12/26/21

Top 10 Third Basemen in the 2022 Draft (UPDATED)



(last week’s rank - research through 12-25-21) 

1. Jace Jung (1) 

    6-1      190      Texas Tech

2021 Texas Tech stat line - 56-G, 208-AB, 45- K, 49-BB, .337, 1.159-OPS, .462- OBP, .697-slug, 21-HR, 67-RBI

Reclassified from second base.

Bat-first that projects to have ++ hitter.

Career OPS of 1.135 OPS.

Walks a lot.

Drives the ball with authority.

Uses all parts of the field.

Average arm but quick enough to stick at third.

Projects as a below average defender at both 2B and 3B.

Easily projects as Top 5 pick in the draft. 

 

2. Cam Collier (2) 

    6-2     210      Mt. Paran Christian

Big raw power to all fields.

Effortless swing - fluid with an all-fields approach.

Rocketing up the charts.

Big arm that plays well at third base.

One of the youngest players in the 2022 draft.

Additionally can run fastball up to 95.

Below average runner.

Some have him now in the Top 5 range.

Louisville commit. 

 

3. Jacob Berry (3) 

    6’     210     LSU

2021 Arizona stats -

17 HR, .352/.439/.676, 2 SB, 58/33 K/BB, 63-G

Transferred from Arizona to LSU for 2022 season.

Will compete with Cade Doughty.

Potential plus hitter with plus power.

Power to all fields.

Limited defensive skills at third.

Many evaluators are penciling him in at first.

Best freshman in college baseball in 2021.12.

Easily a first round pick. 

 

4. Cade Doughty (4) 

    6-1     195     LSU

2021 LSU stat line -

58-G, 227-AB, .308/.368/.546, 13-HR, 32-K

Polished hitter profile.

Potential for a 50 hit/50 power run producer.

An asset defensively.

Strong arm. Quick transfer. Good hands.

High marks for leadership.

 

5. Peyton Graham (5) 

    6-3      180     Oklahoma

2021 Oklahoma stat line -

53-G, 215-AB, 58-K, 30-BB, .288, 11-HR

Mature hitting approach at plate.

Power & walks increased last season.

Needs to cut down whiffs.

Athletic enough to play OF.

Great glove at the hot corner.

Spending this summer adding muscle. 

 

6. Cayden Wallace (6)

    6-1     205     Arkansas

2021 Arkansas stat line -

59-G, 240-AB, .279/.369/.500, 14-HR

Above average power.

Bat-first.

Was projected to move someday to OF,

But has limited arm. 

 

7. Jayson Jones (7) 

    6-2     190     Braswell (Texas) HS

Good size, electric bat.

Explosive righthanded swing -

101.5 mph in the PG Tech cage.

Super advanced hitter.

Legitimate plus-plus raw power.

Playing short now, but projects to third. 

 

8. Tucker Toman (new) 

6-1     185     Hammond HS (S.C.)

Switch hitter with big bat speed.

Utilizes his lower half really well.

Projects above average arm strength.

 Might be better off at second base because of his natural arm slot when throwing.

 

9. Dominic Hellman (new) 

    6-6     225     Henry M. Jackson HS

           Massive hitter with 80-grade raw power.

Showcases over-the-fence pop.

Ability to get to balls below the strikezone and create lift.

 

10. Ethan Petry (new) 

    6-4     220     Cypress Creek HS, Orlando, Fla.

       79 games, .369-3-57 with a .981 OPS

3-hole hitter for the WWBA champions.

A lot of strength and has solid power potential.

Above-average arm strength.

Rest of defense has limitations.

6 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Jason Jones could be a dandy if someone decides we need yet another 3B, as he is 3-4 years behind Baty and Vientos.

Mack Ade said...

You always need to think 4 years ahead.

Drafting prep players work even better under this scenario.

Tom Brennan said...

Jung would be great, but he is a pipe dream and we don't need a guy that advanced now at that position.

I often wonder if a guy like Bud Harrelson today would have made anyone's prospects lists - except he'd probably be doing extensive weight work in this day and age and be at 175, not 135.

Eddie from Corona said...

If Jung falls to us and he is the real deal we can’t pass up based on position at this point

Mack Ade said...

Trust me.

Jung will be gone.

Tom Brennan said...

Mack, it might be unlikely, but if the MLB new CBA allows draft picks to get traded, the Mets could package 11 and 14 for a top 5 pick. Not saying that will be prudent, but it would be bold.