THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,481 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,481 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Draft  | Rankings | 4/28/2021

MLB Draft: Top 400

Brian Sakowski
Vincent Cervino
Photo: Jack Leiter (Vanderbilt Athletics)

As we sit, the MLB Draft is scheduled to start in 74 days on July 11, and run through July 13. This is, obviously, the latest the draft has been in some time. On the other hand, there wasn't a whole lot of adjustments made to various college/high school schedules, so most of the players you see below are going to be dealing with some dead time between the end of their seasons and the draft itself. That's pretty unique, obviously, as that's not always the case. Some might play summer ball, some will assuredly have pre-draft workouts with teams, and some we might not hear from outside of bullpens until the draft itself. Now, to the draft itself...

This draft is more or less universally panned as a "just okay" draft by those, like us, who have seen all of these players. The prep shortstops are a serious bright spot and may cause us to one day look back at this class as extremely impactful. The top-three prep bats have separated themselves into their own tier at this point, with Mayer/House/Lawlar making up those 3. Marcelo Mayer seems to be the least likely of the three to stick at shortstop, but also perhaps the most enticing of the three long term given his left-handed hitting tools and power projection. Corey Seager has been a popular comparison thrown around. Brady House, as we've long said here at PG, offers extremely high upside. A freak of an athlete with excellent physicality, House has some of the best raw power in the country and has a good chance to play short. Jordan Lawlar, even at this early stage, is expected to be the second overall pick to the Rangers, and offers the most sure bet to stay at shortstop along with enticing right-handed power at the plate. 



Beyond the top-three, the prep bats are still exciting, especially given the grand total of like three college bats who have actually made some money this spring when compared to preseason expectations. Khalil Watson offers one of the more high-end toolsets in the country but is really just getting underway in N.C. Will Taylor has been one of the biggest prep risers thus far, as an 80 runner who has a very intriguing twitch/glove/power projection profile. Harry Ford has been described as a "unicorn" by more than a few high-ranking scouts, and his athleticism/offensive profile/potential defensive versatility have him a good bet to go in the top-20. Benny Montgomery might be on the Mt. Rushmore of all-time toolsets in PG events, and if he continues to show improved bat-to-ball skills and swing improvements this spring, the sky is the limit. Joe Mack's offensive upside and arm strength give him significant heat, while Alex Mooney is a slam dunk to stay on the dirt while coming into more and more power this spring. 

Other potential Day 1 prep notables include Bubba Chandler, the Clemson QB commit (Will Taylor actually is as well), who some teams actually prefer as a switch-hitting shortstop with power, but is still (by a slim majority) preferred as a power right-handed arm. Lonnie White is a noted freak of athleticism and tools with a football commitment to Penn State, but the returns this spring have been extremely loud so far this spring. Peyton Stovall has 15 bombs and it's hard to say that anyone has performed better than he this spring, he's viewed as a potential backend first rounder-comp rounder (call it picks 20-40) who profiles as an offensive-minded second baseman with power long term. Josh Baez has some of the best power in the class and looks like an ideal archetype for right field long term. And there are MANY more prep bats worth mentioning as potential top-three rounders. 

The college side has been less fun, for sure. Given the general tip of the drafts in recent years towards selecting college players over high school players on the basis of more available data to feed into models/decision-making processes, it's especially interesting that in this draft, it's prep players who are the risers so far. Part of that has to do with flawed board-building preseason given the lack of data on college players, and part of that has to do with the fact that a lot of college players lauded preseason simply have not performed. Will we see the inverse of teams actually somewhat preferring prep players this year? And, if so, will that end up being just a one-year blip on the radar of the overall college lean? 

The two main college risers this spring from a bat perspective are Henry Davis and Sal Frelick, at last insofar as moving towards the top-10 picks. Davis has an 80 arm behind the plate with good twitch but some receiving/blocking concerns, though his batted ball profile is elite and he absolutely hammers baseballs with 30+ home run potential. Frelick is a 70 runner who profiles in center field with excellent bat-to-ball skills but somewhat limited power projection. In a world where college bats are often the quickest to rise, those are the two major ones this year. 

Not to bury the lede too much, but we've obviously gone with Jack Leiter at No. 1 overall, with discussions that included Leiter as well as the three top prep shortstops before ultimately landing on Leiter. There are still a few concerns with Leiter, including size, breaking ball consistency, and command (he's still a 3.7 BB/9), though there are some thoughts that the walks are more a byproduct of Leiter's refusal to deviate from his plan of attacking the top of the zone, rather than loose command. Either way, he seems like The Guy right now. 

The arms after Leiter have definitely jockeyed for position, and this list is certainly not that of an industry survey (our draft board never represents that entirely, our thoughts are given equal weight). Kumar Rocker is likely SP2, though some velocity fluctuations this year as well as lingering reliever concerns did hamper the profile a bit this spring, though with the velocity on the rise again, tremendous physicality, and the best breaker in the class, he's unlikely to drop too far and right now is probably in play beginning at pick three. We have established Jackson Jobe as the top prep arm on the board, as the righty has been absurd this spring, running his fastball into the mid-90s every time out with flashes of higher, a 70-grade slider at times as well as a good curveball and changeup. The fastball shape is of concern, and he's not a freaky athlete, but right now he's the guy of the prep arms and deserves to be ranked as such. Chase Petty is not far behind him, as he's been showing elite velocity in the early going up in New Jersey with improved arm action and spin. He has many reliever characteristics here and the profile is intensely risky, but the stuff is impossible to ignore, as are the improvements. 

Following Petty, there's a mix of "eye of the beholder" types who are generally viewed close together, so the actual order of how they'll go is a crapshoot. Ryan Cusick has an elite fastball with good curveball traits and looks, at times, like a dynamic high-rotation starter. Ty Madden is Mr. Consistency with two plus pitches in his fastball and slider, but no clear third pitch and some operational questions. Sam Bachman has electric stuff, with a power sinker up to 101 mph and a hellacious slider, but the rest of the arsenal has been inconsistent and he's missed starts this season. Jordan Wicks has a plus changeup and good data but the breaking ball isn't plus and changeup-dominant starter profiles can be hard to project, and Andrew Painter has been up and down this spring but the combination of size, strikes, velocity, and spin remain very high-end. 

Some major risers on this board regardless of where they ended up include:

-California prep shortstop Carson Williams, who has big power, a beautiful swing, and the traits to play short. 
-Kansas prep righty Ben Kudrna, who we were aggressive on last fall and into the winter but has been even better than that with a stuff jump across the board, he's in play in the back of the first for some. 
-Fordham lefty Matt Mikulski, who had good stuff but limited success a year ago when he was eligible for the first time, but who has seen a stuff jump across the board this spring with better strikes and operation.
-Mississippi prep lefty Maddux Bruns, who has extremely loud flashes on the circuit (PG National), but whose steps forward in consistency and strikes have really jumped him up. 
-Eastern Illinois shortstop Trey Sweeney, who has performed in a big way and has excellent left-handed power projection with size and a chance to play short. 
-Nebraska shortstop/closer Spencer Schwellenbach, who is a plus athlete with good offensive performance and defensive skills, but who some teams prefer on the mound, where he has a clean delivery with arm speed and has been up to 99, who some think could be developed as a starter. Schwellenbach was a talented prep pitcher who had interest from SEC schools as a pitcher-only, but who preferred to play both ways and has primarily been developed as a shortstop by Nebraska, and to good results. He's one of the draft's more intriguing storylines. 
-Florida State catcher Matheu Nelson, who may have already hit another bomb as I type this. Viewed more in the 7-10 range a year ago when he was eligible for the first time, but with his power surge this spring in a class of college hitters that have been more bad than good this spring, he's rising up boards quickly. 

There have been many others, and you'll find we've been aggressive with prep players on this board as a result of both their performances as well as the limited collegiate rise as a whole. This list will assuredly look different in both future iterations (500 around Memorial Day, full board around July 1), as the class is still figuring itself out and we have that weird dead period to get through as well, where weird things are almost promised to happen. As always, stay tuned to Perfect Game for the industry standard in MLB Draft coverage. -Brian Sakowski

Continue reading this article and more with a Crosschecker Rankings & Scouting Reports subscription.
Sign in Subscribe Now
Give us your feedback
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 6/22/2026

MLB Draft Reports: 400-500
Michael Albee
Article Image
MLB Draft Board: Top 500 400. Michael Barnett, RHP, UCLA R-R, 6-4/210, Lafayette, CA Previously Drafted: Never Drafted Michael Barnett has started games over the last four years for the Bruins, including 44 starts over the past three seasons. The fastball does not overpower hitters, but can generate ground balls at a high rate. A heavy fading changeup is the primary secondary pitch and plus offering. Barnett will use it often and miss bats at a high clip with it. A low-80’s slider adds a third offering. Barnett does not generate a ton of strikeouts, but pounds the zone and fills innings.  401. Connor Marshburn, RHP, UNC Wilmington R-R, 6-6/240, Cary, NC Previously Drafted: Never Drafted Connor Marshburn features an XL frame at 6-foot-6, 240-pounds. The right-hander throws from a low slot and attacks hitters with an east/west mix. The fastball works up to 94 mph with armside...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/22/2026

14u WWBA Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
2030 SS Cash Kelly (Franklin, Tenn.) is a buzzing name this summer as someone who is off to a fast start and looks the part as one of the better pure hitters in this class. He’s very comfortable in the box, showing an innate feel to find the barrel (and limit swing-and-miss) while the hands are fast and he can really accelerate the barrel. Defensively he has been excellent making plays look easy, showing nice range and enough arm for the left side. Add in the fact that he’s a strong runner and you have someone that can impact the game a ton. 2030 SS/RHP Trey Vandergriff (Milton, Ga.) got a couple innings of work at the back end of East Cobb’s first game and looked awesome, striking out 5 of the 6 hitters he faced with big stuff. He sat 85-88, showing dynamic arm speed and a really athletic delivery, while the breaking ball feel stood out, showing he can land it in any...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 6/22/2026

Hot Bats Help AZBC 2027 Take Title

Emily Hicks
Article Image
After three days of competition, the 2026 BCS Challenge concluded with a championship matchup between AZBC 2027 EB and AZ Aztecs at Goodyear Ballpark. AZBC 2027 EB came out victorious with a 12-1 win for the tournament title. AZBC 2027 EB took control early, plating 4 runs in the 2nd inning after Aztecs put 1 on the board in the 1st. The offense continued to build momentum throughout the game, capitalizing on hitting and aggressive base running. Leading the way offensively was Griffin Gregory, who finished 2-3 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. He got the game started for AZBC with a double lined out to left in the top of the 1st inning, getting the crowd and dugout going. Additionally, Beau Zacher, a top 500 ranked player,d went 2-2 with 1 double and 2 runs score, though he wasn't the only one to help out the offense. Logan Sanchez went 2-2 with 2 doubles and 1 run scored and hit .714...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

14u/15u Midwest World Series Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Aiden Weishaar (2029, Geneso, Ill.) physical power bat put together one of the most productive offensive performances of the event, showing big impact off the barrel with advanced strength and leverage through the swing. Collected six hits including two doubles and two home runs while driving in 13 runs, consistently doing damage in run-producing situations. Creates loud contact with present pull-side juice and projects for significant power as the frame and strength continue to mature. Middle of the order offensive profile with the ability to change the game with one swing. Also stood out on the mound with a dominant 7 inning performance, punching out 11 hitters while working efficiently throughout the outing. Fastball ran up to 86 mph with good life through the zone and showed the ability to consistently attack hitters and miss bats. Highly intriguing two-way prospect whose combination...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

14u WWBA Returns to Hoover

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
One of the most anticipated events on the summer travel baseball calendar returns this week as the 2026 Perfect Game 14U WWBA National Championship gets underway in Hoover and the surrounding Birmingham area. Now in its 19th year, the tournament has established itself as the premier event for 14U players across the country, annually attracting some of the top young talent in amateur baseball. This year’s championship will feature 129 teams competing for a national title, continuing a tradition that has seen organizations such as East Cobb Astros, Team Elite, USA Prime, SBA Bolts National, and defending champion ZT National Prospects take home the trophy. As always, the field is loaded with elite prospects, many of whom are already becoming familiar names within the Perfect Game community. Starting off strong with Christopher Cabrera, the No. 1 overall player and No. 1 third baseman...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

UBC West Scout Notes: Days 5-7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
UBC West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 | Days 3-4 Impressive performance on both sides from Cole Migaki, working 5 and striking out 3 w/o allowing a walk for the ND. FB 81-83 T85, BB 73-74 #UBCWest https://t.co/nSIx0UVQY7 pic.twitter.com/t2zXIpPLCO — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 16, 2026 Cole Migaki (2029, Vancouver, Wash.) Migaki is a high-end prospect, putting that on display with one of the more consistent performances at the 15u UBC West.  He totaled five hits, drove in four and walked six times to only two strike outs to help lead the Baum Bats to the title.  He has a projectable frame 6-foot-1, 170-pounds with strength throughout.  The right-hander made an appearance on the mound, throwing five-innings and striking out three without allowing a walk.  The fastball was up to 86 with run and coupled it with a sharp breaking ball in the...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

Road to the 2026 17U BCS Title

Emily Hicks
Article Image
This weekend, 11 teams will take the field for the 2026 17U BCS Challenge, a three-day event that brings together programs from across the country for a full slate of pool play and bracket action. With games beginning Friday and a champion crowned Sunday, the format leaves little room for slow starts, making every inning important from the opening pitch. The field features a mix of established programs and rising teams. With so many evenly matched rosters, there’s not much separation heading into the weekend, which puts importance on pitching depth, defensive consistency, and timely hitting. Pool play will quickly determine seeding, and even one loss can shift a team’s path heading into bracket play. One of the teams expected to be in the mix is Hawaii Elite 2G 17U National, a group that is 6-3 overall and ranked as “Honorable Mention” on the Perfect Games...
Read More
Draft | Rankings | 6/19/2026

PG Draft: Top 500 Update

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Rk. Name Lvl Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Roch Cholowsky C SS R-R UCLA Chandler AZ 2 Grady Emerson H SS L-R Fort Worth Christian Argyle TX Texas 3 Vahn Lackey C C R-R Georgia Tech Suwanee GA 4 Jackson Flora C RHP R-R UC Santa Barbara Pleasanton CA 5 Jacob Lombard H SS R-R Gulliver Schools Miami FL Miami 6 Eric Booth Jr. H OF L-L Oak Grove Bassfield MS Vanderbilt 7 Drew Burress C OF R-R Georgia Tech Perry GA 8 Ryder Helfrick C C R-R Arkansas Discovery Bay CA 9 AJ Gracia C OF L-L Virginia Monroe NJ 10 Chris Hacopian C SS R-R Texas A&M Potomac MD 11 Gio Rojas H LHP L-R Marjory Stoneman Douglas Coral Springs FL Miami 12 Tyler Bell* C SS S-R Kentucky Frankfort IL 13 Cameron Flukey C RHP R-R Coastal Carolina Egg Harbor Township NJ 14 Ace Reese C 3B L-R Mississippi State Canton TX 15 Justin Lebron C SS R-R Alabama Miramar FL 16 Derek Curiel* C OF L-R LSU West Covina CA 17...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Softball Stars Over Florida Showcase 14U Division

Erica Beach
Article Image
PG Stars Over Florida Showcase Clearwater, FL June 13-14, 2026   CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- Perfect Game Softball made its official debut in the state of Florida this past weekend at Eddie C. Moore sports complex. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was right for some great softball. We had many college coaches of all levels attend and our National Scouting Director was on hand to evaluate and highlight the athletes. We are excited for future events and the ability to promote and highlight the great athletes in the southeast! Below we highlight the 14U division where we had teams representing three states.     14U Division   Zoey Salas (2030, RHP/1B Windsor, CO) of the Colorado Angels 14U Breed was a standout player all weekend. She was a strong two-way player who proved to be a consistent force on both sides of the ball. Offensively, this left-handed hitter starts...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Aggieland Showcase

Article Image
PG Aggieland Showcase College Station, Texas June 13-14, 2026 Scouts: Brynn Baca & Karlie Milburn COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS- Perfect Game Softball was excited to return to College Station for the second annual Aggieland Showcase last weekend.. Some great competition was seen over the three age groups. We had two scouts on site to evaluate and highlight some of the athletes who caught their eyes. Thank you to all teams and players who competed so hard! Below we highlight those athletes who impressed our scouts. 18U Division Elizabeth Posada- Elizabeth Posada is a 2028 two-way player from Houston, Texas, competing for Aztecs Premier who brings an intriguing combination of offensive upside and athletic versatility. At the plate, Posada recently went 4-for-8 on the weekend, continuing to show consistency and offensive awareness. She sets up with a slightly open, wide stance and does a...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.