Top 10 Major League Baseball draft high school prospects

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A prep player might not go No. 1 overall in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, but expect a high number of high schoolers to come off the board in the first round — especially from Georgia.

The Peach State could have three of the top 10 high school players chosen in the first round, including the No. 1 overall high school prospect. MaxPreps takes a look at the 10 players most likely to be chosen in the first round of the MLB draft.

1. Ethan Hankins, Forsyth Central (Cumming, Ga.), RHP
Hankins has moved up the national rankings to the No. 1 spot, replacing fellow Georgian Kumar Rocker, who held the position for the past two seasons. Hankins' ability to hit 97 mph on his fastball is one reason he's regarded as the top prep pitcher in the draft, but he also has a solid curve ball and change up. Most mock drafts have Hankins going as high as No. 2 overall and no lower than No. 7. Last year, he fanned 77 in 46 innings.

2. Brice Turang, Santiago (Corona, Calif.), SS
The No. 1 player in the class of 2018 as a freshman, Turang is seen, along with Nander de Sadas, as the nation's top high school middle infield prospect. Most mock drafts have Turang going somewhere among the top 10 picks with one even listing him as the No. 1 overall selection. He batted .465 last year with 13 doubles and 15 RBIs. The Class of 2018 has a strong group of shortstops with Turang leading the list. He's expected to stick at shortstop, but he can also move to second base if needed.

3. Nolan Gorman, O'Connor (Phoenix), 3B
One of the top power hitters in the country, Gorman already has five home runs in 11 games this season. He belted 11 home runs as both a junior and sophomore and also hits for average with a career .432 mark. Gorman plays third base and has a strong enough arm to stay there. Mock drafts show Gorman being chosen anywhere from No. 2 overall to No. 13.



4. Kumar Rocker, North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.), RHP
The son of former Auburn football standout Tracy Rocker, Kumar has the body of a defensive lineman. At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Rocker is one of the more intimidating pitchers at the high school ranks. Once seen as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Rocker has slipped some with mock drafts slotting him anywhere from No. 1 to 15. He can hit 98 on his fastball and has also developed a breaking ball.

5. Nander De Sedas, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), SS
A native of Panama, De Sadas has only been in the country a few years, but he has already risen to the top of the Class of 2018. If Turang is not the top shortstop prospect in the draft, then De Sadas is. He has more power than Turang and hits from both sides of the plate. Some scouts question his ability to stick at shortstop, but he will likely be drafted there in June. Mock drafts have De Sadas going somewhere among the top 12 picks.

6. Matthew Liberatore, Mountain Ridge (Glendale, Ariz.), LHP
The top left-handed pitching prospect in the nation, Liberatore is a little different than most potential top draft picks in that his change-up and curve may be a little more developed than his fastball. He can still hit 94 mph on the fastball, however. He's also about the same size as Rocker, coming in at 6-5 and 200 pounds. Liberatore went 8-0 with 96 strikeouts last season and already has 14 strikeouts in a game this year. Mock drafts have him going around pick No. 9, although one had him coming off the board at No. 1.

7. Jared Kelenic, West (Waukesha, Wis.), OF
The top high school outfielder has shown his ability on the world stage the past two seasons as a member of Team USA. That type of exposure has helped improve his draft status, considering that players from northern states usually play fewer games during the high school season. Kelenic is considered a potential five-tool athlete with developing power. Look for Kelenic to go somewhere in the middle of the first round, possibly as high as No. 7.

8. Will Banfield, Brookwood (Snellville, Ga.), C
Catcher is one of the deeper positions in the 2018 draft and Banfield is the top prospect out of the bunch. Banfield showed good power last year with seven strikeouts. A solid contact hitter, he struck out just 12 times in 139 at-bats. However, Banfield will be selected in the first round due to his arm, which reportedly boasts the best pop time in the draft. He could go in the second half of the first round.

9. Triston Casas, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 1B
Originally a member of the Class of 2019, Casas reclassified to the Class of 2018. Hitting for power is Casas's calling card. He has a big frame at 6-4, 238 and is the top prep first baseman in the country. He had four home runs last year, but he already has three this season in 12 fewer games. He likely goes at the end of the first round and could slip into the second.

10. Ryan Weathers, Loretto (Tenn.), LHP
Weathers is an outstanding hitter at the small school level in Tennessee, bashing seven home runs and hitting .516 last year. However, he is considered the nation's second-best left-handed prep pitcher behind Liberatore. His father David played in the Major Leagues and Ryan spent his formative years in MLB dugouts with his father. He struck out 139 batters last year while posting a 9-0 record and a 0.11 ERA. He throws in the low 90s and has an above average curve ball. Weathers could go in the latter portion of the first round or early in the second round.