Pitchers and catchers reported to Florida yesterday and today is the opening day of the 2016 NCAA baseball season, meaning we have survived the long offseason! Considering these milestones of the calendar year, I channeled my inner Mel Kiper Jr. to produce a 1st list of the top prospects available in the 2016 MLB Draft.
#1 Jason Groome LHP New Jersey HS
Standing 6-6 180lbs Groome has an easy, repeatable delivery with a natural rhythm throughout and gets quality extension toward home. Groome also impresses with how effortless he achieves his velocity, sitting 92-95mph with strong command of his fastball. Additionally he has a sweeping 73-75mph curveball and a mid-70s changeup with outstanding deception, as he replicates his fastball arm speed well. His delivery is a little “funky” but that is the only knock in his profile. He has the potential for three above-average or better offerings as a lefty, and could be the #1 pick next June.
#2 A.J. Puk LHP University of Florida
Puk is a large left-handed pitcher standing 6-7 230lbs, with long arms that seem to reach home plate during his delivery. He has legitimate mid-90s (or better) fastball velocity with movement, along with a nasty slider and a developing changeup. Puk looks the part of a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and could be the first college player off the board.
#3 Alec Hansen RHP University of Oklahoma
An absolute monster of a human being at 6-7 240lbs, Hansen is a raw collegiate righty with a fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper 90s, plus intriguing offerings in his changeup, curveball and slider. Hansen needs innings to develop his arsenal and repeat his delivery, but this is a tantalizing starter kit for a potential top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.
#4 Buddy Reed CF University of Florida
A special athlete at 6-4 185lbs, Reed has outstanding speed and the potential to develop into a 5-tool player in time. His instincts defensively hinder his defensive profile, but his speed and quality arm should allow him to stay in center field professionally. At the plate Reed is a switch-hitter with solid power, but needs to refine his approach at the plate in order to make more contact. There is some swing-and-miss and defensive risk in his profile, but his ceiling might be as high as anyone in this draft.
#5 Corey Ray CF University of Louisville
Ray is a possible 5-tool prospect who possesses a thick, well-built frame and excellent speed, which when coupled with his quality arm makes him a sure-fire centerfielder. Offensively Ray has healthy bat speed in his left-handed swing, with good bat-to-ball skills and some emerging power. With an impressive set of skills and solid positional value, Ray should be an early selection in June.
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#6 Riley Pint RHP Kansas HS
The owner of a projectable, dreamy 6-4 192lbs body, Pint looks the part of a top prospect when he toes the rubber. He does not have the smoothest mechanics in his delivery, but Pint shows a 95-99mph fastball with life, a hard-biting mid-80s curveball and the occasional changeup. He is raw and needs development time, but his upside will be too tantalizing for teams to let escape the top-10 picks.
#7 Blake Rutherford OF California HS
One of the top players at the 2015 Perfect Game Classic, Rutherford has a thick 6-2 190lbs frame with solid-average speed and a reasonable left-handed arm, allowing him to profile best in a corner outfield spot. Rutherford has a sweet left-handed swing with quality barrel skills and projects to add power down the road.
#8 Delvin Perez SS Puerto Rico
A tall, lanky Puerto Rican shortstop, Perez is beginning to receive comparisons to recent 1st overall pick Carlos Correa. Perez has excellent speed, athleticism and a strong arm, allowing him to profile well as a future defensive shortstop. His bat lags currently behind his defense, but his quick wrists generate impressive bat speed in his right-handed swing. In a year light on middle infielders and the recent success of Correa, Perez could see his stock skyrocket up draft boards this spring.
#9 Connor Jones RHP University of Virginia
A top draft prospect in high school, Jones has continued to thrive since reaching Charlottesville. Jones possesses a strong 4-pitch mix, featuring a solid low-90s fastball, an above-average slider and fringe-average changeup, plus a curveball. He should work as Virginia’s Friday starter this season, and profiles as a #3/#4 starter at the next level.
#10 Avery Tuck OF California HS
A tall, lanky California high school athlete, Tuck is blessed with a lengthy, but pretty, left-handed swing with the potential for future above-average power. Tuck has a quality arm and profiles well in right field, which allows him to project as a future two-way outfielder.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Boldt OF University of Nebraska, Bobby Dalbec 3B University of Arizona, Kyle Funkhouser RHP University of Louisville, Matt Krook LHP University of Oregon, Kyle Lewis OF Mercer University, Cal Quantrill RHP Stanford University, Errol Robinson SS University of Mississippi, Nick Setzel 3B University of Tennessee, Logan Shore RHP University of Florida, Mike Shawaryn RHP University of Maryland