2021 MLB Draft Prep – Top 10 High School Position Players
The 2021 MLB Draft is taking place a little later in the calendar year than usual due to COVID impacts on… life. It’s unclear what COVID and the pause in development means for prospects both in and out of professional baseball, but everyone is facing the same unprecedented obstacles. The Draft is slated for July 11th with these should be the first high school position players taken.
#1 Jordan Lawlar, SS, HS- Texas
Lawlar is the top draft prospect in this year’s draft class due to his ability to have plus tools across the board. He’s got intangibles that elicit comparisons to a young Derek Jeter with similar ability to Carlos Correa who was the #1 pick in 2012. He’s considered by most to be a plus hitter with the chance for above average or better power. Defensively, he has a plus arm and the instincts to develop into a plus defender and he might someday be a double plus runner. Vanderbilt commit. Bats: R
#2 Khalil Watson, SS, HS- North Carolina
Watson has some of the loudest tools in this year’s draft class. He has a chance to stick at shortstop thanks to an above average or better arm and 70 grade speed while also showing the ability to develop into a plus hitter with a chance for plus power as well. North Carolina State commit. Bats: L
#3 Marcelo Mayer, SS, HS- California
Mayer is considered by many (not me) to be the top draft prospect in this year’s draft class. He has an excellent feel for hitting with the chance to develop into a plus or better hitter with above average or better power. He is one of the top defensive players in this year’s draft class at shortstop thanks to a plus arm and draws comparisons to gold glover Brandon Crawford despite being a below average runner. He draws comparisons to Corey Seager offensively. That’s a good combination. Southern California commit. Bats: L
#4 Brady House, SS, HS- Georgia
House projects to have the best power in this year’s draft class. There are some swing and miss concerns with him that will probably keep him outside the top 5 picks, but he’s always been one of the top prep players in this year’s draft class. He has a chance to stick at shortstop thanks to an above average to plus arm and good instincts as a high school position player. Tennessee commit. Bats: R
#5 Harry Ford, C, HS- Georgia
Ford is a super athletic catcher that offers some of the best defensive versatility in this year’s draft class thanks to his plus speed and strong arm. He has a chance to develop into an above average hitter with plus power. Georgia Tech commit. Bats: R
#6 Benny Montgomery, OF, HS- Pennsylvania
Montgomery has probably the loudest tools in this year’s draft class. He’s a 70 runner with the chance for plus or better power with an above average arm and plus defensive ability. There are concerns about a hitch in his swing but he’s worked hard to improve in that area this past off-season. Virginia commit. Bats: R
#7 Joe Mack, C, HS- New York
Mack is an offense-first prep catcher’s with a glove that is still developing but he has good athleticism and a plus arm. He has a chance to develop into an above average or better hitter with above average or better power from the left side. Clemson commit. Bats: L
#8 Colson Montgomery, SS, HS- Indiana
Montgomery projects for plus or better power and he has a chance to stick at third base. He’s an older high school player in this year’s class and there’s some questions as to how well he’ll hit for average. Corey Seager at a similar stage in his career. Indiana commit. Bats: L
#9 Will Taylor, OF, HS- South Carolina
Taylor is an exciting 3-sport athlete that won state titles as a wrestler and as a Quarterback. He earned a scholarship to play Wide Receiver at Clemson thanks to his plus or better speed that translates well in baseball. He’s more advanced than most 3-sport athletes with the chance to develop into an above average or better hitter as a high school position player. Clemson commit. Bats: R
#10 Peyton Stovall, SS, HS- Louisiana
Stovall is one of the best pure hitters in this year’s draft class. He has a chance for above average or better power from the left side. There are questions about his defensive home as he has a below average arm. Arkansas commit. Bats: L
