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Draft  | Story | 9/19/2026

2027 Draft: Prep Demographic Breakdown

Tyler Henninger
Michael Albee
Joey Cohen
Ryan Miller
The 2027 MLB Draft cycle is still in its early stages, but the overall makeup of the class is beginning to come into focus. With the first version of our Top-100 board out, we took a closer look at positional demographics from both college and prep players within the class. 

Let’s kick things off with a deep dive into the prep class. 



Prep Right-Handed Pitchers 

Top Ranked Players: George Ferguson, Abilene (TX) | Brogan Witcher, Liberty (CA) | Ethan Gustus, Roseville (CA) | Cullen Scott, Melissa (TX) | Striker Pence, Corona (CA) | Samir Mohammed, Tampa Jesuit (FL)

Potential Sleepers: Brennan Neal, Brookstone (GA) | Andrew Carlson, Trinity Classical Academy (CA) | Calum Andersen, Vauxhall Academy of Baseball (CAN) | Gavin Henderson, Boiling Springs (SC) 
 

The right-handed prep arm demo has received its fair share of criticism over the years regarding its volatility and boom/bust nature. While I think it’s a bit overblown (there is inherent risk with all prep selections especially), there are going to be around 35-45 taken if the last six year sample holds up in this cycle. This demographic doesn’t need to worry about a payday though, as the eight high school RHP’s that were selected in the top three rounds year signed for over $23 million dollars as a whole. This is a quality group in its own right, and there are sure to be late bloomers as always that will pick up a seven figure bonus next summer. George Ferguson is the headliner here. A strong, durable arm with top-end rotation projection that brings a collection of strikes, stuff and poise to the mound. It’s a dream to project on this arm and he will command a significant signing bonus next year. It’s as complete a package as you could ask for right now, and from this chair, he is one of the best prep righties in the last 5-6 years. Brogan Witcher is included on this list as well. He is about as real as a two way prospect can get right now. A clean, easy delivery to get to mid-upper 90’s on his fastball with projectable secondaries are enticing. However, in my eyes, his upside is behind the dish. Ethan Gustsus stamped his name in a huge way at PG National a few months ago and has seen his stock take a meteoric rise since. To keep it simple, he is 6-6 with ample body projection and has been up to 97-mph. Both Scott and Pence were mentioned in this article as well, having highlighted their two way status in the corner infielder portion. Both throw really hard (triple digits) and will have scouts attention all spring long. Mohammed is massive with starter projection thanks to solid fastball velocity and control, a plus change-up on the card and vastly improved ability to spin showing this summer. The sleepers category is a really fun one to dive into, and you should look these names up on X to check in on the video. Brennan Neal is an outlier athlete with massive amounts of upside both on the mound and in the box, coming in as another two way. Where his home lands long-term is of course up in the air, and most people I have talked to recently are still split camp on this. It’s as easy as you’d like on the mound with ample fastball velocity projection with enough feel on both secondaries to envision them improving well with more seasoning. Calum Andersen is truthfully an arm that should already be in our Top 100. He is the top arm in Canada this draft cycle, and was dominant at every stop he made this summer. Andrew Carlson has some of the best present pitchability and safer ceilings of this entire group. I went with Gavin Henderson as a sleeper here, as it’s not too difficult to think the 6-foot-7 mover that can pitch a bit right now is going to grow into what could be a massive ceiling. There is once again plenty of prospects in this right-handed prep arm pool to monitor and buy stock in over the next many months. 

Prep Left-Handed Pitchers 

Top Ranked Players: Conner Salerno, Sun Valley (NC) | Jake Turner, Centennial (NV) | Easton Sarmiento, Ayala (CA) | Kade Luker, Cedar Creek (LA) | Jake Ivey, Gunter (TX)

Potential Sleepers: Jose Partida, Cathedral Catholic (CA) | Rylan McMahan, Clay (FL) | Brady Guzzie, Conwell Egan Catholic (PA)

The 2027 prep left-handed pitching class has yet to generate the same early buzz as some recent groups in years past, but there is plenty of reason to believe the demographic will ultimately prove deeper than it currently appears. The fastball velocity is not universally premium, with only a few arms consistently pushing into the mid-upper-90s, but the group features an appealing mix of projection, pitchability, deceptive looks and plus secondary-pitch potential. With several arms still having significant physical development ahead, this feels more like a class waiting to emerge than one lacking talent. Connor Salerno currently provides the clearest anchor at the top. The 6-foot-4 lefty combines upper-90s velocity with an athletic starter's delivery, advanced strike-throwing ability and a sharp plus slider, giving him perhaps the most complete present-day package among the class's southpaws. Jake Turner offers a very different look, pairing a massive, athletic frame with an ultra-loose arm and a semi-deceptive crossfire delivery. His fastball has pushed into the mid-90s with real life and carry, while his breaking ball already flashes significant quality (~3000). The combination of unique traits and physical upside gives him plenty of room to continue climbing if he decides to go the pitching route. Easton Sarmiento may be the most intriguing projection clay of the bunch. At 6-foot-4 with a long, lean frame and relaxed delivery, he creates unique/steep angles with his low-90s fastball while mixing a sharp, depthy slider and quality changeup he can really execute at a high level. Jake Ivey brings another unconventional look, using an aggressive delivery and explosive arm speed to make a low-to-mid-90s fastball play above its velocity, with a cutter/slider and changeup providing a ton of swing-and-miss potential. Kade Luker rounds out this group with a more pitchability-driven and deceptive profile, using a low launch low 90s heater to challenge hitters while showing feel for multiple secondaries in a bigger sweepy slider and depthy changeup.  The overall depth may not be immediately obvious right now, but that could be what makes this group interesting. Recent classes have shown the prep LHP demographic can produce a meaningful number of Top 100/200 selections, and 2027 already has several candidates with different paths to those ranges. You will also need to keep an eye on Jose Partida in San Diego, Rylan McMahan in Florida and Brady Guzzie in Pennsylvania as well as these are arms that will most definitely be on our board when we expand to 200 and will have the potential to push into T100 as well. As the class matures, there is a good chance it ultimately hits the familiar benchmarks for overall volume while providing plenty of interesting variety.

Prep Middle Infielders

Top Ranked Players: Dylan Seward, Norco (CA) | Malachi Butler, McEachern (GA) | Carter Hadnot, Aquinas (CA) | Graham Houston, Venice Senior (FL) | Sebastian Castillo, Byron Nelson (TX)

Potential Sleepers: Leo Nockley, Wyoming Seminary (PA) | Juan Diaz, IMG Academy (FL) | Isaiah Snavely, R. Nelson Snider (IN)
 

The most sought-after demographic in the draft, this group contains a healthy blend of present tools, projection, and overall upside. The crop is headlined by California shortstop Dylan Seward, a switch hitter with the skill set to stick at the position, along with an advanced hit/power blend from both sides. He is squarely in the 1-1 conversation. Malachi Butler is quickly ascending up draft boards industry-wide thanks to an intriguing blend of projection in the frame, defensive actions at shortstop, and a proven hit tool with more impact on the way. There are several high-upside infielders out of Florida, including Graham Houston, Chase Fuller, and Juan Diaz. Houston figures to stick at shortstop, employing a compact and accurate barrel from both sides of the plate. Fuller blends immense power with a strong arm that has been into the high-90s off the mound, along with clean actions on the dirt. Diaz is an elite-level runner with athleticism that should help him at any defensive spot. Another switch hitter, the IMG Academy product is a proven contact-oriented bat with a hit-over-power profile. This demographic has long been regarded as the most talented, with superstars all over the diamond once profiling in this group. This year is no different, with several projected first-rounders looking to prove their stock over the fall and spring. 

Prep Corner Infielders 

Top Ranked Players: Cullen Scott, Melissa (TX) | Striker Pence, Corona (CA) | Brady Cunningham, Brother Rice (IL) | Frank Thomas III, IMG Academy (FL)

Potential Sleepers: Jalen Jacob, St Joan of Arc (CAN) | Teagan Leach, PDG Academy | Sullivan Reed, Lamar (MS)

The prep corner infielder demographic has long been one of the least selected and signed areas of the draft. Not to any fault of the player, but evaluators typically look to pay the high schoolers that are going to project up the middle and have multiple tools to project out at a big league level. Selecting and paying a corner prep places a ton of trust in the bat, which coincidentally is the hardest tool in the game to project. With that, the risk is amplified. That isn’t to say they don’t get selected though. In the 2026 draft, 3 first basemen and four third basemen were selected, with all but one getting their bonus slot met or exceeded. This particular crop is a fun one, as it features six All Americans in totality with four of those being on our current top 100. Scott and Pence are two way players all the way through, but both are corner infielders on this side of the ball from my eyes and will certainly be evaluated as such by professional organizations. Besides throwing gas, both of these young men have given scouts enough with the bat to at least have them discussing a potential avenue where they keep hitting. Cunningham is our first true corner prep on the board, and he brings mammoth power to the table combined with good projection on the overall swing and ability to hit long-term. He’s got a body that catches your attention off the bus and he maximizes his power in game with a natural ability to backspin and lift it to pull. This is going to be a plus power bat at peak. Thomas III is likely the best pure hitter amongst this crop, a true contact specialist with fast hands working with his more unique downhill approach with lift out front. He’s a good defender at first (which absolutely matters) and is going to continue to grow into power, even if it’s not the type of juice his father possessed. He simply hits, and that is going to get him paid one day. Looking outside our Top 100, the sleepers category is a fun one to dive into. The one name I’ll dive a bit deeper on here is Jalen Jacob. It’s not totally outlandish to make the claim that he has some of, if not the best current raw power in the prep class. It is easily the best juice north of the border. Despite the bigger frame, Jacob can really move around the pillow at first base and has good hands out front with hips that work on pivots. It can be easy to write off the frame, but this is an athletic mover. It’s a crisp, short left-handed swing with a different type of handsy looseness and buggy whip to the barrel head through the zone. It’s a patient approach and he pulls the trigger on the right offerings more often than not. There is enough bat here to go along with what is truly all fields power. He’s going to be a fun one to keep tabs on this draft cycle in Canada. It’s a sound group of really talented guys here that can mash, and it will be interesting to see how orgs value them in the draft when the time comes. 

Prep Catchers

Top Ranked Players: Caden Borcherding, Etowah (GA) | Brogan Witcher, Liberty (CA) | Dariel Carrion, Carlos Beltran (PR) | Brue Milner, Tallassee (AL) | Broder Katke, Brother Rice (MI)

Potential Sleepers: Gavin Williams, Liberty (CA) | William Weber, Knights Academy (TN) | Joe Mendazona Jr., Central (OR) | Blake Lundy, Baylor (TN) | CJ Wall, Georgia Premier Academy (GA)

The high school catching demographic is widely regarded as a risky profile, in part due to the baseball acumen that comes with experience at the position. However, several high-level big league catchers have been selected from the prep ranks, making every situation independent. The group is headlined by two-way Brogan Witcher and Georgia backstop Caden Borcherding, both possessing advanced tools behind the dish. Witcher sits in the mid-to-upper 90s on the mound, proving his arm strength, along with a hit-over-power bat that impacts all fields. Borcherding comes from a high-level program that has gotten a ton of eyes in recent cycles, providing athleticism and intriguing bat speed from the right side. Dariel Carrion is a Puerto Rican backstop with the invaluable skill of being bilingual, while showcasing loud tools out of the crouch. Carrion has produced pop times as low as 1.78 thanks to a quick transfer and a rocket arm that is a real weapon. A couple of notable sleepers are Oregon’s Joe Mendazona Jr. and CJ Wall, two advanced defenders with projectable offensive profiles. Mendazona pairs a prototypical 6-foot-3 frame with a clean operation from the left side and is beginning to see more impact in his game. Wall is another left-handed hitter with high level athleticism and an advanced hit tool, along with the ability to play multiple positions.No matter if they’re signed or make it to school, this demographic is highly sought-after and will be names to watch in upcoming years.

Prep Outfielders

Top Ranked Players: Kinon Bastian, The First Academy (FL) | Sebastian Wilson, IMG Academy (IL) | Drake Hawpe, Liberty Christian (TX) | Christian Gomez, PDG Academy (VA) | Jacob Seamon, Metrolina Christian Academy (NC) 

Potential Sleepers: Luke Gladchuk, Aledo (TX) | Chayce Formosa, Liberty (CA) | Taylor Dodd, Casteel (AZ) 


The 2027 prep outfield grouping is an extremely fun collection of players, featuring a variety of profile types and plenty of upside throughout. At the top is Florida prep Kinon Bastian, a dynamic athlete who brings a loud combination of power and speed that should draw plenty of interest from teams. Following him is Sebastian Wilson, who is arguably one of the better pure hitters in the prep class. There is big bat speed, a strong feel for the barrel, and developing power in the profile. Texas prep outfielder Drake Hawpe could ultimately wind up as the top prep outfielder in the class. The left-handed hitter utilizes a bit of an unorthodox swing, but there is significant power and a strong feel to hit, giving him some of the best offensive upside in the group. Speaking of upside, Virginia prep Christian Gomez is another player who could play his way into the first round. His left-handed swing is extremely smooth, with an accurate barrel, and developing power, while his athleticism and overall tool set could warrant early day one consideration. Beyond the top names, there are several intriguing depth options to follow. Luke Gladchuk out of Texas is a good athlete with a plus arm and a strong collection of tools from the left side, while California prep Chayce Formosa possesses some of the best raw power on the West Coast. There is some risk in Formosa’s profile, but his performance track record and underlying traits remain intriguing. Another name to keep an eye on is Taylor Dodd, an undersized switch-hitter who brings a real feel to hit and the potential for plus defense in center field. Overall, the group offers a strong blend of present tools, offensive upside and projection, with plenty of players capable of making a significant jump as the 2027 cycle progresses.
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Brayden Powell
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