Draft Reports: Prospects 1-50

2014 Perfect Game MLB Draft preview content


Top 500 Prospect Reports:

51-100 | 101-150 | 151-200
201-250 | 251-300 | 301-350
351-400 | 401-450 | 451-500


1. Brady Aiken, lhp, Cathedral Catholic HS
L-L, 6-4/205, Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.
College Commitment: UCLA

Aiken's continued development saw him separate himself from a crowded pack of high level pitching talent in the 2014 class this spring. After taking time off in the fall, Aiken came back bigger and stronger and with improved stuff across the board this spring. He has taken a step forward from sitting in the high-80 to low-90s last year to working in the low- to mid-90s this spring with improvements to his curveball and changeup, as well as working on adding an upper-80s cutter. He's done all of this while maintaining the quality command that he's long been known for.

Read Aiken's detailed Draft Focus profile here.


2. Carlos Rodon, lhp, North Carolina State (JR)
L-L, 6-3/235, Holly Springs, N.C.
Previously Drafted: Brewers ’11 (16)

Rodon has struggled to live up to the lofty pre-season expectations that were heaped on him as he has posted a sub-.500 record and not always dominated his competition like he did a year ago when he easily led the nation with 184 strikeouts in a mere 132 innings. His command has often wavered, as well. But he still features a fastball that sits at 91-95 and peaks at 96, and his trademark wipeout slider has been a dominant second pitch. If anything, Rodon has suffered from a classic lack of run support as his team has scored just three times in his seven losses. His 1.73 ERA is a sharp upgrade over his 2.99 mark in 2013, and all his secondary pitching numbers are superior.

Read Rodon’s detailed Draft Focus profile here.


3. Tyler Kolek, rhp, Shepherd HS
R-R, 6-5/250, Shepherd, Texas
College Commitment: Texas Christian

Kolek’s spring high school season ended surprisingly early, albeit with Astros manager Bo Porter and special advisor Nolan Ryan present. That will give Kolek and his Ryan-esque fastball a chance for some baseball rest and farm work before a short series of pre-draft workouts, seemingly with the top four teams at most, that likely will determine his draft position.

Read Kolek's detailed Draft Focus profile here.


4. Nick Gordon, ss, Olympia HS
L-R, 6-2/185, Windemere, Fla.
College Commitment: Florida State

The additional upper body strength that Gordon gained during the off-season has carried him to a .508-5-24 performance through mid-May and has solidified his position among the top 10 picks, and perhaps even the top 5. He’s seen as the surest thing among high school players in the draft with his combination of elite level defense and improved hitting tools.

Read Gordon's detailed Draft Focus profile here.


5. Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State (JR)
R-R, 6-2/185, Baton Rouge, La.
Previously Drafted: Blue Jays ’11 (22)

Nola has simply been the most dominant pitcher in college baseball this season and has a 9-1, 1.42 record as LSU’s regular season winds down. Scouts still worry about his low arm angle and lack of a dominant breaking ball, but his pinpoint command and plus/plus changeup are too good to ignore in the first 10 picks. An appropriate comp out of college would be the Angels Jered Weaver.

Read Nola's detailed Draft Focus profile here.


6. Brad Zimmer, of, University of San Francisco (JR)
R-R, 6-5/205, La Jolla, Calif.
Previously Drafted: Never drafted

The younger brother and teammate of former University of San Francisco – as well as the fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft – Kyle Zimmer, Brad has a chance to potentially be drafted as high as his brother. Considered by many to own the best present hit tool in all of college baseball, his long, slender frame has plenty of room for additional strength gains, suggesting that his below average present power may develop significantly to add value to his already attractive profile highlighted by a plus hit tool.

Read Zimmer's detailed Draft Focus profile here.


7. Alex Jackson, c/of, Rancho Bernardo HS
R-R, 6-2/220, San Diego, Calif.
College Commitment: University of Oregon

Jackson has been firmly established on the prospect radar for his entire high school career after cracking the starting lineup at San Diego powerhouse Rancho Bernardo High School as a freshman. His plus-plus arm strength and plus power highlight an intriguing prospect profile that gives him an elite ceiling. This also has led him to be considered one of the top position prospects in the entire draft, despite some debate about his future defensive home. Some scouts drool over the potential value of a power hitting catcher, others think his plus-plus arm is a best suited for right field, which would allow him to keep his bat in the lineup for more plate appearances each year.

Read Jackson's detailed Draft Focus profile here.


8. Grant Holmes, rhp, Conway HS
L-R, 6-2/210, Conway, S.C.
College Commitment: University of Florida

Holmes has been the model of consistency for two years now, and he seems to improve incrementally with each outing. His velocity has reached upwards of 98 mph this spring, and he has worked consistently at 93-96 with above average command. What sets him apart, however, is his feel for his plus breaking ball and ability to throw it in almost any count or situation.

Read Holmes’ detailed Draft Focus profile here.


9. Trea Turner, ss, North Carolina State (JR)
R-R, 6-1/170, Lake Worth, Fla.
Previously Drafted: Pirates ’11 (20)

Quality college position players are at a premium in this year’s draft, and the athletic Turner has been a marked man all spring. He has alleviated early-season concerns scouts had over his inability to drive balls consistently by going deep a team-leading eight times for N.C. State, while also leading that club in runs, walks and stolen bases. All other facets of his well-rounded game have been steady, and he has continued to show off his superior speed, arm strength and deft defensive actions at a premium position.

Read Turner’s detailed Draft Focus profile here.


10. Kyle Freeland, lhp, University of Evansville (JR)
L-L, 6-4/190, Denver, Colo.
Previously Drafted: Phillies ’11 (35)

Freeland impressed scouts with his low-90s fastball and plus slider in the Cape Cod League last summer, but he has taken his game to new heights in 2014. Working consistently now at 91-95 mph, Freeland has shown better command and convinced scouts more thoroughly that he can repeat his delivery well enough to be a starter in the big leagues. He’s struck out 111 batters over his first 87 2/3 innings in 2014, and has posted a 1.75 ERA.

Read Freeland’s detailed Draft Focus profile here.