Video: MaxPreps Cup standings for Fall
See the latest update in the MaxPreps Cup standings.The 2016 Major League Baseball Draft figures to have a pair of high school pitchers among the top five selections, either of whom could be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Jason Groome and Riley Pint have both been tabbed by various mock drafts as the No. 1 overall selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB Draft, which is set for June 9-11. Meanwhile, outfielder Blake Rutherford is seen as possibly the first position player taken.
Past those three players, however, there is less certainty about which high school players will be selected in the first round. Among 10 mock drafts that MaxPreps consulted, only Groome, Pint and Rutherford were listed on all 10 mock drafts. It's likely that only about 10 preps will be chosen in the first round, compared with over a dozen in each of the last two drafts.
Top 10 Class of 2016 Major League Baseball Draft prospects
Photos by Alyson Boyer Rode, Vince Pugliese, Steven Silva. Graphic by Ryan Escobar
The New Jersey native played at IMG Academy in Florida last year, but he has returned to his home state and will play at Barnegat this year. He has been tabbed in several mock drafts as the No. 1 overall pick, although other mock drafts have Groome as the second-best high school pitcher behind Pint. The 6-foot-6 lefthander has hit 97 mph on his fastball and has a 75-mph curveball. Command is not necessarily considered his strong suit but he reportedly has a smooth delivery.
2. Riley Pint, Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), RHP
Pint is listed as the No. 1 overall pick in some mock drafts, but he is generally listed just a notch below Groome and is definitely one of the top two prep pitchers in the country. The LSU commit has hit 98 mph on his fastball and his curveball is in the 83 mph range. He is seen as a pitcher with two strong pitches (fastball, curve). The 6-4 righthander likely won't last past the top five picks.
3. Blake Rutherford, Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), OF
Easily the highest-rated prep position player, Rutherford is viewed as a top 10 selection who could be the first position player chosen in the draft. A future centerfielder, Rutherford has very good speed, which compensates for an average arm. His best asset is his hitting and he is expected to be a top hitter at the professional level.
4. Austin Bergner, Windermere Prep (Fla.), RHP
At one time, Bergner was the top-rated player in the Class of 2016. He still has a chance to be among the top players chosen in the draft and doesn't figure to drop below No. 15. The same size as Pint (6-4, 195), Bergner is a few mph slower on the fastball (95 mph) and doesn't quite have the same command on his curve as does Pint.
5. Brax Garrett, Florence (Ala.), LHP
The second-best left-handed prep pitcher behind Groome, Garrett could go somewhere in the middle of the first round. He hits 93 mph on his fastball, but reportedly still needs to add another pitch to his repertoire. At 6-3, 190 pounds, the Vanderbilt commit has room to grow.
6. Alex Speas, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), RHP
Speas has seen his stock rise thanks to an improving fastball. Throwing 93 mph after his sophomore season, Speas is up to 96 mph. His arm motion is described as "electric" and he has a projectable frame at 6-3, 190 pounds. Developing command on his curveball could raise Speas' stock even more. He's likely a bottom of the first round selection.
7. Will Benson, Westminster (Atlanta), OF
Benson is a two-sport start at Westminster who has committed to play baseball at Duke, but also has thoughts on walking on with the Blue Devil basketball team, according to the Westminster student news website. At 6-5 and very athletic, Benson has good power and will likely be a strong corner outfield prospect. Look for him to go somewhere late in the first round or early in the second.
8. Drew Mendoza, Lake Minneola (Minneola, Fla.), SS
At 6-4 and 190 pounds, Mendoza has the frame and power necessary to become a power-hitting third baseman at the next level. He will likely be drafted as a shortstop and he is considered the top prep shortstop prospect in the draft. Mendoza belted six home runs as a junior and is projected as a low first round pick.
9. Brad Debo, Orange (Hillsborough, N.C.), C
Mock drafts have Debo creeping into the bottom half of the first round as the first high school catcher taken. Debo batted .534 as a sophomore, but was under .400 as a junior. He has shown some power with three home runs as a junior and four as a sophomore. The South Carolina commit has good size at 6-2, 210 pounds.
10. Mickey Moniak, La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.), OF
At 6-2, 190 pounds with plenty of speed and a strong arm, Moniak projects to be a centerfielder in the professional realm. Moniak hasn't shown much power yet (he's only hit two home runs in his high school career), but that could change as he adds strength. He's a contact hitter, batting over .425 his past two high school seasons. He is likely to go somewhere late in the first round or in the top half of the second round.
