AJ Reed

The Mets drafted Reed as a pitcher out of high school in Terre Haute, Ind., in 2011, but even they were split over whether he fit better as a hitter or as a lefthander long-term. He's been one of college baseball's top two-way performers since his freshman season and was a strong candidate for College Player of the Year honors in 2014, leading the nation in homers and slugging percentage with two regular-season weeks remaining. Reed, who has lost more than 15 pounds in the past year as he has firmed up his body, also has pitched Friday nights for the Wildcats and was 8-2, 2.20 through 12 starts. He's likely a fifth-round talent on the mound, with an 88-91 mph fastball and three fringe-average secondary pitches. But his power and performance with the bat in the Southeastern Conference pushed him into first-round consideration. While some scouts knock his bat speed, Reed is patient, has an improved approach and an easy swing, and his strength plays with tape-measure home runs. His swing can get long, but he has waited pitchers out and pounded pitches in his happy zone, including a 12-for-28 mark with three home runs on Friday nights. Reed has baseball athleticism and has shortened his swing up, but he's a poor runner who likely can't move to the outfield. He could fall back to pitching, but he keeps erasing doubters one homer at a time.