KLaw's To 10 Draft List

Byron Buxton
CF
6-1
175


High school: Appling H.S., Baxley, Ga.
Analysis: He's still on top of most scouts' individual preferred lists, with game-altering speed, an incredibly athletic body, a plus arm and a swing that produces a lot of contact and should lead to future power, although he has just one home run this spring. He's risky and no lock to go first overall, but a player who earns comparisons to Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Josh Hamilton and other superstars has to be a strong consideration up top.
Previous ranking: 1 | 1

Carlos Correa
SS
6-4
190


High school: Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Santa Isabel, P.R.
Analysis: A strong showing at last week's Tournament of Excellence helped Correa's cause, as does the fact he's a true 17-year-old with big power potential who should have no trouble staying in the infield.
Previous ranking: 5 | 6

Kevin Gausman
RHP
6-4
185


Analysis: I could make a case for Gausman, Mark Appel or Kyle Zimmer as the top college arm, but Gausman is flashing two plus secondary pitches now and getting ground balls and has the velocity to match the other guys, not to mention better results as a sophomore in the nation's best conference.
Previous ranking: 6 | 5

Mike Zunino
C
6-2
215


Analysis: He's still the best college bat in this draft, but that he's hitting .244 AVG/.314 OBP/.456 SLG in the SEC (and doesn't have to face his staff) isn't helping his case.
Previous ranking: 2 | 7

Max Fried
LHP
6-3
170


High school: Harvard-Westlake, Santa Monica, Calif.
Analysis: Scouts love this guy -- more than one national guy has told me he'd consider Fried at No. 1 overall. Highly projectable, athletic lefty who can really spin a breaking ball.
Previous ranking: 9 | 8


Mark Appel
RHP
6-5
215


Analysis: For various small reasons, industry sentiment on Appel seems to have cooled slightly, and I don't think it's a coincidence that it started the week after he threw 149 pitches against Oregon on April 13.
Previous ranking: 3 | 3

Albert Almora
OF
6-2
170


High school: Mater Academy Charter, Hialeah, Fla.
Analysis: Smooth swing, future plus defender in center, good makeup, just turned 18 a few weeks ago.
Previous ranking: 8 | 27

Kyle Zimmer
RHP
6-4
220


Analysis: He missed his last start with a hamstring strain; didn't have the same plus velocity the three starts before that. One to watch when he returns, as he could move up or down quickly.
Previous ranking: 4 | 18

Luc Giolito
RHP
6-6
230


High school: Harvard-Westlake, Santa Monica, Calif.
Analysis: He's missed most of the season with a minor elbow injury. If the medicals check out, and early indications are that his elbow is as "fine" as can be under the circumstances, I think he'll go off the board pretty high. A fully healthy Giolito probably would have been atop this list.
Previous ranking: 11 | 2

Courtney Hawkins
OF
6-3
210


High school: Carroll H.S., Corpus Christi, Texas
Analysis: There have been consistent reports that Hawkins has improved as a hitter this spring, particularly in his approach. I see some risk and some aspects of the swing to try to smooth out or quiet down, but there's explosiveness here that only Buxton can match.