2023 MLB Draft Review: Kansas City Royals

Full list of draftees

It was an on-brand draft for the Royals, who started off by going way under slot on a high schooler before spending big on prep arms later on, mixing in do-it-all college outfielders where they could. They spent a combined $9.2 million on just three preps, sliding the rest of the money around before spending their leftover bonus pool money on a couple collegians in the eleventh and twelfth rounds.
Full index of team reviews here. Full rankings here.
Note that the number before a player's name indicates their draft position. "2-50" would indicate that a player was drafted in the second round with the fiftieth overall pick.

1-8: C Blake Mitchell, Sinton HS [TX] {video}
Slot value: $5.98 million. Signing bonus: $4.9 million ($1.08 million below slot value).
My rank: #20. MLB Pipeline: #14. Baseball America: #15. Prospects Live: #15.
As has begun to become customary for them, the Royals went well below slot and in this case saved over a million dollars on their first pick, signing Blake Mitchell away from an LSU commitment for money closer to the slot value of the #13 pick. Mitchell is a special athlete that stands out immediately on the diamond no matter his competition. He was a two-way player in high school that could have pitched at LSU if he went there, running his fastball up to 97 with a good curveball, and the fact that he won't be pitching in pro ball tells you just how talented he is. At the plate, he uses a rhythmic load and produces above average power to all fields with an explosive right handed swing that could upgrade to plus power in time. He takes great at bats and has a long track record of performing against high quality pitching, though he does show some swing and miss in the zone against higher velocity. It's something to watch as he ascends the ranks, but it's certainly no reason for alarm. Behind the plate, Mitchell has an absolute cannon for a right arm, earning plus-plus grades with the ability to completely shut down the opposing running game. Like most young catchers, he's still learning the finer aspects of blocking and receiving, but his athleticism helps him considerably in the meantime and he'll stick back there. The South Texas native is all quick twitch muscle at 6'1", more or less "what the look like" from a physical standpoint, though he is a well below average runner. Really, the only drawback in this profile is his position, as high school catchers are notoriously unpredictable. Many of today's best American catchers including Adley Rutschman, Will Smith, Sean Murphy, Mitch Garver, and Cal Raleigh all came through the college ranks, with J.T. Realmuto and Jonah Heim looking more like exceptions to the rule as high school draftees. Still, you won't find me betting against Mitchell's combination of strength, athleticism, and polish. He has the upside of a future star behind the plate. He showed off his patience but otherwise stumbled through his brief debut in the Arizona Complex League, slashing .147/.423/.176 with a 14/17 strikeout to walk ratio over 13 games.

2-44: RHP Blake Wolters, Mahomet-Seymour HS [IL] {video}
Slot value: $1.95 million. Signing bonus: $2.8 million ($848,400 above slot value).
My rank: #67. MLB Pipeline: #41. Baseball America: #50. Prospects Live: #38.
Few high school pitchers impressed evaluators more than Blake Wolters did this spring. Once the weather warmed up in central Illinois, and even beforehand at the PBR Super 60 showcase (in the linked video), he came out firing with increased velocity and maintained it through the spring. Wolters now sits in the mid 90's with his fastball and touches 99 at best, simply overpowering hitters on velocity alone. His slider flashes plus now with power and bite, though it's inconsistent and can flatten out on him. His changeup remains a distant third pitch. The 6'4" righty is extremely physical with arm strength galore, using his size to his advantage as he works down the mound with a balanced, low effort delivery that portends to a future in the rotation. He's much more physical than explosive, so I don't necessarily see more velocity coming, but he has plenty right now. Wolters pounds the strike zone by repeating his delivery naturally and consistently, further adding safety to his projection as a starter so long as he can stay healthy. The Royals will want to help him get more consistent with his secondary stuff going forward, and it would be nice as well if they can add some life to his fairly straight fastball. Still, the size, arm strength, and trajectory make for a very nice package, and it took almost all of the money Kansas City saved on Blake Mitchell to sign Wolters away from an Arizona commitment. His $2.8 million signing bonus was close to the slot value for the #29 pick.

CBB-66: OF Carson Roccaforte, Louisiana-Lafayette {video}
Slot value: $1.16 million. Signing bonus: $897,500 ($261,400 below slot value).
My rank: #100. MLB Pipeline: #129. Baseball America: #160. Prospects Live: #118.
The Royals tend to favor do-it-all college outfielders in this range of the draft, and Carson Roccaforte certainly fits that profile. He brings an interesting profile at that, and not just because he has an elite baseball name. Roccaforte had a massive sophomore season in 2022 (.374/.435/.671, 16 HR, 25 SB) then came back down to earth a little in 2023, slashing .318/.426/.538 with eight home runs, 22 stolen bases, and a 54/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 65 games. Very skinny at 6'1", he quietly produces above average exit velocities and can turn on the ball for average power, though that's not really his game. Instead, he employs more of a slasher approach, looking to shoot line drives from gap to gap with more of a loose, free and easy left handed swing. That plays well with his plus speed, helping him hit 26 doubles in 2023 to finish tied for fourth in all of Division I. The Southeast Texas native was a bit overmatched on the Cape last summer (.182/.241/.234 in 22 games) and did strike out 18.7% of the time in 2023 despite not playing in a power conference, so there are questions about his ability to make the most of his tools in games against more advanced pitching. Defensively, Roccaforte continues to provide value with his plus speed, strong route running ability, and solid arm. That should keep him in center field, taking some pressure off his bat initially and giving him a nice projection as a fourth outfielder should he not hit for enough impact to start. The power hasn't shown up yet, but he has otherwise impressed by slashing .295/.391/.393 with 15 stolen bases and a 31/18 strikeout to walk ratio over 30 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Columbia.

3-75: RHP Hiro Wyatt, Staples HS [CT] {video}
Slot value: $960,000. Signing bonus: $1.5 million ($540,000 above slot value).
My rank: #152. MLB Pipeline: #234. Baseball America: #142. Prospects Live: #170.
When the Royals see a prep arm they like, they get him and pay him no matter what the national boards say. That was the case here, when they took Hiro Wyatt well ahead of where he ranked on national boards and proceeded to go well above slot value, giving him close to the slot value for the #55 pick to sign away from a Southern Cal commitment. Wyatt is certainly not short on arm talent. He sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and touched 97 this spring, playing up with a lower release point. He shows great feel for his above average slider, which he can also work into a cutter to provide a different look off his fastball. The changeup isn't really there yet, but that's not a huge issue for a kid his age. The skinny 6'1" righty moves very well on the mound with an athletic delivery and improved strike throwing, though he's still fringy in that regard. If Wyatt can figure out a changeup and his skinny frame can hold up to starting, he's got great upside with his arm strength and athleticism. He's also trending hard in the right direction, something you always like to see.

4-106: LHP Hunter Owen, Vanderbilt {video}
Slot value: $634,200. Signing bonus: $631,700 ($2,500 below slot value).
My rank: #76. MLB Pipeline: #56. Baseball America: #58. Prospects Live: #106.
Hunter Owen is another guy who really boosted his stock with a strong 2023. After seeing moderate usage as a reliever over his first two seasons in Nashville, he broke out as a starter this spring with a 3.52 ERA and a 76/17 strikeout to walk ratio over 64 innings, highlighted by an eleven strikeout, two hit, complete game shutout of Ole Miss. Owen is a big, strong lefthander listed at 6'6", 260 pounds, attacking hitters with arm strength more than anything else. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90's and tops around 97, much like Hiro Wyatt, coming in from a higher release point. His best pitch is a hard, diving slider that looks plus at its best and misses bats in bunches, while he can also offer hitters a different look with a bigger curveball and works in a firm but solid changeup. The Portland, Maine native pounds the strike zone with above average command from a simple delivery, not trying to do too much and just letting his natural strength provide the power. The upside might be a little bit limited because he's more strong than explosive, but he looks like a safe bet #4 starter.

5-142: OF Spencer Nivens, Missouri State {video}
Slot value: $446,700. Signing bonus: $472,500 ($25,800 above slot value).
My rank: #80. MLB Pipeline: #119. Baseball America: #87. Prospects Live: #91.
I love this pick for the Royals, one that's a little reminiscent of Tyler Gentry a few years ago. Spencer Nivens is a local kid who grew up just down I-70 in Columbia, Missouri, where he attended Rock Bridge High School before continuing on to Missouri State about 150 miles southeast of Kansas City. He didn't play as a freshman, but he's been a one-man wrecking crew for the Bears the last two seasons with 25 home runs, a .343/.440/.594 slash line, and an 89/78 strikeout to walk ratio over 116 games combined. Nivens will never chase a fastball, though he's not quite as comfortable against high quality breaking balls and did strike out a little more than you'd like against MVC competition despite his extremely patient approach. The raw power may be fringy, but he effectively elevates the ball with authority and maximizes his in-game power, so he could project as average or even above average in that regard if he gets a little stronger. It's not exactly a standout offensive profile, but he does a lot well between his patience and natural loft and could grow into an impact hitter. He's an above average runner but may not be able to stick in center field, and his fringy arm could push him to left. There's nice upside here if the Royals can get creative in unlocking it and overall he projects as a strong fourth outfielder or a decent regular. So far, he is slashing .193/.336/.312 with two home runs and a 21/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 31 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Columbia.

6-169: RHP Coleman Picard, Bryant {video}
Slot value: $345,500. Signing bonus: $343,000 ($2,500 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: #195. Baseball America: #324. Prospects Live: #461.
Coleman Picard began his career at Hartford, but wasn't very effective and transferred to Bryant after one year. He found his footing a bit as a sophomore reliever in 2022 then jumped to the rotation in 2023, where he had a 3.43 ERA and a 59/12 strikeout to walk ratio over 42 innings. He then went on to the Cape Cod League briefly before the draft, where he showed well with a 1.92 ERA and a 13/6 strikeout to walk ratio over 14 innings. Picard sits in the low 90's with his fastball and gets up to about 95 with a fair amount of carry. His main out secondary is a big, deep curveball with tight spin that he'll use to steal strikes in pro ball, while his cutter/slider brings tighter, more lateral break. Both project as average pitches at this point, and he doesn't use his changeup much. The 6'2" righty has some projection remaining and repeats his loose, athletic delivery well enough to show average command, leading to some potential as a starting pitcher. To get there, he'll have to build up his durability as he has never thrown extended innings and did deal with shoulder fatigue in 2023, so hopefully that will come as he fills out that frame a little more in a pro conditioning program. If he moves to the bullpen, he can work between his fastball and two breaking balls while likely seeing a bit of a bump in velocity, which could help his stuff tick up a half grade across the board. He looked good in a pair of Arizona Complex League appearances, allowing one run over three innings while striking out five and walking three.

7-199: 3B Trevor Werner, Texas A&M {video}
Slot value: $269,200. Signing bonus: $350,000 ($80,800 above slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: unranked. Prospects Live: unranked.
This is already looking like a scouting win for the Royals, as Trevor Werner went unranked on virtually every major public board but is already off to a torrid start in the Royals' system after signing for sixth round money in the seventh round. He started off his time at Texas A&M as a two-way player but didn't take off until he gave up pitching as a junior in 2022, then continued his ascent with a strong 2023 in which he slashed .252/.349/.514 with 14 home runs and a 68/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 57 games. Those aren't particularly loud numbers, but the Royals saw something and so far they look like they were right. A big dude at 6'3", 225 pounds, he uses his size to generate above average power to all fields, flinging the barrel at the ball from the right side with a simple swing that taps his power naturally. His long levers do lead to some swing and miss, with an elevated 26.1% strikeout rate in 2023 that was significantly higher than you'd like to see from a college senior. The Royals have been using him as a third baseman so far, but his size may make it difficult to stick there in the long term if he slows down at all. He has been one of the most impressive draftees in the minors so far, slashing .355/.452/.718 with nine home runs and a 35/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 34 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Columbia.

11-319: OF Jared Dickey, Tennessee {video}
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: $572,500 ($422,500 against bonus pool).
My rank: #166. MLB Pipeline: #115. Baseball America: #129. Prospects Live: #110.
I'm a bit lower on Jared Dickey because I'm not entirely certain how his profile translates to impacting games at the MLB level, but that doesn't mean I don't find this to be a very interesting profile. Dickey redshirted his freshman year then came off the bench as a redshirt freshman in 2022, but he put up such great numbers in his small sample (.380/.484/.690) that he was ready to take over as the centerpiece of the Tennessee offense in 2023. The numbers took a slight step back but were still very solid, as he hit .328/.392/.525 with twelve home runs and a 34/20 strikeout to walk ratio over 63 games. Dickey lacks big tools, but you can't deny he knows how to play the game at a high level. Starting in a crouch, he straightens up during his load before pausing just before his swing, which is a simple left handed hack geared towards line drives to all fields. The Nashville-area native isn't looking to walk, going up to the plate hacking at the first pitch he likes while making contact at a high rate both inside and outside the zone. Though his approach is aggressive, he still strikes me as a very professional hitter that knows how ot handle high level pitching. He has slugged .573 over two seasons at Tennessee but the raw power is fringy, and I'm not convinced that it will play up as he transitions to wood bats and gets out of that hitter-friendly park in Knoxville. He projects as a high average type that doesn't walk much or hit more than 10-15 home runs a year, though I do think he'll continue to hit for contact as he works his way up. Dickey caught some at Tennessee but he was drafted as an outfielder by the Royals, where his fringy speed and arm may limit him to left field in the long run. I'm not sold on the upside, but I'm certainly interested to see how this high baseball IQ profile works out. He hasn't homered yet, but he's slashing .330/.423/.447 with an even 13/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 31 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Columbia.

2023 MLB Draft: an early look at the SEC East

2022 draftees: 41. Top school: Tennessee (10)
2022 preseason writeup (published 10/17/2021, full SEC)

Top 2022 draftees:
1-25, Yankees: OF Spencer Jones (Vanderbilt)
1-28, Astros: OF Drew Gilbert (Tennessee)
1C-31, Rockies: OF Sterlin Thompson (Florida)
CBA-38, Rockies: OF Jordan Beck (Tennessee)
2-44, Pirates: LHP Hunter Barco (Florida)
2-52, Mets: RHP Blade Tidwell (Tennessee)
CBB-67, Orioles: OF Jud Fabian (Florida)

Last year, I left the SEC as one conference, but now that an already incredibly deep conference is getting even deeper with the help of the transfer portal era, I had to split it into two. The SEC East, which contains seven teams, saw 41 players drafted and only Missouri and powerhouse Florida, ironically enough, failed to have five players hear their name called. Even though they fell to the bottom of the conference with four, all four Gators went in the first ninety picks. Last year, each of the first four players drafted from the SEC East were outfielders, but this is a conference known for its gauntlet of arms and six of the top eight prospects and each of the first three players that missed the list are pitchers. Let's take a look at the top ten prospects from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Missouri.

1. RHP Chase Dollander, Tennessee.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6'3", 190 lbs. Born 10/26/2001. Hometown: Evans, GA.
2022: 10-0, 2.39 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 108/13 K/BB in 79 innings.
Last year, Tennessee was the most dominant team in college baseball for most of the season and led the SEC East with ten players drafted, and they return in 2023 with not just the best prospect in the division, but likely the best pitcher in the entire draft class heading into the season. Chase Dollander began his career at Georgia Southern near his hometown in the Augusta area, but transferred to Tennessee as a sophomore and just dominated the SEC on all fronts. At this point, he's pretty much the ideal pitching prospect. Dollander sits comfortably in the mid 90's with his fastball and can reach back for 99 when he wants to, so triple digits will certainly be on the figurative radar for 2023. Beyond its velocity, it's an explosive fastball that carries from a fairly low release point with strong extension, getting on hitters in a hurry. He throws two breaking balls highlighted by a plus slider with late bite, as well as a deeper curveball, and his changeup gives him a fourth average or better pitch. It's truly explosive stuff that would be hard to handle even if hitters were able to get ahead in the count and look for hangers, but that's not all. The 6'3" lefty also has a very athletic, efficient delivery that enables him to pound the strike zone and get ahead in the count in a hurry, and he never walked more than two batters in any of his 14 starts last year while striking out 35.3% of his opponents. With his combination of explosive stuff, athleticism, durability, and command, it's really hard to poke any holes in this profile and he has a chance to go first overall if he continues to throw like he did in 2022.

2. OF Wyatt Langford, Florida.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6'1", 225 lbs. Born 11/15/2001. Hometown: Trenton, FL.
2022: 26 HR, .355/.447/.719, 7 SB, 44/36 K/BB in 66 games.
Up in the North Florida town of Gainesville, they pull most of their talent from larger hotbeds to the south such as Miami, Tampa, and Orlando, but the outfield was full of local kids like Jud Fabian (Ocala), Sterlin Thompson (Ocala), and Wyatt Langford (Trenton). Fabian and Thompson both went in the top forty picks at various points, but Langford has a chance to beat both the Ocala boys by a good margin. He earned just four at bats as a freshman in 2021, but took the conference by storm in 2022 with an incredible sophomore season in which he led the SEC with 26 home runs and 184 total bases and tied Dylan Crews (LSU) for the conference lead with 73 runs scored. Langford packs a ton of strength into his 6'1" frame, channeling it efficiently into a smooth right handed swing that keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time while still creating loft. An advanced hitter, he uses the whole field effectively with few holes in his swing, and can easily spread out that power by getting his arms extended and taking you deep to right field. He held strong strikeout (14.5%) and walk (11.9%) rates in 2022, though as an outfielder looking to go near the very top of the draft, he'd do well for himself to up the latter a bit to potentially eclipse the former. That's nitpicky given he really doesn't have problems with swing and miss, especially considering his plus power, but that's how it goes in the top ten picks. Defensively, Langford's above average speed gives him a chance to stick in center field, and a team that believes in his glove might give him a long look in those top couple of picks. If he slows down at all though, or if he ends up on a team with a bona fide center fielder already on the roster, he may move to left field. That would put pressure on his bat and may move him back closer to a team picking in the 8-15 range if that's how teams evaluate him, but there is plenty, plenty enough bat to profile in that role. At his peak, Langford has a chance for 30+ home runs per season with solid or better on-base percentages.

3. RHP Hurston Waldrep, Florida.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6'2", 205 lbs. Born 3/1/2002. Hometown: Thomasville, GA.
2022 (@ Southern Miss): 6-2, 3.20 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 140/33 K/BB in 90 innings.
One of the top transfers in the entire country this year, Hurston Waldrep dominated Conference USA last year and finished eighth in the nation with 140 strikeouts for Southern Miss. After teaming with fellow top draft prospect Tanner Hall in the Golden Eagles rotation, he heads across the Gulf to Florida, where he'll be gunning for one of the most coveted Friday night roles in the country. The stuff is absolutely there – Waldrep sits in the mid 90's with his fastball that can touch 99, coming in with explosive ride that makes it a similar pitch velocity and movement-wise to Chase Dollander's fastball. While Dollander has better command and is the better overall prospect, Waldrep's secondaries do make it close. He throws a power slider in the upper 80's with hard sweeping action, and his deep hammer curveball has knee-buckling bite to give hitters another thing to worry about. Additionally, he's been working on a splitter that looks above average at its best, making for arguably the best four pitch mix in the country. The 6'2" righty comes in with an uptempo delivery, taking advantage of his quick twitch athleticism and exploding towards the plate. He repeats it well, though his command is just average for now and will be something to watch against those disciplined SEC lineups. If he can continue to pound the strike zone and miss bats with his devastating stuff, he has a chance to be the first pitcher off the board.

4. OF Enrique Bradfield, Vanderbilt.
Bat: L. Throw: L. 6'1", 160 lbs. Born 12/2/2001. Hometown: Hialeah, FL.
2022: 8 HR, .317/.415/.498, 46 SB, 40/41 K/BB in 62 games.
There might not be a more enjoyable player to watch in all of college baseball than Enrique Bradfield. A potential top three round pick out of high school in 2020, he instead made it to campus at Vanderbilt and has tormented the rest of the SEC since day one. He hit .336/.451/.414 as a freshman and led the nation with 47 stolen bases, then tied for second in the nation in 2022 with 46 stolen bases while getting on base over 40% of the time and bumping his home run total from one to eight. Speed is the name of the game here, as he is an 80 grade runner that further causes problems with elite instincts on the base paths. He's not just the best baserunner in this draft, but the best in quite some time. Not only did he steal 46 bases last year, he didn't even get caught once – no other player in the nation stole more than 18 bases without being caught. But Bradfield is not just a runner. An ultra-skinny kid at 6'1", 160 pounds, he guides the barrel around the zone with precision and makes hard all fields contact with regularity, giving himself more than ample opportunity to utilize that blazing speed in games. A patient hitter as well that will make you work to get him out, he walked more than he struck out both in 2021 and 2022 and nearly did so again on the Cape last summer, where he ran a .389 on-base percentage against the best pitching in the country. He'll never be a power threat with that rail-thin build, but given his feel for the barrel and strong pitch selection, he could turn on a few mistake pitches at the big league level and ambush you for 5-10 home runs per season. The calling card, of course, will always be the speed, and outfielders will have to be careful they don't let routine base hits become doubles or let balls in the gap turn into triples. As you might expect, the elite speed translates into plus defense in center field, giving him a third plus or better tool. As long as he continues to impact the ball in 2023 like he has the past two seasons, he has a very good chance to go in the middle of the first round or better.

5. RHP Patrick Reilly, Vanderbilt.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6'3", 210 lbs. Born 10/7/2001. Hometown: Sea Girt, NJ.
2022: 2-3, 4.99 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 69/35 K/BB in 52.1 innings.
Had the 2020 high school season not been cut short by COVID, there's a good chance Patrick Reilly would have never made it to Nashville as he had been carrying plenty of helium into the season. He has tantalized with his arm talent for two years now, but to this point is yet to put it all together and for the second straight season is one of the conference's more prominent breakout candidates. He holds a 4.99 ERA and a 122/63 strikeout to walk ratio over 95.2 innings through two seasons at Vanderbilt, and after a pair of strong scoreless starts in the Cape Cod League in 2021, he was up and down on the Cape in 2022 with a 4.26 ERA and a 20/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 25.1 innings. Those are not particularly inspiring numbers, but this is a premium arm nonetheless. Reilly sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and has reached as high as 98, with moderate riding action that isn't quite enough to elicit a ton of chases, but does keep it off barrels. His best secondary pitch is an inconsistent, deep slider that regularly flashes plus, while he also works in a harder cutter and a changeup. This 6'3" righty has a premium pitcher's frame, and throughout his time in Nashville he has gotten much more athletic with his delivery. To this point, his command has not followed suit as he can get too uptempo and struggle to stay under control, but the athleticism does give plenty of hope that he can eventually get more consistent in that regard. With the power arm, durability, athleticism, and deep arsenal, he has a chance to put everything together and pitch his way into the first round this spring.

6. RHP Will Sanders, South Carolina.
Bat: L. Throw: R. 6'6", 215 lbs. Born 3/30/2002. Hometown: Atlanta, GA.
2022: 7-3, 3.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 91/31 K/BB in 89.1 innings.
South Carolina has another horse ready to lead them to a competitive year in the SEC East. Will Sanders has been an impact arm since the day he reached Columbia, holding a career 3.47 ERA and a 145/42 strikeout to walk ratio over 142.2 innings almost entirely as a starter. Built like a stick of bamboo at 6'6", he offers plenty of projection even as he's steadily tacked on velocity with South Carolina. He presently sits in the low 90's but can bump it up to the mid 90's at will, though the pitch has pretty generic plane and movement. Sanders stands out more for his secondaries, including an above average slider that is still searching for its identity and can flash plus at its best, as well as an above average changeup that represents one of the better cambios in the class. The Atlanta native has a very simple, low effort delivery with a strong lower half that helps him pound the strike zone with above average control and average command while holding his velocity deep into starts. The flip side is that he doesn't create much deception, and when you combine that with his generic fastball, his ceiling may be a bit limited unless he finds a way get more movement. Still, with three above average pitches, durability, projection, and solid command, he is a high probability mid rotation starter.

7. OF Jared Dickey, Tennessee.
Bat: L. Throw: R. 6'2", 200 lbs. Born 3/1/2002. Hometown: Mount Juliet, TN.
2022: 7 HR, .380/.484/.690, 3 SB, 12/20 K/BB in 40 games.
Jordan Beck, Drew Gilbert, Trey Lipscomb, Jorel Ortega, Luc Lipcius, Evan Russell. If you watch college baseball, you're very familiar with those names that helped make up Tennessee's murderer's row of a lineup last year, but Jared Dickey flew somewhat under the radar in a reserve role. Appearing in 40 of the team's 66 games and only starting 25, he slashed .380/.484/.690 with seven home runs and struck out less than ten percent of the time. He stands out most for his tremendous combination of discipline and barrel accuracy, making him an extremely tough out and helping him get on base nearly half the time. Dickey utilizes a very simple left handed swing, keeping his hands inside the ball and squaring it up with consistency, leading to a high volume of singles, extra base hits, and even home runs in Tennessee's hitter-friendly home park. There will be a lot of eyes on him in 2023 as he gets more consistent at bats and opposing teams are able to focus more on their game plans against him with Beck, Gilbert, and co. out of the way. Continuing to perform now that the secret is out will certainly benefit his stock, but given a 9.5% strikeout rate and a 15.9% walk rate last year, it's hard to imagine there's anything opposing teams can throw him that will fool him. He has the upside of a high on-base hitter that can knock 15-20 home runs per season, certainly a hit over power profile for now unless he changes his approach to chase that power. He has seen some time behind the plate but likely profiles as a corner outfielder, where the pressure will really be on his bat, but he has time to work on his catching and guys like Dalton Rushing and Nathan Hickey have been able to make it work with similar profiles. Proving he can catch while continuing to hit would likely push him into the first round.

8. SS Maui Ahuna, Tennessee.
Bat: L. Throw: R. 6'1", 170 lbs. Born 3/11/2002. Hometown: Hilo, HI.

2022 (@ Kansas): 8 HR, .396/.479/.634, 13 SB, 49/28 K/BB in 53 games.
Hurston Waldrep isn't the only big name player transferring into the SEC East. While Kansas baseball has struggled for a long time now, Maui Ahuna was one of the best players to come through the program in a long time and hit .357/.447/.532 with nine home runs in 103 games over two seasons. He had a chance to be the first Jayhawk drafted since third rounder Ryan Zeferjahn in 2019 and the first to go in the top two rounds since Curt Shaw way back in 1990, but upon head coach Ritch Price's retirement, he announced his intention to transfer to Tennessee. He had an up and down run with the Collegiate National Team but struggled in a short stint on the Cape, striking out 15 times in 28 plate appearances, so his transition to SEC pitching will be closely watched even if he dominated against strong Big 12 pitching. Ahuna lacks a carrying tool, but he does almost everything well and brings plenty of ceiling. A skinny kid, he comes with a very athletic 6'1" frame with plenty of room to add good weight, and he did already improve from one home run as a freshman to eight as a sophomore. He gets good leverage from the left side with those long arms and a big, powerful swing, so he should get to above average power as he gets stronger. The Hawaii native did strike out in over 20% of his plate appearances last year and had that rough Cape run, so the hit tool is a bit more in question with a bit of a swoopy swing, but he has a very accurate barrel and had no problem performing in the Big 12 last year, where he led the conference in batting average. Ahuna also brings value with his glove, as a potential above average defender at shortstop with a good arm, though he may have to move to third base if he slows down at all. Optimists will give him above average tools across the board while pessimists may see more average tools, leaving a lot of room for split opinions. A team that believes in the tools might consider him as high as the first round, while those that are more off-put by the 53.5% strikeout rate on the Cape and see him as a third baseman rather than a shortstop might want to wait until the second or third round to roll the dice.

9. LHP Magdiel Cotto, Kentucky.
Bat: L. Throw: L. 6'4", 250 lbs. Born 6/24/2002. Hometown: Fort Mill, SC.
2022: 3-1, 6.06 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 36/19 K/BB in 32.2 innings.
Magdiel Cotto teamed with Will Sanders at South Carolina as a freshman in 2021, but struggled to find innings in that loaded pitching staff and transferred to Kentucky as a sophomore. Serving as a swingman, he struggled with consistency and ended up with forgettable numbers, but he turned heads in the Cape Cod League with a 3.73 ERA and a 33/12 strikeout to walk ratio over 31.1 innings. At his best, Cotto has some of the loudest left handed stuff in the country, and he's learning to harness it now. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90's and gets up to 97, coming in with that tough lefty angle to boot. His slider shows good sweep and looks above average, and he drops in a solid changeup as well to give him a very strong three pitch mix from the left side. The 6'4", 250 pound left hander creates deception hiding the ball behind that big frame, which also projects durability. Cotto has struggled with command in the past but looked better in that regard on the Cape, trending towards average which would really help him stick in the rotation long term. In 2023, scouts will obviously be looking for much more consistency than he showed over the past two years, hoping his loud stuff plays up against SEC lineups like it is capable of. Additionally, he doesn't turn 21 until shortly before the draft, making him one of the younger college players available.

10. LHP Liam Sullivan, Georgia.
Bat: L. Throw: L. 6'6", 245 pounds. Born 5/16/2002. Hometown: Sandy Springs, GA.
2022: 4-3, 4.62 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 51/20 K/BB in 48.2 innings.
Over the past few years, Georgia has produced quite a few polished arms such as Emerson Hancock, Ryan Webb, and Jonathan Cannon, but in 2023 they have a pair of power armed lefties that have a chance to break out. I like Jaden Woods a lot, and he just missed this list, but Liam Sullivan has helium and pushed into the back. He sits in the low 90's and has hit 96 with his running fastball, adding a downer curveball and a solid changeup to form a very good three pitch mix. He is yet to put it together in Athens, but he really elevated his stock with a dominant run through the Cape Cod League in which he posted a 2.17 ERA and a 45/8 strikeout to walk ratio over 29 innings and looks to ride that success into 2023. Standing 6'6", 245 pounds, he is a big, physical presence on the mound that works downhill and can overpower hitters at his best. The command hasn't quite been there at Georgia, but he pounded the zone on the Cape and continuing to do so could push him into the top two rounds as a mid rotation starter type.