Happy holidays to everyone! It's still 2023 for a few more days, but the 2024 Draft is very much on my mind after we unveiled MLB Pipeline's Draft Top 100 a couple of weeks ago.
There always are more worthy prospects than spots on the list, so I'm going to pick a team of talented guys who just missed the cut. I'll even include a two-way player! Here goes:
Hunter Carns, C, First Coast HS (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Athletic backstop with power and arm strength needs to improve his swing decisions and contact.
Hunter Hines, 1B, Mississippi State
Led the Cape Cod League with 13 homers last summer, offers huge bat speed and raw power.
Peyton Stovall, 2B, Arkansas
Showed a first-round bat in high school three years ago but has yet to hit as expected for the Razorbacks.
Robert Hipwell, 3B, Santa Clara
He fits the third-base profile well with his power and defense, though he's suspended for the first part of the season.
Jonathan Vastine, SS, Vanderbilt
Looks very good at his best and really struggles at his worst, does have a good swing and should stay at shortstop.
Paxton Kling, OF, Louisiana State
Comes with four solid-or-better tools but also questions about his ability to make consistent contact.
Carter Mathison, OF, Indiana
Interesting athlete, better as a freshman (19 HR, 1.001 OPS) than as a sophomore (10 HR, .964 OPS).
Casey Saucke, OF, Virginia
Classic right fielder with big power potential and arm strength, backslid as a sophomore and struggled in Cape Cod League.
Payton Tolle, 1B/LHP, Texas Christian
Wichita State transfer has more upside as a slugger with formidable raw power than as a pitchability left-hander.
Cooper Williams, LHP, Alvin (Texas) HS
Has some of the best feel and projectability in the prep class, potential for solid three-pitch mix.
Kyle Robinson, RHP, Texas Tech
Projectable right-hander on the upswing features a 92-96 mph fastball and a plus changeup.