Nick Schnell Tops List Of Indiana MLB Draft Prospects

1. Nick Schnell, OF, Roncalli HS, Indianapolis (BA Rank: 34)
HS •  6-2 • 180 • L-R •
Schnell has done more than perhaps any prep hitter to improve his draft stock since last summer, going from a player with a real shot to enroll at Louisville to now being one of the most interesting bats in the class. All he has done since the fall is hit, hit and then hit some more. After a few solid but unspectacular summer events, Schnell began to hit for extra bases with regularity to all fields, using extremely loose hands and a fantastic feel to barrel the baseball. He has continued to hit this spring and was one of the best players at Prep Baseball Report’s Midwest Select event where many crosscheckers and higher-level decision-makers were in attendance. Schnell might not be a true plus runner, but he comes close once he’s underway and also has above-average arm strength from the outfield. He has the chance to play center field at least initially, but scouts think he’s likely to move to a corner position in the future.

2. Jonathan Stiever, RHP, Indiana (BA Rank: 125)
4YR • Jr. • 6-1 • 188 • R-R •
A control-oriented righthander who has been a two-year Friday night starter for Indiana, Stiever is having his best season for the Hoosiers, with his strikeout rate ticking up significantly this spring. After striking out just 57 batters in 77 innings (6.63 K/9) during his first season as the Friday night starter in 2016, Stiever fanned 87 batters in 84.2 innings (9.25 K/9) through his first 13 games this spring. His stuff hasn’t taken a noticeable jump, but he has a great feel for a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball in the low 90s, a hard, spike-grip breaking ball in the low 80s and developing feel for an average changeup. His fastball can reach up to 95 mph at its best and it has slight arm side movement and occasional sink. Stiever is a solid athlete and repeats his release point consistently, which has allowed him to walk fewer than two batters per nine innings through parts of three seasons with Indiana. Because Stiever is so frequently in the zone, some scouts wonder if he’s too hittable. None of his pitches are plus offerings, although his breaking ball comes the closest as it occasionally shows 55 grades, and he’s allowed close to nine hits per nine innings in the Big 10. Last summer in the Cape Cod League, Stiever posted a 4.45 ERA in 28.1 innings, working mostly as a reliever, with 25 strikeouts and just two walks.

3. Carter Lohman, LHP, Hamilton Southeastern HS, Fishers, Ind. (BA Rank: 199)
HS •  6-2 • 190 • L-L •
Lohman has continued to make strides on the mound over the last year and emerged this spring as the top prep pitcher in Indiana. He can run his fastball up to 92 mph and consistently works in the upper 80s. He has a good feel for his big, sweeping breaking ball and he mixes in a solid changeup that has sinking life. He locates his fastball well and fills up the strike zone. Lohman is listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, giving him a projectable look. He is committed to Louisville.

4. Jared Poland, 2B/3B/RHP, Cathedral HS, Indianapolis (BA Rank: 272)
HS •  5-11 • 190 • R-R •
Louisville went heavy on Indiana prep players in its 2018 recruiting class and Poland is one of the best of the bunch. The righthanded hitter has a compact swing and consistently barrels up balls thanks to his feel for hitting and quick hands. He has some pop in his bat, but his approach lends itself more to hard line drives than home runs right now. Poland, an above-average runner, can play second or third base, but he doesn’t truly profile at either position. If he gets to Louisville, as expected, he’ll get a chance to be a two-way player thanks to his fastball-curveball combination on the mound.

5. Luke Miller, 3B, Indiana (BA Rank: 312)
4YR •  6-3 • 184 • R-R •
In 2017, Miller was a draft-eligible sophomore and was selected in the 31st round by the Twins. He elected to return to school and figures this year to go much higher. Miller is an aggressive hitter who stands out most for his above-average raw power. That comes with a lot of swing and miss, so there are questions about how consistently the righthanded hitter will tap into his power in pro ball. Miller, listed at 6-foot-3, 184 pounds, has some athleticism, but he is a work in progress at third base. He this spring was sidelined for a month due to a foot injury but got back on the field in mid-May.

6. Tim Borden, SS, Our Lady of Providence HS, Clarksville, Ind. (BA Rank: 340)
HS •  6-2 • 180 • R-R •
Borden has been a standout for Providence High in Clarksville, Ind., across the Ohio River from Louisville, where he’s been committed since he was a freshman. Borden has quick hands and, at his best, drives the ball well. The righthanded hitter hasn’t made as much contact this spring as scouts would like to see, however. Listed at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Borden has a projectable frame and should hit for more power as he physically matures and cuts down on his swings and misses. Borden stands out for his athleticism and will get the chance to stay at shortstop. Borden’s spring means he’s likely to get to Louisville, where he’ll be able to refine his tools.

7. Jack Perkins, RHP, Kokomo (Ind.) HS (BA Rank: 394)
HS •  6-2 • 208 • R-R •
Perkins has been a standout in baseball and football for Kokomo (Ind.) High and this fall helped the football team to the state championship game as a wingback. Perkins’ future is on the diamond and he is committed to pitch at Louisville. Listed at 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, he is solidly built and has a powerful fastball that he regularly runs into the mid-90s. He pairs it with a hard slider that flashes above-average.  While Perkins has electric stuff, he hasn’t learned how to harness it yet and his control trouble figures to push him to college.

8. Nick Delesandro, C, Purdue (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-1 • 175 • R-R •
Delesandro is a well-rounded catcher. He threw out 43 percent of baserunners this year to go with a .304/.404/.415 season at the plate.

9. Tristan Polley, LHP, Indiana State (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-2 • 195 • L-L •

10. Nick Podkul, 2B, Notre Dame (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. 
Podkul is a productive college second baseman with some power potential.

11. Jacson McGowan, 1B, Purdue (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-2 • 212 • R-R •
McGowan led Purdue with 12 home runs, catching some modest attention from scouts. He also has pitched sporadically for Purdue.

12. Evan Marquandt, RHP, Ball State (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • R-Jr. • 6-6 • 259 • R-R •
Marquandt has a 6.26 career ERA, but he does have some ability to generate swings and misses with a 92-93 mph fastball and an at-times above-average breaking ball.

13. Colin Brockhouse, RHP, Ball State (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Sr. • 6-3 • 200 • R-R •
Brockhouse has flipped back and forth between hitting and pitching, and when he’s hit, he’s bounced between third base, designated hitter and the outfield. But this year he focused on hitting and he showed power potential. He hit .298/.384/.522 with 11 home runs. He has strength and his arm works well in the outfield.

14. Tyler Ward, RHP, Indiana State (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • Jr. • 6-0 • 175 • R-R •

15. Glen McClain, 1B, Indiana Tech (BA Rank: N/A)
4YR • R-Jr. • 6-2 • 215 • R-R •
McClain hit .455/.527.698 for Indiana Tech this year.

16. Zach Messinger, RHP, Castle HS, Newburgh, Ind. (BA Rank: N/A)
HS • 6-6 • 205 • R-R •
Messinger is a projectable righthander with a high-80s fastball now, but the potential to add velocity over the next few years.

. Hayden Jones, C, Caroll HS, Fort Wayne, Ind. (BA Rank: N/A)
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. Jacob Gilcrest, LHP, Center Grove HS, Greenwood, Ind. (BA Rank: N/A)
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. Luke Albright, RHP, Fishers (Ind.) HS (BA Rank: N/A)
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. Grant Richardson, OF, Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne, Ind. (BA Rank: N/A)
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. Michael Brewer, OF, R. Nelson High School, Fort Wayne, Ind. (BA Rank: N/A)
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. Bayden Root, 3B, Kokomo (Ind.) HS (BA Rank: N/A)
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