2021 MLB Draft Review: Chicago Cubs

Full list of draftees

The Cubs had a pretty diverse draft this year, grabbing one from each of the four major demographics (prep/college hitter/pitcher) with their first four picks. In the past, they've targeted pitchers that throw hard such as Brendon Little, Ryan Jensen, Burl Carraway, and Luke Little to name a few, but even with fireballers like Ty Madden, Gavin Williams, Ryan Cusick, and Chase Petty still on the board, they opted to break from their trend a little bit and get Jordan Wicks, who does not throw hard but stands out for his changeup. Next, they grabbed a prep bat from my high school in the second round, and in the fourth made one of my favorite picks of the entire draft. To save money for their two big overslot picks (preps James Triantos and Drew Gray), they later focused on college performers and five of their last six picks on day two were born in 1998. Easily my favorite pick of the draft for the Cubs was fourth rounder Christian Franklin.
Full index of team reviews here. Full rankings here.

1-21: LHP Jordan Wicks, Kansas State. My rank: #31.
I wasn't huge on Jordan Wicks, but a lot of teams in the teens really liked him and the Cubs must have been excited just to see him available outside the top twenty. He put himself on the map with an excellent 2020 season, allowing just one run over 26 innings (0.35 ERA) while striking out 26 to just four walks. Wicks was hit a little bit harder in Big 12 play in 2021 and finished with a 3.70 ERA and a 118/28 strikeout to walk ratio in 92.1 innings, but still impressed evaluators enough to be considered the near-consensus best left handed pitching prospect in college baseball. The 6'3" lefty doesn't throw crazy hard, sitting in the low 90's and topping out around 94, but the pitch plays up with high spin rates and ride. His main weapon is arguably the best changeup in the class, a plus-plus fader that just up and dies on its way to the plate. The central Arkansas native's curveball and slider were previously distant third and fourth pitches, but this spring they took a step forward to average or at times a tick above. Everything plays up because he has above average command and is a dogged competitor, throwing all of his pitches with conviction and pounding the strike zone. Those intangibles should enable him to work his way up through the minors rather quickly, and he could reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter soon. The lack of a plus breaker probably keeps him from being a #1 or #2, though it's hard to see the entire package allowing him to be anything less than a back-end guy. He signed at slot value for $3.13 million.

2-56: 3B James Triantos, James Madison HS [VA]. My rank: #62.
This is a unique one for me, because I played baseball at Madison from 2012-2015 and used to go to the Triantos house to hit in the batting cage in their back yard. James was only about twelve years old when I used to go over there with some of the other Madison players and I've since moved from Virginia to Texas, so I don't have any extra insight on his skillset, but it's still a fun connection for me. Triantos is the first player drafted out of my high school since Andy McGuire in 2013, who was two years ahead of me, and the second highest pick in school history behind 1971 second overall pick Jay Franklin. Originally a member of the 2022 class, he reclassified to 2021 to be age-appropriate and a massive spring catapulted him into top 100 conversation relatively late. He absolutely demolished northern Virginia pitching with above average raw power to all fields, whipping the barrel through the zone with great leverage and a swing path that allows him to make solid contact even when he's not on time. The hit tool has held up extremely well this spring, though it's relatively untested against higher level arms and the Cubs are showing a little bit of faith by taking him this high and giving him this large of a bonus. He shows a plus arm that helped him serve as the Warhawk ace this spring and throw a complete game in the state championship game, but he lacks the range to stick at shortstop and profiles better as a third baseman. Triantos is a hard worker who has been working out regularly since at least when I knew him as a pre-teenager, so he should make the most of his ability in pro baseball. He signed for $2.1 million, which was $820,000 above slot value.

3-93: LHP Drew Gray, IMG Academy [FL]. My rank: #166.
Here is a semi-hometown pick. Drew Gray is from Swansea, Illinois, just outside of St. Louis, and he transferred from Belleville High School to the IMG Academy this year to increase his stock. Gray was actually a position player until recently, only beginning to seriously focus on pitching last year, so there is a lot to project on. The 6'3" lefty sits in the low 90's with his fastball, topping out around 93-94 early in starts but often dipping into the upper 80's towards the end. The pitch has high spin and great riding action, so the hope is that as he gets stronger and more accustomed to the mound, it will turn into a true weapon for him. The secondaries are more of a work in progress, with his breaking balls looking slurvy (albeit with high spin as well) and the changeup in its early stages. He does a great job of incorporating his legs into his delivery, though his mechanics could use a little synching up going forward. Gray had a chance to shoot up boards this spring, but nagging injuries kept him from doing so. This is exactly the kind of profile that could head to school and come out a completely different prospect, so the Cubs recognized that and are buying in early so that he can make those gains in their system. With added strength and more time to develop his offspeeds, he has a tremendous ceiling. Gray was committed to Arkansas but signed for $900,000, which was $272,100 above slot value.

4-123: OF Christian Franklin, Arkansas. My rank: #38.
This was one of the best picks in the draft in my and many others' opinions, especially considering that he signed below slot. Christian Franklin was solidly in the first round picture for me until his swing and miss issues started to bite him a bit late in the season, but even once the draft rolled around he seemed like at least a second round pick to me. I guess the industry was lower on him and he fell to the Cubs in the fourth round, who could be getting arguably the best value in the draft. He was right in the middle of the best offense in college baseball this year, slashing .274/.420/.544 with 13 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a 78/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 61 games against a very tough schedule. First we have huge raw power despite a lean 5'11" frame, as he's such a great athlete that he can channel that lean strength into big exit velocities and has now crushed 22 home runs, 27 doubles, and four triples in 141 college games, even as he's faced a steady diet of big SEC arms. He's an above average runner that channels his speed into excellent center field defense, and that strength comes back into play with a plus arm from center field. Really, the only question in the Kansas City-area native's game is around his hit tool, as he struck out at a 28.5% rate this year and he seemed to be trending in the wrong direction by the season's end. That's certainly an issue, but to me, there are so many other positives in this profile that the fourth round feels way too low, and his .402 career on-base percentage (.407 in SEC play alone this year) shows that he can absolutely handle advanced pitching. He signed for $425,000, which was $39,500 below slot value.

5-154: SS Liam Spence, Tennessee. Unranked.
Liam Spence travelled a long way to get to Chicago. A product of Geelong, Australia (about 40 miles outside Melbourne), he began his college career at Central Arizona before transferring to Tennessee. The Australian has been an absolute hit machine for the Volunteers, slashing .338/.471/.459 with six home runs and a 60/66 strikeout to walk ratio over 81 games since the start of 2020 and serving as their primary leadoff man during the team's College World Series run. He has a quick right handed stroke that enables him to find the barrel very consistently against good pitching, and there is some moderate power in his skinny 6'1" frame. Spence is a very patient hitter who has walked in 23.7% of his plate appearances at Tennessee, really juicing his on-base percentages and giving him ample opportunities to use his solid speed. Given that he doesn't quite have enough glove to man shortstop every day, this is a pretty clear utility infield profile, especially given that he turned 23 in April. Spence signed for $135,000, which was $208,400 below slot value.

7-214: OF Parker Chavers, Coastal Carolina. My rank: #210.
Parker Chavers was trending towards being an early pick when he slashed .319/.435/.554 with 22 home runs over his first two seasons at Coastal Carolina, but he hurt his shoulder over the offseason and didn't get into action during the shortened 2020 season. He was still talked about in the back of the five round draft, but wound up undrafted and went back to school. This year, he hit a strong .318/.407/.477 with five home runs and a career-high 14 stolen bases in 49 games, but he didn't quite put it together like scouts had hoped. Chavers shows above average raw power from a smaller 5'11" frame, and over his first two seasons in Conway, he got to it consistently in games. However, in 2021, he toned down his approach a bit and dropped his strikeout rate from 19.3% over his first two seasons to 8.8% this year, but that came at the expense of his power as his five home runs and .477 slugging percentage were both career-lows. The Montgomery, Alabama native is a plus runner that will be able to handle all three outfield spots in pro ball, so he does a lot of things well. At this point, given that he turned 23 shortly after the draft, it's hard to see him putting it all together to the point where he can play full time, but the fact that he has (at separate times) shown the ability to hit for both power and average on top of being a good runner should give him quite a few ways to contribute as a fourth outfielder down the road. He signed for $125,000, which was $81,500 below slot value.

8-244: C Casey Opitz, Arkansas. Unranked.
Casey Opitz, like Parker Chavers, was eligible last year and had looks in the back of the five round draft (and both Chavers and Opitz just turned 23 five days apart). A relatively light hitter over the first two years of his career, he elevated his stock that year by jumping out to a hot .302/.361/.509 start in the shortened season, but that's looking like more a fluke now that he hit .257/.367/.346 with two home runs and a 33/32 strikeout to walk ratio over 55 games. It's an average hit tool and an ability to handle the strike zone well against advanced pitching that stand out on offense, but the below average power limits his ceiling. Where Opitz shines, though, is one defense. The Denver-area native has a plus glove and a plus arm, making him an asset behind the plate as is, but it's not just the tools that make him special. Opitz is also a high-energy leader back there who could be called Pitching Ninja's favorite catcher, firing up his pitchers after every strikeout. Pitchers absolutely love to work with him, and just his presence in the Chicago farm system could have a very positive impact on other young pitchers. This is a fun one even without much of a ceiling. He signed for $90,000, which was $78,500 below slot value.

2021 MLB Draft: A Hometown Pick for Every AL/NL West Team

I'm personally just as interested in maps as I am in the MLB Draft, so naturally I really like it when players go to their hometown team. Seeing Ryan Zimmerman (Virginia Beach, VA) on the Nationals, Justin Turner (Lakewood, CA) on the Dodgers, Joe Musgrove (La Mesa, CA) on the Padres, etc. makes me happy. Last year, the Cubs drafted Chicago native Ed Howard in the first round, which I thought was really cool. Obviously, picking the hometown guy usually plays a negligible part in the selection process, but it's still fun to think about. So, if teams were drafting to make me happy, what hometown players could they target early in the draft? Note, I'll usually think in terms of the first pick if possible, but if necessary I'll find targets for the second or third pick (especially in the "other options" section). This is the final of three articles, as I previously wrote on the AL and NL East as well as the AL and NL Central. Note this is NOT a mock draft – it's just for fun and I don't actually think many of these will happen. They're just fun to think about.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 3B Wes Kath, Desert Mountain HS, Scottsdale, AZ
Usually, Phoenix and its suburbs are a hotspot for talent, with notable recent first round Arizonans including Nick Gonzales (New Mexico via Vail), Matthew Liberatore (Glendale), and Nolan Gorman (Phoenix). This year, no Arizonans figure to be in play at pick #6, and probably not at #42 either, but when the Diamondbacks loop back at pick #67 in the second competitive balance round, Wes Kath could be a great option if he's not already off the board. The Scottsdale native is a slugging corner infielder who can really smoke the baseball from the left side, a product of the strength and leverage in his 6'3" frame. Unlike most power hitters his age, he also shows a strong hit tool and feel for the barrel, so he should have no problem tapping his power in pro ball. In fact, for much of his prep career, that hit tool has been ahead of his power, which is saying something given his powerful 6'3" frame and high exit velocities. Kath is committed to head south on 101 to college at Arizona State, so the Diamondbacks would only need to divert him a couple of miles west to downtown.
Other Options: LHP Brock Selvidge (Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ), RHP Dominic Hamel (Dallas Baptist via Chandler, AZ), RHP Chase Silseth (Arizona via Farmington, NM), OF Donta Williams (Arizona via Las Vegas, NV), SS Channy Ortiz (Grand Canyon via Phoenix, AZ)

Colorado Rockies: C Casey Opitz, Arkansas (hometown: Centennial, CO)
Neither Colorado, Colorado State, Denver, nor Wyoming has a baseball team, so unless elite prospects want to play at Northern Colorado or Air Force, they have to leave the region to chase their Division I dreams. One of those kids was Casey Opitz, who graduated from Heritage High School in Centennial before embarking across the plains to Arkansas. There, he has blossomed into Pitching Ninja's favorite catcher due to his high energy playing style behind the plate. Opitz indeed is one of the better defensive catchers in the college game, showing great mobility behind the plate, a strong arm, and perhaps most importantly, all of the leadership qualities you look for in a seasoned backstop. In an organization like Colorado, where you're often pitching in hitter-friendly environments that can be discouraging, that's even more important. Opitz's bat isn't as special as his glove, as he shows strong plate discipline but for the most part has lacked impact. Additionally, he'll turn 23 shortly after the draft, which combined with the fringy bat gives him a pretty clear backup projection. Opitz probably won't be in play on Day One, but once the Rockies loop back around for their fourth round pick at #109, he could start to make sense anywhere between there and maybe pick #200ish in the seventh round.
Other options: RHP Chase Silseth (Arizoan via Farmington, NM), RHP Riley Cornelio (Texas Christian via Monument, CO), RHP Cale Lansville (Thunder Ridge HS, Highlands Ranch, CO), RHP/1B Sam Ireland (Minnesota via Highlands Ranch, CO), 2B Cooper Bowman (Louisville via Rapid City, SD)

Houston Astros: RHP Caedmon Parker (The Woodlands Christian HS, The Woodlands, TX)
The Astros don't pick until #87 this year after the sign stealing scandal, which almost certainly puts them out of the running for top local products like Ty Madden (Texas via Cypress), Colton Cowser (Sam Houston State via Cypress) and Izaac Pacheco (Friendswood), and possibly Dylan Smith (Alabama via Stafford) as well. Still, Southeast Texas is so rich with prospects that we still have plenty of options to choose from. Last year, the Astros went above slot value to bring in a falling high school pitcher in Alex Santos with the 72nd pick, and they could do the same thing with Caedmon Parker this year. I'm personally a big fan of Parker, an athletic 6'4" righty who also plays wide receiver at The Woodlands Christian High School. His fastball velocity has been inconsistent, sitting in the upper 80's on some days and touching 95 on others, but given his athleticism, springy delivery, and room to add a ton of good weight, I can easily see him sitting at the upper end of that velocity band or higher in the future. He adds a curveball, slider, and changeup that are all developing, but he spins the ball well and I can see at least one if not two or three of those pitches becoming above average to plus down the road. Additionally, Parker fills up the strike zone very consistently, which is usually not the case with these long-term, projectability types. And lastly, because he's young for the class with a June birthday, he has that much more time to develop. Parker is committed to TCU and even though he'll likely be an expensive sign this year, I think he'll be significantly more expensive in three years.
Other options: RHP Dylan Smith (Alabama via Stafford, TX), SS Cameron Cauley (Barbers Hill HS, Mont Belvieu, TX), RHP Bryce Miller (Texas A&M via New Braunfels, TX), RHP Landon Marceaux (Louisiana State via Destrehan, LA), RHP Brandon Birdsell (Texas A&M via Willis, TX)

Los Angeles Angels: SS Matt McLain, UCLA (hometown: Tustin, CA)
I feel comfortable splitting up the two Los Angeles teams despite combining the two New York and Chicago teams (plus the Bay Area teams lower down on this list), with plenty of space separating Angel Stadium and Dodger Stadium. For the Angels, we'll go with UCLA star Matt McLain, even if pick #9 might be just a little rich for him at this point. McLain was a stud at Beckman High School in northern Irvine, and the Diamondbacks tried to pry him out of Southern California by drafting him 25th overall. However, he didn't sign, and proceeded to post a disappointing freshman season up in Westwood (.203/.276/.355), but has been trending back up ever since. The Tustin native was red hot when the season shut down in 2020, then continued his hot hitting ways over the summer. After getting out of the gates a little slow in 2021, he's back to his usual ways lately and if he continues on this path, he very well could be an option at pick #9. McLain is a smaller guy at 5'11", but he's an elite athlete who packs a lot of strength into his lean frame and could profile for average or even above average power. He also finds the barrel very consistently with a quick right handed stroke, with plus speed that makes him a weapon on the bases. He has the athleticism for shortstop but his feel for the position is so-so, so keeping him at the premium position might require a little bit of development. Working slightly against him is age, as he'll turn 22 slightly after the draft.
Other options: LHP Gage Jump (JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, CA), SS Cody Schrier (JSerra HS), RHP Michael McGreevy (UC Santa Barbara via San Clemente, CA), 1B JT Schwartz (UCLA via Newport Beach, CA), RHP Troy Melton (San Diego State via Anaheim, CA)

Los Angeles Dodgers: SS Max Muncy, Thousand Oaks HS, Thousand Oaks, CA
Now wouldn't this be funny? Max Muncy is indeed not related to the current Dodger of the same name, but is currently waiting right there for the team just forty miles to the northwest across the Ventura County line. I originally thought about giving the Dodgers Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) star Thatcher Hurd at the 29th pick, but given how small their bonus pool will be without a second round pick, I'm not sure they can afford him. Likewise, not having that second round pick means they won't pick again until #101, so there's a good chance Muncy is off the board by then as well unless he slides due to signing bonus demands. However, the idea of the Dodgers picking up another Max Muncy was too interesting not to talk about. He's a feel-over-tools guy who can just flat out play, showing few weaknesses in his profile. Muncy has a nice 6'1" frame with long levers that help him put nice leverage into his right handed swing, giving him a chance at above average power. While his swing mechanics can be inconsistent in the box, he shows enough feel for the barrel to profile as at least an average hitter if not above average, which pairs nicely with that emerging power. Defensively, he doesn't quite have the range or athleticism for shortstop, but he has the chance to be an above average third baseman if he moves over there. With a lot of building blocks to work with, the Dodgers could sign him above slot in the third round to keep him away from Arkansas, but if he's snatched up earlier (he likely will be), they can just draft his Thousand Oaks teammate, second baseman Roc Riggio.
Other options: 2B Roc Riggio (Thousand Oaks HS, Thousand Oaks, CA), RHP Thatcher Hurd (Mira Costa HS, Manhattan Beach, CA), RHP Sean Sullivan (California via Woodland Hills, CA), C Noah Cardenas (UCLA via Saugus, CA), RHP Jesse Bergin (UCLA via Los Angeles, CA)

Oakland Athletics/San Francisco Giants
Hitter: OF Tyree Reed, American Canyon HS, American Canyon, CA
Unlike Los Angeles, I decided to combine Oakland and San Francisco into one Bay Area "hometown" because there isn't quite enough talent on the San Francisco side of the Bay and they share the Central Valley/Sacramento area anyways. For the hitter, we'll go with American Canyon star Tyree Reed, who is a fairly polarizing prospect due to his lack of exposure. He didn't attend many events over the summer and underwhelmed in his limited looks, but scouts with more history with Reed have seen him do great things on the baseball field. A skinny 6'2", he can show off one of the better left handed swings in the class, a quick, leveraged stroke that will help him hit for above average power down the line. For now, he needs to add strength in order to produce that power, but he does have strong plate discipline that should allow him to tap it once it comes. Reed is also a plus runner who has the chance to be a standout defender in center field, only adding to his value. The lack of a track record means he won't be in play for the Giants at pick #14 and might be a bit of a stretch for the A's at pick #25, but if he's still around for the Giants at #50 or the A's at #60, he could make a lot of sense. American Canyon, by the way, is just north of Vallejo on the way up to Napa. He's committed to Oregon State and could command a large bonus.
Other options: OF Ryan Holgate (Arizona via Davis, CA), SS Davis Diaz (Acalanes HS, Lafayette, CA), OF Braiden Ward (Washington via Merced, CA), 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (Oklahoma State via Pleasant Hill, CA), 2B Darren Baker (California via Granite Bay, CA)
Pitcher: RHP Trenton Denholm (UC Irvine via El Dorado Hills, CA)
Honestly, this spot was up for grabs between three pitchers from the same high school, Oak Ridge High School in the Sacramento suburb of El Dorado Hills. Though Houston ace Robert Gasser has seen his name trend up lately, I decided to go with UC Irvine star Trenton Denholm over Gasser and Texas lefty Pete Hansen because Denholm was the only one to stay in state for school while the other two headed to the Lone Star State. Denholm was actually eligible last year, but he went undrafted and because he was extremely young for a college junior last year, he's still age-appropriate for this year's draft. He won't overpower you, but he will out-compete you and that's led to one of the better statistical track records in this year's draft. The 5'11" righty dominated for two summers in the elite Cape Cod League, not allowing an earned run in 32.2 innings, and he held a 1.90 ERA over 123.1 innings at UCI from 2019-2020. Denholm gets it done with a modest fastball that sits around 90, getting up to 93 at his best, adding a slider and curveball that can miss bats. His best pitch is a plus changeup that makes the rest of his arsenal play up, and he ties it all together with strong command and a bulldog-like mentality on the mound, going right after hitters. He's been a bit more inconsistent in 2021, alternating brilliant starts against Hawai'i and UC San Diego with rough ones against Cal State Northridge and Cal Poly. His proponents will point to his makeup and long track record of results, but detractors will look at his size and lack of velocity and point Denholm to the bullpen. Regardless, the 21 year old will come into play in the third round if a team wants to sign him below slot, but otherwise, more likely in the fourth or fifth round.
Other options: LHP Robert Gasser (Houston via El Dorado Hills, CA), LHP Pete Hansen (Texas via El Dorado Hills, CA), RHP Cullen Kafka (Oregon via Walnut Creek, CA), RHP Anthony Susac (Jesuit HS, Carmichael, CA), RHP Alex Williams (Stanford via Castro Valley, CA)

San Diego Padres: RHP Grant Holman, California (hometown: Chula Vista, CA)
The Padres, perhaps more than any other team, love to take high-ceiling high school talent at the top of the draft, and this year, there's an absolute stud right in their backyard at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista. In my opinion, Eastlake's Marcelo Mayer is the best high school player in the draft, and the Padres would absolutely love to get him in their system, but unfortunately (or fortunately) they don't pick until #27 this year. Mayer is likely to go in the top five picks, so we'll shift our focus to another Eastlake alum, California star Grant Holman. Holman is a two-way star who hit .264/.348/.414 over his first two years in Berkeley, but gave up hitting this year to focus on pitching and the results have been great. His fastball has ticked up into the mid 90's at times and has touched 97, and he puts nice life on the ball with his 6'6" frame. The big right hander, who clocks in at 250 pounds, also adds a full array of secondary pitches, with the slider being the one to take a step forward this year. He's been moving up boards all spring, so the Padres could jump onto the train heading in the right direction and look to develop the rest of his arsenal. He throws plenty of strikes and has that big, durable frame, giving him the upside of an impact starting pitcher. The Chula Vista native would probably be a bit of a stretch at pick #27 unless he takes off at the end of the season, but he could be in play when the Padres come back around at pick #62 and again at #71. Of course, I fully expect them to target high school talent, but Mayer is the only Day One high school prospect I've come across so far.
Other options: RHP Kevin Abel (Oregon State via San Diego, CA), RHP Braden Olthoff (Tulane via Oceanside, CA), RHP Mason Pelio (Boston College via San Diego, CA), RHP Nick Nastrini (UCLA via San Diego, CA), RHP Carson Seymour (Kansas State via Temecula, CA)

Seattle Mariners: OF Malakhi Knight, Marysville-Getchell HS, Marysville, WA
No PNW players will be in play when the Mariners select at pick #12, but a couple of local high school products will be over their next couple of picks. We'll look at outfielder Malakhi Knight, who stars at Marysville-Getchell High School at the northern tip of the Seattle suburbs. The Marysville native shows off a powerful right handed swing that generates plenty of loft and leverage from a strong 6'3" frame, though it can get a bit grooved and out of whack at times. He also shows solid feel for the strike zone that should enable him to tap more and more power as he grows into it, though scouts are looking for a bit more consistency at this point. Knight will also be an asset in the outfield, where his at least above average speed could play in center field and his strong arm will be a net-positive in right field. To top it all off, "Malakhi Knight" is in my opinion the coolest name in a prep class that also includes Roc Riggio, Lorenzo Carrier, and Vytas Valincius. Knight is committed to Oregon State and makes sense for the Mariners at pick #48.
Other options: RHP Max Debiec (O'Dea Catholic HS, Seattle, WA), 1B Kyle Manzardo (Washington State via Coeur d'Alene, ID), C Shane McGuire (San Diego via Kent, WA), RHP Willie Weiss (Michigan via Portland, OR), RHP Jake Pfennigs (Oregon State via Post Falls, ID)

Texas Rangers: SS Jordan Lawlar, Jesuit HS, Dallas, TX
We'll end with probably the easiest pick to make here. Not only is Lawlar the most likely Metroplex product to end up with the Rangers this year, he might be the most likely player period. A native of Irving, Lawlar attends arguably the best baseball program in the region, Jesuit High School in North Dallas, and he's separated himself as arguably the top high school player in the country. Personally, I'm just a bit higher on San Diego high schooler Marcelo Mayer, but that's neither here nor there. Lawlar stands out first for his combination of exceptional athleticism and exceptional feel for the game, often looking like he's just on a different level from others on the baseball field with him. He brings great feel for the barrel that enables him to spray hard line drives all around the field against advanced pitching, with burgeoning power in his lean 6'2" frame. On the other side of the ball, he shows great range and a strong arm at shortstop that could make him an impact defender with a little more consistency. A plus runner, Lawlar wreaks havoc on the bases but is a smart baserunner who knows when to be aggressive without making boneheaded mistakes. There's really a lot, a lot to like with Lawlar, which is why numerous mock drafts have projected him to the Rangers at #2 overall. Really, the only flaws his detractors will point to are age, as he'll turn 19 in July, and power that plays closer to average than plus.
Other options: RHP Eric Hammond (Keller HS, Keller, TX), RHP Ryan Johnson (Red Oak HS, Red Oak, TX), LHP Jonathan Childress (Texas A&M via Forney, TX), RHP Rawley Hector (Anna HS, Anna, TX), LHP Hagen Smith (Bullard HS, Bullard, TX)