2019 MLB Draft Prospects With Best Tools

Baseball America polled MLB scouts about the best high school and college prospects in the 2019 MLB Draft class. To see our BA 500 draft rankings, click here. 

Table of contents:

• Best Hitter
• Best Power
• Best Speed
• Best Strike Zone Judgment
• Best Defensive Catcher
• Best Defensive Infielder
• Best Defensive Outfielder
• Best Fastball
• Best Breaking Ball
• Best Changeup
• Best Control
• Best Athlete

BEST HITTER

High School
1. Riley Greene
2. Corbin Carroll
3. Brett Baty

College
1. Andrew Vaughn
2. Adley Rutschman
3. J.J. Bleday

Scout's take on Andrew Vaughn: "He has a preternatural feel for the strike zone, tremendous power, looseness and a complete offensive profile overall." 

BEST POWER 

High School
1. Rece Hinds
2. Brett Baty
3. Bobby Witt Jr. 

College
1. Andrew Vaughn
2. Hunter Bishop
3. Kody Hoese

Scout's take on Rece Hinds: "Biggest raw juice in the draft. Nobody can hit a ball as far as this kid." 

BEST SPEED 

High School
1. James Beard
2. Dasan Brown
3. CJ Abrams

College
1. Greg Jones
2. Gabe Holt
3. Jake Mangum

Scout's take on Greg Jones: "80 run tool. The best run tool I've ever seen live. He ran like a 3.9 from the righthanded batter's box. It's legit." 

Best Strike Zone Judgment

High School
1. Corbin Carroll
2. Riley Greene
3. Brett Baty

College
1. Logan Wyatt
2. Andrew Vaughn
3. Adley Rutschman

Scout's take on Logan Wyatt: "As good as it gets at tracking the baseball. Incredible batting eye."

Best Defensive Catcher

High School
1. Jonathan French
2. Ethan Hearn
3. Logan Tanner

College
1. Adley Rutschman
2. Cooper Johnson
3. Shea Langeliers

Scout's take on Adley Rutschman: "He makes the toughest position look the easiest ... He's a better catcher than Austin Hedges." 

Best Defensive Infielder

High School
1. Bobby Witt Jr.
2. Nasim Nunez
3. Yordys Valdes

College
1. Bryson Stott
2. Cam Shepherd
3. Logan Davidson

Scout's take on Bobby Witt Jr.: "One of the most talented high school shortstops I have seen in a long time. And great intangibles. Makeup is off the chart. He has poise and tools." 

Best Defensive Outfielder

High School
1. Corbin Carroll
2. Jerrion Ealy
3. Sammy Siani

College
1. Jake Mangum
2. Zach Watson
3. Dominic Fletcher

Scout's take on Corbin Carroll: "Great routes. Really good instincts to the ball. He stays in center field. He shows you a 55-60 (grade) arm with good carry." 

Best Fastball

High School
1. Daniel Espino
2. Brennan Malone
3. Matthew Allan

College
1. Jackson Rutledge
2. Ryne Nelson
3. Alek Manoah

Scout's take on Daniel Espino: "90-grade fastball because of not just the velo -- it's the movement ... He has a low release point with a high-spin fastball ... His fastball swing-and-miss rate is really, really good."

Best Breaking Ball

High School
1. Matthew Allan
2. Jack Leiter
3. Daniel Espino

College
1. Zack Thompson
2. Jackson Rutledge
3. Ryne Nelson

Scout's take on Matthew Allan: "Guys who can throw a good curveball, they have feel and wrist flexibility ... He might have two 70-grade pitches with the fastball and curveball." 

Best Changeup

High School
1. Hunter Barco
2. Jimmy Lewis
3. Jack Leiter

College
1. Ethan Small
2. Nick Lodolo
3. Ryan Pepiot

Scout's take on Hunter Barco: "It's in there -- I guarantee it ... His change-up is going to be plus, I promise you." 

Best Control

High School
1. Jack Leiter
2. Blake Walston
3. JJ Goss

College
1. George Kirby
2. Garrett Stallings
3. John Doxakis

Scout's take on George Kirby: "Kirby is pretty simple ... He fills the zone and can throw strikes with every pitch." 

Best Athlete

High School
1. Jerrion Ealy
2. CJ Abrams
3. Bobby Witt Jr.

College
1. Hunter Bishop
2. Logan Davidson
3. Greg Jones

Scout's take on Jerrion Ealy: "He's a freak. Multi-sport guy ... but his athleticism, arm strength, power and bat speed stand out. Dynamite athlete."