2021 BA 400 Draft Rankings
Baseball America’s MLB Draft Prospects rankings are compiled in consultation with scouts and evaluators from major league clubs.
By Carlos Collazo
We’re excited to roll out an updated and expanded draft ranking, pushing our list to the top 400 players in the class for the first time.
This means the BA 500 is right around the corner. In a typical year, that would mean the draft is right around the corner as well. However, 2021 is far from typical, and a July 13 draft date means players and teams will have to navigate uncharted territory in the weeks leading up to the draft—especially for those players whose seasons conclude early enough to provide a large dead period.
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Will players opt to participate in recently developed summer leagues? And if so, what caliber of talent will teams expect to see in places like the MLB Draft League or the Appalachian League? The former kicks off on May 24 and the latter gets going on June 3. Additionally, the first ever MLB Draft Combine is scheduled to be held from June 20-28. How valuable will that be for players and teams alike?
Will teams be aggressive in bringing in priority targets for workouts, batting practices or bullpen sessions at their home stadiums? How will perceived day one talents or first round talents weigh the benefits and risks of those additional evaluation opportunities?
How will teams manage their staffs to handle these new events while also getting started on the 2022 draft class? That process typically starts in June, but a later draft date means a compressed schedule and teams will be forced to either split their attention or miss out on one group or another without adding more staff.
“The truth is we don’t know,” said one upper-level scout when asked about how the new draft schedule impacts clubs’ processes. “We really don’t know.”
That also seems like a reasonable summation of how the industry is stacking up the talent in the class. Beyond the top tier of players, consensus of the talent falls apart rapidly—a result of the shortened 2020 season and handicapped summer months that have thrown a wrench into the typical scouting process.
“We ripped out the middle chapter of a book,” the scout said. “You know the ending, but you don’t have the full story on anyone.”
Baseball America subscribers can see the full list below, with reports on every player listed.
*Note that players currently have preseason, March or May reports. Each player will receive a fully updated report as we get closer to the draft date and the release of the BA 500.
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Updated on: 5/3/2021
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1Last: 2
Jack Leiter
Vanderbilt RHPNotes:Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: Leiter was a clear first-round talent coming out of high school in 2019—ranking No. 21 on the BA 500—but a high asking price and strong Vanderbilt commitment meant he made it to campus. While Leiter only pitched four games and 15.2 innings with the Commodores, he seemed to increase his draft stock in that time by showing his stuff could easily play at the college level. He struck out 22 batters and walked eight, posting a 1.72 ERA. Leiter is an advanced arm with exceptional feel for what he’s doing on the mound, which should be no surprise considering his father is former major league pitcher Al Leiter. The 6 feet, 195-pound righty has an above-average fastball that gets into the mid 90s at its best, and he throws both four- and two-seam variations. On top of that, Leiter has a big, downer curveball with a high spin rate that projects as a plus offering, in addition to a slider and changeup that round out his repertoire.
Commit/Drafted: Yankees '19 (20)
Age At Draft: 21.2Less -
2Last: 3Notes:
Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: The top-ranked Texan in the 2021 class, Lawlar is looking to follow in the footsteps of Bobby Witt Jr. as a five-tool prep shortstop out of the Lone Star State. Some scouts have compared Lawlar to the Royals’s 2019 first-round pick, though his tools aren’t quite as loud despite a chance for above-average grades across the board. Lawlar showed one of the best hit tools at the Perfect Game All-American Classic, has a chance for above-average future power and is also an easy plus runner who has clocked a 6.45 60-yard dash—a 70-grade time. Defensively, Lawlar has a chance to stick at shortstop at the next level. Evaluators like his actions and think he has 55-grade arm strength, though at times he struggles to get in sync with ground balls leading some to question his internal clock. Skeptics believe he’s an athlete-first defender now who will need to refine the details of his defensive game to stick there long term, but considering his hit, power and run tools—there’s plenty to like from the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Vanderbilt commit who likely won’t make it to campus.
Commit/Drafted: Vanderbilt
Age At Draft: 19.0Less -
3Last: 1
Kumar Rocker
Vanderbilt RHPNotes:Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 255 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: In a 2021 college class filled with uncertainty, Rocker is the top prospect of the group thanks to his combination of stuff, physicality and track record. The highest-ranked prep prospect of a loaded 2018 high school pitching class to make it to campus, no one has ever questioned the 6-foot-4, 255-pound righty’s raw stuff. He is regularly in the mid 90s with his fastball and can touch the upper 90s when he wants more, with a power breaking ball and tumbling changeup that both have plus potential. Additionally, Rocker has logged 114.2 innings with Vanderbilt—all in a starting role—and has posted a 3.06 ERA with 11.1 strikeouts per nine and just 2.3 walks per nine. His 11-strikeout game against Michigan in the 2019 College World Series made him one of college baseball’s most prominent names, and he should be one of the first names called in the draft next summer.
Commit/Drafted: Rockies '18 (38)
Age At Draft: 21.6Less -
4 –Last: 4Notes:
Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-R
Preseason Report: Mayer is the next big prospect to come out of a powerhouse Eastlake (Calif.) High program that has produced Adrian Gonzalez, 2020 second-rounder Casey Schmitt (by way of San Diego State) and more recently, first-rounder Keoni Cavaco in 2019. Mayer started getting attention from scouts at Eastlake as a freshman, where he showed a smooth lefthanded stick at the plate and advanced defensive actions up the middle. Mayer is arguably the top defensive shortstop in a class that is deep at the position. He glides around the infield dirt with silky smooth actions and has the hands, footwork and arm strength to stick at the position long term. He always seems to slow the game down, and has no problem throwing from multiple angles with an accurate arm. A 6-foot-3, 185-pound Southern California commit, Mayer also has upside offensively. He has fringe-average power now, but evaluators believe he could tap into above-average power down the line and he controls the zone well with a swing that’s leveraged for fly balls.
Commit/Drafted: Southern California
Age At Draft: 18.6Less -
5Last: 7
Henry Davis
Louisville CNotes:Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: Davis was one of the hardest-throwing catchers in the 2018 draft class as a high schooler, with a 70-grade canon for an arm, but questions about his offensive game allowed him to make it to campus at Louisville. He acquitted himself well as a freshman, hitting .280/.345/.386 with 13 walks and 18 strikeouts and was off to an even better start in 2020. Through 14 games Davis hit as many home runs (three) as he did through 45 games during his freshman season. If scouts continue to feel comfortable with Davis’ bat during the 2021 season he could find himself going on the first day of the draft, as he controls the zone well, brings some pop to the pull-side and has gotten more fluid in his actions at the plate. Defensively, Davis’ arm jumps off the page, and he’s an athletic and efficient thrower, though he struggled with his blocking initially. Davis had seven passed balls in 2019 and six in 2020, though coaches praise his work ethic and believe he’s improved in that area of his game. MLB teams love athletic collegiate catchers with a track record of hitting and as a .303/.381/.463 career hitter with one explosive tool in his arm strength, he’ll get plenty of attention next spring.
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8Less -
6Last: 12Notes:
Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: House entered the summer as the top-ranked high school prospect and did nothing to lose that status. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound shortstop has an exciting combination of high-level track record and a gaudy toolset to go along with it. The offensive tools are the loudest with House. He has terrific bat speed and natural strength, to go along with an advanced approach that allows him to track velocity and offspeed stuff with consistency. Scouts with history on House believe he has the ability to develop into a plus hitter, and his raw power should develop into 70-grade juice as he continues to develop. He’s already a physical and imposing hitter now, with plenty of impact to all fields and plus raw power, but there’s more to be had in the future. Defensively, House has easy plus arm strength—he can reach 96 mph on the mound—that could be an asset on the infield, where he has a good chance to stick. He doesn’t look like a typical pro shortstop, but evaluators have been impressed with his hands, reactions, internal clock and body control. Some believe he would be a better fit at third base, where he has all the tools to turn into an above-average defender. House is committed to Tennessee but is a top-of-the-first round talent and is unlikely to get to campus.
Commit/Drafted: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 18.1Less -
7Last: 6Notes:
Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 175 | B-T: L-R
Preseason Report: Frelick was a standout, three-sport athlete in high school and lettered 12 times in baseball, football and hockey for Lexington (Mass.) High. A dynamic, plus athlete, Frelick plays the game with plenty of energy and has the toolset to impact the game on both sides of the ball. Frelick has a simple bat path geared for line drives up the middle and into the gaps, with most of his power to the pull side. He does get a bit barred at times and has a tendency to use too much shoulder in the swing and roll over on pitches. A plus-plus runner, Frelick has played mostly right field for Boston College but has all of the speed and defensive acumen to be a center fielder at the next level and long term. That speed plays on the bases as well and Frelick stole 18 bags in 21 tries (85.7%) as a freshman, while hitting .367/.447/.513 with more walks (22) than strikeouts (16). While Frelick is listed at just 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, scouts believe he has above-average power in the tank thanks to his twitchy hands and strength. With a chance to be a dynamic top-of-the-order catalyst with plenty of extra-base pop, speed and defensive ability in center, Frelick is a Day one caliber prospect and at the top of a strong Northeast region in 2021.
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2Less -
8Last: 9
Ty Madden
Texas RHPNotes:Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: Madden was a lanky, skinny high school arm who put on a massive amount of strength during his final year with Cypress (Texas) Ranch High. Ranked No. 240 on the BA 500 in the 2018 draft, at his best Madden reached 96 mph with his fastball and showed a hammer slider, but he struggled with consistency and strike throwing. A few years later and Madden has continued to fill out his frame—he is now listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds—and harness his impressive stuff. The Texas righty had a solid freshman campaign in a split starter/reliever role, posting a 3.40 ERA over 42.1 innings with 37 strikeouts (7.9 per nine), but walked 24 batters (5.1 per nine). Through four starts in 2020, Madden seemed to have taken a step forward in the strikes department (just four walks in 25 innings) but he’ll need to show that improvement over a full season. He has two potential plus pitches in a fastball that sits 90-94 mph and can get up to 96 at its peak and a standout changeup. Madden has also continued to flash a hard slider in the mid 80s, but he still needs to find consistency with the breaking ball.
Commit/Drafted: Royals '18 (34)
Age At Draft: 21.4Less -
9Last: 10Notes:
Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-R
Preseason Report: One of the best strike throwers in the country, Hoglund arrived on campus at Mississippi even after the Pirates selected him with the 36th pick of the 2018 draft. A talented high school prospect who ranked No. 84 on the BA 500, Hoglund screamed starter with a projectable frame, easy delivery, solid fastball and command that evaluators at the time thought could be plus. In two seasons with Ole Miss, that’s continued to be the case. Now listed at a strong, 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, Hoglund is one of the better command arms in the class and has walked just 18 batters in 91.1 innings (1.8 per nine) as a full-time starter, while compared to 90 strikeouts (8.9 per nine). Hoglund’s fastball typically sits in the 88-92 mph range, though he has been up to 95-96 at his best and he throws a sharp slider off of his heater, which comes out of his hand with a similar look in the low 80s. The pitch has good bite and the look of an above-average offering. He also throws a low-80s changeup that is his third pitch, but it’s his fastball that he primarily uses to generate whiffs. While the pitch doesn’t have elite velocity just yet, it has some riding life and his overall command allows it to play up. He’s solidly a day one arm who could take a massive jump up boards with an appreciable jump in velocity given his likely-starter profile.
Commit/Drafted: Pirates '18 (36)
Age At Draft: 21.6Less -
10Last: 13Notes:
Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 178 | B-T: L-R
Preseason Report: Watson steadily increased his stock by performing consistently during the summer—including standout performances at USA Baseball’s National Team Championships and East Coast Pro—and is now among the top high school players in a strong North Carolina class. A 5-foot-9, 178-pound shortstop, Watson shows solid raw power for his size with impressive bat speed and aggressive swings to go with an advanced hit tool and approach. Against one of the most electric lefthanders in the class—Alabama’s Maddux Bruns—Watson worked an impressive walk in one at-bat and then followed it up with a hard-hit triple to right-center field in the next. Defensively, Watson has a good shot to stick at shortstop moving forward with good actions, solid arm strength and slick footwork at the position. Speed should be another asset for the North Carolina State commit, as he clocked a 65-grade run time (6.5-6.6 seconds) in the 60-yard dash at East Coast Pro, which will give him enough range up the middle and make him a threat on the base paths. The industry currently sees Watson as a top-two round talent, and he’s one of the reasons the 2021 prep shortstop class is already looking stronger than it did in 2020.
Commit/Drafted: North Carolina State
Age At Draft: 18.2Less -
11Last: 18
Jackson Jobe
Heritage Hall HS, Oklahoma City, Okla. RHPNotes:Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: One of the top two-way prospects in the 2021 class, Jobe may have been thought of as a primary shortstop entering the summer, but teams are enthralled with his athleticism, arm strength and feel for spin after seeing him pitch over the last few months. A 6-foot-2, 185-pound righthander committed to Mississippi, Jobe has shown a solid four-pitch mix with a fastball up to 95, but his slider is the main event. The pitch is among the higher spin rate breaking balls in the class and has gotten into the elite, Carter Stewart 3,000-plus rpm range. The pitch is an easy future plus offering in the 80-84 mph range and has two-plane break with plenty of depth and power when he hits on it. After that, Jobe has a curveball in the upper 70s that’s solidly behind his slider and a low-to-mid-80s changeup that has good fading life down and in to righthanded hitters. Jobe has shown solid control with most of his pitches and works with a simple delivery. He has plenty of arm speed and throws from a three-quarter slot and scouts have praised the crispness of his actions on the mound. MLB clubs love the idea of putting an athlete like Jobe on the mound, so most likely have his pitching upside in front of his position player upside for now, but he’s a real pro prospect as a hitter as well.
Commit/Drafted: Mississippi
Age At Draft: 19.0Less -
12Last: 14
Matt McLain
UCLA SSNotes:Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 170 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: McLain had a loud spring season before the 2018 draft, pushing himself up draft boards enough to be selected by the D-Backs with the 25th overall selection. He was committed strongly to UCLA however, and Arizona wasn’t able to sign the No. 61 prospect in the 2018 class. McLain struggled as a freshman with the Bruins, hitting just .203/.276/.355 in 2019, but he had a strong summer in the Cape and was off to a torrid start with the bat in 2020, where he hit .397/.422/.621. Out of high school, scouts believed McLain had a chance to be a plus hitter and that still is the case, though his strikeout rate is a bit higher than teams would like from a player who has just average power at best. McLain has played a number of positions, including shortstop, second base, third base and center field, but will be looked at as a shortstop by scouts. He’s an instinctual defender who reads the ball off the bat well and has solid arm strength, giving him every chance to stick at the position at the next level. McLain has turned in plus run times out of the box but isn’t a true burner. While he doesn’t have a gaudy tool to point to, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound shortstop does everything on the field at a high level and his well-rounded skill set should have him selected once again in the first round.
Commit/Drafted: D-backs '18 (1)
Age At Draft: 21.9Less -
13Last: 26Notes:
Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 195 | B-T: L-R
Preseason Report: Cowser had a breakout season as a freshman at Sam Houston State in 2019, where he hit .361/.450/.602 with seven home runs and nine stolen bases. Cowser made the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team for his efforts and ranked as the No. 16 prospect on the club as one of the youngest members. Teams might feel more confident with Cowser than many other hitters because of his track record with the bat in college and Team USA, and he brings a nice hitting and power combination from the left side while playing center field. There are some who wonder if he’s a real center fielder at the next level as he fills out a tall, 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame, but he is an above-average runner with good instincts. Cowser controls the zone well and has just an 11.5 strikeout percentage over 328 plate appearances with Sam Houston State in the Southland Conference and scouts have also liked the quality of his plate appearances when he’s faced high-level arms, including 2020 first-rounder LHP Asa Lacy. With a well-rounded game that includes power, speed and an ability to hit all fields while playing a premium position, Cowser is one of the more complete bats at the top of the 2021 draft class.
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3Less -
14Last: 5Notes:
Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 210 | B-T: L-R
Preseason Report: Del Castillo was known as an offensive-first catcher coming out of high school in the 2018 draft class—where he ranked No. 196 on the BA 500—and has only cemented himself as one of the best hitters in the country after two years at Miami. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound backstop has hit .336/.430/.571 over the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Hurricanes, with 14 home runs, 24 doubles and more walks (43) than strikeouts (32). His numbers weren’t quite as gaudy in the Cape Cod League in 2019, where he struck out 32 times to nine walks, but scouts still believe his feel for the barrel with a wood bat is among the best in the country. While Del Castillo’s defensive reputation is mixed at best, he put significant work in on that end this summer, spending time with Royals catcher Salvador Perez to improve his craft. Del Castillo has an accurate throwing arm, but he has tried to improve his arm strength and his overall skill in terms of receiving and blocking. His bat is good enough to play at a number of positions, but if teams believe he is a long-term catcher, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be one of the first bats taken next year.
Commit/Drafted: White Sox '18 (36)
Age At Draft: 21.8Less -
15Last: 16
Jordan Wicks
Kansas State LHPNotes:Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-L
Preseason Report: A solidly built, 6-foot-3, 220-pound lefthander, Wicks is cut from the same competitive cloth that scouts loved to see from Missouri lefthander TJ Sikkema (a supplemental first-rounder in 2019). While Wicks has a fastball that sits mostly in the 89-91 mph range and touches 93-94, he possesses one of the best changeups in the 2021 draft class. The pitch is routinely graded out as a plus-plus offering and he relies on it as any pitcher with a 70-grade secondary would. Wicks also has a slider and a curveball that are fringe-average at best and need more tightening and refinement. Wicks has a clean delivery and above-average control and has walked just 30 batters over 110.2 innings (2.4 per nine) with Kansas State, compared to a solid 9.1 per nine strikeout rate. Wicks also pitched in the Northwoods League this summer, where he posted a 0.45 ERA over four starts and 20 innings, with a 29-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. College lefthanders with performance and strike throwing to back it up go well in the draft, and while Wicks isn’t a flamethrower, you can’t label him as a ‘vanilla stuff’ pitcher considering his standout changeup and the fact that his fastball plays like an invisiball.
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9Less -
16Last: 15
Sam Bachman
Miami (Ohio) RHPNotes:Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 235 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: A big, burly righthander with a solid track record as a starter in his two years with Miami (Ohio), the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Bachman reminds some scouts of RHP Trent Palmer from the 2020 draft, who was taken in the third round by the Blue Jays. Bachman fits in the second-to-fourth-round range at the moment and has a trio of pitches that he’s been effective with. He can run his heavy fastball up to 96 mph at his best and he also has a firm, mid-80s slider that he can manipulate with two strikes to add depth and try to induce more whiffs. After that, Bachman has a tumbling changeup in the lower 80s. Bachman throws with a bit of an unconventional arm action that is inverted in the back, and also has a lower, three-quarter arm slot. Over two years as a full-time starter with Miami (Ohio) in 99.1 innings, Bachman has posted a 3.81 ERA with 106 strikeouts (9.6 per nine) and 45 walks (4.1 per nine).
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8Less -
17Last: 22Notes:
Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 187 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: Ford is one of the top players in the 2021 class, and he’s also among the better athletes of the group. Scouts praise his explosive athleticism and believe that will allow him to stick behind the plate long term, though he has impressive infield actions as well and some think he could also handle center field. Ford has more than enough arm for the position, with at least above-average throwing ability, and is mobile and light on his feet with all the mental and leadership traits that scouts want to see from a catcher. As a hitter, Ford has a solid history of showing feel for the barrel, with above-average bat speed and strength that comes from a well-developed frame and twitchy actions. Some evaluators believe he is more power over hit with a low handset that could help him leverage his swing for long fly balls. Unlike most catchers, Ford is an easy plus runner—he clocked the second-fastest 60-yard time at East Coast Pro at 6.42 seconds—and could move to a number of positions if necessary in the future. The 5-foot-10, 187-pound backstop is committed to catching pipeline Georgia Tech.
Commit/Drafted: Georgia Tech
Age At Draft: 18.4Less -
18Last: 19Notes:
Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 200 | B-T: B-R
Preseason Report: Chandler is one of the more naturally athletic players in the 2021 prep class and is a two-way prospect on the baseball field as well as a high-level quarterback. A three-star pro-style QB according to 247 Sports, Chandler is committed to Clemson for both sports. Despite his focus not being primarily with baseball, scouts have been impressed with how advanced his game is on the baseball field. While he has legitimate two-way talent, his upside might be higher on the mound, where he hops to the rubber and throws an 89-93 mph fastball with a hammer breaking ball that could develop into a 70-grade offering. The pitch is in the mid 70s mostly, with above-average spin rates. He throws with a loose and fluid arm action and because of that and his athleticism, scouts think he’ll be a good strike thrower. As a hitter, Chandler hits from both sides of the plate with solid pop and a quick first step at shortstop and is also an above-average runner. Chandler attends North Oconee (Ga.) High, as did current Vanderbilt righty Kumar Rocker, so most area scouts have solid history with Chandler. Chandler’s future as a football player will certainly affect his signability, but teams are heavily interested in his upside as a pitcher.
Commit/Drafted: Clemson
Age At Draft: 18.8Less -
19Last: 20Notes:
Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 230 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: Painter established himself as the top all-around arm in a deep and dynamic 2021 high school pitching class this summer. While there may be pitchers who reach more impressive high-end velocities, it’s hard to find a high school pitcher who checks as many boxes as Painter—leading many evaluators to compare him to 2020 first-rounder Mick Abel. Abel has a large, still-projectable frame and is listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds and he throws with a tremendously loose and easy three-quarter arm action with little to no effort in the finish. Painter has a complete four-pitch mix, led by a fastball that’s routinely in the mid 90s initially, before settling into the 90-94 mph range. He spins the ball well and throws two distinct breaking balls, including a low-80s slider and a mid-to-upper-70s curveball. He also has shown feel for a low-80s changeup. On top of his four-pitch mix, frame and delivery, Painter also has a long track record of standout strike throwing, projecting for at least above-average control. While the industry has generally steered away from prep righthanders in the first round, a handful still go high and Painter is as close to the ideal version of a prep arm as you could design in 2020. It’s difficult to envision a scenario where he makes it to Florida, as the industry sees him as a no-doubt top of the first round talent.
Commit/Drafted: Florida
Age At Draft: 18.3Less -
20Last: 21Notes:
Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: One of a handful of toolsy Northeast hitters in the 2021 class, Baez has some of the best power projection in the high school class thanks to a powerful swing and a well-developed, muscular 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame. There are scouts who believe Baez has a chance to grow into 70-grade raw power, but at the moment there are some swing-and-miss concerns, though scouts have noted he never truly looks out of control or lost at the plate. There’s a hand drop in his swing that could lead to inconsistencies against velocity up in the zone, but when the Vanderbilt commit does connect the ball explodes off his bat and carries a long way. Baez clocked a solid-average 60-yard time at East Coast Pro, but most scouts believe he will become a fringe-average runner in the future and is best suited to a corner outfield position. His power and arm strength—he’s been up to 97 mph on the mound—would be a major asset in center field if he could stick there, but he’s built more like a corner guy and has the toolset and power to profile nicely as a right fielder.
Commit/Drafted: Vanderbilt
Age At Draft: 18.0Less -
21Last: 11Notes:
Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 230 | B-T: L-R
Preseason Report: One of the biggest risers over the summer, Wood is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound center fielder with massive lefthanded power potential. Wood has athletic bloodlines—his father Kenny played basketball at Richmond and at the pro level and his sister currently plays for Northeastern—and was also a talented basketball player, but he began focusing on baseball exclusively after transferring to IMG Academy. He gained around 20 pounds of muscle prior to the summer and has shown that strength in games, with tantalizing home runs against some of the top pitching in the class. Scouts entered the summer wondering about the swing and miss in his swing but have been impressed with the ease of his operation, his bat speed and his ability to put the barrel on the ball in games for impact. Despite his size, scouts have been impressed with his defense in center field. Wood moves well—he ran a 6.7 60-yard dash at PG National—and shows good instincts reading the ball off the bat, and moves well on the base paths. Given his projectable frame, athleticism, current toolset and summer performance, the Mississippi State commit has put himself solidly into the elite tier of the prep class.
Commit/Drafted: Mississippi State
Age At Draft: 18.8Less -
22Last: 23Notes:
Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 203 | B-T: L-R
Preseason Report: One of the top hitters in a loaded Northeast region, Mack is a 6 feet, 203-pound catcher with exciting tools on both sides of the ball. After not playing any during the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic, Mack seamlessly transitioned to facing the elite arms on the showcase circuit this summer and was a consistent performer at the plate. A lefthanded hitter with good bat speed and a slight open stance, Mack has a chance for plus power potential and is similar to recent Northeast bats like Bo Naylor and Grant Lavigne—though Naylor’s pure hit tool is a bit more advanced. A strong, physical catcher, Mack’s best defensive attribute at the moment is a plus throwing arm. He’s gunned runners with sub-2.0 second throws to the bag in games and has the soft hands necessary to develop into a strong receiver. His actions can get long, but he has better lower half flexibility than you would expect when looking at his frame and evaluators have liked his progress behind the dish throughout the summer. High school catchers are risky, but Mack has the offensive chops to profile at first or a corner outfield spot, which raises his floor as a prospect.
Commit/Drafted: Clemson
Age At Draft: 18.6Less -
23Last: 27Notes:
Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: Tool for tool, Montgomery might be the most talented player in the 2021 class. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Pennsylvania product immediately stands out with his collection of plus and better tools. He’s got big raw power and manages exit velocities pushing 100 mph when he connects and has consistently been one of the faster runners in the class, clocking multiple sub-6.4-second 60-yard dash times. Montgomery is at least a 70-grade runner and might be a half-grade better, and he pairs power and speed with a strong throwing arm as well. He has a chance to be a premium center fielder and base runner, but scouts are still wondering about his hitting ability. Montgomery is still figuring out his lanky, projectable body at times, and that’s clear in the box. He has a lot of moving parts, including a hand drop that leads to inconsistent timing and contact. The crudeness to his offensive approach has limited his production at the plate and has led evaluators to wondering whether or not he’ll be able to tap into his tools in games at the next level, though he has enough athleticism to make adjustments and refine his game as he matures. The Virginia commit has terrific upside, but he also comes with plenty of risk at the moment.
Commit/Drafted: Virginia
Age At Draft: 18.8Less -
24Last: 25Notes:
Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 206 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: Tresh will take over catching duties for North Carolina State this spring, with Patrick Bailey going to the Giants in the first round of the 2020 draft. Tresh has shown some slugging ability (.587 SLG) over 52 games with the Wolfpack in 2019 and 2020. He hit six home runs in 2019 and three through his first 11 games in 2020, though that power has come with a high strikeout rate (26.7 K%). Tresh has plenty to prove this spring and scouts need to be convinced he can actually stick behind the plate, but college catchers with power are coveted and he has potential to be that sort of player.
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5Less -
25Last: 32Notes:
Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R
Preseason Report: An athletic righthander with explosive arm speed, Petty is solidly in the elite tier of 2021 prep arms in terms of pure stuff. The 6 feet, 185-pound Florida commit is a power sinker/slider arm with a turbo fastball that has gotten to 100 mph with exceptional running life, though he typically sits in the 91-95 mph range. Petty’s slider is more of an above-average projection than a plus pitch now. It sits in the low-to-mid 80s but the spin is inconsistent and some scouts prefer a firm, upper-80s changeup that flashes above average when he hits on it. Petty throws from a lower, three-quarter arm slot with noticeable effort, which adds some reliever risk to his profile when combined with scattered control. Because of his size and reliever questions, Petty has been compared to pitchers like Lance McCullers and JT Ginn, though both had better feel for spin at the same time, and Ginn’s pitchability was more advanced. The stigma against shorter righthanders seems to be fading and high school arms out of the Northeast have a strong track record. Add in Petty’s age (he doesn’t turn 18 until April) and there are plenty of positive indicators in his profile.
Commit/Drafted: Florida
Age At Draft: 18.3Less
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