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Player: Kyle Lewis

Position: OF

DOB: July 13, 1995 (20 years old)

Height/Weight: 6’4″, 210 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Mercer

Previously Drafted: Never drafted

Background

Believe it or not, unheralded Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, with its 4,500-odd undergraduates, has had a total of 32 players selected in the MLB draft over the years.

The best of the bunch has been current Oakland A’s center fielder Billy Burns, who was a 32nd-round pick in 2011, while the highest draft pick in school history was shortstop Pat Creech, who went No. 32 overall back in 1973.

That is, until Kyle Lewis came along.

A role player who saw just 89 at-bats as a freshman, Lewis exploded with a .367/.423/.677 line last year that included 19 doubles, 17 home runs and 56 RBI.

That strong performance was enough to put him on the prospect map, but there were still questions about how his game would translate against a higher level of competition.

Situations like that are exactly what the Cape Cod League was created for, as it gives scouts a chance to see the best college baseball has to offer squaring off head-to-head.

Playing for the Orleans Firebirds last summer, Lewis hit .300/.344/.500 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 24 RBI.

With that, he was thrust into the first-round conversation, and his stock has only continued to climb with a monster junior campaign.

The slugging outfielder is currently hitting an outrageous .395/.535/.731 with 11 doubles, 20 home runs and 72 RBI.

Just as impressively, he’s raised his walk rate from 7.5 percent last year to 21.9 percent this season. A lot of that is pitchers working around him, but a willingness to take a free pass is a promising sign from a player who does have some swing-and-miss to his game.

Pick Analysis

A 6’4″ slugger with huge collegiate numbers and impressive raw power is a clear first-round talent, but there are some concerns with Lewis, namely whether or not the many moving parts to his swing will lead to problems against better pitching at the next level. 

As MLB.com’s Prospect Watch put it, his swing “is busier than most scouts would like,” but it’s hard to argue with the results.

Baseball America pegged Lewis as the No. 4 prospect in this year’s class, offering up the following insights:

Lewis is a right-handed hitter with plus-plus raw power. He has some swing-and-miss to his game, and his swing plane can be somewhat steep, but he’s developed a reputation for destroying mistake pitches and working at-bats until he gets the pitch he’s looking for.

Lewis plays center field at Mercer and is likely to begin his pro career in center, but most feel that his tools will play better in right field.

Lewis posts below-average run times to first base, reaching the bag between 4.3 and 4.6 seconds regularly, but his speed is better under way and some scouts like his defensive instincts. Should he have to move away from center, Lewis should fit well in right due to his excellent arm, which scouts have graded above-average to plus.

As long as he can make the necessary adjustments at the next level, his power should carry him, and he has a chance to be a legitimate 30-homer threat if everything falls into place.

Pro Comparison: Justin Upton

A tempting comparison here is Minnesota Twins prospect Adam Brett Walker, who has a loud power tool and a similar frame and also did his college work at a small school in Jacksonville University.

Lewis is a far superior prospect, though.

He has a much more advanced approach at the plate and is light-years better defensively, as Walker is a first baseman by trade and still trying to learn the outfield.

Instead, someone like Justin Upton seems to provide a reasonable glimpse into what Lewis’ eventual ceiling could wind up being. Both are big, strong outfielders with plus raw power and a willingness to take a walk, despite having some swing-and-miss in the repertoire as well.

Lewis probably won’t be a double-digit steal threat, while Upton has stolen at least 18 bases five different times, but they are both solid athletes.

Defensively, Upton has always profiled better in left field, so Lewis actually has a chance to be the better player in that respect.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to the power tool with both players.

Lewis is capable of being a perennial 25-30-homer threat in the middle of someone’s lineup, and as long as his swing mechanics play, he won’t be a drain in the average department by any means, either.

That’s exactly the type of player Upton has developed into, and it earned him a $132.75 million payday this past winter.

Projection: Starting right fielder, middle-of-the-order run-producer

Major League ETA: 2019

Chances of Signing: 99 percent

The questions about the level of competition Lewis faced in college weren’t enough to send him down draft boards, and he’ll be cashing in as a result.

All college stats courtesy of The Baseball Cube, unless otherwise noted, and current through Wednesday, June 8.

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Player: Zack Collins

Position: C

DOB: Feb. 6, 1995 (21 years old)

Height/Weight: 6’3″, 220 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/R

School: Miami

Previously Drafted: 2013 (27th Round, CIN)

Background

College catchers tend to sneak up draft boards when June rolls around, as teams are always looking for more catching depth, and high school catchers are arguably the toughest players of all to project.

There are still some questions whether he will in fact stick behind the dish long-term, but with a monster season offensively, Zack Collins his seen his stock trending up all spring.

Ranked as the No. 113 prospect in the 2013 draft by Baseball America, Collins slipped to the 27th round with a strong commitment to the University of Miami.

He made his presence felt immediately for the Hurricanes, winning Freshman of the Year honors with a .298/.427/.556 line that included 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 54 RBI.

That huge first season earned him a spot in the collegiate national team and quickly put him on the 2016 draft radar.

While questions about his defense remained, his stock continued to rise as a sophomore when he hit .302/.445/.587 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs and 70 RBI.

More accolades followed, as he was named to the All-American Third Team by Rawlings and All-ACC First Team, and he entered his junior campaign as a potential first-round pick, even if he was forced to move out from behind the plate.

He’s still not a plus defender by any means, but he’s shown enough improvement this spring to lead some to believe he can in fact catch at the highest level, which has obviously boosted his stock even further.

At the end of the day, though, it’s still his bat that will carry him, and it’s been an awfully loud bat in 2016.

Collins is currently hitting .358/.534/.631 with nine doubles, 13 home runs and 53 RBI. He’s also lowered his strikeout rate from 20.6 percent to 19.1 percent, while raising his walk rate from 18.4 percent to 27.5 percent. That’s the kind of improvement scouts love to see.

Pick Analysis

With a .534 on-base percentage that ranks fourth in the nation and plenty of home run pop, Collins is the rare catching prospect who is legitimately among the top bats in the country, not just a plus bat for his position.

Baseball America provided the following scouting report:

Collins has plus power, and does a good job of getting to it in game action. He has excellent plate discipline, working counts and waiting for pitches that he can drive. He has walked twice as often as he has struck out this spring.

Coming into the year, many doubted Collins’ ability to stay behind the plate as a professional. But he has shown marked improvement this spring. While it’s unlikely he’ll ever be an above-average defender, he has enough catch-and-throw skills to give him a chance to catch as a professional.

That bat will play wherever he winds up playing in the field, and it’s the decision about his defense that will ultimately decide how quickly he arrives on the scene in the majors.

Pro Comparison: Mike Napoli

Some believe Collins is capable of making a Kyle Schwarber-type impact with a quick ascent through the minors and an immediate MLB impact with his bat.

However, he doesn’t quite have the same raw power that Schwarber possesses, and if his future is in fact behind the plate, a more traditional path through the minors to further develop his skills will be in his best interest.

Instead, a better comparison might be a left-handed-hitting version of Mike Napoli.

Napoli was never a standout defender behind the plate and has since moved to first base, but back in his catching days with the Angels and Rangers, he was one of the premier offensive players at the position.

The slugger recorded six straight seasons with at least 20 home runs during his peak, including a 30-homer season in 2011 that was accompanied by a huge .320/.414/.631 line.

That batting average proved to be an aberration, but Napoli has always displayed plus on-base skills with a .353 career on-base percentage that is 100 points higher than his .253 career average.

Collins has all the tools to develop into a passable defensive catcher who regularly slugs 20-plus home runs with an on-base percentage north of .350. That would make him one of the elite offensive players at a premium position.

Projection: Starting catcher with a bat that would play at first base if needed

Major League ETA: 2019

Chances of Signing: 90 percent

The questions about Collins’ future behind the plate remain a major talking point, and he’d almost certainly improve his receiving skills with a return to Miami for his senior season. However, there’s no reason to think he won’t take the money and start refining those skills at the pro level.

College statistics courtesy of The Baseball Cube, unless otherwise noted, and accurate through Wednesday, June 8.

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Player: A.J. Puk

Position: LHP

DOB: April 25, 1995 (21 years old)

Height/Weight: 6’7″, 230 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/L

School: Florida

Previously Drafted: 2013 (35th Round, DET)

Background

A.J. Puk possesses the all the tools to be a front-line starter at the highest level, which has made his inconsistent play at the University of Florida that much more confounding.

Ranked as the No. 85 prospect in the 2013 draft class by Baseball America, he slipped to the 35th round due to signability concerns and ended up in Gainesville.

After being used primarily out of the bullpen during his freshman season, he joined the Gators rotation as a sophomore and quickly established himself as one to watch at the top of the 2016 draft class.

He finished the season 9-4 with a 3.81 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 78.0 innings, turning it on late to earn SEC All-Tournament Team and Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team spots thanks to a pair of postseason gems.

Puk’s junior season got off to a slow start, and he saw his stock begin to slip a bit, but he rounded into form as the spring wore on and once again asserted himself as the top college arm in the country in terms of draft stock and upside.

In 15 starts for the Gators, he’s gone 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.157 WHIP and .195 opponent batting average. He’s struck out 95 batters and walked 31 in 70.0 innings of work. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag, as his 12.2 K/9 opens eyes, but so does his 4.0 BB/9, and for the wrong reasons.

At any rate, 6’7″ lefties with power stuff and ace upside aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, and Puk has done more than enough this season to keep the hype train rolling.

Pick Analysis

With a three-pitch repertoire that can be overpowering at times and the big frame to be a workhorse, continued improvement in the command department will ultimately be what determines just how good Puk can be.

Baseball America provided the following scouting report:

Puk was inconsistent at the start of the season and was briefly sidelined by back spasms. But he has since rounded into form and again looks the part of dominant starter.

Puk throws his fastball in the mid to upper 90s and thanks to the downhill angle and the excellent extension his 6-foot-7 frame enables him to get, the pitch plays up even further. Puk’s slider and changeup both could use further refinement, but both have a chance to develop into average offerings. His slider sits in the mid-80s with horizontal sweeping action, though it can sometimes back up.

Puk repeats his arm slot well and gets his torso over his front side consistently. When he stays balanced and online, he is very difficult for hitters to square up, even if they make contact. He throws a lot of strikes, particularly for someone of his size, and can locate his fastball to both sides of the plate.

There are probably safer picks among this year’s crop of college arms, but none have the upside of Puk, who could wind up being the marquee player from this class 10 years from now.

MLB Player Comparison: Andrew Miller

The hope will be that Puk takes a smoother path to contributing than Andrew Miller did, but there are certainly worse players to be compared to.

Miller was the No. 6 selection in the 2006 draft with hopes that he would quickly emerge as a front-line starter. However, he entered the 2012 season with a 5.79 ERA and 1.750 WHIP in 359.1 career innings, and the Boston Red Sox made the career-changing decision to move him to the bullpen full-time.

He’s taken since making the transition and parlayed a terrific 2014 season into a four-year, $36 million deal with the New York Yankees.

Just like Puk, Miller is a 6’7″ left-hander who generates plenty of swings-and-misses with a mid-90s fastball and a plus slider.

Puk will be given every chance to stick as a starter, but the best player to compare him to right now appears to be one of the game’s premier relievers.

Projection: Ace-caliber starter if he continues to display plus command, late-inning reliever if he doesn’t.

Major League ETA: 2020

Chances of Signing: 99 percent

Even with an inconsistent performance in his junior season, Puk has consistently been viewed as one of the elite arms of this year’s class. It’s hard to see him boosting his stock or making himself more money with a return to Florida.

All college stats courtesy of The Baseball Cube, unless otherwise noted, and current through Wednesday, June 8.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Player: Corey Ray

Position: OF

DOB: Sept. 22, 1994 (21 years old)

Height/Weight: 5’11”, 185 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/L

School: Louisville

Previously Drafted: 2013 (33rd Round, SEA)

Background

Corey Ray was one of the breakout college stars of 2015, and after a strong summer with Team USA he entered his junior season as one of the premier players in the 2016 draft class.

After playing sparingly as a freshman, the Chicago native hit .325/.389/.543 with 15 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs, 56 RBI and 34 stolen bases in 44 attempts as a sophomore.

That strong performance earned him a place on the collegiate national team, and he went on to lead the club in OPS (.971), extra-base hits (9) and steals (11).

That was enough to make him a consensus top-10 pick when the college season kicked off, and he’s only further boosted his stock with a terrific showing as a junior.

“Right now, if I had the top pick, I think I’d go with Ray,” Keith Law of ESPN wrote on May 17. “He can hit; he can run; he has some power. Although center field, where he plays part of the time for Louisville, is a pipe dream, he could develop into a capable left fielder. I think he goes among the top three picks.”

Ray is currently hitting .319/.396/.562 with 16 doubles, 15 home runs and 60 RBI, and he’s gone 44-for-52 on stolen base attempts.

Pick Analysis

The college crop of bats is fairly weak this season, but Ray was a clear standout with his combination of power, speed and an advanced hit tool.

He should move quickly through the minors, though his future defensively is still up in the air.

Baseball America had the following to say while ranking Ray as the No. 7 prospect in the 2016 crop:

Scouts have few concerns about his hit tool as they expect him to be at least an average hitter, especially after the refinement of his approach this spring. He has a short stroke and is balanced at the plate with a wide stance … Ray shows plus raw power and projects to hit 15-18 home runs as a pro.

He’s a plus runner with the eye for stealing bases–he’s topped 30 steals for a second consecutive year and he’s done it with an 85 percent success rate.

The questions with Ray revolve around his eventual defensive position. Scouts seems almost evenly divided over whether he’s a solid average-to-tick-above-average center fielder or a future left fielder. Even as a left fielder, Ray does enough things well to be a big league regular, but his eventual impact will be determined by whether he can stay up the middle.

That scouting report may not scream “perennial All-Star,” but the floor is very high with Ray, and he has a great chance of developing into an everyday player and steady contributor.

Pro Comparison: Ray Lankford

Tip of the cap to Keith Law for making this comparison; it’s a very fitting one.

Ray Lankford was a third-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals back in 1987 and turned into a staple for the team in center field, where he played for over a decade.

When all was said and done, he put together a .272/.364/.477 career line with 1,561 hits, 238 home runs, 874 RBI and 258 stolen bases for a 38.1 WAR.

That mix of power and speed came from a similarly undersized frame as Ray’s, as Lankford was 5’11” and 180 pounds. That didn’t stop him from generating some impressive power numbers.

Lankford topped 20 home runs six different times in his career, maxing out at 31 in back-to-back seasons in 1997 and 1998 while playing alongside Mark McGwire.

On top of the surprising pop, Lankford also possessed plus speed, swiping 20-plus bases six different times, and was a serious speed threat early in his career with a respective 44 and 42 steals in his first two full seasons in the majors.

That being said, he was successful just 68.8 percent of the time in his career, so it’s reasonable to expect Ray to be a more efficient baserunner given his college track record.

Lankford was never a Gold Glove defender but was a capable everyday center fielder, and Ray will be given every chance to follow suit.

He may not have any 30-homer or 40-steal seasons in his future, but it’s not out of the question to think that Ray could settle in as a perennial 20/20 threat who hits for a solid average and gets on base at a solid clip as well.

That’s something every team would happily take with its first-round selection.

Projection: Everyday outfielder with 20/20 potential, capable defender in center field

Major League ETA: 2019

Chances of Signing: 99 percent

Ray had as much helium as any college player in the nation at the beginning of the spring, and he managed to back it up with a terrific junior season. Barring an unforeseen circumstance, he’ll be starting his pro career in 2016.

All college stats courtesy of The Baseball Cube, unless otherwise noted, and current through Wednesday, June 8.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Player: Riley Pint

Position: RHP

DOB: Nov. 6, 1997 (18 years old)

Height/Weight: 6’4″, 210 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Kan.)

College Commitment: LSU

Background

High school pitchers always come with a certain level of risk, and no high school right-hander has ever gone No. 1 overall.

That being said, it’s not everyday an 18-year-old is clocked at 102 miles per hour.

No one among this year’s crop of high school arms, and perhaps no one in general in the 2016 class—save for Louisville right-hander Zack Burdi—throws harder than Riley Pint.

The fact that he comes from a Kansas high school only makes him that much more rare, as there has not been a Kansas high school player selected in the first round since Brian Holman was taken No. 16 overall by the Montreal Expos in 1983.

It’s not just velocity with Pint, though.

He also possesses one of the best changeups in the draft among a four-pitch repertoire that also includes a potentially plus curveball and a slider.

Pint led St. Thomas Aquinas High School to a Kansas Class 5A state title this year. He didn’t pitch in the championship game but delivered the go-ahead, two-run double in the fifth inning for a 10-9 lead that would hold up as the final.

“I’m ready to go now,” Pint told Ashley Scoby of the Kansas City Star. “One chapter ends, another one begins. And I’m really, really happy about this one.”

Pint is committed to LSU, but it’s hard to see him passing on the paycheck that comes with being taken so high in the draft.

Pick Analysis

Velocity is what has put Pint on the national map, but it’s his impressive overall repertoire and projectable frame that should immediately make him one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball.

Here’s the scouting report that Baseball America provided while ranking him as the No. 2 prospect in this year’s class:

Pint sits at 97-98 mph, regularly bumps 100 and has touched 102 with a fastball that has sink and tailing action. He also throws an 89-91 mph potentially plus changeup with deception and fade. He even has two separate breaking balls—a curve and a slider that both flash above average.

Pint is athletic—he was an excellent basketball player before focusing on baseball and he’s thrown less than many top high school arms. His delivery causes some concerns as he lands into a stiff front side, has a head whack at release and has some recoil which has at times caused his control to waver.

There may be issues to iron out, but you can’t teach velocity, and the fact that he backs his fastball with three potentially plus off-speed pitches makes Pint one of the highest-ceiling prep pitchers to come along in years.

Pro Comparison: Justin Verlander

Reading further on in the scouting report referenced above, a comparison is drawn to Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander.

“In a best-case scenario, he becomes a Justin Verlander-esque front-line ace,” Baseball America wrote. “Like Pint, Verlander had problems with a stiff front side and control issues as an amateur, but the Tigers were able to clean it up.”

Verlander also has a similar build at 6’5″ and 225 pounds, and in his prime, he could routinely dial it up into the high 90s and even touch triple digits late into games.

The 2011 AL Cy Young and MVP winner utilizes the same four-pitch repertoire, and while velocity has always been his calling card, there was a time when his changeup was among the best in baseball.

Verlander came to the Tigers as the No. 2 pick in the 2004 draft after a standout career at Old Dominion, and his ascent to the majors was a rapid one, as he was a full-time member of the Detroit rotation by 2006.

Pint will no doubt take a bit longer to arrive on the scene given his age and need for further polish, but the upside is there for him to be every bit as good as Verlander was in his prime.

Projection: No. 1 starter, perennial All-Star

Major League ETA: 2021

Chances of Signing: 95 percent

Pint has a strong commitment to LSU, but his stock will never be higher, and it’s hard to pass on the bonus money at his draft slot.

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Player: Nick Senzel

Position: 3B/SS

DOB: June 29, 1995 (20 years old)

Height/Weight: 6’1″, 205 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Tennessee

Previously Drafted: Not drafted

Background

Nothing sends a college baseball player’s draft stock soaring quicker than a strong showing in the Cape Cod League.

Nick Senzel won MVP honors last summer.

Playing for the Brewster Whitecaps, he led the league in hits (56), doubles (16), RBI (33) and runs scored (34) while hitting .364/.418/.558 with four home runs and 14 stolen bases.

Also, MLB scouts voted him the Outstanding Pro Prospect and, just like that, he was in the conversation to be a top pick in the 2016 draft.

“If he’s not the best pure hitter in the draft, he’s in the top three,” Baseball America editor John Manuel told Dustin Dopirak of the Knoxville News Sentinel. “I think he’s perceived as one of the safest picks in the draft… There’s really high confidence in the scouting community that he will be at least an average big league hitter if not an above-average big league hitter, and there are not too many guys who inspire that kind of confidence.”

That’s quite a rise in profile for a player who was not even drafted out of high school.

Despite going undrafted, Senzel started as a true freshman, with most of his playing time coming as the team’s designated hitter. He went on to hit .315/.419/.420 with 12 doubles, one home run, 39 RBI and 14 stolen bases to earn Freshman All-American honors.

As a sophomore, he led the Volunteers in batting average (.324), hits (65), doubles (12) and triples (5) while playing alongside eventual first-round pick Christian Stewart.

Tabbed as a consensus preseason All-American this year after his strong summer league performance, Senzel has delivered with a terrific all-around junior campaign.

He’s currently batting .352/.456/.595 with 25 doubles, eight home runs, 59 RBI, 57 runs scored and 25 stolen bases in 29 attempts.

Prior to Senzel, the highest-drafted player in University of Tennessee history was Todd Helton, who went No. 8 overall in the 1995 draft. Things turned out pretty well with him.

Pick Analysis

Scouts fell in love with Senzel this summer, and the praise has continued into what will almost certainly be his final season at Tennessee.

He may not have the highest ceiling, but his floor could be the highest among all of the college bats, and there’s something to be said for selecting a player who is a safe bet to at least develop into an everyday player.

Baseball America sang his praises while ranking him as their No. 6 overall prospect:

His carrying tool is his right-handed bat. Senzel is a patient hitter with a mature approach and a swing that’s geared up for line drives. He makes consistent hard contact in games and in batting practice. Senzel shows the ability to drive the ball with authority to the opposite field or to his pull-side gap. He hits more for doubles than home runs at this point, but he can show raw power in batting practice when he’s asked to, leading some evaluators to believe that he will develop more game power as he continues to mature.

This spring, Senzel has shown significantly improved defense in the infield, shifting to shortstop later in the season from third base. He reacts quickly and shows solid first-step quickness. Senzel has average arm strength and projects to stay in the left side of the infield.

He runs well, with average speed down the line, but he has good base-running instincts, allowing his speed to play even better.

There’s really nothing negative to take away from that scouting report, and if Senzel does indeed develop more game power than expected, he has a chance to be a star.

Pro Comparison: Anthony Rendon

There’s a lot of lines in the above scouting report that sound an awful lot like descriptions of Anthony Rendon: a patient right-handed hitter with doubles power and the potential for more; a solid defender at third base who is capable of playing up the middle; average speed that plays up due to good baserunning instincts.

Rendon was the top college bat in the 2011 draft and a candidate to go No. 1 overall, but injury issues caused him to slip to No. 6 overall, where he was scooped up by the Washington Nationals.

The injury woes have continued in his MLB career, but at his best Rendon was a legitimate MVP candidate in 2014.

That year, he hit .287/.351/.473 with 39 doubles, 21 home runs, 83 RBI, 17 stolen bases and an NL-high 111 runs scored for a 6.6 WAR and a fifth-place finish in MVP voting.

A stat line like that is probably the absolute best-case scenario for Senzel, but he’s capable of turning in a slightly watered-down version of that on a yearly basis if he can show all the same tools he has in college at the pro level.

Projection: Starting third baseman who hits for average, 15-plus home runs

Major League ETA: early 2019

Chances of Signing: 95 percent

Senzel lived up to the hype that comes with winning Cape Cod MVP, and his standing as a top-10 pick should put an end to his time in Knoxville.

All college stats courtesy of The Baseball Cube, unless otherwise noted, and current through Wednesday, June 8.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Player: Mickey Moniak

Position: OF

DOB: May 13, 1998 (18 years old)

Height/Weight: 6’2″, 190 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/R

School: La Costa Canyon High School (California)

College Commitment: UCLA

Background

At the start of the spring, most considered Chaminade Prep’s Blake Rutherford to be the top bat among the California high school crop.

While Rutherford is still one of the top prep hitters in this year’s class and a potential star-caliber player in his own right, Mickey Moniak has passed him in the eyes of most scouts for the title of top prospect in the Golden State.

Moniak further confirmed that sentiment when he took home California Gatorade Player of the Year honors at the conclusion of a standout senior season at La Costa Canyon High School.

According to USA Today, Moniak was hitting .471 this spring with six home runs, 12 triples, 44 RBI and a .921 slugging percentage when he received the accolade. 

Moniak already possesses a plus hit tool and has a chance to be a perennial .300 hitter and 40-double threat in the majors.

The fact he should have no problem sticking in center field long term and has above-average speed only furthers his standing as one of this year’s elite prospects. Moniak told Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish:

I think balance is huge. Being the guy to get on base whether or its a base hit, a double, a triple or whatever it may be. Having that speed is a huge advantage on the basepaths, getting in scoring position, stealing bases, scoring runs. That’s a huge plus. On the defensive side of things, it’s a huge thing to cover ground and to not let any ball drop out there. My speed really helps with that.

If there’s one below-average weapon in his toolbox right now, it’s his power, but that could change as his 6’2″ frame continues to fill out. 

“Obviously, the big knock is my power. That will come, I’ve been growing into my body,” Moniak told Cotillo. “I’m continuing to grow, continuing to go to the weight room to try to put on muscle and add strength. That’s definitely been talked about; it’s something that I definitely think will come. I don’t think it’s too much of a weak point.”

Moniak also has some baseball bloodlines.

His grandfather, William Moniak, played six seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization and his father, Matt, played at San Diego State.

Pick Analysis

There’s a lot to like about Moniak, who could be a five-tool contributor if he takes a step forward in the power department.

Here’s what MLB.com had to say while ranking him as the No. 5 prospect in this year’s class:

At the start of the summer, Moniak was thought of as a decent high school prospect from Southern California. By the time the showcase circuit was over, the outfielder had emerged as one of the best high school bats in the nation. He cemented that reputation by continuing to rake all spring.

Moniak makes consistent hard contact against high levels of competition. He has a good approach at the plate and can spray line drives to all fields. Moniak has more doubles power now, but there’s room in his frame to add strength.

His above-average speed works on both sides of the ball, and some see a future Gold Glove caliber center fielder. Moniak gets high marks for his baseball instincts and effort.

That’s about as positive of a scouting report as you’ll see on a high school hitter. There are no glaring weaknesses for Moniak, and he even draws praise for his intangibles.

Pro Comparison: Christian Yelich

Moniak weighed in on who he feels is a suitable pro comparison in the aforementioned interview with Cotillo.

“I’ve heard, and I agree with this—Jacoby Ellsbury. He can hit for power, hit for average, steal bases and stick in center field.”

That’s not a bad comparison at all, but Christian Yelich might be a better fit.

Despite being a plus athlete with good speed, Moniak will probably never be a threat to steal 35-plus bases, and that’s something Ellsbury has done five times in his career.

Yelich isn’t the flashiest player in the league, but he does a little bit of everything well.

The 24-year-old plays left field for the Miami Marlins, but he’d be a center fielder on a lot of teams, and he’s one of the game’s best defensive outfielders.

Don’t read into this comparison as a suggestion that Moniak will need to move to left field. It’s meant to be nothing but complimentary from a defensive standpoint.

As for the offensive side of things, Yelich is in the midst of a breakout season in which he was hitting .328/.419/.511 entering play Monday.

He’s put up those numbers with just five home runs, so he’s not a slugger by any means. But he still has an OPS north of .900 thanks to a strong on-base percentage and a healthy number of doubles (16).

That’s exactly the type of offensive impact Moniak could make if he continues on his current developmental path, and just like with Yelich, there is also potential for more.

Projection: Starting center fielder, potential leadoff hitter or No. 3 hitter depending on power development

Major League ETA: early 2021

Chances of Signing: 95 percent

Moniak committed to UCLA as a freshman in high school, but there’s no reason to think he won’t sign with the Phillies.

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The 2016 MLB draft has officially arrived, as the next wave of high school and college talent is set to join the professional ranks.

The three-day event kicks off on Thursday night with the first two rounds, and 77 selections total.

All 77 of those picks are laid out team-by-team in the following article, with expert scouting reports, pick analysis and draft grades provided for each selection.

Things get going again tomorrow with rounds 3-10 beginning at 1 p.m. ET, but for now let’s dive into who each team picked on the first day of the 2016 MLB draft.

Note: Due to signing a pair of qualifying offer players in John Lackey and Jason Heyward, the Chicago Cubs do not have a Day 1 pick. Their first selection will come in the third round, No. 104 overall.

Begin Slideshow

Major League Baseball’s draft is unique in comparison to other popular sports like football and basketball. The ultimate goal of finding new stars is the same, but the process is different. 

When the 2016 MLB draft begins Thursday, fans will get to see scouts earn their money. Anyone can recognize a player’s talent at the top level. It doesn’t take a genius to see why Mike Trout, Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are superstars. 

Scouting is all about seeing tools in a player typically between the ages of 18-21 that might lead him to become the next Trout or Clayton Kershaw. Not every draft class boasts athletes with that kind of talent, but there’s always the dream something will click into place and raising their ceiling. 

Best Player: Jason Groome, LHP

Jason Groome was mired in some controversy earlier this year when the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association briefly suspended him for a violation of transfer rules. 

That minor infraction had no impact on Groome‘s draft status, as the left-hander is expected to be one of the first players selected Thursday. He has everything a team could look for in a potential top-of-the-rotation star at 6’6″, 220 pounds and with nasty stuff. 

Groome was the star of last year’s summer circuit, and FanGraphs‘ Jesse Burkhart ranked him No. 1 after the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars:

Groome firmly established himself as an early 1-1 candidate at TOS, working 94-96 mph with a feel for pitching that goes well beyond his 16 years of age. At 6-foot-6, the ball comes out effortlessly from a clean arm action and mid-3/4 release with good downhill angle. He paired the heater with a 75-78 mph curveball that spun tightly in its 1-to-7 orbit with two-plane depth, mixing in a promising changeup with good arm speed.

Fast-forward 11 months, and nothing has changed in Groome‘s scouting report. He’s still showing a plus fastball that he delivers with ease and a knee-buckling curve. His changeup still needs work but continues to show progress. 

People inside baseball are throwing around some unfair comparisons for Groome, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman:

Groome may look like Kershaw did when he came out of high school in 2006, but there’s a massive ocean plus a wide gulf between what Kershaw was as a prep player and the three-time Cy Young winner he is today. 

Still, when a young player shows enough stuff to elicit Kershaw‘s name among people in the know, it says a lot about the kind of talent Groome is and where he could end up going. 

Best Hitter: Mickey Moniak, OF

This is not a great hitting class, so teams may be more inclined to overvalue a bat early because there will be plenty of arms available after the first round. 

California high school star Mickey Moniak is one of the few standout hitters with the tools that will translate into professional baseball. He’s not a physically imposing player at 6’2″ and 190 pounds, which limits his power projection. 

In the video below from the Prospect Pipeline, it’s easy to see why Moniak earns rave reviews for his hit tool: 

Moniak‘s swing is low-effort, with minimal load and a short path through the zone that allows him to put the ball wherever he wants. 

Per MLB.com’s scouting report, there is some thought that he could add some bulk to his frame without hurting his speed and ability to play center field. Adding power to his hit tool would make him the premier offensive player in the 2016 class. 

Best Power: Kyle Lewis, OF

Kyle Lewis looks the part of a power hitter coming into professional baseball. He has a great all-around set of tools and is listed at 6’4″, 195 pounds. 

In an era when every college baseball team tries to play small ball because power numbers are down, Lewis stands out with so much pop. The Mercer star hit 20 home runs and slugged a robust .731 in 2016. 

However, he comes with some risk since Mercer is a small school that doesn’t play the best competition. 

J.J. Cooper of Baseball America addressed the topic of Lewis’ competition and what it could mean:

There’s no doubt that scouts will have a tougher time getting a read on Lewis (ranked eighth on our latest Top 100 Draft prospects list) hitting against Southern Conference pitchers than they will scouting Tennessee third baseman Nick Senzel batting against the rest of the Southeastern Conference. But it’s not the same as scouting a high school hitter.

Cooper also noted that Evan Longoria (Long Beach State) and A.J. Pollock (Notre Dame) are recent examples of players who came from schools that didn’t play in dominant baseball conferences and went on to succeed in MLB. 

Lewis also had the advantage of playing in the Cape Cod League, which uses wood bats, last year. He finished fourth in the league with seven homers and had a slash line of .300/.344/.500 in 39 games, per PointStreak.com.  

There’s a lot of movement in Lewis’ swing that will require adjustments. He has a long hand load and a big leg kick with above-average bat speed to generate his power. 

Good fastballs from professional pitchers are going to give Lewis problems because of all the noise in his swing. He will also have to tone things down to square up quality breaking balls, but when he connects, the ball is going to travel a long way. 

Best Fastball: Riley Pint, RHP

Riley Pint is going to be a fascinating test case for the MLB draft. He’s a hard-throwing right-hander, similar to Tyler Kolek, who the Miami Marlins took second overall in 2014. 

Kolek was regarded as more of a thrower than pitcher at the time he was drafted. He battled control problems in his first two professional seasons, walking 74 hitters with 99 strikeouts in 130.2 innings, but he had to undergo Tommy John surgery in April and won’t return until 2017. 

Pint is not as big as Kolek—Pint is 210 pounds, while Kolek is 260 pounds—but his arm strength is similar. 

ESPN’s Keith Law noted after seeing Pint in an April start that the young right-hander was sitting 96-100 mph with his fastball with a “good” changeup, though Law added there was no usable breaking ball in his arsenal and “poor command and control.”

Pint doesn’t take full advantage of his height, using a short stride that cuts off his path to the plate and leads to erratic control. However, there’s nothing wrong with his arm in the delivery, as it’s fast and clean with no extraneous movement needed to generate big velocity. 

The best thing Pint has going for him, even more than the big fastball, is his age. He’s just 18 years old, and his birthday isn’t until November, so he can get a full month in professional baseball this season before turning 19. 

The raw pieces are in place for a team to believe Pint can become a top-of-the-rotation star in the next five or six years. His development will take time because of his lack of command and need to refine his off-speed stuff. 

It won’t be a long wait for Pint to hear his name called on draft night, but he and his future team’s development staff have work to do to hone his craft. 

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In terms of instant gratification, the MLB draft is guaranteed to be a disappointment. However, there’s no question a handful of future stars are sitting in the 2016 class.

Even the most promising prospects need at least a year of seasoning before they are full-time major leaguers. The Washington Nationals selected Bryce Harper first overall in 2010 but didn’t call him up to the bigs until 2012, and Harper is the exception rather than the rule.

For this year’s incoming crop of prospects, the majors won’t come until 2018 at the earliest, if they even come at all.

Here’s a mock for the first round of the 2016 draft on Thursday night—including compensation picks—followed by analysis for four of the best players available. None of the quartet is likely to make an immediate impact on his major league team, but the four prospects should grow into everyday MLB regulars in a few seasons.

MLB Mock Draft

Top Prospects Available

Jason Groome, LHP, Barnegat (N.J.) High School

Drafting a prep pitcher is always a gamble. For every Clayton Kershaw, there are many more Jarrod Parkers. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Parker ninth overall in 2007, and he was solid for the Oakland Athletics before multiple Tommy John surgeries halted his MLB career.

Jason Groome is the best high school arm available in 2016. He missed a chunk of his senior season after the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ruled him ineligible following his transfer from IMG Academy.

His stats remain impressive, though, per Matt Manley of Shore Sports Network:

Groome boasts a strong fastball, but his curveball might grow to be his most devastating pitch. Even as a junior, his curve had impressive movement, which FanGraphs captured in the video below:

Groome won’t help an MLB team for at least a few years, so he’d be a nice fit for any one of the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies, all of whom are in long-term rebuilds.

According to MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo, though, Groome‘s projection may not be so cut and dry. Mayo reported Groome is considering rescinding his commitment to Vanderbilt in order to enroll at Chipola College. By doing so, the 17-year-old could potentially enter the 2017 draft.

Knowing that contract negotiations are likely to be difficult and may not have a positive resolution, teams may decide drafting Groome won’t be worth the headache.

A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida

A.J. Puk may only sport a 2-3 record on the mound, but he has been very good for the Florida Gators in 2016. In 70 innings, the left-hander struck out 95 batters while allowing 31 walks and a .195 batting average against.

Puk is armed with an overpowering fastball—in the 96-99 mph range, per MLB.com—and a slider that will keep opposing hitters on their toes. If he can improve his control, he’ll be a productive MLB starter for a long time.

‘”Growing up everyone wants to be first pick,” Puk said, per the Orlando Sentinel‘s Edgar Thompson. “It’s always been a dream to be the first pick. You’re considered the best at what you do. That would be exciting.”

This year’s draft doesn’t have that one pitcher who is universally regarded as a future ace, nor is there a five-tool position player who’s a surefire All-Star. Drafting Puk would strengthen the Philadelphia Phillies’ starting rotation for the long term and give them a potential No. 2 starter.

In this year’s draft class, that’s not a bad haul with the No. 1 pick.

Nick Senzel, 3B, Tennessee

Not only is Nick Senzel leading Tennessee with a .352 batting average, but he’s also tied for first in home runs (eight) and stands all alone in RBI (59) and slugging percentage (.595). Baseball America‘s John Manuel discussed how Senzel possesses a high floor for an incoming prospect, per the Knoxville News Sentinel‘s Dustin Dopirak:

If he’s not the best pure hitter in the draft, he’s in the top three. I think he’s perceived as one of the safest picks in the draft. … There’s really high confidence in the scouting community that he will be at least an average big league hitter if not an above average big league hitter, and there are not too many guys who inspire that kind of confidence.

Barring an unforeseen power surge, Senzel is unlikely to be a 30-40 homer hitter in MLB. But if he can slug around 15-20 home runs while batting .280 or above, he’ll be a solid producer at the plate.

The Volunteers star can defend the hot corner as well, and he has the arm to make almost any throw across to first.

Selecting Senzel isn’t the sexiest pick, but there’s a lot of value to picking a player who should at the least be a reliable MLB infielder, especially when general managers are evaluated in part on their records in the first round of the draft.

Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

Until he is tested regularly against pitching higher up in the minor league pyramid, some will always question whether Kyle Lewis is more of a flat-track bully who excels when facing lesser competition.

The athletic outfielder batted .395 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI for the Mercer Bears in 2016. Lewis looked good in the Cape Cod League last year, finishing with a .300 batting average and a .200 isolated power, per Pointstreak.com.

Mercer head coach Craig Gibson doesn’t have any doubts about Lewis’ abilities at the plate.

“When you look at him, the bat speed is phenomenal,” Gibson said, per Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “You could put him in any organization, and that bat speed plays immediately. It’s just different.”

Baseball Prospectus, Christopher Crawford, however, argued Lewis could run into trouble once he faces professional pitching:

At the plate, Lewis shows huge bat speed, and that, along with the leverage he generates, gives him easy plus power to all parts of the field. If there’s a concern here, it’s that his swing has considerable length, and because his hands load late, that could give him significant contact issues as he faces harder throwers and better secondary stuff. He also has a pretty substantial leg kick, and it wouldn’t shock me if the team that drafts him asks Lewis to kick that to the curb. His walk totals are a bit misleading because no one in the Sun Belt wants to throw him a strike, but it does show that he’s willing to work counts into his favor, and that’s never a bad thing.

Gambling on Lewis early in the first round is well worth the potential rewards. He’s a good enough defender so as not to be a liability in the outfield, and he has some of the best raw power in the draft.

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