20)
| Player: Braden Shewmake | Position(s): SS | |||
| School (ST): Texas A&M | Grade: Junior | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 190 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: Shewmake is a really interesting prospect as he does not look the part of a first rounder, but he produces like one. His bat path is long and he finds himself out on his front foot too often, but with enough balance to still spray the ball all over the field. He is long and lean, so some think power will come and a move to third will come with it, while others feel he can stick at short and still develop average power. I tend to lean more toward the latter, thinking he can be an average to better shortstop, hit for a solid average and develop into a 15 HR type guy. | ||||
19)
| Player: Will Holland | Position(s): SS | |||
| School (ST): Auburn | Grade: Junior | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 181 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: Another in a very deep college shortstop class, Holland might be the best defender in the bunch. He has true plus speed in the field and on the bases as well as enough arm to make the throw from anywhere. When you see his frame and his speed, you expect him to be a gap-to-gap guy, but he is actually more of a power hitter than a contact hitter. He has a very deep stance and some stiffness in his hips, but he manages to stay on top of the ball and generates his power from some weight shift in his swing. | ||||
18)
| Player: Matthew Allan | Position(s): RHP | |||
| School (ST): Seminole (FL) | Grade: High School | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 210 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: Allan possesses one of the better fastballs of any high schooler in this year’s class, but his command has shown better on his off-speed stuff than the fastball. He has a breaking ball that many consider to be plus and has shown signs of a change that could develop into at least average. He has the body and arm slot to stick as a workhorse starter but could benefit from some cleaned up mechanics. | ||||
17)
| Player: Spencer Jones | Position(s): 1B/LHP | |||
| School (ST): La Costa Canyon (CA) | Grade: High School | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left | Height: 6’7” | Weight: 205 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: The lone true two-way prospect in this year’s class, Jones has scouts split on which way to play him. He hasn’t been pitching all that long, but the 6’7” lefty with a fastball up to 93 and a solid curve has scouts drooling over his upside. In the meantime, his long frame helps make him one of the better defensive first basemen in the class and has plenty of power. He also has the athleticism to play either corner outfield spot and would be one of the best base runners of any first base prospect in the class. Ultimately, I see him settling in as a pitcher, but don’t be surprised if he gets to do both in the complex leagues and beyond. | ||||
16)
| Player: Jerrion Ealy | Position(s): OF | |||
| School (ST): Jackson Prep (MS) | Grade: High School | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 192 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: A true rarity, Ealy was an All-American running back in football but is a rather polished baseball player as well. He is a no doubt future center fielder with as much speed as anyone in this draft class to go with an arm that could be graded plus. He is compact but strong, leading many to believe 20-25 home runs are in his future, especially since he has elite bat speed and does not swing and miss often. | ||||
15)
| Player: Zack Thompson | Position(s): LHP | |||
| School (ST): Kentucky | Grade: Junior | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 225 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: A lefty with a four-pitch mix and command makes Thompson easy to project as a mid-rotation starter in the future. He was shut down last season with an elbow injury, but didn’t have surgery, so there will be questions about his durability coming into the Spring. His fastball sits in the low-90s, while he has both a slider and curve that show solid shape and spin. His change is his fourth best pitch as he tips it some with his drive leg dragging just a bit longer than on his other pitches, but it has good late movement. Thompson is one of the few with real potential to go 1-1, but the health remains the biggest question. | ||||
14)
| Player: Daniel Espino | Position(s): RHP | |||
| School (ST): George Premier Academy (GA) | Grade: High School | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 200 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: With a fastball that sits in the high 90s and has touched triple digits, there is little doubt Espino has the best fastball of any prep pitcher this year. Add to that a curve that is already a plus offering and a slider that some feel will be better than the curve and you have the makings of a really impressive pitcher. The arm action is long and can be picked up pretty early, so the fastball won’t play like you expect from a triple digit heater as it is rather flat. Based on the arm action, I also have some concern over his shoulder long term, which is really the only reason he falls outside my top 10. | ||||
13)
| Player: Brennan Malone | Position(s): RHP | |||
| School (ST): IMG Academy (FL) | Grade: High School | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 203 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: Another pitcher scouts think may reach triple digits in the future, Malone is more a mid-90s guy currently. He has a very athletic and repeatable delivery with a 3/4 slot allows some run and downward plane. He has flashed a breaking ball that has the makings of a plus offering, although it can be inconsistent. His change is well behind his other pitches, but he has shown the ability to spot it, which is more than you can say about most prep arms. | ||||
12)
| Player: Michael Busch | Position(s): 1B | |||
| School (ST): North Carolina | Grade: Junior | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right | Height: 6’ | Weight: 207 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: I may be higher than most on Busch, but he is a rare combination of power and hit. He has a very good eye at the plate that allows him to flirt with a 1.000 OPS last season. He has the power to be a quality first baseman, but I am not sure he will be stuck there. He is not the most athletic player, nor does he have the best arm, but he has soft enough hands and good enough feet he may be able to move around the diamond a little bit, not unlike a Travis Shaw. | ||||
11)
| Player: Bryson Stott | Position(s): SS | |||
| School (ST): UNLV | Grade: Junior | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 195 lbs. | |
| Quick Report: Stott does not come into the season with a ton of fanfare as it is tough to find UNLV games, but he could be a Darkhorse to go 1-1. He has walked more than he has struck out through two collegiate seasons, but he has not shown much power, which is his one below average tool. He can cover a ton of ground at short thanks to a combination of athleticism and instincts. His arm is more than enough to make the throws from deep in the hole. He will never be a superstar, but he is the type of player a franchise can truly build around. | ||||
THREE QUARTER SLOT 
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