American Heritage's Brandon Barriera could be first southpaw taken in first round.
The first round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft gets underway Sunday in Los Angeles and runs through Tuesday. In the days leading up to the draft, MaxPreps will look at high school players who could be selected in the first few rounds at each position.
Our breakdowns begin with the top five left-handed pitchers.
"He's the best pitcher we've ever had come through here," American Heritage head coach Mike Macey told MLB.com of Brandon Barriera (pictured) last month.
Photo: Mike Janes
With injuries to a number of the top college arms this spring, look for high school pitchers to come off the board quickly when the draft commences Sunday. Barriera could be the first left-hander taken after a strong spring that had him going 5-0 with 68 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched. The low number of innings is likely a good thing for Barriera considering that he was already showcased his ability with a 98 mph on the fastball to go with a potent slider and a developing change-up and thus he will have less wear and tear on the arm. Pitchers likely won't go in the first half of the draft, but look for Barriera to come off the board around No. 15.
2. Robby Snelling, McQueen (Reno, Nev.)A candidate for the MaxPreps National Athlete of the Year honor, Snelling was a talented football player at McQueen. He reportedly has 25 Division I dual-offers to play both sports at the college level. However, landing with a team in the first round of the MLB Draft may change those college plans. Snelling reaches 94 mph on his fastball and has an effective slider, but will have to develop other pitches while also working on his delivery. His pure athleticism may be enough for a team to take a gamble at the end of the first round. However, don't be surprised if he slips out of the first day of the draft if he appears to be committed to going to college.
3. Noah Schultz, Oswego East (Oswego, Ill.)Schultz's potential at the Major League level is based more on what he has done in the off-season rather than anything he has shown in high school. With no season as a sophomore due to the pandemic and a shortened season as a junior due to injury, Schultz entered his senior year as the top-ranked player in Illinois and the No. 1 left-handed pitcher by Perfect Game. The top billing was due mainly to Schultz's size (6-foot-9) and his ability to throw a curve ball from a mostly side-armed slant. He also had improved his velocity, getting up to 94 on the fastball. However, illness knocked out most of his senior year as he battled mononucleosis from April to early May. With major projectability, Schultz still figures to go somewhere near the end of the first round.
4. Jackson Ferris, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)Last year at this time, Ferris would have likely been the choice as the top prep lefty in the draft. He was coming off a spectacular season at IMG Academy that included several no-hitters. His ERA was a little higher this spring but he ended up with 103 strikeouts compared to 86 his junior year. At 6-foot-5, Ferris can put a lot of muscle on his frame. That could be scary for opposing batters since he is already hitting 97 mph on his fastball. If Ferris doesn't go late in the first round, look for him to be off the board during the competitive balance round or early in the second.
5. Tristan Smith, Boiling Springs (Spartanburg, S.C.)Smith has moved up in the draft rankings to become a potential second round selection. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Smith doesn't quite have the size of some of the other available left-handers, but he does have a strong arsenal of pitches, including a change-up, a breaking ball and slider to go with a 96 mph fastball. Smith was the player of the year in South Carolina this season with 120 strikeouts in just 51.2 innings pitched.
