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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

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

In the first installment of this series, we looked at the prospects that I have ranked 41st through 50th, in the 2020 MLB Draft. Today, we will be taking another look at some of the top prospects available in this draft, which will include some players that I view as potential candidates for the Minnesota Twins to select at pick number 27.40. Austin Wells, Arizona Pos: C | B/T: L/R | Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 220 | Age: 20 Previously Drafted: 35th Round, 2018 (NYY) Scouting Grades Hit: 60 Power: 55 Run: 50 Throw: 45 Field: 40 Overall: 50 Finding a catcher with the offensive output that Austin Wells has is a rare occurrence, and usually these players find themselves taken in the first-round, often times inside the top ten picks. However, there are legitimate concerns about Wells’ ability to stay behind the plate defensively long-term. As a hitter, Wells has done nothing but rake since stepping foot on campus in Tucson. In his two seasons for the Wildcats, Wells has put up a .357/.473 /.560 slash line in 353 career plate appearances. He also torn up the Cape Code League last summer finishing 3rd in the league in hits and T-6th in the league in home runs. Strikeouts are a bit of a concern for Wells, but it is nothing too drastic at this point in his career. Defensively, is where Wells runs into a little bit of trouble. He is not the smoothest of catchers behind the plate and doesn’t show the natural feel for the position that is needed to play catcher at the MLB level. At Arizona, Wells has nabbed a decent 26 percent of potential base stealers, but he could struggle more with that against faster players at the professional level. If he needs to move from catcher, he will likely find a home as a corner outfielder or a first baseman, which drastically limits his future potential. 39. Nick Loftin, Baylor Pos: SS | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 180 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 45 Run: 50 Throw: 55 Field: 55 Overall: 50 In a draft where pick safety might be of high importance to a lot of teams, a player like Nick Loftin could see himself going higher than he otherwise would. Loftin brings a combination of above-average defense at shortstop, with three seasons of solid offensive production while at Baylor. Loftin, doesn’t have any loud tools that will blow you away, but he is a steady player across the board, which teams like to see from college players. While at Baylor, Loftin has put up a career .316/.374/.484 slash line with 14 home runs in 577 plate appearances. Loftin has excellent contact ability, which helps him stay away from strikeouts, but also keeps him from drawing too many walks, as he usually puts the ball in play before he can work deep into counts. Loftin should have the ability to remain at shortstop as a professional. He likely won’t ever be a gold glove threat at the position, but if he can refine his play there a little bit more, he should be a steady defensive player at a premier defensive position. 38. Aaron Sabato, UNC Pos: 1B | B/T: S/R | Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 230 | Age: 20 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 55 Power: 65 Run: 35 Throw: 45 Field: 40 Overall: 50 For a college first baseman, with no real potential to play anywhere but first or DH, you better bring a powerful bat if you want to be considered a potential first-round pick, and that is just what Aaron Sabato does. As a draft eligible sophomore, Sabato’s time to impress scouts at the college level has been limited, but he has made full use of that time. After blasting 18 home runs in 64 games as a true freshman in 2019, Sabato belted another 7 home runs in just 19 games this spring, before the season was cut short. Defensively, things aren’t always the smoothest for Sabato at first-base, though they aren’t bad enough to take his glove off the field just yet. Hopefully with some professional coaching, he can bring up his play closer to average at first base. 37. Dillon Dingler, Ohio State Pos: C | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 210 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 50 Power: 50 Run: 55 Throw: 60 Field: 60 Overall: 50 One of just two Big Ten players to make my top 50, Dillon Dingler has a chance to be the first Ohio State Buckeye to be selected in the first two rounds of the MLB Draft, since the Twins took Alex Wimmers in the first-round of the 2010 draft. The main draw to Dingler is his skills behind the plate. He is a defensive weapon from the catcher position, who has thrown out 50 percent of potential base stealers in his college career. In addition to his big arm, Dingler has athleticism that is rarely matched at the catcher position and has used his time at Ohio State to refine his catching ability to make himself into a great all-around defensive catcher. The question with Dingler comes with the bat. While his bat was a little underwhelming in his first two college seasons, Dingler can out of the gates red hot in 2020. However, the season being cut short really hurt his possibility to establish what he can do with the bat. Unfortunately, that is not the case, so I’m still not entirely sold on Dingler’s bat based on just 13 games against a relatively weak non-conference schedule that Ohio State had played against. 36. Jordan Westburg, Mississippi State Pos: SS | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 190 | Age: 21 Previously Drafted: Never Scouting Grades Hit: 50 Power: 50 Run: 55 Throw: 55 Field: 50 Overall: 50 Jordan Westburg is a player I have gone back and forth on quite a bit. At one point I considered not having him even make the top 50 list, but in the end I find myself believing in his strong showing in the Cape Cod League last summer, followed up by a strong start to the 2020 season, which is why Westburg finds himself at number 36 on my list. One thing I like to see from college players is continued development year to year. That is something Westburg showed in his time at Mississippi State. After putting up a mere .707 OPS as a part time starter his freshman season in 2018, Westburg followed that up with a .859 OPS in 2019, followed by a .901 OPS in the Cape Cod League last summer, before putting up a .949 OPS in 16 games this spring. Westburg plays a fine shortstop, but many scouts believe that he will find his future home at either second or third base, due to his size. If he needs to do so, this will make it a lot tougher for him to pave his way to the bigs, without continued improvement to his bat, especially in the power department. 35. Cole Henry, LSU Pos: RHP | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 215 | Age: 20 Previously Drafted: 38th Round, 2018 (DET) Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 Curveball: 60 Changeup: 55 Control: 50 Overall: 50 Cole Henry was a member of the loaded 2018 LSU recruiting class, and after starting his freshman season as a weekday starter, he pitched his way to the top of the starting rotation, becoming the Tigers number one starter for the postseason. Henry has great stuff, with three above-average pitches, and the prototypical build to be a frontline starting pitcher. His fastball with usually hover in the low-to-mid 90’s, with some good life. Henry can also break off a nasty curveball that gets hitters to swing-and-miss with regularity. Followed by a changeup, that can get hitters out from both sides of the plate. Depending on how much teams are willing to pay for Henry, he could find his way back to Baton Rouge, for what will only be his junior season, and put together another strong season, and vault himself way up draft boards. 34. Dax Fulton, Mustang HS, OK Pos: LHP | Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 220 | Age: 18 Commitment: Oklahoma Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 Curveball: 65 Changeup: 50 Control: 55 Overall: 50 Last summer, Dax Fulton was considered by many to be one of the top high school left-handers in the 2020 class. That took a hit last year, when Fulton injured his elbow requiring Tommy John surgery. A decade ago, this may have completely ruined Fulton’s chances of getting drafted, but with the advances in this surgery, it is no longer considered the career ender that it previously was. Prior to his injury, Fulton threw a fastball that would hover around the 90 MPH mark with good control, but he has the frame to add a few more ticks to that fastball as he matures. He paired that pitch up with a big breaking curveball that is one of the better breaking pitches in this class. It will be interesting to see if a team takes a flyer on Fulton, given the draft format for this season. In previous year’s he would be more likely to find a team willing to pay big on a riskier pitcher, but that might be hard to do this year. 33. Jordan Walker, Decatur HS, GA Pos: 3B | B/T: R/R | Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 220 | Age: 18 Commitment: Duke Scouting Grades Hit: 50 Power: 60 Run: 50 Throw: 55 Field: 50 Overall: 50 Jordan Walker is a big kid, with a smooth swing, that will generate a lot of power as he matures. Walker is my highest ranked third base prospect in this draft, so teams looking to add young depth at the hot corner in their farm systems will be looking at Walker as early as the latter part of the first round. Walker’s best attribute, both now and into the future, is far and away his power. He uses the leverage generated from his 6’5” frame well to generate swing speed. His is a bit long and will need some work as he matures to shorten that down a bit. Defensively, the team that drafts Walker should give him every opportunity to try and develop at third base. Despite his size, Walker is able to move around pretty well and has a big enough arm to play third base. 32. Carson Montgomery, Windermere HS, FL Pos: RHP | Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 200 | Age: 17 Commitment: Florida State Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 Slider: 60 Changeup: 45 Control: 45 Overall: 50 Carson Montgomery is one of the more intriguing prospects to see where he ends up on draft night. He is a player that likely ranks is drastically different spots on different team’s draft boards, depending on how they project his skillset going forward. Montgomery features an exciting combination of a mid 90’s fastball, coupled with a sharp breaking slider that he can use to dominate opposing hitters. He also won’t turn 18 until a couple of months after the draft, so he still has plenty of time left to develop. What might give teams pause is the concern Montgomery could end up in the bullpen long-term. As of now he doesn’t have much feel for the changeup, which will be needed if Montgomery wants to stick in the starting rotation. The other concern is Montgomery can be quite wild at times. Both problems are fixable, but make Montgomery a riskier prospect. 31. Drew Romo, The Woodlands HS, TX Pos: C | B/T: S/R | Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 205 | Age: 18 Commitment: LSU Scouting Grades Hit: 45 Power: 50 Run: 45 Throw: 70 Field: 65 Overall: 50 In a catching class made up primarily of hitters first at the top of the draft, Drew Romo is unquestionably the best defensive catcher available. For me he is reminiscent of Will Banfield, who I had ranked as the 32nd best prospect in the 2018 MLB Draft. Romo is extremely comfortable behind the plate, who excels at both his receiving ability and his blocking ability. However, Romo’s best trait from behind the plate is his cannon for an arm. He shows it off consistently, and his Pop Times are already up there with some of the top catchers at the major league level. There were a lot of question marks with Romo’s bat, but he has shown at least enough ability to hit, to where he could one day develop into an average hitting major league catcher. With his defense, Romo’s floor is a great defensive catcher, but if he can get better with the bat, he has an incredibly high ceiling. Rest of the 2020 MLB Draft Top 50 Prospects 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