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We're less than 90 days away from the 2013 Rule 4 draft, making it a good time to bring out the year's first edition of the Future 50, my ranking of the top 50 prospects for this year's draft. This is not a projection or "mock" draft -- I'll start doing those in May, once team preferences start to narrow around specific sets of players. This list is a ranking by talent and upside, based on my own scouting of players (live and off video) and conversations with scouts from all over the country.
As with my ranking of the top 100 pro prospects, I use the 20-80 grading scale in these comments to avoid saying "average" and "above average" thousands of times across the 100 player comments. On that scale, a grade of 50 equals major league average, 55 is above average, 60 is plus, 45 is fringy or below average and so on.
1 Mark AppelPOS: RHPHT: 6-5WT: 215School: Stanford
Analysis: The Pirates selected Appel with the No. 8 overall pick last June, but couldn't come to terms on a deal. He chose to return to Stanford for his senior year and one last shot at Omaha, a decision that, so far, looks like a sound baseball one too, as he has come out firing bullets, with an improved slider and more aggressive approach overall.
2 Sean ManaeaPOS: LHPHT: 6-5WT: 235School: Indiana State
Analysis: Manaea lit up the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting 96 mph with a plus slider, but has been a grade below that so far this spring. I'll see him against Minnesota's Tom Windle on Friday night at the Metrodome.
3 Austin MeadowsPOS: OFB/T: L/LHT: 6-3WT: 200School: Grayson (Ga.) HS
Analysis: Meadows is one of the few high-upside athletes in this draft, a potential five-tool player who, like most players of that ilk, faces the strongest questions about the present and future caliber of his hit tool.
4 Ryne StanekPOS: RHPHT: 6-4WT: 190School: Arkansas
Analysis: Stanek has been up to 96-97 again this spring and misses a lot of bats, although his heavy reliance on the slider is a concern for when he heads into pro ball.
5 Austin WilsonPOS: OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-5WT: 245School: Stanford
Analysis: Wilson suffered a stress reaction in his elbow in the first weekend of the season and hasn't played since, although he should be back by the time Stanford begins conference play. He remains the draft's best shot for a complete position player from the college ranks, someone who can hit, hit for power, and provide value on defense.
6 Kris BryantPOS: 3B/OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-5WT: 215School: San Diego
Analysis: Bryant came out swinging, hitting eight home runs in San Diego's first 17 games and slugging .897 on the season, although there's still a lot of skepticism about his ability to stay at third base, which just raises the standard for his bat.
7 Clint FrazierPOS: OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-1WT: 190School: Loganville (Ga.) HS
Analysis: Frazier has the best bat speed in this draft class but is probably maxed out physically and will play a corner in pro ball -- right if his arm fully recovers from a recent bout of tendinits, left if it doesn't -- so the entire bet here is on his hit tool. He has also started the season strong in front of the right people, including two home runs on Tuesday in a heavily scouted matchup against Meadows.
8 Jonathan GrayPOS: RHPHT: 6-4WT: 239School: Oklahoma
Analysis: Gray was 92-97 when I saw him on opening weekend and was 94-98, touching 100, last weekend, with a plus slider. He was drafted twice before, by the Royals (13th round out of junior college) and Yankees (10th round as a draft-eligible sophomore), but cleaned his body up this year right in time to enter the draft again and become a first-rounder.
9 Jon DenneyPOS: CB/T: R/RHT: 6-2WT: 205School: Yukon (Okla.) HS
Analysis: High school catchers are a dangerous group in the draft. The last prep catcher to generate at least 2 WAR as a major league catcher is Jarrod Saltalamacchia, drafted in 2003, one year after Atlanta took Brian McCann (19.8 WAR), but this year is pretty heavy with them. Denney is clearly the cream of the crop, a good-throwing catcher who receives well, hits and hits for power.
10 Braden ShipleyPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 190School: Nevada
Analysis: Shipley was solid in Alaska League last summer and has come out pumping 92-96 this spring with an above-average slider, throwing strikes and showing good athleticism on the mound.
11 Trey BallPOS: LHPHT: 6-6WT: 180School: New Castle (Ind.) HS
Analysis: A highly projectable, athletic two-way player, Ball won't get his first game action of the spring until his season opens on March 25.
12 Chris AndersonPOS: RHPHT: 6-4WT: 225School: Jacksonville
Analysis: Anderson, like Shipley, has started well, with comparable velocity and an above-average or better slider, although his delivery isn't quite as clean as Shipley's.
13 J.P. CrawfordPOS: SSB/T: L/RHT: 6-2WT: 175School: Lakewood (Calif.) HS
Analysis: It's a terrible class for shortstops, so Crawford, a probable first-rounder in an average year, really stands out as someone who stays at the position and has a good chance to hit.
14 Kohl StewartPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 190School: St. Pius X (Houston)
Analysis: Stewart missed the first few weeks of the season with a strained shoulder he suffered in his school's last football game of the fall, but made his debut on Friday and was 90-94 for 40 pitches. He's committed to Texas A&M to take over at quarterback when Johnny Manziel leaves after the 2013 season, so he has a lot of leverage.
15 Ryan EadesPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 198School: LSU
Analysis: Eades' combination of above-average velocity and a potential out pitch in the curveball, along with a history of success in the SEC, has him solidly in the first round, but can't get him the Friday night slot at LSU, which has been usurped by sophomore Aaron Nola.
16 Andrew MitchellPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 225School: TCU
Analysis: TCU, in its infinite wisdom, has taken its best starter and made him the closer, so one of the best college arms in the country has thrown all of 5 1/3 innings so far this year.
17 Matt KrookPOS: LHPHT: 6-2WT: 190School: St. Ignatius Prep (Hillsborough, Calif.)
Analysis: Krook, an Oregon commit, is a tall lefty who's sitting in the low 90s with a sharp curveball and still has some physical projection remaining.
18 Ryan BoldtPOS: OFB/T: L/RHT: 6-1WT: 190School: Red Wing (Minn.) HS
Analysis: He's this year's David Dahl -- a prep outfielder with solid tools across the board, showing no 70s on the scouting report but a lot of 60s. His season doesn't begin until April 4.
19 Dominic SmithPOS: 1BB/T: L/LHT: 6-0WT: 195School: Serra HS (San Mateo, Calif.)
Analysis: Smith may profile only at first base, but there's very high confidence right now in his ability to hit, with an easy stroke and relaxed approach at the plate.
20 Trevor WilliamsPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 228School: Arizona State
Analysis: Williams has always had a big fastball and good control, but hasn't quite missed enough bats in the past to enter the group of elite starters; he's striking out guys at a higher rate (7.8 per nine as opposed to 4.8 in 2012), something he'll need to maintain as the Sun Devils move into conference play.
21 Ian ClarkinPOS: LHPHT: 6-2WT: 190School: James Madison HS (San Diego)
Analysis: Clarkin has size, velocity, a plus curveball and gets on top of the ball well from a high three-quarters slot, with some projection for more fastball down the road.
22 Marco GonzalesPOS: LHPHT: 6-1WT: 185School: Gonzaga
Analysis: Gonzalez is just 5-foot-10 and will probably pitch with a 45-grade fastball when he's going every fifth day, but he has plus command, a plus change and an above-average curveball, with an advanced feel for pitching.
23 Andy McGuirePOS: SS/3BB/T: R/RHT: 6-1WT: 190School: James Madison HS (Oakton, Va.)
Analysis: Owner of one of the best swings in the class, McGuire had hip surgery in the fall and has shown better mobility this spring than he did last summer, although he still projects more at third than at short.
24 Andrew ThurmanPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 205School: UC Irvine
Analysis: He's a fastball/changeup guy up to 96 with a solid track record of success. His slider and curve aren't average pitches for him yet, which has kept his strikeout numbers a little lower than you'd like.
25 Connor JonesPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 205School: Great Bridge HS (Chesapeake, Va.)
Analysis: One of the few premium right-handed prep arms in this draft, Jones' commitment to Virginia will be tested if he keeps pumping 92-94 fastballs with a future-plus slider.
26 Jonathon CrawfordPOS: RHPHT: 6-1WT: 205School: Florida
Analysis: Crawford was a potential top-10 pick despite a rough arm action when he was 92-97, but he's been more 89-93 so far this year, relying too much on the slider and making questions about the delivery and his future stamina more important.
27 Billy McKinneyPOS: OFB/T: L/LHT: 6-1WT: 195School: Plano (Texas) West HS
Analysis: If you're a corner outfielder in high school projected to go in the top 50 picks, you had better really be able to hit, because the floor on a player like that is someone who doesn't reach the majors. McKinney's here because he looks like he can and will hit.
28 Reese McGuirePOS: CB/T: L/RHT: 6-1WT: 190School: Kentwood HS (Kent, Wash.)
Analysis: The second-best prep catcher in the class, and the only other one besides Denney on this list, McGuire can really throw and has a great-looking swing, although his receiving was a problem when catching better-quality stuff at showcases last summer.
29 Jason HurshPOS: RHPHT: 6-1WT: 197School: Oklahoma State
Analysis: Hursh is a redshirt sophomore who missed 2012 after Tommy John surgery but has shown big-time arm strength so far this year, as well as surprisingly good control.
30 Colin MoranPOS: 3BB/T: L/RHT: 6-3WT: 215School: North Carolina
Analysis: Moran can hit for average, although probably won't hit for power, and while his hands are very good his range at third is clearly below-average, so if he has to go to first base he'll need to project for more power or for a 60-or-better hit tool.
31 Chris KohlerPOS: LHPHT: 6-3WT: 200School: Los Osos HS (Alta Loma, Calif.)
Analysis: Kohler is yet another prep lefty in a draft class that's starved for righties; he's more of a projection guy, with a fringy fastball now and a slow curve with good shape and an easy delivery.
32 Aaron JudgePOS: OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-7WT: 255School: Fresno State
Analysis: Judge is an excellent athlete for his size and has shown he can square up good pitching, but the raw power still hasn't come out in games yet. Only one player 6-foot-7 or taller has ever qualified for the batting title while playing any position but first base: Frank Howard, who hit 33 homers per 162 games played in his career.
33 Dustin DriverPOS: RHPHT: 6-2WT: 210School: Wenatchee (Wash.) HS
Analysis: Driver is one of the few big right-handed arms in this draft class, with good feel for pitching and some projection left. However, his arm action isn't clean and may pose a problem for him as a starter.
34 Oscar MercadoPOS: SSB/T: R/RHT: 6-2WT: 175School: Gaither HS (Tampa, Fla.)
Analysis: He's a no-doubt shortstop, but his bat is a little light and he doesn't have the physical projection for future power, so his defense will be his main selling point in the draft.
35 Hunter GreenPOS: LHPHT: 6-4WT: 180School: Warren East HS (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Analysis: A lanky lefty from rural Kentucky, Green has a long arm action in back but hides the ball well before relase, with an average fastball and chance for a plus breaking ball.
36 Matt McPhearsonPOS: OFB/T: L/LHT: 5-10WT: 170School: Riverdale Baptist (Columbia, Md.)
Analysis: A center fielder and plus runner with bat speed, McPhearson has a good contact-oriented swing but his approach isn't advanced and he may have a lot of adjustments ahead of him in pro ball.
37 Kevin ZiomekPOS: LHPHT: 6-3WT: 200School: Vanderbilt
Analysis: Ziomek is currently tied for the Division I strikeout lead after waxing Illinois-Chicago and Oregon, but he isn't a clear starter as he has a tough arm action and a heavy reliance on the breaking ball to miss all those bats.
38 Tony RizzottiPOS: RHPHT: 6-4WT: 225School: Tulane
Analysis: Rizzotti has come out of nowhere this spring, throwing gas at 92-96 -- a huge leap over where he was in high school -- but may still profile as a reliever without great secondary stuff.
39 Aaron BlairPOS: RHPHT: 6-5WT: 220School: Marshall
Analysis: Blair has been 90-93 as Marshall's Sunday starter this year, which raises the question of whether Marshall actually thinks it has two starters better than Blair.
40 Tom WindlePOS: LHPHT: 6-4WT: 215School: Minnesota
Analysis: Windle has a great feel for pitching and solid-average stuff, but none of it is plus. He threw a no-hitter last week and will pitch in front of a large crowd of scouts on Friday against Indiana State and Sean Manaea.
41 Wil CrowePOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 225School: Pigeon Forge (Tenn.) HS
Analysis: Crowe, a South Carolina commit, has a huge frame, an average fastball and one of the top curveballs in the prep class this year.
42 Hunter HarveyPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 175School: Bandys HS (Catawba, N.C.)
Analysis: The son of former big league reliever Bryan Harvey, Hunter is an athletic righty who has been sitting at 93-94 this year and touching 96.
43 D.J. PetersonPOS: 1BB/T: R/RHT: 6-1WT: 205School: New Mexico
Analysis: Peterson is a rarity: a short (by first base standards), right/right first baseman, but he has a solid history of hitting (boosted by an incredibly hitter-friendly home park) and a swing geared for contact.
44 Alex GonzalezPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 200School: Oral Roberts
Analysis: A command guy who sits in the low 90s with a possible out-pitch cutter, Gonzalez has seen his stock rise with consistently strong outings but needs to develop a clear third pitch.
45 Rob KaminskyPOS: LHPHT: 6-0WT: 190School: St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.)
Analysis: Kaminsky, a North Carolina commit, already sits comfortably in the low 90s with a solid breaking ball and good feel for pitching, although his lack of size gives him little projection for more velocity.
46 Scott FrazierPOS: RHPHT: 6-7WT: 230School: Pepperdine
Analysis: Frazier can run it up to 96 mph, but his arm action raises some red flags for scouts, as does the minor elbow injury he dealt with last summer.
47 Ivan WilsonPOS: OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-3WT: 220School: Ruston (La.) HS
Analysis: A high-upside athlete, Wilson can run, throw and hit for power, and so far this year has looked good enough at the plate to be a possible Day 1 pick, with the potential to pull a D.J. Davis and slip into the first round for a team that likes to swing for the fences.
48 Eric JagieloPOS: 3BB/T: L/RHT: 6-3WT: 215School: Notre Dame
Analysis: Jagielo has a good feel for hitting and above-average raw power, but fringy defense at third that could eventually push him to the outfield.
49 Brett MoralesPOS: RHPHT: 6-2WT: 185School: King HS (Tampa, Fla.)
Analysis: Morales has above-average velocity now but not much projection, with good spin on a low-70s curve and some feel for a change, but a delivery that might work better in relief.
50 Tim AndersonPOS: SSB/T: R/RHT: 6-1WT: 171School: East Central CC
Analysis: Anderson is a plus-plus runner with a 40-inch vertical leap who is also swinging the bat well in the early going, possibly filling some of the void left by the complete lack of shortstop prospects at four-year colleges this year.
Other names to know
NAME POSITION SCHOOL
Phil Ervin OF Samford
Bobby Wahl RHP Ole Miss
Colby Suggs RHP Arkansas
Adam Plutko RHP UCLA
Chris Oakley RHP St. Augustine Prep (Richland, N.J.)
Tucker Neuhaus SS Wharton HS (Tampa, Fla.)
Cord Sandberg OF Manatee Country (Bradenton, Fla.)
Devin Williams RHP Hazelwood (Mo.) West HS
Nick Ciuffo C Lexington (S.C.) HS
Carlos Salazar RHP Kermin (Calif.) HS
Stephen Gonsalves LHP Cathedral Catholic (San Marcos, Calif.)
Garrett Williams LHP Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)
As with my ranking of the top 100 pro prospects, I use the 20-80 grading scale in these comments to avoid saying "average" and "above average" thousands of times across the 100 player comments. On that scale, a grade of 50 equals major league average, 55 is above average, 60 is plus, 45 is fringy or below average and so on.
1 Mark AppelPOS: RHPHT: 6-5WT: 215School: Stanford
Analysis: The Pirates selected Appel with the No. 8 overall pick last June, but couldn't come to terms on a deal. He chose to return to Stanford for his senior year and one last shot at Omaha, a decision that, so far, looks like a sound baseball one too, as he has come out firing bullets, with an improved slider and more aggressive approach overall.
2 Sean ManaeaPOS: LHPHT: 6-5WT: 235School: Indiana State
Analysis: Manaea lit up the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting 96 mph with a plus slider, but has been a grade below that so far this spring. I'll see him against Minnesota's Tom Windle on Friday night at the Metrodome.
3 Austin MeadowsPOS: OFB/T: L/LHT: 6-3WT: 200School: Grayson (Ga.) HS
Analysis: Meadows is one of the few high-upside athletes in this draft, a potential five-tool player who, like most players of that ilk, faces the strongest questions about the present and future caliber of his hit tool.
4 Ryne StanekPOS: RHPHT: 6-4WT: 190School: Arkansas
Analysis: Stanek has been up to 96-97 again this spring and misses a lot of bats, although his heavy reliance on the slider is a concern for when he heads into pro ball.
5 Austin WilsonPOS: OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-5WT: 245School: Stanford
Analysis: Wilson suffered a stress reaction in his elbow in the first weekend of the season and hasn't played since, although he should be back by the time Stanford begins conference play. He remains the draft's best shot for a complete position player from the college ranks, someone who can hit, hit for power, and provide value on defense.
6 Kris BryantPOS: 3B/OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-5WT: 215School: San Diego
Analysis: Bryant came out swinging, hitting eight home runs in San Diego's first 17 games and slugging .897 on the season, although there's still a lot of skepticism about his ability to stay at third base, which just raises the standard for his bat.
7 Clint FrazierPOS: OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-1WT: 190School: Loganville (Ga.) HS
Analysis: Frazier has the best bat speed in this draft class but is probably maxed out physically and will play a corner in pro ball -- right if his arm fully recovers from a recent bout of tendinits, left if it doesn't -- so the entire bet here is on his hit tool. He has also started the season strong in front of the right people, including two home runs on Tuesday in a heavily scouted matchup against Meadows.
8 Jonathan GrayPOS: RHPHT: 6-4WT: 239School: Oklahoma
Analysis: Gray was 92-97 when I saw him on opening weekend and was 94-98, touching 100, last weekend, with a plus slider. He was drafted twice before, by the Royals (13th round out of junior college) and Yankees (10th round as a draft-eligible sophomore), but cleaned his body up this year right in time to enter the draft again and become a first-rounder.
9 Jon DenneyPOS: CB/T: R/RHT: 6-2WT: 205School: Yukon (Okla.) HS
Analysis: High school catchers are a dangerous group in the draft. The last prep catcher to generate at least 2 WAR as a major league catcher is Jarrod Saltalamacchia, drafted in 2003, one year after Atlanta took Brian McCann (19.8 WAR), but this year is pretty heavy with them. Denney is clearly the cream of the crop, a good-throwing catcher who receives well, hits and hits for power.
10 Braden ShipleyPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 190School: Nevada
Analysis: Shipley was solid in Alaska League last summer and has come out pumping 92-96 this spring with an above-average slider, throwing strikes and showing good athleticism on the mound.
11 Trey BallPOS: LHPHT: 6-6WT: 180School: New Castle (Ind.) HS
Analysis: A highly projectable, athletic two-way player, Ball won't get his first game action of the spring until his season opens on March 25.
12 Chris AndersonPOS: RHPHT: 6-4WT: 225School: Jacksonville
Analysis: Anderson, like Shipley, has started well, with comparable velocity and an above-average or better slider, although his delivery isn't quite as clean as Shipley's.
13 J.P. CrawfordPOS: SSB/T: L/RHT: 6-2WT: 175School: Lakewood (Calif.) HS
Analysis: It's a terrible class for shortstops, so Crawford, a probable first-rounder in an average year, really stands out as someone who stays at the position and has a good chance to hit.
14 Kohl StewartPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 190School: St. Pius X (Houston)
Analysis: Stewart missed the first few weeks of the season with a strained shoulder he suffered in his school's last football game of the fall, but made his debut on Friday and was 90-94 for 40 pitches. He's committed to Texas A&M to take over at quarterback when Johnny Manziel leaves after the 2013 season, so he has a lot of leverage.
15 Ryan EadesPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 198School: LSU
Analysis: Eades' combination of above-average velocity and a potential out pitch in the curveball, along with a history of success in the SEC, has him solidly in the first round, but can't get him the Friday night slot at LSU, which has been usurped by sophomore Aaron Nola.
16 Andrew MitchellPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 225School: TCU
Analysis: TCU, in its infinite wisdom, has taken its best starter and made him the closer, so one of the best college arms in the country has thrown all of 5 1/3 innings so far this year.
17 Matt KrookPOS: LHPHT: 6-2WT: 190School: St. Ignatius Prep (Hillsborough, Calif.)
Analysis: Krook, an Oregon commit, is a tall lefty who's sitting in the low 90s with a sharp curveball and still has some physical projection remaining.
18 Ryan BoldtPOS: OFB/T: L/RHT: 6-1WT: 190School: Red Wing (Minn.) HS
Analysis: He's this year's David Dahl -- a prep outfielder with solid tools across the board, showing no 70s on the scouting report but a lot of 60s. His season doesn't begin until April 4.
19 Dominic SmithPOS: 1BB/T: L/LHT: 6-0WT: 195School: Serra HS (San Mateo, Calif.)
Analysis: Smith may profile only at first base, but there's very high confidence right now in his ability to hit, with an easy stroke and relaxed approach at the plate.
20 Trevor WilliamsPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 228School: Arizona State
Analysis: Williams has always had a big fastball and good control, but hasn't quite missed enough bats in the past to enter the group of elite starters; he's striking out guys at a higher rate (7.8 per nine as opposed to 4.8 in 2012), something he'll need to maintain as the Sun Devils move into conference play.
21 Ian ClarkinPOS: LHPHT: 6-2WT: 190School: James Madison HS (San Diego)
Analysis: Clarkin has size, velocity, a plus curveball and gets on top of the ball well from a high three-quarters slot, with some projection for more fastball down the road.
22 Marco GonzalesPOS: LHPHT: 6-1WT: 185School: Gonzaga
Analysis: Gonzalez is just 5-foot-10 and will probably pitch with a 45-grade fastball when he's going every fifth day, but he has plus command, a plus change and an above-average curveball, with an advanced feel for pitching.
23 Andy McGuirePOS: SS/3BB/T: R/RHT: 6-1WT: 190School: James Madison HS (Oakton, Va.)
Analysis: Owner of one of the best swings in the class, McGuire had hip surgery in the fall and has shown better mobility this spring than he did last summer, although he still projects more at third than at short.
24 Andrew ThurmanPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 205School: UC Irvine
Analysis: He's a fastball/changeup guy up to 96 with a solid track record of success. His slider and curve aren't average pitches for him yet, which has kept his strikeout numbers a little lower than you'd like.
25 Connor JonesPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 205School: Great Bridge HS (Chesapeake, Va.)
Analysis: One of the few premium right-handed prep arms in this draft, Jones' commitment to Virginia will be tested if he keeps pumping 92-94 fastballs with a future-plus slider.
26 Jonathon CrawfordPOS: RHPHT: 6-1WT: 205School: Florida
Analysis: Crawford was a potential top-10 pick despite a rough arm action when he was 92-97, but he's been more 89-93 so far this year, relying too much on the slider and making questions about the delivery and his future stamina more important.
27 Billy McKinneyPOS: OFB/T: L/LHT: 6-1WT: 195School: Plano (Texas) West HS
Analysis: If you're a corner outfielder in high school projected to go in the top 50 picks, you had better really be able to hit, because the floor on a player like that is someone who doesn't reach the majors. McKinney's here because he looks like he can and will hit.
28 Reese McGuirePOS: CB/T: L/RHT: 6-1WT: 190School: Kentwood HS (Kent, Wash.)
Analysis: The second-best prep catcher in the class, and the only other one besides Denney on this list, McGuire can really throw and has a great-looking swing, although his receiving was a problem when catching better-quality stuff at showcases last summer.
29 Jason HurshPOS: RHPHT: 6-1WT: 197School: Oklahoma State
Analysis: Hursh is a redshirt sophomore who missed 2012 after Tommy John surgery but has shown big-time arm strength so far this year, as well as surprisingly good control.
30 Colin MoranPOS: 3BB/T: L/RHT: 6-3WT: 215School: North Carolina
Analysis: Moran can hit for average, although probably won't hit for power, and while his hands are very good his range at third is clearly below-average, so if he has to go to first base he'll need to project for more power or for a 60-or-better hit tool.
31 Chris KohlerPOS: LHPHT: 6-3WT: 200School: Los Osos HS (Alta Loma, Calif.)
Analysis: Kohler is yet another prep lefty in a draft class that's starved for righties; he's more of a projection guy, with a fringy fastball now and a slow curve with good shape and an easy delivery.
32 Aaron JudgePOS: OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-7WT: 255School: Fresno State
Analysis: Judge is an excellent athlete for his size and has shown he can square up good pitching, but the raw power still hasn't come out in games yet. Only one player 6-foot-7 or taller has ever qualified for the batting title while playing any position but first base: Frank Howard, who hit 33 homers per 162 games played in his career.
33 Dustin DriverPOS: RHPHT: 6-2WT: 210School: Wenatchee (Wash.) HS
Analysis: Driver is one of the few big right-handed arms in this draft class, with good feel for pitching and some projection left. However, his arm action isn't clean and may pose a problem for him as a starter.
34 Oscar MercadoPOS: SSB/T: R/RHT: 6-2WT: 175School: Gaither HS (Tampa, Fla.)
Analysis: He's a no-doubt shortstop, but his bat is a little light and he doesn't have the physical projection for future power, so his defense will be his main selling point in the draft.
35 Hunter GreenPOS: LHPHT: 6-4WT: 180School: Warren East HS (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Analysis: A lanky lefty from rural Kentucky, Green has a long arm action in back but hides the ball well before relase, with an average fastball and chance for a plus breaking ball.
36 Matt McPhearsonPOS: OFB/T: L/LHT: 5-10WT: 170School: Riverdale Baptist (Columbia, Md.)
Analysis: A center fielder and plus runner with bat speed, McPhearson has a good contact-oriented swing but his approach isn't advanced and he may have a lot of adjustments ahead of him in pro ball.
37 Kevin ZiomekPOS: LHPHT: 6-3WT: 200School: Vanderbilt
Analysis: Ziomek is currently tied for the Division I strikeout lead after waxing Illinois-Chicago and Oregon, but he isn't a clear starter as he has a tough arm action and a heavy reliance on the breaking ball to miss all those bats.
38 Tony RizzottiPOS: RHPHT: 6-4WT: 225School: Tulane
Analysis: Rizzotti has come out of nowhere this spring, throwing gas at 92-96 -- a huge leap over where he was in high school -- but may still profile as a reliever without great secondary stuff.
39 Aaron BlairPOS: RHPHT: 6-5WT: 220School: Marshall
Analysis: Blair has been 90-93 as Marshall's Sunday starter this year, which raises the question of whether Marshall actually thinks it has two starters better than Blair.
40 Tom WindlePOS: LHPHT: 6-4WT: 215School: Minnesota
Analysis: Windle has a great feel for pitching and solid-average stuff, but none of it is plus. He threw a no-hitter last week and will pitch in front of a large crowd of scouts on Friday against Indiana State and Sean Manaea.
41 Wil CrowePOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 225School: Pigeon Forge (Tenn.) HS
Analysis: Crowe, a South Carolina commit, has a huge frame, an average fastball and one of the top curveballs in the prep class this year.
42 Hunter HarveyPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 175School: Bandys HS (Catawba, N.C.)
Analysis: The son of former big league reliever Bryan Harvey, Hunter is an athletic righty who has been sitting at 93-94 this year and touching 96.
43 D.J. PetersonPOS: 1BB/T: R/RHT: 6-1WT: 205School: New Mexico
Analysis: Peterson is a rarity: a short (by first base standards), right/right first baseman, but he has a solid history of hitting (boosted by an incredibly hitter-friendly home park) and a swing geared for contact.
44 Alex GonzalezPOS: RHPHT: 6-3WT: 200School: Oral Roberts
Analysis: A command guy who sits in the low 90s with a possible out-pitch cutter, Gonzalez has seen his stock rise with consistently strong outings but needs to develop a clear third pitch.
45 Rob KaminskyPOS: LHPHT: 6-0WT: 190School: St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.)
Analysis: Kaminsky, a North Carolina commit, already sits comfortably in the low 90s with a solid breaking ball and good feel for pitching, although his lack of size gives him little projection for more velocity.
46 Scott FrazierPOS: RHPHT: 6-7WT: 230School: Pepperdine
Analysis: Frazier can run it up to 96 mph, but his arm action raises some red flags for scouts, as does the minor elbow injury he dealt with last summer.
47 Ivan WilsonPOS: OFB/T: R/RHT: 6-3WT: 220School: Ruston (La.) HS
Analysis: A high-upside athlete, Wilson can run, throw and hit for power, and so far this year has looked good enough at the plate to be a possible Day 1 pick, with the potential to pull a D.J. Davis and slip into the first round for a team that likes to swing for the fences.
48 Eric JagieloPOS: 3BB/T: L/RHT: 6-3WT: 215School: Notre Dame
Analysis: Jagielo has a good feel for hitting and above-average raw power, but fringy defense at third that could eventually push him to the outfield.
49 Brett MoralesPOS: RHPHT: 6-2WT: 185School: King HS (Tampa, Fla.)
Analysis: Morales has above-average velocity now but not much projection, with good spin on a low-70s curve and some feel for a change, but a delivery that might work better in relief.
50 Tim AndersonPOS: SSB/T: R/RHT: 6-1WT: 171School: East Central CC
Analysis: Anderson is a plus-plus runner with a 40-inch vertical leap who is also swinging the bat well in the early going, possibly filling some of the void left by the complete lack of shortstop prospects at four-year colleges this year.
Other names to know
NAME POSITION SCHOOL
Phil Ervin OF Samford
Bobby Wahl RHP Ole Miss
Colby Suggs RHP Arkansas
Adam Plutko RHP UCLA
Chris Oakley RHP St. Augustine Prep (Richland, N.J.)
Tucker Neuhaus SS Wharton HS (Tampa, Fla.)
Cord Sandberg OF Manatee Country (Bradenton, Fla.)
Devin Williams RHP Hazelwood (Mo.) West HS
Nick Ciuffo C Lexington (S.C.) HS
Carlos Salazar RHP Kermin (Calif.) HS
Stephen Gonsalves LHP Cathedral Catholic (San Marcos, Calif.)
Garrett Williams LHP Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)
