2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 31-40

40. Matt Mikulski, Fordham

Pos: LHP | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 205 lbs | Age: 22

Previously Drafted: Never

Scouting Grades

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

After so-so freshman and sophomore seasons at Fordham, lefty Matt Mikulski found his groove in the summer after his sophomore season when he put up a 1.77 ERA in 20 and 1/3 innings in the Cape Cod League. He followed that up in his junior season, as again he showed a flash of his high potential in just four starts before the season was cut short. That flash became more of a glowing light this spring, when he posted a 1.45 ERA with a strikeout rate of 16.3K/9 in 68 and 1/3 innings pitched, albeit against rather weak competition.

The pitch that has intrigued so many scouts this spring has been Mikulski’s fastball, which sits in the low-to-mid 90s, but has the added benefit of deception, as he hides it behind his body well, creating a lot more swing and miss than the velocity would suggest. Mikulski also features a slider and a changeup that are both still a work in progress but should be at least average pitches at the next level. If he can develop one of those two pitches into a plus secondary offering, Mikulski could be a number three starter in an MLB rotation one day.

39. Colson Montgomery, Southridge HS, IN

Pos: 3B | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 190 lbs | Age: 19

Commitment: Indiana

Scouting Grades

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

Having already turned 19 back in February, Colson Montgomery is a lot older than most of the prep class in this year’s class. That could hurt him a bit in the evaluation process, as teams will not only know that means one less year of prime development from where he is currently at, but it also means he is almost a year-older than much of the competition that he has faced.

All of that aside, Colson Montgomery is still one heck of a good ball player and is deserving of a look late in the first round. The tool that is most exciting about Montgomery is his power, which is already plus, and should get even better as he fills out his 6’4” frame. Expect Montgomery to make the move from short over to third, as his defensive potential is limited. Montgomery is a player to watch with the Twins first two picks at 26 & 36 overall.

38. Josh Hartle, Reagan HS, HC

Pos: LHP | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 195 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: Wake Forest

Scouting Grades

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

It is rare to see the type of control from a high school pitcher that Wake Forest commit Josh Hartle possesses. While many taller prep pitchers will leverage their size to rear back for eye popping velocity numbers, Hartle takes a different approach as his smooth delivery and sound mechanics allow him to locate the ball where he wants it to go consistently.

While the command is a real weapon for Hartle, he still lacks the elite stuff that would send him flying up draft boards. His fastball regularly sits in the 88-91 range, which is not bad when he locates it as well as he does. Hartle’s best swing and miss pitch at the moment is his changeup, but with some work there is a chance he could one day develop his slider into a second go to strikeout pitch 

37. Gage Jump, JSerra Catholic HS, CA

Pos: LHP | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 175 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: UCLA

Scouting Grades

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

If JSerra Catholic High sounds familiar to you, it should, as that is where Twins 2017 first overall pick Royce Lewis went to school. In addition to Jump, JSerra also has shortstop Cody Schrier, who is ranked just outside my top 50, and pitcher Eric Silva (who could potentially go in the 3rd round) also represented in this class.

On the mound, Jump has a little bit of that in his fastball, despite his small frame, as the pitch regularly touches 93-94 mph. Jump’s best pitch is without question his curveball, that is already a lethal weapon and will be his go to out pitch at the professional or collegiate level, likely depending on the offer he gets by the team that drafts him. Jump can struggle with his command at times, which has scouts tentative about his future as a starter. This could cause him to fall in the draft, and ultimately make his way to UCLA.

36. Ryan Cusick, Wake Forest

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

Previously Drafted: 40th Round, 2018 (CIN)

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 70 Slider: 60 Changeup: 45 Control: 40 Overall: 50

At 6’6” and 235, Ryan Cusick is an intimidating presence on the mound, but perhaps the most intimidating part of Ryan on the mound is not his size, but his stuff. Cusick has without question some of the best stuff in this draft class, and his fastball-slider combo is on par with the best. Cusick’s fastball sits easily in the mid 90s and has reached triple digits on numerous occasions. Additionally, the pitch generates high rpm numbers that only all to the swing-and-miss ability of that pitch. Cusick also has a nasty slider that will drop off the table right before the plate, giving him a second plus offering.

The concern with Cusick is that he has reliever written all over him. Cusick still lacks a third offering that he can trust to get hitters out. He also has major control issues, as he walked 47 batters in just 88 career innings of work at the collegiate level. He will need to clear both issues up if he wants to be a starter long term.

35. Maddux Burns, UMS-Wright Prep, AL

Pos: LHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 205 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: Mississippi State

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 60 Curveball: 60 Slider: 60 Changeup: 45 Control: 35 Overall: 50

Maddux Burns is a player that could find himself all over different teams’ draft boards. On one side of the equation, he is a beast with three legit plus pitches that give him seemingly limitless potential. On the other hand, Burns has a lot of difficulty reigning in that beast and can be extremely erratic with command.

While Burns does not show it regularly, he has the ability to pop as high as 98 mph on the gun with his fastball. He pairs that up with not one, but two plus breaking balls to keep hitters off balance. The curveball will sit in the mid-to-upper 70s and has almost straight vertical drop, while the slider is a little hard with sharp sideways bite. Burns will mix in the occasional changeup, but from what little has been seen of it, that pitch is still a work in progress.

34. Anthony Solometo, Bishop Eustace Prep, NJ

Pos: LHP | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 218 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: North Carolina

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 55 Slider: 60 Changeup: 45 Control: 55 Overall: 50

While Anthony Solometo typically sits in the low 90s with his fastball, he has, at times, shown the ability to rear back to get that pitch up into the mid-to-upper 90s. With this flash of velocity, and his size, it is possible that one day Solometo could be consistent in the mid 90s with that pitch. However, even though it likes elite velocity, Solometo’s fastball is still an excellent swing and miss pitch, thanks to the deception created by his unique delivery.

In addition to his fastball, Solometo also has a plus slider that is easily his best secondary pitch. Solometo also throws a changeup on occasion, but mostly relies on his fastball and slider to get hitters out at the prep level. Another benefit to Solometo is his control, which is up there with some of the best prep arms in the country.

33. Frank Mozzicato, East Catholic HS, CT

Pos: LHP | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 175 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: UConn

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 55 Curveball: 65 Changeup: 45 Control: 50 Overall: 50

Frank Mozzicato ends our run on high school left-handed pitchers, as he is the fifth one of the last six prospects on this list. Like Anthony Solometo, Frank Mozzicato is a lefty that relies on a fastball-breaking ball combo that are both above-average, and with the breaking ball being the better pitch. However, instead of a slider, Mozzicato features one of the best curveballs in the entire draft class.

While the curveball was highly touted last summer, what has caused him to move up draft boards this spring has been the velocity spike in his fastball, which used to sit in the upper 80s and is now in the low 90s. With still some more room to fill out, if Mozzicato continues to put on muscle that pitch could get into the mid 90s and be a second plus offering. While Mozzicato does not have much of a changeup now, that is a pitch that can certainly be developed, and if it is, it will give him a strong three pitch mix to one day become a number two or three starter in an MLB rotation, thanks in large part to that dominate curveball.

32. Gavin Williams, East Carolina

Pos: RHP | Height: 6’6” | Weight: 238 lbs | Age: 21

Previously Drafted: 30th Round, 2017 (TB)

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 65 Curveball: 55 Slider: 45 Changeup: 50 Control: 50 Overall: 50

Much like Ryan Cusick, East Carolina ace Gavin Williams is an intimidating presence on the mound both physically (as he is almost the exact same height and weight as Cusick) and with his fastball that at times can reach triple-digits. Williams spent most of his first three seasons pitching out of the bullpen, as just five of his 38 appearances during those seasons were starts. That was not the case for Williams in 2021, as he excelled as a full-time starter this spring on his way to a 1.88 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 81 and 1/3 innings pitched.

In addition to the heater, Williams also throws both a curveball and a slider, with the curve easily being the better pitch of the two. Williams also throws a decent changeup, which has a chance to be an average pitch. After struggling with command in his first few seasons at ECU, Williams made some big improvements in that department this spring as he had just 2.3 BB/9. If teams believe this improved command is for real, he should be in the running to be a late first round pick.

31. Izaac Pacheco, Friendswood HS, TX

Pos: 3B | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 225 lbs | Age: 18

Commitment: Texas A&M

Scouting Grades

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

Izaac Pacheco is yet another prep left-handed power bat with some question marks surrounding his overall hitting ability. While Pacheco did struggle to make consistent contact against the best high school arms last summer, the mechanics of his swing are sound, so that is something he should be able to clear up as he gets more experience facing better pitching. The one part of Pacheco’s bat that nobody questions is his power, as he has the ability to be a 30+ home run a year hitter.

While Pacheco is a shortstop now, it is very hard to imagine him sticking there at the next level. That is okay though, as he has a good enough glove, and a strong enough arm to potentially be an above-average defender at third. Factoring that in with the power that he produces at the plate, will keep him from falling too far down teams draft boards.

Previous Installments

2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 41-50