In lieu of another mock draft, I have decided to rank the top 2013 MLB draft prospects based on everything I have seen, read and heard throughout the past couple of months. Here are my top 50 as of right now:
1. Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
Even when the 6’-5” right-hander is off, he is still better than nearly everyone in the draft. Against USC on April 5, Appel allowed two runs over 8.2 innings, striking out seven to one walk, acknowledging himself that he didn’t have his best stuff even though he was touching 96 mph in the eighth inning. Over his last six starts, he has a 0.88 ERA, 0.65 WHIP with 68 K/6 BB over 50.2 innings.
2. Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma
The 6’-4” right-hander has established himself as a top-five pick in the 2013 MLB draft thanks to a fastball that sits in the upper-90s and can touch triple-digits. He also adds a plus slider, an above-average change-up and he has greatly improved his command this season. Over his last five starts, he has a 0.44 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 52 K/4 BB over 40.2 innings.
3. Austin Meadows, OF, Grayson HS (GA)
At 6’-3” and 200 pounds, the left-hander may have the highest ceiling in the 2013 MLB draft. Over 17 games this season, he is hitting .587 with nine doubles, four home runs and has drawn eight walks for a .661 OBP/1.041 SLG. He has also added 13 stolen bases. Of his 13 extra-base hits, eight have gone to left field (4 2B, 4 HR), four have gone to centerfield (4 HR) and one has gone to right field (2B). That is gap-to-gap power.
4. Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS (GA)
Owner of the best bat speed in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-1″ right-hander has been assaulting the baseball this season. Over 19 games, he is hitting .550 with three doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 29 RBI and has drawn 12 walks for a .630 OBP/1.250 SLG. He has also added 13 stolen bases.
5. Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, San Diego
Arguably the best college bat in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-5” right-hander mixes immense power with the ability to be patient at the plate. Over 31 games, he is hitting .351 with nine doubles, 14 home runs, 35 RBI and has drawn 36 walks for a .517 OBP/.847 SLG. Some believe a move to the outfield is likely, while others think he can stick at the hot corner.
6. Sean Manaea, LHP, Indiana State
The 6’-5” southpaw is abusing opposing hitters, despite reports of his velocity being down, as well as his secondary stuff being off. Over seven starts, he is 4-2 with a 0.99 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 55 K/13 BB over 45.1 innings, holding hitters to a .178 batting average. His fastball sits in the low/mid 90s and he adds a plus slider. Even with the reports of his stuff being not quite as sharp, he is putting up great numbers. Imagine when he gets back on track.
7. Kohl Stewart, RHP, St. Pius X HS (TX)
The best prep pitcher in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-3” right-hander has a fastball that sits in the low/mid 90s and can dial it up to 97 mph. He also adds a adds a plus slider in the 85-88 mph range and he has excellent control and mound presence. He started the season with a 40-pitch pitch count due to an arm injury but has seen the reins come off as of late. Over 15 innings, he has 18 K/3 BB, allowing just five hits.
8. Reese McGuire, C, Kentwood HS (WA)
Arguably the best all-around catcher in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-1” right-hander excels on both sides of the field. His strong arm, footwork and instincts will allow him to stick at a premium position. At the plate, he is hitting .485 over 12 games with nine doubles, two triples, home run and has drawn 10 walks to one strikeout for a .605 OBP. He has also added four stolen bases. He put on a clinic for U18 Team USA over the summer, hitting .462 (12-for-26) with four doubles, 11 RBI, eight walks and a .583 OBP over nine games as Team USA won the gold in Seoul, South Korea.
9. Colin Moran, 3B/1B, North Carolina
Over his last 18 games, the 6’-3” left-hander is 31-for-68 (.456) with five doubles, seven home runs, 28 RBI and has drawn 16 walks for a .570 OBP/.838 SLG. He is silencing critics who think he won’t hit for power at the next level, while continuing to display amazing strike-zone judgment (31 BB/8 K over 31 games.) Still not sure where he will ultimately end up in the field, but his bat is true.
10. Jonathan Denney, C, Yukon HS (OK)
The 6’-2”, 200-pound right-hander has some of the best power in the 2013 MLB draft, as well as the defensive tools to remain behind the plate. Over 23 games this season, he is hitting .571 with nine doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 38 RBI and has drawn 22 walks for a .679 OBP/1.214 SLG.
11. Ryne Stanek, RHP, Arkansas
The 6’-4” right-hander has been looking sharp as of late, allowing one earned run over his last 21 innings, striking out 18 to three walks and allowing just 10 hits. The mid-90s heater and plus slider are there, and his command issues are starting to disappear. On the season, he has a 1.90 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 38 K/16 BB over 42.2 innings.
12. Chris Anderson, RHP, Jacksonville
A 6’-4”, 220-pound right-hander with a 90-93 mph fastball, a plus slider, plus change-up and good curveball, Anderson has seen his stock soar this season. Over eight starts, he is 5-2 with a 2.11 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 75 K/9 BB over 59.2 innings. His 11.3 K/9 and 8.3 K/BB ratios show the kind of power/control pitcher he is.
13. Braden Shipley, RHP, Nevada
An athletic 6’-3” right-hander whose fastball can touch 97 mph to go along with a plus slider, Shipley has gone 4-1 on the year with a 2.30 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 57 K/16 BB over 58.2 innings. Reports of his velocity being down in his last start are something to keep an eye on as his 7.3 innings-per-start may be tiring him out a bit.
14. J.P. Crawford, SS, Lakewood HS (CA)
The best all-around shortstop in a class weak on them, the 6’-2” right-hander is an athletically gifted player who can dazzle in the field and also has a canon of an arm. At the plate, he has very good bat speed and projects to a high-average hitter, although he may not hit for much power. Over 17 games this season, he is hitting .346 with seven extra-base hits, seven stolen bases and has drawn eight walks for a .452 OBP. Over his 116 career high school games, he is hitting .402 with 33 doubles, 13 triples, two home runs, 74 RBI and has struck out just 30 times. He has also gone 63-for-69 in stolen base attempts.
15. Trey Ball, LHP, New Castle HS (IN)
Still raw in some areas, Ball is a 6’-5” left-hander with a lot of projectability as both a pitcher and hitter. A great athlete, he can run his fastball up to 94 mph with an easy delivery. He also adds a slider and change-up, both sitting in the low 80s, but he is still inconsistent with both. His season is just getting underway.
Over 22 innings this season, the 6’-2” southpaw has 42 K/8 BB, allowing 13 hits. He features a low/mid-90s fastball to go along with a plus curveball and he has a lot of deception in his delivery. A big-game pitcher with great mound presence, he starred for U18 Team USA over the summer.
17. Dustin Driver, RHP, Wenatchee HS (WA)
Another great athlete, the 6’-2”, 210-pound right-hander has a low/mid-90s fastball and an above-average curveball. He also adds a developing change-up and cutter and his work with a personal trainer in the offseason has shown great strides in his command, delivery and composure on the mound.
18. Dominic Smith, OF, Serra HS (CA)
One of the most advanced prep players in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-1” left-hander is hitting .514 over 13 games with nine extra-base hits and has drawn seven walks to three strikeouts for a .587 OBP. Coming into the season, he was hitting .568 over 77 games with 14 home runs, 126 RBI, 29 stolen bases and had struck out just 13 times. He has a very strong arm and can touch 95 mph on the mound, making him a good fit for a corner outfield spot.
19. Ryan Eades, RHP, LSU
The 6’-3”, 200-pound right-hander has been displaying a plus fastball that has touched 96 mph this year with improved movement and late life. His slurve has looked plus at times, and the same can be said about his change-up. For the year, he is now 7-0 over eight starts with a 1.30 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 51 K/13 BB over 55.1 innings.
20. Hunter Harvey, RHP, Bandys HS (NC)
The 6’-3”, 190-pound right-hander has touched 97 mph with his fastball this season and it sits comfortably at 92-95 mph. He adds a solid change-up and curveball but has relied mostly on overpowering hitters with his fastball this year. Over 26.2 innings, he has a ridiculous 60 strikeouts (20.3 K/9) while allowing just seven walks. On March 28, he struck out 17 over six innings, allowing three hits and one walk. A live arm who is the son of former major league closer, Bryan Harvey.
21. Andy McGuire, SS, Madison HS (VA)
A great athlete with great bat speed and instincts for the game, the 6’-2” right-hander is one of the better hitters in the 2013 MLB draft. Over nine games this season, he is 11-for-25 (.440) with five doubles, six stolen bases and a .563 OBP. Scouts are believing he can stick at shortstop, and that could shoot him up draft boards.
22. Nick Ciuffo, C, Lexington HS (SC)
A great defensive backstop with a canon arm and great instincts for the game, Ciuffo is a left-handed hitting catcher who projects to a high-average hitter with developing power. A leader on and off the field, he could end up being the best in a class deep on elite talent prep catchers.
23. Austin Wilson, OF, Stanford
At 6’-5” and 245 pounds, the right-hander has a ton of projection as a power-hitting corner outfielder with speed. Still raw in many areas, he was injured in the first game of the season and is just know getting back into game action. The time missed hasn’t helped his progression but he remains a toolsy player with a high upside.
24. Ryan Boldt, OF, Red Wing HS (MN)
The 6’-1” left-hander is a speedy outfielder who projects to a high-average, top-of-the-order player. His smooth, compact swing projects to more power as he matures, and he can flat out fly on the base paths. Went 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts for U18 Team USA and also drew seven walks over nine games for the gold-medal winners.
25. Phillip Ervin, OF, Samford
One of the more exciting players in the 2013 MLB draft, Mr. Magic Ervin has drawn comps to Andrew McCutchen because of his power/speed combo, as well as his play in centerfield. Over 30 games this season, the 5’-11” right-hander is hitting .374 with seven doubles, eight home runs, 10 stolen bases and has drawn 23 walks for a .508 OBP/.707 SLG. He put on a show at the Cape Cod League this past summer, hitting .323 with 10 stolen bases and led the league in home runs with 11.
26. Kevin Ziomek, LHP, Vanderbilt
The 6’-5” southpaw features a low-90s fastball with late life, a low-80s plus change-up and his breaking ball has been sharp this season. Over eight starts, he is 6-1 with a 1.81 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 65 K/19 BB over 59.2 innings for the Commodores.
27. Tom Windle, LHP, Minnesota
Over his last five starts, the 6’-4” southpaw has been brilliant posting a 0.66 ERA, 0.44 WHIP and 39 K/3 BB over 41 innings. Opponents are hitting just .107 against him during that span, and he also tossed a no-hitter. His fastball touches 94 mph, and he also adds solid offerings in a slider, curveball and change-up. He has great command of all four pitches.
28. Garrett Williams, LHP, Cavalry Baptist Academy (LA)
The 6’-2”, 200-pound southpaw features a low-90s fastball to go along with a plus curveball. Over 28 innings this season, he has 48 K/14 BB, allowing just seven hits. A polished pitcher with great mound presence, Williams is a former Little League World Series star, as well as a member of Team USA baseball.
29. Robert Kaminsky, LHP, St. Joseph HS (NJ)
One of the top southpaws in the 2013 MLB draft, Kaminsky is a player who keeps climbing the draft boards. His fastball can touch 96 mph, and he also adds a hammer curve that sits in the mid 70s. His change-up is still developing but is already a solid pitch. He has great control and can be un-hittable at times. Went 8-2 as a junior with 103 K/20 BB over 53 innings, allowing just 12 hits including three no-hitters. Another strong season could propel him into the upper half of the 2013 MLB draft.
30. Andrew Thurman, RHP, UC Irvine
At 6’-3” and 205 pounds, Thurman has a live arm and his fastball can hit the mid/upper 90s. His secondary offerings are still developing, but with his size and arm, he is all about projection right now. Over seven starts, he has a 2.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 45 K/9 BB over 48.2 innings, showing great command of his pitches.
31. Matt McPhearson, OF, Riverdale Baptist HS (MD)
Maybe the fastest player in the 2013 MLB draft, the 5’-11” left-hander also has an advanced approach at the plate, making him the prototypical leadoff hitter. Over 11 games this season, he is hitting .538 with 13 stolen bases and has drawn seven walks to three strikeouts for a .615 OBP. He has been clocked at 6.21 in the 60 and was 68-for-72 in stolen base attempts as a junior. An above-average arm, coupled with his speed, should allow him to stick at centerfield at the next level.
32. Marco Gonzales, LHP, Gonzaga
Owner of a filthy change-up that is arguably the best in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-1” southpaw also features a low-90s fastball with good movement. Over eight starts, he has a 2.89 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 51 K/11 BB over 56 innings. A great athlete, he also leads the Bulldogs in hitting at .352 (32-for-91) with a .406 OBP.
33. Ryan McMahon, 3B, Mater Dei HS (CA)
At 6’-3” and 200 pounds, the left-handed hitting third baseman has been displaying plus defense at the hot corner, as well as a potent bat that could land him in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft. Over his last four games, he is 10-for-13 with three doubles, a triple, seven RBI and has drawn two walks. Over 15 games, he is 24-for-48 (.500) with seven doubles, three home runs, 22 RBI and a .556 OBP/.875 SLG.
34. Jonah Wesely, LHP, Tracy HS (CA)
A power lefty with a big, looping curveball, Wesely features a low/mid-90s fastball and has used both to simply overpower hitters at the prep level. Over 32 innings this season, he has a 1.41 ERA and 51 K/12 BB.
35. Billy McKinney, OF, Plano West HS (TX)
One of the more polished prep hitters in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-1” left-hander has a great approach at the plate and above-average power. Over 18 games, he is hitting .477 with four doubles, three home runs and has drawn 21 walks to just three strikeouts for a .676 OBP/.818 SLG.
36. Oscar Mercado, SS, Gaither HS (FL)
A defensive whiz with a strong arm, the 6’-1” right-hander also has excellent bat speed and good strike-zone judgment. Over 17 games, he is hitting .283 and has drawn 13 walks to just two strikeouts for a .459 OBP. He is also a perfect 19-for-19 in stolen base attempts, showing the wheels that will make him a threat on the base paths at the next level.
37. Michael Lorenzen, OF, Cal State Fullerton
A premiere defensive center fielder, the 6’-3” right-hander has the speed, arm and instincts to remain an elite-level prospect at a premium position. At the plate, he is hitting .361 over 32 games with seven doubles, three triples, six home runs, 34 RBI and a .437 OBP/.615 SLG. He has added seven stolen bases but his 10 BB/23 K ratio shows needed improvement in his approach at the plate.
38. Aaron Blair, RHP, Marshall
Blair is a 6’-5”, 220-pound right-hander who is solid across the board in his offerings. He features an 88-92 mph fastball with good sink, a mid-70s curveball and a mid-80s change-up. Both his curve and change-up are average to above-average pitches, and he controls all three nicely. Over seven starts, he is 5-1 with a 2.11 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 47 K/15 BB over 42.2 innings. Opponents are hitting just .161 against him.
39. Andrew Mitchell, RHP, TCU
At 6’-3” and 225 pounds, Mitchell is a power righty whose fastball sits in the 91-94 mph range. His secondary offerings are solid and he has decent command. He started the season in the bullpen but has since been put back in the rotation as TCU finally came to their senses. Over 22.2 innings, he has 34 K/14 BB and a 3.57 ERA.
40. Hunter Green, LHP, Warren East HS (KY)
At 6’-4” and 170 pounds, Green already gets his fastball up to 92 mph and will add more velocity once he matures. He adds a deceptive change-up and a power curveball with nice depth. He locates his pitches well and has a good feel for his pitches. Over 18 innings this season, he has 38 K/14 BB while allowing just six hits.
41. Carlos Salazar, RHP, Kerman HS (CA)
The 6’-3” right-hander has been making noise thanks to a fastball that can reach 97 mph. His change-up is a solid pitch, sitting in the low-80s and his curveball still needs some refining. His delivery is smooth and the ball jumps out of his hand. He has also worked hard on his command, cutting his BB/9 down to 4.1 this year from 6.4 as a junior. Over 28.2 innings this year, he has yet to allow an earned run while striking out 58 to 13 walks.
42. D.J. Peterson, 3B/1B, New Mexico
The 6’-1”, 210-pound right-hander is one of the best college bats in the 2013 MLB draft but there are concerns about whether the power will translate as he plays in basically a helium tank of a ballpark. Over 27 games, he is hitting .420 with 14 doubles, 12 home runs, 42 RBI and leads the nation with a .920 SLG. He may ultimately end up at first base.
43. Bobby Wahl, RHP, Ole Miss
The 6’-3” right-hander has had command issues this season despite a 1.57 ERA over eight starts. Over 51.2 innings, he has 45 K/25 BB. He has shown the ability to get out of some tough jams but scouts would like it if he didn’t get himself into those situations so often. He features a mid-90s fastball with very good movement and a wipe-out slider.
44. Matthew Krook, LHP, St. Ignatius Prep (CA)
A rising southpaw with a low-90s fastball and above-average curve, there is still a lot of room for projection. Over 18 innings this season, he has 30 K/12 BB and a 4.00 ERA.
45. Ivan Wilson, OF, Rustin HS (LA)
The 6’-3”, 225-pound right-hander generates a lot of power from his frame and is a very athletic player with a strong arm and above-average speed (6.6/60). A high-riser with a huge upside that could go in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft.
46. Aaron Judge, OF, Fresno State
At 6’-7” and 255 pounds, the right-hander has the potential to be a big-time power hitter at the next level, although the power is coming along slower than expected. Over 28 games, he is hitting .330 with seven doubles, five home runs and a .405 OBP/.545 SLG. He has struck out 31 times as his long swing provides a lot of swing-and-miss to his game.
47. Justin Williams, OF, Terrebone HS (LA)
One of the better power bats in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-3”, 210-pound left-hander is also a great athlete. He has a great arm, great bat speed and just needs to refine his approach at the plate to put it all together. He won both the Perfect Game Classic and Under Armour All-American Game home run derbies over the summer. He is raw in areas but has a high upside.
48. Brett Morales, RHP, King HS (FL)
A power pitcher whose fastball sits in the low/mid 90s, the 6’-3” right-hander has 59 K/14 BB over 45 innings this, including a five-inning no-hitter in which he struck out 12 to no walks. He also has one of the best change-ups among prep players, 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.
49. Chris Okey, C, Eustis HS (FL)
A great athlete who has the defensive tools to stick behind the plate, the 6’-1’ right-hander can handle the bat, as well. Over 22 games this year, he is hitting .459 with nine extra-base hits and has drawn 14 walks to just four strikeouts for a .573 OBP/.705 SLG. He is also a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen base attempts. A polished player who is a two-time gold medal winner for U18 Team USA.
50. Casey Shane, RHP, Centennial HS (TX)
Over 15.1 innings this year, the 6’-4” right-hander has 33 K/5 BB, including his last start in which he tossed a seven inning no-hitter, striking out 17 to one walk. He features a nasty, sinking fastball that sits in the low 90s to go along with a mid-80s change-up and low-80s curveball that both project to above-average.
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