THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,405 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,405 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Draft  | Story | 6/11/2013

MLB Draft review: American League

Frankie Piliere
Photo: Perfect Game
National League | PG Draft LIVE! Pick Tracker | 2013 PG Draft Preview Content

Another draft is in the books, and while we're only a day removed from the process, it is time to take an early look as to how the teams fared.

As part of a two-part series (American/National League) I'm going to provide a quick synopsis of six American League teams that at first glance look to have done a good job in the 2013 MLB Draft. Patrick Ebert has done the same for the National League teams.


Cleveland Indians

First and foremost, the Cleveland Indians took the right player in Clint Frazier with the fifth overall selection. There was safe, and tempting college talent to be had in players like Colin Moran, but Frazier gives Cleveland a chance at an impact player.

Cleveland followed the Frazier pick with a barrage of college pitchers in many of the following rounds. Dace Kime, Kyle Crockett, and Adam Plutko are all pitchers who are not all that from big league action. Kime saw an increase in velocity this spring, as well as overall stuff, and has the look of a pitcher who could work in the middle of a big league rotation.

The wildcards of Cleveland’s class are Sean Brady (LHP) and Casey Shane (RHP), two prep arms with upside. Brady performs on the level of a college pitcher at times, in terms of command and consistency, and had slightly improved velocity this spring. This is another team that took a very balanced approach with their draft crop, and racking up an outstanding amount of quality.


Detroit Tigers

The Tigers need to be mentioned here, whether you agree or disagree with how they went about it this year. Detroit took six college pitchers in a row to start their draft, beginning with Florida right-hander, Jonathon Crawford. They also netted familiar names like Corey Knebel, and Kevin Ziomek. Strikeout artist, Austin Kubitza also went to Detroit 126th overall.

All of these players are pitchers capable of moving up the ladder at a rapid rate, something Detroit puts a premium on. But, you could also make the case that they drafted three future relievers in a row at the top of their draft class. There’s two sides to that coin of course, but Crawford’s and Ziomek’s detractors will point to arm action, among other things, as reasons they may eventually wind up as relievers. The same can be said for Kubitza.

The Tigers didn’t take a high school players until the 696th overall pick, when they grabbed Tyler Alexander out of Carroll High School in Texas. They clearly had a game plan and stuck to it. And, they continued to find quality college arms in the draft like hard throwing righty, Matt Wotherspoon at 606th overall.


Houston Astros

For the second year in a row, all eyes were on the Astros, and they couldn’t have handled their picks any better. After about two years or circling him, they finally landed Mark Appel, who has a reputation that speaks for itself. He has a front of the rotation profile, and most importantly could be pitching full-time in the big leagues by next year. They followed that pick with another college righty, Andrew Thurman, who also has a chance to fly up the minor league ladder. While he can’t match Appel’s arsenal, he also has power stuff, with a fastball that touched 96 this spring, as well as a breaking ball and plus changeup.

And, for the most part, the Astros did play it “safe” with their early picks. Kent Emanuel has big league quality command, but likely profiles as a back of the rotation starter. But, the good news is that he’ll likely reach that ceiling quickly.

In terms of bats, Houston was able to buy low, so to speak, on Conrad Gregor, who showed blossoming power last summer, but didn’t build on that performance this spring. His plate discipline, defense at first base, and potential for power make him a very intriguing pick at 107th overall. East Carolina slugger Chase McDonald (347th overall) is also a major sleeper pick that could do damage as a professional.


New York Yankees

You won’t get teams to admit to drafting for need, and it’s true that they won’t necessarily do that to fill voids on the big league roster. But, there was a clear goal for the Yankees this year, and that was to get some college bats into their system to make an immediate impact on their talent pool. It wasn’t a class without risk, as they rolled the dice on the 6-foot-7 slugger, Aaron Judge, who is the definition of a boom or bust prospect. The safeness of their first pick, Eric Jagielo, allowed the Yankees to gamble on Judge, as the Notre Dame slugger gives them a bat who could rocket up the minor league ladder on the strength of his left-handed power stroke. The only question with him is whether he can remain at third base.

Toolsy Michigan outfielder, Mike O’Neill (nephew of Paul O’Neill), was an excellent value at 103rd overall, as the upside is that of a quality big league corner outfielder with a combination of speed and power. In terms of pitching, prep lefty, Ian Clarkin was the big catch for New York - he’ll be brought along slowly in their system - so adding some potential fast moving college players was very important for Damon Oppenheimer & Company.

This has the look of the most balanced Yankee draft class in years, and could be one with multiple players not far off from making a big league impact. Late round picks like Cal Quantrill (if signable) could be intriguing wildcards as well.


Oakland Athletics

We’ve used this word a lot already, but “balanced” is the best word to describe Oakland’s draft class. Some of their picks may not end up being signable, but if they do ink some of them, their class looks as good as anyone’s out there. They landed pitchers like Dylan Covey, Bobby Wahl, Kyle Finnegan, and A.J. Vanegas beyond the top three rounds, and all of those pitchers has flashed at least a plus fastball in the past. Again, it’s contingent on actually get them signed, but that’s one of the best crops of college right-handers landed by any team this year.

There were a number of teams hoping to net Billy McKinney at the back of the first round, but Oakland was the team that ended up with him. Left-hander, Chris Kohler, and righty Dustin Driver also add to a solid crop of prep players. But, McKinney and his ultra-polished left-handed bat is the crown jewel, giving Oakland a prep player with the ability to hit immediately as a professional.

Oakland’s most intriguing pick, however, may have come with the 100th overall selection - Ryon Healy. Healy’s right-handed power stroke blossomed last summer on the Cape Cod, and he continued to grow as a hitter this spring. He has a large, big league body type and may have the offensive profile to start at first base at the big league level.


Toronto Blue Jays

Arms, arms, and more arms. That was the story of the Blue Jays draft class. The Jays’ scouting department reeled off four straight high school pitchers to begin their draft, and they didn’t take a non-pitcher from any level until the 10th round when they selected catcher, Garrett Custons.

Phil Bickford (10th overall) is the clear prize for the Jays, but it was their next two picks that could put this draft class over the top in the coming years. Clinton Hollon has an electric right-handed arm when he’s right, and Patrick Murphy was looking like one of the top arms in the country before having Tommy John surgery last spring. Getting Murphy at 83rd overall may end up looking like a steal in the future.

Although Toronto did some gambling on high school arms early, they loaded up on some arms from the collegiate ranks as well, taking big performers like Matt Boyd and Kendall Graveman in the top ten rounds. But, the overall trend has continued with Toronto looking to stockpile high upside young arms.
Give us your feedback
Draft | Story | 4/10/2026

PG Draft: Favorite Position Group
Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Every draft class has its strengths. Some years its a loaded group of prep infielders, some years its a deep collection of college arms. In this year’s class, certain position groups stand out above the rest to us. This week, the draft team dives into their favorite position groups. Groups that we believe are loaded with depth, upside, and big league potential. College Infielders It’s hard not to get excited about the crop of college infielders in this year’s class because of who is at the top. Roch Cholowsky alone makes the group exciting. He’s got gold glove potential at the next level and an offensive profile that should make him one of the Top 15 to 20 prospects in all of baseball the second he gets drafted. Justin Lebron is another player with as much upside in the class. He is a premium athlete that can really pick it at short and has big upside with the...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 4/10/2026

Perfect Game and vivenu Partner Up

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH VIVENU TO POWER DIGITAL COMMERCE ACROSS YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL    Sanford, Florida / New York, New York (Friday, April 10, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, has selected vivenu as its ticketing and commerce partner to unify revenue operations across its tournament ecosystem.    With 1.6 million tickets sold annually, 9,800 events in 40+ states and an immense social footprint, Perfect Game has built the most influential pipeline in amateur baseball. The organization has produced over 2,200 MLB alumni, and...
Read More
General | Blog | 4/10/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 64

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
What Do Barry Zito, Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, and Dallas Keuchel All Have in Common? By Ron Wolforth | Texas Baseball Ranch® | PG Arm Care Take a second and think about the question posed in the title before you read on. Four Cy Young Award winners. Four of the most decorated pitchers of their generation. What's the common thread? The first answer is obvious… they all won the most prestigious individual award in pitching. Most of you probably got there immediately. The second answer is less obvious… they all trained at the Texas Baseball Ranch® at some point in their development. Interesting, maybe, but not the point of this article. The third answer is the one I really want you to sit with, because it has direct relevance to your career right now: they all move completely differently. And they all attack hitters completely differently. Don't rush past that....
Read More
College | Story | 4/9/2026

Coppy's Corner: April 6 POY Deep Dive

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
I’m beyond thrilled to be a contributor to Perfect Game, widely recognized as the premier organization for amateur baseball. Working in baseball operations for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves for nearly 20 years, the importance of amateur baseball cannot be understated. Nobody does it better and I am honored to be working with great baseball people like Jered Goodwin, Vinnie Cervino, Craig Cozart, and many others.  Each week I huddle with Vinnie and Craig to discuss Top 25 rankings and Players of the Week. In "Coppy’s Corner", I will dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level. My hope is that you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.  Player of the Week: Andrew Williamson – University of Central Florida (UCF)  Williamson can flat-out hit. While...
Read More
High School | General | 4/10/2026

High School Notebook: April 10

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
You like 6-foot-9 lefties up to 100 mph? 2026 Brody Bumila (MA) was electric in season opener, super easy upper-90s, multiple 100s. Easy operation w/ simple delivery despite size. Punched out 9 over 3, double digit whiffs. @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/BChMhKIIhO — Perfect Game New England (@PG_NewEngland) April 2, 2026 Brody Bumila, LHP, Bishop Feehan (MA), Class of 2026 He's 6-foot-9, 18 years old, left-handed and was up to 100 mph (upwards of 3 times on some guns) in his first start of the year in low-30 degree temperatures. That's really all you need to know. Oh, and the opposing team arrived 40 minutes late. Coming off a state-championship run in basketball, Texas signee Brody Bumila made his first start of the spring on April 2nd and didn't disappoint in front of at least 40 scouts packed tightly together behind the backstop.  Knowing it was going to be a quicker look given...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 4/9/2026

Don't Boot the Loot Scout Notes

Cam McElwaney
Article Image
‘30 UTL Chase Jelks (GA) lifts this one deep into the gap & rolls around the bags for a triple. Loose LH swing w/ feel to lift. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/leF4GMTawJ — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) April 4, 2026 Chase Jelks (2030, Atlanta, Ga.) put together a great weekend for The Dream 14u Black in their run to a championship game appearance, hitting .444 with two triples and a double along with three RBI. He controlled the zone throughout the event in the box and finished with a 6:1 BB:K ratio because of it while also swiping five bags as well. It was a strong showing for Jelks, something that’s becoming common this spring in PG events.    ‘30 MIF Cohen Carter (TN) hits this one on the screws into the gap for a triple. Functional & compact swing. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Tennessee pic.twitter.com/YVUfxbHBxx — Perfect Game...
Read More
Juco | Story | 4/8/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 8

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
Another week of conference play down and Johnson County continues there tear through the spring of 2026, they retain the top spot with Gaston nipping their heels at number 2 for the third consecutive week. McLennan jumps up to number 3 with a big series sweep over rival Texas powerhouse, Weatherford. Out west, Cochise just keeps rolling in the desert and California looks to be hotly contested all the way down the final stretch. A couple of debut appearances down the board with Harford, CCF, and Linn Benton all earning their spot on our top 25 for the first time in the first week of April. So many great records out there it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out with so many teams vying for seeding and conference championships on this final stretch run. Rank Team Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 38-2 2 Gaston (NC) 38-3 3 McLennan (TX) 29-7 4 Chipola (FL) 34-7 5 Walters State (TN)...
Read More
College | Rankings | 4/8/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 8

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
We are past the midpoint of the college baseball season and the stakes are rising by the week. Conference races are tightening, schedules are getting harder, and the résumés that will matter in the selection room are being written right now — one series at a time. This week's most significant development came in Division II, where North Greenville swept Young Harris in three consecutive one-run games to claim the top spot for the first time this season, knocking Tampa from a perch they've held most of the year. It's a genuine changing of the guard at the top, and it's exactly the kind of shakeup that makes this stretch of the season worth paying close attention to. Across all three divisions the picture is coming into focus. In Division I NAIA, Georgia Gwinnett remains the standard while Taylor and Cumberlands continue to make their cases from behind. In Division III,...
Read More
High School | General | 4/7/2026

Iowa Spring League Notes: Week 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Brooks Mitchell-Birdsell (2027, Atkins, Iowa) was solid on both sides of the ball this weekend. He was able to show a clean move working into it, with the feel to impact it out in front and drive hard through contact. He had good barrel accuracy with feel to drive the ball well, especially working pull-side. He was 4-for-8 on the weekend with a double to his credit, driving in 7 runs as well. Mitchell-Birdsell also put together a good outing on the mound, delivering 2 innings of scoreless work with 3 punchouts. He worked the low 80s with some run, flashing a mid-70s curveball with good 11-5 shape and depth.  Maddux Mueller (2026, Amana, Iowa) LH bat with plenty to like in the batter’s box, and he put together a solid showing this weekend. He finished 2-for-3 with a double, demonstrating both contact ability and the capacity to drive the baseball for extra bases. Mueller...
Read More
College | Story | 4/7/2026

College Players of the Week: April 7

Craig Cozart
Article Image
April 7th Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Andrew Williamson, OF, UCF  The UCF Knights (20-9) are coming off one of their biggest series victories in years when they went to Morgantown and took down the Mountaineers to take control of the Big 12 regular season standings.  The offense put on quite the performance and Andrew Williamson set the tone by leaving the yard in his first at-bat of the weekend launching a towering home run over the centerfield wall.  The 6-0/195 lefty from St. Petersburg, FL has one of the sweetest strokes in the college game today and when he goes, so do the Knights.  In the 3-game series, the junior collected 6 hits in his 10 at-bats, scoring 6 runs, on 5 walks, a double and he launched 3 home runs all told.  While he had a stretch earlier in the season where he was searching for his stroke a bit, he is getting locked in at the...
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.