1 Dylan Seward SS
HT/WT: 6’0/177 | Bat/Throw:
S/R | School: Norco (Eastvale, CA) | Commitment: Tennessee |
Projected Age: 18.10
California hasn’t produced a top-five prep pick since
Marcelo Mayer in 2021, but Dylan Seward should end that streak in 2027. The
switch-hitting talent is an incredibly gifted athlete with advanced tools and
elite speed, and he’s locked in as the top high school player in the class.
Seward will carry a high floor defensively, as he’s one of
the more decorated infield defenders available. Playing with confidence and
composure, Seward has the makings of a plus shortstop defender. His twitch is
evident in his actions, with strong lateral range and a gliding style, paired
with a strong internal clock, exquisite body control, and quick exchanges. It’s
above-average arm strength across the diamond, too. He should contend for Gold
Gloves at the next level.
At the plate, Seward offers tantalizing upside, though there
are some rough edges to smooth over in the coming months. Both iterations of
his swing show repeatable mechanics, with a rhythmic waggle and a compact path.
Scouts currently prefer the right-handed swing, which features a flatter plane
and better barrel control than his left-handed swing, which has more loft
through the zone. Seward isn’t afraid to use the entire field to his advantage,
driving the ball into gaps with authority from the left side and showing a more
pull-oriented approach from the right.
He has surprising power for his stature, coiling well and
producing electric bat speed from both sides thanks to lightning-quick hands
and explosive hips. He has generated robust exit velocities with wood bats, up
to 107 MPH at times, and most believe he has above-average juice at the end of
the day. With 80-grade speed in the back pocket, he’s not afraid to use his
legs to produce extra-base hits, and he’ll be a legitimate base-stealer at the
next level.
2 Malachi Butler SS
HT/WT: 6’3/190 | Bat/Throw: L/R |
School: McEachern (Powder Springs, GA) | Commitment: Georgia Tech | Projected
Age: 17.10
In a polished crop of prep shortstops, Malachi Butler looks
to be the best of the bunch. He’s got the size, hitterish traits, and defensive
prowess to be an early first-round pick, and that’s without mentioning he’s one
of the youngest eligible players (17 years, 10 months old on draft day).
Butler possesses a silky-smooth left-handed swing with a
wide base, excellent balance, and a calm move through the baseball. He’s direct
and quick to the ball, with pristine bat-to-ball skills. Butler rarely whiffs,
stays on velocity consistently, and adjusts well to secondary pitches. He’s
unafraid to spray the ball around the yard and regularly attack the gaps with
ease. Butler will make sound swing decisions, and he’s added a bit more
aggression at the plate to stave off passivity concerns. There’s not a ton of
holes to poke in the hit tool.
Power isn’t a big part of his game yet, though scouts
believe he’ll add more as he develops. He has developed more bat speed and
consistently finds the barrel, though he sometimes lacks leverage in his swing.
However, he hits the ball hard enough at this stage to project average power,
especially if he can pull the ball more.
While he’s merely an average runner, Butler moves extremely
well at shortstop, and he has the actions and arm strength to stick at the
position long-term. Crisp actions, strong lateral range, and smooth transfers
point to above-average defense at a key position on the diamond. If he moves
elsewhere, his size and tools fit best at third base.
Boasting this kind of well-roundedness at this age is
impressive, and it should lead to the Georgia Tech commit being selected in the
first half of the first round next summer.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 |
Arm: 55
3. George Ferguson – RHP
HT/WT: 6’4/216 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Abilene (Abilene,
TX) | Commitment: Texas | Projected Age: 18.8
A native of Abilene, Texas, Ferguson is looking for a
storybook ending to his high school career after an incredible summer showing.
A physical athlete with an unorthodox delivery, he is the
best prep arm in the class thanks to outstanding arm strength, pitchability,
and arsenal strength. It’s not a delivery you’d expect from a starting pitching
prospect, with violence and recoil at release and a tall-and-fall style that
lacks efficient lower-half drive. Despite this, Ferguson repeats his mechanics
well and frequently pounds the strike zone, throwing strikes over 70% of the
time during the summer circuit.
His fastball has all the makings of a plus pitch, sitting in
the mid-90s with downhill plane and a robust mix of ride and run through the
zone. It’s a true bat-misser (54% whiff rate in 2026) with impressive spin
rates, consistently ranging from 2,500 to 2,800 RPM.
He pairs this with a hard, diving change-up in the upper-80s
with excellent conviction and feel, racking up empty swings and chases below
the zone. He mostly reserves it for left-handed hitters, though he’s shown
confidence throwing it against right-handed hitters. It’s an easy plus offering
at this stage, and some scouts will slap a double-plus grade on it depending on
who you ask. His final offering is a mid-80s slider that has added power and
sharpness, with a mix of depth and sweep that makes it an out pitch against
righties. It lags behind the fastball-cambio combination, but it has enough
traits and power to reach above-average upside.
The Texas commit is as well-rounded as they come on the
mound, and despite the inefficiencies that require additional polish, Ferguson
has a chance to be the first prep arm off the board in July.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Change: 60 |
Command: 55
4. Graham Houston – SS
HT/WT: 6’1/175 | Bat/Throw: S/R | School: Venice (Nokomis,
FL) | Commitment: Louisiana State | Projected Age: 18.11
By now, amateur baseball fans should be well acquainted with
the Houston family. Graham’s older brother, Marek, was a first-round pick of
the Minnesota Twins in 2025 after a stellar three-year career at Wake Forest.
Graham has the same polish and tools, though many believe he’s a better
prospect than his brother at this stage.
A true switch-hitter, Houston is a bat-to-ball artist with
super quick hands and a direct path to the ball. He covers every quadrant of
the zone exceptionally well, posting a 96% in-zone contact rate this summer,
and his affinity for fastballs is equally impressive, with north-of-90% contact
overall and in the zone. Houston is an aggressive swinger, posting chase rates
around 30%, but the pure contact skills and adjustability help keep strikeouts
to a minimum.
He won’t be a huge power threat, but Houston has a knack for
lacing line drives into the gaps and letting his above-average speed do the
work. He does have better power projection from the right side because his
swing plane has more loft, though most expect him to have fringe-average power
at best.
Like his brother, he’s a smooth shortstop defender with
exceptional lateral range and controlled actions. His instincts are great; he
gets solid reads off the bat, takes a quick first step, and has above-average
arm strength and accuracy across the diamond. Scouts expect Houston to become a
plus defender.
His profile is incredibly well-rounded, and he could be
drafted higher than his brother. If he goes undrafted, Houston would enroll at
Louisiana State.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Field: 60 |
Arm: 55
5. Carter Hadnot – SS
HT/WT: 6’2/175 | Bat/Throw: S/R | School: Aquinas (Rialto,
CA) | Commitment: N/A | Projected Age: 19.2
Hadnot is a perfect example of how you draw up a prospect.
With a wiry, lithe build and plenty of projection, he’s an explosive athlete
with an outstanding glove and offensive upside that has trended up over the
past calendar year.
Hadnot projects to be the best glove in the shortstop class.
He glides across the dirt with little effort, controls his body extremely well,
and has a bouncy style to his game. His exchanges are smooth and quick, and he
adjusts to the ball extremely well. Additionally, Hadnot has shown more arm
strength, now grading as above average. As a result, Hadnot can be a
double-plus glove, which makes him the best defender among the top shortstops
in this class.
Offensively, Hadnot grew into more extra-base impact on the
summer circuit. As a switch-hitter, scouts prefer his smooth, controlled
left-handed swing to the right-handed version, which has less barrel control
and a flatter plane. It’s been serviceable so far, though scouts are split on
whether he can remain a full-time switch-hitter. From the left side, he
backspins the ball well and has loft to his swing plane, which has led to a few
balls over the right-field fence.
That said, most of his impact will come in the gaps, where
he’ll use his plus speed to generate doubles and triples. Hadnot rarely expands
the zone, though he can get too passive on pitches inside the zone, leaving him
behind in counts early. Despite this, he has solid bat-to-ball skills and
should play more aggressively.
His glove gives him a high floor as a prospect, and if the
bat continues to surge in production, Hadnot has all-star appearances in his
future. In late October, Hadnot announced his commitment to Oklahoma.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 70 |
Arm: 55
6. Jack Leeper – OF
HT/WT: 6’2/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: St. Francis (Menlo
Park, CA) | Commitment: Stanford | Projected Age: 18.5
Possessing some of the best offensive upside in the class,
Leeper looks the part walking off the bus. He’s a physical athlete with broad
shoulders and strength throughout his body, and he stands out on the diamond
among his peers. It’s not just his physicality and athleticism; his bat is
extremely potent from the right side of the plate.
Leeper’s operation looks unorthodox, but it works. He starts
with an open front leg and a noteworthy bat waggle that loads his hands into
the launch position, then flicks his hands forward with a flatter entry into
the zone than most. This lets Leeper cover the top rail of the strike zone
well, and he’ll consistently barrel up pitches in the zone, posting a 93%
in-zone contact rate this summer. He tends to expand the zone frequently,
though he’s shown the ability to barrel up the ball regardless of its location.
It’s an impressive hit tool that projects as plus.
While he hasn’t yet sold out for power in-game, he’s shown
robust bat speed and plus raw power in batting practice. With an exit velocity
of 110 MPH already attached to his name with a wood bat, scouts expect that
power to translate in due time.
Leeper has turned in plus run times, which help him cover
plenty of ground in the outfield, where he can play all three positions with
average defense. He’s been trotted out primarily in center, though
below-average arm strength will likely limit him to left field as he adds more
mass to his frame. This will put pressure on the bat to perform, but it’s hard
to envision Leeper not producing in bunches.
His demographic and Stanford commitment may scare some
suitors off, but based on talent level, Leeper has earned a first-round grade.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 |
Arm: 40
7. Sebastian Castillo –
SS,3B
HT/WT: 6’0/195 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Byron Nelson
(Justin, TX) | Commitment: Louisiana State | Projected Age: 18.8
Considered one of the more balanced profiles on this list,
Castillo has a track record of success against elite competition over recent
years.
In the box, he features a slightly open stance with a calm
load and leg lift, followed by tight turns and premium bat speed. His swing
decisions and contact ability also rank among the best for his age, evidenced
by an in-zone whiff rate below 10% and multiple triple-digit exit velocities
across premier circuit events. Castillo sees the baseball best on the outer
half, unafraid to rifle balls to the opposite field while still letting his
hands fly against pitches middle-in.
Defensively, he projects to stick on the dirt, showcasing
good glove work and plus arm strength. Whether he stays at shortstop is up for
debate, as his projection could push him to third base. Castillo is a fine
runner, posting average home-to-first times and using his athleticism to create
good angles on the left side of the infield.
Though most scouts view him primarily as a bat, he’s been up
to 93 MPH on the mound, filling the zone with a tight, bullet-shaped breaking
ball. Regardless, Castillo’s tools, headlined by his bat, rightfully place him
near the top of our rankings. Castillo is committed to Louisiana State, led by
head coach Jay Johnson.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 |
Arm: 60
8. Juan Diaz – SS,2B
HT/WT: 6’0/180 | Bat/Throw: S/R | School: IMG Academy
(Hialeah, FL) | Commitment: Florida | Projected Age: 18.10
He might not be the most imposing in stature, but Juan Diaz
is one of the most frustrating at-bats in this entire prep class. A former
Florida State commit, Diaz flipped to the Noles’ in-state rival from
Gainesville in early September, though he may not make it to campus. The Miami
native’s profile has a couple of standout qualities, at the plate and beyond.
His bat-to-ball is at the very top of the class, as
evidenced by his sub-15% whiff rate on the summer circuit. In fact, he didn’t
swing and miss at a single pitch during his weekend at East Coast Pro this
year. You could argue he’s a top-three switch hitter in the entire prep class,
with positive returns from both sides of the dish. His swing is fluid and
definitely a little longer from the left side, where he’s gotten most of his
reps to date, but it’s more compact and connected from the right side as well.
That length as a left-handed hitter has created some issues getting to his pull
side, but this profile seems designed to pepper the gaps regardless.
The upside isn’t confined to the bat either. He’s a plus
runner, if not better, with sub-6.5-second 60-yard dash times this summer and
multiple 60-grade home-to-first times from both sides of the plate.
It’s hard to fully own the heralded shortstop position at
IMG Academy, but Diaz has shown this summer he can maintain that role through
his senior season and into his professional career, despite likely having to
split time with Max Hemenway this spring.
Overall, there’s a lot to like here. Diaz has quick hands,
lots of twitch, and next-level instincts. That’ll be good enough to get him a
seven-figure deal this summer alongside a couple of his teammates.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 70 | Field: 55 |
Arm: 50
9. Lubin Rincon – SS
HT/WT: 6’3/185 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: The Bennett School
(Pearland, TX) | Commitment: Texas | Projected Age: 18.9
One of the class’s more polished shortstop prospects, Rincon
is a lean, wiry athlete with a gorgeous left-handed swing, and scouts believe
there’s another version of his game waiting to be unlocked. He has a track
record of hitting at big events, and while he’s not as flashy as some of his
peers, his instincts and high IQ make him a high-floor prospect to follow.
Rincon’s swing is low-effort and balanced, with a simple,
direct path to the ball and tight turns through the zone. His contact prowess
stands out the most in his profile, dominating pitches inside the zone and
adjusting well to secondary offerings. He makes smart swing decisions and will
rack up plenty of walks, making him a legitimate on-base threat.
He’s not as twitchy as others, which limits his power
projection moving forward, but he has solid bat speed and barrel feel. Most of
that power will play to his pull side, and most believe he’ll grow into
fringe-average power, if not average. He will need to incorporate consistent
leverage in his swing to do that, as he tends to let his hands do most of the
work right now.
On defense, Rincon projects as more of a consistent defender
than a flashy one. His actions are smooth and controlled, and quick exchanges
let his average arm strength play up. His tools may ultimately play better at
second base, though he should stick at shortstop unless he comes across a
better defender. A Texas commit, Rincon will likely climb the board if his
tools improve during the spring.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 |
Arm: 50
10. Connor Salerno – LHP
HT/WT: 6’4/225 | Bat/Throw: R/L | School: Sun Valley (Indian
Trail, NC) | Commitment: Mississippi State | Projected Age: 19.0
A well-built southpaw who has performed across multiple
summers, Salerno enters the fall as the top southpaw in the prep class. He’s a
unique arm to dissect because his quick-paced mechanics and herky-jerky motion
create significant deception, even with head-whack and violence. Despite the
noise in the operation, Salerno repeats his delivery extremely well, peppering
the strike zone.
He sinks well into his back hip and drives himself down the
mound, creating a lower arm slot with width at release. Salerno operated in the
92-95 MPH range this summer, peaking at 97 MPH in shorter spurts. The fastball
shape leans more toward a dead zone profile (similar carry and run metrics),
though his command and VAA traits will let the heater play up from its
perceived velocity. It’s particularly impressive on the top rail, boasting a
40% whiff rate in the upper-third and higher. It’s an above-average heater
right now, and with more velocity, it should become a plus pitch.
His best secondary is a low-to-mid-80s slider that mixes
lift and sweep, and his feel and command of it stand out. It’s a tough pitch to
pick up out of his hand, and he can land it in the lower quadrants of the zone,
with a 71% strike rate and 56% whiff rate this summer. He relied on this
one-two punch often, sprinkling in a fringe-average mid-80s cambio with alright
shape and feel at this stage. Scouts would like to see it sharpened and used
more to earn a starting role at the next level.
Given the size, command, and pure stuff, the Mississippi
State commit should be a rotational piece once fully developed. If he makes it
to Starkville, he would be eligible as a sophomore in 2029.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Change: 45 |
Command: 55
For the rest of Just Baseball’s
Top 50 List - https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb-draft/2027-mlb-draft-top-50-prep-prospects/#entry-244782
