The Major League Baseball draft gets underway July 9 in Seattle. The
three-day event opens with Rounds 1 and 2 on Sunday, 3 through 10 on
Monday and 11 through 20 on Tuesday.
MaxPreps takes a look at the
top five high school players at six positions in the days leading up to
the draft. The preview continues today right-handed pitchers. This is MaxPreps' look at high school players who could be drafted:
Today: Right-handed pitchers
June 30: Catchers
July 5: Middle infielders
July 5: Corner infielders
July 7: Outfielders
Noble Meyer of Jesuit could be the first high school pitcher to be taken in the upcoming MLB Draft. The Oregon pitcher struck out 142 in 69 innings this season. (Photo: Brian Murphy)
1. Noble Meyer, Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 6-5, 200
Expect him to be the first high school pitcher chosen in this year's draft,
possibly going somewhere around the 10th pick. Meyer had 142 strikeouts
in 69 innings pitched as a senior and relies on his
fastball and slider to do most of the work. His fastball sits in the low
90s, but can get up to 96. Scouts like the ease with which Meyer
delivers the ball and his command of the strike zone.
2. Charlee Soto, Reborn Christian Academy (Kissimmee, Fla.), 6-5, 200
He's gone from being mostly an unknown at the end of the 2022 high
school season to being one of the top 25 prospects in the country
following a strong summer season. A two-way player (SS/P) early in his
career, Soto has focused on pitching this year thanks to a fastball that
can hit 98 and regularly sets between 93-95 mph. His best pitch,
however, might be a split/change-up. He could go somewhere at the end of
the first round.
3. Travis Sykora, Round Rock (Texas), 6-6, 220
A
big-bodied thrower, his fastball has the highest velocity of any
high school pitcher. He regularly hits triple digits with a high of 101. Although scouts downgrade him on his control and the development of
his other pitches, Sykora is expected to be able to excel in the Majors due to his overpowering fastball. As a senior, he struck out 108
batters in 58 innings with a 10-0 record and a 0.84 ERA. He could go low first round or early second round.
4. Cole Schoenwetter, San Marcos (Santa Barbara, Calif.), 6-3, 190
Command of three pitches and room to grow make him a prized prospect. His fastball sits in the low 90s, but he occasionally hits 96. Can also get outs with curve and change. He had a 0.91 ERA with 108 strikeouts in 61.2 innings. Probably won't last past second round.
5. Liam Peterson, Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.), 6-5, 200
A two-way player who is one of three potential draft picks for Calvary Christian. Scouts like his projectability and high ceiling. His fastball averages 91-94 and he has a change-up and curve ball he uses to get outs. He went 5-2 with 73 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. A possible second-day selection.
