To stop after the top 20 would be doing a great disservice to this class. This group goes nearly 200 deep with prospects who might ultimately rise into the top 50, and even the final spots on the list were hotly contested amongst PBR’s numerous boots-on-the-ground staff with many high upside players just missing the cut. Now, the march to the 2023 MLB Draft begins as high school state championships are decided and the summer circuit kicks off with eager wide-eyed ‘23 ballplayers ready to officially grab the spotlight.

Below, a regional breakdown for what to watch for this summer:

California:
Not since 2017 has California seen such exciting and impactful talent coming from the high school ranks. Sure, the state is a slam dunk to have its yearly first rounder(s), but this group feels different, and with 8 prospects in the top 25 (12 in the top 50), there is considerable buzz going into the summer. A strong case can be made for each of those eight players to be the top overall, and given the value of each one’s tools, the performance on the diamond, and especially the progressions made, will dictate much of that rise. Grahovac stands atop the Golden State thanks to his eye-opening physicality, but especially the graceful and athletic way that he carries it. A dynamic hybrid hitter with both present power and ability to hit to all fields, his glove can easily stick on the dirt although his best position might be behind the plate. Both 1B/LHP Nolan Stevens (Franklin HS, CA) and the aforementioned Bitonti carry heavy sticks from the left side with immense offensive potential. Stevens, a Mississippi State recruit, rarely gets cheated, and his ability to be on time with astounding power to all fields, along with a competitive and confident side that allows him to double as a low 90s arm on the mound, is something that MLB clubs will be unable to ignore.

Nolan Stevens (April 2022)

 

C/IF Ralphy Velazquez (Huntington Beach HS, CA), an Arizona State recruit, holds a similar profile to Stevens and Bitonti, and the three will be closely scrutinized against each other over the next year. High school teammates, RHPs Aidan Keenan (Live Oak HS, CA), a Stanford recruit, and Landon Stump (Live Oak HS, CA), a UCLA recruit, are the top two arms in a loaded Golden State class. Keenan will be at full strength to start the summer after coming along slowly this spring and carries an explosive arm with electric stuff. Stump, a stalwart ace with some of the most polished