Let Garrett Crochet (LHP, White Sox) serve as an example of how paying attention to the MLB Draft and its prospective college/high school prospects can pay off short-term as well as long-term in a dynasty league. Crochet went from being drafted 11th in June of 2020 to blowing hitters away at the big-league level by September! Now, this is super rare – a by-product of an odd year – and is much more commonplace in the NFL or NBA. What helped catapult Crochet was 62.5% of his fastballs hitting triple-digits (100+ mph). Serious cheddar! To give you insight into how serious I’m talking, only three other pitchers have such a rate since pitch tracking was instituted – Aroldis Chapman, Jordan Hicks and Mauricio Cabrera.
Now, not all prospects pan out so quickly as Crochet. Some may even take years to come to fruition. But you’re in a dynasty league, so where you goin’? One of my main objectives is snipping off young talent before they become a thing. Whether this looks like grabbing these young gentlemen in a start-up draft, rookie draft, or adding them via the waiver wire at the tail end of a lost season, the result is gaining young talent for pennies on the dollar. Taking a leap of faith now can pay off handsomely later when your team is LOADED with 22 to 28-year-olds who rake/dish. Allow me to give you an example of long-term planning for dynasty leagues from my personal vault.
Nolan Arenado was a hot-shot stud prospect everyone coveted from the years 2010-2014, depending on your league. However, by the grace of God, I was able to catch wind of him when this article surfaced (original was more in-depth). This blurb piqued my interest, obviously: “Arenado led the Division II champions in nearly every offensive category, including hitting (.456), RBI (32) and runs scored (33). Struck out only six times in 120 plate appearances.” Fresh out of El Toro High School in Lake Forest and playing shortstop at the time, the then 18-year-old went on to bat .517 – .615 on-base percentage (OBP) – and hit five home runs (HR), 14 doubles and a triple his senior year. Side note – Arenado played with other El Toro alum and fellow future major leaguers Austin Romine and Matt Chapman.
Arenado was slated to attend Arizona State University (ASU) on a college baseball scholarship, but the Colorado Rockies saw what I did and selected him in the second round with the 59th overall selection of the 2009 MLB Draft. As soon as he became available in the player pool, I snipped him. The rest, as they say, his history.
In this portion of the Fantasy Guru MLB Draft Guide, we will highlight and scout the top minor-league, college and high-school prospects ahead of draft season and project outward. A piece for dynasty leagues, we list the top prospective prospects according to MLB Pipeline and where they rank on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. This is useful for those looking to build depth for their dynasty teams with youngsters, even those who we may not see till 2024 and beyond! Whether it is catching lightning in a bottle or part of a long-term plan, keep an eye on or grab these guys for dynasty.
If you’re looking for more research on players who may be further up the food chain and looking to make an immediate impact, we have you covered!
The Top-40 Rookies for 2022
2022 MLB Rookie Scouting Report: Hitters
2022 MLB Rookie Scouting Report: Pitchers
The History of MLB Rookie Production
Last Year’s Diamond Gems
Top Prospects for Your Dynasty League
Below, as a review, you will find MLB Pipeline’s top-10 prospects along with their profile and how they project for the pros. Then we’ll dive deeper and break down the top-10 college/high-school players who are first-round locks for the 2022 MLB Draft.
MLB Pipeline’s Top-10 Prospects
Bobby Witt Jr. – SS, Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
Witt is a highly-touted shortstop prospect who brings a tremendous skill set to the table. He scores 60’s across the board in the 20-to-80 scouting scale, which includes power from the middle infield. Witt has plenty of range as a fielder, which matters little unless you play with errors, but it could keep him in the lineup more down the road. His path to the majors is clouded with the presence of 25-year-old Adalberto Mondesi, but Witt could crack the big-league roster out of spring training at third base.
To begin rookie ball in 2019, Witt had fishing tendencies at the plate, but by season’s end, he improved to a 20.2% K-rate. “He’s capable of driving the ball to all fields with excellent barrel control and outstanding bat speed,” according to his then manager, Miguel Bernard. As Witt continued to refine his approach in 2021, he laid waste to concerns about his ability to hit for average. He hit .290 between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha (123 games, 497 at-bats). That, in turn, helped him tap into his plus raw power (72 XBH, 33 HR, .575 SLG, .286 ISO). He’s also a plus runner who is aggressive on the basepaths, giving him 20-20 potential. Witt swiped 29 bags in 2021.
Adley Rutschman – C, Norfolk Tides (AAA)
Sometimes No. 1 draft picks flounder in the minors, and sometimes they rise to the top at any level. Rutschman is the latter, as he continued to refine his skill set for the Bowie Baysox last summer. In 80 games (295 AB), he slashed .271/.392/.508 with 18 HR and 55 RBI, including a 0.96 BB/K rate (55 BB / 57 K). His torrid ways deserved promotion to Norfolk later in the summer where, in 43 games (157 AB), he slashed .312/.405/.490 with 5 HR and 20 RBI. The BB/K took a hit (0.73) with the smaller sample and jump in pitching level.
While being projected for Triple-A, some believe Rutschman will don the big-league uniform in 2022. Orioles currently have Jacob Nottingham (RHH) and Anthony Bemboom (LHH) listed on their projected 26-man roster, and Rutschman’s switch-hitting ways replace both quite nicely. When we do see the soon-to-be 24-year-old backstop, expect a player who has plus tools nearly across the board. Tremendous eye at the plate, drives the ball from both sides to all fields, and makes a ton of hard contact (39.5% hard-hit rate). He calls a good game, and pitchers like throwing to him. So, he also has that going for him, which is nice.
Julio Rodríguez – OF, Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
Rodríguez is a blooming superstar who would make for a brilliant stash when drafting in a start-up dynasty league. If he is still out there in your league, it would be wise to scoop up this plus hitter with well-above-average power. He carries a middle-of-the-order offensive projection along with stronger contact skills than most prospects. As evidenced, he had an 18% strikeout rate for Double-A Arkansas Travelers last season (46 games). If you need more, Rodríguez only slashed .362/.461/.546 with seven home runs and 26 RBI in 174 at-bats. This after slashing .325/.410/.581 for High-A Everett AquaSox (6 HR, 21 RBI). Furthermore, he added 21 stolen bases between both levels (16 Double-A).
In just his 20-year-old season, Rodríguez gained experience in both center and right field in 2021. While equipped to play center, his strong arm would play better as a corner outfielder, especially with Jarred Kelenic and Kyle Lewis both able to play center field well. Seattle is known to manipulate service time of their top prospects, indicating a similar trend with Rodríguez. Nonetheless, he should debut in the majors sometime this season, relegating Dylan Moore to a position more suited for him, utility man off the bench, along with Jake Fraley as a fourth or fifth outfielder. Meanwhile, Rodríguez does fit the right-field prototype.
Spencer Torkelson – 1B/3B, Toledo Mud Hens (AAA)
Chicks dig the long ball, and so does Spencer Torkelson. His power rating of 70 is equivalent to such prospects as Luis Robert and Jo Adell! Also like Robert and Adell, Torkelson is no one-trick pony. He’s relaxed at the plate and waits for his pitch (17.5% BB-rate), controlling at-bats extremely well. He sprays the ball all over the field and displays his contact skills, driving the ball up the middle when he’s at his best. Torkelson has illustrated an ability to hit the ball out of the park to all fields while not selling out for that power. Although, he can hit some prestigious home runs with loft when pulling the baseball.
Detroit drafted Torkelson to play third, and he has a legit shot to break camp with the Tigers at either third or first base, his natural position. He primarily played first base at Arizona State and in the Cape Cod League but has put in the work at third base during his pro career. Torkelson now looks agile and athletic at the position, and Alan Trammell’s coaching helped him improve along the way. Multi-position eligibility could only maximize Torkelson’s future offensive value, and he has the offensive prowess to match other MLB first basemen. Jeimer Candelario’s uprise in play keeps this a fluid situation. Regardless of position, Torkelson’s bat makes him a special player and valuable to us as fantasy players.
Riley Greene – OF, Toledo Mud Hens (AAA)
The Tigers are set up for a quick rebuild with two of the top seven in MLB Pipeline’s top prospects. At the very least, Toledo will be stacked. Matter of fact, Greene was the biggest standout among Tigers prospects in his first big league camp, slashing .417/.611/.917 with two homers and six walks in seven games, and continued to make an impression on Tigers officials during Summer Camp and at the alternate training site in 2020. The hard work paid dividends in 2021. After making a three-level leap in 2019 (finished his pro debut at Class A West Michigan), he again took a mighty leap from Double-A Erie to finish the year with the Mud Hens. Think about that. Three years, one of which was wallpapered with practices and scrimmages, and Greene rose from Rookie ball to Triple-A. Yeah, I’m buying.
In 2021 between Double and Triple-A (485 ABs), Greene slashed .301/.387/.534 with 24 HR, 84 RBI and 16 stolen bases. The strikeouts were up there with 153 to only 63 walks, so perhaps developing a more selective approach will be the next task for the 21-year-old. However, if he were to get no better, I’d kindly take the trade-off!
Greene’s left-handed swing is as fluid and balanced as it is explosive according to scouts. He has good bat speed, makes hard contact, and possesses huge raw power. That power lies to the pull side, which may make him vulnerable to shifts and pulling his head off the ball. In quite a few of the strikeouts on film, I saw him step into the proverbial “bucket.” There is an affinity to take the ball up the middle, or the other way, and this will need to be reared for his full development into a professional Major League hitter who hits for average and power from the middle of a lineup.
Grayson Rodriguez – RHP, Bowie Baysox (AA)
Ok, finally some pitching to discuss! Grayson is the only pitcher who lies in MLB Pipeline’s top-10 prospects, and for good reason. He has a sharp four-pitch arsenal with command that continues to refine as he gains experience. The fastball velocity is up to 100 mph, averaging around 97 mph with heavy drop and sink. In terms of secondary pitches, his low-80s changeup keys off the fastball well and continues to grow as a pitch with his spin-rate development. Coming out of his hand, the change appears like a fastball before it falls off the table, generating a nice 45% Whiff rate. Yet, his upper-70s curveball generates his highest Whiff rate, which is above 50 percent. Lastly, his 82-mph slider rounds out the pitch mix and generates outs.
Rodriguez pitched a majority (79.2) of his innings in 2021 for the Baysox after starting the year simply dominating High-A batters (23.1 IP, 11 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 40 K). All total, the 51.9% strikeout rate, .159 OBA and 0.83 WHIP play real well. Even the 8.7% walk rate would hold up in today’s game. Between the two levels, Grayson posted a 2.36 ERA (2.60 AA). So, in conclusion, if he can continue to hone a strong pitch mix, grow his command, and maintain these ratios, he’ll be a frontline starter. GRod could be a thing as soon as late-2022.
CJ Abrams – SS, San Antonio Missions (AA)
Abrams has a max run scout grade of 80, and his speed is truly game-changing. In 2021, he got off to a strong start, stealing 13 bags and hitting .296 through 42 games as a 20-year-old for Double-A San Antonio. However, a fractured left tibia and sprained left MCL cut his season short. Now healthy and ready to return for 2022, his prospect status is poised for a bounce back. His plus bat (Hit: 60) and adequate Power (50) provide a solid foundation for a player who could contribute well towards OBP and OPS. Abrams’ speed and penchant for making hard contact give him both a high ceiling and floor as a hitter – the latter a product of his ability to steal hits on the infield and stretch singles into extra bases.
When drafted sixth overall in 2019, Abrams’ defensive outlook came with a few question marks, but he made big strides the past two seasons. If the Padres should decide to make Fernando Tatis Jr. a regular thing in future seasons, this could clear Abrams’ path to the bigs. Although the injury derailed Abrams’ path a bit, it’s easy to envision him as a quick riser if all goes well. In fact, Abrams will turn 22 in October, and there’s a chance he could celebrate his birthday as a member of the Padres roster.
Francisco Álvarez – C, Brooklyn Cyclones (A+)
The stock for Francisco Álvarez is skyrocketing. Stirring the pot, his bat did damage in 2021 with his prime physical strength and explosive swing. In 400 plate appearances across Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn (333 A+), he roped 24 long balls and slashed .272/.388/.554. A free-swinger of sorts, his 22.3% strikeout rate rates below average but not too shabby for such a young player – he won’t turn 21 till after next season. However, the 13.8% walk rate is great for any age. Álvarez also finds the barrel consistently and is comfortable hitting to all fields. His massive raw power is worth the price of admission and the $2.7 million the Mets shelled out for this international prospect.
FanGraphs, who has Álvarez as the fifth-best prospect in the world, wrote in their scouting report that “there is no prospect about whom I have received more ‘Hey, move that guy up your list’ feedback than Álvarez. Young catchers are notoriously slow to develop as they adjust to the physical and mental demands of the position, which often stymies their offensive production. But Alvarez’s first pro season was statistically impressive.” But beyond the offensive numbers, the youngster has defensive intangibles behind the dish (i.e. 60 Arm score). There’s still a long way to go – with his blocking and catch-and-throw skills – but the consensus is that Alvarez will probably be ready for the big leagues around 2023.
Marco Luciano – SS, Eugene Emeralds (A+)
Having a further path to the bigs than any of the other prospects discussed, Luciano is widely available and sitting with an ADP ~420. Dynasty league players ought not to sleep on him, however, as he was the top-rated middle infielder in the international class of 2018. Luciano has adequate contact skills with a 55 Hit tool, but he brings solid Power with a score of 65.
Hailing from the Dominican Republic, he made his pro debut in 2019 and batted .302/.417/.564 while reaching the short-season Northwest League at age 17. Following the slight halt in development from 2020’s alternate sites, he picked up where he left off at Low-A San Jose, hitting .278 with 18 HR and 57 RBI in 266 at-bats. Luciano finished 2021 with the Eugene Emeralds at High-A and got 129 reps at the plate. The slash line was poor (.217/.283/.295), indicating there is more work to be done. However, the talent can not be denied, and Luciano can be a part of your long-term plans.
What stands out is Luciano’s bat speed and raw power, which rank high among his peers at the position. Taking a look at his lightning-fast hands in his highlight package below, he doesn’t struggle to catch up with heaters. He brings a natural loft to his right-handed swing with a launch angle sweet spot between 15-20 degrees. You can also easily see in the video below that Luciano likes taking the ball the other way and up the middle. With a few of those oppo tacos, he gets the most bang for his buck, and the strength should only increase as he moves up the ladder.
Marcelo Mayer – SS, FCL Red Sox (ROK)
Mayer was just drafted in 2021, so he is wet behind the ears. All we know at this point is from Rookie ball and his high-school years. However, he illustrated great range as a shortstop throughout the summer showcase circuit, both up the middle and to the hole. With above-average tools across the five scouting categories, what sets Mayer apart is an advanced approach and knowledge of the strike zone along with elite bat-to-ball skills. He is a tall shortstop at 6’3” and draws comparisons to Corey Seager. Will he develop the raw power of Seager? Only time will tell, but scouts seem to think so. Throughout 17 games played at the varsity level, the left-handed batter compiled a slash line of .306/.424/.591/1.016 and a 6:4 K:BB ratio.
Getting back to the defense of a tick, Mayer plays the position free and easy with soft hands and excellent footwork. As a result, he is believed to be able to stick at short for the long haul. He also possesses a cannon of an arm, currently graded as 60, although I see that rising as he progresses. Defensively, think Brandon Crawford.
On the basepaths, Mayer may not have elite speed but still grades above average. He swiped 10 bags in the same 17 varsity games played. Eastlake has produced some fine baseball players over the years (Chris Coghlan, Casey Schmitt, L.J. Jones, Keoni Cavaco), and Mayer is next in line. The Red Sox selected him fourth overall in 2020, their highest pick in 54 years, and had MLB Pipeline’s top-rated prospect fall into their lap. In 26 games of Rookie ball (91 ABs), he slashed .275/.377/.440 with eight extra-base hits, three home runs, 17 RBI and seven stolen bases. Marcelo is a long-term grab but one that will pay off undoubtedly.
OTHER NOTABLES: Gabriel Moreno, C, Buffalo Bisons (AAA) – Anthony Volpe, SS, Hudson Valley Renegades (A+) – Noelvi Marte, SS, Everett AquaSox (A+) – Shane Baz, RHP, TB Rays – Brennen Davis, OF, Iowa Cubs (AAA) – Triston Casas, 1B/3B, Worcester Red Sox (AAA) – Jack Leiter, RHP, Rangers Organization – Alek Thomas, OF, Reno Aces (AAA) – Hunter Greene, RHP, CIN Reds – Jordan Lawlar, SS, ACL D-backs (Rookie) – Joey Bart, C, SF Giants – Jasson Dominguez, OF, Tampa Tarpons (A) – Vidal Bruján, OF/2B, TB Rays
2022 MLB Draft Prospects
Druw Jones – OF, Wesleyan (Georgia)
High school prep players occupy the top three spots on MLB Pipeline’s 2022 Draft Top 100, with Jones at No. 1 followed by middle infielder Termarr Johnson and outfielder Elijah Green. Based on their abilities and scouting, both Jones and Johnson rank below Bobby Witt Jr. and ahead of Marcelo Mayer, CJ Abrams and Riley Greene (among others) in terms of top prep players of the past three drafts.
Jones undoubtedly draws natural comparisons to his pops, five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glover, Andruw Jones. Druw (6’4″, 180) stands taller and leaner than his dad was at his age, but he has similar five-tool potential as a center fielder. Defensively, the arm grades at 65 with his fielding at a stellar 70. Kid’s fast too, a plus-plus runner with a similar 70 run grade. When he turns on the jets, he’s capable of beating out ground balls to the left side as well as swiping some bags. His contact skills are above-average at 55 with plus power at 60. He already has plenty of bat speed and drives balls to the gaps, and as he fills out his 6-foot-4 frame, he should develop that power.
Druw progressed during the showcase circuit this past summer, illustrating a potential high floor. Scouts began developing more comparisons and high-praise for Druw to another former All-Star and Gold Glover, Mike Cameron. They noticed his ability to make adjustments at the plate and do damage against quality pitching.
Termarr Johnson – 2B, Mays (Georgia)
Johnson is the best pure high school hitter in quite some time. His hit grade is listed at 70, but some evaluators give his bat a top-of-the-scale 80! Watching his showcase circuit highlights, Johnson was pummeling pitchers and lacing line drive after line drive. Additionally, there is some thought he could go No. 1 overall over Jones. His comparisons are Wade Boggs’ plate discipline mixed with Vladimir Guerrero Sr.’s bat-to-ball skills, according to one scout. Also, like Guerrero, Johnson is widely viewed as having plus power with a 60 grade. His left-handed bat adds to the allure, which, as you can see below, he keeps short, level and compact through the zone. All total, he makes for an elite contact hitter with superior hand-eye coordination and decision-making at the plate.
With the likelihood of a top-3 overall draft selection and the fact he has yet to commit to a college, Johnson looks like a sure-fire prospect to rise quickly through the ranks. He makes for an excellent long-term selection for a dynasty league. After all, we are talking about a 17-year-old. Yet, mid-90s fastballs don’t seem to faze him, and he’s quick to make adjustments to breaking pitches with his compact swing, driving the ball to all fields. If he can continue barreling baseballs with regularity as a pro, his bat speed and strength (5′ 10″, 175) could make him a legit 25-30 HR threat.
Elijah Green – OF, IMG Academy (Florida)
Green may have a higher offensive ceiling than either Druw Jones or Termarr Johnson, though he comes with some swing-and-miss concerns and less defensive value. He may be more of a “wait & see” prospect, depending on the size of your league and roster. Not for dispute is the athletic pedigree (6’3″, 225). He is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end, Eric Green. Jones may have 1″ on Green, but the latter has 45 lbs of pure muscle on the prior. Man-Child!
Green stood out during the Area Code Underclass event back in the summer of 2020. So, scouts and teams have been salivating for two years now to draft the potential five-tool outfielder. He’s an elite-level runner (70) who should be able to cover centerfield duties. He covers a ton of ground with a plus arm (60). Most importantly for dynasty league players, he can steal bases. After all, he did swipe 10 bags in 25 varsity games for IMG Academy. While standing in the right batter’s box, Green checks off a lot of boxes. Makes hard contact and has proven he can drive the ball to all fields and over the fences with at least plus raw power (60). Elevated velocity does give him trouble. However, the Miami recruit’s whiff rate shouldn’t keep teams from calling his name early in the first round of the draft.
Jacob Berry – 3B, Louisiana State
Now we get into the collegiate ranks and more of the “meat & potatoes.” This switch-hitting third baseman out of Louisiana State is a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick. He spent his freshman year at Arizona, registering one of the greatest freshman campaigns in program history. He hit .352 (247 ABs) with 54 runs scored, 19 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, and 70 RBI (.676 SLG, 33 BB, .439 OBP). The extra-base hits (41), total bases (167) and RBIs led the Pac-12 Conference. As a result, his season led to Consensus All-American and Freshman All-American honors, National Co-Freshman of the Year, Pac-12 All-Conference selection, a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy as well as earning selections to the midseason watch lists for the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award and the Golden Spikes Award. When Wildcats coach Jay Johnson moved onto Louisiana State, Berry followed him to Baton Rouge.
One would expect the loyal 20-year-old, who stands 6-foot even and 205 lbs, to play his sophomore year at Louisiana State. But this remains a fluid situation, and it is wise for a club to make ties with this young man. Both MLB and fantasy alike! Though his defensive home remains a question, Berry is equally productive from both sides of the plate. Drawing some comparisons to a switch-hitting version of Andrew Vaughn, Berry also has the skill set to hit for plus power (65) and average (60) while controlling the strike zone. Scouts love the approach, hard contact, and propensity for driving the ball in the air. Unless Berry develops as a third baseman for the Tigers, he’ll most likely move elsewhere as a pro. He’ll have no problem fitting the offensive profile for right field (some fall practice time), first base or DH.
Brooks Lee – SS, Cal Poly
Another 20-year-old switch hitter, Lee was drafted in the 35th round of the 2019 MLB draft after playing high-school ball for San Luis Obispo (California). The selection would have been much earlier, but Lee wanted to play for his father, Larry, head coach at Cal Poly. Plus, health issues (knee/hamstring) shortened his 2020 Freshman season. Once healthy, he had a tremendous 2021 season, slashing .342/.384/.626. He was named co-Big West Player of the Year. Not to be outdone, he continued his raking ways for Team USA and in the Cape Cod League last summer.
Lee has plus bat-to-ball skills, grading out at a 65 Hit tool and striking out in just 13.6% of his plate appearances in 2021. He makes hard contact, as well. Nevermore so than the epic 21 games for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the CCBL, where he raked .405/.432/.667 with six homers in just 84 at-bats. His 6’1″, 190-lb frame is physically filling out and providing the ability to drive the baseball from both sides of the plate. Lee projects for above-average power in the pros (55). However, with the growth in size, he’s becoming a bit big for the shortstop position. I can see him shifting over to third since he also carries an above-average arm tool. And with coaching in the family, he could captain an infield with leadership and maturity beyond his years.
Jace Jung – 2B, Texas Tech
The Rangers picked Jace’s brother and fellow Red Raider, Josh Jung, eighth overall in 2019. Two seasons later, our Ray Flowers sees Josh as “a usable fantasy piece very early in his career.” Younger brother Jace was the 2021 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, like Josh two years earlier, and you can see Jace’s trajectory taking a similar course. According to MLB Pipeline, he could even go earlier in the 2022 draft. Jace’s Plus Power (60) exceeds Big Bro’s power, while Josh makes better contact and is more balanced. Still, Jace’s plus contact ability (60) makes for an impervious left-handed stroke that compliments Josh’s righty bat. Real good eye at the plate – drew more walks than strikeouts in each of his first two college seasons – and makes hard contact to all fields.
Also like his brother, Jace will not steal many bases with his below-average speed (40) on the bases. And coupled with fringe-average grades for his arm and fielding (45), his defensive home remains in question. He played third when Josh was drafted but has since shifted to second. However, for fantasy purposes, Jace’s value stems from his bat, which may produce .300 / 30 HR regularly. His upright setup at the plate looks odd but effective as you can see in the video below (see home runs to begin video and at 1:55 & 3:11 marks, first oppo taco and the other two pull-side).
Brock Jones – OF, Stanford
Jones began his Stanford days as a star two-sport athlete (football and baseball). As a safety on the gridiron, taking proper routes and making reads translates perfectly to playing center field. After his Freshman season, Jones opted to play baseball full-time, and that was a wise decision. He stroked 18 long flies and added 14 stolen bases for Stanford in 2021, netting an opportunity for USA Baseball later in the summer. His offensive arsenal is attractive – Plus Speed, Above-average Power, Average Hit – and he gets into a good position to hit. When he pulls the baseball, the raw power ranges into plus territory, offering a nice power-speed mix. Furthermore, he has strong hands, a fine strike-zone acumen and excellent instincts on the basepaths once aboard.
The concern with Jones is his ineffectiveness against left-handed pitching. Unless strides are made there, he could be a platoon risk. Think Joc Pederson, who similarly played football, or so I hear.
Chase DeLauter – OF, James Madison
When you think of college baseball powerhouse systems, the name James Madison University is the furthest from your mind. According to MLB Pipeline, “the best player by far to come out of JMU is Billy Sample, a tenth-round pick back in 1976. DeLauter, on the other hand, has an opportunity to be selected in the first round and set the JMU world ablaze!
Despite leading the Cape Cod League in home runs last summer (9) and putting up sick stats at JMU (42 G, 205 PA, 29 XBH, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 14 SB, 34:24 BB:K, .385/.488/.657, 111 TB), DeLauter was beating up the pitching in the mid-major Colonial Athletic Conference after all. So, despite looking the part of a middle-of-the-order type hitter, the level of competition needs to be considered. This is why the CCBL performance is so impactful for his outlook and projections… they do rock the wood. The raw power is real (60), and his Hit grade is an above-average 55. He runs well for a big man (6’4″, 235; Run – 55) and has a cannon (Arm – 60; fires 90-92 mph fastballs), setting up for a power-hitting right fielder.
Chase’s outlook will all depend on if the talent continues to flourish as a minor leaguer. One would assume he would immediately jump ship to become a professional, which could be an asset in a dynasty league format and provide a faster track. He’s raw and has some elements of his swing that need cleaning up, but I like the potential.
Dylan Lesko – RHP, Buford (Georgia)
Pitchers usually have a longer road to the majors than offensive players, except, you know, the aforementioned Crochet. And in Garrett’s case, relief arms have an advantage there. But I should mention the best of a deep group of high-school prep pitchers, who at an early age of 18 has a legit shot to be an ace in this league. MLB Pipeline has Lesko as the first pitcher – high school or college – selected in the 2022 MLB draft. Whether he is or not will boil down to his verbal commitment to Vanderbilt. “Only five players in history have gone on to college after winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year award,” and Lesko won the award as a Junior, the first time that has ever been done. If he follows suit, the 18-year-old pitcher could snub Vandy for the Cubs organization.
All Lesko did in 2021 was go 11-0 with a 0.35 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 60 innings. No big deal. Teenagers can turn out to be fool’s gold, but this kid is polished and an athletic specimen (6’2″, 195). He has a plus fastball (60) with an average velocity between 92-95 mph and a max velo of 97. Furthermore, Lesko should add more velocity as he gets stronger. The movement is solid with arm-side run in the top of the strike zone and good sink when located down. His change of pace is near plus-plus (65), and scouts feel it may be the best one in the draft. His curveball needs work but still grades above average due to high spin rates. This could lead to an effective third pitch. And during that process, a middle relief/setup role would fit his skill set (remember Crochet).
Gavin Cross – OF, Virginia Tech
Cross took a huge jump in 2021, posting a 1.035 OPS in 203 ABs with 29 XBH, 11 HR and 35 RBI. He was named to the All-ACC First team and had a torrid summer for USA Baseball. He hit .369 in 16 games during his shortened 2020 Freshman season, but his sophomore season has solidified his prospect status. The left-handed hitter has above-average contact skills (55) and power (55). He doesn’t take many free passes, which limits his contact rates and control of the strike zone. He’ll need to continue driving the ball consistently to all fields as well as depositing the baseball in the cheap seats. The 20-year-old stands 6-foot-three and tips the scales at 205 lbs. Despite his big stature, he has above-average speed (55) with 16 SB for VT. I can see Cross growing into a fine first baseman with offensive chops.
2022 MLB Draft Prospect Tables: 20-to-80 Scouting Scale
POSITION PLAYERS
*Italic indicates high-school player
HIT | POWER | RUN | ARM | FIELD | OVERALL | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Druw Jones – OF | 55 | 60 | 70 | 65 | 70 | 60 |
Termarr Johnson – 2B | 70 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 55 | 60 |
Elijah Green – OF | 50 | 60 | 70 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
Jacob Berry – 3B | 60 | 65 | 40 | 50 | 40 | 60 |
Brooks Lee – SS | 65 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 60 |
Jace Jung – 2B | 60 | 60 | 40 | 45 | 45 | 55 |
Brock Jones – OF | 50 | 55 | 60 | 45 | 50 | 55 |
Chase DeLauter – OF | 55 | 60 | 55 | 60 | 50 | 55 |
Gavin Cross – OF | 55 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
Robert Moore – 2B | 50 | 50 | 50 | 45 | 60 | 55 |
Kevin Parada – C | 55 | 50 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 55 |
Cole Young – SS | 60 | 40 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 55 |
Logan Tanner – C | 45 | 55 | 30 | 70 | 55 | 50 |
Cam Collier – 3B (17) | 60 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 50 |
Daniel Susac – C | 50 | 55 | 40 | 60 | 50 | 50 |
Dylan Beavers – OF | 45 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 50 |
Carter Young – SS | 45 | 50 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 50 |
Jordan Beck – OF | 45 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 55 | 50 |
Jordan Sprinkle – SS | 50 | 45 | 60 | 55 | 60 | 50 |
Cayden Wallace – 3B | 45 | 55 | 55 | 65 | 45 | 50 |
PITCHERS
*Italic indicates high-school player
FAST | CURVE | SLIDER | CHANGE | CONTROL | OVERALL | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dylan Lesko – RHP | 60 | 55 | – | 65 | 55 | 55 |
Blade Tidwell – RHP | 60 | 50 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 55 |
Brock Porter – RHP | 70 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 55 |
Jackson Ferris – LHP | 60 | 55 | – | 55 | 50 | 55 |
Connor Prielipp – LHP | 60 | – | 70 | 50 | 55 | 55 |
Landon Sims – RHP | 65 | – | 70 | 45 | 50 | 50 |
Brandon Barriera – LHP | 55 | – | 55 | 55 | 55 | 50 |
Andrew Dutkanych – RHP | 55 | 55 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Carson Whisenhunt – LHP | 50 | 50 | – | 65 | 50 | 50 |
Ian Ritchie – RHP | 60 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Kumar Rocker – RHP (NS) | 60 | 60 | 70 | 50 | 50 | 50 |