2016/2017 MLB Draft Rankings: Ridiculously Early Edition

Over the last two weeks, my insatiable desire to rank everything manifested itself in a three–part roundup of the buzz, rumors and scouting reports of this year’s top international amateur prospects and an excessively long ranking of the top prospects for this summer’s domestic draft. Earlier this year, I mentioned the top two names already making buzz in the 2016 July 2nd class, so it only seemed reasonable to also dive into the next two draft classes as well.

For obvious reasons, there’s a lot more information available for future draft classes than for future July 2 classes, but there are still limitations to what we can know at this point.

– It’s easier now to scout non-draft eligible high school players because of the showcase circuit, but scouts aren’t focusing on them so many don’t have strong opinions, much less rankings of these players. An average scout’s knowledge about guys on this list is limited to a handful of guys that are on loaded high school teams they see regularly, a guy that really stood out at one summer event they went to, collegiates that play at major programs or that were known prospects out of high school. We have video of most of these players and will start adding it to the FG YouTube page in the coming weeks.

That means making this list is combining what I’ve seen, what scouts tell me, notes from various other sources and which underclassmen are attracting interest from advisors, which is a surprisingly good indicator.

– You’ll also notice some (unavoidable) biases in the types of players that are listed. Among prep players, it leans to the kids that play in showcases and in travel ball in warm-weather areas where you can play/be scouted year round. The cold-weather, multi-sport and/or part-time baseball players tend to emerge later, along with the kids that simply physically develop later in their teens or into their 20’s.

So, like how the draft or minor league prospect lists won’t capture everyone you’ll know a few years from now, this list also doesn’t capture that specific type of high school player. The smaller college later bloomers also fly under the radar, but it’s much easier to get full coverage of the college players than the high school players.

To that end, for the 2016 prep players outside the top 30, I listed the ones I’ve seen a lot or have some conviction about, waiting for another couple dozen that will emerge in that range in the early June showcases. There’s a few more hitters than pitchers listed there because, as I’ve discussed before, hitters emerge earlier and have a more gradual improvement whereas pitchers often go from alright to great when they all of a sudden add a couple ticks of velo.

– There’s also an age bias, mostly for the high school players. For the top players in each prep class below, I note their draft day age in parenthesis (average is 18.2 or 18.3 across the whole class). Obviously, the older players will tend to emerge earlier in the process and age has now become a big part of the prep evaluation process thanks to Rany Jazayerli’s work on the topic. Accordingly, very young players that stand out now are especially projectable and get adjusted up.

– These are more follow lists than rankings, particularly the 2017 list, because lots of players will emerge this summer on the showcase circuit and in college summer leagues. This is still a worthwhile exercise, because the top players tend to emerge early; I’d bet over half of the 2016 1st round is listed somewhere in this article.

I ranked as many players as felt appropriate for the information I have right now for each class and listed players in the non-ranked group with top 2-3 round type value at the moment. All of the non-ranked groups are in order of my preference, so feel free to make an extended list if you want, just know it’s gonna have a bunch of new names and shuffling by the end of the summer.

2016 Draft Prospects

1. Alec Hansen, RHP, Oklahoma: In high school, Hansen was a big dude with some arm speed that hadn’t quite put it together. Last summer in the Cal Collegiate League, he ran it into the high-90’s and showed flashes, then continued that this spring.  He basically has the same stuff as Dillon Tate (94-97, touch 99 mph, 65 or so slider, 55 or so changeup) but is 6’7/235 (Tate is 6’1/190) and is getting his first extended look as a starter as a sophomore (Tate made his first collegiate start this spring, as a junior). There’s some understandable command issues and growing pains given the size and newness of the wipeout stuff, but Hansen is just scratching the surface.

2. Riley Pint (18.6), RHP, St. Thomas Aquinas HS (KS), LSU commit: You’d think a 6’7 Dillon Tate would be a slam-dunk choice over a prep pitcher, but Pint had his share of believers that he should be the #1 prospect in this class. I’ve seen 23 of these 30 players ranked here, but I haven’t seen Pint and most scouts haven’t either. He threw at one event last summer (some video from that event) and will only go to some of the events this summer. He’s been cautiously used, doesn’t throw at all in the winter (which often leads to velo gains in the spring, like for Brady Aiken and Foster Griffin in the 2014 draft class) and is a solid hoops player.

Pint is 6’4/190, has athletic actions, sits 92-96 and recently hit 98 mph, mixing in a hard, plus, spike curveball in the mid-80’s and showing enough feel that his changeup and command both project for at least average, but likely more. I’ll probably see Pint a few times this summer and at least once next spring, but it’s hard to put a somewhat mysterious prep pitcher #1 on a loaded list. That said, people that have seen him are saying he’s right there with Lucas Giolito, Jameson Taillon and Dylan Bundy as the next prep phenom righty with a chance to go 1-1; hopefully Pint doesn’t have to get elbow surgery like those three have.

3. Blake Rutherford (19.0), CF, Chaminade Prep HS (CA), UCLA commit: Rutherford was noticed as early as his freshman or sophomore year as an elite hitting prospects and the track records of those type of players is very good (Bryce Harper, Eric Hosmer, Alex Jackson, Nick Gordon, etc.). He’s 6’3/190, a plus runner with effortless actions in all phases, advanced feel to hit from the left side and above average raw power that he gets to in games already. He’s basically a slightly toolsier version of Banks with some track record for scouts, given his performance in events/games as an underclassman in a highly-scouted area of the country.

4. A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida: Puk also has a chance to jump into the elite category, but he’s a two-way guy (with plus raw power from the left side) on a team with a deep staff, so he hasn’t pitched as much as some of his peers. He was also recently arrested for climbing on a construction crane with a teammate, which clouds his future just a bit. At his best, the 6’7/230 Puk sat 92-95 mph, touched 96 mph, worked in a plus slider and shows starter traits. 5/9/15 UPDATE: After his suspension for the crane incident, Puk has ticked up, looking more focused, sitting 94-97 early, hitting 98 mph and holding 93-96 late into games. If he continues doing this into the summer, he’ll jump a couple more spots, but there’s been some inconsistency from Puk in his college career.

5. Nick Banks, RF, Texas A&M: Banks isn’t quite as exciting as those first three players here, but has plenty of ceiling. He’s an above average runner with a plus arm, above average raw power from the left side and some scouts put a 60 on his bat. Banks has performed well in the springs and summers and only got to school due to an injury his senior year in high school that obscured some of his talent.

6. Austin Bergner (19.1), RHP, Windemere Prep HS (FL), North Carolina commit: You’re going to hear Pint and Bergner compared a lot and there’s a number of similarities. Bergner was noticed as early as his sophomore year as an elite arm and is easy to scout, playing in Orlando and hitting the showcase/tournament circuit. The 6’4/195 Bergner has improved every time I’ve seen him and had a coming-out party last October in Jupiter when he sat 93-95, hit 96 mph with life, located an above average to plus curveball and an above average changeup. Scouts were wandering in to see him with potential 2015 1st rounders playing on adjacent fields and the consensus that night is that Bergner was the top high school pitcher on the planet, likely going in the top 10-15 picks, even if thrown in the 2015 class. Pint gets the slight edge for a little more velo, a little more youth, more cautious usage and maybe a little more command, but we’re splitting hairs at this point.

7. Robert Tyler, RHP, Georgia: Tyler is another guy that could jump into the elite category but has been on the shelf for a few months with arm soreness. It sounds like he’s close to returning and late last spring and early in the summer, he showed a new level of performance, sitting 95-98 mph in short stints with a plus changeup and enough breaking ball and command that he’s still got a good shot to start. 5/10/15 UPDATE: Tyler came off the DL and hit 97 mph last week then 99 mph this week. He looks to be back to normal and there’a case to be made he should be even higher than this.

Note: After talking to some sources that have seen most or all of these top 5 players, this seemed like the cutoff for the elite, potential strong 1-1 choices and you could put them in almost any order. For reference, there is maybe one of those players in the 2015 draft crop, so to already have at least five (and you could argue for another five that I identify below) this early in the process, particularly from the prep side, is a great sign for the top of this draft class. I’ll be a little more brief in my notes for the rest of the top 30. 5/10/15 UPDATE: The elite group is now a top 7 as two as the guys that just missed the top group (Puk and Tyler) took a big step forward in the weeks after I posted the list.

8. Connor Jones, RHP, Virginia: A late 1st round talent out of high school that had a high number, Jones has progressed well at UVA, now working 91-95 and hitting 96 mph with plus sink (but also sometimes 89-93 mph), an above average to plus changeup and an average breaking ball. There’s a compelling case to throw Jones in the elite group now, especially if his breaking ball gets a little better.

9. Jason Groome (17.8), LHP, IMG Academy HS (FL), Vanderbilt commit: Groome is another guy with a chance to jump into that top 7, elite group, He’s very young for the class, a projectable 6’6/180, has a zero-effort delivery and is regularly 89-93, with reports he’s been as high as 97 mph this spring. The off-speed stuff is more 50-55 right now, but there’s more than a few of the positive Brady Aiken indicators here and there may be even more upside.

10. Ryan Boldt, CF, Nebraska: Boldt was another 1st round talent out of high school but a knee injury during the spring caused teams to back off. He hasn’t integrated his average raw power into games yet, but he’s performed and is still an easy plus runner that profiles in center.

11. Chris Okey, C, Clemson: Okey was a fringe first rounder out of high school with multiple teams that came close to meeting his number, but not enough to get him signed. He’s raking this year and is very similar to the Jays 2014 1st rounder Max Pentecost, with at least average speed, at least an average glove, above average arm and bat and fringy to average raw power.

12. Logan Shore, RHP, Florida: Shore likely stays in this range from start to finish, as he’s an SEC Friday night performer with a clean delivery/arm action and above average stuff with good command: 90-94 mph, above average to plus changeup, at least an average breaking ball.

13. Cal Quantrill, RHP, Stanford: Quantrill is another guy that could jump into the elite category and he was there a few weeks ago before he got Tommy John surgery. At his best, the son of Paul Quantrill works 92-95 mph with a 65 changeup and a 55 breaking ball, though he was more 90-93 with a 50 breaking ball this spring (video from earlier this spring).

14. Bobby Dalbec, 3B, Arizona: Dalbec has some similarities to D.J. Peterson and Kris Bryant as a power college bat with a chance to play third base. He’s 6’4/215 and has easy plus raw power to all fields and most scouts throw at least a 50 bat on him, but he’s more likely to play a corner position other than third base.  Dalbec also has a plus arm and sits low-90’s on the mound.

15. Corey Ray, CF, Louisville: Ray was a raw athlete out of high school that’s put it together this year at Lousiville. He’s 5’11/185 and quick-twitch with plus speed and above average raw power, along with emerging feel to hit in games and 9 homers so far this spring.

16. Matt Crohan, LHP, Winthrop: Crohan is getting similar buzz now that Sean Newcomb got at this point two years ago as a small school, big-bodied, athletic lefty with premium stuff. He hasn’t been seen by even most Carolinas area scouts, but reports have him up to 97 mph with above average stuff and he should be easy to find this summer.

17. Brad Debo (18.8), C, Orange HS (NC), South Carolina commit: Debo wont MVP of the loaded Jupiter tournament last October and is drawing comparisons from scouts to other first round prep backstops like Chris Betts (2015) and Nick Ciuffo (2013). All three show above average raw power, advanced feel to hit from the left side and the pure tools to stick behind the plate.

18. Braxton Garrett (18.8), LHP, Florence HS (AL), Vanderbilt commit: Garrett was a scouts’ favorite last summer at Jupiter, sitting 87-89 mph with an above average curveball, smooth delivery, feel to pitch and a projectable 6’3/190 frame. Reports have him sitting 90-93 mph this spring, so if he can keep that up, #18 may be on the low side for him.

19. Matt Krook, LHP, Oregon: Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Krook was a potential high first rounder until he had Tommy John last spring. At his best, Krook sat 92-94, hit 96 mph, mixed in a plus curveball and just enough changeup and command that he looked like a mid-rotation or better starter on the good days. He should be at 100% for next spring and may have timed this thing just right to shoot up the board. Here’s some video from when I saw him early in his prep senior spring.

20. Drew Mendoza (18.7), SS, Lake Minneola HS (FL), Florida State: Mendoza was a skinny shortstop with some feel to hit from the left side that was a solid follow, then he hit two homers this spring off RHP Brady Singer, who will likely go in the first 50-60 picks this summer. Mendoza has filled out his lanky 6’4 frame a bit but still looks like as shortstop for now, with the bat showing more impact.

21. Zach Jackson, RHP, Arkansas: UPDATE 5/16/15 I got a one inning look at Jackson in Arkansas’ regular season finale and it was better than I was told. He sat 93-96 mph, his mid-80’s curveball was above average to plus and his 6’4/215 frame has room to add more bulk. The delivery is clean enough that there’s a chance he sticks as a starter and I’d expect to see him in Arkansas’ rotation next season.

22. Jake Fraley, CF, LSU: Fraley is the slowest of the three regular LSU outfielders and still may be a pro center fielder due to his above average to plus speed. He’s 6’0/183 with an advanced lefty bat and above average raw power that he’s learning to integrate into his game.

23. Dane Dunning, RHP, Florida: UPDATE 5/10/15 Dunning was one of the last cuts from the list, after I saw him early in the season showing above average stuff and improved feel but more of a backend starter with projection for more. He was recently up to 96 mph, is working with a plus fastball, has more projection left in his frame and the improved arm speed helps the crispness of his roughly average breaking ball and above average to plus changeup.

Along with Puk and Shore, the Gators have a fearsome 2016 rotation, almost expected from their banner 2013 recruiting class, which includes 2016 draft prospects 1B Pete Alonso and CF Buddy Reed, along with three prospects that opted to turn pro: White Sox RHP Tyler Danish, Indians LHP Sean Brady and Giants 2B Christian Arroyo.

24. Anthony Kay, LHP, Connecticut: Kay got a Marco Gonzales comp from one source, as a solid average stuff, athletic pitchability lefty that can gets whiffs with an above average to plus changeup and enough velo (89-92, touch 94 mph) to keep hitters honest.

25. Jeff Belge (18.5), LHP, Henninger HS (NY), St. John’s commit: Belge has a workhorse 6’4/235 frame and is the typical big, athletic raw arm from the Northeast. He sits low 90’s and has hit 95 mph with an average breaking ball and the early stages of a changeup, but there’s a lot more in there.

26. Jordan Sheffield, RHP, Vanderbilt: Sheffield was a high profile prep arm a few years back that hit 98 mph, but missed his first year at Vanderbilt due to Tommy John surgery. I saw him earlier this spring and he sat 92-95, hit 96 mph, has an above average to plus curveball and a changeup that flashed solid average. There’s some effort to the delivery akin to Carson Fulmer and Sheffield is still working on the command, but there’s stuff, athleticism and he hides the ball well.

27. Alex Speas (18.3), RHP, McEachern HS (GA), Mississippi State commit: I tweeted excitedly when I ran into Speas last week that he hit 97 mph when facing a high school team loaded with two top-five round 2015 draft hitters. Speas is rail-thin and likely doesn’t add much weight to his 6’5/170 frame, but 92-96, hitting 97 mph with an flashes of an above average hard curveball and enough athleticism (he hit 2 homers in that game) to figure out the command later is a very good place to start.

28. Wil Crowe, RHP, South Carolina: Crowe would’ve been higher until he, like Quantrill, had his UCL snap a few weeks ago. At his best, Crowe sits 92-94 and hits 96 mph with an above average to plus hook and starter traits to project in the middle of a rotation.

29. Willie Abreu, RF, Miami (FL): Abreu was idnetified early in his prep career due to being high school teammates with Albert Almora but Abreu has performed plenty for himself. He has above average raw power from the left side, solid feel to hit and an above average arm, but he’s still learning to tap into that power in games.

30. Michael Shawaryn, RHP, Maryland: Shawaryn has emerged in recent outings, with his stuff ticking up from more of an average stuff, back-end starter type to flashing more above average stuff with the same sharp command.

31. Cole Ragans (18.5), LHP, North Florida Christian HS (FL), Florida State commit: Ragans is next in the line of elite arms from NFC, following the Sands brothers Carson (got $1.1 million from the Cubs last year) and Cole (likely top 2 round pick this summer). He’s 6’4/185, sits 87-90 and hits 93 mph with at least average stuff and command and flashes of more coming.

More College Pitchers (19)

RHP Keegan Thompson (Auburn), LHP T.J. Zeuch (Pittsburgh), LHP Ben Bowden (Vanderbilt), LHP Jared Poche (LSU), RHP Kyle Hendrix (Texas A&M), RHP Cory Wilder (North Carolina State), RHP Daulton Jefferies (California), RHP Kyle Serrano (Tennessee), RHP Gage Burland (Gonzaga), RHP Zach Burdi (Louisville), RHP Ryan Moseley (Texas Tech), LHP Eric Lauer (Kent State), RHP Nick Eicholtz (Alabama), RHP Ian Hamilton (Washington State), LHP Garrett Williams (Oklahoma State), RHP Zac Gallen (North Carolina), RHP Alex Schick (California), RHP Hever Bueno (Arizona State) and RHP Reagan Bazar (Louisiana Lafayette)

More College Position Players (21)

LF Bryan Reynolds (Vanderbilt), CF Anfernee Grier (Auburn), 1B Zack Collins (Miami), C Andrew Knizner (North Carolina State), CF Stephen Wrenn (Georgia), 1B Pete Alonso (Florida), SS Stephen Alemais (Tulane), SS Cody Woodmansee (Arizona State), CF J.B. Woodman (Ole Miss), RF Ronnie Dawson (Ohio State), 3B Sheldon Neuse (Oklahoma), 2B Luke Persico (UCLA), C Matt Thaiss (Virginia), CF Buddy Reed (Florida), C Tres Barrera (Texas), 3B Lucas Erceg (California), SS Trevor Morrison (Oregon State), 2B Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame), LF Kel Johnson (Georgia Tech), C Brett Cumberland (California) and 1B Preston Palmeiro (North Carolina State)

More High School Pitchers (9)

RHP Kevin Gowdy (CA, UCLA), RHP Greg Veliz (FL, Miami), RHP Drake Fellows (IL, Vanderbilt), RHP Garrett Gooden (GA, Georgia Tech), LHP Jonathan Gettys (GA, LSU), RHP Charles King (TX, TCU), LHP Jesus Luzardo (FL, Miami), RHP Ian Anderson (NY, Vanderbilt) and RHP Josh Lowe (GA, Florida State)

More High School Position Players (16)

SS Nolan Williams (KS, None), 1B T.J. Collett (IN, Kentucky), LF Seth Beer (GA, Clemson), RF Jalen Harrison (VA, Virginia), SS Nick Quintana (NV, USC), SS Delvin Perez (PR, None), SS Gavin Lux (WI, None), 3B Garrett Milchin (FL, Florida), CF Keenan Bell (FL, Florida), 2B Carlos Cortes (FL, South Carolina), SS David Hamilton (TX, Texas), SS Grant Bodison (SC, South Carolina), 3B Bo Bichette (FL, Arizona State), C Herbert Iser (FL, Miami), C Thomas Dillard (TN, Ole Miss) and C Michael Amditis (FL, Miami)

Note: Carlos Cortes throws his natural left-handed when he plays center field, but then switches to right-handed to play second base.

2017 Draft Prospects

This college class is relatively well-known to scouts because they just went through the draft process last year. They know which players turned down big money and which ones merely priced themselves too high. The tools don’t change much in the first year, so those freshmen that have played a lot and performed are easy to like; this top group of ten are guys that were known to turn down big money and also performed well in big roles for talented programs.

I could list a few hundred other college freshmen worth monitoring, but the rest either are lacking tools, performance, opportunity or polish and some are missing multiple ones. That will obviously change in the next two years for many of them, but I wanted to focus on the guys that are already performing and have top 3 round tools.

1. J.J. Schwarz, C, Florida: Schwarz was a 2nd round talent last year and it was a surprise that no one met his price. He’s made the most of his freshman year, nearly leading the country in homers (.290/.362/.617 with 13 bombs) and showing more hit tool than most expected from him this year. He has to tools to stick behind the plate but still needs a little work, while the bat and above average raw power are enough to play almost anywhere.

2. J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, North Carolina: Bukauskaus was the best prospect not to sign out of high school last year and he’s still the same high profile guy. He isn’t big (5’11 or so) and there’s some effort to his delivery, but he’s regularly into the mid-90’s, has been into the high-90’s, flashes a plus breaking ball and the starter traits are coming along.

3. K.J. Harrison, C, Oregon State: Harrison was another Hawaiian prep that stood out last summer along with Kodi Medieros but Harrison has taken a step forward with the bat this year. He hasn’t caught much but showed the tools to stick behind the plate in 2014; his power is now above average and he’s making more contact as well.

Note: you don’t have to have initials for a first name to be high on this list, but it apparently helps.

4. Jeren Kendall, CF, Vanderbilt: Kendall stood out at Area Codes last summer but struggled last spring and early this spring in college before catching fire. He’s a true center fielder with 70 speed, a solid lefty stroke and quick-twitch athleticism.

5. Brendan McKay, LHP, Louisville: McKay has been a standout performer at the plate as well, but his future is on the mound, here he has solid average stuff and command with athleticism and feel to pitch.

6. Tanner Houck, RHP, Missouri: Houck popped up last spring as a projection arm in the Midwest and took another step forward this spring. He’s 6’5/200, sits 90-93 and hits 95 mph with solid average stuff and command, with more stuff coming.

7. Pavin Smith, 1B, Virginia: Smith has present plus raw power from the left side, looseness to his swing and a solid approach. He’s limited defensively but emerged in 2014 as a premium bat that also wanted a premium bonus out of high school.

8. Alex Lange, RHP, LSU: Lange was up-and-down as a prep pitcher but has emerged as the ace for the top team in teh country as a freshman. At his best, Lange sits 91-93 and hits 95 mph with an above average to plus curve and average changeup and command, though the stuff can also play around average at times.

9. Turner Larkins, RHP, Texas A&M: Larkins was one of my favorite arms from last summer’s showcase circuit. At his best, he sits 90-93 mph with an above average to plus changeup and a solid average breaking ball.

10. Cobi Johnson, RHP, Florida State: Johnson’s dad is the Blue Jays’ roving pitching coordinator and that helps explain his feel for pitching. Johnson is a projectable 6’4/190 with three pitches that flash above average and some feel to pitch

Other College Pitchers (23)

RHP Mitch Hart (USC), RHP Alex Faedo (Florida), RHP Drew Rasmussen (Oregon State), LHP Kyle Johnson (Texas), LHP David Peterson (Oregon), RHP Bryce Montes de Oca (Missouri), LHP Jake Latz (LSU), RHP Tommy DeJuneas (North Carolina State), RHP Cre Frinfrock (UCF), RHP Keith Weisenberg (Stanford), RHP Derek Casey (Virginia), RHP Brad Depperman (North Florida), RHP Jake Godfrey (LSU), RHP Keaton McKinney (Arkansas), RHP Tylor Megill (Loyola Marymount), RHP Kyle Wright (Vanderbilt), LHP Cameron Bishop (UC Irvine), LHP Seth Romero (Houston), RHP Austin Bain (LSU), RHP Griffin Canning (UCLA), RHP Michael Baumann (Jacksonville), RHP Brad Bass (Notre Dame) and LHP John Gavin (Cal State Fullerton)

Other College Position Players (11)

C Evan Skoug (TCU), C Riley Adams (San Diego), CF/LHP Adam Haseley (Virginia), 3B Shane Benes (Missouri), CF Carl Chester (Miami), 3B Dylan Busby (Florida State), 1B/LHP Alex Destino (South Carolina), SS Dalton Guthrie (Florida), SS Connor Wong (Houston), 3B Mikey Diekroeger (Stanford) and C Michael Cantu (Texas)

Since the physical maturity level is so wide between the college and prep prospects in this class, I won’t even both trying to combine them into one ranking. Only eight prep players got enough support to where I feel like they have a good chance to be ranked high in this class at the same time next year. As you can see, the top player in this group is there in part to being the age of a 2018 prospect, and predictably all come from baseball-happy, warm-weather areas, playing on the showcase/travel team circuit.

High Schoolers to Watch (8)

1. Mark Vientos (17.5), SS, Flanagan HS (FL), Miami (FL) commit: Vientos is aged like a 2018 prospect but even if he was a year older, he may still be the top player in this class. He’s a 6’3/170 shortstop with a chance to stick at the position and a broad base of precocious skills that led one scout to mention Manny Machado. Vientos turned 15 in late December and has to be considered alongside 2016-eligible Venezuelans SS Kevin Maitan and C Abraham Gutierrez as the top players in the world at that age.

2. Hunter Greene, RHP, Notre Dame HS (CA), UCLA commit: Greene has been a buzz name this spring after impressing at the 16U Team USA trials. I haven’t seen him yet, but Green is at least 6’2, was described as uber-athletic and already sits 90-93 mph. Greene also goes to the same high school as Giancarlo Stanton.

3. Hagen Danner (18.7), RHP, Huntington Beach HS (CA), UCLA commit: Danner is close to filled-out at 6’1/185, but he already sits in the low-90’s, flashes an above average curveball and an average changeup. 5/26/15 UPDATE: The velo was even better in a playoff game against likely 2015 1st rounder C Chris Betts, sitting 92-94 and hitting 96 mph.

4. Ronald Washington (18.2), LF, Dulles HS (TX), Texas commit: Washington was the big buzz name in this class early last summer when he flashes five average or better tools led by his above average power, but he’s maxed-out at 6’0/210 and may have simply reached his physical ceiling earlier than his peers.

5. Freddie Zamora (18.6), SS, Killian HS (FL), Miami (FL) commit: Zamora is more of a glove-first type shortstop, but he squared up a couple pitchers this spring that were into the mid-90’s. Zamora will be seen a lot next spring, with a potential 2016 1st rounder in teammate C Herbert Iser.

6. Justin Farmer (18.5), CF, Riverview HS (FL), Florida commit: Farmer drew a comparison to Daz Cameron from one scout for his size and quick-twitch skills.

7. Alejandro Toral (18.4), 1B, Archbishop McCarthy HS (FL), No commit: Toral was too heavy last summer but has slimmed up now and the power-hitting lefty has hit and hit with power everywhere he’s played.

8. Hans Crouse (18.7), RHP, Dana Hills HS (CA), No commit: Crouse is 6’4/170 and has already hit 95 mph. Everything else is a little rough, but he’s 16, so this is a pretty good start.