Sure,
first round:
Shane Baz (RHPitcher) - Baz can put on a show in batting practice, as evidenced by the 18 balls he blasted out of the park in the first round of the Area Code Games home run derby last August. He's an intriguing third-base prospect from the same Concordia Lutheran High (Tomball, Texas) program that produced a 2015 late first-round pick at that position in Ke'Bryan Hayes. Baz will be one of the first prepsters taken in the 2017 Draft -- but as a pitcher. Baz may have the deepest arsenal in the 2017 high school class. His fastball has kicked up a notch to 92-96 mph with a peak of 98 this spring, and he has shown the ability to run and sink it while maintaining its velocity throughout a game. His 84-88 mph cutter generates a lot of swings and misses, and he also can turn the cutter into more of a true slider, spin a curveball that's a distinctly different pitch and unveil a changeup that could develop into a solid offering. Baz's athleticism and clean delivery should yield consistent strikes, though he sometimes has control issues when he falls in love with his secondary pitches and doesn't work off his fastball enough. Scouts rave about his makeup as well as his stuff and physicality. He'll play both ways if he attends Texas Christian, but his upside as a frontline starter should get him drafted high enough to turn pro.
second round:
Steve Jennings - P
A star quarterback who was the offensive MVP of his Tennessee high school district as a junior, Jennings tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a game in September. While the injury ended his football season, he not only recovered in time to play baseball this spring but also has emerged as the top prep prospect in the state. His stock has risen so much that he could go as high as the second round. Jennings didn't spend much time on the showcase circuit because of his football commitments, so he has been a bit of a revelation. His loose, quick arm generates a fastball that sits at 89-92 mph, reaches 95 and should add some more velocity in the future. His hard slider can hit 85 mph and shows the upside of a plus offering, and he also has unveiled a curveball that can be a solid breaking pitch as well. Though he hasn't had much need for a changeup yet, Jennings shows some aptitude for the pitch. He's athletic and has an easy delivery, which enables him to throw strikes. He's committed to Mississippi but figures to get drafted early enough to lure him away from the Rebels.
Cal Mitchell - OF
A product of the famed San Diego high school program Rancho Bernardo that produced big leaguers like Hank Blalock and Cole Hamels, Mitchell's strong summer, including hitting well for Team USA, had him poised to be considered as one of the better high school bats in the country. A change in his approach, however, has hurt his performance this spring, thus dampening enthusiasm about the outfielder. Over the summer, Mitchell showed plus raw power, driving balls to all fields. He's changed his setup at the plate now, with his hands into his body more, with a top-hand heavy, pull side approach. Perhaps he's trying to show more in-game power, but this spring it's resulted in a lot more swing-and-miss with no feel to go the other way. The main issue is that Mitchell's carrying tool is his bat. He's acceptable in left field, but while he has solid instincts, he's not a runner. Based on his performance this spring, Mitchell might not be a top three rounds candidate, which could mean he might be headed to the University of San Diego. But because there's some history and a track record of previous success, a team that feels they can get Mitchell back to where he was last summer could roll the dice that early.
Conner Uselton - RHP
Uselton started at quarterback at Southmoore High (Oklahoma City) as a freshman, and his athleticism and arm strength made him a promising college football prospect. He gave up the gridiron as a sophomore, however, and has blossomed into one of the toolsier high school players available in the 2017 Draft. He has eased some worries about his bat with a strong spring, and a club that fully believes in his hitting ability could pluck him in the first round. Uselton's bat speed, strength and leverage give him some of the best raw power in this year's high school crop. His right-handed swing has some arm bar and got out of sync on the showcase circuit, but he has done a nice job of quieting and repeating his stroke as a senior. He's doing a better job of using the entire field and scouts feel better about his chances of tapping into his considerable pop. A solid runner who covers ground with long strides, Uselton may lose a half-step as he fills out. That would prompt a move from center field to right, where his cannon arm would fit perfectly. He's a 19-year-old high schooler, which some teams see as a red flag and would make him Draft-eligible after two years at Oklahoma State if he attends college.
Third Round
Dylan Busby - 3B
A three-year starter at Florida State, Busby started to show his power potential as a sophomore, leading the Seminoles with 14 homers. That continued during his stint in the Cape Cod League last summer and again this spring, as his 13 long balls once again led his team as he helped FSU gain host a Regional. Busby started the season off slowly as he was coming back from hernia surgery in the fall. By the second half of the season, his hips were exploding better and the power started to show up consistently. There is some swing and miss to his game, but he can be an effective hitter when he uses the entire field. Busby is fairly athletic and some give him a chance to stick at third with a decent arm and hands. Others see him moving to first or perhaps being able to handle left field. Wherever he plays, he looks like he has the power to profile at any corner. College performers with pop tend to do better than expected and Busby could go easily in the top five rounds, easily surpassing his father, a 17th-rounder in 1988.
Jumping to 7th round, made a good pick:
Jared Oliva - CF
Oliva comes from a baseball family, with his father and uncle both having played pro ball. Until this spring, though, the redshirt junior's performance didn't attract scouts so he could follow in their footsteps, and he went undrafted in 2016. But he has elevated himself with how he's performed for Arizona this season. Oliva has always been athletic, with speed that can work on both sides of the ball. The biggest difference in 2017 has been his ability to square balls up more consistently. Most of it has resulted in doubles power, but there is raw pop the right-handed-hitting outfielder has yet to tap into during games. His swing can get grooved at times, leading to some swing and miss. He has been inconsistent at times in the outfield, showing good reads and routes on one day, struggling another, with some scouts wishing he had better instincts. Long and lean, he's drawn some comparisons to a Drew Stubbs type of outfielder. With his athleticism, upside, strong performance and signability -- he graduates this spring -- he could very easily hear his name called in the top five rounds.
