Playing in the National High School Invitational has become almost a rite of passage for top high school prospects, as the prestigious event provides players with a stage to showcase their talents early in the high school season in front of countless scouts from the college and professional ranks.

As a result, the NHSI already has a long track record of producing early-round Draft picks, including more than 25 first-rounders since the event’s inception in 2012.

• Top 10 Draft prospects at NHSI | Previewing the NHSI

The two best pitchers at the 2018 NHSI were Orange Lutheran’s (Calif.) Cole Winn and Matthew Liberatore of Mountain Ridge (Ariz.). They were selected in the 2018 Draft with the 15th and 16th overall picks by the Rangers and Rays, respectively, beginning a stretch in which eight former NHSI participants were picked in the first round.

Outfielder Jordyn Adams, who helped lead hometown program Green Hope (N.C.) to a runner-up finish last year, followed Winn and Liberatore in the Draft by going to the Angels at No. 17, and two picks later the Cardinals took Sandra Day O’Conner (Ariz.) slugger Nolan Gorman.

The Twins took Oregon State outfielder Trevor Larnach, a 2015 NHSI participant with College Park (Calif.), at No. 20 overall, while Santiago (Calif.) product Brice Turang was taken by Milwaukee with the very next pick. American Heritage’s (Fla.) Triston Casas went to the Red Sox with the No. 26 overall pick, and the Nationals followed by selecting Mason Denaburg, a 2017 NHSI participant with Merritt Island (Fla.), at No. 27.

What’s more, many former NHSI standouts are currently ranked among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects -- 11, to be exact -- and even more have already made a significant impact at the Major League level.

That group of former NHSI participants that is now in the big leagues is headlined by Cody Bellinger, a fourth-round pick of the Dodgers in 2013 who clubbed 39 home runs en route to National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2017. Though power has become his calling card, Bellinger actually stood out more on the mound with Hamilton (Ariz.) in the 2013 NHSI, when he racked up 10 strikeouts in a four-hit, complete-game shutout against Jenks (Okla.).

Speaking of power, Joey Gallo was regarded as the top prep slugger at the inaugural NHSI as a member of Bishop Gorman (Nev.). He’s furthered that reputation with the Rangers, hitting 41 home runs in 2017 and following it up with another 40 in ’18. Matt Olson, a participant in ’12 with Parkview (Ga.), has hit 53 home runs across 221 games for the A’s since the start of ‘17.

As for pitching staffs, none may ever top the 2012 Harvard-Westlake (Calif.) three-headed monster of Lucas Giolito (No. 16 overall pick in 2012), Max Fried (No. 7 in ‘12) and Jack Flaherty (No. 34 in 2014). While all three hurlers have gone on to pitch in the big leagues, Flaherty has enjoyed the most success, as he finished fifth in the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year voting after posting a 3.34 ERA with 182 strikeouts in 151 innings for St. Louis.

While the aforementioned players have since graduated from the prospect ranks, a look at MLB Pipeline’s 2019 Top 100 Prospects list underscores the amount of talent that comes through Cary, N.C., each year.

No player ranks higher on that list than shortstop Royce Lewis, who checks in at No. 6. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 Draft (Twins), Lewis established himself as one of the premier talents in his class as a sophomore in 2015 with Junipero Serra Catholic (Calif.). Playing at two levels last year, the 19-year-old produced a .292/.353/.451 line with 14 home runs and 28 steals.

Milton (Ga.) product Dylan Cease (No. 21 on Top 100) was the Cubs first-round pick in 2014, who later shipped him to the White Sox in the July 2017, Jose Quintana deal. The 23-year-old right-hander broke out in 2018, earning MLB Pipeline Pitcher of the Year honors on the merits of his 12-2 record, 2.40 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 124 innings across two levels, including Double-A.

Shortstop Carter Kieboom’s (No. 25) stock is on the rise after he raked his way up to Double-A at age 20 in 2018. The Nationals selected him in the first round in 2016, the same year he represented Walton (Ga.) at the NHSI. Third baseman Austin Riley (No. 43) was a two-way standout for Desoto Central (Miss.) in 2015, showing power stuff on the mound and tallying six hits at the plate.

Left-hander Justus Sheffield (No. 43), acquired by Seattle from the Yankees in the James Paxton trade, pitched for Tullahoma (Tenn.) in 2013, was a first-round pick in 2014 and made his big league debut late last season. Fellow southpaw Logan Allen (No. 74) could soon join Sheffield in the Majors after he finished 2018 with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate. He represented T.C. Roberson (N.C.) at the NHSI in back-to-back years (2013-14).

Touki Toussaint (No. 51) pitched his way into the top half of the first round in 2014 by striking out 12 over six one-hit frames in an NHSI start for Coral Springs (Fla.). The right-hander put it all together last season, as he excelled in Double- and Triple-A, posting a 2.38 ERA with 163 strikeouts in 136 1/3 innings, and more than held his own with the Braves while pitching in seven games (five starts).

Hard-throwing righty Hans Crouse (No. 85) dominated during his start for Dana Hills (Calif.) in 2017 and became the Rangers’ second-round Draft pick a few months later. He currently ranks as the organization’s top prospect, possessing as high of a ceiling as any pitcher in the system.

Of course, the crop of 2018 NHSI standouts are well represented on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, with Liberatore (No. 55) headlining the group, followed by Gorman (No. 61) and Winn (No. 89).