Here are the Top 200 Draft prospects
Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman, the strong favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Orioles on June 3, continues to sit atop MLB Pipeline's Draft rankings as we expand our list from 100 to 200. In fact, very little has changed at the top.
The first nine players on the Top 200 are the same nine guys in the same order as they were on the Top 100 we unveiled on May 2. Nobody in the first 26 spots on the Top 200 moved up or down more than two places.
Six players who didn't crack the Top 100 three weeks ago have surged into that territory in our revised rankings. Florida shortstop Brady McConnell (No. 39) headlines that group, pushing for first-round consideration on the basis of his combination of plus raw power, speed and arm strength.
Mobile (Ala.) Christian High's Ethan Hearn (No. 68) has established himself as the consensus best prep catcher available. Navy right-hander Noah Song's (No. 69) Draft status is clouded by his military commitment, but he's leading NCAA Division I in strikeouts (161 in 94 innings) and strikeout rate (15.4 per nine innings) thanks to a mid-90s fastball and a quality breaking ball. Midway High (Waco, Texas) righty William Rigney (No. 81), Woodstock (Ga.) High third baseman Brennan Milone (No. 95) and UCLA righty Ryan Garcia (No. 99) also jumped into the upper half of the Top 200.
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All told, 117 collegians, 77 high schoolers and six junior college players made MLB Pipeline's Top 200. Here are some further breakdowns:
By position
Scouts consider this draft thin on pitching, especially in terms of college arms worthy of first-round selections, and the Top 200 reflects that. It includes 107 hitters versus 93 pitchers, almost an exact reversal from a year ago when arms outnumbered bats by a 111-89 margin.
In terms of primary positions, there are 71 right-handers, 34 outfielders, 29 shortstops, 22 left-handers, 17 third basemen, 15 catchers, eight first basemen and four second basemen.
By state
Thirty-five different states are represented on the Top 200, as well as the District of Columbia, Canada and Puerto Rico. California leads the way with 23 prospects, followed closely by Texas with 22 and Florida with 21.
There are 13 states with at five or more players on the list. The others are: North Carolina (15), Georgia (13), Mississippi (12), Tennessee (7), Alabama (6), Illinois (6), Arizona (5), Kentucky (5) and Louisiana (5).
By school
Two Southeastern Conference rivals and one high school tied for the most Top 200 prospects with four each. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) has a pair of potential first-rounders in right-hander Brennan Malone (No. 20) and third baseman Rece Hinds (No. 42) among its quartet. Right-hander Isaiah Campbell (No. 43) is the best of Arkansas' foursome, while outfielder Thomas Dillard (No. 115) is the highest ranked among Mississippi's.
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Eleven colleges have three Top 200 guys each: Baylor, East Carolina, Elon, Louisiana State, Louisville, Michigan, Oregon State, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA and Vanderbilt. Besides IMG Academy, the only high schools with multiple players represented are Cypress (Texas) Ranch High, Delbarton School (Morristown, N.J.) and Lake Travis High (Austin, Texas) with two apiece.