Brent Rooker

After being lightly recruited out of high school and taking a redshirt his first year at Mississippi State, Rooker has turned into the most dangerous hitter in college baseball this spring as a redshirt junior. By mid-May, he led the Southeastern Conference in nine statistical categories (including all three triple crown stats) and was three stolen bases shy of becoming college baseball's first 20-20 player since Andrew Benintendi. Rooker was an all-SEC pick in 2016 and was drafted in the 38th round by the Twins, but has grown as a hitter in the last year. The righthanded hitter has reigned in his free-swinging tendencies, cutting his strikeout rate from 20.9 percent of his plate appearances to 17.4 percent. He has also gotten stronger, allowing him to drive the ball with more authority. Those improvements have turned him into a solid hitter with plus power. Rooker has primarily played first base this spring out of Mississippi State's necessity. He has become a capable defender at first, and also has the speed and athleticism to allow him to handle left field, though his throwing arm limits him to left. Rooker turns 22 in November. His age and lack of a premium defensive position will weigh his draft stock down. He earns praise for his work ethic, makeup and leadership.