The 2023 MLB Draft is right here. Day 1 contains the primary 70 picks, overlaying Rounds 1 and a couple of, Competitive Balance Rounds A and B, a Prospect Promotion Incentive choose, plus three compensation picks.
Round 1 is underway now, dwell on MLB Network, MLB.com and ESPN. Days 2 (Rounds 3-10) and three (Rounds 11-20) start at 2 p.m. ET on Monday and Tuesday and can stream dwell completely on MLB.com.
Follow alongside right here all night time for a rundown of each choose with evaluation by MLB Pipeline and MLB Network specialists.
1) Pirates: Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State
After it sounded just like the Pirates have been wanting extra at this class’ offensive choices, they opted to go together with the perfect participant on MLB Pipeline’s Draft Top 250. Considered by many to be a generational kind of expertise, Skenes was the perfect school pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg, in line with evaluators. In his solely yr with LSU after transferring from Air Force, the previous two-way participant (He was a catcher!) put up online game numbers in serving to the Tigers win the College World Series, ending with a 1.69 ERA, 15.3 Ok/9 and simply 1.5 BB/9. His 80-grade fastball sat 98 mph and commonly hit triple digits, his slider is unhittable and his energy changeup has the prospect to be excellent as nicely. Skenes isn’t anticipated to want an excessive amount of time to get to the massive leagues; some scouts assume he may get Major League hitters out along with his stuff proper now. More >
2) Nationals: Dylan Crews, OF, Louisiana State
Based on pre-Draft buzz, the one factor that may have saved the Nationals from taking Paul Skenes with their choose was if the Pirates chosen him, and that’s precisely what occurred. Most felt that if this occurred, the Nats would go together with Skenes’ teammate, Crews, who was the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Winner and sat atop many Draft boards. The heart fielder has a observe document of success within the SEC and saved the perfect for final, hitting .426/.567/.713 in 2023. He can play heart area and hit for common and energy due to a complicated method on the plate, one which helped him stroll extra instances than he struck out in his LSU profession. Like Skenes, it shouldn’t take Crews lengthy to be large league prepared; he’s the type of school hitter who may deal with an aggressive project and make a beeline to Washington. More >
3) Tigers: Max Clark, OF, Franklin (Ind.) HS
While this isn’t an enormous shock, as Clark was within the combine at No. 1 and all through the highest 5, projections have been sometimes school hitters on this spot, so it’s a bit shocking to not see Wyatt Langford go right here. That mentioned, Clark may need as excessive of an upside as anybody on this class. He has the perfect all-around set of instruments within the class and has the prospect to have all 5 at his disposal. He’s a no-doubt heart fielder who can actually run and has a plus arm from the outfield. He makes constantly exhausting contact, and whereas energy was the one device seemingly behind the others, he’d made strides in including energy throughout his senior yr. Clark performs with a ton of vitality and keenness always. More >
4) Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
Langford didn’t have to attend lengthy to listen to his identify known as. Some scouts felt he belonged in the identical dialog as Dylan Crews, not less than when it comes to his offensive potential. After not enjoying a lot throughout his freshman yr at Florida, Langford burst onto the scene in 2022, hitting 26 homers and ending with a 1.166 OPS. He in some way upped his recreation this previous season with a 1.282 OPS, strolling extra instances than he struck out whereas hitting 21 homers. The solely factor he hasn’t performed a lot of, in comparison with Crews, is play heart area, although some really feel the right-handed hitter has the athleticism to take action, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see if the Rangers give him an opportunity to not less than begin his professional profession there. The Rangers have now chosen a school participant within the first spherical for a fifth straight yr. More >
5) Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS, Southport, N.C.
While we didn’t predict them within the right order, the highest 5 skills within the class left the board within the prime 5. There was lots of speak that the Twins may find yourself going with a school hitter right here, as they’re a workforce that always lean on their mannequin to tell picks. The left-handed hitter has a ton of energy, each now and sooner or later, and actually helped his profile by displaying he can play heart area and demonstrating extra athleticism than he had previously. More >
6) Athletics: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
The son of former large leaguer Jack Wilson, Jacob performs the identical place as his dad and will probably be ready to take action for a really very long time. He additionally has a really robust observe document of hitting, with a .977 OPS in his GCU profession. He hit .412/.461/.635 as a junior and continued to be maybe the perfect contact hitter in school baseball, hanging out in simply 2.3 p.c of his plate appearances as a junior. More >
7) Reds: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
After Paul Skenes, Lowder was the perfect, and most constant, school pitcher within the class. And whereas the Reds have been taking a look at quite a few hitters accessible, they couldn’t go up his mixture of stuff, command and competitiveness. He has sufficient fastball velocity, as much as 97 mph at instances with good sink, nevertheless it’s his plus changeup that’s a separator, and his slider flashes plus. Lowder throws strikes with all three, and it’s straightforward to dream of him attending to Cincinnati in a rush. More >
8) Royals: Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS
The Royals are not any stranger to taking a excessive schooler this excessive, having taken their No. 5 prospect, Frank Mozzicato, No. 7 total in 2021. Like in that state of affairs, it appears just like the Royals have gotten an excellent expertise who may even be a cash saver, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see how they use their bonus pool cash shifting ahead, with an additional choose at No. 66 total offering an even bigger pool. High faculty catching is usually a dangerous demographic, however Mitchell has the prospect to hit, and with energy, and he’s bought all of the instruments to stay behind the plate. More >
9) Rockies: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
All indicators pointed to the Rockies focusing on pitching, and with Rhett Lowder off the board, Dollander was the next-best possibility amongst school arms. Stuff-wise, he belongs up this excessive, with a plus fastball and slider to associate with a very good changeup and curve. His outcomes this yr didn’t match the stuff, along with his command struggling at instances. Some imagine Dollander’s points will be fastened with professional instruction, one thing the Rockies are banking on. More >
10) Marlins: Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS, Portland, Ore.
Meyer was thought-about the perfect highschool arm within the class, providing an attractive mixture of stuff, really feel for pitching and projection. Coming from the identical highschool program as Phillies prospect (and 2023 Futures Game starter) Mick Abel, Meyer has a fastball that flirts with triple digits and a slider that must be plus in time. He additionally has higher really feel for a changeup than many prepsters and usually is across the strike zone, with frontline starter potential. More >
11) Angels: Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
This has lengthy been thought-about a touchdown spot for a school bat; it was a matter of which one. The Angels like taking superior gamers who can get to the massive leagues rapidly, and after their success with Zach Neto final yr, Schanuel suits what the Halos try to do. He was arguably the perfect performer within the school recreation in 2023, hitting .447 with a 1.483 OPS and a ridiculous 14/71 Ok/BB ratio. He may be athletic sufficient to deal with an outfield nook, nevertheless it’s the bat that can carry him. More >
12) D-backs: Tommy Troy, SS, Stanford
Troy hit nicely in his sophomore yr at Stanford, then saved it going with a powerful Cape Cod League final summer time to place himself extra firmly on the first-round map. He turned it up a notch as a junior, hitting near .400 with 17 homers and 17 steals. He’s athletic and runs nicely, and he has proven the power to play three infield positions. More >
13) Cubs: Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland
One of the higher pure school hitters within the class, Shaw earned Cape Cod League MVP honors final summer time, then posted a 1.142 OPS with 24 homers and 18 steals for the Terrapins in 2023. He performed largely shortstop in school however moved round a bit early and whereas enjoying on the Cape, with most considering second base is the perfect residence for him long-term if he stays on the dust. More >
14) Red Sox: Kyle Teel, C, Virginia
Teel was a strong highschool prospect in 2020 however eliminated his identify from the Draft so he may head to Virginia. Three years later, he performed his manner into the highest 15. He’s a super-athletic backstop who has the prospect to stay behind the plate with an arm that’s simply plus. He’s a left-handed hitter with a complicated method who appeared to discover a good steadiness between hitting for common and energy in 2023. This breaks a streak of 4 straight highschool hitters taken by the Red Sox with their first-round picks. More >
15) White Sox: Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi
Gonzalez’s identify was developing as excessive as No. 5 to the Twins. With a strong method, Gonzalez works counts and attracts walks, and he did a greater job in 2023 of not getting power-happy whereas nonetheless ending with a .999 OPS. The left-handed hitter has the prospect to be an above-average hitter with higher than common energy, although it stays to be seen if he can stick at shortstop on the subsequent stage, with third or second maybe higher long-term choices. More >
16) Giants: Bryce Eldridge, 1B/RHP, Madison HS, Vienna, Va.
The most attention-grabbing a part of this choose is that Eldridge was introduced as a two-way participant, and he’ll be a part of Reggie Crawford as a two-way man within the group. His bat had jumped forward of his mound work throughout his senior season, with spectacular uncooked energy from the left aspect. The 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher does have arm energy, with a fastball that touches 96-97 and a few really feel for spin and a changeup, however his pitching may take extra time to develop than his bat. More >
17) Orioles: Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Vanderbilt
Bradfield’s carrying device is his velocity, and he has loads of it, incomes an 80 grade on the scouting scale for his wheels. He must be a critical basestealing risk on the subsequent stage, and his velocity helps him be a premium defender in heart area. While he has added a bit energy, his recreation is making contact and getting on base so he can use that velocity to his best benefit. The O’s have now taken a school hitter with three of their final 4 opening picks. More >
18) Brewers: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
If you want energy, you’re going to love Wilken. He has as a lot uncooked pop as anybody within the class, and he bought to it in school, setting Wake Forest data for profession homers after smashing 31 this season. He improved his total method in 2023, with extra walks than strikeouts (although there’ll all the time seemingly be some swing and miss to his recreation), serving to him get to his pop much more. He may have the ability to stick at third, nevertheless it’s the bat the Brewers purchased right here. That’s now 5 straight school bats within the first spherical for Milwaukee. More >
19) Rays: Brayden Taylor, 3B, Texas Christian
We have been listening to Taylor’s identify as excessive as No. 6, so the Rays are seemingly very excited his candy left-handed swing was nonetheless on the board right here. He makes a ton of exhausting contact and does a very good job working counts, serving to him get to his energy extra. He profiles as somebody who ought to hit for common and energy even when he hunted homers extra in 2023 (and bought them, with 23). He’s a very good athlete and defender, with extra projection than many school bats. More >
20) Blue Jays: Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest HS, Dover, Fla.
One of the youngest gamers within the class, the 17-year-old Nimmala presents an intriguing mixture of projection and uncooked energy in a center infielder bundle. He can drive the ball to all fields and will faucet into that uncooked pop extra constantly as he refines his method. He has each probability to stay at shortstop for a very long time and has spectacular upside, with the potential to develop plus instruments throughout the board. More >
21) Cardinals: Chase Davis, OF, Arizona
Since his highschool days, Davis — whose identify got here up as early because the Red Sox’s choose at 14 — has proven glimpses of his plus uncooked energy from the left aspect of the plate. In 2023, he carried over some changes and confirmed a significantly better method, chopping down his strikeout fee significantly and upping his energy manufacturing in consequence. He’s in all probability a nook outfielder sooner or later however may get the prospect to play heart to start out out. More >
22) Mariners: Colt Emerson, SS/3B, Glenn HS, New Concord, Ohio
A yr in the past, the Mariners took a left-handed-hitting center infielder out of the highschool ranks in Cole Young, and so they did it once more right here. Emerson has an analogous profile to Young as a prep participant with the prospect to be a plus hitter with a really superior method on the plate. There is energy for him to develop into as nicely, and whereas he’s a strong defender, he might not play shortstop ceaselessly, however third or second may work simply positive.
23) Guardians: Ralphy Velazquez, C/1B, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS
Quite a lot of highschool bats have been talked about right here, and Velazquez has an opportunity to be a very good one. A left-handed hitter who stood out at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational this spring, Velazquez routinely finds the barrel and has loads of uncooked energy and energy to faucet into. There’s some query about whether or not he can stick behind the plate, however even when he has to maneuver to first, his bat ought to profile nicely there.
24) Braves: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida
25) Padres: Dillon Head, OF, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Flossmoor, Ill.
Content Source: www.mlb.com