2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 11-20

20. Chase Petty, Mainland Regional HS, NJ

Pos: RHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 190 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: Florida

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 75 Slider: 55 Changeup: 55 Control: 45 Overall: 55

New Jersey prep pitcher Chase Petty is most well-known for his incredible fastball that has been clocked as high as 102 MPH. That pitch is not only my highest graded fastball of any pitcher in this draft, but it is tied for the highest graded pitch thrown by any pitcher in this class. However, Petty is not just a one pitch pitcher, as he also features an above average slider, and occasionally throws a changeup that has a lot of promise as he develops it further.

The hang-up with Petty is his command, as he is still a very raw product and can get wild out of the strike zone at times. Petty is also the classic case of a right-handed power pitcher that is very exciting, but tends to fall in the draft, usually due to a high asking price, developmental concerns or a combination of both. If he does fall, the college route would not be a bad option for him, as the University of Florida has built a reputation for developing pitchers in recent years.

19. Joe Mack, Williamsville East HS, NY

Pos: C | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 210 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: Clemson

Scouting Grades

Hit: 60 Power: 50 Run: 50 Throw: 65 Field: 50 Overall: 55

Joe Mack is the younger brother of Charles Mack, who was the Twins sixth-round pick back in 2018 and is currently playing for Fort Myers. While the Twins were certainly high on Charles Mack coming into the 2018 draft, they should be even higher on his younger brother Joe, who shows a lot of promise as an above average hitting catcher.

Behind the plate, there are still some who question his ability to stick there long term, but it is one of those situations where whichever team drafts him should give Mack plenty of opportunity to prove his chops. Mack does have an elite arm behind the plate, which is his best overall attribute. This arm strength could help Mack, should he have to move out from behind the plate, as there is more than enough strength to play third or even in right-field.

18. Benny Montgomery, Red Land HS, PA

Pos: OF | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 200 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: Virgina

Scouting Grades

Hit: 50 Power: 55 Run: 70 Throw: 55 Field: 65 Overall: 55

In a draft class that does not feature a lot of plus outfield defenders, Benny Montgomery certainly stands out as one of, if not the best. He has the top end speed that is more than enough to cover centerfield from gap-to-gap and does so with relative ease. Montgomery also has a respectably strong arm, which is vital to that position as well.

The question marks with Montgomery come with his bat, as it is certainly behind many of the other high school bats that will go this high up in the draft. However, with his athleticism, this is certainly something that can be developed. Montgomery also has some power potential that comes from his 6’4” frame. He is still a little lanky, but as he spends more time in the weight room, he should fill out and potentially be a 20+ home run a year guy with great defense in center.

17. Jordan Wicks, Kansas State

Pos: LHP | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 220 lbs | Age: 21

Previously Drafted: Never

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 55 Curveball: 50 Slider: 50 Changeup: 65 Control: 55 Overall: 55

Jordan Wicks had a stellar career as a three-year starter for the Kansas State Wildcats. In 34 career starts, Wicks had an ERA of 3.24 and struck out 230 batters in 203 innings pitched. Wicks got off to a great start in 2020, before the pandemic shut down the season, as he gave up just one total run in his four starts last spring. If Wicks is taken in the first round, he will be the first player in Kansas State history selected in the first round.

Wicks is more than just a stat book though. He has a reliable four-pitch mix that is headlined by his devastating changeup. While Wicks won’t light up the radar gun, he does sit comfortably in the low-to-mid 90s and with a high spin rate to generate some swing and miss. The two breaking balls are nothing to write home about, but they give him a complete balance of pitches to keep hitters guessing.

16. Gunnar Hoglund, Ole Miss

Pos: RHP | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 220 lbs | Age: 21

Previously Drafted: Competitive Balance Round A, 2018 (PIT)

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 50 Slider: 60 Changeup: 55 Control: 65 Overall: 55

Gunnar Hoglund failed to crack my Top 50 Prospect rankings coming out of high school in 2018, but was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 36th overall pick in Competitive Balance Round A. However, Hoglund had a high asking price and ultimately turned down the Pirates offer in favor of joining Mike Bianco’s Ole Miss squad. Three years later, that move seems to have paid off for Hoglund, who is likely to go higher than he did in 2018 and receive a bigger offer than the one he previously turned down.  

On the mound, Hoglund features a solid three pitch mix, with the slider being his go-to strikeout pitch. The fastball isn’t anything special, as it typically sits in the low-90s, but he locates it well both inside and outside to opposing batters and uses it to set up his off-speed stuff. Command is the best trait of Hoglund, who walked just 35 batters in 134 innings pitched in his college career.

15. Andrew Painter, Calvary Christian HS, FL

Pos: RHP | Height: 6’7” | Weight: 215 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: Florida

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 60 Curveball: 55 Slider: 50 Changeup: 55 Control: 60 Overall: 55

Like Chase Petty, Andrew Painter is also committed to play his college ball at the University of Florida, but among the two Painter is probably the least likely to make his way to Gainesville. At 6’7”, Painter has a big frame that can generate velocity, despite how little effort goes into his delivery. This is something that scouts drool over, as it is easily repeatable and thus gives him more consistent control and helps lower injury risk.

Painter’s fastball is his best pitch at the moment, as it sits easily in the mid-90s and there is reason to think this could go up even further, as it has already taken a leap forward since the showcase circuit last summer. Painter also has to average or better breaking balls, and a changeup which might just be his best secondary pitch.

14. Harry Ford, North Cobb HS, GA

Pos: C | B/T: R/R | Height: 5' 10" | Weight: 200 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: Georgia Tech

Scouting Grades

Hit: 50 Power: 50 Run: 65 Throw: 60 Field: 55 Overall: 55

Harry Ford has an athletic profile that is rarely seen from a catching prospect. He is a plus runner, and if he wanted to, Ford could be a centerfielder or play pretty much anywhere over the diamond. However, Ford is an excellent defensive first catcher and should absolutely stick there to maximize his value.

While the defensive side of the ball is where Ford thrives, the bat is certainly not a liability for him, as he has the potential to be an average hitter with average power, which for a catcher is great. He certainly gives you a different taste than fellow high school catcher on this list in Joe Mack, but both are great athletes and could be flip flopped on several teams’ boards based on organizational preference.

13. Ty Madden, Texas

Pos: RHP | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 215 lbs | Age: 21

Previously Drafted: 34th Round, 2018 (KC)

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 60 Slider: 65 Changeup: 50 Control: 50 Overall: 55

This year’s college World Series was littered with excellent starting pitching, and Ty Madden was one of those pitchers near the top of the list. Madden made two appearances in the College World Series, both coming against the eventual National Championship Mississippi State Bulldogs. In those two starts, Madden threw 13 innings, giving up a combined four runs and striking out 18 batters.

Madden makes his money on the mound with his dominating fastball-slider combo that are both put away pitches. The fastball had a noticeable uptick in velocity this spring, as he sat in the mid-90s, which helped propel him up draft boards as the season progressed. However, his best pitch is his fall off the table slider, which when he locates it well can be an almost unhittable pitch for both righties and lefties.

12. Sam Bachman, Miami (OH)

Pos: RHP | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 235 lbs | Age: 21

Previously Drafted: Never

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 65 Slider: 65 Changeup: 50 Control: 50 Overall: 55

Sam Bachman was a little-known prospect coming out of high school in 2018, but immediately made a name for himself with a strong freshman season for the RedHawks. Bachman showed improvement each season and showed this spring that his stuff was too much for MAC hitters to handle, as he posted a 1.81 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .147 batting average.

Like Ty Madden, Bachman thrives off his dominant fastball-slider combo. While Madden’s slider might have the slightest edge over Bachman’s, it is Bachman’s fastball that is a clear step up from Madden’s. Not only does Bachman’s fastball routinely sit in the mid-to-upper 90s, but it also has great life to it with some arm side run. Bachman has also flashed a solid changeup but pitching against a lower level of competition he rarely has needed to use it, which leaves some question marks about the pitch.

11. Matt McLain, UCLA

Pos: SS | B/T: R/R | Height: 5' 11" | Weight: 180 lbs | Age: 21

Previously Drafted: 25th Overall, 2018 (AIR)

Scouting Grades

Hit: 60 Power: 50 Run: 55 Throw: 60 Field: 55 Overall: 55

Coming out of Beckman High School in California in 2018, Matt McLain was pegged as a second rounder by many, but ultimately was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 25th overall pick in the first round. Despite this, the Diamondbacks failed to sign McLain and he made his way to UCLA. Like was the case with Gunner Hoglund, this risky move appears to have paid off for McLain, who could potentially go in the top 10 of this year’s draft and earn him a substantial increase in signing bonus.

McLain is not the most physically gifted of prospects, as he doesn’t possess elite power or elite athletic ability, but he does pretty much everything on the diamond well. McLain is an excellent contact hitter, who showed a little bit more pop this spring. He is also an excellent defender at shortstop and despite not being the biggest of guys he has a big arm that can zip the ball across the diamond. Expect McLain to be a fast riser through whichever team’s system that selects him. 

Rest of the 2021 MLB Draft Top 50

2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 21-30

2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 31-40

2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 41-50