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| 2,625 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,625 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | State Preview | 5/22/2018

State Snapshots: Southeast

Photo: Ryan Rolison (Ole Miss Athletics)

 


Perfect Game 2018 MLB Draft Preview Index

South Atlantic
– FL, GA, NC, SC
Southeast – AL, KY, MS, TN
South Central – AR, LA, OK, TX
Mountain – AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY
Pacific – AK, CA, HI, OR, WA
Great Plains – IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD
Great Lakes – IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Mid-Atlantic – DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV
New England – CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Canada and Puerto Rico


Alabama


Best College Team:
Auburn
Best Junior College Team: Chattahoochee Valley
Best High School Team: Faith Academy

Prospect on the Rise: Blake Rivera, rhp, Wallace-Hanceville CC
Wild Card: Jeremiah Jackson, ss, St Lukes HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Alabama Connection:
 Trey Truitt, of, Mercer
Top 2019 Prospect: Gunner Henderson, ss, John T. Moran Academy
Top 2020 Prospect: Tanner Burns, rhp, Auburn

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History: Gregg Olson, rhp, Auburn University (1988, Orioles/1st round, 4th pick)

2013 Draft: Phillip Ervin, of, Samford University (Rockies/1st round, 27th pick)
2014 Draft: Cody Reed, lhp, Ardmore HS (Diamondbacks/2nd round)
2015 Draft: Mikey White, ss, Alabama (Athletics/2nd round)
2016 Draft: Braxton Garrett, lhp, Florence HS (Marlins/1st round, 7th pick)
2017 Draft: Bubba Thompson, of, McGill-Toolen HS (Rangers/1st round, 26th pick)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 21/18
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 2/2
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 10/4

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Casey Mize, rhp, Auburn (1)
• Travis Swaggerty, of, South Alabama (9)
• Jeremiah Jackson, ss, St. Lukes HS (42)
• Blake Rivera, rhp, Wallace-Hanceville JC (145)
• Garrett Wade, lhp, Hartselle HS (147)
• Cole Henry, rhp, Florence HS (211)
• Tyler O’Clair, rhp, Calera HS (248)
• Davis Daniel, rhp, Auburn (269)
• Brandon Lockridge, of, Troy (273)
• Brendan Donovan, 3b, South Alabama (372)
• Sam Knowlton, rhp, Corner HS (422)
• Brett Wright, c, Auburn (451)
• Oraj Anu, of, Wallace Dothan JC (468)
• TJ Reeves, of, Hueytown HS (491)


Kentucky


Best College Team:
 Kentucky
Best High School Team: St. Xavier

Prospect on the Rise: Tristan Pompey, of, Kentucky
Wild Card: Riley Thompson, rhp, Louisville

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Kentucky Connection: 
Jaren Shelby, of, State College of Florida
Top 2019 Prospect: Zach Thompson, lhp, Kentucky
Top 2020 Prospect: Bobby Miller, rhp, Louisville

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
Drew Hall, lhp, Morehead State University (1984, Cubs/1st round, 3rd pick)

2013 Draft: Clinton Hollon, rhp, Woodford County HS, Lexington (Blue Jays/2nd round)
2014 Draft: A.J. Reed, 1b, Kentucky (Astros/2nd round)
2015 Draft: Kyle Funkhouser, rhp, Louisville (Dodgers/1st round, 35th pick)
2016 Draft: Corey Ray, of, Louisville (Brewers/1st round, 5th pick)
2017 Draft: Brendan McKay, 1b/lhp, Louisville (Rays/1st round, 4th pick)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 22/20
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 3/2

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Sean Hjelle, rhp, Kentucky (35)
• Tristan Pompey, of, Kentucky (64)
• Zach Haake, rhp, Kentucky (100)
• Riley Thompson, rhp, Louisville (144)
• Drew Rom, lhp, Highlands HS (153)
• Adam Wolf, lhp, Louisville (165)
• Josh Stowers, of, Louisville (172)
• Justin Lewis, rhp, Kentucky (259)
• Bryan Hoeing, rhp, Louisville (295)
• Devin Mann, 2b/3b, Louisville (309)
• Kole Cottam, c, Kentucky (322)
• Trey Dawson, ss, Kentucky (326)
• TJ Collett, 1b, Kentucky (336)
• Niko Hulsizer, of, Morehead State (384)
• Chris Machamer, rhp, Kentucky (390)
• Luke Heyer, 3b/of, Kentucky (409)
• Luke Becker, 2b, Kentucky (472)


Mississippi


Best College Team:
Mississippi
Best Junior College Team: Jones County
Best High School Team: Hattiesburg

Prospect on the Rise: JT Ginn, rhp, Brandon HS
Wild Card: Konnor Pilkington, lhp, Mississippi State

Top 2019 Prospect: Jerrion Ealy, of, Jackson Prep
Top 2020 Prospect: Kellum Clark, 1b, Jackson Academy

Highest Draft Picks

Highest Pick, Draft History:
Will Clark, 1b, Mississippi State (1985, Giants/1st round, 2nd pick)

2013 Draft: Hunter Renfroe, of, Mississippi State (Padres/1st round, 13th pick)
2014 Draft: Blake Anderson, c, West Lauderdale HS, Collinsville (Marlins/supplemental 1st round, 36th pick)
2015 Draft: Austin Riley, 3b, DeSoto Central HS (Braves/1st round, 41st pick)
2016 Draft: Dakota Hudson, rhp, Mississippi State (Cardinals/1st round, 34th pick)
2017 Draft: Brent Rooker, of, Mississippi State (Twins/1st round, 35th pick)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 14/12
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 3/2
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 4/0

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Ryan Rolison, lhp, Mississippi (13)
• JT Ginn, rhp, Brandon HS (44)
• Konnor Pilkington, lhp, Mississippi State (54)
• Joe Gray Jr., of, Hattiesburg HS (70)
• Jake Mangum, of, Mississippi State (171)
• Nick Sandlin, rhp, Southern Miss (177)
• Parker Caracci, rhp, Mississippi (245)
• Ryan Olenek, if/of, Mississippi (360)
• Dexter Jordan Jr., of, Hattiesburg HS (402)
• Brooks Warren, lhp, East Central JC (406)
• Will Freeman, rhp, Jones County JC (426)
• Brady Feigl, rhp, Mississippi (428)
• Nick Fortes, c, Mississippi (499)


Tennessee


Best College Team:
 Tennessee Tech
Best Junior College Team: Walters State
Best High School Team: Farragut

Prospect on the Rise: Ryan Weathers, lhp, Loretto HS
Wild Card: Ryder Green, of, Karns HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Tennessee Connection:
 Ryan Rolison, lhp, Mississippi
Top 2019 Prospect: Maurice Hampton, of, Memphis University HS
Top 2020 Prospect: Austin Martin, ss, Vanderbilt

Highest Draft Picks

Highest Pick, Draft History:
David Price, lhp, Vanderbilt (2007, Rays/1st round, 1st pick); Dansby Swanson, ss, Vanderbilt (2015, Diamondbacks/1st round, 1st pick)

2013 Draft: Kevin Ziomek, lhp, Vanderbilt (Pirates/2nd round)
2014 Draft: Tyler Beede, rhp, Vanderbilt (Giants/1st round, 14th pick)
2015 Draft: Dansby Swanson, ss, Vanderbilt (Diamondbacks/1st round, 1st pick)
2016 Draft: Nick Senzel, 3b, Tennessee (Reds/1st round, 2nd pick)
2017 Draft: Kyle Wright, rhp, Vanderbilt (Braves/1st round, 5th pick)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 30/29
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 6/3
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 4/1

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Ryan Weathers, lhp, Loretto HS (19)
• Reid Schaller, rhp, Vanderbilt (114)
• Ryder Green, of, Karns HS (116)
• Ethan Smith, rhp, Mount Juliet HS (137)
• Zach Linginfelter, rhp, Tennessee (229)
• Connor Kaiser, ss, Vanderbilt (239)
• Jonathan Bowlan, rhp, Memphis (306)
• Paul McIntosh, c, Motlow State (447)
• Will Gardner, rhp, Carson-Newman (444)
• Ethan Paul, 2b, Vanderbilt (449)
• Patrick Raby, rhp, Vanderbilt (452)
• Hunter Wolfe, ss, Walters State (466)




Draft | Story | 9/11/2026

PG Draft: Potential Risers Into Top 50

Michael Albee
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We are in the early stages of the 2027 cycle and there is still plenty of time for players to make significant jumps up the board. While our current Top-100 provides an early look at the class, several players just outside that group have the upside to make a run at becoming Top-50 pick by next July. With that in mind, each member of the draft team each selected one college player and one prep player they believe could make the jump into the Top-50 over the course of the spring. These are the names to keep an eye on as the 2027 draft picture continues to develop. Joey’s Picks:   Jake Cueto (27 FL) goes oppo πŸ’£ on a mid-90s LonL heater. Performing at a very high level, hitting .464 with 5 homers. Excellent hit/run combo and here comes the juice! #PGHS #Miami commit @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/g4gtml81mm — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) April 1, 2026 Prep: OF, Jake...
Tournaments | Story | 9/9/2026

PG Wood Bat Fall Kickoff Scout Notes

Tyler Henninger
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Evan Thompson (‘29, AZ) showcasing the all-fields power with this ground rule double the other way. Immense power upside. Really fun offensive profile #FallKickoff https://t.co/l551KirUOf pic.twitter.com/QW0AIeg59g — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) September 7, 2026 Evan Thompson (2029, Gilbert, Ariz.) put on an offensive clinic throughout the weekend, going 8-for-13 with three extra-base hits. He capped off his MVP performance with a walkoff home run to take home the championship. Thompson is one of the premier players in the 2029 class. A fluid left-handed stroke consistently finds barrels. There is all fields power present that will only continue to develop further. It would not be a surprise if Thimpson ends up the top ranked player in the class when it is all said and done.  Chase Fillman (2028, Goodyear, Ariz.) put together a loud summer circuit and...
Draft | Story | 9/8/2026

What Profiles Are Valued Most at Top of Draft

Tyler Henninger
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The landscape of the MLB Draft continues to evolve each and every year. What teams value at the top of the draft can change based on the strength of a particular class, shifts in player development philosophy, and, perhaps most importantly, the way organizations evaluate risk and upside. Some trends are subtle, while others become impossible to ignore when viewed across multiple years. For this study, I set out to answer one question: What player profiles do teams value at the top of the draft? To answer it, I analyzed the Top-100 picks from each of the last six drafts (2021-2026). That gives us 600 total selections to examine and provides a large enough sample to identify both the profiles that have remained consistently popular and those that have gained or lost significant ground. The data was broken down by position, handedness and level to create individual player profiles. While...
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First Look: Class of 2031 Rankings

Perfect Game Staff
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Draft | Story | 9/7/2026

Chubb Jones Jr. Enrolls Early

Tyler Henninger
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Harry Chubb Jones Jr. is getting an early start on the next chapter of his baseball career. The Perfect Game All-American announced Sunday that he will enroll early at the University of Alabama, giving the Crimson Tide an early addition from one of the more intriguing two-way prospects in the 2027 class. See y’all at The Joe! πŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎ pic.twitter.com/Kn0T0mJxq7 — 6._.chubbjones (@chubb_hitter) September 6, 2026 Jones, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound SS/RHP from Georgia, was ranked No. 39 in the 2027 class and came in at No. 83 on the initial Top-100 2027 Draft Board. Chubb Jones Jr (‘27 GA) smokes this one the other way for an RBI single & we’re all level in the 6th. Adv bat speed, impacts w/ authority to all fields #PGAAC@PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/FZ46IvYVp1 — Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic (@PGAllAmerican) August 16, 2026 The McEachern...
Draft | Story | 9/7/2026

2027 MLB Draft: PG Content Hub

Tyler Henninger
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No more having to search for articles pertaining to the 2027 MLB Draft as we will keep it all centrally located here, in the PG Content Hub, leading up to the first pick next July. Tyler Henninger, Joey Cohen, Michael Albee and Ryan Miller, along with the rest of the Perfect Game staff, will continue to provide you with the latest info as it pertains to this 2027 crop.  Article Date Initial Follow List July 12 Way Too Early Mock July 13 Realistic Expectations of 1:1 August 11 Preview: Collegiate RHP August 21  Draft Board: Top 100 August 28 Way Too Early 1:1 Predictions September 4 Chubb Jones Jr. Enrolls Early September 7 Preview: Collegiate LHP September 7 What Profiles are Valued Most at Top of Draft September 9 Potential Risers Into The Top 50 September 11
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2027 Draft Preview: Collegiate LHP

Ryan Miller
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2027 MLB Draft Profile Preview: Collegiate Right-Handed Pitchers The collegiate left-handed pitching class is always a popular demographic, and this year’s is no different. The group contains a mix of power pitch mixes and polished pitch-ability, with healthy representation from power four schools and a handful of mid-majors. Below we look at this year’s top college left-handers. An extended look at LHP Tomas Valincius (@HailStateBB)... 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K https://t.co/lCHgGnsdbi pic.twitter.com/Vm3nQkAukc — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 28, 2026 Tomas Valincius, Mississippi State Valincius followed head coach Brian O’Connor from Virginia to Mississippi State and immediately established himself as their ace last spring. The Illinois native posted a 3.50 ERA over 17 starts in 2026, striking out 33.5% of hitters and walking just five percent....
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Update: Class of 2030 Rankings

Perfect Game Staff
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Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 9/4/2026

2027 Draft: Way Too Early 1:1 Predictions

Tyler Henninger
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2027 Top 100 Draft Board  Current Favorite: SS Dylan Seward, Norco HS (Calif.) In our first iteration of the 2027 Draft Board, Norco shortstop Dylan Seward ranks No. 1 overall. The switch-hitter is an ultra-twitchy player with a lot to like on both sides of the ball. He is a supreme athlete that should stick up the middle. Explosiveness is shown in all aspects of his game and gives the profiles big time upside.  In the event that Seward does not go 1:1, each member of our draft team selected a player that they think could wind up in that spot. We are still nearly a full year away from draft day, but here are our “Way Too Early” predictions for the 1st overall pick next July.  Henni’s Pick: C/UTL Gavin Kelly, West Virginia    Gavin Kelly (@WVUBaseball) sends this over the wall in CF for a solo πŸ’£ (100 EV/ 416 ft). Adv. hitter with accurate...
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Class of 2029 Rankings Update

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