Connor Jones

Jones was a potential first-round talent out of high school--No. 34 in the 2013 BA 500--but the Chesapeake, Va., product fell to the 21st round after alerting teams he intended to honor his commitment to Virginia. That decision has paid dividends. As a sophomore, Jones was the anchor of a national championship-winning pitching staff, and as a junior, Jones has established himself as one of--if not the--safest college righthander on the board. Athletic with a clean delivery, which includes Virginia's patented squat, Jones commands a heavy 90-92 mph sinker low in the zone and can reach back for 95-96 mph with his four-seamer. His low-to-mid 80s slider has flashed plus since high school. In lieu of a changeup, Jones tinkered with a splitter grip near the end of his freshman season, and the pitch has since become a key part of his arsenal, operating in the high 80s. Though relatively low-risk, Jones' ceiling is likely that of a No. 3 starter, although some scouts view him as more of a No. 4 or 5.