2023 - Top 10 Shortstops in 2023 Draft - RIGHT NOW

 1, Jacob Gonzalez 

The Pirates have picked inside the Top 7 picks each of the last three summers and all signs point toward that happening again. Pittsburgh and General Manager Ben Cherington have gone hard after hit tools in recent history, targeting players with high contact rates and impact at the plate. Gonzalez fits that mold beautifully with an 87 percent contact rate in 2022, coupled with above average-to-plus exit velocities. He’s an average shortstop now, though he may outgrow the position. That said, he’s more than athletic enough to stay on the dirt. Gonzalez is one of the rare prospects with a high floor and an intriguing blend of upside and up-the-middle value.

 

2. Jacob Wilson 

Jacob Wilson has been one of the most accomplished, mature hitters in the entire country during his stay at GCU. He's got a prolific eye at the plate with an extremely advanced approach and a grand willingness to use the whole field. Wilson showcases fringe average power but many believe he'll grow into solid average pop in the pros. He's an average defender at shortstop and could comfortably move to third base or second base. Elite instincts on the field and makeup off the field, Wilson checks a ton of boxes and is a very popular figure among his peers and evaluators.

 

3. Kevin McKonigle 

McGonigle is a smaller, twitchy infielder with lightning for hands and impressive core strength at the plate. He's hit absolutely everywhere he's gone, showcasing the bat to scouting executives on a number of occasions throughout the u17 circuit. It's a compact, strong, sometimes rotational cut that creates big pound-for-pound pull-side power, though McGonigle is in no rush to sell out for the juice. This is a hitter with an advanced approach at the plate before anybody will label him a slugger. McGonigle has a loose, flashy glove with a bouncy actions on the dirt. He possesses an average arm and his feet can get short and choppy on balls his to his left and right. Some believe the profile is best suited as an impact second baseman, though proponents point to his athleticism, lateral burst and sparky actions as reasons to let him develop as a shortstop.

 

4. Brayden Taylor 

TCU's Brayden Taylor handled himself very well against the older and stiffer competition on the Cape this past summer for Falmouth after big years at TCU. Taylor has a short, simple swing from the left side with good upper body rotation and whippy bat speed. Taylor’s profile is actually carried by the bat, showcasing loud line drive and fly ball exit velocities to his pull-side. Taylor shows a keen eye at the plate, refusing to expand his zone in favorable counts and commonly walking more than he punches out. He played a bit of second base, but with good range to his right and a strong arm, he projects a more natural fit at third base if he’s forced off the shortstop position.

 

5. Eric Bitonti 

Bitonti offers one of the most visually appealing swings in the entire prep class. High-level hit/power combo that’s well balanced throughout as a left handed hitter and a bat path that’s conducive to all-fields power. Ultra projectable, long frame that Bitonti incorporates extremely well into both his swing and throws across the diamond showing staying power on the left side of the infield. The Oregon commit shows an immense package of tools that could end up proving to have day 1 type potential. The cherry on top? Bitonti won't turn 18 years old until December following the draft. He's incrediibly young.

 

6. Roch Cholowsky 

In a very deep prep shortstop class, Cholowsky stands out as having some of the highest projectability out of anyone in the class. Long, athletic frame with tons of room for growth throughout with high level actions in the dirt. He’s got fantastic range moving laterally and has the arm strength to make every throw. Hands stand out with both the glove, and even more so in the bat. Extremely hitter-ish in the box with advanced barrel control and ability to use the entire field. High level profile that should only continue to get better.

 

7. Tommy Troy

 A very well regarded prep bat, Troy built off a strong freshman campaign at Stanford with an arguably stronger summer at Wareham. With notable power for his size, Troy has shown himself capable of going out to all fields, and finds a ton of barrels. Strong eyes and quick twitch gives him the ability to make good swing decisions consistently, and it is rare to see him post poor at-bats. Troy typically takes the field at second base, and has a strong arm for the position with soft hands, smooth actions and good transitions around the bag. He'll likely be tested at shortstop for the Cardinal moving forward, but this is a definitive middle infield profile.

 

 

8. Matt Shaw

 Shaw does a little bit of everything well. He's a big, strong, thick middle-infielder who could certainly stick at shortstop, though some believe he could end up at second base or third base because of his shorter strides and muscular frame. Shaw was a force in the Big 10 as a true freshman and figures to anchor the middle of the Maryland lineup for the next two years. He's got the potential to net double digit homers and stolen bases at his collegiate peak whilst developing into a Kike Hernandez type pro.

 

9. Roman Martin

 Servite SS Roman Martin is an extremely decorated, 5-tool infielder with the ability to impact the game in all facets. A UCLA commit, Martin figures to be in play in the first round in the 2023 MLB Draft.

 

10. Arjun Nimmala 

Arjun Nimmala (‘23 FL) ropes this one to SS for a loud out. Stays connected well w/ fluidity to the barrel. Big time juice off the bat. Silky smooth defender up the middle. FSU commit