The 2023 MLB Draft continues to be 75 days away, but it surely's by no means too early to check out how the highest choices may shake out. That's what Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo mentioned on the most recent Pipeline Podcast, after they every made their prime 10 picks primarily based on who they suppose needs to be taken (not who they suppose the golf equipment will take).

While their prime 10s began the identical with a pair of LSU Tigers, there was no consensus on the following eight picks. Both had the identical gamers within the prime 5, however issues obtained very attention-grabbing within the again half.

1. PiratesCallis: Dylan Crews, OF, LSUMayo: Dylan Crews, OF, LSU

Callis: Crews could not be as just lately historic as Paul Skenes, however he is most likely a 70 hitter on the 20-80 scale, with at the least 60 energy, and you can most likely go extra as a result of he’s going to get to just about all he has as a result of he’s such a great hitter and he’s working higher. I don’t suppose he’s a slam-dunk lock middle fielder, however I feel he does have the potential to finish up there.

2. NationalsCallis: Paul Skenes, RHP, LSUMayo: Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU

Mayo: He was good at Air Force, however he wasn’t this good. I feel there’s going to be slightly little bit of a “Let’s make sure we know what’s under the hood here. Is what he’s doing this year what he’s going to do going forward? Or is there going to be some regression to the mean?” Guys which might be going to go 1, 2 are going to get picked aside.

3. TigersCallis: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick (NC)Mayo: Max Clark, OF, Franklin (IN)

Callis: I feel if we surveyed 30 groups, Jenkins may win three-quarters of the votes, however when you have been placing grades on them, they’d be neck-and-neck. I simply suppose Jenkins is barely forward for a majority of the groups. I feel they’re comparable hitters. I feel Jenkins has considerably extra energy, at the least a grade higher, and whereas Clark is a greater runner and athlete, Jenkins is working higher this spring. Clark is unquestionably a middle fielder, and Jenkins is likely to be a middle fielder. If he’s not a middle fielder, he’ll match the precise subject profile with a powerful arm.

Mayo: I ended up selecting Max Clark simply due to the ceiling. I’ve had a number of nationwide scouts say he’s the one man who has the most effective probability to be a real, true famous person, simply because the instruments are so loud. Walker Jenkins is nice; I’d fortunately take him at 3. One factor to contemplate is that Walker Jenkins had performed an entire bunch of baseball earlier than Max Clark as a result of he’s in Indiana. Sometimes that performs into what scouts are saying, and I feel you possibly can’t go unsuitable with both.

4. RangersCallis: Wyatt Langford, OF, FloridaMayo: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick (NC)

Callis: Do you need the man who’s confirmed it on the school stage? I feel (Langford) might be a left fielder when all is claimed and achieved. I feel he has much less defensive worth, however you've a greater learn on his bat since he’s carried out at a really excessive stage at school.

5. TwinsCallis: Max Clark, OF, Franklin (IN)Mayo: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida

Mayo: Langford is one other man who has taken an enormous step ahead and didn’t play as a freshman, so there’s not as a lot monitor report. Again, that’s nitpicking. … I actually want Florida had let Wyatt Langford play middle subject this 12 months. I do know they've a middle fielder, however individuals have been hoping to see what that will appear to be. The crew that takes him, I feel, may very effectively ship him out in middle and see how that performs.

6. AthleticsCallis: Chase Dollander, RHP, TennesseeMayo: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon

Callis: (Dollander) has simply been inconsistent this 12 months. You nonetheless see the good things, but it surely looks as if he has an inning the place he falters and he offers up a pair runs. I don’t suppose the command has been as sharp. I don’t suppose the stuff has been fairly as constant. But you’re nonetheless speaking a few man who has a number of pitches and plus command, and he’s athletic and the supply is nice, and there’s a monitor report of performing within the SEC.

Mayo: With Jacob Wilson, I gained’t name him the protected choose. People aren’t blown away. He’s going to be an enormous leaguer, and he’s going to be an enormous leaguer in a rush. But is he going to be an impression man that you simply’re going to take on the prime? The man simply doesn’t strike out. He hits, there’s energy, he’s a no-doubt shortstop.

7. RedsCallis: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand CanyonMayo: Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit (OR)

Callis: You know (Wilson) goes to hit. Exactly how a lot energy does he have? He can play shortstop, however do you've a greater shortstop on the big-league stage? It’s such a excessive baseball IQ. His dad (Jack Wilson) performed within the massive leagues, so he’s going to acclimate to professional ball rapidly. He’s obtained one of many highest flooring within the draft. He may need the second-highest flooring within the draft after Crews.

Mayo: I went pure upside right here. When push involves shove, the highschool arms usually slip down, though there’s invariably one which sneaks into the highest 10, possibly two. Right now, Noble Meyer and Thomas White are thought of to be the highest highschool arms. … Meyer has unbelievable stuff and projection and really feel for pitching and understanding of the craft already that belies his years. I don’t see him as dangerous of a highschool right-hander choose as in some years due to that mixture of issues.

8. RoyalsCallis: Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, VanderbiltMayo: Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (MA)

Callis: It’s not like (Bradfield) is a 65 or 70 runner; he’s an 80 runner. Let’s say I’m even excessive on the ability and he doesn’t hit double-digit house runs. I nonetheless suppose he’s going to hit for common, have a great OBP, be a man who can steal 40-50 bases in a season and play Gold Glove middle subject.

Mayo: This spring, (White) has taken a really massive step ahead; the stuff is healthier, the command is a lot better. He’s a sensible child, so I feel he’s figured plenty of it out. There are some individuals who really feel that White could also be the most effective highschool pitcher, interval, and he’s left-handed. So it wouldn’t even shock me if White ended up getting taken earlier than Noble Meyer, though there is likely to be slightly extra consolation stage with Noble Meyer since he’s been seen towards actually good competitors.

9. RockiesCallis: Jacob Gonzalez, SS, MississippiMayo: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee

Callis: Gonzalez, from a pure instruments perspective, he doesn’t run nice; it’s not basic shortstop instruments. There are some considerations that he’s not a shortstop on the subsequent stage, however the man has carried out for 3 years, he has good instincts that assist him make performs at shortstop. I don’t know if he’s a shortstop, however the man has performed at a excessive stage, controls the strike zone, was a part of a nationwide championship crew at Ole Miss. If he’s not a shortstop, he’s an offensive second baseman or third baseman.

10. MarlinsCallis: Aidan Miller, 3B, Mitchell (FL)Mayo: Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest (FL)

Callis: I really feel like Miller will get penalized as a result of he broke his hamate originally of the season, so he hasn’t performed so much. I might submit that that actually shouldn’t matter. Aidan Miller was most likely the most effective hitter on the showcase circuit final summer time. Max Clark was OK, Jenkins was damage, however Aidan Miller was MVP of the High School All-America Game, gained the Home Run Derby, he hit in every single place he went. I’m simply betting on the bat there.

Mayo: (Nimmala) is a man who performs a premium place and goes to play shortstop for a very long time. That’s why I picked him over somebody like Aidan Miller. He’s obtained an opportunity to have an effect with the bat, he runs effectively, he performs with excessive power, and the truth that he's a no-doubt shortstop with nice motion, a great arm, and loads of vary, that’s why I made a decision to go on this route.

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