If history is any indication, look for about 15 high school players to be taken in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft when selections get underway Monday evening in Secaucus, N.J., and that's not including Bryce Harper, the 17-year-old phenom who is the consensus No. 1 pick in this year's draft.
A look at the last 10 drafts shows an average of 13 high school players chosen with a high of 16 in 2007, 2002 and 2000 and a low of eight in 2008. Meanwhile, a compilation of 10 mock drafts for this year's draft shows a total of 15 prep players who figure to go in the top 32 picks (two teams have an extra compensation selection).
Harper is not included among that total despite being a year younger than nearly every eligible high school player. The Sports Illustrated cover boy received his GED following his sophomore season at Las Vegas High and has been extremely impressive in his first year at the College of Southern Nevada. 
Austin Wilson, Harvard-Westlake
Photo by Larry Gasinski
In leading his team to the Junior College World Series, Harper has belted 29 home runs, including four in one game, and has batted .442 with a .986 slugging percentage. Harper, a catcher, is expected to be the first player selected by the Washington Nationals, who have the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row after taking Stephen Strasburg with the top selection last year.
Thus, Manny Machado of Brito, Fla., earns the distinction of being the likely first high school player selected in the draft. The shortstop was slotted as the No. 2 pick in nine of the 10 mock drafts considered, going to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Here's a look at the top 15 high school players who figure to be selected in the first round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft. A note on the analysis: Ten mock drafts were consulted and a "consensus" selection was determined for each player. The highest placement a player was drafted is listed along with the lowest. The "mode" is the most frequent pick for that player (some players have more than one mode).
Manny Machado, Brito (Miami, Fla.), SS: Considered the top position player in the draft among high school players... Good size at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds... Played on Team USA and batted .367 in eight games with a team-best two home runs... batted .642 with 12 home runs and 56 RBI his senior season... All-Dade County...Only one of the 10 mock drafts had Machado selected outside of the No. 2 spot by the Pirates, and that was the No. 4 spot to the Royals. Consensus: Pirates, No. 2; High: No. 2; Low: No. 4; Mode: No. 2
Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands (Texas), RHP: The top high school pitcher in the draft... Caught everyone's attention with his performance on Team USA when he defeated Cuba with 7 2/3 shutout innings and 16 strikeouts... Throws consistently around 96 mph... Reportedly has good curve but struggles with control... 6-6, 220... Went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA and struck out 114 batters in 62 2/3 innings pitched... All 10 mock drafts have Taillon slotted to go to the Orioles at No. 3, although Jonathan Mayo suggests that the Nationals may take Taillon with the No. 1 overall pick. Consensus: Orioles, No. 3: High: No. 3; Low: No. 3; Mode: No. 3
Karsten Whitson, Chipley (Fla.), RHP: Son of former Major League pitcher Ed Whitson... Has a fastball in the low 90s... Also reportedly has a slider as a strong second pitch... Generally considered second-best prep pitcher behind Taillon... Consensus: Padres, No. 9; High: No. 8; Low: No. 19; Mode: No. 11
Josh Sale, Bishop Blanchet (Seattle, Wash.), 3B/OF: Didn't have huge numbers as a senior, but still considered by draft pundits as the top all-around prep hitter in the draft... Batted .520 with five home runs, six doubles, 20 RBI and was walked 27 times... Consensus: A's, No. 10; High: No. 8; Low: No. 17; Mode: No. 17
Dylan Covey, Maranatha (Pasadena, Calif.), RHP: Played in the Aflac All-American Game and has a fastball consistently in the low 90s... Has been targeted as high as No. 10 but most drafts have Covey in the lower half of the first round... Went 7-1 with 138 strikeouts and 20 walks in 70 2/3 innings pitched. Had a 0.4 ERA... Consensus: Rays, No. 17; High: No. 10; Low: No. 27; Mode: No. 18
Nick Castellanos, Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 3B: A strong bat is the key for Castellanos, who has good size at 6-4, 210... Considered a five-tool player... Batted .512 with six home runs, 46 RBI for Florida 4A state champions... Could go as high as the No. 9 pick... Consensus: Angels, No. 18; High: No. 9; Low: 29; Mode: No. 9
A.J. Cole, Oviedo (Fla.), RHP: At 6-5, 190, Cole has a good fastball as well as a breaking pitch... None of the 10 drafts consulted had Cole going to the same team... Cole has been predicted among the top six picks and as low as out of the first round completely... Consensus: Red Sox, No. 20. High: No. 6; Low: Out of First Round; Mode: None
Stetson Allie, St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), RHP: Being considered as a pitcher, Allie is also a talented third baseman... Has a fastball in the high 90s... Mostly slated to go among the bottom 10 teams in the first round... Entered the Ohio Division I semifinals batting .507 with 27 RBI and 13 doubles and posting an 8-1 record with a 1.29 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched... Consensus: Rangers, No. 22; High: No. 11; Low: No. 28; Mode: No. 25
Austin Wilson, Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), OF: Signability could be an issue for Wilson, who has signed with Stanford... Good size at 6-4, 200... Has the arm strength to play right field... Good power at the plate... Wilson was projected near the top and near the bottom of the first round, likely due to signability issues... Consensus: Marlins, No. 23; High: No. 8; Low: No. 32; No. 27
Justin O'Conner, Cowan (Muncie, Ind.), C: Small-school sensation has a powerful bat and a strong arm... Originally a shortstop, O'Conner converted to catcher his senior year... Batting .500 with 48 RBI, 10 HR and 13 doubles... Tied state career home run record with 51... Figures to go in the bottom half of the first round... Consensus: Giants, No. 24; High: No. 18; Low: No. 30; No. 18
Kaleb Cowart, Cook (Adel, Ga.), 3B/RHP: Received the National Player of the Year award from Gatorade... Versatile player who could be drafted as an infielder or a pitcher... Fastball in the low 90s... Mound record of 10-1 with 1.05 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched. Batted .654 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI... Consensus: Cardinals, No. 25; High: No. 17; Low: No. 32; No. 17, 22, 27
Delino DeShields Jr., Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.), OF: Father Delino DeShields Sr. played in the Major Leagues... Also an outstanding football player... Good speed and a strong arm in the outfield... Batted .415 with nine home runs, 40 RBI and 29 stolen bases... Consensus: Dodgers, No. 28; High: No. 8; Low: Out of first round; Mode: No. 19
Aaron Sanchez, Barstow (Calif.), RHP: Posted a 9-1 record with 95 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 50 2/3 innings pitched. Had a 0.69 ERA... Fastball reaches 91-93 mph... Consensus: Yankees, No. 32; High: No. 22; Low: Out of first round; Mode: Nos. 28, 29
