MLB draft Top 20
This is my big board. I like college hitters, because they are so much safer than any other kind of player. The average WAR by draft spot goes college hitters, high school hitters, college pitchers, high school pitchers.
1. Mike Zunino Monster bat, premium position, safest bet, easy #1 for me, scouting reports aren't bad either and had really good stats. Pretty good defense
2. Deven Marrero Like Zunino college hitter, good bat, premium positon, really good defensively, and Zunino's stats might be better just because he's a sophomore. Probably going to stick at SS and play well there.
3. Byron Buxton Tied for highest ceiling in the draft, 5 tool talent.
4. Lucas Giolito Tied for highest ceiling in the draft, but he's a HS pitcher. I still love his 3 plus pitches and projectability.
5. Mark Appel Consensus #1 pick, has great scouting reports and comes out of college, but he's a pitcher, and he dosen't miss bats.
6. Kevin Gausman Secondary stuff is coming along, has an amazing fastball, might move ahead of Appel soon, more Ks.
7. David Dahl Another 5 tool high school talent, not as good as Buxton, but still very good.
8.Victor Roache Amazing bat, had 30 homers last year, amazing stats, scouting reports are still good, college hitter.
9. Gavin Cecchini Has a monster ceiling. His bat has as high a ceiling as his brother Garin, a prospect for the Red Sox, they both have extremely high ceilings with the bat, but Gavin has a chance to stay at SS.
10. Michael Wacha
Has very good stuff and ridiculous stats, very good college pitcher.
11. Max Fried
Lefty with 3 plus pitchers, high school pitcher.
12. Walter Weickel. Has a mid 90s fastball and is very polished, but is a HS pitcher.
13. Carlos Correa
Awesome bat not as awesome glove, probably won't stick at SS.
14. Jake Barrett
Good college pitcher, don't have much to say about him.
15. Joey Gallo
I absolutely love his bat, hate that he's a 1B. I think he has 40 HR potential, but you have to remember most prospects don't pan out.
16. Trey Williams
I like his bat, but not as much as most. He's not as good as most say.
17. Lance McCullers
has amazing stuff, but does have control problems and mechanics problems, might be a reliever, and is a HS pitcher.
18. Chris Beck Has a mid 90s fastball, and has two other good off speed pitches and is a college player but he's a pitcher.
19. Stryker Trahan
A 5 tool catcher, don't see that every day. Will be interesting to see how he progresses.
20.Kenny Diekroeger Has amazing physical attributes and defense, plays a premium position, needs to hit,very high ceiling has your typical high school hitter profile, but is a college hitter.
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Cecchini
all the reports I’ve read on him are that he doesn’t have a tool that stands out as elite (that includes hit tool and power). All of them are solid, but nothing that screams “monster” potential. Perhaps he’s more Stephen Drew-esque.
by JoelGuzman'sScout on Jan 19, 2026 2:32 AM EST reply actions
I agree
too high on Cecchini. Too high on Marrero. Too low on Trey Williams, in my opinion. Other than that, pretty good.
by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jan 19, 2026 9:02 AM EST up reply actions
Trey Williams = Nick Williams?
huh?
by JoelGuzman'sScout on Jan 19, 2026 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
I think he has a really high ceiling
with the bat, and if he can stick at SS, that’s monster potential.
by Bososx13 on Jan 19, 2026 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
Never
a bad choice. The above-average catcher with a chance for more.
by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jan 19, 2026 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
I just don't get the Diekroeger love
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by Jeff Reese on Jan 19, 2026 1:05 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
After rethinking it, I would probably
put Nick Wiliams above Diekroeger. Diekroeger is really athletic though, and is probably safer than Williams, but Williams has much better potential.
by Bososx13 on Jan 19, 2026 8:35 PM EST up reply actions
I think it's because
he has a lot of really solid tools, at least the potential to have really solid tools, he just hasn’t figured out a way to put them all together
he reminds me a bit of grant green with a little less polish
Snoochies
by guessatomo on Jan 19, 2026 8:47 PM EST up reply actions
He's athletic and he showed a good line drive swing in the past
But he’s a second baseman in pro ball who really doesn’t profile for much over the fence power. His infield actions are inconsistent; his arm is mediocre. The fact that he looked lost at the plate late last year really soured me on him.
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by Jeff Reese on Jan 19, 2026 9:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Definitely understandable
i live pretty close to stanford so i might try to see a game or two over there, anyone outside of the three obvious guys to watch for?
Snoochies
by guessatomo on Jan 19, 2026 9:10 PM EST up reply actions
Stanford is loaded:
RS Junior:
Brett Mooneyham
Juniors:
Mark Appel
Kenny Diekroeger
Jake Stewart
Stephen Piscotty
Tyler Gaffney
Chris Jenkins
Sophomores:
Austin Wilson
Brian Ragira
Lonnie Kaupilla
AJ Vanegas
Freshman:
Domonic Jose
Wayne Taylor
Austin Slater
Alex Blandino
Spenser Linney
David Schmidt
John Hochstatter
Are all high end follows. With the Freshmen, I just listed the notable incoming guys. We’ll see who emerges out of that group as a high end guy.
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by Jeff Reese on Jan 19, 2026 9:23 PM EST up reply actions
You should definitely get over there!
A few times. Jeff is right - LOADED.
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by alskor on Jan 20, 2026 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
Correa
what’s wrong with the glove? I didn’t see anything that screams he can’t stay at short, thought the glove looked more advanced than the stick actually. (and I like the bat)
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by SoCalSoxFan on Jan 19, 2026 4:23 PM EST reply actions
agreed
Correa could move up to a top-3 pick, especially if Appel continues to show his lack of dominance.
by BlueVol03 on Jan 20, 2026 9:35 AM EST up reply actions
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