1/30/22

RIGHT NOW… the Top 15 Outfielders in the 2022 Draft - UPDATED



 (Previous rank  -  research through 1- 22-22) 

1. Andruw Jones (1)

6-3 180 Wesleyan HS (FL)

Age At Draft: 18.6

Athletic ability among the best in this year’s crop.

Raw power take enormous steps in the last several months with most scouts comfortably placing plus grades.

++ speed and amazes in the field and at the plate.

Exit velocity off his bat is eye-popping.

Swing change recently now generating more power.

70-grade runner. Double-plus speed.

Five-tool potential.

Premium defensive center fielder 

 

2. Chase DeLauter (2)

6-4 230 James Madison

2021 James Madison stat line -

26-G, 101-AB, .386/.508/.723/1.231, only 14-K, 6-HR

2021 Cape -

34-G, 9-HR, .589

Age At Draft: 20.8

Really turned scouts head at the Cape.

Physicality along with plus athleticism.

 A career average in the .380s.

  Some prodigious raw power

Potential to hit 40 home runs at the next level.

 A ++ arm in a corner. Rangy speed. Sound fundamentals.

Clocked 6.4 second 60 at pro day

Rising on the charts every week.

Ranked at No. 3 for Perfect Game's Top 300

 

3. Elijah Green (3)

6-3 215 IMG Academy

Age At Draft: 18.6

Could be a plus hitter with plus-plus raw power.   Already tapping into that juice in-game.

There’s not much Green cannot do.

The ball comes off his bat in a special way.

Above-average raw power and speed.

Quality center fielder with a strong arm. Five tool player.

70-runner with a 70-arm.

Swing and miss concerns.

Everyone has Green in their Top 5.

 

4. Brock Jones (4)

6-0 203 Stanford

2021 Stanford stat line -

56-G, 206-AB, 59-K, .311, .646-slug, 18-HR,

62-RBI

Age At Draft: 21.3

Ultra-physical, muscled-up outfielder.

Tooled up across the board.

One of the best power-speed combinations.

4-tool player. Limited arm.

Strikeout rates healthy and drew a lot of walks.

Above average runner, maybe plus.

Projected more power to come.

Played safety in  2019.

 

5. Gavin Cross (5)

6-3 210 Virginia Tech

2021 - VT stat line -

51-G, 203-AB, .345/.415/.621/1.036, 11-HR, 48-K

2020 -

.369, .629-slug%

Age At Draft: 21.4

Drives the ball to all parts of the field.

Exit velos are among the best in the country.

Plenty of power.

May have the best college hit tool in draft.

Will stick in right.

Above-average arm.

Has moved into the first round.

 

6. Dylan Beavers (6)

6-4 205 California

2021 stat line -

55-G, 211-AB, .327/.401/.630, 18-HR

Age At Draft: 20.9

One of the best players in the PAC in 2021.

Gets high marks for his hit tool and raw power.

Some loft in his swings, as evidenced by his 18 homers last season.

Patient hitter.

Plus runner with natural instincts on the base paths.

Projects in the corner.

 

7. Jud Fabian (9)

6-2 190 Florida

2021 Florida stat line -

59-G, 225-AB, .249/.364/.560/.924, 20-HR

Age At Draft: 21.8

Finished strong last year after a slow start.

Never went more than 4 games without a HR.

Strike outs are an issue.

Strikeout rates did improve as his spring progressed.

+ speed & range very well in center field.

Tools across the board are significant.

 

8. Jordan Beck (7)

6-3 215 Tennessee

2021 Vols’ stat line -

67-G, 258-AB, .258/.333/.523, 15-HR

Age At Draft: 21.2

Impressive raw power.

Hasn’t translated to wood bat yet,

Strikes out too much.

But… some scouts think he has the best raw power in the college class.

Strong arm from right field.

 

9. Jared McKenzie (new)

6-0 175 Baylor

2021 Baylor stat line -

52-G, 214-AB, team leading

 .383/.453/.626/1.079, 10-HR, 35-K

2021 Cape -

.225/.316/.245 with 36-K, 11 walks.

Age At Draft: 21.2

Showed pop to all fields this past season.

Struggled with a wood bat in the Cape.

Needs to cut back strikeouts.

Solid feel  to playing outfield.

Evaluators like his instincts.

Savvy on the bases.


10. Paxton Kling (8)

6-2 195 Central HS (Pa.)

Stats -

42 games, .444-4-32 with a 1.218 OPS

Age At Draft: 19.1

Hits for power.

Above average hit tool.

Clocked at 106 mph off the bat.

Above-average runner.

Projects as center fielder.

Strong, physical corner outfielder w/ plenty of power.

Needs to work on swing-and-miss stats.

Projects as a corner outfielder.

 

11. Justin Crawford (12)

6-2 170 Bishop Gorman HS (NV)

Age At Draft: 18.5

Level bat path and showed solid bat-to-ball skills.

Dynamic athlete with 80 speed.

6.11 60-yard time with a 1.53 10-yard split.

Prototype body with immense projection.

Covers ground many center fielders can’t get to.

Raw arm strength is currently below average.

He is committed to Louisiana State.

 

12. Cayden Wallace (10)

6-0 205 Arkansas

2021 Arkansas stat line -

60-G, 240-AB, .279, 14-HR

2021 Cape -

.279/.369/.500

Age At Draft: 20.9

  Hit   Power  Arm    Field    Run       FV

20/40  30/55  55/55  50/50  40/40 4

+ raw power and an above average arm.

Shifted from third base to right field in college.

 An average hitter w/ middle-of-the-lineup thump.

Average runner but arm will be fine in the corner.

Needs to cut back whiffs.

Fringy runner.

 

13. Gavin Turley (13)

6-2 190 Hamilton HS (AZ)

Age At Draft: 18.7

Some of the biggest prep tools in 2022.

Turned in ++ run times in the 60-yard dash.

Plus-plus speed and arm.

Swing has plenty of physicality and natural loft. Huge bat speed.

Produced the third-best exit velocity (103 mph) in workouts at PG’a National showcase.

Dynamic center-fielder.

If he hits, he's got all-star potential.

 

14. Chris Newell (11)

6-2 190 Virginia

2021 Virginia stat line -

57-G, 194-AB, 75-K, 17-BB, .258, 5-HR

2020 -

.407

Projected 1st round pick out of high school.

 Lackluster 2021 season (.733 OPS).

Ended up being one of UVA’s most dangerous hitters through regionals/Omaha.

Hit very well this summer in the Cape.

Needs to work on whiffs.

Strong defense in center field.

Plus outfield arm and above average foot speed

 

15. Henry Bolte (new)

6-3 200   Palo Alto (Calif.) HS

Age At Draft: 18.9

Physical and toolsy.

Burst onto the scene at Area Code Games and at WWBA.

Strong foundation of athleticism, speed and power.

Evaluators have concern with swing and misses.

  A plus runner with plus raw power.

Could end up at any of the three outfield positions.

Committed to Texas. ,

4 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Sadly, I imagine Druw Jones is moving too far up the list for the Mets to get him. Reading that, it feels like you could take his name out and put Willie Mays in, and it would read about right for Mays.

I would at least try to get deLauter or Brock Jones.

Mack Ade said...

The "Say Hey Druw" will sadly be gone early, but there is a good chance Brock will still be around.

If not. Gavin Cross should still be on the board.

Eddie from Corona said...

I know Tom I was hoping. That drew some how fell to us as well
He was my top target all along

Mack Ade said...

Sorry guys.