The BLF Top 100
by Matt Grabusky | Posted on Wednesday, March 20th, 2013
Here is the BLF Top 100 for the 2013 MLB Draft. Rankings will be updated in April and one more time after that before the draft.
| Rank | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | Clint Frazier | OF | Loganville (GA) |
| 2 | Jonathan Gray | RHP | Oklahoma |
| 3 | Mark Appel | RHP | Stanford |
| 4 | Kris Bryant | 3B | San Diego |
| 5 | Sean Manaea | LHP | Indiana State |
| 6 | Austin Meadows | OF | Grayson (GA) |
| 7 | Ryne Stanek | RHP | Arkansas |
| 8 | Reese McGuire | C | Kentwood (WA) |
| 9 | Jonathan Denney | C | Yukon (OK) |
| 10 | JP Crawford | SS | Lakewood (CA) |
| 11 | Dominic Smith | 1B | Serra (CA) |
| 12 | Kevin Ziomek | LHP | Vanderbilt |
| 13 | Justin Williams | OF | Terrebonne (LA) |
| 14 | Jordan Sheffield | RHP | Tullahoma (TN) |
| 15 | Carlos Salazar | RHP | Kerman (CA) |
| 16 | Jonathon Crawford | RHP | Florida |
| 17 | Ryan Boldt | OF | Red Wing (MN) |
| 18 | Andy McGuire | SS | James Madison (VA) |
| 19 | Trey Ball | OF/LHP | New Castle (IN) |
| 20 | Kohl Stewart | RHP | St. Pius X (TX) |
| 21 | Clinton Hollon | RHP | Woodford County (KY) |
| 22 | Bobby Wahl | RHP | Mississippi |
| 23 | Colin Moran | 3B | North Carolina |
| 24 | Eric Jagielo | 3B | Notre Dame |
| 25 | Ian Clarkin | LHP | James Madison (CA) |
| 26 | Rob Kaminsky | LHP | St. Joseph Regional (NJ) |
| 27 | Braden Shipley | RHP | Nevada |
| 28 | Trevor Williams | RHP | Arizona State |
| 29 | Stephen Gonsalves | LHP | Cathedral Catholic (CA) |
| 30 | Phillip Ervin | OF | Samford |
| 31 | Jonah Wesely | LHP | Tracy (CA) |
| 32 | Drew Ward | SS/3B | Leedey (OK) |
| 33 | Ryan Eades | RHP | Louisiana State |
| 34 | Brett Morales | RHP | King (FL) |
| 35 | Matt Krook | LHP | St. Ignasius (CA) |
| 36 | Brian Navarreto | C | Arlington Country Day (FL) |
| 37 | Michael Lorenzen | OF | Cal State Fullerton |
| 38 | Austin Wilson | OF | Stanford |
| 39 | Chris Anderson | RHP | Jacksonville |
| 40 | Marco Gonzeles | LHP | Gonzaga |
| 41 | Aaron Blair | RHP | Marshall |
| 42 | Connor Jones | RHP | Great Bridge (VA) |
| 43 | Aaron Judge | OF | Fresno State |
| 44 | Oscar Mercado | SS | Gaither (FL) |
| 45 | Trey Masek | RHP | Texas Tech |
| 46 | Casey Shane | RHP | Centennial (TX |
| 47 | Austin Kubitza | RHP | Rice |
| 48 | Jacoby Jones | 2B | Louisiana State |
| 49 | DJ Peterson | 3B | New Mexico |
| 50 | Trey Williams | 3B | College of the Canyons |
| 51 | Nick Ciuffo | C | Lexington (SC) |
| 52 | Andrew Thurman | RHP | UC Irvine |
| 53 | Dustin Driver | RHP | Wenathchee (WA) |
| 54 | Chris Okey | C | Eustis (FL) |
| 55 | Robert Tyler | RHP | Crisp County (GA) |
| 56 | Andrew Mitchell | RHP | Texas Christian |
| 57 | Jeremy Martinez | C | Mater Dei (CA) |
| 58 | Jacob Brentz | LHP | Parkway South (MO) |
| 59 | Derik Beauprez | RHP | Cherry Creek (CO) |
| 60 | AJ Puk | LHP/OF | Washington (IA) |
| 61 | Chris Oakley | RHP | St. Augustine Prep (NJ) |
| 62 | Chris Rivera | SS | El Dorado (CA) |
| 63 | Kevin Davis | RHP | T.R. Miller (AL) |
| 64 | Jan Hernandez | SS/3B | Carlos Beltran Academy (PR) |
| 65 | Scott Frazier | RHP | Pepperdine |
| 66 | Tom Windle | LHP | Minnesota |
| 67 | Dillon Overton | LHP | Oklahoma |
| 68 | Teddy Stankiewicz | RHP | Seminole State JC |
| 69 | Keegan Thompson | RHP | Cullman (AL) |
| 70 | Zack Collins | 1B/C | American Heritage (FL) |
| 71 | Stuart Turner | C | Mississippi |
| 72 | Cavan Biggio | 3B/2B | St. Thomas (TX) |
| 73 | Travis Demeritte | 3B | Winder Barrow (GA) |
| 74 | Hunter Renfroe | OF | Mississippi State |
| 75 | Ryan McMahon | 3B | Mater Dei (CA) |
| 76 | Cord Sandberg | OF | Manatee (FL) |
| 77 | Nick Longhi | 1B/OF | Venice (FL) |
| 78 | Rowdy Tellez | 1B | Elk Grove |
| 79 | David Denson | 1B | South Hills (CA) |
| 80 | Colby Suggs | RHP | Arkansas |
| 81 | Kent Emanuel | LHP | North Carolina |
| 82 | John Sternagel | SS/3B | Rockledge (FL) |
| 83 | Corey Knebel | RHP | Texas |
| 84 | Hunter Harvey | RHP | Bandys (NC) |
| 85 | Aaron Brown | LHP/OF | Pepperdine |
| 86 | Dan Slania | RHP | Notre Dame |
| 87 | Billy McKinney | OF | Plano West |
| 88 | AJ Bogucki | RHP | Boyertown Area (PA) |
| 89 | Andrew Knapp | C | California |
| 90 | Konner Wade | RHP | Arizona |
| 91 | Garrett Williams | LHP | Calvary Baptist (LA) |
| 92 | Dan Child | RHP | Oregon State |
| 93 | Adam Plutko | RHP | UCLA |
| 94 | Chad Pinder | 3B | Virginia Tech |
| 95 | Kevin Franklin | 3B | Gahr (CA) |
| 96 | Kyle Finnegan | RHP | Texas State |
| 97 | Daniel Palka | 1B/OF | Georgia Tech |
| 98 | Dominic Ficociello | 1B | Arkansas |
| 99 | Dalton Dulin | MIF | Memphis Univ. HS |
| 100 | Matthew McPhearson | OF | Riverdale Baptist (MA) |
I think for me the only real ones I truely have a problem with. Kohl Stewart Billy McKinney Drew Ward and Derik Beauprez and Terry McClure not making this list. I would’ve liked to see McClure over McPherson at 100 is probably the best thing but they both could’ve made it I like McClure more though.
As For the others the only real blasphemy in the my eyes is McKinney. You can make arguements for the others to be where they are but for him I can’t buy into that. Love the bat speed and swing and I love the power. I also think he can handle CF with an absolute cannon of an arm.
All of them but McClure is on the list and he just missed it.
Yea I said my problems are those guys being placed where they are. And Terry McClure not making the list.
Surprised to see:
Matt Krook
Stuart Turner
David Denson
Braden Shipley
Andrew Thurman
Trey Masek
David Denson
Dalton Dulin
I would love to get more info on these players.
Surprised to NOT see:
Karsten Whitson (has the injury dropped him that far?)
A.J. Vanegas
Dylan Covey
Conrad Gregor
Joe Martarano
William Abreu
Jared King
Brian Ragira
Josh Hart
I would love to hear your thoughts on these players. How close were they?
I had nothing to do with the actual construction of this list that was done by others here at the site.
I think Whitson was on the way down before the injury because of the struggles prior and now the injury has just destroyed whatever shot he did have before that. If you ask me I highly doubt he signs this year I think he’s going to give UF 1 last go around as well as the CCBL and try to get his status back up there because he is a talented arm he just needs to “put it together” as they say.
The only real guys you named not making the list that I myself don’t agree with are Covey Abreu and Martarano. Hart probably has a case but I don’t have a huge issue with him not making it.
As for who your surprised to see Shipley has some serious heat and has gained some momentum lately coming in at 10 for instance on Keith Laws recent insider top50. Stuart Turner is a JUCO Transfer who has been off to a hot start and has impressed some people. Trey Masek is a Texas Tech guy and I don’t have a huge problem with him making it he’s an effective college arm as well as LHP with a 0.22 ERA 40Ks in 40IP and 10BB no HR and given up a single ER all season.
Dalton Dulin I’d reccomend looking him up because he’s a very good talent. Dustin Pedroia esque 2B with a great bat and great instincts just a great ballplayer. Not saying he’s just as talented as Pedroia but he’s cut from that cloth of hard nosed smart ballplayers.
Again I don’t agree with those guys making it or not making it but you asked for some info so there ya go.
I will explain Covey. He hasn’t developed the way the way people thought. He has a whip around 1.4 with 43 walks and only 51 Is in 81.1 IP. His command just hasn’t been there.
Krook is a HS LHP that is shooting up the draft board. Denson is a big power 1B that hit a 500 ft shot last fall st a national showcase and is an underrated hitter.
The other guys that were surprised did make the list just missed it. Whitson is injuried and so how can you really rank him.
Mike, if he had not been injured, Whitson would have made the list. He was in the 15 to 20 range for me preseason. All of the other players you mentioned as surprised they didn’t make it, I believe were in the 102-120 range. I know Gregor was 102, behind McClure at 101.
On the surprised they made it list, Kevin did a good job covering most. Dulin is on the smaller side, but he can play. Kevin Gallo is a Denson supporter, so he would have the best answer in his case. Krook, a lefty from CA may be one of the fastest risers in the draft, we will try to get up something more detailed on him soon.
Thanks Matt, Kevin, and Kevin for the additional info. I am definitely not as connected with info on the fast risers as some – although I also think people tend to overreact to helium draft prospects. Whitson, even with injury, should probably make the top 100 just based on his potential, which is top 10-15 for this draft. A.J. Vanegas is the only player in my personal top 50 that didn’t make your list. Would love to get some more info on why you are hesitant on him.
The injury made a big impact for me on because it is a shoulder issue. If it was an elbow I would just say get TJ and get it over with. But shoulders scare me a little because recovery is a little harder to predict.
Mike, with Vanegas, I think I had him around the 75 mark originally and to be honest, he has just kind of slipped off of my radar. I don’t have a great read on him is the biggest problem and haven’t gotten to see anything on him this season.
I tend to agree that Hart should be on a Top 100. Very polished lead-off profile and impact defender. Seems to be a misunderstood player outside of scouting circles, and could end up going much higher than most fan mocks are projecting.
Arguing placement is completely subjective, but if you’re talking helium, then Connor (two O’s) Jones is probably higher on team boards, even with a UVA commit. Came out of the gate sitting 92/93 and touching 97 this spring, has three pitches, all with excellent movement and sink. Casey Shane has consistently shown one of the top FBs in the class, sitting 90-92 and popping 94s at showcases, which sticks with teams in a class this short on HS power arms, especially when you flash two solid secs.
I do think that Garrett Williams and Hunter Renfroe already look really light. Both have been lights out, and in a class this lacking in impact college bats, Renfroe really stands out.
Again I didn’t make this list or have anything to do with it.
Garrett Williams has looked good but he also has 15 walks in 14 IP and I’ve always liked him alot even more so now putting him in the top5 LHP for myself.
When you say the draft lacks HS power arms that’s not exactly what it was because you have guys like Carlos Salazar and Jordan Sheffield really moving up. I’m just not sure you could move up Jones and Shane all that far. Garrett on the other hand I do think needs to move up a bit. The power arms just happen to be left handed this year. You have guys like Clarkin and Brentz and Wesely and all them LHP who throw pretty hard for leftys and you know the other names like Kaminsky and Gonsalves so again I don’t think you move up either Shane or Jones all that far based on everyone in front of them. That’s coming from 1 of the biggest fans both of those guys have I had Jones in my most underappreciated post.
Clinton Hollon Kohl Stewart Jordan Sheffield Carlos Salazar Brett Morales Connor Jones Casey Shane that’s the order they have them on this list and when you add in the hitters and college guys where they ended up I’m not saying I’d put them there but I don’t have a huge proble with it.
I didn’t say move Jones and Shane up; actually explicitly said I wasn’t disputing rankings (with the exception of Williams and Renfroe looking light), as they’re subjective. I said they might be higher on team boards, and that readers shouldn’t be surprised if they go higher than expected, and in front of some “bigger” names if Jones’ UVA commit isn’t inflexible.
Regarding power arms, scouts don’t see most of the guys you mention being in the same class as recent HS standouts such as Shelby Miller, Zack Wheeler, Dylan Bundy, Luc Giolito etc., as the velocity is offset by projectability concerns and other warts.
Hollon is undersized with a recent history of arm soreness; Sheffield works at more modest velocities than his attention-grabbing 98 at PG Nat’l might indicate, and is not significantly ahead of Jones or Shane in that regard; Salazar and Stewart are the closest thing to true power arms, with the build to support the lightinging bolts they deal, and likely the top two RHPs; Morales is a favorite of mine, but is in no way superior in terms of power. Both Jones and Shane could easily be preferred by teams over Morales, especially Jones, who has comparable stuff and far better command. One of the first pieces of buzz I heard this spring was that Jones was reported sitting 92/93 and hit 97 right out of the gate after a rigorous off-season following the NPA Velocity program. So while there are a couple of righties who sit at slightly higher velocities, none feature Jones’ pitch mix or command. Again, this is what scouts and orgs are talking about, and what they’ll be using to differentiate players in June. Power is about more than velo, and velo takes a back seat to ability to sink/run pitches and sequence for many evaluators.
I don’t think I put them in the same class as any of those guys as most of those you mentioned are absolute studs. I also don’t think anyones disputing this class is weak on power arms or just arms from the right side in general. But Hunter Harvey has been reported sitting 92-95 touching higher with his curve and projectability he’s another arm worth mentioning with all these guys. Morales is a newly converted SP who doesn’t have a ton of mileage on his arm most feel like he’s going to just keep improving which combining with where he’s at already makes for a very impressive arm. I’m not even a big fan of Morales I’ve had him lower then most places to be honest.
I’m not disputing that Shane and Jones could go higher then where there placement would suggest here I’m just saying this list isn’t all that unreasonable about it either I think that’s a very reasonable place to put them.
Sheffield and Salazar both have very good heat with solid curveballs so I’m not sure where your arguement comes in there. I don’t think I was saying you said move them up but you also said speaking of helium which usually implies there on the way up at least to me. I agree Jones and Shane are both very good arms but again this is just my opinion I can’t place them in front of Sheffield with his heat and dynamite curveball and that same line applies too Salazar since both flash the same FB/CB combo. Sheffield actually has a pretty good slider he throws as well. He works in the 93-97 range for the most part at least from what I’ve heard. Hollons has some of the better stuff in the class quite frankly and the arm sorness thing is obviously a factor but if he’s staying healthy and pitching well you have to respect his pure stuff.
Reading your last paragraph there I’m not sure if your trying to teach me something but I think I know what a power arm is thank you. Jones is a very nice arm with great pitchability but the other guys just have a better package to offer and again I’m a big fan of Jones and Shane and by June depending on how things break down throughout the season they could go past say Morales and Hollons I’d say at best but Sheffield Salazar and Stewart are all firmly planted ahead at least for me they are the definition of power arms to me with Sheffield and Salazars FB/CB combo and Stewarts dynamite FB/SL combo.
I consider Morales a pitcher more then a power arm. I think he will top about about 95 or 96 when all is said and done. But his ability to command his other pitches will make or break his career.
E-Dub, I’m with you on Renfroe. Watching games yesterday, I was thinking about where we had put him in the rankings and thinking it was low and looking lower all the time.