LIVE: Watch 2023 Draft prospects in HS All-American Game

July 15th, 2022

The 2022 Draft starts on Sunday, but evaluations on 2023 Draft prospects are already well underway. The summer showcase circuit officially kicked off with the PDP League at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, which concluded on July 6.

Next up on the calendar is Friday’s Major League Baseball-USA Baseball High School All-American Game, taking place at Dodger Stadium as part of 2022 All-Star Week in Los Angeles. The game, which can be watched live on MLB.com starting approximately at 6 p.m. ET and will re-air on MLB Network at noon ET on Saturday (Scott Braun, Harold Reynolds, Jonathan Mayo and AJ Andrews on the call), features many of the players who competed in the PDP League, 37 to be exact.

The starting lineups for Friday's contest in Los Angeles are as follows, along with info on each player's school and game number:

NATIONAL
1. Dylan Cupp, Cedartown HS (Cedartown HS), 14
2. Kevin McGonigle, Monsignor Bonner HS (Aldan, Pa.), 6
3. Maxwell Clark, Franklin Community HS (Franklin, Ind.), 5
4. Eric Bitonti, Aquinas HS (Hesperia, Calif.), 39
5. Daniel Cholowsky, Hamilton HS (Chandler, Ariz.), 18
6. Andrew Wiggins, Heritage Christian School (Indianapolis, Ind.) 24
7. Justin Best, Combine Academy (Cornelius, N.C.), 43
8. Roman Martin, Servite HS (Whittier, Calif.), 4
9. Ryan Helfrick, Clayton Valley Charter (Discovery Bay, Calif.), 11
10. Dean West, Notre Dame HS (Woodland Hills, Calif.), 7

AMERICAN
1. Dillon Head, Homewood Flossmoor Community HS (Glenwood, Ill.), 5
2. A.J. Ewing, Springboro HS (Springboro, Ohio), 4
3. Aidan Miller, JW Mitchell HS (Trinity, Fla.), 29
4. Gavin Grahovac, Villa Park HS (Orange, Calif.), 16
5. Nolan Stevens, Franklin HS (Elk Grove, Calif.), 27
6. Braden Holcomb, Foundation Academy (Ocoee, Fla.), 21
7. George Wolkow, Downers Grove North HS (Downers Grove, Ill.), 36
8. Antonio Anderson, North Atlanta HS (Atlanta, Ga.), 24
9. Blake Mitchell, Sinton HS (Sinton, Texas), 8
10. Arjun Nimmala, Strawberry Crest HS (Valrico, Fla.), 6

Pitchers for both clubs are expected to take the mound in the following order. Info on each player's school and game number is also provided.

NATIONAL
1. Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian Academy (Kissimmee, Fla.), 28
2. Bryce Eldridge, RHP, James Madison HS (Vienna, Va.), 33
3. Liam Peterson, RHP, Calvary Christian HS (Palm Harbor, Fla.), 15
4. Barrett Kent, RHP, Pottsboro HS (Pottsboro, Texas), 23
5. Landen Maroudis, RHP, Calvary Christian HS (Palm Harbor, Fla.), 26
6. Paul Wilson, RHP, Lakeridge HS (West Linn, Ore.), 41
7. Josh Knoth, RHP, Patchogue Medford HS (Medford, N.Y.), 31
8. Chance Mako, RHP, East Rowan HS (Salisbury, N.C.), 37
9. Christian Rodriguez, RHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Coral Springs, Fla.), 9

AMERICAN
1. Travis Sykora, RHP, Round Rock HS (Round Rock, Texas), 31
2. Cameron Johnson, LHP, Bishop McNamara HS (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 15
3. Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS (Portland, Ore.), 20
4. Garrett Baumann, RHP, Hagerty HS (Oviedo, Fla.), 37
5. Aidan Keenan, RHP, Live Oak HS (Morgan Hill, Calif.), 7
6. Zander Mueth, RHP, Belleville East HS (Swansa, Ill.), 12
7. James Hays, RHP, Westfield School (Hawkinsville, Ga.), 10
8. Dylan Questad, RHP, Waterford HS (Waterford, Wis.), 14
9. Blake Mitchell, RHP, Sinton HS (Sinton, Texas), 8

The timing of this game is fantastic, as it provides an early snapshot of who might be first-round picks a year from now, just a couple of days before this year’s Draft commences. Last year’s game included several prepsters who could hear their names called early on Sunday, with Druw Jones, Elijah Green and Termarr Johnson likely top 10 selections.

A number of 2022 PDP League participants should be riding the high of very strong performances at USA Baseball into Friday’s exhibition. Here are some to keep an eye on to see if they can continue to stand out:

Maxwell Clark, OF, Frank Community HS (Franklin, Ind.): Many see Clark as the best all-around talent in the class and while he didn’t put up big numbers (3-for-16), all five of his tools were on display throughout the PDP League. An adjustment he made with his setup at the plate helped him find the barrel more and he finished with an average exit velocity just north of 93 mph.

Bryce Eldridge, RHP, James Madison HS (Vienna, VA): Eldridge showed off some impressive two-way ability in PDP League play, but scouts were more excited to see him on the mound, especially since he hadn’t pitched this past spring due to a hamstring injury. His fastball averaged 94.63 mph, fifth-best at the event, and he struck out six over three shutout innings.

Gavin Grahovac, OF, Villa Park HS (Orange, Calif.): Gravohac went 4-for-13 with a double in PDP play and hit the ball consistently hard, with his maximum exit velocity of 104.27 mph good for seventh hardest hit ball in the event.

Dillon Head, OF, Homewood Flossmoor Community HS (Glenwood, Ill.): Head impressed right out of the gate during the first workout with plus bat speed and hittability and while he didn’t have much to show for it in games (1-for-11), he continued to barrel up the baseball, topping out at 104.18 mph and averaging close to 90 mph.

Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick High School (Oak Island, N.C.): After Clark, Jenkins may have had the most buzz as a top 2023 guy heading into PDP League action. And like Clark, he didn’t blow up the boxscore, going 3-for-12, though two of those hits were doubles. What he did do is barrel the baseball consistently, with the fourth-best average exit velo (95.05 mph).

Cameron Johnson, LHP, Bishop McNamara HS (Upper Marlboro, MD): While the big lefty wasn’t quite as sharp in his second outing, he was lights out in his first start. Johnson threw two shutout innings, yielding just one hit and no walks while striking out three, with a fastball that averaged just over 95 mph for the outing with high spin rates. Clark singled him out for his fastball, slider and outstanding command.

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner (Aldan, Pa.): If you like guys who hit, then McGonigle is your guy. Starting with what was termed a very “professional BP” on Day 1, all the left-handed-hitting infielder did was collect base knocks, finishing 7-for-15 (.467) for the week and hitting the ball hard pretty consistently (88.5 mph average exit velo).

Blake Mitchell, C/RHP, Sinton HS (Sinton, TX): Mitchell hit well, going 4-for-11 with a double and hitting a ball over 103 mph in the process. He also pitched, whiffing two in two innings and sitting atop the leaderboard with an average fastball velocity of 95.12.

Campbell Smithwick, C, Oxford (Oxford, Miss.): There were a number of solid backstops on hand during PDP League play, but Smithwick might have the chance to be the best offensive performer among them. The left-handed hitter had a pair of doubles in eight at-bats and could be an above-average hitter. He also threw out two potential base stealers.

Travis Sykora, RHP, Round Rock HS (Round Rock, Tex.): If you’re wondering who might be the best high school pitcher in next year’s class, this might be him. The 6-foot-5 right-hander was 94-98 mph throughout his three shutout innings, showing off an impressive upper-80s slider and even folding in some good splitters. He allowed just one hit and no walks while striking out five.