RIGHT NOW.. The Top 15 Shortstops in the 2022 Draft (UPDATED)

(last ranking - research through 1-19-22)

 

1. Brooks Lee (1) 

6-1 180 Cal Poly

2021 Cal Poly stat line -

55-G, 222-AB, 34-K, team leading .342-BA, 10- HR, 57-RBI

2021 Cape -

.405/.432/.667. 6-HR. 13-RBI

Known as an “extra base machine”.

More power is projected.

Switch hitter.

Big West Co-Player of The Year.

Surest hands at the position in this year’s class.

Committed just six errors in 54 games for a .974 fielding percentage.

Look for transition to third.

High marks for his instincts & leadership on field.

Projected Top 5 pick in draft.

His range at short is a question at SS and could

Move him to third at next level.

Huge arm.

Injuries during high school include knee/hamstring injury that required surgery.

 

2. Carter Young (2) 

6-1 177 Vanderbilt

2021 Vandy Boy stat line -

61-G, 238-AB, .252, 16-HR, 52-RBI, .559-slug%

2020 -

.328/.373/.377

Huge power increase but 29.3 K/9%

One of the most impressive defensive shortstops in the class.

+ glove and arm.

Mid-season shoulder injury zapped production.

Slick-fielding shortstop with speed, athleticism and above-average arm strength.

5-tool potential

 

3. Cole Young (5) 

6-0 180 North Allegheny HS 

HS -

88 games, .443-8-76 with a 1.273 OPS

2021 Jupiter -

3-for-11 (.273)

Pretty complete profile.

One of the best hitters in the prep class.

Perhaps the best pure hitter not named Termarr Johnson.

Elite pure-hitter with great speed & defensive ability.

94 mph max exit velo (94th percentile)

6.49 second 60-yard dash (97th percentile)

A low chase rate, a low whiff rate.

Good speed in the field and on the base paths.

Projects to stick at SS and hit for average & pop.

 

4. Zach Neto (3) 

6-foot 195 Campbell

2021 Campbell stat line -

44-G, 173-AB, .405/.488/.746/12-HR, 58-RBI, only 30-K

2021 Cape -

,304, 3-HR, 10-RBI, 46-AB.

Offense first game.

Exudes confidence and athleticism at the plate.

Unorthodox, rhythmic swing that relies on timing.

Ranked 3rd in country last year for .497-xwOBA.

Soft hands and body control. Limited arm.

 

5. Jackson Holliday   (8) 

6-1 180 Stillwater

53 games, .348-2-26 with a 1.033 OPS

Age At Draft: 18.6

One of the more impressive bat-to-ball skills in the high school class.

Projected to increase power.

Instinctual hitter who used the entire field.

Dominated at 2020 WWBA Florida Qualifier.

Middle-of-the-lineup potential

Defensively, has impressive arm strength.

Glides all over the dirt with natural instincts.

Projected to remain as middle infielder.

Oklahoma State commit.

 

6. Mikey Romero (6) 

6-1 180 Orange Lutheran

Age At Draft: 18.5

Strengths in barrel-manipulation at the plate.

Gap hitter only.

Hit tool is very real.

One of the best pure hitters in the class.

Solid defender.

Projects as a middle infielder as a pro.

Plays premium level defense.

Above average range and instincts at shortstop.

Lack of arm strength could push him off short.

@prepbaseball:  Rose 15 spots to 28th overall.

 

7. Eric Brown (4) 

5-11 190 Coastal Carolina

2021 ECU stat line -

42-G, 187-AB, .294/.413/.513, 9-HR, 33-BB

Hit    Power  Arm     Field    Run         FV

30/55   30/45 50/50 55/55 60/60 5

Finished w/an .811 OPS.

Tore up the Cape Cod League this summer.

Limits strikeouts and draws his walks.

Some concern for his unorthodox swing.

Above average defender.

Above average arm.

 

8. Jordan Sprinkle (9) 

5-11 180 UCSB

2021 USC Santa Barbara stat line -

56-G, 235-AB, .353/.402/.536, 7-HR

A hitter's hitter.

Limits strikeouts.

Shortstop with all the tools.

Above average arm.

Plays multiple positions but should stick at short.

9. Ryan Ritter (7) 

6-2 190 Kentucky

2021 Kentucky stat line -

52-G, 178-AB, .275, 3-HR (late slump)

2021 Cape -

 .330/.431/.429

Originally a JUCO transfer from John A. Logan.

Huge.

Glove-first shortstop who's among the slickest and most fluid defender in the 2022.

Much more projected power on the horizon.

Could easily rise in rank if bat improves in 2022.

 

10. Jett Williams (new) 

5-8 180 Rockwall-Heath HS (TX)

Williams does everything on the baseball field with intent.

Quick wrists and an attacking path to the ball. The swing is short.

Very good job taking his hands to the ball.

A bouncy middle infielder with rangy actions.

Smallish frame projects into an impact, top-of-lineup, spark plug type of performer.

 

11. Nazier Mule (10) 

6-3 205 Passaic County Tech (NJ)

School -

70 games, .364-2-55 with a 1.004 OPS

Age At Draft: 17.7

One of the most electric athletes in the 2022 draft.

Legitimate two-way talent.

By fall, looks positioned to go pitching after hitting 101. Sits 99.

Short arm action and a ¾ to low ¾ slot.

Features a “gyro-slider”.

Right now ranked as 10^th RHP also.

 

12. Josh Kasevich (new) 

6-2 200 Oregon

2021 Oregon stat line -

55-G, 216-AB, .324/.397/.444, 4-HR

Got on base at a 39.7-percent clip.

Age At Draft: 21.6

Coming off a loud offensive season.

Almost as many walks (23) as strikeouts (24).

Standout average exit velocities.

Needs to elevate ball more. 

 

13. Gavin Guidry (12) 

6-2 180 Alfred M. Barbe

Age At Draft: 19.0

Legit two-way tools and true plus runner.

Good feel for hit with some natural loft.

Shines as a defender.

Also throws low-90 fastball and quality slider.

Played third at the Cape this past summer.

PG Nationals: 6.36 60 and 1.47 10-yard split.

Quality bat speed.

LSU commit.

 

14. Gavin Kilen (new) 

5-11 175 Milton HS (WI)

Key Stats:

49 games, .375-2-31 with a 1.061 OPS

Age At Draft: 18.3

One of the better defensive shortstops in the class.

Evaluators have called him a lights out defender.

One of the more polished sticks in the class.

Needs to add more strength to get more impact offensively.

 

15. Michael Curialle (11) 

6-3 200 UCLA

2021 Bruins stat line -

55-G, 186-AB, .285, 1-HR

Pure hitter with some pop in the bat as well.

May wind up on third.