2021 MLB Draft Review: Seattle Mariners

Full list of draftees

The Mariners have been one of the most consistent teams in terms of drafting college players early, going that route with their first pick every year from 2015-2020. They changed it up this year and brought on Harry Ford, their first prep in the first round since Alex Jackson in 2014, and they'll be hoping for better this time around. They went all in, in fact, and took preps with their next two picks as well, sitting nearly a million dollars over their bonus pool by the time they got to the fourth round. It was a draft focused on athletes, as Ford and second rounder Edwin Arroyo were two of the most impressive in the class, while the pitchers followed the trademark Seattle low release profile, in stark contrast to the Phillies' draft that I wrote immediately before this one tending more for high release guys.
Full index of team reviews here. Full rankings here.

1-12: C Harry Ford, North Cobbs HS [GA]. My rank: #14.
If you're going to take a high schooler in the first round for the first time in seven years, you might as well make it a fun one. Harry Ford is an incredibly talented ballplayer that warranted my highest ever ranking for a high school catcher (rankings go back to 2015), and he fully earned it. By now, you've probably heard about Ford's elite athleticism, and it's not just because he's the rare catcher with true plus speed. He deploys that athleticism extremely well behind the plate, getting down low or side to side extremely nimbly and if he gets crossed up, he seems like the kind of guy whose natural quick reactions could save his face from an unexpected fastball or keep an uninvited breaking ball in front. As with most high school catchers, he does need to get a bit more consistent with his fundamentals, but that's hardly a knock and he'll likely become at least an above average defender back there. Some have suggested moving him to another position to best utilize his speed, but when he's so agile behind the plate and does a good job, why mess with it? Moving on, we have a special bat as well. Ford generates a ridiculous amount of torque in his right handed swing despite a smaller 5'10" frame, not too dissimilar to Marlins first rounder Kahlil Watson in that regard. That torque gives him plus raw power that he gets to in games, and the Atlanta-area native additionally shows great plate discipline even against the top arms in the country. There's some swing and miss that comes naturally with a high-intensity swing like his, though given his ability to select good pitches, it's not overly concerning. Really, the only drawback here is the poor track record of high school catchers. Ford is a special talent no doubt, but all high school catchers getting drafted in the first round are special talents. So the question becomes, is Ford just special, or is he special special. Honestly, I think he's the latter, or else I wouldn't have included him this high on my rankings, and the Mariners obviously believe that as well. Committed to catching pipeline Georgia Tech, he instead signed for full slot value at roughly $4.37 million.

2-48: SS Edwin Arroyo, Arecibo Baseball Academy [PR]. My rank: #76.
If you're looking for top-tier athletes, why stop at just one? The Mariners are getting another special athlete in Edwin Arroyo, the highest drafted player from Puerto Rico since Delvin Perez went 23rd overall in 2016. Arroyo probably couldn't beat Harry Ford in a foot race, but he does have elite body coordination that serves him extremely well on both sides of the ball. In the field, he's a plus defender at shortstop that can make all the plays and then some, with a strong arm playing up further due to his ability to throw from all angles (or even with his left hand because he's fully ambidextrous). At the plate, Arroyo is a switch hitter who can really whip the barrel through the zone and finds the barrel consistently. He's a bit slight for now at a listed 6', 175 pounds, but if he can tack on some additional strength, he should be able to tap at least average power down the line. The northwestern Puerto Rico native is extremely young for the class, not turning 18 until August, which significantly helps his offensive profile because it gives him more time to grow into his frame and more time to learn to tap his power. There are a lot of ways Arroyo could develop, but the Mariners know they're getting a premium athlete at a premium position who has more time than most to grow into his game. Committed to Florida State, he signed for $1.65 million, which was roughly $110,000 above slot value.

3-83: RHP Michael Morales, East Pennsboro HS [PA]. My rank: #118.
We've got a third straight high schooler in Michael Morales, who has been a pretty well-known name for a while now. He's been more inconsistent than some others, but when he's at his best, he looks like a legitimate top two rounds talent that the Mariners are happy to get in the third. The 6'1" righty can run his fastball up to 94-95 at his best while comfortably sitting in the low 90's, though at other times he can dip to around 90. His curveball and changeup both look like above average pitches when he's going right, and he fills up the strike zone better than many other preps. On the flip side, those pitches can flatten out at times and when he leaves them over the plate, they get hit. Morales has a very athletic, projectable frame and repeats his delivery well, and there's a good chance that if he made it to campus at Vanderbilt, Tim Corbin's staff would have ironed out whatever was causing his inconsistency and had him at his best more often than not. The Mariners are looking to get in on the ground floor and do it themselves, seeing a combination of stuff and command that could enable him to pitch near the top of their rotation. One downside is age, as he turns 19 in August and is more than a full year older than Edwin Arroyo. The Harrisburg-area native signed for $1.5 million, which was $766,900 above slot value.

4-113: RHP Bryce Miller, Texas A&M. My rank: #89.
Flip Bryce Miller and Michael Morales and you have a couple of picks that would have lined up pretty closely with my board. Bryce Miller was eligible in 2020, but his lack of a track record (especially in the rotation) kept teams from offering him enough money to leave school. A full time starter for the first time in his college career in 2021, Miller thrust himself up draft boards with an absolute gem against New Mexico State on March 6th (7 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 15 K) and ultimately finished an up and down season with a 4.45 ERA and a 70/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 56.2 innings. There remain some questions as to whether he can stick in the rotation even after he made ten starts this spring (plus three more relief appearances), but at its best, the stuff is extremely loud. He can run his fastball up to 97-98 at its hottest, coming in with tremendous ride and a flat plane that play extremely well in today's game. His slider looks like a plus pitch at its best his curveball safely above average, and his changeup solid average, and he can provide plenty of strikes too (though in-zone command remains a work in progress). Now that's not always what you get from the 6'2" righty, who remains very new to starting and can see his velocity tick down significantly late in starts, even into the upper 80's, while his curveball can flatten out and he'll lose the strike zone. It probably doesn't help that the only time I watched him pitch in real-time was the day he walked a season-high eight batters against eventual national champion Mississippi State in May. Also working against Miller is his age, as he turns 23 in August and is more than five full years older than Edwin Arroyo. Still, the Mariners think they're buying low. Even if he's almost 23, the New Braunfels native is still pretty new to starting and working out the kinks, so if Seattle can help him bulk up a bit and learn to pace himself a bit better, they have a premium arm on their hands. I think Miller has a chance to become a mid-rotation starter, but even if he's forced back to the bullpen, the stuff stands out even among most "if he ends up in the bullpen" guys and he could be a high-leverage reliever in the bigs. He signed for $400,000, which was $112,400 below slot value.

6-174: RHP Bryan Woo, Cal Poly. Unranked.
The Mariners didn't draft anybody from the Pacific Northwest this year, but the closest they came was Bryan Woo, who grew up just outside Oakland. An unheralded recruit out of Alameda High School, he had a 9.13 ERA as a freshman but has been trending straight up. 2021 was his best season yet, as evaluators will be much happier with his sharp 42/8 strikeout to walk ratio than his 6.11 ERA over 28 innings, though he did go down with Tommy John surgery in April. I only found video of exactly one pitch online, so we're going to have to go off other scouting reports for the most part. The 6'2" righty sits in the low 90's with his fastball and was touching 95-96 this spring, significantly higher than he has in the past and he has the frame and arm speed to add even more velocity in the future. He primarily pitched off that fastball and was hit hard when he left it over the plate, with some thinking the pitch plays too true and that he needs to find a better way to keep hitters off balance. There's a slider that flashes above average, but he'll likely need to take another step forward with it to help his fastball play up. The Mariners could decide to take it slow, put work into his changeup, and have him work up as a starter, but the more likely path is to move him quickly after surgery as a reliever who could approach triple digits. Woo signed for $318,200, which was $31,700 above slot value.

8-234: SS James Parker, Clemson. Unranked.
James Parker was a breakout performer for Clemson this spring, slashing .324/.411/.500 with eight home runs and a 51/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 52 games against a tough schedule. He's not the most explosive hitter in the class, but he finds the barrel consistently from the right side and has the natural strength in his 6'1" frame to profile for average power. There are some concerns about his hit tool, as he struck out in 21.2% of his plate appearances in 2021, but he handled himself well against a tough ACC schedule and has already transitioned well to the minors. Defensively, the Anderson, South Carolina native has some big play ability and a strong arm that should enable him to man shortstop at the big league level, and if he can continue to develop there it makes his bat look a lot better. More realistically, he'll likely end up a utility infielder with some pop, possible 10-15 home runs per season with middling on-base percentages. He signed for $150,000, which was $28,600 below slot, and is off to a red hot start hitting .396/.400/.708 with three home runs in eleven games, mostly at Class A Modesto.

13-384: SS Ben Ramirez, Southern California. Unranked.
Ben Ramirez has long been a household name for scouts in Southern California, as he was teammates with Keoni Cavaco (2019 Twins first rounder) and Casey Schmitt (2020 Giants second rounder) at local powerhouse Eastlake High School. He earned some scouting hype at the time and could have gone somewhere in the middle to back of day two had he been signable, but he came to USC instead and has now appeared in 147 career games there. After going undrafted in the shortened 2020 event, he came back in 2021 and slashed .304/.381/.529 with ten home runs and a 35/26 strikeout walk ratio over 51 games. Now lacking the upside he showed in high school four years ago, Ramirez has your prototypical college performer profile with an average all-around profile. He ran a very solid 14.3% strikeout rate over his four years in Los Angeles and after hitting five home runs over his first three seasons, knocked ten this year. The San Diego-area native has a simple left handed swing and understands the strike zone well, finding the barrel consistently and giving him an outlook as an average or above average hitter in pro ball. He probably won't hit for a ton of power, but his feel for the barrel should enable him to tap everything he has in his 6'3" frame without selling out, and he draws his fair share of walks too. The glove is a little bit stretched at shortstop but he's played everywhere for USC, making this a perfect utility infield profile. He signed for $100,000 and is hitting .381/.435/.476 over six games against mostly younger competition in the ACL.

19-564: C Charlie Welch, Arkansas. Unranked.
Charlie Welch took a long, winding road to stardom, but he got there eventually. Starting off at Jefferson High School in Tampa, he went all the way across the country to Pepperdine for school but hit just .211/.290/.284 as a freshman and came back home for a year of JUCO at St. John's River State. Welch was on the move once more and landed at Arkansas this year, where he struggled to find playing time in their menacing lineup early in the season. He made the most of his limited opportunities though and quickly became a fan favorite in Fayetteville with some massive pinch hits, eventually working his way into the starting lineup and finishing the season with a .388/.494/.821 line, eight home runs, and a 14/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 28 games. Having watched a lot of Arkansas' run to super regionals, it seems like every time he was up in a big situation, he delivered and then some. He has a very sturdy 6' frame that helps him tap his natural power, and could project for average in that regard in pro ball. Welch has shown some swing and miss in the past that might hold him back from tapping it, and he's a below average runner that won't be much of a factor on the bases. He was playing behind one of the best defensive catchers in the country in Casey Opitz, so the Mariners are relying on their looks at him from previous years when it comes to defense. It's a backup catcher profile if he does stick back there, which will help his bat profile, but it might be a bit stretched if he's forced to first base. One thing is for sure, he's not afraid of high pressure situations. He signed for $125,000 and is hitting .167/.375/.333 with a home run through seven games in the ACL.

2021 MLB Draft: A Hometown Pick for Each AL/NL East 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). I'll be writing three articles on this, starting with the AL and NL East (Central can be found here and West can be found here). 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. 

Atlanta Braves: C Harry Ford, North Cobb HS, Kennesaw, GA
Let's be honest, the Braves will never, ever, ever have trouble finding players in their own backyard. The Atlanta area is one of the top metros for baseball talent in the entire country, and without another team within 350 miles, much of the entire South can be considered "Braves country." I elected to go with North Cobb star Harry Ford at pick #24, who goes to school just 15 miles northwest of Truist Park in Kennesaw. He's an ultra-athletic catcher, something you don't hear often. Ford shows the potential for plus raw power from the right side, a product of the tremendous torque in his swing despite a smaller 5'10" frame. He also shows strong hitting ability, and at peak could be one of the better hitting catchers in the country. With plus speed, he could also play second base or center field. He will have the ability to stick back behind the plate if his drafting team chooses to keep him back there with his cat-like agility. Committed to Georgia Tech, he's an ATL lifer.
Other options: RHP Jonathan Cannon (Georgia via Alpharetta, GA), LHP Ryan Webb (Georgia via Roswell, GA), RHP Bubba Chandler (North Oconee HS, Bogart, GA), SS Ryan Bliss (Auburn via LaGrange, GA), SS Michael Braswell (Campbell HS, Smyrna, GA)

Baltimore Orioles: OF James Wood, IMG Academy, FL (hometown: Olney, MD)
The Orioles pick at fifth overall, which might be just a little rich for James Wood at this point, but last year they under-slotted Heston Kjerstad overall and Wood could be an under-slot candidate at pick #5. Though he attends the IMG Academy outside of Tampa, Florida, Wood grew up in Olney about 25 miles southwest of Camden Yards. He brings absolutely tremendous raw power from the left side, a product of his 6'6" frame, brute strength, quick hands, and great leverage. Not just a pure bruiser, he brings strong feel for the barrel as well with a patient approach and a good eye at the plate. He runs very well for his size and should be an asset in right field. Once he reaches Camden, you could see him peppering Eutaw Street with plenty of home runs. He is committed to Mississippi State.
Other options: LHP Mason Albright (IMG Academy, FL via Thurmont, MD), SS Jose Torres (NC State via Baltimore, MD), 3B Zack Gelof (Virginia via Lewes, DE), LHP Peter Heubeck (Gilman HS, Baltimore, MD), 1B Maxwell Costes (Maryland via Baltimore, MD)

Boston Red Sox: OF Sal Frelick, Boston College (hometown: Lexington, MA)
In most years, this would be a difficult exercise, and I'd be looking for a second or third rounder to give the Red Sox. In this case, we have numerous options, though I did have to stretch a bit to get them a New Englander at pick #4. Sal Frelick probably fits better about five to ten picks later, but the Red Sox did under-slot Nick Yorke last year so this wouldn't be entirely out of the question. Frelick isn't a big guy at a listed 5'9", but his game is as loud as it gets. He shows a plus hit tool that enables him to not only make extremely consistent contact in the zone, but also easily spoil and even put in play bad pitches outside the zone. When he does connect, the Lexington native shows real power that should be at least average in pro ball. He's also a plus runner with a solid arm, and he plays the game with plenty of energy. Also noted as one of the best athletes in the class, he can handle center field or even second base if necessary. It's really a down year for college bats, so Frelick's strong 2021 production has pushed him near the very top of the list.
Other options: 2B Cody Morissette (Boston College via Exeter, NH), OF Joshua Baez (Dexter-Southfield HS, Brookline, MA), RHP Sean Burke (Maryland via Sutton, MA), LHP Steven Hajjar (Michigan via North Andover, MA), RHP Mike Vasil (Virginia via Wellesley, MA)

Miami Marlins: C Adrian Del Castillo, Miami (hometown: Miami, FL)
Honestly, Adrian Del Castillo probably profiles much better with an AL team with a DH, but the DH is (hopefully) coming to the NL soon so we can give him to the Marlins at the sixteenth pick. Del Castillo is a Miami lifer who attended Gulliver Prep HS before heading a few blocks down Dixie Highway to The U, where he has blossomed into one of the best college bats in the country. Standing 5'11", he has elite feel for the strike zone and the barrel with possibly the most pro-ready bat in the class, just feasting on high-level ACC pitching throughout his career. He also packs a punch from the left side, showing at least average power if not above average, though to this point it's been just a little underwhelming in 2021. Del Castillo has the feel to catch and has worked hard to stick back there, but to this point, he lacks the athleticism or arm strength to be more than a fringy defender back there. If he has to move off the position, he's a little short for first base and a little slow for the outfield, hence why he looks better for a team with a DH.
Other options: RHP Andrew Painter (Calvary Christian HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL), RHP Irving Carter (Calvary Christian HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL), C Rene Lastres (Calvary Christian HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL), OF Jay Allen (John Carroll Catholic HS, Fort Pierce, FL), OF Isaiah Thomas (Vanderbilt via Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

New York Mets/Yankees
Hitter: C Henry Davis, Louisville (hometown: Bedford, NY)
Rather than try to divvy up New York and New Jersey between Yankees and Mets country, we're just going to do them together giving a hitter and a pitcher. Henry Davis certainly won't be around when the Yankees pick at #20, and heck, the Mets would probably be ecstatic if he lasted until the tenth pick for them. It's an unlikely scenario, but we can dream, right? At Louisville, Davis has turned himself into arguably the top college bat in the class, absolutely tearing through ACC pitching as a sophomore (.372/.481/.698) and even moreso as a junior, where he's currently flirting with a .400 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage with plenty of power to boot. A product of Fox Lane High School in northern Westchester County, he shows plus raw power to go with a plus hit tool from the right side, which in layman's terms means he will be a middle-of-the-order threat in the big leagues. It's a simple, leveraged swing from a crouched stance in which he explodes out to the ball, yet remains completely under control with elite feel for the barrel. On defense, he possesses a cannon arm that can completely shut down the running game, while his glove is probably his only unremarkable tool (speed aside) at merely average. I don't expect him to be around for the Mets at pick #10.
Other options: C Joe Mack (Williamsville East HS, Williamsville, NY), SS Danny Serretti (UNC via Berkeley Heights, NJ), C Pat Winkel (Connecticut via Orange, CT)
Pitcher: LHP Matt Mikulski, Fordham (hometown: Mohegan Lake, NY)
If Henry Davis is unlikely to reach the Mets at pick #10, then Jack Leiter (Summit, NJ) is downright impossible. We could have talked Chase Petty (Linwood, NJ) here, but that's a little bit too far south to call it a "hometown" pick. For that reason, we'll go a little deeper and throw out the possibility of Matt Mikulski, a rising arm for Fordham. Mikulski actually grew up in the same area as Davis in northern Westchester County, though instead of leaving the region entirely for college, he stayed close to home and came down I-87 to Fordham. There, he steadily raised his stock for three years before exploding as a senior this year, absolutely blowing away A-10 competition to rocket himself into Day One consideration. He likely won't be in play for either the Mets or Yankees in the first round, but if the Mets or Yankees want to save some money at pick #46 or #55, respectively, he could be their guy. Mikulski is a 6'2" lefty who has seen everything tick up half a grade this year, with his fastball jumping up into the upper 90's at times and settling in the mid 90's for innings at a time. His curveball and slider are both out pitches at their best, and he does add a changeup as well. The command has steadily improved from below average to solid average, which makes scouts much more confident he'll be a starter at the next level. The Mohegan Lake native's stock has a ton of helium right now, and a few weeks from now, the second round could look much more likely than the third.
Other options: RHP Shane Panzini (Red Bank Catholic HS, Red Bank, NJ), RHP Jacob Steinmetz (Elev8 Academy, FL via Woodmere, NY), RHP Pierce Coppola (Verona HS, Verona, NJ), RHP Chase Petty (Mainland Regional HS, Linwood, NJ), LHP Justin Fall (Arizona State via Toms River, NJ)

Philadelphia Phillies: OF Benny Montgomery, Red Land HS, Lewisberry, PA
Eastern Pennsylvania/Southern New Jersey has one of its best crops of talent in a long time, so there are numerous local players who could end up in red Philly pinstripes either at pick #13, #49, or #84. We'll look at Harrisburg-area high schooler Benny Montgomery, who brings some of the loudest tools in the prep class. Montgomery brings huge raw power from the right side, producing elite exit velocities that make scouts sit up. Additionally, his plus-plus speed makes him an asset on both sides of the ball, and a plus arm as well could help him win some Gold Gloves in the outfield with a little refinement. For now, the hit tool is a little iffy, as Montgomery has a choppy right handed swing that he has been working to smooth out. Scouts are less worried because he's a cold weather bat, meaning he's had fewer reps to smooth himself out, and his work ethic is universally praised. Committed to Virginia, he should be expensive, but at pick #13 he might not require an above slot bonus.
Other options: OF Lonnie White Jr. (Malvern Prep HS, Malvern, PA), RHP Chase Petty (Mainland Regional HS, Linwood, NJ), RHP Michael Morales (East Pennsboro HS, Enola, PA), RHP Mason Black (Lehigh via Archbald, PA), LHP Anthony Solometo (Bishop Eustace HS, Pennsauken, NJ)

Tampa Bay Rays: C Luca Tresh, NC State (hometown: Safety Harbor, FL)
There are some other local first round prospects in Mississippi's Gunnar Hoglund (Hudson, FL) and Florida's Jud Fabian (Ocala, FL) and Tommy Mace (Lutz, FL), but I don't think either of the first two reach Tampa Bay at pick #28 and Mace doesn't seem to fit the Rays' draft strategy. We'll go with an NC State product here in Luca Tresh, but he's local. Tresh grew up in Safety Harbor and attended Clearwater Central Catholic, so he's a Pinellas County kid who could join Shane McClanahan (Cape Coral, FL) and Mike Zunino (also Cape Coral) as local products on the Rays. Tresh is a power hitting catcher who was in first round pick Patrick Bailey's shadow last year, but really hit his stride in fall practice this year and came out swinging – in his first eight games, half of which came against Georgia Tech and Miami, he hit .469 with more home runs (seven) than strikeouts (six). Though Tresh has come back down to Earth a little since then, he remains one of the top college catchers on the board in a pretty strong class in that regard. Any time you have a college catcher with legitimate power that he can get to consistently in games, you already have something fairly unique, and Tresh's glove is improving steadily as well. With a strong arm to boot, he's quickly becoming an extremely well rounded asset and should go off the board in the vicinity of that 28th pick.
Other options: OF Jud Fabian (Florida via Ocala, FL), RHP Tommy Mace (Florida via Lutz, FL), OF Robby Martin (Florida State via Tampa, FL), LHP Jac Caglianone (Plant HS, Tampa, FL), OF Ty Evans (Lakeland Christian HS, Lakeland, FL)

Toronto Blue Jays: RHP Eric Cerantola, Mississippi State (hometown: Oakville, ON)
Canada can be very hit-and-miss, and this year, there isn't much in terms of Canadian talent at the top of the draft. Mississippi State righty Eric Cerantola is one of the only Day One prospects from north of the border, but he's definitely an interesting one that should go off the board somewhere in the second round range, possibly early third round. The Blue Jays don't pick between #'s 19 and 91, so I don't really see them having a crack at him unless bonus demands push him down, but anything can happen in the draft. Cerantola is a big righty coming in at 6'5", and his hockey background makes his mound presence that much more imposing. Right now, the stuff is the calling card, with the Oakville native bringing a low to mid 90's fastball that can touch the upper 90's in relief, a true plus curveball that might be the best in the draft when it's on, and an above average changeup. However, the pitchability traits are still catching up to the stuff, as he has little feel for the strike zone and seems to be "aiming" his pitches rather than truly commanding them. That leads to significant relief risk that will make him a serious stretch at pick #19, though the stuff is so loud that I really don't see him being available at #91 regardless. Cerantola attended Ecole Secondaire Catholique Sainte-Trinite for high school.
Other options: 2B Tyler Black (Wright State via Toronto, ON), RHP Ben Abram (Oklahoma via Georgetown, ON), C Joe Mack (Williamsville East HS, Williamsville, NY), RHP Calvin Ziegler (TNXL Academy, FL via Heidelberg, ON), RHP Cedric De Grandpre (Chipola CC via St. Simon, QC)

Washington Nationals: LHP Brandon Clarke, Independence HS, Ashburn, VA
Northern Virginia has produced its fair share of draft talent recently, even if it hasn't been the most exciting crop. J.B. Bukauskas, Tommy Doyle, Khalil Lee, and Joe Rizzo make up the most recent names, while the next could be lefty Brandon Clarke. Clarke, hailing from the same hometown as Bukauskas but a different high school, has been rising this spring after returning healthy from Tommy John surgery. His fastball has gained a tick and now sits in the low to mid 90's, getting up to 96-97, while his breaking ball and changeup have gotten good reviews as well. It's a really loose delivery from a projectable 6'4" frame, so all signs point to him continuing to grow into his game and keep bringing those starter traits along. To this point, I haven't been able to find video of him since returning from that surgery, but the Nationals are never one to shy away from prep arms and he could be in play at the 47th pick or the 82nd pick if he falls due to signability away from an Alabama commitment.
Other options: OF James Wood (IMG Academy, FL via Olney, MD), LHP Andrew Abbott (Virginia via Republican Grove, VA), 1B Wes Clarke (South Carolina via Lynchburg, VA), SS Ethan Murray (Duke via Crozet, VA), 3B Zack Gelof (Virginia via Lewes, DE)