2018 High School Top 50 MLB Draft Prospects — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

As the 2018 draft class takes shape, Baseball America this week is unveiling the top 50 prospects in the high school and college ranks. The high school class is defined by a wealth of pitching prospects who seemingly all throw into the 90s, although a number of different hitters have improved their stock thanks to performances at events like East Coast Pro, the Area Code Games and with USA Baseball’s 18U National Team.

The class is led by Georgia righthander Ethan Hankins, who dominated domestic and international batters alike this summer, in high school showcase environments and competitive play alike, including a 27-strikeout effort across two starts in Thunder Bay, Ontario, during the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation U18 World Cup.

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Hankins compares favorably to recent top high school righthanders, such as Hunter Greene, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft; and 2016 first-rounders Ian Anderson (No. 3 overall) and Riley Pint (No. 4). He starts with an electric mid-90s fastball that has arguably the best life of any fastball in the class. Pitching with a break-neck tempo out of a 6-foot-6, 215 pound frame, Hankins will have to continue making progress with an inconsistent breaking ball to realize his immense potential, but scouts have seen flashes of a plus pitch this summer and most are convinced he’ll be in the triple digits this spring.

Hankins isn’t the only Georgia product high on the list, as his travel ball teammate, righthander Kumar Rocker, features the best pure stuff of any pitcher in the class thanks to a fastball in the mid 90s, a plus slider and at least an above-average changeup. A poor summer with a lot of hard contact against him has dropped Rocker’s stock somewhat, but he has the talent, size and stuff to easily trend in the other direction with a strong spring. Arizona lefthander Matthew Liberatore offers a tantalizing package with size–at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds–a three-pitch mix and a bulldog-like mentality on the mound.

While the class will be remembered for its pitching depth, it features number of exciting position players as well, headlined by California shortstop Brice Turang, who might be the safest bet of any player in the class as a smooth-fielding shortstop with one of the best hit tools of the group. Arizona third baseman Nolan Gorman raised his stock more than any other player this summer, after routinely displaying his plus raw power in games and during home run derbies (he won three) and showing potential as a plus defender at third base. Wisconsin outfielder Jarred Kelenic might be the best hitter in the class, and Florida shortstop Nander De Sedas has scouts enamored with power potential from both sides of the plate and a real shot to stick at shortstop.

It is admittedly extremely early in the draft process–especially so considering the rapidity in which high school players change–but the summer has given major league evaluators a good idea of the shape of the class at this point. Baseball America will continue to update its draft lists–compiled by the BA staff in consultation with major league scouts and other evaluators–regularly leading up to the beginning of the 2018 draft on June 4.

Rank Name, Pos. Ht. Wt. B/T HS/City, State Commit

1 Ethan Hankins, RHP