Mack - The Top 10 1B in the 2023 Draft - RIGHT NOW

 

All research from Prospect Live, as part of their recent Top 200 post:

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

35 1B

Tre' Morgan

Louisiana State

Morgan is one of the best defensive first basemen college baseball has seen in quite some time, and that's not to take anything away from the bat. Morgan has been a force in all phases of the game since arriving on campus and brings a ton of tools to the table. He won't be 21 years old yet next July, so he'll be young for the draft. Morgan doesn't pack a ton of punch at the plate just yet, largely projected a fringe-average power hitter, but he hardly ever strikes out and has posts healthy contact rates, using the entire field. If he continues to get stronger and adds a little game game thump, he's got top ten pick upside.

  

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

59 1B/OF

CJ Kayfus

Miami

Kayfus is an undersized first base/outfield profile with sublime bat-to-ball skills and sneaky juice considering his size, some calling it average power with consistent barrel metrics. If he can prove to scouts he can handle more outfield in his future, his stock could soar. An above average runner, Kayfus can be an asset on the base paths as well. Ultimately, we're talking about a mature hitter here with more walks than punchouts for much of his college career and a guy that can fill up a baseball card.

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

90 C/1B/OF

Raffaele Velazquez

Huntington Beach

Velazquez has a super-simple left-handed swing with plenty of present loft and significant present power. There's bat speed here, but much of Velazquez's power is currently coming from an innate feel for finding the barrel. Velazquez gets extremely high marks for his maturity in the batters box featuring a calm demeanor and patient approach. He's not jumpy and waits back for his pitch. He really gets into a firm front size and extends beautifully through the baseball. A catcher now, "Ralphy" may ultimately be forced to first base or left field as his body continues to mature. It's an average arm though the frame lacks much physical projection in terms of tools behind the plate.

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

91 1B

Joe Vetrano

Boston College

Vetrano is a hulking lefty slugger with significant raw power. His offensive profile can be limited at times due to swing-and-miss, but his skills at the plate have continued to improve year-after-year with the Eagles. Vetrano is also an accomplished left-handed pitcher who can hold his own on the bump as well. Teams like the two-way guys who have proven ability on both sides of the ball, and Vetrano fits that bill. If he can cut down his swing-and-miss, he's got a shot to be one of the first 1B off the board.

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

108 1B

Garrit Forrester

Oregon State

Forrester is among the most patient hitters in the country boasting massive walk rates to go along with his serious thump at the plate. Forrester has been an anchor for the Beavers going back to his freshman year. 

He's got solid-average raw power and bat speed, though he doesn't have much projection left and will need to hit for even more impact moving forward to really up his prospect stock. Still, we're talking about a guy with a plus approach, above average bat-to-ball skills and the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark. His profile is limited a bit by the first base position, but there's some safety here.

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

114 1B/LHP

115 

Nolan Stevens

Franklin

Stevens is a two-way talent with violent bat speed and pull-side juice from the left-handed batters box. He's limited to first base, but the bat will play. Stevens is up to 92 on the bump with arm-side run, showcasing a darting slider that he commands well to the back-foot of RHH. He has potential on both sides of the ball as evaluators are split on his best eventual position.

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

116 OF/1B

Will Gasparino

Harvard-Westlake

Gasparino is a big, long, tall outfielder with athleticism well, well beyond his size. A plus runner with a plus arm in right field. he has exceptional body control considering his size and long levers. It's plus raw power at the plate, though his bat path can get long at times. Gasparino will continue to add weight and muscle. As he does, his swing will change and his eventual upside will become more clear. As it stands today, he's a projection bat with exciting athletic testing and body control.

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

119 1B

Carter Graham

Stanford

Graham is a power-first first baseman with some defensive versatility; the ability to run out into a corner outfield spot in a pinch. He's a below average runner, but a decent athlete with a fringy throwing arm. Graham does have some swing-and-miss in his game, though it's nothing terribly alarming. Graham is likely a sink-or-swim type player with the bat with the chance to go in the first three rounds of the draft.

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

121 1B

Jack Moss

Texas A&M

Moss is the prototype big, tall, strong right-handed hitting first baseman with considerable bat-to-ball feel and plus raw power. To date, he's yet to really show out in terms of over the fence juice, though he began tapping into it toward the end of 2022. He's got a flatter bat path and can get a little anxious at the plate, driving changeups and sliders into the ground rather than waiting on a pitch he can drive. If Moss showcases the big raw juice in 2023, he's got the tools and natural talent to go early in the draft.

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td - 

192 1B/LHP

Caden Grice

Clemson

You hardly ever slap an 80 power grade on preps because you just don't know how their body will develop. Grice was the exception. Back in 2020, we threw an 80 raw power grade on the South Carolina bluechip watching him annihilate baseballs night in and night out against 17 year olds. Those lofty claims have rung true as Grice smoked 15 homers as a true freshman and continued to impress in his limited sample on the Cape. 

That's not to say Grice is a complete package. There's significant swing-and-miss here that must be addressed next seasons, but that's a whole lot of development time for a kid scratching the surface of what he's capable of. Grice is likely a first baseman at the next level as he's not a great athlete on the run, but it won't matter as whomever selects him next July will be investing in the thunderous bat.