PL Contributor: Alex

The most impressive amateur hitter I’ve seen live, Tork is an ideal fit for the Tigers’ needs. He’s a better athlete than you’d expect at first base but the impact is with the bat. Torkelson looks to be a 50 hit and 70 game power middle-of-the-order bat with an advanced approach. He has tore through college (.337/.443/.723), the Cape (.340/.484/.745) and Team USA (.260/.361/.440) over the last two years. Offense carries the profile, but his all-star upside is buoyed by a three true outcome floor. A safe yet sexy pick.

PL Contributor: Kyler

The Georgia ace can run his fastball up to 99 with the potential for three other offspeed offerings that could be at least average. He finished 2019 with a 1.99 ERA and 9.7 K/9 in the SEC. Hancock is the best arm on the board at this point.

PL Contributor: Matt P

The Marlins took a Vandy star last year in JJ Bleday and do so again here with Austin Martin. The shortstop with a top of the lineup type of bat and speed could be the table setter for their future, giving Bleday some help just like their days with the Commodores.

PL Contributor: Matt P

The thought of Nick Gonzales’ bat became too much to overlook, especially when you have dreams of a Bobby Witt Jr/Gonzales middle infield to get the next version of competitive Royals started. Gonzales may be the best pure hitter in this entire draft, a guy who used the summer at the Cape to show that the big college numbers weren’t only due to playing at hitter friendly New Mexico State.

PL Contributor: Kyler

The Texas prep righ-thander regularly sits mid-90s and reaches 99. Evaluators rave over the easy velocity from a super low effort delivery. Kelley also has a changeup that he is comfortable using and a developing slurve.

PL Contributor: Alex

The top prep infielder in the class, Howard got helium this summer showcasing big tools on both sides of the ball. An average to slightly below runner, Howard has the hands, footwork and arm for shortstop but has Gold Glove upside at third base. Howard shows an elite feel for bat to ball with a simple stroke at the plate with natural loft. His projectable frame could lead to above average game power. Howard is a cold-weather kid from Chicago, a trait Dipoto appears to covet in his early picks. Overall, a potential quick mover and star at SS/3B with the upside of four 55+ tools.

PL Contributor: Alex

Local kid with truly electric bat speed. Up until this summer, Hendrick had been known for his electric wrists and wacky hitting mechanics, but he made big strides mechanically over the summer. As a result, he’s making much more consistent contact and can get into his massive raw power more easily. It’s a right field profile with a big arm and over 105 mph exit velos as a teen.

PL Contributor: Kyler

A product of the heralded Harvard-Westlake High School, Crow-Armstrong has been on the radar for a while, playing with 18U Team USA for the past couple years. He has a loose, easy swing with big potential in the bat. Although scouts rave over his swing, he looks to be a future plus defender in center with plus arm strength. Crow-Armstrong is perhaps the most polished high school player in the class.

PL Contributor: Matt P

The Rockies need pitching and they go out and get the top lefty in the draft, a Texan with high level stuff that has a great track record of success in the SEC. Lacy sits in the low to mid 90s with a power slider that helps him rack up strikeouts. He’s the type of pitcher that could even move further up should he see an uptick in his command this spring.

PL Contributor: Matt P

Casey Martin wasn’t the most ideal pick for the Angels but as the Top 10 came to a close and he was still on the board, he became too much to pass up. The Arkansas star might be behind Andrelton Simmons here, but there becomes a time that you just can’t pass on the best available talent. While Martin might not be the biggest guy, his feel for putting the barrel on the ball and his outstanding baseball instincts — as well as SEC production — make him a guy that the Angels can’t let slide out of the top 10.

PL Contributor: Kyler

Hassell really solidified his name at the top of draft boards this summer, hitting .472 with two home runs in nine games with Team USA. He is a lean, athletic outfielder with easy bat speed and power that projects to continue to grow as he adds on more strength.

PL Contributor: Alex

Tall, lanky, projectable centerfielder with five-tool potential. Spread, open stance with some lift to his loose swing. Popup guy who lacks the sample size of other top prep bats, but took Matthew Allen deep last year. Has drawn Drew Waters comps and has all star upside. Could become a 1-1 type player in 2022 should he honor his Florida commitment.

PL Contributor: Alex

Abel’s fall stops here. Arguably the highest ceiling arm in the class, Abel has touched 97 at times with a plus slider when he’s on. He has a hyper projectable frame and looks likely to touch triple digit velo at maturity. Was the top prep arm at the start of the summer, but didn’t have his stuff the second half of the circuit and looked fatigued. If his stuff returns as expected, he has top five overall pick potential given his easy velo, ideal frame and sexy slider.

PL Contributor: Kyler

Mitchell screams five-tool potential. However, some scouts are concerned over his type 1 diabetes. He is a freak athlete with sub-4 second home to first times leading to 80 speed designations. In his sophomore year at UCLA his stats screamed almost as loud as his tools, as Mitchell batted .349 with six home runs, 12 triples, 18 SB, and just below a 14 K% .

PL Contributor: Matt P

The Phillies need some pitching and Burns is the top college pitcher on the board for them. The Auburn star has been on the radar since high school and after turning down the pros after being highly regarded, he has been a star since Day One for the Tigers. Burns has both quality stuff and the pitchability that you might expect from a coach’s son.

PL Contributor: Matt P

The Cubs need arms badly as pitching has been their undoing at the big league level. Ginn is the most interesting pitcher here, mixing his high level stuff with a chance to start. His build and injury late in the year raise some questions on his ability to hold up in a rotation, but he could end up being a Josh Hader type of multi-inning reliever that gets to Chicago fairly quickly if starting doesn’t work out.

PL Contributor: Kyler

Kjerstad is a solidified slugger with plus power. In addition to dominating at the plate with Team USA this summer, he has put up a .331/.404/.574 slash line with 30 home runs over his first two years at Arkansas. Another strong year in the SEC will prove Kjerstad as the most proven hitter in the class.

PL Contributor: Alex

After infusing the farm with talent in 2019, Arizona can afford to take a gamble on a high ceiling helium prep bat. Walker shows the tools to be plus at third base and is a very good athlete for his size with a big arm. Currently crushes fastballs but susceptible to offspeed with a swing that should help him get to what could be 70 raw power. Also interesting on the mound. A high risk, high reward prep bat akin to a more polished Rece Hinds.

PL Contributor: Alex

College catchers are always a highly valued commodity in the draft and Bailey is the consensus top college backstop in the class. Bailey has slashed .303/.403/.553 over his first two college seasons with 23 home runs, but it’s behind the dish where he stands out. Bailey isn’t fast but is athletic with above average framing, receiving and arm power/accuracy. Given an advanced approach, above average power and solid defense, Bailey should move quickly for a backstop and fill a big need for a Mets team looking to compete now.

PL Contributor: Kyler

The athletic, switch-hitting catcher can do a little bit of everything. He is agile behind the plate with framing skills and a rifle arm. His developing bat also shows promise. Romo could be the top catcher on the board come June with a strong spring.

PL Contributor: Matt P

If there ever was a Cardinals pick it is Reid Detmers. He’s a solid college lefty who has produced at a high level against high level competition. He may not have the upside of some of the other college pitchers, but he is also a safer player with a high enough floor to validate his selection here. The downside is that none of his pitches are plus, leading to him being more of a #3/4 starter.

PL Contributor: Matt P

The Nationals aren’t afraid of chasing upside and this pick represents that. Crews is the toolsy type of outfielder that could be an impact player and gives you thoughts of a Juan Soto/Victor Robles/Crews outfield. Crews has the advanced hit tool and plus power to really fit in nicely with that group.

PL Contributor: Kyler

The Mississippi prepster has been on the radar ever since he was a 12-year-old phenom. The biggest question mark at this point is where he will stick on the field. One thing is for sure, he can rake. His prodigious power was on display in July when he won the High School Home Run Derby at Progressive Field.

PL Contributor: Alex

Wilcox is wild and the frame is filled out, but it’s hard to ignore 95-99 mph velo with a plus changeup and a solid slider past this point. Wilcox, who will be a draft eligible sophomore was hit around in his debut both at Georgia and on the Cape due to notable control issues. But who better than the Rays to fix those. Wilcox was likely a first round pick in 2018 had he asked for a reasonable bonus and may be a tough sign again in 2020, but the stuff is worth the risks.

PL Contributor: Alex

Big projectable prep lefty with an absolutely massive frame. Fulton is a good athlete and repeats his mechanics exceptionally well for his size and age and creates deception. He gets plus extension and downhill plane on a 90-93 mph fastball. He has a slurvy slider that is plus and an advanced changeup for his age. Has two-way impact should he wind up making it to Vanderbilt’s campus. A perfect fit for this Braves system.

PL Contributor: Kyler

The 6-foot-6 right-hander shows one of the more advanced pitch repertoires in this draft. His fastball sits low 90s and can reach 95. He also features a slider and changeup that both flash plus. Mace shows glimpses of a future workhorse.

PL Contributor: Matt P

The Twins are a team with a chance to compete now, a strong lineup with more talented bats on the way, and a need for pitching improvement. That led towards a college arm that has a good mix of floor and ceiling, and some ability to help with the bat as needed. On the mound Cavalli has the frame to be an innings eater and the mid-90s fastball and curve to be a #2/3 pitcher.

PL Contributor: Matt P

The Yankees were a pick I was looking forward to making because they’re simply loaded and as a late first round pick, they really can go anywhere to find upside. That search for upside led to Jared Jones, a very talented but not always consistent prep arm. Jones is arguably one of the three highest upside arms in the draft, making him especially intriguing late in the first round with his nearly 100 mph fastball and a curve that can become a plus pitch with more consistency.

PL Contributor: Kyler

Van Eyk clicked in the second half of the season at FSU and dominated. The Florida State hurler regularly sits mid-90s with his heater and reaches 98 at times. He also shows a plus curveball with 12-6 shape and a promising changeup. Van Eyk will soar up draft boards if he continues to show consistency this spring.

PL Contributor: Alex

A draft eligible sophomore who had round one buzz in 2018, Cecconi showed well in his debut at Miami with a 4.13 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 89 K/18 BB over 80 IP. He has a slightly long but fast arm action that creates running and sinking life on a fastball that has touched 97 but sits more 91-93. He also has a slider, curve and change mix that could all be average to above pitches. When asked who the toughest pitcher he faced in the 2018 circuit, now Mariners prospect Jarred Kelenic named Cecconi. With his projectable frame, four-pitch mix and early success, Cecconi fits the Houston arch type well and could rise up boards this spring.