The 2022 Major League Baseball Draft saw 13 high school players selected from the top 30, including the #1 overall pick in Jackson Holiday to the Baltimore Orioles and the #2 pick in Drew Jones to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 2023 Major League Baseball draft isn’t shaping up to be as high school-heavy as last year’s pick with only two players — Max Clark from Community of Franklin (Franklin, Indiana) And Walker Jenkins from Southern Brunswick (Southport, NC) Appearing regularly among the top 10 mock draft picks.
In fact, there are no mock drafts that feature a high school player who goes with the #1 overall pick, and only one player we surveyed was a higher 2. In addition, in the six mock drafts we looked at, only Clark and Jenkins were listed. as first-round picks in all six drafts. only three other players, Aidan Miller from Mitchell (New Port Richey, Florida).And Thomas White from Phillips Academy (Andover, Massachusetts) And Kevin McGonigle from Monsignor Bonner (Drexel Hill, PA)appearing in five out of six.
1. Max ClarkAnd Community of Franklin (Franklin, Indiana)from
The best prospects at the college level are outfielders, so the fact that Clarke has knocked off the board in several mock drafts reaching second or third place is a testament to his skills. The increase in his power number is all that prevents him from becoming a true five-tool player.
2. Walker JenkinsAnd Southern Brunswick (Southport, NC)from
While not a fielder like Clark, Jenkins may have better bat speed and an all-around swing. In fact, USA Today’s James Miron ranks Jenkins as among the best bat speeders in the 2023 MLB draft, college, or prep class. It will not last past the first 10 picks.
3. Aidan MillerAnd Mitchell (New Port Richey, Florida).3b
Miller wasn’t in the top 28 for just one dummy project. As for the rest, Miller slipped off the board around the ninth straight to the Colorado Rockies, who were looking for a replacement for Nolan Arenado. With good strength and a solid defense, Miller could be just the right guy. He was the best hitter for the USA 18 Under team in the World Cup tournament.
4. Thomas WhiteAnd Phillips Academy (Andover, Massachusetts)s
A left fielder from the Northeast could be the first high school pitcher selected, which would carry a certain sense of irony because Northeastern pitchers are rarely selected in the first round due in part to the low number of games they pitch in during their careers in high school. . In fact, only seven pitchers from Massachusetts have been selected in the first round since 1965 (California has seven pitchers since 2014). A fastball hitting mid-90s and sneaky handoffs are two traits that make White a potential mid-first-round pick.
5. Nobel MayerAnd Jesuit (Portland, Oregon)s
If White wasn’t the first pitcher selected, Meyer probably was. Well sized at 6-foot-5, Meyer also hits nearly 99 mph on his fastball and has a slider and changeup to give him three extra pitches.
6. Blake MitchellAnd Sinton (Texas)c
Mitchell is easily the best catcher candidate in the class of 2023 but the question is whether he will stay there. In the MLB High School All-Star Game, Mitchell pitched the final inning, hitting the side and hitting 96 mph on his fastball. Mitchell could also play every day, however, after showing consistent hitting and home runs strength as a junior. It can continue into the latter half of the first round.
7. Kevin McGonigleAnd Monsignor Bonner (Drexel Hill, PA)if
The class of 2022 was loaded with short times, including Holliday who finished first overall. McGonigle is the MVP in high school in 2023 and could go somewhere in the second half of the first round. A steady bat with some power, McGonigle could be a strong candidate for the switch to second base.
8. Arjun NimalaAnd Strawberry Crust (Dover, Florida)SS
One player who has quickly climbed up the prospect list over the past year, Nimmala is also one of the youngest players in the class as he won’t turn 18 until next fall. Perfect Game ranked Nimmala as the No. 1 Florida player and the best shortstop in the 2023 class thanks to fast hands and extra power hitting. He can be late in the first round or early in the supplementary round.
9. Colt EmersonAnd John Glenn (New Concord, Ohio)SS
Another quick rise from last year, Emerson earned all-state honors as a junior, and was listed as a late first-round pick by several mock drafts. Team USA’s strong performance at the World Cup demonstrated Emerson’s hitting prowess. Rated 14th in the nation by Perfect Game, Emerson could be the third shortstop to be set up behind McGonigle and Nimmala. Look for it to go early on the complementary tour.
10. Colin HookAnd Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)if
Place number 10 could easily go to Rosh Cholowsky from Hamilton (Chandler, AZ) or Bryce Eldridge from James Madison (Vienna, Virginia), but we’ll go with Hawk – one of the best two-way athletes in the country. As a quarterback, Hawk threw for over 2,000 yards leading Parkview to an 8-4 record. Last year he was among the national leaders in home runs with 15.