MLB Pipeline expanded its Draft rankings from 100 to 150 final week, which introduced loads of modifications to the preseason checklist. Whereas highschool infielder Ethan Holliday stays No. 1, there is a bevy of latest faces on the high.
On the final episode of the MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff mentioned these modifications, with a give attention to 10 gamers who’re the quickest risers. 5 gamers, specifically, have cemented their place for first-round consideration, whereas one other 5 are trending up and will be a part of them earlier than July’s Draft.
The rising prospects are an equal mixture of excessive schoolers and faculty gamers, though there is a clear emphasis on pitchers and shortstops. Beneath is an abbreviated have a look at the gamers, together with the place they’ve jumped from within the rankings, with a full breakdown of every participant obtainable on the podcast.
Kade Anderson, LHP, Louisiana State (44 to 9)
Callis: LSU form of eased him again (after Tommy John) as a midweek starter, weekend reliever. He regarded superb within the postseason popping out of the bullpen. Guys had been hoping he’d make a leap, however you needed to see it. He hadn’t began often. He is been very, superb. … It isn’t overpowering radar-gun stuff, however the fastball performs actually up. It is 92 to 94 to 97, nevertheless it’s acquired large carry. He had a curveball final yr. He switched to extra of a high-spin slider that appears prefer it may very well be a possible plus pitch this yr. He is acquired a changeup that has turn into higher as he is used it extra typically. He is throwing loads of strikes. You are questioning if there could be one other uptick in stuff after it improved this yr.
Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee (75 to 10)
Callis: He is had essentially the most untouchable fastball in faculty baseball this yr. He is led Division I in strikeouts for many of the yr. Sits mid-90s, peaks at 99, and it comes out of a excessive launch level and appears to blow up on the high of the strike zone. Guys simply can’t hit it in any respect. … He may have three 55 pitches and a plus plus fastball. However it’s a very unorthodox supply with loads happening. No person can give you a comparability. Identify a giant league starter that has a supply like that, there is not an apparent reply to that query. He would not essentially throw with plenty of effort, however he throws with plenty of intent, if that is smart.
Steele Corridor, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (Ala.) (NR to 13)
Callis: Corridor was a part of the 2026 Draft till he reclassified final November. … He has a very good swing in batting follow and drives the ball from hole to hole and works across the ballpark. After which in video games this spring, he’ll are likely to hunt residence runs slightly bit. His offensive ceiling is not as excessive as the opposite two guys, [JoJo] Parker and [Daniel] Pierce, however the bat goes to be superb. It is simply not the focus of his recreation. He is a 70-to-80 runner, and he is a very good defensive shortstop. He isn’t going to have to maneuver off shortstop. You recognize he is sticking there. It is a stable arm.
JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS (Miss.) (86 to 14)
Callis: He simply retains getting stronger and extra athletic as he continues to mature bodily. Folks in contrast him to Carter Johnson, who signed for nicely over slot, $2.8 million, as a second-rounder by the Marlins. And now, the identical scouts are saying that is not a fantastic comparability as a result of he is acquired much more energy than Carter Johnson. JoJo Parker’s acquired an opportunity to be a plus hitter with stable energy. His arm has even gotten higher too. His actions and quickness are simply common, so he is most likely extra of a second baseman or third baseman.
Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (Ga.) (57 to 18)
Callis: He is a great hitter. It is most likely 15-homer energy, possibly slightly bit extra. He can run, not as fast as Steele Corridor, however a plus runner, and he is a stable defender, too. So he form of combines each. You are going to get some offense, and you are going to get some velocity and protection too. As individuals have seen him extra, he is stood out extra. With these three shortstops, I do not hear Pierce’s identify within the high 10. I hear slightly Steele Corridor up there, and I hear slightly JoJo Parker. However I additionally may see a situation the place Daniel Pierce goes over each of them as a result of he is most likely essentially the most well-rounded of the three.
Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State (NR to 53)
Mayo: He is performed a great shortstop, he is hit for common, he is hit for energy. It is considered one of these bizarre issues that, if you dig down into the info, a few of it would not make sense. There’s some swing-and-miss. The strikeout charge’s not unhealthy. It is significantly better than it was, so there’s enchancment there. He chases slightly an excessive amount of, however he is hitting nicely over .400 with a ton of energy. I am undecided in regards to the sustainability, however he is added power and it appears to be like like he’ll play shortstop going ahead, when that was possibly a query earlier than.
JB Middleton, RHP, Southern Miss (NR to 31)
Callis: He could be the fifth-best faculty pitcher after the 4 we have already mentioned within the high 10. He isn’t an actual large man, he is 6-foot or so, wasn’t a big-time recruit, however Southern Miss does a very good job. … He is acquired actually great things. It is 93 to 95 to 97, and he is acquired the texture for his fastball to run it or sink it or carry it. He can get fastball misses within the zone, he can get chases, it is arduous to carry the ball within the air. His slider is a very overpowering pitch, upper-80s velocity with two-plane depth. He’ll flip it right into a cutter at occasions. He is acquired a plus 86-88 mph changeup that he’ll flash that tumbles and fades. He is athletic and throws strikes.
Jordan Yost, SS, Florida HS (NR to 61)
Mayo: Coming into the spring, I do not know that even he was interested by the potential of beginning his professional profession. A few of that’s as a result of he is acquired a powerful dedication to the College of Florida, the place his older brother, Hayden, is a participant, in order that could be robust to beat anyway. However he actually lacked power and affect earlier. A ton of contact, a very elite stage of bat-to-ball abilities. He is added some power. Now the ability continues to be a a lot deeper projection, however that is gotten higher. He runs very well. He is acquired actually good instincts and baseball IQ. He is a shortstop long run, so he is out of the blue turn into fascinating as a high two- or three-round form of man.
Jack Bauer, LHP, Lincoln-Manner East HS (In poor health.) (NR to 32)
Callis: He form of blew up on Twitter as a result of he was clocked throwing 102 mph, which no highschool left-hander ever has. Only a few professional left-handers ever have. He is slightly little bit of a troublesome man to determine. … It has been brief stints, two-three innings at a time. He missed his begin final week — it is not imagined to be something critical — however when guys make the velo bounce, you marvel slightly bit in regards to the long-term well being. Persons are attempting to determine, as thrilling as 102 is, what does it imply? He is acquired a greater slider now, low 80s with sweeping motion to it. He is displaying extra really feel for a changeup. He is throwing much more strikes. … Folks will wish to see as a lot of him as they will and attempt to wrap their heads round precisely what Jack Bauer has turn into.
Mason Neville, OF, Oregon (NR to 62)
Mayo: He hit for energy final yr with a ton of swing-and-miss. This yr, there’s much more energy. He is acquired 21 homers in 41 video games. There’s nonetheless swing-and-miss, however he simply retains getting higher and higher. … The strikeout charge is significantly decrease. He is drawing extra walks. I used to be speaking to a scout within the Pacific Northwest who says he is been hitting lefties higher now. … I’ve a sense that after we develop to 200 and rerank, he’ll maintain transferring up, assuming he retains performing the way in which he is been performing. School energy bats like that, if he retains answering questions in regards to the holes within the swing and the strikeout charge, he’ll transfer up.
