PHOENIX -- As impressive as the talent was on the first day of workouts at the MLB Draft Combine on Tuesday, the group that performed at Chase Field on Wednesday was even better.
MLB Network's broadcast began with five high schoolers (Eric Bitonti, Trent Caraway, Roch Cholowsky, Gavin Grahovac, Myles Naylor) crushing baseballs and concluded with Charlotte outfielder Jake Cunningham and three more prepsters (Caden Sorrell, Brandon Winokur, George Wolkow) mashing balls even harder and farther. In between the hitting heroics, several quality arms were on display.
Below are 10 standouts from Wednesday for whom data was immediately available:
Eric Bitonti, 3B/SS, Aquinas HS, San Bernardino, Calif.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Bitonti possesses some of the best left-handed power in the Draft, and he showed it off by averaging 336 feet on balls in play, the second-highest figure of the day, with a high of 419 feet. He smoked three balls at 105 mph or harder and clocked an infield throw at 92 mph. His on-field performance is less consistent than his raw tools, but the latter are hard to ignore and age-influenced clubs love the fact that he doesn't turn 18 until November.
Cole Carrigg, OF/SS/C, San Diego State
Carrigg demonstrated the best sheer arm strength of any position player, clocking throws of 98, 99 and 100 mph at shortstop and 101 and 102 mph from right field -- with an 86-mph toss at catcher also thrown in. Perhaps the most versatile defender in the Draft, he hit just seven homers in three college seasons but drove the ball well in BP, averaging 99 mph in exit velocity and 316 feet of distance with a 25-degree launch angle.
Roch Cholowsky, SS, Hamilton HS, Chandler, Ariz.
One of the best shortstop defenders available, Cholowsky displayed the smoothest infield actions of the day as well as a strong arm that also made him a star prep quarterback. The son of Dan Cholowsky, who made it to Triple-A with the Reds and now scouts for Cincy, Roch also turned in a solid batting practice that included seven triple-digit exit velocities.
Jake Cunningham, OF, Charlotte
Cunningham owns some of the best all-around tools in the college class, highlighted by well above-average raw power and speed. He averaged 100 mph in exit velocity -- which ranked only third in the final group of four -- topped out at 108 mph and smashed one ball 431 feet.
Cam Johnson, LHP, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
Johnson was making a push toward the first round until getting sidelined with elbow tendinitis. He returned to the mound last week at the Florida high school all-star game and outshone every pitcher who threw at the Combine. Strong and physical at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, he sat at 95-97 mph with a high spin fastball and mixed in a couple of 80-81 mph sliders.
Hunter Owen, LHP, Vanderbilt
Another left-hander with health questions, Owen was establishing himself as the best college southpaw in the Draft before he pitched just four times in the last two months of the college season after coming down with a tired arm in his first year as a starter. He looked healthy Wednesday, producing high spin rates on low-90s fastballs and low-80s sliders while also showing the ability to kill spin on a low-80s changeup.
Tai Peete, SS, Trinity Christian HS, Sharpsburg, Ga.
Peete has arguably the quickest bat in the Draft and he whipped it through the zone, generating the longest average drives (338 feet) and the highest average launch angle (38 degrees). His exit velocities averaged 92 mph and he also took a good infield.
Brandon Winokur, OF, Edison HS, Huntington Beach, Calif.
In a day of spectacular batting-practice shows, Winokur had the best. He produced triple-digit exit velocities on 21 of 22 swings, averaging 106 mph, topping 110 mph five times (both the best of the day) and peaking at 114. He also hit the two longest blasts of the day at 437 and 432 feet. A potential five-tool player, he also uncorked a 101-mph throw.
George Wolkow, OF, Downers Grove (Ill.) North HS
One of the most impressive physical specimens in the Draft with a 6-foot-7, 239-pound frame that reminds scouts of 2022 Yankees first-rounder Spencer Jones, Wolkow reclassified from the 2024 Draft and won't turn 18 until next January. After hammering five of the first six pitches he saw into the ground -- albeit two of those at 105 mph -- he found his groove, eventually hit five consecutive 400-plus foot homers and finished with a 431-foot shot. His peak exit velocity of 116 mph ranked first and his average of 104 mph placed second.
Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers HS, St. Louis
Zanetello has a long track record of producing at showcase events and added the Combine to his résumé. The ball jumped off the five-tool athlete's bat with four triple-digit exit velocities and a high of 103 mph, and he also looked smooth taking grounders at shortstop.