The Top 12 High School Position Player Prospects Headed to Campus

Last year was the year of the true freshman bat. Dylan Crews (LSU), Kevin Parada (Georgia Tech), Enrique Bradfield (Vanderbilt), Yohandy Morales (Miami), Jacob Berry (Arizona), Daniel Susac (Arizona), Kyle Teel (Virginia), and plenty of others put up huge seasons that made big impacts on their teams right away. All but Berry were included in my edition of the top twelve position player prospects reaching campus last year, so now it's time to look ahead to the next wave of freshmen. Keep in mind that this list is based off my 2021 draft board, not who I think will have the biggest immediate impact.

1. SS Peyton Stovall, Arkansas (Haughton HS, LA). 2021 rank: #25.
Peyton Stovall was a huge helium name early in the spring, absolutely obliterating northern Louisiana pitching with home run after home run and never letting up throughout the season. That thrust him all the way into the first round conversation, but the deluge of high school bats in that range of the draft gave teams a lot of options, and in the end he didn't get the signing bonus he was looking for and pulled his name from the draft late. At Arkansas, he'll join a lineup that returns most of its core pieces, so it may be a bit tough to break through that crowded infield and find playing time initially. But we are talking about a special bat that should have no trouble making the big jump to SEC pitching, and even if he takes on more of a reserve role in 2022, he should be right in the middle of things by 2023 and could come out a first rounder in 2024. Stovall has supreme feel for the barrel from the left side of the plate, showing in-game power to all fields even out of a smaller 6' frame. He adeptly recognizes spin and that makes me confident in his ability to make the transition, so he'll maximize that power wherever he goes and likely post high on-base percentages. The Shreveport-area native is listed as a shortstop but lacks the athleticism to stick there in pro ball, and he may play a whole host of positions in Fayetteville as he looks to break into that loaded lineup. Long term, he probably projects as a bat-first second baseman that can mash 20+ home runs per season with high on-base percentages in the majors.

2. OF/QB/WR Will Taylor, Clemson (Dutch Fork HS, SC). 2021 rank: #29.
The Pirates may have picked off Clemson QB commit Bubba Chandler with a $3 million signing bonus, but Dabo Swinney will still get a two-sport star into his QB room in Will Taylor, who may have to move to wide receiver given the strength of that program. And that's all I know about football, so we'll move onto baseball. Long known to scouts due to his athleticism, Taylor found further helium this spring with a solid senior season, his first at Dutch Fork High School in the Columbia suburbs after transferring from Ben Lippen High School. As you might expect, he stands out for his plus-plus speed and could find his way into Clemson's center field role rather quickly. You'd expect him to be rather raw on the baseball field considering his split-focus, but he performed well on the summer showcase circuit last year and carried that over to an even better spring this year, so scouts are very confident in the hit tool. He's not a prototypical power hitter at six feet tall, but his loose right handed swing and strong feel for the barrel allow him to maximize his twitchy strength and put balls over the fence. Taylor will probably always be hit over power, but it's still a very well rounded profile. Of course, once he gets on base, you know he'll be looking to disrupt the game and run, and all together the profile had numerous teams interested in the middle of the first round this year. Clemson has a strong baseball program but it's not quite an Arkansas, UCLA, or Vanderbilt like many of the players on this list find themselves walking into, so we could see him playing every day right out of the gate. The Tigers have produced some strong bats in recent years like Seth Beer, Logan Davidson, and James Parker, and Taylor has a chance to beat all of their draft positions in 2024.

3. SS Alex Mooney, Duke (Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS, MI). 2021 rank: #49.
Duke is playing some of its best baseball ever right now, and after making a super regional in 2019 and a furious run to a #2 seed in the Knoxville regional in 2021, they have another reason to celebrate because they landed one of the top high schoolers in the country. Alex Mooney was always rumored to be pretty keen on heading down to Durham, and as it turns out, he was. There's a great combination of feel and athleticism here that should enable him to crack the starting lineup pretty early on, and with starting shortstop Ethan Murray gone to the Brewers (fifth round), it looks like he'll get that opportunity. Mooney is a relatively advanced hitter at the plate that chooses good pitches to hit and sprays line drives around the field, and as he's matured he's started generating more power from his 6'1" frame. His swing is conducive to tapping that power in games, so overall we have a very well-rounded profile in the box. The Detroit-area native is a good athlete that should continue to play shortstop at Duke, and if he can continue to build his game and get a bit more explosive, he has a chance to stick there in pro ball. If not, his steady glove and strong arm should fit well at third base. Mooney has ACC performer written all over him, and because he's very old for the class and already turned 19 before the draft, he'll want to get to it quickly as he'll be eligible again in 2023 after just two years in Durham.

4. SS Cody Schrier, UCLA (JSerra Catholic HS, CA). 2021 rank: #55.
After losing ten players to the draft in 2021, including shortstop and first round pick Matt McLain (Reds), UCLA is going to need some reinforcements in 2022. Lucky for them, they're pulling in a star-studded recruiting class that ranks among the best I've ever seen, and the top player in that group is coincidentally a shortstop to replace McLain. Cody Schrier has been a popular name on the showcase circuit for a while now, displaying premium strength and athleticism combined with a strong track record of performance. He has a chance for plus power from the right side given his whippy swing and the strength in his 6'1" frame, and he's already begun tapping it with a very strong season in the Southern California high school ranks this spring. While he finds that barrel pretty consistently, the UCLA coaching staff will want to work on smoothing him out a bit and getting him a little more consistent in his mechanics, as the swing can get a little long at times. In the field, his strong arm and athleticism should keep him in the infield long term and into pro ball, though he may not always be a shortstop because his actions can get a bit clunky at times. That shortstop position is open in Westwood, but you know he'll have stiff competition for it at one of the top baseball programs in the country. He may bounce around a bit early in his college career and could ultimately settle at second base, third base, or the outfield.

5. OF/RHP Braden Montgomery, Stanford (Madison Central HS, MS). 2021 rank: #71.
Braden Montgomery will travel a long way for college, heading from Madison Central High School in the Jackson, Mississippi suburbs up to Silicon Valley to play for the Cardinal. He was a two-way star back home and has a chance to continue doing that at Stanford, and at this point he's talented enough to go pro as either an outfielder or a pitcher. Most scouts prefer him just a little bit as a hitter, where he shows strong plate discipline and feel for the barrel from both sides of the plate. He's still growing into his 6'2" frame but has been tapping more and more power, and while he's probably average in that regard for now, he could end up above average down the road. That's a great profile that will play well in the Pac-12, with a chance to be a lineup anchor with high on-base percentages and some pop in Palo Alto. If he does tap that power more often in college like he's capable of, he could easily hit his way into the first round. Montgomery also has a strong arm and shows good instincts in the outfield, where he profiles as a plus defender in right. We'll focus on his pitching in the next article highlighting pitchers, but he shows a three pitch mix and repeatable delivery that will get him into the weekend rotation, if not in 2022 then likely by 2023. He is said to have strong makeup and work hard at his craft, adding to his appeal. Stanford is returning the bulk of their College World Series team to campus in 2022, which may make it difficult to find playing time early on, but his ability to do it all will certainly lend itself well to his chances of seeing consistent time in the field sooner rather than later.

6. OF Michael Robertson, Florida (Venice HS, FL). 2021 rank: #77.
The Florida outfield is about to get really interesting, with Jud Fabian unexpectedly returning, Sterlin Thompson entering his first draft-eligible season, and star recruit Michael Robertson pricing himself out of the draft and headed to campus. Robertson himself has a very interesting profile, and with the right development, he could end up a first round pick come 2023, where he'll likely be eligible as a sophomore because he's old for his class. He stands out first and foremost for his plus-plus speed, some of the best in the class and comparable to the #2 man on this list, Will Taylor. While Fabian seemingly has a vice-like grip on center field for 2022, the position will likely belong to Robertson in 2023 and he'll continue to man it in pro ball once he gets there. For now, the Venice, Florida native employs a slappy, ground ball and line drive-heavy approach, which really helps him deploy that speed and keep defenders on their toes. On the surface, it's a similar profile to Enrique Bradfield (now with Vanderbilt) a year ago, but Bradfield will never be a power threat and Robertson just might if he's developed correctly. He grades out deceptively well in his ability to channel his strength, whip the barrel through the zone, and generate more force than you'd think from his skinny 6'1" frame, so if the Gators coaching staff decides to change up his approach to be more power conscious, we could be talking about a five tool player. This is a kid who could come out after two years in Gainesville with a different, even better profile. Even if he keeps his current approach, Robertson could find himself in the leadoff spot sooner rather than later for Florida.

7. OF Jackson Linn, Tulane (Cambridge Rindge & Latin HS, MA). 2021 rank: #82.
Jackson Linn wasn't on every team's radar, but others liked him very, very high in the draft and there were even some rumors linking him to teams in the back of the first round. Ultimately, Linn held a very firm commitment to Tulane (unsurprising given he went to a 373 year old high school across the street from Harvard), and he'll head down to the Crescent City instead and we'll see whether the hype was for real. His bat is unproven against higher level pitching, but the raw ability is extremely impressive. He can absolutely crush a baseball with some of the best exit velocities in the class, whipping his bat through the zone with tremendous force and loft from a strong 6'3" frame. It's the kind of swing and plus-plus raw power that could produce forty home runs in a season, but obviously he'll need to tap it in games for that to happen. Teams aren't sold on that yet, as he did swing and miss a fair amount even against mediocre Boston-area pitching. That's why he's headed to Tulane, where he will get an opportunity to show that his raw power can translate to game power, and at the mid-major program he may have more of an opportunity to work his way into the lineup quicker. There are a lot of teams who are very interested in that transition. Linn also runs fairly well and has a cannon arm that can pump fastballs into the upper 90's in short stints, adding to the physical upside.

8. SS Davis Diaz, Vanderbilt (Acalanes HS, CA). 2021 rank: #83.
Vanderbilt may have lost position player commits Jordan Lawlar (Diamondbacks) and Joshua Baez (Cardinals) early in the draft, but they'll still land one of the crown jewels of another strong recruiting class in Davis Diaz, who will follow the California to Nashville pipeline most recently traversed by CJ Rodriguez and Spencer Jones. Diaz may have a hard time finding playing time immediately as Vanderbilt returns the majority of last year's College World Series lineup, with fellow shortstop Carter Young projecting as the top 2022 draft prospect on the team currently. Even if he does have to wait his turn, the Oakland-area native has the broad skillset that will surely help him make a significant impact on the program once he gets his opportunity. Diaz makes a ton of hard contact from the right side of the plate, and even though he's smaller at a skinny 5'11", his innate ability to fling the barrel through the zone and generate force could help him play up to average power. He's a grinder in the field that lacks the traditional physicality and explosiveness for shortstop, but may be able to stick because of his feel for the position. If not, he could profile at any number of positions including second base, third base, or the outfield, and he even caught some this spring. It's a profile a little reminiscent of Austin Martin if we want to keep it at Vanderbilt, but of course Martin had sublime feel for the barrel that was unmatched by really anyone in his draft class. Diaz has a long way to go before he ends up like Martin, but it's a similar mold.

9. OF Malakhi Knight, UCLA (Marysville-Getchell HS, WA). 2021 rank: #85.
Malakhi Knight will join Cody Schrier and plenty of others on his way down to UCLA, part of an incoming freshman class that has a chance to be very special. He'll bring above average power to Westwood, a product of big strength and leverage in his 6'3" frame. It's a bit of a unique operation in which he starts upright and brings the barrel almost straight down to the ball, but still manages to put loft behind it. He's tapped that power in games against high level pitching, though the swing can get inconsistent at times and he's prone to swinging and missing when he gets tied up or off balance. Knight is also a good runner that can turn in some plus run times, which gives him a chance to stick in center field if he develops well as an outfielder, while his strong arm would make him a very good piece to have in right field. The Seattle-area native could develop in any number of ways once he gets to UCLA, with a very good shot to be one of the Pac-12's best hitters over the next few years or battle inconsistency if the transition does not go well. He'll definitely be a priority follow on the West Coast with a chance to be a real impact player in pro ball as well.

10. OF Chase Mason, Nebraska (Viborg-Hurley HS, SD). 2021 rank: #109.
Chase Mason is a very similar player to Jackson Linn, with the main difference being that Linn attended high school across the street from the Harvard Yard in Cambridge while Mason is from Hurley, South Dakota, a map dot of 415 residents about 25 miles outside Sioux Falls. Like Linn, Mason is an absolute beast, packing a ton of strength into his 6'5" frame that looks more like a linebacker than a baseball player (and he played quarterback at Viborg-Hurley). As you can imagine, he has tremendous raw power that produces batting practice home runs up there with anybody in the class. Whether that will play up in games is anybody's guess, as he didn't face very strong competition out on the South Dakota prairie and still managed to swing and miss more than evaluators would have liked. It's a profile somewhat reminiscent of another power hitter from a tiny Dakota map dot, North Dakotan Travis Hafner, except for one key difference: Mason has consistently plus speed that can even be clocked as plus-plus at times. Imagine Pronk being a basestealing threat. Combine his speed with a cannon arm, and you have a chance for a plus defender to go with that plus-plus raw power. At Nebraska, his hit tool will be very much put to the test, and he has a chance to really explode if he lives up to it. Evaluators were not comfortable enough to sign him away from that commitment, so we'll see if he can make them second guess themselves.

11. SS Michael Braswell, South Carolina (Campbell HS, GA). 2021 rank: #125.
Michael Braswell is a really fun one, someone I expect to play a pretty prominent role at South Carolina over the next few seasons. He does a lot of things well on the field giving off the impression of someone ready to contribute against SEC competition. Braswell makes a lot of contact from the right side, showing a strong approach and the ability to manipulate the barrel to spray line drives all over the field. A twitchy athlete, he gets into great hitting positions and while his power is below average for now, he has a swing that should be able to tap whatever he grows into as he fills out his 6'2" frame. That gives the Atlanta-area product a chance for average power. He shows springy actions at shortstop and could even be ready to replace George Callil right away, or if not, find a role somewhere on the infield. With an extremely steady glove and plenty of arm strength, he not only profiles as a shortstop in Columbia, but in pro ball as well. Expect Braswell to get on base regularly for the Gamecocks while gradually growing into some power, then in pro ball he could hit 10-15 home runs a year with solid on-base percentages. One thing he lacks is speed, even if it doesn't affect his ability at shortstop, so he may not fit that prototypical leadoff role.

12. OF Thomas DiLandri, Texas Christian (Palo Verde HS, NV). 2021 rank: #126.
Thomas DiLandri has plenty of tools and showed flashes of greatness on the summer showcase circuit, at his best performing right up there with the first rounders. However, his inconsistency led teams to be a little more cautious with their bonus offers, and ultimately he'll head to TCU instead to prove his tools. DiLandri is a great athlete with lots of lean strength in his 6'3" frame, showing potential plus power from the right side that he has tapped in games against good pitching. He has performed well against some of the better arms in the class, but his swing can be inconsistent in games and he can lapse into periods of high strikeouts. In the field, the Las Vegas product is an above average runner with a plus arm that may stick in center field or at least be an asset in right field, so he really brings the whole package as a player. If DiLandri can pull it all together and play to his potential, he'll likely be one of the best all-around players in the Big 12 and make the teams that passed over him look like fools. There's always the flip side, though, if he continues to be plagued by inconsistency and ends up a poor man's Jud Fabian. They're excited to have him in Fort Worth, as this is what a baseball player looks like if you draw him up and he could very well be a first round pick in 2024.

Others:
#127 3B Tommy White, North Carolina State (IMG Academy, FL)
#132 SS Eddie Saldivar, Long Beach State (San Joaquin Memorial HS, CA)
UR OF Lorenzo Carrier, Miami (Appoquinimink HS, DE, pulled himself from the draft)
#143 OF Tyree Reed, Oregon State (American Canyon HS, OR)
#150 OF Camden Hayslip, Alabama (Friendship Christian HS, TN)
#152 SS Drake Varnado, Arkansas (IMG Academy, FL)
#153 2B Roc Riggio, Oklahoma State (Thousand Oaks HS, CA)
#160 C Rene Lastres, Florida (Calvary Christian HS, FL)

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)