In the five months until the Major League Baseball Draft on July 1,
scouts will be burning up the 40-mile stretch of Interstate 85 between
Atlanta and Buford (Ga.) to get a look at three of the nation's top high
school prospects.
Termarr Johnson of Mays (Atlanta), Andruw
Jones of Wesleyan (Norcross) and Dylan Lesko of Buford, along with
Elijah Green of IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), are easily the top four high school draft prospects in the Class of 2022.
All four were teammates on
an East team that dominated the Perfect Game All-America Classic last
August. Lesko began the game with three pitches that hit 95 mph and was part of a nine-pitcher no-hitter. Jones had the first base hit of the
game, Green drove in the first run of the game with a double and
Johnson won the event's Home Run Derby.
The following is a look at the Top 10 high school prospects for the 2022 MLB Draft, based on two recruiting services and five mock drafts.
Elijah Green, IMG Academy
File photo by Mike Janes
Pegged by many scouts and recruiting services as the top high school
player in the draft and potentially the top player overall. A shortstop
who likely moves to second base, Johnson draws raves for his power
hitting. At 5-foot-10, Johnson is not a big player, but he draws his power
from extremely quick hands. Could be first prep No. 1 pick since Royce
Lewis of JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) in 2017 and the
first Georgia No. 1 since Tim Beckham of Griffin in 2008.
2. Elijah Green, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), OF
If
Johnson isn't the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Green might be.
There's plenty to like about him, too: Great speed makes him a weapon on
the basepaths and a plus defender in the outfield. He also has a plus
arm that makes him a center-field prospect. He also has great power at
the plate, but his tendency to strike out needs correcting.
3. Druw Jones, Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.), OF
While pundits spent
the winter arguing Andruw Jones Sr.'s Hall of Fame credentials, others
were marveling that Druw Jones Jr. has five-tool qualities like
his dad, but perhaps better at the same stage in their careers. Some
mock drafts project Jones to be the first outfielder chosen, ahead of
Green. With 16 home runs as a junior, Jones has the power. He's even
better in the outfield, however, where he has plus-plus speed, according
to several scouts.
4. Dylan Lesko, Buford (Ga.), RHP
While Lesko
hasn't been tabbed as a potential overall No. 1 pick, he's considered
the top high school pitcher in the draft. The MaxPreps Junior Player of
the Year last year, Lesko consistently throws in the mid-90s and has
strong command of a curve and changeup. The right-hander also figures to
add weight and strength to his 6-foot-3 frame and add even more mph to
his fastball.
5. Brock Porter, St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), RHPThe top four players on the list figure to be high picks in the first round while the next six likely fill out the bottom of the first round. The second group is heavy with pitchers, topped by Porter. With a fastball in the mid-90s, Porter's best pitch might be his change. He can also get outs with his curve and he could continue to rise up the draft list to the top half.
6. Brandon Barriera, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), LHPThe first left-handed pitcher taken could be Barriera. Although he did not pitch must last year, getting in about 16 innings, Barriera has continued to rise up recruit rankings since his sophomore season when he was pegged as the nation's top lefty. He has command of three pitches — a fastball, slider and change — and has topped out at 95 mph on the fastball.
7. Jackson Ferris, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), LHPIf Barriera isn't the top lefty high school pitcher in the draft, then Ferris is. A big, strong frame (6-foot-4, 190) and an easy delivery make him a solid first-round choice. He has several no-hitters to his credit and has already faced and beaten some of the top talent in the country as a junior.
8. Cole Young, North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.), MIFWhile Johnson is likely to move away from shortstop, Young figures to be the top prospect with a future at the position. An athletic fielder with a strong arm, Young first burst onto the scene when he was the national MLB Pitch, Hit and Run champion in 2014. He has continued to rise in the recruiting rankings ever since to the point where he ranks as one of the top two infielders in the nation.
9. Noah Schultz, Oswego East (Oswego, Ill.), LHPOne of the more intriguing athletes on the list due to his incredible growth spurt between his eighth grade and sophomore year. He grew six inches a year for two years and now stands 6-foot-9, making him one of the tallest prospects in the nation. Randy Johnson comparisons are likely inaccurate due to Schultz's reliance on a slider rather than a fastball as his out pitch. He tops out at 94 mph on the fastball and is still developing a change.
10. Ian Ritchie Jr., Bainbridge (Bainbridge Island, Wash.), RHPAmong the top power pitchers in the country with a fastball that has topped out at 97 and is consistently around 95. He also has a solid curve ball and reportedly has command of four pitches. At 6-foot-2, he's not as big as Lesko or Porter, the other right-handers on the list, but surprisingly he can still bring the same amount of power.
