The 2013 MLB draft is now less than three weeks away with the first round to be held on June 6. This is the seventh in a series of prep players who have impressed recently, either improving their stock, or proving the hype is for real. Here are 10 players, in no particular order, whose stock is on the rise:
Brett Morales, RHP, King HS (FL)
In his last start on May 10, the 6’-3” right-hander struck out a school-record 17 batters over seven innings, allowing one run on three hits. He is now 11-1 over 13 starts with a 0.58 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 117 K/20 BB over 78 innings. He can touch 95 mph with his fastball, with good sink to it, and he has one of the best change-ups among prep players in the 2013 MLB draft, sitting in the upper-70s with late fade and deception. He adds a developing 12-6, mid-70s curveball and knows how to mix his pitches well.
Corey Ray, OF, Simeon HS (IL)
Over his last 10 games, the 5’-11” left-hander has gone 14-for-30 (.467) with three doubles, three triples, two home runs, 12 RBI and has stolen 11 bases. He has also drawn 10 walks for a .610 OBP/.967 SLG. He has excellent bat speed and can spray the ball to all fields. His above-average speed and strong arm allow him to play all three outfield positions, and he has great instincts in the field. The Midwest doesn’t get a lot of attention when it comes to prep baseball, but Ray’s abilities should get him drafted in the top-three rounds. Committed to Louisville.
Jacob Heyward, OF, Eagle’s Landing HS (GA)
Jason Heyward’s younger brother, Jacob has been living up to the family name by putting on a clinic lately. Over his last 17 games, he is hitting .432 with six doubles, six home runs, 29 RBI and has stolen six bases. He also has drawn 15 walks and been hit by a pitch six times for a .621 OBP/1.023 SLG. Not as highly touted as Jason, the 6’-2” right-hander has a lot of upside of his own. He has been clocked at 6.83 in the 60, his arm at 86 mph in the outfield and he has raw developing power. Committed to Miami.
Hunter Harvey, RHP, Bandys HS (NC)
The 6’-3” right-hander was sensational in his last start, striking out 17 over eight shutout innings, allowing one hit in a 1-0 win over North Lincoln. For the year, he now has 116 K/17 BB over 54.2 innings, allowing just 23 hits. His 19.1 K/9 ratio shows how futile opposing prep hitters are against his mid-90s fastball and mid-70s plus curveball. He is the son of former big league closer Bryan Harvey.
While Clint Frazier and Austin Meadows grab most of the attention in Georgia this year, Hart’s Parkview team is the only one of the three still in the post season. The 6’-2” left-hander has been the main reason for his team’s success. Over his last 12 games, he is hitting .526 (20-for-38) with three doubles, four home runs, 16 RBI and eight walks for a .632 OBP/1.026 SLG. A great athlete, his plus speed (6.49/60) and strong arm play well in centerfield. He also has some of the best bat speed in the 2013 MLB draft and more power should come as he matures. Committed to Georgia Tech.
Jordan Paroubeck, OF, Serra HS (CA)
Over his last seven games, the 6’-2”, 190 pound switch-hitter has gone 12-for-24 (.500) with three doubles. two home runs, nine RBI and has drawn six walks for a .613 OBP/.875 SLG. Over 30 games this season, he is now hitting .415/.540/.787 with 12 doubles, seven home runs, 30 RBI and has stolen 12 bases. Paroubeck is a quick-twitch athlete with excellent bat speed and raw power from the left side, although he makes good enough contact from the right side to remain a switch-hitter. He also has a plus arm and enough speed to play all three outfield positions. Committed to Fresno State.
Ryan McMahon, 3B, Mater Dei HS (CA)
The 6’-3”, 200-pound left-handed hitter has been the best player on the best team in the nation this season. Over his last six games, he has gone 7-for-16 (.438) with four extra-base hits, eight RBI and has drawn six walks to no strikeouts for a .609 OBP/.938 SLG. He is now hitting .420/.495/.753 over 26 games with 32 RBI. He is the type of player whose power is going to come fast, and he should be a high-average run producer at the next level. Defensively, many think he will be a plus defender due to his athleticism, soft hands and instincts. Committed to USC.
Logan Shore, RHP, Coon Rapids HS (MN)
A 6’-2” right-hander whose fastball sits 90-93 mph, he also adds an above-average curveball and still has a lot of projection left. He tossed seven shutout innings in his last start on May 13, striking out four to no walks. The baseball season starts later than other states due to the cold weather in Minnesota, so Shore has only had a chance to appear in four games. Over those four starts, he is 4-0 with a 1.03 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 51 K/15 BB over 43.2 innings. He has good command of his pitches, good mound presence and a high character. Committed to Florida.
Thomas Milone, OF, Masuk HS (CT)
The 6’-1” left-hander has been showing off his plus speed (4.3/40) as the weather warms up in Connecticut. Over his last five games, he has swiped 13 bases and now is a perfect 22-for-22 in just 13 games. He has also gone 9-for-19 with eight walks to just one strikeout for a .679 OBP over those five games. He has shown a very good approach at the plate and, mixed with his speed, projects to a top-of-the-order hitter. He hasn’t shown much power but could develop more as he matures. He is also a wide receiver and is committed to play both sports at Connecticut.
Chris Kohler, LHP, Los Osos HS (CA)
The 6’-3”, 200-pound southpaw tossed a seven inning no-hitter on May 8, striking out eight to one walk. He now has 93 K/28 BB over 60 innings. His fastball can reach 90 mph, but it sits comfortable in the 86-88 range with nice sink. There is a lot of room for added velocity once he works on his mechanics and fills out more. His curveball is his best pitch, a mid-70s looper that he can locate for strikes or use as a chase pitch. His change-up has nice tailing action and sits in the upper 70s. He has a great feel for pitching and commands his pitches well. Committed to Oklahoma.
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