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Here they are, the crème de la crème of the 2021 MLB Draft Class. Pay close attention to these names, as they are likely some of the future stars of the sport. 10. Sal Frelick, Boston College Pos: OF | B/T: L/R | Height: 5' 9" | Weight: 175 lbs | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 60 Power: 45 Run: 65 Throw: 50 Field: 60 Overall: 55 Boston College outfielder Sal Frelick had a great start to his college career, as he slashed .367/.447/.513 and stole 18 bases in 39 games and was named a Freshman All-American by D1Baseball.com, Collegiate Baseball News and Perfect Game in 2019. After not having a great start to 2020, before the pandemic ended the season, Frelick bounced back with his best season yet, and presumably finished his college career with a .345/.435/.521 slash line. Frelick is one of the best pure hitters in this draft, though his small frame holds him back in the power department, as he hit just 12 home runs in his college career. In addition to his bat, Frelick leverages his best feature, which is his speed, in both the outfield and on the basepaths. This combination of hitting ability, defensive ability, and college production in a good conference are the reasons why he is so high up on draft boards, despite the lack of power. 9. Brady House, Winder-Barrow HS, GA Pos: SS/3B | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 210 lbs | Age: 18 Commitment: Tennessee Scouting Grades Hit: 50 Power: 65 Run: 50 Throw: 70 Field: 55 Overall: 55 When looking at a diamond filled with the best high school players in the country, the first guy that catches your eye likely will be Brady House from Winder-Barrow HS in Georgia. House is literally a man amongst boys at the high school level and has power that only a couple of other prospects in this class (high school or college) can match. In addition to his power, House is also a decent hitter with a great approach at the plate, but he can be swing-and-miss prone at times. If he can keep that from holding him back, House should have no trouble becoming a perennial 30+ home run a year guy. In the field, House is a solid defender at shortstop, despite his size. While he is not the quickest guy out there, House can still cover ground well. However, if a move to third is in his future, House should have no troubles adapting to the position. House also has one of the strongest, if not the strongest, arm of any position player in this class, and is clocked in the mid-90s on the mound. 8. Colton Cowser, Sam Houston State Pos: OF | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 195 lbs | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 65 Power: 55 Run: 55 Throw: 55 Field: 55 Overall: 55 Colton Cowser is yet another highly ranked college prospect that comes from a rather unheralded university. However, don’t let the name on the front of the jersey fool you, Cowser is an all-around stud. Cowser had an incredible three-year run at Sam Houston State, but he undoubtedly saved his best performance for last, as in 55 games this spring, Cowser slashed .374/.490/.680 with 16 home runs and 17 stolen bases. While it might be easy to chalk up Cowser’s offensive numbers to poor competition, playing in the Southland Conference, but Cowser did impress while playing for team USA back in 2019. In addition to his performance at the plate, Cowser is also a strong defender who can hold his own in center. At this point, it is hard to tell if Cowser will remain in centerfield long-term, as that might depend on the organization he ends up in, but if he has to move to a corner, Cowser will be a plus defender there, and could always play center when called upon, in a simal role that Max Kepler plays on the Twins now. 7. Henry Davis, Louisville Pos: C | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 210 lbs | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 65 Power: 55 Run: 50 Throw: 70 Field: 50 Overall: 60 In a draft class that lacks depth among college position players at the top, Henry Davis is likely viewed by many teams as the best college bat available, and tops off my list as well. As a catcher, Davis possesses an offensive skill set that is rarely seen at the position. After a so-so freshman season in 2019, Davis went on an offensive tear these past two seasons at Louisville, as he slashed .370/.482/.670 with 18 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 64 games. Behind the plate, Davis’s best trait is his howitzer of an arm that more than keeps base stealers in check. Despite this, Davis is not considered to be one of the better defensive catchers in the draft, as some even think a move out from catcher could be in his future. However, even if that happens Davis’s bat should still make him a viable option at less valuable defensive positions. 6. Kahlil Watson, Wake Forest HS, NC Pos: SS | B/T: R/R | Height: 5' 9" | Weight: 180 lbs | Age: 18 Commitment: North Carolina State Scouting Grades Hit: 60 Power: 50 Run: 60 Throw: 55 Field: 55 Overall: 60 While Kahlil Watson does not get the hype that a Marcelo Mayer or Jordan Lawlar get (still to come), there is not a lot that separates Watson from those two, and I would not be surprised if one day he is looked back on as the best of the group, this kid is that good. There is not one trait that Watson has that stands out from anyone else in this class, but he is above average to plus across the board and is a true five tool player. Watson does not have the size to generate a lot of power, but what he does have is an athletically explosive swing that generates a lot of bat speed to make up for that. At short, Watson can make some incredible plays at times that highlight his defensive potential, but he can be a little inconsistent at times with the routine plays. This will need to be cleaned up as he makes his way up through the minors. 5. Jackson Jobe, Heritage Hall HS, OK Pos: RHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 190 lbs | Age: 18 Commitment: Ole Miss Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Curveball: 50 Slider: 70 Changeup: 65 Control: 50 Overall: 60 High school right-handed pitchers have had a tough time finding their way up draft boards in recent years, as team’s have noticed the relatively poor track record they have had at the top due to so much risk. In the last two drafts, none were selected in the top 10 and only Mick Able and Quinn Priester were selected in the top 20. Jackson Jobe has a chance to change that this season, as he has so much potential it is hard to imagine teams drafting later in the top 10 passing on him if he falls to them. So, what makes Jobe so special? The answer is stuff, stuff and more stuff. While many top high school pitching prospects in the past have vaulted their way up as a result of lighting up the radar gun to near, or sometimes passing, triple-digits, that is not the case for Jobe. Don’t get me wrong, Jobe has a plus fastball that sits mid-90s with life. However, that is clearly his third best pitch, as his slider and changeup are individually two of the best pitches in the entire draft class. Jobe is certainly a top 5 talent in this class, the question is, where will a team eventually pull the trigger on him? 4. Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt Pos: RHP | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 255 lbs | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 38th Round, 2018 (COL) Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 75 Changeup: 55 Control: 50 Overall: 60 Kumar Rocker was a big name coming out of high school back in 2018, as I had him ranked as the 14th best prospect in that draft. However, sign ability concerns caused teams to pass on Rocker, and he eventually was taken in the 38th round by the Colorado Rockies. Rocker went on to play ball at Vanderbilt where he had a tremendous college career. As a freshman in 2019, he helped lead Vandy to a College World Series Championship. On the way, Rocker threw a 19-strikeout no-hitter in the Super Regionals against Duke and then had a great performance in Game 2 of the championship series against Michigan with Vandy’s season on the line. For his career, Rocker had an ERA of just 2.89 and struck out 321 batters in 236 and 2/3 innings pitched. Coming out of high school, Rocker’s best pitch was arguably his fastball. However, as he has progressed, Rocker’s slider is clearly his best pitch and is without question the breaking ball in the entire draft class. Rocker has also developed a quality changeup at Vanderbilt. 3. Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt Pos: RHP | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 205 lbs | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 20th Round, 2019 (NYY) Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 Curveball: 65 Slider: 55 Changeup: 55 Control: 50 Overall: 60 The other half of the Vanderbilt dynamic-duo at the top of their rotation is son of former MLB All-Star Al Leiter, and like Rocker was a top draft prospect coming out of high school. However, Leiter was a year behind Rocker and was my 29th ranked prospect in the 2019 draft. The narrative on Leiter has certainly changed since then, as he has more than proven me wrong when I said, “hard to imagine him ever becoming a top of the rotation starting pitcher” as he has more than shown that not to be the case in his short time at Vanderbilt. After a brief glimpse of what he could be in four appearances in 2020, Leiter put on a show this spring as he threw 110 innings across 18 starts with an ERA of just 2.13. The most impressive part, however, were the incredible 179 punchouts that tied teammate Kumar Rocker for the most in Division 1 college baseball this spring. A big reason for his leap forward was the uptick in velocity. Coming into the 2019 draft, Leiter only sat in the low-90s and occasionally touched the mid-90s. Now Leiter sits comfortably in the mid-90s and has touched as high as 98 MPH. He has also developed the rest of his repertoire, and now features potentially three plus secondary pitches that are highlighted by his curveball. 2. Jordan Lawlar, Jesuit Prep, TX Pos: SS | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 185 lbs | Age: 18 Commitment: Vanderbilt Scouting Grades Hit: 60 Power: 55 Run: 60 Throw: 60 Field: 55 Overall: 60 In a draft with no true consensus number one pick, Jordan Lawlar likely ranks as the top prospect on several teams’ boards. However, the question is, who do the Pittsburgh Pirates have ranked as their number one prospect? From a skill perspective, Lawlar is a lot like Kahlil Watson in the sense that he does not have one true standout tool but is a more well-rounded five tool player. What separates Lawlar from Watson, is his power potential, as he could easily become a 25 home run a year guy at the next level. Lawlar is also an excellent fielder at shortstop, where his athleticism and big arm give him the range and arm strength needed to play the position and stick there long-term. Lawlar has had his name near the top of 2021 draft boards for a couple years now and has done nothing but live up to that early hype. Now the question is, will Lawlar live up to that hype as a professional? 1. Marcelo Mayer, Eastlake HS, CA Pos: SS | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 180 lbs | Age: 18 Commitment: Southern California Scouting Grades Hit: 65 Power: 55 Run: 50 Throw: 60 Field: 65 Overall: 60 Marcelo Mayer is an elite prospect out of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California, the same high school that 2019 Twins first round pick Keoni Cavaco attended. As a prospect, Mayer is not quite the athlete that Jordan Lawlar is, but he is every bit the baseball player and maybe more. When it comes to looking natural on the diamond, Mayer is about as good as it gets. Mayer has a silky-smooth swing that only a left-handed hitter can have. It does not generate a lot of pop, but there is certainly some power potential in there. The only thing that looks better than Mayer’s swing is watching him play out in the field at short. While he might not have the greatest range, Mayer makes up for it with his playmaking ability. There is not a bad hop, or a tough throwing angle that he doesn’t look completely comfortable making. Rest of the 2021 MLB Draft Top 50 2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 11-20 2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 21-30 2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 31-40 2021 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects: 41-50 View full article

We close out the 2020 MLB Draft Prospect Rankings with the cream of the crop, the best of the best, the pick of the litter, the crème de la crème, okay I’m done. While it is unlikely that these guys fall to the Minnesota Twins at pick 27, they are still important names to follow, as they represent the most likely candidates to be the future stars of the sport. Also, with the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox holding the 1st, 4th and 11th overall picks in the draft, it is likely that three names on this list could be future divisional foes for the Twins.10. Max Meyer, Minnesota Pos: RHP | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 185 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 34th Round, 2017 (MIN) Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 Slider: 75 Changeup: 50 Control: 55 Overall: 55 Checking in at number 10 in the prospect rankings is Minnesota’s own Max Meyer. Meyer graduated from Woodbury High School in 2017, and was taken in the 34th round by the Minnesota Twins in the draft that year. That was the first draft under the current Twins regime, who has shown an affinity for taking Minnesota prep players around that point in the draft, as a way to recognize some of the state’s young baseball talent before they head off to college. Meyer was lights out in his three seasons pitching for the Gophers, putting up a career 2.07 ERA, with 187 strikeouts and 41 walks in 148 innings pitched. After serving as the team’s closer his freshman season, he made the transition to starting during his sophomore season. After coming into this spring with a shot at being a back end of the first-round talent, he vaulted himself up into Top 10 consideration with four dominating starts, all coming against Power 5 schools in Non-Conference play. On the mound, Meyer has lights out stuff. His fastball frequently touches upper 90s, and sits in the mid 90s with ease. However, Meyer’s best pitch is his slider, which is without question the best pitch in this year’s draft. He also features an okay changeup, that has a chance to improve with more use. Despite his lack of commanding size, Meyer holds his velocity well late into starts, thanks to his lower effort delivery that not a lot of pitchers who can pump it up as high as he does with his size have. 9. Mick Abel, Jesuit HS, Portland, OR Pos: RHP | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 190 | Age: 18 Commitment: Oregon State Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 60 Changeup: 55 Control: 60 Overall: 55 The stigma around high school pitchers is real, which has a lot to do with the top high school arm in the country coming in at number nine in my rankings for the second year in a row, there is just too much risk, especially for the high price tag they demand. That being said, the potential of Mick Abel is a rare commodity and deserves to go high in this year’s draft. Abel is a presence on the mound, not only with his height, but also his stuff. Last summer, Abel typically sat in the low-to-mid 90s with his stuff, but when he reared back he could get into the upper 90s. There are also reports that Abel has been showing increased velocity in bullpen sessions this spring. Abel’s slider isn’t a big swooping breaker by any means, but it has nice and tight rotation with some downward break. He also mixes in a strong changeup, that he has shown more wiliness to throw than most high school pitchers. Despite being a prep pitcher, Abel’s game is developed well beyond his years. He has three above average or better pitches, and he can command all three exceptionally well. With still some room to grow in his frame, it is not out of the question for Abel to add even more velocity as he matures. 8. Garrett Mitchell, UCLA Pos: OF | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 215 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 14th Round, 2017 (OAK) Scouting Grades Hit: 60 Power: 45 Run: 70 Throw: 55 Field: 60 Overall: 55 Garrett Mitchell has the all-around tool set that will give him a very high floor as a potential top 10 pick. This is what scouts saw, and loved about Mitchell coming out of high school back in 2017. However, Mitchell fell due to sign ability concerns, and made his way onto campus at UCLA where he has done nothing be elevate his draft stock even further. In three seasons for the Bruins, Mitchell had a slash line of .327/.393/.478 in 121 career games. His best season was his sophomore year in 2019, where Mitchell hit .349 with an OPS of .984. While Mitchell doesn’t have much for home run power, having hit just six in his entire college career, he does show plenty of extra base power. In that sophomore season alone, Mitchell hit 14 doubles and lead the nation with 12 triples. What gives Mitchell his incredibly high floor, is the defensive ability he displays in center field. With his speed and ball tracking ability, Mitchell has the potential to one day be a gold glove caliber center fielder. The speed that Mitchell displays is easily the best trait for a player that has a lot of tools. In his career at UCLA, Mitchell was successful on 28 of 37 stolen base attempts. 7. Zac Veen, Spruce Creek HS, Port Orange, FL Pos: OF | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 190 | Age: 18 Commitment: Florida Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 60 Run: 50 Throw: 55 Field: 50 Overall: 55 During the summer showcase circuit last summer, one of the players that stood out the most was Florida prep outfielder Zac Veen. While his tools might not be as loud as many of the other high caliber players, Veen has just as much potential as them. With his long and tall frame, Veen is able to generate power with ease, as he leverages his body well. Veen has tremendous plate discipline for someone his age, and has a knack for waiting for his pitch, and then attacking it. His powerful uppercut swing already helps him generate plus power, but that could develop even further as Veen continues to fill out his body. As an outfielder, Veen currently plays a lot of center field, but will need to move to a corner position as a pro, where he has average or better defensive potential. The arm strength is there for a team to try Veen at right field. 6. Austin Hendrick, West Allegheny HS, Imperial, PA Pos: OF | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 195 | Age: 18 Commitment: Mississippi State Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 70 Run: 55 Throw: 60 Field: 50 Overall: 55 When you watch Austin Hendrick swing, it is evident how explosive of an athlete he is. It is this athletic ability that has me so excited about Hendrick as a prospect. While there are certainly still a couple holes in his game, it is nothing that can’t be fixed with good coaching and development as a prospect. Hendrick has a great feel at the plate, and exceptional bat speed that helps him generate as much or more power than any other prospect in this year's class. At the Perfect Game national showcase last summer, Hendrick topped out with an exit velocity of 105 MPH, which is very impressive for high schooler. In the field, Hendrick has the ability to be an average to slightly above-average defensive right fielder. While Hendrick is a much riskier prospect than most taken this early in the draft, his high ceiling, due to his power potential, is why I am so high on Hendrick as a prospect. 5. Nick Gonzales, New Mexico State Pos: 2B | B/T: R/R | Height: 5' 10" | Weight: 190 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 65 Power: 55 Run: 55 Throw: 50 Field: 55 Overall: 60 Nick Gonzalez has been dominating on the baseball field ever since he first got to campus at New Mexico State in 2018. After posting a 1.021 OPS as a freshman, Gonzales blasted onto scouts’ radars when he put up 1.305 OPS as a sophomore in 2019, and was taking yet another step forward this spring with a 1.765 OPS in 16 games before the season was cut short. For his career, Gonzales put up a .399/.500 /.747 slash line with 37 home runs in 128 games played. Gonzalez finished his career on an 82-consecutive game on base streak, which dates all the way back to his freshman season. It might be easy to dismiss those numbers, as Gonzales was putting them up against lower level competition in the WAC, in what is an extremely hitter friendly environment. However, Gonzales proved that his numbers were legit last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he finished second in batting average (.351) and first in both OBP (.451) and SLG (.630). Despite some of his recent efforts to play shortstop in the field, Gonzales is a clear cut second base prospect for the pro game. He has decent range and fielding ability, but he lacks the elite range and plus arm strength that are required at the shortstop position. 4. Emerson Hancock, Georgia Pos: RHP | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 215 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 38th Round, 2017 (ARI) Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 55 Curveball: 50 Changeup: 60 Control: 65 Overall: 60 After showing a lot of promise, in what was a statistically down freshman campaign, Emerson Hancock proved all of his believers right in a big way in 2019, lighting up the competition on his way to a 1.99 ERA in 90 and 1/3 innings pitched. Hancock wasn’t off to an amazing start to his 2020 campaign, from a run prevention perspective, but his 34 to 3 strikeout to walk ratio was still quite impressive, and that is something a lot of teams care more about than just ERA. In the MLB Draft, you get a lot of pitchers who are more throwers than pitchers at this stage of their careers. Hancock is not one of them, as he is a well refined pitching prospect. He has a great four-pitch mix, which includes a fastball that sits easily in the mid 90s, but doesn’t have a lot of movement, a sharp low 80s slider, a plus changeup and a decent curveball that he can break off from time to time. However, Hancock’s best trait is the command that he has with them. Over his past two seasons at Georgia, Hancock has walked just 4.8 percent of batters that he faced. For reference, that would have been tied with Max Scherzer for the 7th lowest walk rate among qualified starting pitchers in the MLB last season. As a pitcher, Hancock checks all of the boxes that scouts want to see in a potential top of the rotation ace. He has the prototypical size of a frontline starter, he has a low-effort delivery that is easily repeatable, he has four pitches that are average or better, with three of them having the potential to be plus pitches, and he can control all four of his pitches in and out of the strike zone. Really, what more could you ask from a possible top five pick. 3. Austin Martin, UCLA Pos: UTL | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 185 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 37th Round, 2017 (CLE) Scouting Grades Hit: 70 Power: 55 Run: 55 Throw: 50 Field: 55 Overall: 60 What position Austin Martin eventually settles in at defensively is still up in the air, and it might change depending on which organization selects him. In his career at Vanderbilt, Martin his played primarily second and third base, but he has also showcased his talents in center field. If I saw a future for Martin as a shortstop, he most likely would be my number one player on the board, but I just don’t see Martin having the arm strength to play the position. Where there are no questions with Martin is with the bat in his hands. Martin is considered by many to be the best hitter in this class, and I would have to agree with that assessment. In three seasons as a full-time starter for the Commodores, Martin has an eye-popping .368/.474/.532 slash line, which is even more impressive when you consider that he is going up against many of the best arms in the country, playing in the SEC. Between he plus-plus hitting ability, his good eye at the plate, and his excellent base running ability, Martin has all the makings of a leadoff hitter at the professional level. Martin didn’t display a ton of power in his college career, just 14 home runs in 140 games played, but with his exceptional bat speed, Martin should be able to produce above-average power down the line. 2. Asa Lacy, Texas A&M Pos: LHP | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 215 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 31st Round, 2017 (CLE) Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 65 Curveball: 55 Changeup: 55 Control: 50 Overall: 60 I had the opportunity to see what Asa Lacy could do up close last spring, when he put on a show against the LSU Tigers. In that start, Lacy absolutely shut down the Tigers bats, holding them scoreless over 6 innings, which included striking out 11 of the final 17 batters that he faced. However, it is not just one great start that makes Lacy so impressive, but instead the overall body of work that he has displayed. After a successful freshman season coming out of the bullpen, Lacy transitioned to the starting rotation over the last two seasons, where he put up a 1.84 ERA in 112 and 2/3 innings pitched across 19 starts and accumulating 176 strikeouts and 51 walks. While a number of pitchers at the top of draft have four pitches that all grade out at average or better, Lacy is a rare pitcher that has all four of his pitches graded out at above-average or better. His best pitch is a hard slider, with some downward bite, that is his go to swing and miss pitch. He pairs that up well with a bigger breaking curveball that is upper 70s to low 80s, which helps keep hitters off balance. Lacy’s fastball is too overpowering, but he can maintain his mid 90s velocity deep into his pitch count. He rounds out his repertoire with a changeup that he uses well versus opposing right-handed hitters. One potential holdup on Lacy is he has a tendency to walk his fair share of batters. However, it is not a glaring problem, and with some fine tuning of his mechanics, Lacy should be able to bring his walk total back down a little bit. With the combination of high strikeouts and a decent number of walks, Lacy doesn’t go very deep into ballgames, having thrown more than seven innings just once in his career, and averaging just 5.75 innings pitched in his 21 career starts for the Aggies. 1. Spencer Torkelson, Arizona State Pos: 1B | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 220 | Age: 20 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 60 Power: 70 Run: 40 Throw: 50 Field: 55 Overall: 60 While there is not a lot of separation between Spencer Torkelson and the rest of the field, it seems to be a consensus by many that he will be the player that the Detroit Tigers select with the first overall pick in this year’s draft. After putting up impressive power numbers in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, 25 and 23 home runs in 2018 and 2019 respectively, and was well on his way to repeating those numbers again this spring. It is not too often that first basemen are considered for the top overall pick in the draft, then again it is not every year that a hitter with Torkelson’s ability is available. While many want to compare Torkelson to last year’s third overall pick Andrew Vaughn, however, that wouldn’t do Torkelson justice. While Vaughn was a more polished hitter, he doesn’t nearly have the power that Torkelson does, and that is what takes Torkelson to the next level. In addition to Torkelson’s bat, he is also a good defender at first base. That being said, as a first baseman his overall upside is still limited. Additionally, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of room to grow to continue developing, so he likely won’t add much more power than he has now. However, Torkelson’s rare combination of hitting ability and power will make him too tough to pass up with the first overall pick. Rest of the 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 11-20 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 21-30 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 31-40 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 41-50 MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

In the most recent edition of this series, we looked at a plethora of college right-handed pitchers that I have ranked from 21st through 30th in the 2020 MLB Draft. Any one of them would make a great addition to the Minnesota Twins farm system. In this edition, we will take a look at a group of players who are ranked a little above the Twins range, but as those of you who are familiar with the MLB Draft know, a handful of these players listed will still likely fall to the Twins at pick number 27 overall.20. Robert Hassell, Independence HS, Thompson's Station, TN Pos: OF | B/T: L/L | Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 195 | Age: 18 Commitment: Vanderbilt Scouting Grades Hit: 60 Power: 50 Run: 55 Throw: 55 Field: 50 Overall: 55 In a prep class that is not very deep with pure hitting ability, Robert Hassell might just be the best one. Hassell has tremendous contact ability, thanks in large part to his smooth swing from the left side of the plate. Hassell showcased his hitting ability at the U-18 Baseball World Cup at the end of last summer, where he was the clear-cut best hitter on the United States National Team. The future power potential for Hassell is still up in the air, but if he can grow out a little more, he should provide at least respectable power from the left-hand side of the plate. In the outfield, Hassell seems destined to move to a corner outfield position in the long run, though he should be a plus defender in either right or left field. Hassell has a pretty good amount of arm strength, so a move to right field could make a lot of sense. 19. Cade Cavalli, Oklahoma Pos: RHP | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 225 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 29th Round, 2017 (ATL) Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 60 Curveball: 50 Changeup: 50 Control: 45 Overall: 55 Cade Cavalli marks the eighth right-handed college pitcher to be featured in the last twelve spots of these rankings, and he might just be the best one of the group. Cavalli has the build that MLB scouts love to see and has effortless mechanics. Cavalli’s fastball frequently gets into the upper 90s and has even touched triple-digits, but it doesn’t have much movement coming from an over the top delivery. This allows hitters to pick up on it easier than you would expect. The other top pitch Cavalli features is a slider that is absolutely nasty to opposing right-handed hitters. In addition to the slider, Cavalli has also started developing a curveball that he likes to offer up against lefties and complements his slider well. He also has a decent changeup, which gives Cavalli potential for four average or better pitches. 18. Tyler Soderstrom, Turlock HS, CA Pos: C | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 200 | Age: 18 Commitment: UCLA Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 60 Run: 50 Throw: 55 Field: 45 Overall: 55 Earlier in this series we look at Drew Romo, who is the standout prep catcher on the defensive side of the ball. Now we will take a look at Tyler Soderstrom, who is a prep catcher on the opposite end of the spectrum from Romo. In what is now my third year covering the MLB Draft for Twins Daily, Soderstrom is unquestionably the best hitting prep catcher that I have graded. He has a compact upper-cut swing that helps him generate some lift on the ball to maximize his power, without sacrificing much in the way of swing and miss. The looming question that has been on every evaluators mind is Soderstrom’s future behind the plate. He doesn’t show the natural feel for the position and still needs a lot of fundamental work. However, Soderstrom is a good athlete with a big arm, so if he needs to move to a corner outfield position in the future, he should be able to play there, and still bring a plus bat. 17. Garrett Crochet, Tennessee Pos: LHP | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 210 | Age: 20 Previously Drafted: 34th Round, 2017 (MIL) Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 Slider: 60 Curveball: 50 Changeup: 50 Control: 50 Overall: 55 Garrett Crochet is another pitcher that could land in drastically different spots on different teams’ draft boards. Stuff wise, Crochet deserves some Top 10 pick consideration, however, there are lingering concerns that could cause him to fall much lower than that with some teams. Like many other pitchers at the top of the draft class, Crochet’s fastball-slider combo is a force to be reckoned with. He typically sits in the mid-to-high 90s with his fastball that has a lot of arm side run but can get away from him at times when he tries to overthrow it. He pairs that with his sharp breaking slider, that has some downward movement to it. Crochet also throws a changeup that has promise, but is still very much a work in progress, and a curveball that looked good in his one start this spring vs Wright State. There are a few red flags that will give some teams pause with Crochet. First is Crochet’s inexperience starting, having started in just 13 of his 36 career appearances at Tennessee. Next is injury concern, as Crochet missed his first three starts of this spring with a shoulder injury, and didn’t have the time to prove he was fully recovered from that. Finally, Crochet can be a little erratic at times. However, if he can’t make it as a starter, Crochet has all the makings of a dominant left-handed relief ace. 16. Nick Bitsko, Central Bucks East HS, Doylestown, PA Pos: RHP | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 220 | Age: 17 Commitment: Virginia Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 Curveball: 55 Changeup: 50 Control: 55 Overall: 55 Had Nick Bitsko been able to foresee the coronavirus pandemic wiping out the 2020 spring baseball season, he might not have reclassified from the 2021 class back in January, as scouts were unable to get a deeper look on a player that was likely on many of their back burners before his reclassification. However, season or no season, Bitsko has tremendous potential as a starting pitcher at the major league level, and still will likely get a team to bite on his talent at some point in the first round. Late last summer, after turning just 17 years of age, Bitsko was routinely sitting in the mid 90s with his fastball. After the fastball, Bitsko features a hard curveball that is typically in the low 80s, and will mix in the occasionally changeup. What helps set Bitsko apart from many other high school pitchers is the control he shows for all three of his pitches at such a young age. 15. Patrick Bailey, North Carolina State Pos: C | B/T: S/R | Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 190 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 37th Round, 2017 (MIN) Scouting Grades Hit: 50 Power: 55 Run: 50 Throw: 55 Field: 60 Overall: 55 The Twins selected Patrick Bailey, when he was coming out of high school, in the 37th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. At the time, Bailey was a highly thought of defensive catcher, but most teams questioned his future with the bat. Bailey decided not to sign with the Twins, and instead opted to go play ball at NC State. Bailey immediately proved his doubters wrong in his freshman season with the Wolfpack, when he hit .321 and finished fourth in the ACC with a .604 slugging percentage. After an okay season with the bat in 2019, Bailey was again displaying his power potential in 2020 with six home runs in just 17 games before the season was suspended. Behind the plate, Bailey still has the tremendous ability that scouts saw coming out of high school. He is a smooth receiver of the baseball and is a tremendous blocker of pitches in the dirt. Bailey does have a big arm, though despite this, Bailey only threw out a pedestrian 28 percent of base stealers in his college career. 14. Reid Detmers, Louisville Pos: LHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 210 | Age: 20 Previously Drafted: 32nd Round, 2017 (ATL) Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 Curveball: 60 Slider: 45 Changeup: 50 Control: 55 Overall: 55 Reid Detmers has been one of the most dominant starting pitchers in college baseball over the past couple of years. After putting up a 2.78 ERA in 2019, Detmers came back this season and allowed just three combined runs in his four starts. In total, Detmers had a 2.57 ERA with an impressive 215 strikeouts and just 39 walks in 133 and 1/3 innings pitched over that stretch. On the mound, Detmers' stuff is not anything overwhelming, but he is a well-polished pitcher who has proven he knows how to get the most out of his stuff. Detmers has a clean delivery that is easily repeatable, which helps him be such a consistent strike thrower. Detmers fastball sits in the low 90s, but with his ability to spot the pitch, it plays up a bit. He also throws an excellent curveball, that has served as his go-to strikeout pitch. Detmers also features a pretty decent changeup that has potential to become a third above average pitch, along with a slider that is still developing. 13. Ed Howard, Mount Carmel HS, IL Pos: SS | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 185 | Age: 18 Commitment: Oklahoma Scouting Grades Hit: 50 Power: 45 Run: 65 Throw: 55 Field: 65 Overall: 55 I would be lying if I didn’t say that Ed Howard is one of my favorite prospects in this draft, and that is because he has the one thing I look for over everything else in prep position players, and that is pure athleticism. Howard has the raw tools that cannot be developed, and the parts of his game that are lacking at the moment are the ones that have the potential to be. Let’s start with Howard’s play at shortstop, because that is where he shines. Howard has the natural feel for the position that is required to play it at a high level, and it has been on display since he was 12-years old in the Little League World Series. Howard also has good quickness and enough arm strength for the position. With the bat in his hands, Howard has shown the ability to be a solid contact hitter, with a quick stroke and excellent hand-eye coordination. There is not a lot of pop in the bat yet, but with his already prevalent bat speed, Howard should be able to develop some power as he grows and matures. If Howard is unable to develop the bat, he is still good enough at short to be a perennial 2 WAR player on just the defensive side of the ball alone, and if he does develop the bat, Howard is a star in the making. 12. Jared Kelley, Refugio HS, TX Pos: RHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 225 | Age: 18 Commitment: Texas Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 Slider: 50 Changeup: 60 Control: 55 Overall: 55 Jared Kelley has as much velocity on his fastball as any pitcher in this draft, outside of maybe Cole Wilcox, and what is amazing about it is how effortlessly Kelley generates that power. This easy delivery is what scouts like to see most, as it creates projectability for Kelley as a starter long term. In addition to Kelley’s fastball that get into the upper 90s with ease, Kelley also has a changeup that is advanced well beyond his years. Typically, with high school pitchers that have enough stuff to just blow past hitters, they rarely have developed changeups because they haven’t needed them. Kelley also features a solid slider, but it isn’t the put-away pitch that you would like to see just yet. The part that will give teams hesitation on Kelley, through no fault of his own, is the poor track record that hard-throwing right-handed prep pitchers have had in the MLB Draft. Additionally, these pitchers typically demand high signing bonuses to draw them away from their college commitment. In a year where teams don’t have the extra rounds to draw bonus pool money from, Kelley could be a tough sign for a number of teams. 11. Heston Kjerstad, Arkansas Pos: OF | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 215 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 36th Round, 2017 (SEA) Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 65 Run: 50 Throw: 55 Field: 50 Overall: 55 After breaking out in his freshman season at Arkansas, alongside Casey Martin, Heston Kjerstad has done nothing but prove that he is every bit the hitter we saw the potential of him becoming. In 145 career games for the Razorbacks, Kjerstad had an impressive .345/.425/.587 slash line with 35 home runs. Kjerstad’s stance looks a little unorthodox, and he has a big leg kick, but at delivery he gets himself in a good hitting position where he can generate a lot of power. The swing itself has a nice uppercut, which helps him lift the ball to take advantage of all that power he possesses. In the outfield, Kjerstad will never wow you, but at least for now he can get the job done. His arm is big enough to stick in right field, which is where he has spent his time in the Arkansas outfield. Rest of the 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 21-30 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 31-40 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 41-50 MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

So far, we have looked at the prospects that I have ranked 31st through 50th in the 2020 MLB Draft. Now it is time to take a look at the prospects ranked 21st through 30th. With the Minnesota Twins making their first selection at pick number 27 overall, the players listed below should all be on Twins fans radar as potential picks for the Twins come June 10th. For fans hoping the Twins add a college arm in the draft, this group of prospects is the one for you.30. Bryce Jarvis, Duke Pos: RHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 195 | Age: 22 Previously Drafted: 37th Round, 2019 (NYY) Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 55 Changeup: 55 Control: 50 Overall: 50 After a of couple solid seasons at Duke, Bryce Jarvis was a sophomore-eligible draft prospect in the 2019 draft. After turning down the Yankees offer, Jarvis went back to Duke and set the world on fire with his new and improved stuff, which included a perfect game against a Cornell offense that struck out 15 times, and only got one ball into the outfield, which was a lazy liner to right. Prior to this spring, Jarvis was typically in the upper 80’s to low 90’s, but this spring he was pumping that gas on his fastball, which frequently was in the mid 90’s. This jump in velocity has drastically improved Jarvis’ draft stock, as his ceiling is so much higher than it was a year ago. Jarvis also throws two above-average offspeed pitches, both a slider and a changeup, giving him the desired three-pitch mix that scouts love to see in starting pitchers. Jarvis also showed improved command this spring, walking just two batters in 27 innings of work. 29. Chris McMahon, Miami Pos: RHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 205 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 33rd Round, 2017 (ATL) Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 60 Changeup: 55 Cutter: 45 Control: 50 Overall: 50 The first of two University of Miami starting pitchers on this list, Chris McMahon was a highly regarded pitching prospect coming out of high school, but like many high school pitchers with signability concerns, he fell to the latter rounds. Now three years later, McMahon as developed into the pitcher scouts thought he could be, and is now firmly in the discussion of being a first-round pick. McMahon features an advanced four-pitch mix, with three of those pitches grading out above-average or better. He features a fastball that will sit in the mid 90s, and has some nice tailing action to it. With that, he throws a good slider with some strong potential, but still needs a little bit of work, and a changeup that is more advanced than most armateur pitchers possess. McMahon has also started throwing a hard slider that acts more like a cutter than anything. After not being an overly dominant strikeout pitcher in his first two seasons at Miami, McMahon drastically improved, striking out 38 batters in just 25 2/3 innings of work this spring. 28. Casey Martin, Arkansas Pos: SS | B/T: R/R | Height: 5' 11" | Weight: 180 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 45 Power: 55 Run: 70 Throw: 55 Field: 55 Overall: 50 Casey Martin broke onto the scene his freshman season, when he was one of the offensive leaders that carried Arkansas all the way to the National Championship Series. At the time, I was looking at Martin as a future Top 10 pick. That has fallen off slightly with his play the past couple of years, but nonetheless Martin’s talent is undeniable and is deserving of a first-round pick. In his freshman season, Martin put up a staggering .345/.418./.556 slash line, with 13 home runs in 67 games. In the time since, Martin’s numbers have fallen off sharply, having put up a more modest .284/.363/.532 slash line, with 17 home runs in 81 games. Martin has all the traits to be a good defensive shortstop. He is a good athlete with a strong arm, however he needs to dramatically improve his consistency if he wants to stick there. The best trait that Martin has is his speed. On the base paths, Martin went 24 for 27 in stolen base attempts during his college career. 27. Carmen Mlodzinski, South Carolina Pos: RHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 230 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 55 Changeup: 45 Cutter: 55 Control: 55 Overall: 50 Not much was thought of Carmen Mlodzinski as a draft prospect prior to last Summer’s Cape Cod League. However, by the time the summer was done, Mlodzinski had firmly planted himself in first round consideration after posting a 1.83 ERA, with 43 strikeouts and just 5 walks in 34 and 1/3 innings of work. Despite those strong strikeout numbers in the Cape Cod League, Mlodzinski is more of an old school groundball heavy pitcher who features a heavy sinking fastball that routinely sits in the 93-96 MPH range. He also pairs a hard cutter and sharp down breaking slider in the low 80s. The pitch that could make or break Mlodzinski professional career will be his still-developing changeup. If he can make improvements to that pitch, it will give him another weapon that could help improve his strikeout numbers as a professional. 26. Slade Cecconi, Miami Pos: RHP | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 220 | Age: 20 Previously Drafted: 38th Round, 2018 (BAL) Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 55 Changeup: 50 Cutter: 55 Control: 60 Overall: 50 The other member of the Miami Hurricanes starting rotation to make the list is sophomore Slade Cecconi. Despite being still only 20, Cecconi is draft eligible since he will turn 21 within 45 days of the MLB Draft. Cecconi has similar stuff as McMahon, but he has more projectability being a year younger and a couple inches taller. Cecconi is also much further along with his cutter, which has the potential to be a plus pitch, giving him four pitches that can be average or better. In addition to better projectability, Cecconi has great control, having walked just 25 batters in 101 1/3 innings at the college level. This, along with his pitching repertoire, projects him to having no trouble staying in the starting rotation. 25. Bobby Miller, Louisville Pos: RHP | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 220 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 38th Round, 2017 (BAL) Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 Slider: 55 Changeup: 55 Control: 45 Overall: 50 The train of college right-handed pitchers continues with Louisville righty Bobby Miller. Miller has worked as both a starting pitcher and a long reliever in his time with the Cardinals, making 25 starts and 16 appearances out of the bullpen, with 11 of those relief appearances lasting more than one inning. Miller has a fastball that lights up radar guns in the upper-90s, but could use some work to generate more swing and miss. He pairs that up with a tight upper-80s slider and a developed mid-80s changeup, both of with are above-average pitches, giving Miller strong potential to stick in the starting rotation. The concern with Miller comes from the elongated arm action in his delivery that causes some command issues. The team that drafts Miller will need to work with him on that, but if they can find a way to shorten his delivery, without sacrificing his stuff, Miller should be destined for a future in an MLB starting rotation. 24. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Harvark-Westlake HS, Studio City, CA Pos: OF | B/T: L/L | Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 180 | Age: 18 Commitment: Vanderbilt Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 45 Run: 60 Throw: 55 Field: 60 Overall: 50 Pete Crow-Armstrong already has an indirect tie to the Minnesota Twins, as he is the son of Ashley Crow, who is the actress that played Jenny Heywood in Little Big League. As a player, Crow-Armstrong is an athletic prep centerfielder, who could potentially be available for the actual Twins to select at pick 27. At the plate, Crow-Armstrong brings an approach to the plate that is mature well beyond his years. He has tremendous contact ability, and all of the makings of a future leadoff hitter. There is not a lot of pop in Crow-Armstrong’s bat, but as he continues to mature and develop, he should be able to generate at least decent power. Where Crow-Armstrong really shines, however, is in center field. He has the superb range that is needed to play the position and possess a big arm. He should have no trouble sticking at center. 23. Daniel Cabrera, LSU Pos: OF | B/T: L/L | Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 195 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 26th Round, 2017 (SDP) Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 60 Run: 50 Throw: 55 Field: 55 Overall: 55 Having seen him play up close and personal numerous times over the past couple of years, I can tell you that Daniel Cabrera is the real deal. He is a good athlete, with more tools than a lot of scouts realize, which is why he falls on my list where he does. Where Cabrera excels most is with the bat, as he is a career .305 hitter playing in a full-time starting role since his freshmen year in the SEC. While his home run totals aren’t staggering, 22 in his career, Cabrera has plenty of pop in his bat. The problem is Cabrera has a tendency to hit far too many balls on the ground to take full advantage of his plus exit velocities. Cabrera is an excellent candidate to start blasting more home runs, once he learns to get the ball in the air more often. In the outfield, Cabrera is not a defender that will wow you with many spectacular plays, but he has more than enough speed and ability to be an average or better corner outfielder. 22. Cole Wilcox, Georgia Pos: RHP | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 230 | Age: 20 Previously Drafted: 37th Round, 2018 (WAS) Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 Slider: 60 Changeup: 55 Control: 45 Overall: 55 Two years ago, Cole Wilcox was one of the top prep pitchers entering the draft, which is why I ranked him the 35th best available prospect in the 2018 MLB Draft. However, he fell in the draft due to signability concerns, and now is back in my rankings again, this time as a draft-eligible sophomore. Wilcox had a rough first five outings to begin his college career in 2019. However, he was lights out for the remainder of his freshman season and was even better in his four starts to begin his sophomore season this spring. From a stuff perspective, Wilcox has about as much as any other pitcher in this year’s class. His fastball sits easily in the upper-90s and has reached triple-digits. He also has a wicked down-breaking slider and an easily above-average changeup. The problem Wilcox faces is with his control. During his freshman season, Wilcox walked 38 batters in just 59 2/3 innings of work. That seemed much improved this spring, having walked just 2 batters in his 23 innings pitched. Had Wilcox gotten the opportunity to pitch the entire season, and show his control has much improved, he could threaten Top 10 status with his stuff. 21. J.T. Ginn, Mississippi State Pos: RHP | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 200 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 30th Overall, 2018 (LAD) Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 Slider: 65 Changeup: 50 Control: 60 Overall: 55 Just like Cole Wilcox, J.T. Ginn is also a draft-eligible sophomore who I had highly ranked coming out of the 2018 prep class, with Ginn being ranked 41st on my list at the time. Ginn wound up being selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 30th overall selection. However, Ginn turned down the Dodgers top offer of a $2.4 M signing bonus to go to college. Ginn put his potential on full display his freshman season at Mississippi State, posting a 3.13 ERA, with a 5.53 K/BB ratio in 86 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, his sophomore season ended before it ever really got going, suffering an elbow injury during his first start that required Tommy John surgery. If it weren’t for the injury, Ginn would probably fall in the 10 to 15 range on this list. When healthy, Ginn features a fastball-slider combo that can be quite effective at getting hitters out. Ginn’s fastball will hover in the low-to-mid-90s, but can reach upper-90s when he rears back, with some big arm-side run, though his velocity was down a bit late last season. He combos that with an excellent slider that he throws in the low-80s. His changeup is a distant third pitch, but should still be an average offering. Rest of the 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 31-40 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospect: 41-50 MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

The 2020 MLB Draft will be one like we have never seen before. With the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, many adjustments to the normal operations of MLB were made, one of them being to the MLB draft. Instead of the typical 40-round draft, this year’s draft will consist of just five rounds. It will be additionally tricky, given that all of the amateur seasons this spring were either cut short, or never started at all. This makes scouting a little more difficult than usual, but nonetheless will be very important. So, let us take a look at the players that I have ranked in my top 50 for this year’s draft, starting with players ranked 41 through 50.50. Drew Bowser, Harvark-Westlake HS, Studio City, CA Pos: 3B | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 205 | Age: 18 Commitment: Stanford Scouting Grades Hit: 50 Power: 65 Run: 50 Throw: 55 Field: 50 Overall: 50 Drew Bowser has about as much raw power as any prospect in this draft, college or prep. He has a big frame that still has room to fill out and develop even more pop than he already has. Bowser used this power to win the home run derby at the Perfect Game All-American classic last year. The question mark for Bowser will be his all-around hitting ability. He has shown a little inconsistency at many of the major prep showcases, which gives scouts pause. However, if he can get in with the right hitting coaches to refine his swing, Bowser has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order hitter in an MLB lineup. Like many high school infielders, Bowser currently plays shortstop, where he can hold his own defensively pretty well, but his size will force him over to third base at the professional level, where his big arm will play nicely. 49. Chase Davis, Franklin HS, Elk Grove, CA Pos: OF | B/T: L/L | Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 210 | Age: 18 Commitment: Arizona Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 60 Run: 50 Throw: 65 Field: 50 Overall: 50 Just like Drew Bowser, Chase Davis is a California prep star with plenty of pop in his bat. However, Davis does it playing in the outfield, where he has all of the physical tools that are necessary to be a major league caliber right-fielder. Davis possesses excellent bat control for someone that swings the bat as hard as he does. This is a big part as to why I gave him an above-average grade to go along with his plus power. He will need to have these parts of his game carry him in order to make it one day at the major league level. Defensively, Davis isn’t anything to write home about, but he does have enough speed to be at least a decent right fielder. However, Davis does possess possibly the strongest arm of any prep outfielder in this class. 48. Burl Carraway, Dallas Baptist Pos: LHP | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 175 | Age: 20 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 Curveball: 65 Control: 40 Overall: 50 If there was any player in this draft that had a shot at making an MLB roster during the 2020 season it would be Dallas Baptist closer Burl Carraway. His stuff is already at a high enough level to fit into an MLB bullpen, and given that he has thrown only 9 1/3 innings so far this spring, he should have plenty in the tank to pitch deep into the season. Burl makes his money with an electric fastball and a big breaking curveball. This two-pitch combo has helped Carraway strike out 15.7 batters per nine, while collecting 11 saves for the Patriots over the past two seasons. The only drawback with Carraway, however, is the erratic control he has shown. Between 2019 and 2020, Carraway has walked 28 batters in just 51 innings pitched. This will need to be improved before he can make any real impact for a major league club. 47. Tanner Burns, Auburn Pos: RHP | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 215 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 37th Round, 2017 (NYY) Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 Curveball: 55 Changeup: 50 Control: 50 Overall: 50 Tanner Burns has put up some impressive numbers against SEC competition in his three seasons at Auburn. He has been in a full-time starting role since 2018, and in that time, Burns has a 2.86 ERA, with 10 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 across 36 starts. Burns sits in the low-to-mid 90’s with his fastball, and pairs that with a strong curveball that may just be his best pitch. He also shows a changeup, that at times flashes some potential, but is still a little inconsistent at this point. For a team looking for a safe pick, Burns might be a pitcher to target, as he has already shown what he can do against quality hitters. However, his upside is limited to at most a number three starter in an MLB rotation, which will likely push him into day two of the draft. 46. Kevin Parada, Loyola HS, Los Angeles, CA Pos: C | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 200 | Age: 18 Commitment: Georgia Tech Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 55 Run: 50 Throw: 60 Field: 45 Overall: 50 We are just five players in, and Kevin Parada is already the third prep position player from California to make the list. Parada is one of the better prep hitting prospects at the catcher position that I have seen over the past few years. Parada has an excellent feel at the plate, and attacks pitches with a smooth and contact swing that helps him compete with some of the best arms in the country. He can also generate some power with his swing, that could make him a rare all-around offensive threat at catcher. The concern with Parada, however, is his ability to stay behind the plate. He hasn’t shown the greatest feel for receiving pitches and isn’t the greatest blocker. If he can’t stay at catcher long term, he could make the transition to right field, where he has adequate speed, a big arm and enough offensive ability to play the position. 45. Jared Shuster, Wake Forest Pos: LHP | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 210 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 Slider: 50 Changeup: 65 Control: 50 Overall: 50 Jared Shuster is player that first caught my attention last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he had a remarkable 1.41 ERA, and a 35 to 5 strikeout to walk ratio in 32 innings, going up against many of the best college hitters in the county. He backed that up in his four starts this spring, where he posted a 3.76 ERA, and an incredible 43 to 4 strikeout to walk ratio. While normally it would take a lot more than just nine impressive starts to make me think Shuster is far improved from the pitcher who had a 6.49 ERA last spring, but for Shuster that has been the case. A big reason for this is the newfound life on his fastball, which is an easy three or four ticks higher than it was this time last spring. Additionally, Shuster has drastically cut down on the walks, which was his main bugaboo previously. If Shuster had the entire 2020 college season to showcase the new pitcher that he has become, he would be an easy first-round pick. However, it will be hard for a team to pull the trigger on Shuster in the first round, based solely on such a small sample size. 44. Dylan Crews, Lake Mary HS, FL Pos: OF | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 190 | Age: 18 Commitment: LSU Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 55 Run: 50 Throw: 50 Field: 55 Overall: 50 Prior to the 2019 summer, Dylan Crews was thought of by many as one of the top prep hitters in the 2020 class. That stock took a bit of a hit due to a poor performance during the summer circuit. But he still has enough ability, and potential, to land him firmly inside my top 50. Crews possess a combination of hitting ability and power, that is coveted in this day and age. He also has a good eye at the plate, which helps him draw a lot of walks, while staying away from bad offerings. With his athletic skill set, Crews profiles better as a corner outfielder long term, as he just doesn’t have the range needed to play center. Many scouts like his arm, but I often find many of his throws to be a little underwhelming, compared to some of the better arms in this class. 43. Masyn Winn, Kingwood HS, TX Pos: RHP/SS | B/T: R/R | Height: 5' 10" | Weight: 180 | Age: 18 Commitment: Arkansas Scouting Grades Hit: 50 Power: 55 Run: 65 Throw: 65 Field: 55 Overall: 50 Fastball: 60 Slider: 55 Changeup: 50 Control: 45 Overall: 50 When talking about the best pure athletes in this draft class, you would be remiss not to mention Masyn Winn. He is a true dual threat on both the mound and as a shortstop. Personally, I see Winn as a player with a higher ceiling at shortstop, but a higher floor as a pitcher. At shortstop, Winn has all the makings of a premier defensive shortstop, thanks to his incredible range, his massive arm and fluid footwork. The question will come with his production at the plate. If he can develop into an even average MLB hitter, Winn could be a star in the making. On the mound, Winn has plus stuff. He can blow hitters away with a fastball that has been clocked as high as 98 MPH, and he can make hitters look silly with his wipe-out slider. He also has a changeup that still needs to be refined, but at times looks like it could be a third above-average pitch. However, Winn lacks the ideal size for a starting pitcher, and can struggle with his control at times, which could lead him to the bullpen in the future. 42. Justin Foscue, Mississippi St. Pos: 2B | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 200 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 50 Run: 50 Throw: 50 Field: 50 Overall: 50 Justin Foscue is not a player that will wow you with an impressive skill set, but rather with bring a consistent everyday approach to the game. He had a very productive 2019 season in the SEC, which has helped bring Foscue into the second-round conversation. At the plate, Foscue is a polished hitter who had a .331/.395/.564 slash line, with 14 home runs in 2019. Foscue was backing that performance up again this spring, before the season was shorted. Despite the 14 home runs Foscue hit last season (which is an impressive number in the college game), Foscue really projects for just average power at the professional level. Foscue leaves a little to be desired defensively, but with improvement he should be able to play solid enough defense to stay at second base. He has a tendency to let plays get away from him, which resulted in an ugly .937 fielding percentage in 2019. However, he did show that he cleaned up much of that with his play early in 2020. 41. C.J. Van Eyk, Florida State Pos: RHP | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 200 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 19th Round, 2017 (NYM) Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 Curveball: 60 Slider: 45 Changeup: 55 Control: 45 Overall: 50 C.J. Van Eyk is a name that has been on scouts' radars for a number of year’s now. He was a highly regarded pitcher coming out of high school and found his way to Florida State. Van Eyk possess a solid four-pitch mix, with three of them already being above-average offerings. Van Eyk’s best pitch is his curveball, which helped him strike out 11.5 batters per nine innings in his career at Florida State. He also has an above-average fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90’s, but can reach upper 90’s when he rears back on it, along with a changeup that is above-average also, when he locates it properly. The big concern with Van Eyk is his control, as he walked 83 batters in 176 2/3 career innings pitched at the collegiate level, including 12 in just 20 2/3 innings this spring. If he can clean that up, Van Eyk has the potential to be a number 2 or 3 starter in an MLB rotation. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article