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College Top 50 MLB Draft Prospects 2018

Fall ball has begun around the country and preparations for the 2018 draft are underway as well.

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 college class’ strength is once again pitching, but there are also some intriguing hitters who distinguished themselves over the summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and in the Cape Cod League.

For the third year in a row, a Florida pitcher tops Baseball America’s initial college draft prospects ranking. Righthander Brady Singer follows in the footsteps of former teammates A.J. Puk and Alex Faedo as the top-ranked player in the class.

Singer, who will take over as the Gators’ ace this spring, will hope to parlay his early ranking into being the first college player drafted, something neither Puk nor Faedo was able to do. Singer sat out this summer after going 9-5, 3.21 with 129 strikeouts in 126 innings and helping Florida win the first national championship in program history this spring. Listed at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, he throws his fastball in the low to mid 90s with plenty of run and sink, and he adds in a sharp slider with a changeup in reserve. Singer was the 56th overall pick in the 2015 draft and was expected to sign, but negotiations fell apart and he ended up at Florida, where he has continued to develop.

In addition to Singer, the state of Florida has several premium pitchers in the college class. Righthander Jackson Kowar could give the Gators two first round picks for the second time in three years. South Florida’s Shane McClanahan is regarded as the top lefthander in the class, and Stetson righthander Logan Gilbert broke out with a strong sophomore season and an excellent showing this summer on the Cape.

The class’ position players present scouts with more of a puzzle, as many of the top players come with question marks. Oregon State infielder Nick Madrigal may be the class’ best hitter, but he is also listed at just 5-foot-7. Sluggers such as Luken Baker, Seth Beer and Alec Bohm provide plus power, but profile best as first basemen, typically not one of the most desirable demographics in the draft. Even outfielders Travis Swaggerty and Steele Walker, two of the top hitters this summer on the Collegiate National Team, are not viewed as safe picks.

With so many unanswered questions, the top of the college class figures to be fluid at least for the next six months as scouts work to bear down on the top players. 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., School B/T Ht. Wt. Previously Drafted
1 Brady Singer, RHP, Florida ?? R/R 6-5 180 Blue Jays ’15 (2)
2 Nick Madrigal, SS/2B, Oregon State ?? R/R 5-7 160 Indians ’15 (17)
3 Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida L/L 6-1 173 Mets ’15 (26)
4 Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn R/R 6-3 208 Never Drafted
5 Greyson Jenista, OF/1B, Wichita State ?? L/R 6-4 240 Never Drafted
6 Griffin Conine, OF, Duke ?? L/R 6-1 195 Marlins ’15 (31)
7 Ryan Rolison, LHP, Mississippi R/L 6-2 195 Padres ’16 (37)
8 Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson R/R 6-5 195 Never Drafted
9 Tristan Pompey, OF, Kentucky B/R 6-4 200 Twins ’15 (31)
10 Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama ?? L/L 5-11 180 Never Drafted
11 Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida ?? R/R 6-4 170 Tigers ’15 (40)
12 Jeremy Eierman, SS, Missouri State ?? R/R 6-0 195 Never Drafted
13 Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State ?? R/R 6-5 240 Never Drafted
14 Steele Walker, OF, Oklahoma ?? L/L 5-11 190 Never Drafted
15 Zach Watson, OF, Louisiana State B/R 6-0 166 Never Drafted
16 Luken Baker, 1B/DH, Texas Christian ?? R/R 6-4 240 Astros ’15 (37)
17 Konnor Pilkington, LHP, Mississippi State L/L 6-3 225 Never Drafted
18 Sean Hjelle, RHP, Kentucky R/R 6-11 215 Never Drafted
19 Blaine Knight, RHP, Arkansas R/R 6-3 165 Rangers ’17 (29)
20 Seth Beer, OF/1B, Clemson ?? L/R 6-2 195 Never Drafted
21 Austin Bergner, RHP, North Carolina R/R 6-4 195 Red Sox ’16 (38)
22 Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford R/R 6-4 165 Yankees ’17 (29)
23 Tanner Dodson, OF/RHP, California ?? B/R 6-2 180 Mets ’15 (31)
24 Tim Cate, LHP, Connecticut ?? L/L 6-0 167 Never Drafted
25 Cadyn Grenier, SS/2B, Oregon State ?? R/R 5-11 180 Cardinals ’15 (21)
26 Steven Gingery, LHP, Texas Tech ?? R/L 6-1 210 Never Drafted
27 Matt Mercer, RHP, Oregon R/R 6-2 180 Never Drafted
28 Jonathan India, 3B, Florida ?? R/R 6-0 185 Brewers ’15 (26)
29 Colton Eastman, RHP, Cal State Fullerton R/R 6-3 185 Twins ’15 (20)
30 Davis Martin, RHP, Texas Tech L/R 6-2 220 Never Drafted
31 Sean Wymer, RHP, Texas Christian R/R 6-1 190 Never Drafted
32 Nick Sprengel, LHP, San Diego L/L 6-0 185 Nationals ’15 (31)
33 Adam Hill, RHP, South Carolina R/R 6-6 215 Padres ’15 (39)
34 Zach Linginfelter, RHP, Tennessee ?? L/R 6-5 215 Yankees ’16 (16)
35 Carlos Cortes, OF, South Carolina ?? L/B 5-8 185 Mets ’16 (20)
36 Zack Hess, RHP, Louisiana State ?? R/R 6-6 200 Yankees ’16 (35)
37 Kris Bubic, LHP, Stanford L/L 6-3 210 Never Drafted
38 Jake McCarthy, OF, Virginia ?? L/L 6-2 195 Pirates ’15 (23)
39 Tyler Holton, LHP, Florida State L/L 6-2 200 Marlins ’17 (35)
40 Nico Hoerner, 2B/SS, Stanford ?? R/R 5-11 195 Never Drafted
41 Jimmy Herron, OF, Duke ?? R/L 6-1 185 Yankees ’17 (31)
42 Alex McKenna, OF, Cal Poly ?? R/R 6-2 200 Twins ‘2015 (38)
43 Tyler Frank, SS/2B, Florida Atlantic ?? R/R 6-0 185 Never Drafted
44 Jake Mangum, OF, Mississippi State ?? B/L 6-0 185 Yankees ’17 (30)
45 Griffin Roberts, RHP, Wake Forest ?? R/R 6-3 210 Twins ’17 (29)
46 Cole Sands, RHP, Florida State ?? R/R 6-3 215 Astros ’15 (22)
47 Daniel Lynch, LHP, Virginia L/L 6-4 175 Never Drafted
48 Cody Deason, RHP, Arizona R/R 6-4 205 Never Drafted
49 Zack Haake, RHP, Kentucky R/R 6-4 185 Never Drafted
50 Jason Bilous, RHP, Coastal Carolina R/R 6-2 180 Dodgers ’15 (29)

 

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