(UPDATED)
(previous rank - research through 1-26-22)
1. Dylan Lesko (1)
6-3 170 Buford HS (GA)
2021 Buford High -
0.35 ERA with 112 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Age At Draft: 18.9
93-96, T99 FB (1900-2300 rpm) , + 78-81 change (2700-3000mrpm), slider, curve
Change is one of the best seen in years.
Card is full of pluses, from his athleticism to mechanical operation.
Seemingly the only guaranteed pitcher to be drafted this year in the first round.
Projected SP1 - Vandy Boy commit
2. Blade Tidwell (2)
6-4 200 Tennessee
2021 Tennessee stat line -
18-starts, 10-3, 3.74, 97.2-IP, 90-K
Age At Draft: 21.1
Update - 1-27: Sidelined with shoulder soreness. Out indefinitely. Could affect draft status if lasts throughout season.
Draft-eligible sophomore.
Many believe is the best college arm in the country.
93-95 fastball, tops off T 99.
Sharp low-80s slider.
Mostly works with the FB and a low-to-mid-80s slider.
Slider produces a 37% whiff rate last spring.
Low-80s change-up with fade.
3. Brock Porter (4)
6-4 220 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Mich.) HS
Age At Draft: 19.1
52-G, 52.2-IP, 81-K, 0.91 WHIP
93-95, T-99 fastball.
++ 76-78 change with 1400 rpm spin rate.
Tremendous arm-side fading action.
77-79 curve.
Cold weather pitcher - Projected SP1
High ¾ slot.
Athletic and projectable with huge arm speed.
Clemson commit
4. Landon Sims (5)
6-1 205 Mississippi State
Age At Draft: 21.5
2021 stat line -
25-app, 5-0, 1.44, 56.1-IP, 100-K
An incredible 4-Ks per game as a reliever.
Had 100 total strikeouts-- roughly four per game-- while allowing only nine runs scored on 29 total hits.
No more dominant reliever in college.
94-95, T98 FB, 80-89 slider
Update - Now throwing a formidable changeup.
Threw zero last season.
Projected starter/closer
5. Kumar Rocker (7)
RHP 6-5 245 ???
Age At Draft: 22.6
2021 Vanderbilt stats -
20-staters, 14-4, 2.73, 122-IP, 179-K, 39-BB
Mets drafted with 10th pick in 2021
92-95 FB, T-98
Slider is a double-plus wipeout.
Graded as high as ++ by evaluators in the past.
Health going forward is a major question.
Has begun a throwing program.
Heading to Indy ball.
6. Peyton Payette (3)
6-1 175 Arkansas
2021 stat line -
15-G, 11-st, 1-2, 4.02, 56-IP, 67-K
93-95, T99 FB.
Hi-80s change.
++ 80 curveball averages north of 3000 RPM… an elite spin rate.
Elite arm.
An elite arm speed & sharp breaking ball.
Injured part of last season.
Projected SP2
Update - 2022 season lost to TJS.
Age + loss of season may create cause for pause in drafting.
7. Andrew Dutkanych (6)
6-3 200 Brebeuf Jesuit Prep
Age At Draft: 19.0
42,2-IP, 63-K, 1.17 WHIP
Top Indiana prep arm in years.
93-96 fastball that never drops below 90.
Fastball has excellent backspin and life up.
Mid-to-upper 80s hard slider with late tilt.
Upper 70s curveball.
Low 80s change-up that has occasional late fading action.
Dominated in his 2 inning outing at Perfect Game National this summer.
Draft him early, or over-slot, or he’s off to Vandy.
8. Ian (JR) Richie (8)
6-2 185 Bainbridge HS (WA)
Age At Draft: 19.1
92-95, T97 FB, mis-80s slider, hi-70s curve
Slider showing flashes of a plus pitch with sharp bite.
True three-pitch mix.
Slider with late, sharp bite.
Quality came and went at times last summer on the showcase circuit.
Solid combination of polish and upside to the mound.
Projected SP1 - UCLA commit
9. Walker Ford (9)
6-3 195 Pace HS (FL)
Age At Draft: 17.5
Reclassified from 2023 draft.
Soaring up the charts.
90-95-FB, T-97 (2,400-2,600 RPM range).
Projected to 100+.
Big 12-6 curve.
81-82 slider.
3/4 arm slot, plunging movement.
10. Gabriel Hughes (10)
6-4 220 Gonzaga
Age At Draft: 20.9
2021 Gonzaga stat line -
10-ST, 3.23, 61.1-IP, 57-K, 30-BB
Broke hand in 2021 preventing pitching for half a season.
Very impressive when he did pitch.
97 fastball, sharp high-80s slider.
Scouts consider him a 1st round talent.
Needs to cut down walks (4.4 BB/IP ratio).
11. Jacob Miller (11)
6-2 180 Liberty Union
Age At Draft: 20.6
Key Stats: 48.2-IP, 69-K, 1.71 WHIP
One of the best curve in the draft.
@ 81-82 w/ 2500+ rpm spin.
Fastball up to 95.
Slider up to 85.
Update - scouting grades per MLB Pipeline:
Fastball: 55
Curveball: 60
Slider: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 50
Overall: 50
Really quick arm with tons of projection ahead.
12. Jonathan Cannon (new)
6-6 215 Georgia
2021 stat line -
13-G, 12-starts, 4-2, 3.98, 63.1-IP, 57-K, 13-BB
2021 Cape -
3-ST, 13-IP, 0.63 ERA
Age At Draft: 22.0
Impressive command (1.8 career BB/9).
93-FB, mid-80s slider, change.
Needs to develop movement on fastball.
Viewed as a solid second or third round type.
13. Adam Maier (12)
6-0 195 Univ. British Columbia
Age At Draft: 20.6
2020 UBC stat line -
5-G, 2-ST, 3-0, 2.84, 19-IP, 22-K, 4-BB
2021 Cape -
25.2-IP, 4.56 ERA, solid three-pitch mix including a fastball up to 94-95 mph.
COVID shut down UBC in 2021.
Transferred to Oregon for 2022.
Impressed this summer at the Cape.
Fastball now hits 96.
Should start there.
High-spin slider exceeding 3000 RPM.
Deceptive change-up.
14. Jackson Cox (13)
6-1 185 Toutle Lake High School (Toutle, WA)
Age At Draft: 18.8
Key Stats:
26-TP, 30-K, 1.42 WHIP (!)
Excellent mechanics.
Fastball generally 90-93. T-95.
79-81 slider is an elite pitch with 3000+ RPM,
Bread and butter is a hi-70s breaking ball.
79-83 mph range with sharp, two-plane biting action and spin rates in the 2900-3000 rpm range.
Projection arm.
Needs to work on the WHIP.
15. Victor Mederos (new)
6-2 225 Oklahoma State
Age At Draft: 21.1
2021 Miami (transferred) stat line -
11-G, 2-3, 5.21
2021 Cape -
4.64-ERA, 21.1-IP, 19-K, 12-BB.
Touched 99.
Impressive breaking ball.
Needs to work on 3.7 BB/9 rate in Miami
And 5.1 this summer in the Cape.
16. Chase Shores (new)
6-8 240 Midland HS (TX)
Age At Draft: 18.2
Touched 97 mph at Perfect Game’s National showcase this summer.
FB has impressive life and riding action on top of its velocity.
82-83 breaking ball with depth and sharp bite.
Upper 80s changeup.
Needs to improve consistency.
He is committed to Louisiana State.
17. Marcus Johnson (new)
6-6 200 Duke
2021 -
56-IP, 3.05, 1.9 BB/9
Age At Draft: 21.6
Pitched strictly out of the bullpen for Duke in his first two seasons.
Was stretched out for 2021 ACC Tourney.
Becomes starter this season.
FB sits 92-94, T-97.
Low-80s slider, mid-80 change.
18. Alex McFarland (new)
6-4 210 Miami
2021 Miami stat line -
16-G, 2-1, 4.50, 34-IP
Age At Draft: 21.1
From the US Virgin Islands.
Pitched 2021 as a starter and reliever.
Fastball ticks up to 99.
Quality secondaries in a wipeout slider and an impressive changeup.
Needs to work on his 4,7 BB/9 ratio.
Will start this spring.
19. Eric Adler (new)
6-2 190 Wake Forest
2021 Wake stat line -
1-3, 2.00, 24-K
2021 Cape -
15.2-IP, 0.96-ERA, 29-K
Age At Draft: 21.8
Key reliever for Wake over last 2 seasons.
Mid-90s fastball, touched 98.
High spin rates.
Projected to remain a reliever and with Landon Sims going to the Mississippi State rotation, should be first reliever drafted.
20. Henry Williams (new)
6-5 195 Duke
2021 Duke stat line -
8-G, 6-starts, 3-3, 3.65, 1.27, 37-IP, 45-K
Missed 2 months last year with injury.
FB 90-93 MPH w/late run - 2,500 RPM spin rate.
81-85 slider with tight spin.
Good command of both pitches.
CU - high 2,300 RPM spin rates. 85-87 w/sink.
Plenty more projection.
Friday starter this coming season for the Blue Devils.
UPDATE - Out for the 2022 season for TJS.
