The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft has been a June fixture for 55 years, since it was first held in 1965. However due to COVID-19, Major League Baseball has moved the three-day selection process to July 11, 12 and 13. The high school baseball season is expected to last, in some states, until the third or fourth week of June.
MaxPreps has identified the Top 10 members of the Class of 2021 who figure to be chosen on the draft's first day. Based on mock drafts and rankings by recruiting services like Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game, the Class of 2021 is particularly strong at shortstop with three expected to go among the top three high school players chosen. At least three pitchers are also among the top 10, however a high school player is not expected to be chosen with the No. 1 overall pick.
Marcelo Mayer, Eastlake
File photo by Steven Silva
All signs point to Lawler, a five-tool shortstop, as the first high school player chosen in the draft. Along with the potential to develop into a 15-20 home runs a year slugger, Lawler also has tremendous speed and the ability to stick as a shortstop at the professional level. After a fast start to the 2021 season, Lawler has slowed to a .303 batting average with 13 runs, six RBI and five doubles.
Marcelo Mayer, Eastlake (Chula Vista, Calif.), SS
Like Lawler, Mayer is seen as a player who has a chance to stick at shortstop in the Bigs. Scouts regard Mayer as the best pure hitter in the draft, however, he's also a superior defensive player. The combination of hitting and fielding could push Mayer ahead of Lawler in the draft.
Kahlil Watson, Wake Forest (N.C.), SS
Yet another high school shortstop who has the defensive skills necessary to continue playing the position at the next level, Watson came on strong during the summer. Watson batted just .235 during a five-game season last year, but as a sophomore he hit .578 with 12 doubles and six home runs. Watson is likely to go somewhere in the middle of the first round and could be the fourth or fifth high school player selected.
Harry Ford, North Cobb (Kennesaw, Ga.), C
The highest-rated high school catcher, there are mixed results on whether Ford will go in the first round or not. However, no other high school catcher has been tabbed to go ahead of Ford. He's one of the quickest and most athletic high school catchers in the draft, which leads to the possibility that Ford could move to the field at some point. He's noted for his bat speed and he already has three home runs and two triples in 2021 while batting .290 with 14 RBI in 11 games.
Brady House, Winder-Barrow (Winder, Ga.), 3B
A shortstop for much of his high school career, House likely will end up at third base. He has one of the top bats in the draft. He's shown that early in the season for the Bulldogs, batting .542 with 17 runs scored, three doubles and three home runs.
Ben Montgomery, Red Land (Lewisberry, Pa.), OF
Montgomery could be the top high school outfielder in the draft thanks to a strong arm and ability to hit for power. He hasn't seen any action against high school competition since the 2019 season. Scouts see Montgomery going toward the end of the first round of the draft.
Chase Petty, Mainland Regional (Linwood, N.J.), P
Perry caught everyone's attention when he hit 100 mph over the summer. A possible end-of-first-round pick, Petty also reportedly has an above average slider. Low projection could sour some teams allowing Petty to drop out of the first round.
Jackson Jobe, Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City, Okla.), P
A hitting and fielding prospect prior the 2020 summer season, Jobe has developed into one of the top pitching prospects in the draft. With a fastball that hits 96 mph, Jobe also has a deadly curve. He had eight strikeouts in his first four innings pitched this season.
Andrew Painter, Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), P
Painter could be the first high school pitcher taken in the draft and he's expected to be the third or fourth overall high school player selected. At 6-foot-7, he's got the mid-90s fastball, but he is also adept at three other pitches. He has 27 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched this season.
James Woods,
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), OFTeams looking for powerhitting outfielders will likely look long and hard at Woods. Along with Montgomery, he's among the top prep outfielders in the draft. He has two home runs this season in IMG's 10 games. He could go toward the end of the first round.
