I kick off my re-launch of Three Quarter Slot with my top 100 draft prospects. I will release them 10 at a time, on each weekday for the next two weeks. There will be plenty of changes to the list and more information added as we get closer to the draft. This is based on what I have seen with my own eyes and what I have heard/read from those in the industry I trust.

100)

Player: Jackson Rutledge			Position(s):  RHP
School (ST):  San Jacinto JC			Grade:  JuCo
Bats:  Right	Throws:  Right	Height:  6’8”		Weight: 258 lbs.
Quick Report: A freshman at Arkansas last season, Rutledge transferred to San Jacinto and has committed to the University of Kentucky should he play college in 2020. Terrible short arm delivery that will lead to genuine durability concerns, but his big fastball could make him a dominant reliever at the next level.

 

99)

Player: Cam Shepherd			Position(s):  SS
School (ST): Georgia			Grade: Junior
Bats: Right	Throws: Right	Height: 6’1”		Weight: 180 lbs.
Quick Report: A freshman All-American in 2017 but his numbers weren’t so impressive his sophomore season. There is some question as to whether he sticks at short or has to move to second, but he can play solid defense in either spot. He is showing an improved eye at the plate that will hopefully turn into production this season.

 

98)

Player: Christian Cairo			Position(s): SS
School (ST): Calvary Christian (FL)			Grade: High School
Bats: Right	Throws: Right	Height: 5’9”		Weight: 176 lbs.
Quick Report: His size may scream second baseman, but his play suggests he has a shot to stick at short. Either way, he has a smooth inside-out swing that allows him to drive the ball to all fields and decent pop for his size. He is committed to LSU, but he has been on the showcase tour for some time and it is unlikely he slips too far to sign.

 

97)

Player: Trey Faltine			Position(s): Utility/RHP
School (ST): Fort Bent Travis (TX)			Grade: High School
Bats: Right	Throws: Right	Height:  6’1”		Weight: 185 lbs.
Quick Report: A true Wild Card, Faltine flirts with the 90s with his fastball and has an advanced curve but can also play any of the seven positions behind the pitcher. Due to the fact he is so versatile, he doesn’t have a true position so a team would need to settle on that and get him polished. He has a good, quick bat that produces a lot of line drives. He is one of the most intriguing players in the draft.

 

96)

Player: Brady McConnell			Position(s): SS
School (ST): Florida			Grade: Sophomore
Bats: Right	Throws: Right	Height:  6’3”		Weight: 185 lbs.
Quick Report: Arguably the best position player of the 2017 High School class to make it to a four-year school, McConnell looks to put his shaky and injury influenced freshman year behind him going into the season as a draft eligible sophomore. He can get out on his front foot too far leading to pop ups but, when he stays behind the ball, he has shown surprising power. The hips in the field suggest a future move to third may be in the cards, but he should be given the opportunity to try and stick at short.

 

95)

Player: Cameron Cannon			Position(s): 3B/2B
School (ST): Arizona			Grade: Junior
Bats: Right	Throws: Right	Height: 5’11”		Weight: 175 lbs.
Quick Report: A player I have seen a lot of since his senior year of high school, the question then and still now is what position will he play? I think his best position is third although he played mostly short in high school and second at Arizona. He is a gaps hitter that can put up a solid average but won’t wow anybody on the bases. His future is most likely as a utility player, but the upside of the doubles power turning into home run power makes him a worthy high selection.

 

94)

Player: Josh Smith			Position(s): SS
School (ST): LSU			Grade: Junior
Bats: Left	Throws: Right	Height:  5’10”		Weight: 175 lbs.
Quick Report: Few need a healthy season as much as Josh Smith. He played just six games his sophomore season after starting at third on a runner-up club at the CWS his freshman year. He has seen time at third and short, but he should be able to stick at short so long as his body allows it. Smith won’t make many highlight plays, but he will make all the plays needed to hold down the position. He has a smart approach and taps into some power without it impacting his contact rate.

 

93)

Player: Tyler Nesbitt			Position(s): RHP
School (ST): LaBelle (FL)			Grade: High School
Bats: Right	Throws: Right	Height: 6’3”		Weight: 185 lbs.
Quick Report: Oh what a strong showcase can do for a player. His outing at the PG WWBA World Championship finally demonstrated to scouts what he can do when it all comes together. He has a solid delivery with good extension that allows his low-90s fastball to play up, while he has an inconsistent slider that can flash as plus when it is at it’s best.

 

92)

Player: Glenallen Hill Jr.			Position(s): OF
School (ST): Santa Cruz (CA)			Grade: High School
Bats: Switch	Throws: Right	Height: 5’9”		Weight: 169 lbs.
Quick Report: Son of long-time big leaguer Glenallen Hill, the Jr. is a switch hitter with a quick bat from both sides of the plate. He is a very instinctive ballplayer, although he hasn’t been a full-time outfielder yet despite that being his most likely spot moving forward. He does suffer from the tendency to pull his head at the plate and over-swinging at times, which will result in a higher strikeout rate than you want from a guy who needs to be a table setter rather than a slugger.

 

91)

Player: Blake Sabol			Position(s): C/OF
School (ST): USC			Grade: Junior
Bats: Left	Throws: Right	Height: 6’4”		Weight: 205 lbs.
Quick Report: Sabol had an excellent summer in the Cape and has the bat to carry him, but his defensive future is a real question. He is far from a polished receiver behind the plate and doesn’t have the arm to make up for his less than ideal footwork. He will most likely wind up in left field, although he is incredibly raw there and needs experience. Regardless, the power bat from the left side will allow him to make up for the defensive concerns and he has a body than can hold a lot more strength.

• MLB Draft