While California often has been the dominant state when it comes to producing Major League Baseball Draft picks, Florida, Texas and Georgia are the states to watch in 2019.
Of the top 10 high school players expected to go in the first round of the June draft, five are from Florida, two each come from Texas and Georgia and the remaining one resides in Mississippi.
Middle infielders look to be the top prospects among the high school crowd with three possible shortstops going among the top four high school players chosen.
Following is a look at the Top 10 high school players expected to chosen in the 2019 MLB Draft. Players are selected based on a compilation of mock drafts and national player rankings.
Top 10 high school Major League Baseball draft prospects
Bobby Witt Jr., Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas), SS
Mock drafts have Witt as the favorite to be not only the top high school player chosen in the 2019 MLB Draft but also the top player overall. He consistently has ranked as the top player in the Class of 2019 and is considered to be a five-tool player. He batted .476 last year with 10 home runs and has a strong enough arm to stick at shortstop. The son of a former MLB player, Witt could become the 10th high school shortstop taken No. 1 overall, joining the likes Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and most recently
Royce Lewis.
Riley Greene, Hagerty (Oviedo, Fla.), OF
Although he only hit four home runs as a junior, Greene is seen as one of the best pure hitters in the Class of 2019 with the ability to hit for average and for power. Over the summer as a member of Team USA 18U, Greene led the team in RBIs, doubles, home runs and batted .424 in nine games. He could go as high as the top five picks.
CJ Abrams, Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.), SS
In any other year, Abrams might be the first high school shortstop off the board. He has the athleticism to play the position, but also could be a candidate for the outfield. He has been projected as high as the No. 2 overall pick and probably no lower than the middle rounds. Last year, he showed his talent at the plate by batting .404 with six doubles and home runs.
Rece Hinds, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), SS
Versatility is the key for Hinds, who could play any number of positions at the next level. A third baseman most of his career, Hinds could play shortstop this year but he also might end up at either of the corner spots. He'll also see time on the mound for IMG, making him a pitching prospect as well. He likely has too much power to be considered a pitcher at the next level, however. He hit 13 home runs as a junior and he has the arm strength to be a quality fielder at a corner spot or shortstop. He is a top 10 overall pick.
Matt Thompson, Cypress Ranch (Houston), RHP
Coming off a dominating performance at the Perfect Game Classic, Thompson has moved up to the middle of the first round in most mock drafts. His fastball consistently hits 96 mph, but doesn't quite have the breaking ball to complement his overpowering fastball. Nonetheless, he's been pitching in big games at Cypress Ranch since his freshman year when he was a MaxPreps Freshman All-American.
Daniel Espino, Georgia Premier Academy (Statesboro, Ga.), RHP
Espino has bounced around to several different schools since his arrival from Panama a few years ago. This year he's at Georgia Premier Academy and expected to be one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in the country. He has hit triple digits on his fastball at the East Coast Pro showcase over the summer and regularly hits the upper 90s. Also known to have as three-plus pitches including a top-notch slider. Depending on how well he performs during the spring, Espino could move up the ranks into the top five. Mock drafts right after the summer had him in the top 10 or middle of the first round.
Hunter Barco, Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.), 1B
If for some reason Barco doesn't make it as a pitcher, he likely has a career at first base. He can hit 94 mph on his fastball and he has been a veteran on the mound since his freshman season when he was the MaxPreps Freshman Player of the Year. He struck out 84 in 63.2 innings pitched last year with a 1.98 ERA. Barco can also hit for average (.342 last year) and power (four home runs). He is likely to go somewhere in the mid to late first round.
Brennan Malone, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), RHP
The Ascenders could have two players go in the first round of the MLB Draft as Malone is considered a possible mid-round to late-round selection. He has a fastball that hits around 97 mph and he also has the off-speed pitches to fill out his repertoire.
Jerrion Ealy, Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.), OF
A great all-around athlete, Ealy may eventually have to make a tough decision, ala Kyler Murray. Will it be football or baseball for the extremely gifted athlete? A signee at Ole Miss to play both sports, Ealy is projected to go near the end of the first round or early in the second round. He is seen as a five-tool player, with his arm and speed as the top two tools to work with. He batted .386 with 41 runs scored last year.
Tyler Callihan, Providence School (Jacksonville, Fla.), IF
A third baseman in high school, Callihan could end up at a middle infield spot at the next level, possibly second base. He is a solid power hitter, connecting for six home runs last year, and he can also hit for average, as he batted ..440. He could go somewhere near the end of the first round or slip into the second.
Bobby Witt Jr., Colleyville Heritage
File photo by Gregory LaGrange
