We're getting down to crunch time.
The start of the 2018 Draft is just over a week away, with the Detroit Tigers on the clock to get things started on Monday, June 4 at 7 p.m. ET. The teams behind Detroit are eagerly waiting to see what the Tigers are going to do as they work to line up their own Draft boards.
:: 2018 Draft coverage ::
As teams worked on their boards, the MLB Pipeline staff worked to expand theirs and those efforts are reflected in the new Draft Top 200 list, an expansion and reshuffling of the Top 100 list released a month ago.
While teams have to use things like signability in determining their lists, MLB Pipeline looks only at talent and upside. The total of 200 would go into the seventh round, should they all be taken in order, deep into the second day of the Draft. Coverage of the entire Draft begins on the 4th on MLB Network and MLB.com and continues on MLB.com on June 5-6.
There are quite a few changes to the list, but not at the very top. Auburn right-hander Casey Mize, the front-runner to go No. 1 overall, remains at the top of the rankings, where he was placed when the first Top 100 came out. There is a change at No. 2, however, with Brady Singer, the Florida ace who was No. 1 on the Top 50 list put out late last fall, moving up from No. 5 to No. 2. Oregon State infielder Nick Madrigal has come back healthy and raking, cementing his spot at No. 3. The college trio is backed up by a pair of high school arms: Arizona area lefty Matthew Liberatore, holding steady at No. 4, and Florida prep right-hander Carter Stewart, who moves down from No. 2 to 5 in this expanded list.
Three of the remaining five in the Top 10 were in the same area a month ago. Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart, who some see going as high as No. 2, and perhaps in the conversation for the top spot, moves up from ninth to sixth. Florida infielder Jonathan India, who was No. 10 on the Top 100, is now at No. 8, flipping spots with Wisconsin high school outfielder Jarred Kelenic. The final two spots in the top 10 are new names, with Wichita State corner infielder Alec Bohm going from No. 11 to 7, and SoCal prep right-hander Cole Winn shooting from No. 15 up to No. 9 overall.
Opinions on Draft prospects always vary greatly from team to team, not to mention as the Draft season wears on. Performances this spring obviously are weighed when teams line up their boards and they've helped reshape the MLB Pipeline rankings.
Biggest risers
No. 65 -- Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Robinson HS, Waco, Tex. (+34)
Ashcraft was No. 99 on the Top 100, a high school arm more about projection than current stuff, not to mention a signability issue with his commitment to Baylor, for much of the spring. But his stock took off when his velocity spiked during his playoffs, when he was topping out at 94 mph, with much more in the tank to come.

No. 42 -- Alek Thomas, OF, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago (+25)
He's the son of White Sox strength and conditioning director Allen Thomas and he's super-athletic with a good feel to hit. Think Jacoby Ellsbury with a more advanced understanding of the game. His name has popped up in conversations at the end of the first round.
No. 77 -- Trey Riley, RHP, John A. Logan College, Cartersville, Ill. (+24)
Riley wasn't on the Top 100 a month ago, but has risen quickly thanks to a dominant season in the junior college ranks. Riley transferred from Oklahoma State after his freshman year, has a fastball that touches 97 mph and a plus slider that misses a ton of bats.
No. 40 -- Jake McCarthy, OF, Virginia (+20)
The younger brother of Joe McCarthy, also a Virginia product who was a fifth-round pick of the Rays in 2015, Jake is an athletic center fielder who had a big sophomore year. A broken wrist kept him out of action for much of this season, impacting his stock, but a return late, during which he's shown he's healthy and had all his tools on display, has put an up arrow back next to his name.
No. 58 -- Jeremiah Jackson, SS, St. Luke's Episcopal HS, Waco, Tex. (+20)
Jackson has one of the better offensive profiles of any prep middle infielder in this year's class, with the ability to hit for average and perhaps 15 homers annually. He's solid defensively at short, though some see a move to second base eventually. Either way, his bat should have him come off the board in the top three rounds.
Geographically speaking
Certain states are known as hotbeds for amateur baseball and it shouldn't be a surprise to see which states lead the way in terms of representation on the list.
1. Florida (28)
2. Texas (24)
3. California (21)
4. Georgia (11)
California is still third despite it being what most have called a down year talent-wise in the state. These are the only four states that reached double-digits on the Top 200. Arizona and North Carolina are next, with nine players each on the list. A total of 39 states or provinces (Ontario has two representatives) have players on the list.
Youth movement
Obviously the Draft is all about the future and young talent. But that youth comes across a variety of ages. There will be 11 players on the Top 200 who will still be 17 years old when the Draft begins. Georgia high school catcher Taj Bradley (No. 172) is the youngest on the list. He doesn't turn 18 until next March. On the other end of the spectrum is injured Oregon State right-hander Drew Rasmussen (No. 200). He is the oldest of six 22-year-olds on the list, and will turn 23 in late July.
College students do the rule the day, though by just a narrow margin. There are 105 players from four-year colleges on the Top 200, while high schoolers take up 89 spots. That leaves six on the list from the junior college ranks.
Positional breakdown
Not surprisingly, pitching leads the way (You can never have enough of it, right?). Starting with Mize at the very top, there are 85 right-handers on the list. Add in the 26 lefties and that's 111 pitchers out of the 200. In terms of position players, there are more outfielders (39) than anyone else, followed by 17 shortstops and 12 catchers. There are nine third basemen, seven first basemen and five second basemen to round out the list.