The 2023 MLB Draft is set for Sunday, July 9th at 4:00pm PST on ESPN with Roger Dorn Baseball League Prospects expected to fly off the board quickly. The focus on amateur prospects from RDBL Front Offices has continued to grow annually with 13 players expected to be selected on Sunday while four underclass prospects are already under contract that won't be eligible to be drafted until 2024.
The Burlingame Blue Ducks and GM Ryan Walsh are the main story as the club holds the top three ranked prospects available with a likely fourth taken in the first ten picks.
Here are the RDBL Prospects expected be to selected Sunday.
1. OF Dylan Crews, Burlingame Blue Ducks
Crews is reportedly seeking a record bonus which could push him two second overall if the Pirates look to stay at that slot value with Paul Skenes or cut an underslot deal with Max Clark or Walker Jenkins. Crews should immediately slot in as a Top-15 prospect in baseball upon his selection.
2. RHP Paul Skenes, Burlingame Blue Ducks
Skenes is considered the current favorite to go first overall to the Pirates, due somewhat to Crews' bonus demands but also due to his spectacular season at LSU. Skenes rivals Stephen Strasburg as the most impressive college arm to hit the Draft in recent memory. He should also slot in as a Top-15 prospect in baseball when selected.
3. OF Wyatt Langford, Burlingame Blue Ducks
Langford is currently projected as the third overall pick to the Detroit Tigers which could give Ducks GM Ryan Walsh each of the top three picks in the Draft. Langford ranks just behind Crews as the best college bat available and has a change to fly through the Minor League system of whatever club lands him. Langford figures to slot in as a Top-25 prospect upon selection.
4. OF Max Clark, Alamo Short Stacks
Clark, Crews and Jacob Gonzalez were all 2022 RDBL Reserve Draft selections with Clark being a personal favorite of Stacks GM Greg Shelley. The outfielder draws comps to Jacoby Ellsbury with an already maxed out 6'1" frame and an advanced bat. He figures to not last past the fifth pick on Sunday and should slot in as a Top-30 prospect in baseball after his selection.
5. OF Walker Jenkins, Idaho Taters
Jenkins and Clark are neck and neck in Draft Rankings with many believing the outfielders will go 4th and 5th overall to the Rangers and Twins. A sweet swinging outfielder, Jenkins already rivals Gavin Cross and Spencer Jones as the best remaining prospect in the Idaho Taters Farm System. Like Clark, Jenkins should slot in as a Top-30 prospect after being selected.
6. RHP Rhett Lowder, Burlingame Blue Ducks
Lowder surpassed Chase Dollander this Spring as the second best college arm available. While he doesn't carry the highest ceiling, Lowder is a plug and play pitching prospect that should move quickly through the Minors and could be a safe mid-rotation starter for the Ducks by 2025 with Top-60 prospect status upon signing. Likely to go in the Top-10, Lowder would give Ducks GM Ryan Walsh four early selections in their revamped Farm System.
7. SS Jacob Gonzalez, Alamo Short Stacks
Gonzalez was viewed as a potential 1-1 candidate for the 2023 Draft following a breakout Sophomore season, but showed some regression in his Junior year that dropped his stock. Mocked as high as 6th overall to the Oakland Athletics, Gonzalez is a likely Top-75 prospect upon signing.
8. RHP Chase Dollander, Meinert Hops
Entering the 2023 College Season, Dollander was viewed as the top pitching prospect and a potential 1-1 candidate before being surpassed by Paul Skenes. He still possesses elite upside which should have him off the board in the first 10 selections. The Hops will have a close eye on the 9th overall pick as they look to avoid having Dollander stuck in a future at Coors Field. Dollander would be viewed as a Top-80 prospect upon signing.
9. RHP Hurston Waldrep, Las Vegas Aristocrats
Waldrep was a standout at Florida, helping lead the Gators to the College World Series final before falling to LSU. There are some folks in the industry who view him as the second best arm available, but command concerns provide some reliever risk in his profile. He would slot in as a Top-100 prospect upon signing with significant growth ahead of him if he can shake off those concerns.
10. 3B Brayden Taylor, Alamo Short Stacks
Taylor mashed early in the college year at TCU before a mid-season and prolonged slump. A late season run has pushed him back into the Top-15 of Mock Drafts while he's mocked as high as 6th to the Oakland Athletics who continue to be linked to college bats. Taylor is likely considered a prospect just outside of the Top-100 upon signing.
11. SS Jacob Wilson, Alamo Short Stacks
The son of former big leaguer Jack Wilson, Jacob has performed at every stop with exceptional contact rates and the ability to stay at short defensively. While he will be knocked for a lack of power and overall upside, Wilson's profile should be one that is aggressively moved through a Minor League system. He's likely considered just outside of the Top-100 prospects in baseball upon signing.
12. 3B Brock Wilken, Idaho Taters
Wilken had a decorated college career and has arguably the most present game power in the draft class. He's an analytical darling because he posts monster exit velocities that rate alongside top big league power hitters. He's a prospect that is knocked due to his defensive value in MLB circles, but the Taters could care less as long as it doesn't prevent him from being in the lineup. A prospect outside of the Top 100 in baseball upon signing, Wilken's bat could push his way into that range with a strong pro debut this summer.
13. 3B Yohandy Morales, Las Vegas Aristocrats
Currently a power over hit profile, Morales is currently projected as a mid to late first round selection for the Las Vegas Aristocrats. A former shortstop who outgrew the position, Morales hit .408/.475/.713 with 20 home runs as a Junior at Miami. He joins Wilken as a prospect outside of the Top 100 upon signing, but one to monitor closely given the upside of his bat.
2024 MLB Draft Prospects
1B/LHP Jac Caglianone, Mission Viejo Maulers
OF Vance Honeycutt, Las Vegas Aristocrats
RHP Chase Burnes, Las Vegas Aristocrats
3B Tommy "Tanks" White, Alamo Short Stacks
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