Jamie Cameron

The Twins benefited greatly from the inaugural MLB Draft Lottery, jumping from 13th to the fifth overall pick and adding $2.7 million to pursue prospects. What does their Draft Pool look like in 2024? What are the factors that could add or detract from it? Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp Now that the dust has (sort of) settled on the Minnesota Twins 2023 Draft, we anxiously await news of new Minnesota Twins signing. While it’s far too early to look at the 2024 class (headline, it’s not as good), we can chart some paths of what the Twins bonus pool situation might look like in 2024. Famously, the Twins were the beneficiaries of the inaugural MLB Draft Lottery, moving from the 13th pick to the fifth, gaining about $2.7 in bonus pool money. In doing so, they secured a likely top 30 consensus global prospect in Walker Jenkins. Additionally, their bloated bonus pool allowed them the luxury of leaning into an incredibly strong prep class, nabbing Brandon Winokur in the third round and Dylan Questad in the fifth. Surely the Twins won’t have such a rosy financial outlook in 2024? No, but it’s more interesting than you might think. Here are three factors that will significantly impact the Minnesota Twins 2024 bonus pool. Do They Make the Playoffs? The Twins persistent mediocrity has been incredibly frustrating to watch in the first half of the season. Remarkably, despite playing in the AL Central, they currently sit outside the playoffs. If they don’t win the Central, the Twins will be eligible for the Draft Lottery for a second consecutive year. The chances of the Twins moving up for their mid-league record will again be incredibly small, but it remains a factor for consideration, hopefully one we don’t have to think about come September. It’s noteworthy that as a mid-market (revenue sharing) team, the Twins are prohibited from moving up in the draft in three consecutive years. Competitive Balance Pick The Twins will be eligible for a Comp pick in 2024. Comp picks are awarded to the ten lowest revenue teams and the 10 smallest market teams. As some franchises fit both criteria, there are less than 20 of these picks awarded every year. Picks in Comp A and Comp B are awarded via lottery which determines which round a team is picking and in what order. This makes a substantial difference to teams with Comp A pick slots ranging from $2.2 - $2.7 million and Comp B slots ranging from $1.1 - $1.2 million using 2023 slot values. Sonny Gray The Twins had a few players who might have been eligible for a Qualifying Offer (QO) at the end of 2023. Sonny Gray is the last man standing from these candidates. Recent comments indicated he might choose to retire from baseball at the end of this season. For the purposes of this thought exercise, we’re going to make a quartet of assumptions: Sonny Gray continues playing The Twins give Sonny Gray a QO Sonny Gray rejects the QO to test free agency Sonny Gray signs elsewhere as a free agent While this may seem like a narrow path (it is at the moment), in this scenario, the Twins gain a compensatory pick for losing a player who rejected a QO. In this instance, the size of Sonny Gray’s contract becomes significant for the Twins: If a player signs for over $50 million: The team is awarded a pick after round one, before Comp Round A (approximately $2.8 million slot value in 2023). If a player signs for under $50 million: The team is awarded a pick after Comp Round B (approximately $1.1 million slot value in 2023). Here are three scenarios that demonstrate how much variation there could be in the Twins 2024 bonus pool. For this thought exercise, we’ll use 2023 slots as a proxy for next year. Scenario 1: Largest Budget The Twins miss the playoffs and move up in the Draft Lottery from 12th to 6th: +$1.6 million The Twins are awarded a Comp A pick: +$2.4 million Sonny Gray rejects a QO and signs with another team for over $50 million: +$2.8 million Total added to bonus pool: +$6.8 million Scenario 2: Smallest Budget The Twins make the playoffs (first rounds exit, not eligible for lottery) Twins have 19th overall pick (slot $3.8 million) Twins are awarded a Comp B pick towards the back of the round: +$1.1 million Sonny Gray accepts the Twins QO: No impact Total added to bonus pool: +$1.1 million Scenario 3: A More Likely Middle Ground The Twins make the playoffs (first round exit, not eligible for lottery) Twins have 19th overall pick (slot $3.8 million) Twins are awarded a Comp B pick towards the back of the round: +$1.1 million Sonny Gray rejects a QO and signs with another team for over $50 million: +$2.8 million Total added to bonus pool: +$3.9 million Do you think the Twins offer Sonny Gray the qualifying offer? Do you think he would accept? Join the discussion in the comments? View full article

With the 49th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins selected Luke Keaschall, a shortstop out of Arizona State University. Keaschall is ranked 61st overall on the Twins Daily Consensus Board. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp Luke Keaschall is a shortstop out of Arizona State University. He is ranked at 61st overall on the Twins Daily Consensus Board. Across nine boards we track, he had a high ranking of 44th and a low ranking of 90th (MLB Pipeline). Keaschall had outstanding seasons as a freshman and sophomore at San Francisco before transferring to Arizona State for his junior season. In 55 games he put together a .353/.443/.725 line with 18 home runs and 18 stolen bases. Keaschall has a hit over power approach at the plate, even with a power breakout in 2023. At the plate, he has strong contact rates, despite expanding the strike zone sometimes in his at bats. Most of his power came to the pull side in 2023. Keaschall's batted ball data is not outstanding, and despite hitting 18 home runs in 2023, he will likely have fringy power as a professional. Still, there's an excellent line drive swing with an approach that leads to few strikeouts (13 K% in 2023), and few walks (10 BB% in 2023). Defensively, Keaschall should be able to stay on the dirt, but it's more of a second base over shortstop profile as a professional. He has a fringy/average arm and average defense, with solid defensive actions. He can run a bit and should be a threat on the base paths with an aggressive approach when he gets on. Keaschall is a little in the mold of Tanner Schobel in that he's a prospect coming off the back of a breakout in 2023, with strong wooden bat production on the Cape to back up his college performance at ASU. A pick of this archetype was likely after Walker Jenkins and Charlee Soto kicked off the night for the Twins. What do you think of the Luke Keaschall pick at 49 for the Twins? Join the discussion in the comments below. View full article

With the 34th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins selected Charlee Soto, a right-handed pitcher out of Reborn Academy, Florida. Soto is the 36th ranked player on the Twins Daily Consensus Board. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo Charlee Soto is a 17 year old pitcher out of Reborn Academy, Florida. He is ranked 36th overall on the Twins Daily Consensus Board with rankings between 28 and 55 in the boards I use at inputs. On the mound, Soto is a physical, impressive presence at 6'5, 210 pounds. Soto converted to pitching full time relatively recently, after playing as a shortstop for most of his early baseball career. On the mound, Soto's arsenal is headlined by a lively fastball, that sits between 94-96 mph but can grab 97-98 mph with regularity with good life at the top of the zone. He has a little noise in his operation on the mound, but that's hardly surprising for a player relatively new to pitching. Soto has a pair of exciting secondaries. He features a sharp biting slider that sits in the mid 80s with plenty of bite and good spin rates (2300-2500 rpm). Additionally, he has a feel for a split change with a ton of good tumble and fade. Soto has just average control currently, hardly surprising for a pitching prospect so young. He has one of the quickest arms in the entire draft class, and the Twins have shown a proclivity for adding velocity to their pitchers. Soto has the size, projectability, and emerging arsenal to be a force on the mound. The Twins will likely bring him along slowly (think Marco Raya). The clay is there to mold. The ingredients are incredibly exciting. What do you think of the Charlee Soto pick? Join the conversation in the comments below. View full article

Really appreciate all the engagement man.

There are major boards that still have him 6 or 7. We're conflating him being a boring pick with him being a bad player.

Really appreciate it!

Day 1 of the 2023 MLB Draft is drawing near. I’m excited to share the final version of the Consensus Draft Board. You can access the Consensus Draft Board directly by clicking the link in the main article. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp TD.BF.NSBB 2023 Consensus MLB Draft Board V3 Final In the google sheet, you’ll find players ranked 1 through 311. For each prospect, you’ll find basic information; position, age, rank, school, height, weight, B/T and space where I’ll add where they were selected. In the final ‘writeup’ column, you’ll find notes on each of the first 100 or so prospects highlighting tools, strengths, opportunities, and recent performance. In the top 50 of the Consensus Board, you’ll find the following color coding (there was too much variance beyond the top 50 to make continuing to track movements up and down worthwhile): Light green - player moved up 5-9 spots since last Consensus Board Dark green - player moved up 10+ spots since last Consensus Board Light red - player moved down 5-9 spots since last Consensus Board Dark red - player moved down 10+ spots since last Consensus Board Following the draft, I’ll do some postmortem on how useful this tool was compared to other boards. For now, I hope people find it a useful resource to find notes and valuable insights into players drafted, starting Sunday. Lastly, I’ll say that if you appreciate this resource, I’d be really grateful if people share it, link it, tweet it out etc. This is year two of this project and after a promising 2022 version, the 2023 version started in February. It started as a top 30 in winter, and has grown to what I believe to be the first Consensus Board for the MLB Draft. It’s the sum of months of work and over 30,000 words, so anything folks can do to share it is greatly appreciated. Happy Draft weekend, y’all. View full article

Day 1 of the Draft is around the corner. Today, we continue our profiles of players the Twins may target with the number five overall pick. Today, we focus on talented outfielder Walker Jenkins out of North Carolina. Image courtesy of Ken Blevins, USA Today Sports We are in the home stretch. Day one of the 2023 MLB Draft is a few days away. In a recent interview with Darren Wolfson, the Twins VP of Amateur Scouting, Sean Johnson, shared his thoughts on the consensus top five prospects heading into Sunday. Recently, there has been some Draft analysts who have suggested the Twins are out on Jenkins. Johnson's comments underline that the team is keeping an open minded approach ahead of pick five. So who is Walker Jenkins? What might he offer the Twins? Who is He? Jenkins is a physical left-handed hitting prep outfielder from North Carolina, currently committed to the University of North Carolina. Jenkins currently sits at number four overall on the Consensus Board and is ranked in the 3-5 range on every board that’s an input for it. Why the Twins Will Draft Him Much has been made of the Twins ‘preference’ to draft college bats. I tend to think that’s a conflation of a few things, including folks feeling shy after Keoni Cavaco not working out, and a tendency to overlook the fact that the Twins are rarely picking as high as five overall. Jenkins and Clark are legitimate star caliber upside prospects. Jenkins swing is compact and rhythmic, staying on plane and timed up well with great bat speed. He has a good chance to end up with a plus hit and plus power combo, already turning well on pitches inside, although he can hit for power the opposite way, too. Jenkins likely won’t be a plus runner. At 6’3, 215, he’ll continue to fill out and might slow a little, although his speed is above average. He has a plus arm though and is above average defensively. Jenkins will likely start his pro career in center field to see how he handles it, although he may shift to right field long term. In 2017 when the Twins drafted Royce Lewis, one plus in his profile cited by the front office was that he was a high character player and person, that same can be said for Jenkins, who earns rave reviews for his work ethic and humbleness. Why the Twins Won’t Draft Him It’s possible that Jenkins is gone by the time the Twins pick. The Rangers in particular and the Tigers have been heavily in on Jenkins this spring. It’s also possible that the Twins manipulate their bonus pool by signing a player under slot so they can spend on a deep prep class at 34 and/or 49. As far as tools, character, and ceiling, there shouldn’t be reasons the Twins don’t take Jenkins, he’s another incredibly exciting 2023 talent. What do you think of Walker Jenkins as a prospect? How would you feel about the Twins taking him fifth overall in the Draft? Join the discussion in the comments. Previous Draft Articles and Profiles Max Clark Noble Meyer Rhett Lowder Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Wilson Wyatt Langford Kyle Teel Chase Dollander Nygaard Mock Draft v.2 Consensus Big Board Profiles: 26-50 Consensus Big Board Profiles: 1-25 View full article

Over the next two weeks, we're going to be providing you with profiles of 10 players the Twins could take with the fifth pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Today we discuss a five-tool prep hitter that fits the mold of Twins draft choices of the past. Image courtesy of Joe Rondone/The Republic We are only a few days from the beginning of the 2023 MLB Draft. After an overly long runway, we're going to see who the Twins pick fifth overall. Now that we're so proximal to the Draft, rumors are flying. In June, a rumor surfaced that the Pirates would be interested in Clark at number one overall, to save money for later picks. That steam seems to have disappeared. What remains is that Clark is part of a group of consensus top five players, is one of the most likely to be on the board when the Twins pick. So who is he? What does he offer the Minnesota Twins? Who is He? Max Clark is a prep outfielder from Franklin, Indiana who was recently awarded the Gatorade High School Player of the Year Award. Clark has been one of two consensus top prep prospects (along with Walker Jenkins) for the entirety of the pre-draft process and has been a consensus top five prospect since the new year. Clark currently sits at number five overall on the Consensus Board and is ranked fourth or fifth overall on every Draft board used as an input. Why the Twins Will Draft Him The drop off after the top five prospects in industry pre-draft rankings is stark this year. Clark, the number five prospect on the Consensus Board, has an average ranking of 4.8. Chase Dollander , the current number six prospect, has an average ranking of 10.2. There’s a strong case to be made that if the Twins select Clark, they are taking the best player remaining on their Draft board. Clark is an electric talent with four tools that already grade as an easy plus. Clark has a direct, short, balanced swing that stays through the zone. He generates line drive, hard contact to all fields. Prior to the 2023 high school season, Clark worked on adding loft to his swing, with impressive results as he went on to put up gaudy numbers in his final season. Why the Twins Won’t Draft Him There isn't a good reason the Twins would pass on Clark if he’s available at number five unless another prospect they have higher on their Draft board is still available, which seems unlikely. It has been pointed out (fairly) that the Twins prefer college bats to prep ones, and some fans might be shy of a prep bat in the first round after Keoni Cavaco in 2019. This is a completely different scenario. Cavaco was a helium prospect who rose late on Draft boards. Clark is a viable candidate to be drafted first overall by the Pirates. If the Twins land him at five, they are getting an exceptional talent. What do you think of Max Clark as a prospect? How would you feel about him being the Twins pick at #5 overall? Join the discussion in the comments. Previous Draft Articles and Profiles Noble Meyer Rhett Lowder Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Wilson Wyatt Langford Kyle Teel Chase Dollander Nygaard Mock Draft v.2 Consensus Big Board Profiles: 26-50 Consensus Big Board Profiles: 1-25 View full article

There’s a part one that has 50-26. Also final consensus board (out Thursday if I can get my life together) will be to 250 or so. I think there will be some consensus really great talent around at 34.

We are a little over a week away from day one of the 2023 MLB Draft. Who are the current top 25 players on JD Cameron’s Consensus Big Board? Let’s dig in. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp We’re finally in the home stretch and the MLB Draft is only a handful of days. In the coming week, I’ll release the final Consensus Board. The timing is tricky, as there are plenty of outlets who haven’t released their final pre-draft rankings just yet. So, here’s a taste of what’s to come. Here’s the current state of the Top 50 consensus prospects, split into 26-50, and 1-25. It’s likely that prospect’s positions in the final rankings will be slightly different, as final inputs for the Consensus Board are updated. If you enjoy these rankings, be sure to look out for my final board, where you’ll find over 200 players ranked with over 100 written up. 25. Yohandy Morales , 3B, Miami A big, physical third baseman with a power hitting profile, Yohandy Morales was a top 100 prospect coming out of high school but elected to play at Miami. In his last two seasons with the Hurricanes, he's put up nearly identical numbers, managing a .408/.475/.713 line through 61 games in 2023. Morales has easy raw power (38 HR between 2022-2023) and puts up consistently massive exit velocities (his 90th percentile exit velocity was north of 108 mph in 2023). That type of power comes with a good amount of swing and miss, a tendency which will govern his floor as a prospect. In 2023, Morales saw his K% (23%) and BB% (~12.5%) stay close to his 2022 numbers through the end of the season. A good defender at third with a strong arm, Morales will do a ton of damage at the plate and is likely a first round selection. 24. Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner HS, PA McGonigle's calling card is his hit tool, it's one of the best in the class. He features an efficient, short swing, and lightning quick hands that have allowed him to hit consistently well against good competition throughout his amateur career to date. There are questions about how much power McGonigle may develop, but his swing currently offers line drive power to all fields. Defensively, while he's currently a shortstop, a lack of quickness and an average arm may move him to second base. Make no mistake, the bat and hit tool are the headlines here, and they're high quality enough for a team to find him a home on the infield somewhere. 23. Brock Wilken , 3B, Wake Forest Wilken has been on the draft radar for some time as a third base masher who cranked 40 home runs in his first two seasons at Wake. In 2023, everything has taken a step forward at the plate. Through 66 games, he hit 31 home runs and a triple slash of .345/.506/.807, all significant improvements from a year ago. Through the end of the CWS he cut his K% from 28% to 24% and increased his BB% from 13% to 29%. These improvements speak to a better approach at the plate and a hit tool that can develop to at least average. He may need to find a more aggressive approach at the plate as a pro as his passivity has allowed better pitchers to get to their best secondary offerings against him. Defensively Wilken has good hands and a plus arm. His lateral movement and slow foot speed may necessitate a move to first base eventually. Wilken has been moving up draft boards steadily this season and has 30 home run potential at the next level. 22. Chase Davis , OF, Arizona Davis is an athletic outfielder who was a Top 100 rated prospect on most boards in 2020 before the Draft was shortened to five rounds and he ended up honoring his commitment to Arizona. Davis has a ton of great tools. He has plus power to all fields which he's taken to the next level in games this season. In 2023, he put up a year for the ages .362/.489/.742 with 21 home runs and a left handed swing reminiscent of Carlos Gonzalez, ripping consistently huge exit velocities. Critically, he's cut down on his chase rate and swing and miss dramatically and has a good argument for the most improved player in college baseball. Defensively, he's athletic with a bazooka arm in the outfield. I think Davis is a Top 10 player. He's been zooming up boards, but is still ranked consistently too low in my opinion. 21. Braden Taylor , 3B, TCU Taylor has some of the best strike zone control in the '23 class. I'd expect him to eventually be picked in the 10-20 range. In his first two years at TCU his production was incredibly consistent, before exhibiting more unevenness in 2023. Taylor has a great eye (21 BB% in 2023), rarely expanding the strike zone and line drive power all over the field, including home run power to the pull side (23 through 67 games in 2023) underpinned by a beautiful left-handed swing. Taylor is a good defender at the hot corner and should stick at third base long term. His ceiling is hurt by poorer results against elite velocity and a lack of upper echelon exit velocities although his strong end to the season and other strong underlying analytical markers will appeal to model heavy teams. 20. Jacob Wilson , SS, Grand Canyon Jacob Wilson is the son of former All-Star MLB SS Jack Wilson. His calling card is his strike zone control and plate discipline. At the time of writing, Wilson carried just a 2.7 K% through his 22-23 seasons at Grand Canyon. He *literally* doesn't strike out. Wilson has improved his offensive production every season in college, building to a .411/.461/.635 through 49 games in 2023. Wilson doesn't have much in the way of power but may develop pull-side pop as he continues to develop and refine his approach at the plate. A solid defender, Wilson probably doesn't have the lateral quickness to stick at shortstop, but would be a solid option at either second or third base. Wilson has an incredibly advanced approach and high floor, he should move quickly through the minors when he turns pro although a lack of power may limit his offensive ceiling. 19. Bryce Eldridge, RHP/1B, Madison HS, VA Eldridge is one of the most projectable prospects in the '23 class, and a legitimate two-way player. In the pre-draft process, he’s been adamant about hitting and pitching at the next level as a pro. He features a fastball that has touched 96 mph, a sharp breaking slider that sits in the low 80s, and a developmental changeup, and curveball. Eldridge is incredibly athletic and has a motion with good repeatability so more velocity and more effective pitch shapes are likely to come with time and development. As a hitter he has massive raw power, some of the best in the prep class. His hit tool is a little fringy currently with plenty of swing and miss, and its development will govern his upside as a hitter. He has a strong arm and good hands, usually playing at first base, but right field would be an option too. Eldridge is committed to Alabama. 18. Colin Houck, SS, Parkview HS, GA Houck is a multiple sport athlete with scholarship offers to play quarterback at the Power 5 level, which he turned down to commit to Mississippi State. Hailing from the same high school as Matt Olson, Houck already has several well rounded tools. He has a simple, efficient swing and has gotten into his raw power somewhat, particularly on the pull side. His approach at the plate does feature some swing and miss, something likely to improve with time and experience. At worst defensively, Houck will be a good defensive third baseman although he has a chance to stick at shortstop. Houck is well rounded for a prep prospect and an outstanding athlete. He'll likely hear his name called in the first 25 picks in July. 17. Aidan Miller, 3B, Mitchell HS, FL Miller is a big, projectable third baseman and one of the most athletic and explosive prep bats in the '23 class. Already boasting 60 grade raw power, Miller has a solid approach at the plate coupled with electric bat speed, albeit in noisy plate operation. Miller has an above average hit tool to go with his mashing ability, and plays good defense at the hot corner to go with a plus arm. Whether he sticks at third or moves to first base, Miller's offensive profile will likely play anywhere. Miller is committed to Arkansas, but a mid-first round selection will likely put him on the path to a career as a prototypical slugging third baseman. But for injury limiting his playing time in 2023, Miller would likely be pushing for top ten consideration. 16. Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton HS, TX Mitchell has been a two way player through high school but likely will find himself behind the dish long term. Behind the plate he has a solid hit tool and excellent raw power to all fields. He has a patient approach at the plate that, coupled with his excellent athleticism should lead to good power and on-base numbers. The one hole in Mitchell's offensive game currently is his swing carries a good amount of swing and miss, his contact skills could stand to improve. Defensively, Mitchell is strong behind the plate, showing good pop times, lateral quickness that will lead to strong blocking abilities, and has a bazooka of a right arm to help control the running game (his fastball has been clocked at 97mph). Mitchell could move to a corner outfield spot and his offensive profile would carry him, but he promises to stick at catcher at the next level. Mitchell is a Texas commit. 15. Hurston Waldrep , RHP, Florida Waldrep is in a group of four high-caliber college pitchers at the front of the 2023 draft. A transfer from Southern Mississippi, Waldrep used to be a reliever but is in his second season as a starter at Florida in a rotation that also boasts Brandon Sproat. Waldrep has a noisy, violent operation on the mound but excellent athleticism, strength and arm quickness. His repertoire features a mid-90s fastball that can grab upper 90s and even 100 mph, in addition to an excellent slider with good tilt. The big development, prior to the '23 season has been the split change which disappears on hitters and is one of the nastiest pitches in the entire draft class. Waldrep has had mixed results in 2023, a 4.16 ERA not helped by 57 walks in 101 2/3 innings. 156 strikeouts in that same spell flashes the potential though. Waldrep has front of the rotation upside with some of the best secondaries in the entire draft (better sequencing than he experienced at Florida will lead to stronger results) but needs to be a more consistent strike thrower. 14. Matt Shaw, 2B, Maryland Shaw demonstrated a huge power breakout in his sophomore season at Maryland, jumping from eight home runs to 22. In 2023, he took his offensive game to a new level with a .341/.445/.697 line through 62 games, keeping a steady 16 K% while increasing his BB% to 16%, in addition to slugging 24 home runs and stealing 18 bases. Shaw is a stocky middle infielder, who played shortstop for the Terps but is likely to slide over to second base as a pro. He's a proficient base stealer and a solid defender, but the headline is the bat that possesses power to all fields. Shaw has already shown his chops in the Cape, he checks a ton of boxes and may be picked in the teens in July. 13. Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest Lowder is in the quartet in a group of incredibly impressive college pitchers in the '23 draft class. Although lacking the ceiling of Skenes and Dollander, Lowder has been an incredibly consistent and improving performer in his third year in the rotation of one of the best college teams in the country. In 121 innings in '23, Lowder has allowed a miniscule 1.87 ERA, striking out 143 and walking just 24. Lowder relies on three pitches. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and can grab 96 mph, with sink that tends to generate ground balls instead of whiffs. His slider shape is more dependent on vertical movement than horizontal. His best pitch is his changeup, a devastating plus pitch which has a ton of fade and tumble. Lowder's current pitch shapes are somewhat out of vogue, but he's been an incredibly consistent performer in the ACC and should move quickly when he turns pro. 12. Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS, OR Meyer comes into the draft as a prototypical, projectable prep power arm. Meyer plays his prep ball at Jesuit, the same school that produced Mick Abel a few years ago and an area of the country increasingly producing high caliber pitching talent. 6'5 with an athletic, repeatable delivery, Meyer already features two plus pitches; a mid-90s fastball that can grab 98 mph with a ton of arm side run, and a sweeping slider that gets good horizontal movement. A deceptive three quarter arm slot and good control only adds to the boxes he already checks. Meyer's third pitch is a changeup, more of a work in progress and something he has rarely needed in games. Meyer has an extremely high ceiling and is likely a mid-first round pick, which should draw him away from his commitment to Oregon, particularly after earning rave reviews for his approach to pitching from teams who interviewed him at the Draft Combine. 11. Jacob Gonzalez , SS, Mississippi Gonzalez, unusually, has started since his freshman year at Ole Miss, helping to bring them the 2022 College World Series title. He has some traits similar to Twins' 2022 first pick Brooks Lee in that he has excellent contact ability, doesn't strike out much, and probably isn't a shortstop at the next level. In 2023, Gonzalez put together a .327/.435/.564 line with 10 home runs, close to half his total in 2022. Gonzalez has a divisive swing, becoming a little disconnected through it, but his results in the SEC are hard to argue with. He may be destined for third base as he is so big bodied, despite a good arm and solid movement skills. Gonzalez is a high-floored prospect who should move quickly when he turns pro. Gonzalez should be an above average hitter with good power (mostly to the pull side). He’s become one of the toughest to predict prospects in the first round and could go anywhere from five to somewhere in the 20s. 10. Enrique Bradfield Jr, OF, Vanderbilt Bradfield is best known for his speed and is one of the fastest prospects in the '23 draft class, amassing over 130 stolen bases as a 91% success rate in three years at Vanderbilt at the time of writing. While there's not much power to speak of, Bradfield possesses a line drive swing to all fields and has excellent strike zone control. Through 233 at-bats in 2023, he'd amassed 19 BB% and 17 K%, both improvements on his rates from 2022. While Bradfield isn't a prototypical outfield hit/power bat, he's an excellent old-fashioned leadoff hitter type who should have gold-glove caliber defense and challenge for stolen base titles as a pro. 9. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest HS, FL If you want a prospect to dream on in the '23 class, Nimmala is him. Nimmala will be just 17 on draft day and is all about projectability. Currently 6'0, 170 pounds, Nimmala has impressive bat speed with already well developed raw power at the plate. Nimmala's approach needs work, and his contact rates will have to improve if he's going to fulfill his potential. Nimmala should stick at shortstop long term. He's a smooth defender with a solid arm and good lateral quickness. The question with Nimmala moving forwards will be his hit tool. If it can develop to average or better, he'll have a massive impact with 30 home run potential at the next level. Nimmala has some serious steam this spring and should go high enough to sign away from his commitment to Florida State having earned rave reviews in private team workouts ahead of the draft. 8. Tommy Troy, 3B, Stanford Tommy Troy has been working his way up draft boards since the beginning of the season to the point he's under consideration as a top ten pick. Despite missing time to injury, he's made his game time count so far in 2023. Through 249 at-bats, Troy is slashing .394/.478/.699 with 17 home runs, 14 BB%, 17 K%, and 17 stolen bases. Impressively, Troy has assuaged concerns about his weaknesses so far in '23, cutting down on strikeouts and increasing walks and steals, increasing his impact all over the field. Long term, he's likely a bat first second or third baseman who could produce .275 with 25 home runs on a regular basis. 7. Kyle Teel, C, Virginia Teel is the top college catcher in this years' class and has been steadily moving up draft boards all spring. Teel has taken a significant step forward at the plate, production wise in '23, putting together a stellar .423/.487/.690 line through his first 60 games. It's not all good news though, as his walk rate has dropped from 20% in '22 to 13% in '23 (although he's cut his K% by 3% at the time of writing). Teel has an excellent hit tool, producing good bat speed and line drives all over the field. He has some pop in his bat and may develop more future power (with 13 home runs through his first 239 at bats in 2023). Defensively, Teel is versatile (could play third base or outfield) but ought to stick behind the dish. He's a solid defender with a plus arm and average speed. He's trending towards a Top 10 pick in July off the back of his excellent production in the ACC this season and his outstanding athleticism. 6. Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee Dollander was the top arm in the '23 class until Skenes burst onto the scene. Now, it’s incredibly difficult to predict where he might fall after an uneven 2023 season. Dollander has a smooth, repeatable three quarters operation with an extremely quick arm. His fastball has deception and ride and sits in the mid-90s, touching 99mph. Dollander also features a plus sweeping slider that sits in the mid 80s, a changeup and curveball which are currently a smidge above average. Dollander has had an up and down '23, amassing a 4.75 ERA through 89 innings at the time of writing with less control and command than he had in '22, although he still struck out 120 batters. Notably, his slider has regressed this season as he's generating less movement on the pitch and leaning more heavily on his fastball. Interested teams will hope these challenges are mechanical. Dollander still boasts front of the rotation upside and should be a top handful of picks in July. 5. Max Clark, OF, Franklin Community HS, IN Clark is one of two elite prep prospects in the 2023 draft class. Clark has an incredibly well-rounded skill set. A smooth swing that's short to the ball produces line drives all over the field. Clark worked this offseason to add more loft to his swing. He can make all the plays in the outfield with effortless defense thanks to double plus speed. Clark is a Vanderbilt commit but should sign as a Top 10 pick. It'll be tough for him to overtake the college prospects at the top of the class as the prep season in Indiana starts so late. Even so, he should be among the first handful of players taken. He has 4 plus tools already, and a chance to be an All-Star, five-tool center fielder. 4. Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS, NC Jenkins is one of two premier prep prospects in the '23 class. At 6'3, 210 pounds, he's projectable and his athleticism is a clear separator. Jenkins has a quiet operation at the plate with excellent bat speed that gives him easy power to all fields. Jenkins is a good runner and route runner in the field with a plus arm. His speed may diminish over time, moving him to a corner spot eventually. Committed to North Carolina, Jenkins should be a Top 5 pick in July and has the best hit/power combo of any prep bat and 30 home run potential at the next level. 3. Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU Skenes transferred to LSU after two years at Air Force, joining forces with Wes Johnson. He's currently in the midst of the best season from a college pitcher since Stephen Strasburg. Skenes primarily throws a fastball with good spin in the upper-90s that will touch 101 mph. In 2023, he's been maintaining velocity through 80-95 pitches into starts. Skenes' slider has taken strides in 2023 with good velocity (approximately 90 mph) and plenty of horizontal break. Skenes features a changeup he has needed sparingly but used to good effect in the CWS. Skenes came to LSU as a two-way player but will leave the draft focused on pitching. Through the end of the CWS, Skenes has pitched 122 2/3 innings, giving up just 23 earned runs, walking 20, and striking out 209. LOL. If he stays healthy and continues to progress, Skenes has the physicality and stuff to be an ace. He should be a Top 3 pick in July. 2. Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida Langford is one of a trio of incredibly impressive college prospects at the top of the class. Langford barely played in 2021, his first at Florida before a tour de force as a sophomore in which he clubbed 26 home runs in 66 games. Despite missing some time with a lower body injury in 2023, he's on track to surpass his numbers from last season. Through the end of the CWS, he managed a .373/.498/.784 line with 21 bombs while increasing his BB% by 10% to 24%. He has easy power to all fields with 90th percentile Exit Velocity upwards of 110 mph. In the field, Langford has an average arm but good speed and a solid jump in the outfield. He may end up in left-field long term. Langford can be a consistent 30 homer outfielder at the next level with speed to boot, and should be a Top 3 pick. 1. Dylan Crews, OF, LSU Crews has been on the draft map since high school. Since arriving at LSU, he's done nothing but mash. After hitting 18 home runs as a freshman, and 22 as a sophomore, he *averaged* over 100 mph Exit Velocity through early April. In 2023 through Regionals, Crews managed a .426/.567/.713 line with 18 HR, 18 K% and almost a 28 BB%. Ridiculous. His underlying metrics support the story on the back of the card with a 90th percentile Exit Velocity north of 109 mph. Crews is a good defender and has an excellent chance to stick at center field long term. Crews' all round profile is incredibly impressive, but the bat is the cherry on top. He hits the ball hard, and has extremely impressive contact rates. He should be the number one pick in July and a perennial All-Star outfielder at the next level. Which of the prospects are your favorites? Which do you think might be a fit for your favorite team? Join the discussion in the comments below. View full article

We are a little over a week away from day one of the 2023 MLB Draft. Who are the current top 50 players on JD Cameron’s Consensus Board? Let’s dig in. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp We’re finally in the home stretch and the MLB Draft is only a handful of days. In the coming week, I’ll release the final Consensus Big Board. The timing is tricky, as there are plenty of outlets who haven’t released their final pre-draft rankings just yet. So, here’s a taste of what’s to come. Here’s the current state of the Top 50 consensus prospects, split into 50-26, and 25-1. It’s likely that prospect’s positions in the final rankings will be slightly different, as final inputs for the Consensus Board are updated. If you enjoy these rankings, be sure to look out for my final board, where you’ll find over 200 players ranked with over 100 written up. 50. Brandon Sproat , RHP, Florida Sproat has been the Friday night starter for one of the best college teams in the country for the last two seasons. A veteran of the draft (he was drafted by the Rangers in the seventh round in 2019 and the Mets in the third round in 2022), Sproat elected to return to school. Sproat's repertoire is headlined by a fastball that sits at 96 mph but can grab 100mph. His best secondary offering is a sharp slider. He also features a curveball and a changeup, both of which need further development. Sproat has been pretty uneven in 2023, while he's struck out 106 batters in 84 innings, he's walked 36 (his control was significantly improved in the second half of the season after a rough start). The arm talent is undoubtedly there and Sproat profiles as a Top 60 pick, but he'll need to throw strikes more consistently and refine pitch shapes as a pro to remain a starter. 49. Josh Knoth, Patchogue Medford HS, NY Knoth is another prospect who wasn't on Version 1.0 of the consensus board. A prep arm from the northeast, he's taken significant strides forward in 2023. Knoth is a smaller-framed pitcher, but has a simple, repeatable delivery and good athleticism on the mound. His arsenal consists of a fastball that operated between 90-92 mph but now typically sits in the 93-95 mph range after a velocity jump. It's likely he'll be able to add velocity to this pitch. He has a real ability to spin the ball, having a curve that surpasses 3,000 rpm, gets a ton of good depth, and that he can land for strikes. Knoth also has a changeup that's more of a work in progress. Knoth has been dominant this season and is one of the buzziest helium prep arms in the draft. Knoth is committed to Mississippi. 48. Alexander Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken HS, RI Clemmey is that most valuable of MLB Draft commodities, a left handed starting pitcher with good velocity and good stuff. He throws a fastball that usually sits in the 92-95 mph range but can reach for 97 mph and has a ton of carry. His primary breaking pitch is a slider with two-plane tilt. Finally, he throws a changeup he has rarely needed and is currently more of a fringy, developmental pitch. Clemmey does have some concerns associated with a violent pitching motion, but it's a really solid package of velocity, stuff, and ability to spin the ball (in addition to being a lefty). Clemmey is currently committed to Vanderbilt. 47. Travis Honeyman , OF, Boston College Honeyman is a 'solid across the board' type prospect who at least partially checks almost every box without emphatically checking any of them. In '23, he performed well for a surprisingly good BC team, through the end of the college season he put together a .304/.383/.534 line with six home runs. Honeyman has a good hit tool, and some raw power, particularly to the pull side. He rarely strikes out (13 K%) but rarely walks either (8 BB%). Defensively, Honeyman is likely a left fielder, with a fringy arm and solid speed. While not 'wowing' with one particular tool, Honeyman has all the ingredients to be a solid MLB outfielder, with more on the table if a team feels like there's something specific to tap into to further his ceiling. 46. Cade Kuehler , RHP, Campbell Kuehler is an arm who should interest many teams. Pitching for Campbell as their number one starter in '23 (after backing up Thomas Harrington last season), he put together a great season for a Camels program churning out high-end draft talent. In 73 innings of work in '23, Kuehler has struck out 91, and walked 26, both improved rates from 2022, where control was one of the primary knocks against him. Kuehler already has two plus pitches, a high-spin fastball that sits 93-95 mph but can grab 98 mph, and a sharp breaking slider. He also features a curveball and changeup, both of which are a work in progress. Kuehler has some reliever risk due to control issues and some challenges repeating his delivery. The improvements he's made in '23 should be cause for optimism that he can stick as a starter at the next level. 45. Blake Wolters, RHP, Mahomet Seymour HS, IL Wolters has shot up draft boards after not making the initial consensus board. A super projectable prep righty, Wolters already has mid-90s velocity on his fastball, although he can reach back for the upper 90s underpinned by smooth, loose mechanics. His secondary pitches are not yet as developed as his fastball. His slider shows a ton of promise and has plenty of horizontal movement and is already above average. Wolters also has a split change that's a work in progress. The velocity and slider potential are exciting, and Wolters has established himself as one of the most talked about, high ceiling prep pitchers entering the Draft. Wolters is an Arizona commit. 44. Cameron Johnson, LHP, IMG Academy, FL Johnson is a big dude at 6'4, 240 pounds and is an imposing presence on the mound. The left-hander uses a three-pitch mix. His fastball is already plus, comfortably sitting at 96 mph with plenty of sink. His best secondary offering right now is an above average slider, that's developed well this season and is missing bats more frequently. Finally, Johnson has a fringy changeup that could become a serviceable pitch with further development. Johnson has a deceptive three quarter arm slot that makes his delivery difficult for hitters to pick up. He's been an inconsistent strike thrower to this point, dividing opinions on whether he will remain a starter. If he can, Johnson could be a powerful arm. He's currently committed to LSU and might be a tough sign, although a strong Draft Combine generated plenty of buzz around him. 43. Juaron Watts-Brown , RHP, Oklahoma State Watts-Brown is an athletic mover on the mound. The 6'3 RHP transferred to OSU from Long Beach State and has had a strong first season in the Big 12, striking out 124 hitters in his first 82 1/3 innings of work while walking 48. Watts-Brown currently has a four pitch mix. His 92-95 mph but can grab 96-97 mph. It doesn't have a ton going for it analytically and Watts-Brown has struggled to make hitters whiff with it. He does have great extension and should be able to add to the fastball after turning pro. His slider is his best pitch, producing swings and misses wherever and whenever thrown. Watts-Brown also has a solid curveball and changeup. Watts-Brown hasn't thrown enough strikes in 2023. If he can clean up his control and generate more swing and miss on his fastball, he can stick in the middle of a rotation. 42. Ralphy Velazquez, C/1B, Huntington Beach HS, CA Velazquez is a big-framed prep catcher whose development behind the plate has teams excited this spring. He has a short, smooth, left-handed swing that gives him easy power. The big draw is his eye and approach. Velazquez doesn't tend to expand the zone and has excellent contact numbers that should translate to great on-base skills as a professional. His defensive work at catcher needs refinement, but that's normal for a prep catcher, and he is young for his class. Currently committed to Arizona State, Velazquez should be a top two round pick. 41. Travis Sykora, RHP, Round Rock HS, TX Sykora is a hard throwing prep righty out of Texas, who's currently committed to the Longhorns. He has the hardest fastball of any prep in the class, consistently sitting between 96-98 mph but surpassing 100 mph frequently. For secondary pitches, Sykora has an average slider and an above average split changeup. Neither secondary pitch is the finished product and both need refinement that will come with development and time. Like many hard throwing young pitchers, Sykora doesn't yet have great control, and will need to become a more consistent strike thrower to thrive as a starter long term. If Sykora can develop his secondaries and stay healthy, he has the arm to be a serious problem at the next level. The arm talent is what you’re drafting here. Sykora has a simple delivery from a three quarter slot that is pretty repeatable, which will support his need to improve his strike throwing consistency and refine his secondary pitches. 40. Sammy Stafura, SS, Walter Panas HS, NY Stafura is another 'where did he come from?' prospect. A prep shortstop from the northeast who performed well on the showcase circuit last summer. Stafura has a surprising amount of polish and a strong all around game. Offensively, he has a good approach, frequently making hard contact with gap to gap power, although he already has home run power to the pull side. Stafura has put up plus run times and has at least average defense at shortstop, such that he should be able to stick at the position as a pro. He's gone from non-existent on a lot of boards to almost universally a top 75 type player. Stafura is currently committed to Clemson. 39. Adrian Santana, SS, Doral Academy, FL Santana is one of the youngest prep prospects in the class and has been a riser on draft boards throughout spring. Offensively, he has a good swing with gap to gap in game power that could develop into home run power as he fills out (he's slight at 160 pounds currently). He’s a premium defensive shortstop with at least plus speed, a plus defender with a plus arm. If he grows and develops into an above average hit tool with above average power, he'll have a long career ahead as a starting shortstop. Santana is currently committed to Miami. 38. Johnny Farmelo, OF, Westfield HS, VA Farmelo is an athletic outfielder with strong tools across the board. He has a smooth left-handed swing that is adding more power. He already makes good contact and has a calm operation at the plate with a toe tap and minimal movement as he loads.. He has plus speed that gives him the potential to be an impact center fielder. Farmelo has a great floor for a prep prospect with at least an average grade on every tool. He may be a tough sign (he's a Virginia commit) as a few years of development in college could put him on a clear first round trajectory, although he’s in the Day 1 mix already. 37. Brice Matthews , SS, Nebraska Matthews is a helium guy. Already significantly higher on the draft board than he would have been entering 2023, he's made incredible strides in every offensive area of his game. A former quarterback and an exceptional athlete, Matthews has been especially great against fastballs. His power is mostly to the pull side currently. Good hands, solid defensive actions and a good arm give him a chance to stick at shortstop. If not, right field or even center field could be a fit (he has enough athleticism to be a versatile defender). In 2023, he hit a ridiculous .359/.481/.723 line with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases (that's up from .261/.379/.446 in 2022). He's cut his strikeout rate from 35% to 26 K%, his walks have increased from 15% to 23%. If you buy the breakout, and there's no reason not to, Matthews could be one of the steals of the draft. I expect him to be a significant riser on the June and July editions of the Consensus Board. 36. Jake Gelof , 3B, Virginia Gelof has been pulverizing baseballs all season as Virginia's third baseman. Through the end of the college season, he had an impressive .321/.427/.710 line with 23 home runs, walking 19% of the time and striking out at the same rate. The younger brother of a prospect in the As system, Gelof is an aggressive hitter and taps into plus raw power, particularly to the pull side. Defensively, Gelof has an above average arm and is at least average at third base. He's a sluggish mover though and may transition to first base long term. Either way, the bat plays. He's got plenty of power to be a significant offensive contributor as a pro. 35. Colton Ledbetter , OF, Mississippi State Colton Ledbetter is one of the analytical darlings of the '23 draft class. Through 53 games for MSU, he hit .320/.452/.574, with a 24 BB% and 18 K%. Ledbetter consistently puts up really solid exit velocities, with his top Exit Velocity surpassing 115 mph and combines that with excellent contact ability, rarely whiffing in the zone. He's flown a little under the radar as a transfer to FSU, but I've seen his name as a top ten player on draft boards. Defensively, Ledbetter is a good athlete, but likely profiles in a corner spot long term. He's going to be popular with model heavy teams, although he may need to be less passive in the zone as a pro. He's one of my favorite college bats in the '23 class. 34. Colt Emerson, SS, Glenn HS, OH Emerson is a prep shortstop out of Ohio who was a promising wide receiver before electing to focus solely on baseball. His biggest strength is his hit tool. He has a line drive swing to all parts of the field, has strong in-zone contact rates, and doesn't chase too much. He hasn't developed much in game power yet, but stands to have at least average raw power. Defensively, Emerson is a solid shortstop with an above average arm. He'll likely move off the position eventually and the arm will play at third base. Even if he moves position and only develops average power, Emerson's hit tool is enough to carry an offensive profile as a professional. Emerson is currently committed to Auburn. 33. Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Academy, FL Soto has been one of the prep-pitching darlings of the '23 draft cycle. A 6'3, physical, athletic right-handed starter who is relatively new to pitching, he's come on in leaps and bounds over the last year. He features a three pitch mix. His fastball sits 94-96 mph but can grab 98 mph. He has a biting power slider that he primarily throws to same handed hitters, and a changeup with legit tumble and fade when it's on. While Soto can be an inconsistent strike thrower, his athleticism and the fact he'll be 17 on draft day, means a team will be in on him in the Top 25 picks in July. Soto is currently committed to Central Florida. 32. Roch Cholowsky, SS, Hamilton HS, AZ Cholowsky, son of a former minor-league player and current Reds scout, is another impressive two sport athlete, having the option to play baseball and football at UCLA. On the diamond he's a hit over power type prospect. Currently, he doesn’t have much access to in-game power, although this could change as he grows, matures, and develops. Cholowsky is a legit defensive shortstop, he has a strong arm, moves well, is a plus runner, and is a smooth operator in the field, and is particularly adept at making plays and throws on the run, which is no surprise when you consider his skill at quarterback. He’s part of a very exciting group of prep infielders in the 20-50 range. 31. Walker Martin, SS, Eaton HS, CO Martin is a left-handed hitting prep shortstop who started gathering steam in early spring in the midst of a power breakout. A multiple sport athlete, Martin is athletic and projectable at 6'2, 185. He has a clean, efficient swing that bangs line drives all over the diamond, in addition to a recent outbreak of pull side home runs. Martin is a solid defensive shortstop and a good mover, although he'll need to continue to develop the fluidity of his hands defensively. While he may eventually move to third base, his offensive profile will fit there just fine. The Arkansas commit has been getting plenty of attention from teams in the back half of the first round. 30. Jack Hurley , OF, Virginia Tech Hurley has been an incredibly productive outfielder for the last two years in an outfield that produced Top 10 pick Gavin Cross in 2022. So far in '23, he's kept at it, managing a .320/.413/.805 line with 17 home runs and 15 doubles in 45 games played. There's not a ton of holes to pick in Hurley's game. His approach will need refinement as a pro, as he strikes out too much and his walk rate has dipped in 2023. Additionally, he has an average arm that probably makes him destined for a corner outfield spot long term. He's an above average runner though and has enough to be an extremely well-rounded outfielder at the next level and a significant offensive contributor. 29. Dillon Head, OF, Homewood Flossmoor HS, IL Dillon Head is a left-handed center fielder currently committed to Clemson. He has an excellent combination of an above average hit tool (on the way to plus) and a legit 70 grade speed in center field. Head doesn't have much power at the plate, his approach currently produced gap to gap line drives. With his speed, this results in a ton of doubles and triples to the gaps. If he continues to add strength, Head could be good for 10-15 home runs per year. He plays excellent defense in center field (aided by his speed and an above average arm). Any power development in his senior year could see Head rise up draft boards rapidly, although he’s already firmly in the Day 1 conversation. 28. George Lombard Jr, SS, Gulliver Prep HS, FL Lombard's dad (George Lombard ) was a second rounder who now serves as the bench coach for the Tigers. Lombard Jr is a toolsy, well-rounded infield prospect who has an excellent all round game. Lombard has a smooth, right-handed swing and can spray the baseball all over the field and should eventually have plus power. He does have some swing and miss to his approach which will be an area of refinement when he turns pro. Defensively, while he's spent most of his time on the left side of the infield, he may end up at second base or a corner outfield position, depending on how much he fills out. This is one of the best prep bats in the class. I'd expect him to be closer to a first round consensus ranking when the final board is released in early July. Lombard is currently committed to Vanderbilt. 27. Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy, MA White has the kind of projectability it's easy to dream on heading into a draft. 18 years old. 6'5. Left-handed. Already throwing mid-to-upper-90s gas. He's been on the radar of teams for a long time as left-handed starters are rare commodities. White throws a mid-90s fastball that many believe will be closer to triple digits when his development is optimized. He's experimented with both a curveball and slider (a slider would be better for him) as a primary breaking pitch, and a fringy changeup that's a work in progress. While athletic and fluid, White's release point has been inconsistent which has impacted his control. That will be a major factor in determining his success moving forwards. In terms of ingredients, White has massive upside. High risk, high reward. White is currently committed to Vanderbilt. 26. Nolan Schanuel , 1B, Florida Atlantic We'll get this out the way, Schanuel is one of my favorite prospects in the entire draft class. A starter all three years at Florida Atlantic, he's raked since day one. In '23, Schanuel was the only hitter in college baseball, preventing Dylan Crews from the top of every statistical leaderboard. Schanuel's greatest strength is probably his elite approach at the plate. In '23, his average exit velocity exceeded 95 mph, his 90th percentile exit velocity exceeded 106 mph, and he rarely whiffs in the zone. Oh, not to mention 19 home runs, walking 36% of the time and striking out just 7%. You can ding him for being a first baseman and playing slightly weaker competition than some of his peers, but Schanuel is an elite hitter. I think he's a first round talent. You can worry about defensive positioning later. Which of the prospects are your favorites? Which do you think might be a fit for your favorite team? Join the discussion in the comments below. View full article

Totally agree. We are just 'covering all the bases' with these pieces. Not trying to get anyone wound up here 🤣

Jacob Wilson is a shortstop prospect for Grand Canyon who has divided opinion during the pre-draft process. The Twins selecting fifth overall puts them in position to pick a player at the back end of the consensus top five prospects. Increasingly it looks as though the players available in that range may be prep bats. There are some who believe the Twins would rather pick a fast moving, college bat, with names like Jacob Gonzalez, Kyle Teel, and Jacob Wilson being linked with the organization in recent weeks. Image courtesy of Annie Rice, Avalanche Journal Over the next two weeks, we're going to be providing you with profiles of 10 players the Twins could take with the fifth pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Today, we'll look at Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson. Who is He? Jacob Wilson is the son of Jack Wilson, the former Pirates shortstop. He just completed his junior season playing shortstop for Grand Canyon University. Opinion is split on Wilson, who has rankings from the single digits all the way to the low 20s, and whose offensive profile contains a certain amount of risk. Wilson currently sits at 21st overall on the Consensus Board. Why the Twins Will Draft Him Wilson has the best bat to ball skills in the draft and likely the best hit tool. In 2023 he had a 92 Contact%. Throughout his final two seasons at GCU (438 at bats), he struck out 12 times. That is elite, Arraezian bat to ball skills. In 2023, Wilson produced a .411/.461/.635 line with six home runs. Despite the exceptional hit tool, Wilson’s on base ability is limited by a lack of walks (9 BB% in 2023). There’s limited power in his profile, he has average speed and his lack of quickness means he may move off shortstop long term where the bar for offensive production will be higher. Still, Wilson is an elite hitter who should move quickly as a professional and make short work of the lower minors. Why the Twins Won’t Draft Him Simply, because Wilson is a risky offensive profile. He doesn’t offer power, speed, or defensive certainty at shortstop. Wilson doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard (100.2 mph 90th percentile exit velocity), and he chases too much to maximize his on base potential. The Twins front office has no desire to pick fifth in the Draft on a consistent basis, I’d like to see them take a swing on a prospect with more upside. Even if Wilson’s incredible bat to ball skills translate to professional baseball, he has the upside of a solid everyday major league player. The Twins system is currently lacking high end talent beyond Brooks Lee and Emmanuel Rodriguez. Wilson is a safe choice that Twins shouldn’t make in July. What do you think of Jacob Wilson as a prospect? How would you feel about him being the fifth overall pick by the Twins? View full article

Wyatt Langford is a consensus top 3 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. It remains likely that Langford will be off the board by the time the Twins draft at fifth overall; however, recent rumblings suggest surprises in store in the top four picks, including the Pirates exploring options outside Dylan Crews with the first overall pick. What does Langford bring to the table? How might he be fit for the Minnesota Twins? Image courtesy of Dylan Widger, USA Today Sports Over the next two weeks, we will provide you with profiles of 10 players the Twins could take with the 5th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Who is He? Wyatt Langford is a right-handed hitting outfielder from the University of Florida who just finished playing in the College World Series at the time of writing. The 21-year-old is ranked number two or number three overall on every board that serves as an input for the Consensus Board, which ranks him as the number two overall player in a loaded class, and a loaded demographic of college hitters. Jeremy has posited that Langford is the number two player on the Twins board, behind Crews, and I agree. If he's available at five, the Twins will likely sprint to the podium to draft him. Why the Twins Will Draft Him Langford is a complete player, already possessing a plus-hit tool and plus-power. There's plenty to like in Langford's swing, with a simple and direct swing that produces effortless power to all fields. After barely playing his freshman year, Langford exploded onto the scene as a sophomore, slugging .719 with 26 home runs in 66 games in 2022. Langford has managed similar production in 2023, a .365/.495/.763 line with 19 home runs, 19 K%, and 24 BB%. Langford's underlying number back up this gaudy production. His Contact% is north of 80%, and his 90th percentile exit velocity of 110.6 mph, which is higher than Dylan Crews. Defensively, Langford has plus speed. He's at least an average defender with an average arm. He'll likely get a chance to prove he can play in center field to start his professional career, although he may eventually move to right field. Langford is among an incredibly strong draft class's most polished, productive, tooled-up players. Why the Twins Won’t Draft Him The Twins would only pass on Langford if Crews or Skenes were available when they picked. Langford will likely be off the board by the time the Twins pick, possibly to Detroit at #3 overall. There are few holes to pick in his game except a tendency to expand the outer half of the plate against breaking balls and some improvements to make on outfield routes and jumps. The fifth pick of the 2023 Draft is the floor for Wyatt Langford. What do you think of Wyatt Langford as a prospect? How would you feel about him being the Twins' pick at #5 overall? Join the discussion in the comments. View full article