes and reads leave much to be desired. There is some belief among scouts that he could end up being better in center field as the reads of fly balls off the bat are easier. This year, he has spent a little time in center field and has even filled in at shortstop, although he didn’t look comfortable there. Holt’s profile won’t sell every team, as he lacks power and has no clear defensive position, but he can run and get on base.
20. Hudson Head, OF, Churchill HS, San Antonio (BA RANK: 128)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 175 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Oklahoma
Much like 2017 third-round pick Mason House, Head is a pop-up prospect who turned himself into a coveted draft prospect with a very strong spring. Very few scouts had much track record with Head before this spring, but he’s impressed with his speed—he’s a plus runner—and some surprising pop from a smaller, wiry frame. House has hit some lengthy home runs this spring with a good-looking lefthanded stroke, although it begins with a significant bat waggle that he may need to clean up eventually. He shows above-average bat speed and has a chance to stick in center field. The Oklahoma signee is expected to be a difficult one to sway from his commitment. The success rate of pop-up prospects with little track record isn’t ideal, but Head had a great senior season and has several teams that seem interested in taking him early enough to give him something to think about.
21. Jacob Meador, RHP, Centennial HS, Burleson, Texas (BA RANK: 172)
Source: HS • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 170 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas Christian
A 5-foot-11, 170-pound righthander, Meador doesn’t have the typical profile of a top-200 draft prospect. His fastball sits in the upper 80s and can reach 92 mph on a good day. Given his size and handedness, most teams typically wouldn’t be interested in this range. However, Meador’s fastball routinely plays up, especially against the best hitting competition in the 2019 class, and he generates a shocking amount of whiffs with the pitch up in the zone despite below-average velocity. Meador throws from a slightly high, three-quarter arm slot and gets across his body with a fast arm. He has a good feel for landing all of his pitches in the strike zone. On Baseball America’s preseason ballot sent to major league scouting directors, Meador was voted No. 2 in command among all 2019 pitchers and third in fastball movement. In addition to his high-spin fastball, Meador also has an above-average, mid- to upper-70s curveball with shape that ranges from 11-to-5 to a true top-to-bottom, 12-6 offering. Meador lands the pitch in the zone when he wants and can also use it to expand the zone low, trying to get hitters to swing over the top. Meador has also thrown a low-80s changeup, which he delivers with good arm speed. Meador is committed to Texas Christian.
22. Blake Mayfield, RHP, Marcus HS, Flower Mound, Texas (BA RANK: 219)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 170 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas A&M
Teams evaluating Mayfield have a decision to make. They can pay him now, or they may end up paying him a good bit more in three years. Teams may decide to wait because his velocity is fringy at this point. He sits 88-91 mph right now with a lively fastball, bumping up in shorter stints, but there’s plenty of belief that he’ll end up sitting 92-95 mph by the time he hits his early 20s. Often, teams will wait until the velo jump arrives, but if Mayfield makes it to Texas A&M, he could end up as a rotation stalwart thanks to his athleticism and excellent feel for pitching. His mid-70s curveball has plenty of potential as well, as he shows feel for locating it and picking spots to lock up hitters.
23. David Hamilton, SS, Texas (BA RANK: 223)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 170 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Angels ’16 (28)
After making it to Omaha in 2018, Texas slipped back to 27-27 in 2019. One of the big reasons was the Longhorns missed Hamilton, who missed the entire season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Hamilton’s injury obviously makes it difficult for teams to fully evaluate him, as his athleticism and speed were his best attributes. Hamilton is a lefthanded hitter who focuses on making plenty of contact while using his plus speed. Pre-injury Hamilton had a quick first step and the hands to stay at shortstop. Hamilton was overmatched as a hitter as a freshman and even with improvement as a sophomore, his lack of power is a concern in pro ball, and Hamilton didn’t get to allay those concerns as a junior. He could use a medical redshirt year and retain two years of eligibility if he doesn’t like where he goes in the draft.
24. Kasey Kalich, RHP, Texas A&M (BA RANK: 225)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 220 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
A transfer from Blinn (Texas) JC, Kalich is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound righthander who has had success in his first year in the Texas A&M bullpen. With a fastball that tops out at 98 mph and works well up in the zone, Kalich is striking out a robust 14.3 batters per nine innings through his first 26 appearances. His main secondary offering is a slider that looks more like a cutter when he throws it in the upper 80s. His two-pitch mix and arm speed profiles well as a reliever at the next level.
25. Jared Southard, RHP, Rouse HS, Leander, Texas (BA RANK: 231)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas
A 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthander committed to Texas, Southard seemed like a safe bet to make it to campus after showing an athletic frame and a feel to pitch in the 88-91 mph range last summer. His draft stock ticked up this spring after Southard came out throwing harder, however, and he’s been up to 95 mph this spring. Southard has a strong, compact physical frame which makes it hard to project much more physically, but he has plenty of arm strength and feel to spin a curveball and slider.
26. Luke Little, LHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC (BA RANK: 237)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-8 • Wt: 225 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: South Carolina
Little is a 6-foot-8, 225-pound lefthander who has excellent arm strength. He can dial his fastball up to 96 mph and shows the aptitude to spin the ball. His control is poor, walking 36 batters in 35 innings pitched this spring. While he might not know where the ball is going, he still racks up strikeouts, whiffing 69 batters in his 35.1 innings—good for a strikeout rate that was best on the team, which includes likely first round pick Jackson Rutledge. Considering his physicality and arm strength, Little profiles as a lefty out of the bullpen if he can improve his poor mechanics and control. Little is committed to South Carolina.
27. Andre Duplantier, RHP/3B, Summer Creek HS, Houston (BA RANK: 241)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas
A cousin of D-backs righthander Jon Duplantier, Andre Duplantier has one of the better curveballs in the prep class. It’s a big-breaking 74-79 mph downer curve that he shows an advance feel for locating. His 88-91 mph fastball is also promising because he had advanced command of it for his age, working down in the zone. Duplantier’s curve posts impressive TrackMan numbers, but most evaluators expect he’ll make it to Texas and be a key member of the Longhorns’ rotation.
28. Armani Sanchez, SS, Reagan HS, San Antonio (BA RANK: 249)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 170 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Oklahoma
Sanchez is the second-highest profile shortstop in Oklahoma’s recruiting class. But unlike Bobby Witt Jr., Sanchez has a pretty good chance to make it onto campus. He’s a twitchy shortstop with soft hands, a quick first step and good footwork at shortstop. His fringe-average arm does need to get stronger, but that could be said about most everything with Sanchez. While he is a fluid athlete, he needs to get bigger and stronger. That is especially noticeable at the plate, where his lack of power limits what he can do as a hitter. He has a level swing and quick hands, but he has yet to figure out how to get his legs into his swing.
29. Chandler Freeman, 3B, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS (BA RANK: 256)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 190 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Dallas Baptist
A 6-foot, 190-pound corner infielder, Freeman attends the same high school as Bobby Witt Jr. and scouts have come away impressed with Freeman’s feel for hitting. A righthanded-hitting third baseman who might have to move to first base in the future, Freeman has a hit-over-power profile now, although he showed some pop during last summer’s showcase circuit. Scouts believe he’ll grow into more power as he continues to develop, as he has wide shoulders and current strength in his upper half. His swing is geared toward fly balls at the moment, with a steep, uphill finish that could suit him better in the future. Freeman has a solid arm and has reached the low 90s on the mound, but hitting will be his future at the next level. A Dallas Baptist commit, Freeman’s current profile might be tough to buy out right now, but he has plenty of offensive upside.
30. Austin Plante, OF, Lake Travis HS, Austin (BA RANK: 266)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 214 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Texas Christian
There were countless scouts at most of Plante’s games, although it sure helps when you have likely first-round pick Brett Baty and righthander Jimmy Lewis—one of the top high school pitchers in the class—on the same team. Plante’s standout tool is plus power potential thanks to strength and a leveraged swing. An average runner, Plante has a mature, strong and physical body already. The Texas Christian signee fits the profile of a corner outfielder.
31. Caleb Kilian, RHP, Texas Tech (BA RANK: 281)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 180 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Orioles ’18 (20)
Kilian was a 20th round pick of the Orioles in 2018 as a draft-eligible sophomore after a strong season where he earned a spot in an injury-plagued Texas Tech rotation by necessity and quickly proved he belonged. A year later, he’s much of the same player. He is a sum-of-the-parts pitcher with solid but unspectacular stuff that works because of location and feel. His low-90s fastball, curveball and changeup are all average pitches, with the curveball playing up a tick because of his ability to locate it. Kilian was 8-3, 3.89 with 7.7 strikeouts per nine and 2.0 walks per nine.
32. Nate Rombach, C, Mansfield (Texas) Legacy HS (BA RANK: 284)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 215 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas Tech
Baseball is steeped in Rombach’s family. His grandfather Bob Rombach had a 39-year high school baseball coaching career, helping develop multiple major leaguers. His father Deron Rombach is a national crosschecker for the Braves. Nate has a very heady, focused approach to the game, which impresses scouts. He is a big catcher (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) who is going to have to work hard to stay behind the plate. He has to stay on top of his flexibility to be able to properly receive low pitches and to hold up over a long season. He has an above-average arm. There are plenty of scouts willing to give him that shot because they are confident in his makeup. Rombach has plus power potential with a pull-heavy approach and generates plenty of contact. His bat is good enough that he could potentially slide to a corner-infield spot if he can’t stay behind the plate. He’s signed with Texas Tech.
33. Bodi Rascon, LHP, Decatur (Texas) HS (BA RANK: 292)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-5 • Wt: 200 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Oklahoma State
At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Rascon is a lefthander whose best days on the mound are still ahead of him. He doesn’t have the present velocity teams really look for, but there’s reason to believe that his 87-90 mph fastball that touches 92 will add 3-4 mph more velocity over the next few years. With a low three-quarter arm slot, Rascon gives lefthanded hitters a tough look, and he’s started to more consistently locate a slurvy slider. A team drafting Rascon right now may have to view him as a two-year Rookie-ball player, as it will take time for his body to mature and his velocity to pick up. He’s committed to Oklahoma State.
34. Connor Phillips, RHP, Magnolia (Texas) West HS (BA RANK: 300)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 180 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Louisiana State
A Louisiana State signee, Phillips has helped lead Magnolia (Texas) West High to its first-ever regional 5A final. He’s shown a big fastball at times, as he can brush 95 mph and sit 92-93 on a good day, but he has been prone to over-throwing to the radar gun as well this spring. That shouldn’t be a long-term issue as he’s shown himself to be a consistent strike thrower in the past. His slurvy breaking ball is regularly below-average at this point, but he will flash an above-average breaker enough for scouts to see the promise in the pitch and it has become more consistent this spring. Phillips has long impressed scouts and coaches with his intense, bulldog-like personality on the mound.
35. Hayden Wesneski, RHP, Sam Houston State (BA RANK: 302)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 215 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Rays ’16 (33)
Wesneski has been a stalwart for Sam Houston State for three seasons. He went an impressive 10-2, 3.93 as a freshman, but he realized he needed to continue to improve. His body and his stuff have improved and it paid off this year in a 8-3, 3.32 season that saw him strikeout 9.4 batters per nine innings. He now touches 94-95 mph although he generally sits 91-93. He’s continued to refine his average slider and has some feel for a fringe-average changeup. As a lower-slot righthander with average stuff, there’s some thought that Wesneski will respond well to an eventual move to the bullpen, where he could get to the upper registers of his velocity range more often. With a fastball that has plenty of movement and a solid slider, he has the makings of a back-end starter or solid reliever.
36. John McMillon, RHP, Texas Tech (BA RANK: 311)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 235 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Rays ’16 (21)
A top two-way prospect out of Jasper, Texas with power, a power arm and plenty of athleticism, McMillon’s college career hasn’t gone completely to plan, but there are still plenty of reasons to believe in his excellent right arm. The Red Raiders moved McMillon into their rotation as a sophomore, but he moved back to the bullpen in 2019. He had a rough start to the season as his velocity was down significantly and he had real trouble throwing strikes. A month into the season, McMillon had eight walks and two hit batters but only three strikeouts in 6.2 innings. As the weather warmed up, however, McMillon’s fastball and his control began to return. By the end of the regular season, McMillon carved up Texas Christian with an upper-90s fastball dotting the upper corners of the strike zone and a slider he could bury in the dirt. He did tire after three innings and 55-plus pitches, but it was a reminder of why it’s pretty easy to dream on him becoming an impressive power reliever in pro ball. McMillon also has well above-average bat speed and can put on jaw-dropping power displays in batting practice, although he’s gotten to hit very little in college or on the summer circuit.
37. Blair Henley, RHP, Texas (BA RANK: 336)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 175 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Yankees ’16 (22)
Henley has been a productive pitcher in three years at Texas, but scouts are lukewarm in part because his stuff hasn’t really gotten better since he was in high school. He had a dominant senior year at Fort Worth’s Arlington Heights High, throwing back-to-back-to-back no-hitters at one point. A 22nd-round pick of the Yankees in 2016, Henley was a well-rounded righthander out of high school with an 88-92 mph fastball. Three years later, he’s a well-rounded righthander with an 88-92 mph fastball. He has a rock-and-fire delivery and an over-the-top release point. He’s a solid strike-thrower with a fringy fastball. His plus 76-78 mph curveball is his best attribute. It’s a high-spin rate pitch that he’s shown an ability to locate. He has a fringe-average changeup.
38. Mason Cole, RHP, Texas A&M (BA RANK: 345)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-6 • Wt: 190 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
Cole could really be something, but he’s had enough injuries so far that it’s hard to say for sure what that something could be. His elbow blew out as soon after he arrived at Texas A&M. He barely got back on the mound for his redshirt freshman season in 2018. This year, as a redshirt sophomore, he showed a 92-95 mph fastball and even touched 98 mph during the fall. Between that and the splitter he developed, he has the makings of being a dominating reliever. He threw just eight innings this spring before being shut down with a sore shoulder. He’s completed just 17.2 innings in three years at Texas A&M, although he did throw an additional 35 innings in the Northwoods League last summer. His control needs to improve. Cole has excellent fast-twitch athleticism for a 6-foot-6 pitcher, but a team drafting him now is making a big bet on future potential.
39. Cody Bradford, LHP, Baylor (BA RANK: 355)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 195 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
After a nondescript freshman season, Bradford was the Big 12 pitcher of the year in 2018, when he went 7-6, 2.51. He earned a spot with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team last summer and seemed on pace to be a reliable Day 2 pick thanks to his track record and strike-throwing ability. But Bradford made only three starts in 2019 before he was shut down with thoracic outlet syndrome. Pre-injury, Bradford sat 88-91 mph with a loose arm and an easy delivery that could add a tick more velocity. His 74-80 mph curveball is a sweepy, fringe-average pitch, and his changeup is below average. There’s probably not enough stuff for a team to take the risk on Bradford until he shows he’s healthy, but he was a potential sixth- to 10th-round pick before the injury so he could still entice a team after the 10th round.
40. Evan Vanek, RHP, Heritage HS, Frisco, Texas (BA RANK: 356)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 165 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas A&M
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Vanek gained a lot of attention when he impressed at Perfect Game’s Jupiter showcase in 2018, flinging 92-94 mph fastballs from a low slot that makes him a pitcher no righthanded batter wants to face. Vanek has excellent arm strength, but most scouts say they think he’ll make it to Texas A&M because his command and his secondary offerings haven’t caught up to his fastball yet.
41. Christian Ruebeck, RHP, Denison (Texas) HS (BA RANK: 374)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 170 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Oklahoma
Teams are more willing to take a chance on a 6-foot righthanded pitcher nowadays than they were 20 years ago. That’s good news for pitchers like Ruebeck. He has plenty of arm strength already as he can touch 94 mph and sits 89-93 with an average fastball. He’s an excellent athlete who displays that athleticism as a shortstop when he’s not pitching. There’s some future projection left with Ruebeck and he has a fringy slurvy curveball and developing changup as well. Ruebeck is signed with Oklahoma.
42. Caleb Freeman, RHP, Texas Tech (BA RANK: 376)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
A glance at Freeman’s statistics would seem to preclude any idea of him being drafted. Freeman was expected to be Texas Tech’s closer thanks to a 94-98 mph fastball, but he’s much more of a thrower than a pitcher and his velocity dipped to 92 mph at times. Most importantly, he can’t find the strike zone. Opponents hit .393 against Freeman, as he went 2-0, 6.75 with 12 walks and 12 strikeouts in 14.2 innings this spring. Freeman shows flashes of having a plus breaking ball to go with his sometimes plus fastball, but his 20-grade control and command keeps him from taking advantage of his high-end stuff.
43. Dane Acker, RHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC (BA RANK: 389)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Oklahoma
After a solid freshman season at Rice, Acker transferred to San Jacinto (Texas) JC and showed that he has durability and maintainable stuff over a solid season in San Jac’s rotation. He went 10-0, 2.36 with 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Acker carries his 92-94 mph deep into games while showing excellent ability to sink his two-seamer with above-average command for his age. He will flash a slider that could be an average pitch and shows some feel for a changeup, but it’s his ability to locate his fastball to all four corners of the strike zone—he elevates a four-seamer as well—that should get him drafted.
44. Kadon Morton, OF/RHP, Seguin (Texas) HS (BA RANK: 410)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 190 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Oklahoma
Morton was once an intriguing quarterback prospect before he decided to focus on baseball. Morton probably has more pro potential on the mound, where he can run his average fastball from 90-92 mph. He has potential to have a plus fastball one day as his 6-foot-2, 190-pound athletic frame fills out. He has shown some feel for spinning a curveball as well and he has an intelligent approach on the mound. While he’s more promising as a pitcher, he also has potential as a hitter. He has power potential with long arms and long legs that help him leverage his swing. Morton has signed with Oklahoma.
45. Kyte McDonald, OF, Antonian Prep HS, San Antonio (BA RANK: 416)
Source: HS • Ht: 5-10 • Wt: 180 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Mississippi State
A Mississippi State signee, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound McDonald moved from shortstop to center field and quickly showed that his plus-plus speed is best used roaming the expanses of center field. McDonald has above-average bat speed and a clean swing that gives him offensive potential to go with his defensive chops. He’s an excellent athlete whose best days may be ahead of him.
46. Logan Britt, OF, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS (BA RANK: 417)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-5 • Wt: 200 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas A&M
Britt transferred to Colleyville (Texas) Heritage High for his senior year, joining Bobby Witt Jr., Mason Greer and Chandler Freeman on a loaded club. Britt has the best body of all of them, as he has a prototypical corner outfielder’s frame. He was a promising quarterback before he focused on baseball. Britt has plus power potential and is an above-average runner for now, although he’ll likely slow down as he gets older thanks to his size. His plus-plus arm is one of the best in the class from the outfield. Britt is an excellent athlete, but scouts have concerns about his hit tool, which may ensure he gets to Texas A&M.
47. Trent Brown, SS, Angelina (Texas) JC (BA RANK: 439)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 180 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Oklahoma
Shoulder surgery forced Brown to redshirt in his first year at Angelina (Texas) JC, but he bounced back nicely as a redshirt freshman. He hit .305/.400/.501, but Brown’s athletic defense stands out the most. He’s a an above-average glove at shortstop and is signed with Oklahoma.
48. Darell Hernaiz, SS, Americas HS, El Paso, Texas (BA RANK: 440)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 180 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas Tech
An athletic, 6-foot-1, 180-pound shortstop committed to Texas Tech, Harnaiz has shown some solid defensive actions, but his arm strength is currently better suited for second base. He has some bat speed at the plate, but is currently a light bat. There’s not much polish currently in Hernaiz’s game, but teams like his overall athleticism.
49. Trei Cruz, SS, Rice (BA RANK: 445)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 175 • B-T: B-R • Commitment/Drafted: Astros ’17 (35)
Cruz is the son of Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of Jose Cruz Sr. He has a chance to become a third generation pro baseball player as a switch-hitting shortstop with the patience to draw walks, although he also strikes out a lot. He has average power potential as well. A second baseman as a freshman, he’s moved over to shortstop for Rice as a sophomore, but he’ll likely slide back over to second in pro ball.
50. Mitchell Parker, LHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC (BA RANK: 484)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 195 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Cubs ’18 (28)
Parker was a 27th-round pick of the Cubs last year. He has a chance to go better in this year’s draft after an excellent season as a starter at San Jacinto (Texas) JC. Parker struck out 15.5 batters per nine innings while posting a 1.54 ERA. He sits 89-93 mph and has improved his splitter and curveball this year. He has always shown the ability to spin a breaking ball, but he now locates it better. Parker’s delivery does raise some concerns. He has a long arm action with a plunge, leading to control issues (6.3 walks per nine).
51. Jack Conlon, RHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC (BA RANK: 490)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 219 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Orioles ’17 (4)
Conlon has had a litany of adversity to deal with over the last few years. Coming out of high school, he agreed to a deal with the Orioles as a fourth-round pick, but the Orioles found something in Conlon’s medical report they didn’t like. He was then declared a free agent and came close to signing with the Giants before they also found something in his medical exam. He instead headed to Texas A&M, where he barely pitched as a freshman thanks in part to decreased velocity. He showed a better (91-93 mph) fastball in the Cape Cod League last summer before transferring to San Jacinto (Texas) JC. But after arriving at San Jac, Conlon missed all of fall ball with an illness. He came out this spring trying to regain the weight and strength he lost over the fall. His stuff was below expectations for much of the season. He went 1-2, 6.87 with 20 walks in 18 innings to go with 21 strikeouts. At the very end of the year, his fastball once again touched 95-96 and his slider also improved thanks to better arm speed. It will take a team that liked what they saw from him late to keep him from getting to Rice next year.
52. Bryant Salgado, RHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC (BA RANK: 497)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 196 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
Salgado was a revelation as a compact, 6-foot-1, 196-pound righthander working out of the Gators bullpen. He can sit 93-95 mph with his fastball and spins a very promising slider that helped him strikeout 46 batters in 29.1 innings. Salgado’s fastball can flatten out, which explains why he gave up 32 hits, but he has two promising pitches and some feel to pitch.
53. Garrett Van Zijll, LHP, Alvin (Texas) JC (BA RANK: 498)
Source: JC • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 195 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Texas Tech
Van Zijll is very old for a junior college player (he’s 22), but his stuff stands out enough that he could very well be drafted. He sits 92-93 mph from the left side and shows feel for spinning a breaking ball as well. Van Zijll went 6-3, 2.55 with 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings as he finished sixth in NJCAA Division I with 122 whiffs. Van Zijll is committed to Texas Tech
54. Camryn Williams, SS, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
Source: JC • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 190 • B-T: B-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
Williams is a switch-hitting shortstop who will likely slide to second or third base in pro ball. Williams faces some defensive questions–he may end up as an outfielder one day–but he has the power to potentially play anywhere. Williams has plus power potential and has hit some very long home runs for San Jacinto (Texas) JC.
55. Luke Bandy, OF, Dallas Baptist
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 180 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Royals ’16 (32)
56. Charles King, RHP, Texas Christian
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-5 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
57. Jake Eissler, RHP, Texas Christian
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
58. Herbert Iser, C, Dallas Baptist
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 210 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Orioles ’18 (24)
59. Jordan Cannon, C, Sam Houston State
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 215 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
60. Wade Elliott, 3B, Grayson County (Texas) JC
Source: JC • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 210 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Missouri
61. Jake Guenther, 1B, Texas Christian
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 230 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
62. Alex Isola, C, Texas Christian
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 215 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
63. Luis Trevino, C, Abilene Christian
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 200 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
64. M.D. Johnson, RHP, Dallas Baptist
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-6 • Wt: 185 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
65. Karen Patel, RHP, Texas-San Antonio
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 215 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
66. Josh Watson, OF, Texas Christian
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 215 • B-T: B-R • Commitment/Drafted: Brewers ’18 (35)
67. Ryan Randel, RHP, Houston
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-7 • Wt: 230 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
68. Xavier Lovett, OF, Westfield HS, Houston
Source: HS • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 165 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Mississippi State
69. Ray Gaither, RHP, Dallas Baptist
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 220 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
70. Jacob Hasty, LHP, Keller (Texas) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 210 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Louisiana State
71. Luis Quinones, RHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
Source: JC • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
72. Will Swope, RHP, The Woodlands (Texas) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas
73. Bo Willis, C, Magnolia (Texas) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 200 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas Tech
74. Christopher Benavides, RHP, Klein Collins HS, Spring, Texas
Source: HS • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 165 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: –
75. Cole Haring, OF, Baylor
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-10 • Wt: 185 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Orioles ’17 (37)
76. Brandon Lewis, LHP, Texas State
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 190 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
77. Luke Almendarez, SS, Round Rock (Texas) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 170 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: –
78. Grant Miller, LHP, McLennan (Texas) JC
Source: JC • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 215 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Texas Christian
80. Trevor Werner, 3B, Klein (Texas) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas A&M
81. Jared Janczak, RHP, Texas Christian
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 210 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Angels ’18 (32)
82. Joe Davis, 1B, Houston
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 230 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Rays ’15 (16th)
83. Augie Isaacson, OF, Dallas Baptist
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 185 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
84. Kyle Hill, RHP, Baylor
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
85. Bryce Ball, 1B, Dallas Baptist
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-6 • Wt: 235 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
86. Nick Mikolajchak, RHP, Sam Houston State
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 215 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
87. Jarod Bayless, RHP, Dallas Baptist
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 230 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
88. Hunter Hearn, 1B/OF, Sam Houston State
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 205 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
89. Jordan Martinson, LHP, Dallas Baptist
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 210 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
90. Connor Aube, OF, Texas-Arlington
Source: 4YR • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
91. Josh Minjarez, SS, Texas-Arlington
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
92. Alex DeLeon, RHP, McLennan (Texas) JC
Source: JC • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
93. Brenden Dixon, 2B/3B, Argyle (Texas) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 160 • B-T: R-L • Commitment/Drafted: Texas
94. Jalen Battles, SS, McLennan (Texas) JC
Source: JC • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
95. Duke Ellis, OF, Texas
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 170 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Padres ’17 (20)
96. Garrett Gayle, RHP, Rice
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 208 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
97. Logan Kohler, 3B/2B, Little Elm (Texas) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 180 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Oklahoma
98. Mason Greer, 2B/3B, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 185 • B-T: B-R • Commitment/Drafted: Auburn
99. Peyton Chatagnier, SS, Cy-Fair HS, Cypress, Texas
Source: HS • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 165 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Mississippi
100. Peyton Powell, C, Robinson (Texas) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 190 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas
101. Brandon Webb, OF/2B, Grayson County (Texas) JC
Source: JC • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 195 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted
Comments are closed.