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2022 MLB Draft - The Excellent Eleven

July 11, 2022
Justin Goetz, Chaz Crawford
PBR Georgia Staff

Christmas in the baseball world is just days away, as the MLB Draft starts this Sunday, July 17th at 7 p.m. ET. 30 teams will look to add presents under their trees that appreciate yearly in value. Who will be the next face of each franchise?

Area supervisors have sold and continue to sell their pref lists to the higher ups, relentlessly pounding the table for the players they’ve followed for the last year or more. Most Crosscheckers and Scouting Directors have flown to their club’s home stadium for a week of no sleep, in the draft room with lots of coffee from early morning to night. They’re having constant intense discussions to determine the draft boards final order, digging as deep as possible on every player.

The big whigs are comparing players' tools, breaking down swings & deliveries, trackman data, statistics, performances, makeup, and everything in between. Which hitter sees spin better and consistently makes the right swing decisions? Who hit elite pitching most often? What's the whiff rate on his SL? Where did his FB velo sit in the 5th inning last start we saw him? How much do we have to develop him? The questions and answers are endless.

Georgia is typically one of the most involved states draft wise, and it’s no different this year. This is a hot bed for MLB talent and the track record speaks for itself. You’ll find a heavy amount of Peach State talent up & down farm systems, and on MLB rosters. Here we highlight the 10 biggest HS draft names in our talent rich state, and discuss their future tools.

Druw Jones, CF, Wesleyan
Vandy Commit. 6 foot 3, 180 pounds. A potential franchise cornerstone who contains the perfect blend of tools, intangibles, ceiling, baseball IQ, and makeup. Druw Jones is ready to make his own name. He’s not following in his 10 time Gold Glove winning dad's footsteps, he’s blazing his own trail. But as an evaluator, the first thing that stands out about Jones is how similar his game is to his Andruw - swing path & finish, running style & speed, instincts & 1st step, demeanor and body language are all so similar. Track record is very important in the draft, and his goes back even further than his incredible resume on the summer circuit and State Championship at Wesleyan. He ended up with the most hits in GHSA (65) with a staggering .570 AVG/.675 OBP/1.702 OPS to go with an impressive 33 BB/9 K’s. Thanks to his fathers big league debut at 19, organizations can directly compare the two at the same age. Druw is less physically developed with less raw power at the same stage, but arguably has better pitch recognition and ability to decelerate on offspeed pitches, which his dad developed later in his career. You can argue the same on the approach and inside out swing - they allow him to take away the outer half of the zone and force pitchers to come inside, where he’s ready to turn & burn. This leaves pitchers with little to exploit. He’s a very good base runner and will consistently be a speed threat. There’s one else with his trio of 1st step, instincts and range in CF in this draft. The feel he has to predict where the baseball will end up just from the early flight of it off the bat is innate. Don’t forget about the strong, accurate arm! He’s a crisp route runner and will rapidly become elite there, but what's most exciting is what happens when he doesn’t run a good one. The ability to adjust his body on the fly and effortlessly cover his mistakes is what makes him different in CF. His hit and raw power will likely end up A/AVG with a chance to be plus, with the run, glove and arm being ++. Rumor has it he’s likely to go pick 1, and would be shocking if he gets past pick 4. Separators - Defense, Ability to Decelerate/Accelerate, Hitting Approach.
 


Termarr Johnson, IF, Mays 
Arizona State Commit. 5 foot 8 180 pounds. A dynamic bat with the potential to carry the heart of a lineup as the face of an organization. He’s shown almost everything you want in a HS hitter these days, bat speed, power, ability to hit higher velo, recognizing spin, patience, and pitch by pitch aptitude. Termarr has all of these traits. Some of the better bat to ball skills we have seen out of a HS bat in recent memory as well as some of the best hit metrics. Patient approach and one that saw him post an OBP of almost .500 across his 2021 summer circuit. Hips touch & go off the backside with perfect direction. Constant pressure on legs, head doesn’t move, loads with core and chest allowing the hands to stay relaxed and explosive. Barrel layback is perfect off the back shoulder, producing a short, knob led path and lengthy stay through the hitting zone. Incredible barrel acceleration from launch position through contact with great body control. Termarr creates immense hip/shoulder separation at landing point results in crazy bat speed through the zone and allows him to spray to all fields. Do the questions regarding his defensive ability really hinder his stock significantly? I would personally say no, and his defense has improved dramatically in recent years and has A/AVG potential at 2B. We feel he can succeed at the hot corner as well. This is one of the better “pure” hitters to come out of HS in a long time and many would be foolish not to take a chance on his upside. This future 3 hole hitter is a consensus top 10 pick and one that we could see go number 1 overall. Separators - Bat to Ball, Pitch Recognition, Bat Speed, Approach.

 


Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola
Stands at 6 foot 2 210 pounds. There are not many players who can say they have played against the talent Collier has at the age of 17. Decided to make a bold decision by not only reclassing to the 2022 class, but transferring to a JUCO so that he could be draft eligible this year. This shows the fearlessness needed for developing into a consistent MLB hitter. After posting a batting average of .333, hitting 8 HR, and driving in 47 RBI’s at Chipola, Collier saw his stock soare up boards. There has even been conversation that he could be selected by Mike Elias and the Orioles with the number 1 overall pick! Collier combines unique bat speed and athleticism in a frame that projects some huge power at the next level. Low handset where the bat stays vertical throughout load and gradually tilts into launch position, keeping his hands patient. Progressively rotates weight into the back hip while he clears the front side at top of his load. This gains him immense separation & torque between the hips+shoulders providing the maximum power output at contact. “Palm up, palm down” at foot strike and he uncoils the hips on an incline plane creating lift through the ball and matching pitch trajectory. Has shown ability to “shrink” the front arm and get barrel angle late nearing contact point when dealing with pitches on the inner half. It is legit + power potential with a hit grade that could also grade out as being +. The defense is not something to be overlooked either. The present arm strength is one to be excited about as Collier had been into the mid 90’s as a prep pitcher. Displays below average/average instincts at the position as of now, but shows promise to be a serviceable player at the hot corner in the future. High character player who knows what it is like to be around the game, father Lou Collier was in the big leagues for 8 seasons. Separators - Makeup, Power Potential, Arm Strength, Hit Tool.

 


Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford 
Vanderbilt Commit. Standing at 6’2 195lbs. A potential front end starter at the next level, it was the consensus that Lesko could be the first pitcher taken off the board in a draft surrounded with a lot of hitting talent, but with the unfortunate news of Tommy John surgery, this may have skewed his overall value. Lesko has still been projected to hear his name called in the first round and we personally expect nothing less. It is a FB that sits in the 92-95 range and has touched 97mph with a downhill/steep VAA which allows him to thrive in the bottom of the strike zone. Command/control of the FB stands out immensely not only because of the ability to pitch to both sides of the plate, but the amount of IZM’s (in zone misses), he receives. The CH is a potential “++” weapon and shows heavy sidespin fade in the low 80’s. During Lesko’s outing against Don Bosco Prep (NJ) this spring, the CH garnered a whiff rate of 86% and received numerous amounts of weak contact when put in play. CH command/control is a  The CB is a pitch that plays well from his particular slot and sits in the mid-upper 70’s with near 12/6 direction at times. Many have speculated it will take some serious money to draw him away from his commitment to Vandy, and it's unlikely he signs unless taken in Rd 1. As the countdown continues towards July 17th, we wait to hear the news on the star pitcher from Buford HS. Separators - Changeup, FB Command, Pedigree.

 


Sam Horn, RHP, Collins Hill
Mizzou Commit. 6 foot 4, 200 pounds. This is a prototype front end starter with a combo of finesse and power. It's easily one of the better HS deliveries in the country - timing, balance, gradual build up of pace (creates ease of operation), patience over rubber in separation, impeccable direction, sequence from start to finish. The mid-depth, full circle arm action is very clean and works in one fluid piece from a high ¾ slot. It’s more of a north/south rotation in the upper half, matching his slot well. He’s an incredibly efficient mover who’s an MILB pitching coordinator's dream. Why? There’s nothing to adjust in Horn’s delivery and he’s an elite strike thrower for his age. So you’re essentially just working on approach, pitch design, studying hitters, and getting him stronger & more flexible/mobile! We can’t explain to you enough how rare this is, a club can essentially get an advanced college arm who’s 18 years old with much less mileage. They can mold Sam into exactly what they want when he’s at the tip of the iceberg potential wise. He attacks RHH early in the count with his 88-90 T91 2 seamer that consistently shows edge to edge run, and he’s confident enough to front hip it to LHH for the freeze. This is a pitch sure to have plus life & command. He likes to work his 4 seamer later in counts at 91-92 T95 up in the zone with some carry, but it's just as effective down in the zone on a steep plane. It looks to have avg life with future A/AVG or better command. His CB has plus potential at 78-81 with tight rotation, powerful 2 plane depth, some late sweep, and he can throw for strikes or K’s. It will blend into a hybrid at times and we feel he will be able to develop a lateral SL to go with it. He’s also got a downer CH in the mid 80’s with late fade that should develop into an avg or better MLB offering in the future! Horn has some of the better leverage in the draft being a heralded QB1/RHP commit, and it’s going to be tough for teams to look past his athleticism and projection. It will take quite a bit of bonus pool to get him to forgo college, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see him sign above slot on Day 1 or 2. Separators - Athleticism, Command, Delivery, FB versatility.
Chandler Pollard, SS, Woodward Academy
Washington State commit. 6 foot 3, 170 pounds. A true SS with generational athleticism that would fit just as well in CF, and we believe is one of the most underrated prospects in the country. The body looks more like an olympic gold medalist sprinter than a baseball player. Baseball fans, coaches, and scouts alike are blessed that he chose to play this sport. He could easily be doing this at a high level on the gridiron, basketball court, or track. Pollard has 5 tool potential, with a good chance to reach it. His loudest current tool is top of the scale speed, as he broke the GHSA record with 61 steals!! He possesses high voltage acceleration, getting to top end speed almost immediately with effortless glide. It benefits him just as much defensively at the #6 position, where he can change direction on a dime with elite range and nice instincts. He has an A/AVG arm that should end up plus, and a quick exchange with soft hands and solid feel throwing from multiple angles. His bat has the potential to end up just as good as the run, and we feel he has the future potential to be a plus hitter, at the very least being AVG. This is an extremely low risk bat due to his elite hand-eye, timing, and high contact swing path. He has an incredible feel for timing up his hips and forward move based off a pitchers delivery progression. When you add precision and quick twitch to the mix of timing, the raw power is inevitable. He’s able to create rare bat speed with almost no head movement and very minimal separation or hand load, which bodes very well for hitting high velocity. In an extended 7 game look this year, Pollard's only outs made were barrels! This is an insane value in Rd 3, with a Rd 1 skillset! He could receive that value later into day 2 or early day 3. Separators - Speed, Effortlessness, Hit for Avg.
Riley Stanford, RHP, Buford
Georgia Tech commit. 6 foot 5, 230 pounds. This is a future front end starter with an impressive ability to repeat a high tempo, balanced delivery in a young XL frame with much more strength to gain. What sold us most on Stanford this spring is how easily he produces consistent velo and the development of his SL over the last year. Riley has without question the best arm speed in the state from a loose, full, and fluid mid depth AA (¾ slot). Only a few HS prospects in the country rival it. The pace of the arm swing is truly eye opening, starting fast out of the glove and a complete blur as he works to release point. This spring, his 4 Seam FB sat in the 92-94 range, regularly touching 95 & 96 (T97) with violent bore. This summer he’s pitched in the loaded Sun Belt league for college players, and has touched 99 nearly every single outing! It’s going to be a top of the scale FB reaching over triple digits when he needs it, with A/AVG command in the future. He’s also developing a nice 2 seamer in the 91-93 range with late run+sink to get LHH looking away only to get bumble bees in the hands shortly after. Stanford’s SL has improved leaps and bounds since his senior circuit started. It came in angry during the playoffs vs Glynn Academy at 83-84 T85 and flashed wipeout downward tilt that snapped off the planet from his FB’s plane (tunnel), causing some wild swings. The pitch has + potential and we feel he will command it MLB avg. When the tilt wasn’t there, it had a sharp and late lateral break leading me to believe he can continue to develop his nasty vertical SL and eventually throw an HZB cutter to mirror his 2 seam. The only thing holding back Stanford from being a guaranteed draft pick is signability, as it will take a heap to get him out of his strong commitment to the GT staff of legend Danny Hall, pitching guru Danny Borrell, and imagine the bombs he’ll hit under the tutelage of former Cards 1st Rd bat James Ramsey! He might look like a grown man, but he's nowhere near his eventual physical strength. Separators - Arm Speed, FB Velo/Life, SL potential.
Bryce Archie, RHP, McEachern
Coastal Carolina Commit. 6 foot 2, 190 pounds. Here we have a high ceiling RHP/QB1 who makes everything look easy on the mound with his calm yet competitive demeanor. He’s got an elegant delivery that looks like poetry in motion from start to finish. This is the ideal delivery and the only one the same level as Sam Horn’s in the state. A coincidence? We think not. Elite, dual sport athletes often have the best deliveries on the mound. They know how to move efficiently and typically have more muscle memory for athletic movements. Archie shows good footwork to square up in the windup, and his high but controlled leg kick engages the hamstrings and allows him to sit on the backside perfectly as he works down the mound. The fact that he sits the same exact velo from the stretch is a tip of the cap to how well his delivery works. His extremely healthy & efficient short circle arm action stays connected and protected over the rubber in stride, working in unison with the largest muscles on the backside. His well postured (slightly bent, 60% backside 40% front side) lower half at landing creates a steep downhill plane to work on, allowing him to drive the ball to his spot with gravity. His FB has been rumored up to 96 this spring and we believe it, as he sat 89-91 T92 when we saw him this spring in the freezing cold of February. His steep planed FB has + power sinker potential, with nasty late run+sink and future A/AVG command. We really like his tightly rotating SL at 78-81 with a short, late vertical break that flashes plus and tunnels well with his FB. He should command this at least at an A/AVG clip due to his delivery, efficient arm action, and shorter snap. We see his heavy CH at 83-84 as an avg or better pitch in the future that matches the life of his FB well, and he shows the pitchabilty to throw it to both edges early in his career. It could be a tough sell for an MLB team, but we feel a team could see him as a Taj Bradley projection type arm who might even be harder to resist with the dual sport tag clubs love. Separators - Athleticism, Arm Action, Projection.
Matthew Hoskins, RHP, Peachtree Ridge
UGA commit. 6 foot 3, 220 pounds. This grizzly bear of a human who’s been up to 97 mph this spring has obvious potential as a front end starter. He also runs a 6.6, and can hit the ball a country mile. His demeanor on the mound strikes fear in even the best hitters. But what impresses me is the smooth delivery, ability to get in rhythm for innings at a time, and how he repeats his release point & arm speed on the secondary stuff. The most exciting part about Hoskins? He’s only been a pitcher since last spring and has the potential for 2 plus secondary pitches. His FB sits in the low 90’s with explosive bore, regularly touching 94 with plus potential & A/AVG current life. Right now it's an average MLB pitch but regularly flashes A/AVG. Hoskins featured a wipeout SL with sudden snap and mean tilt that surely projects as a plus pitch. It baffled a Grayson team full of D1 commits at 79-82 and maintained FB trajectory very well. What isn’t mentioned enough is the fact he’s flashing A/AVG or better on his CH a year after first throwing one! The changeup is typically the hardest pitch for a HS arm to develop, especially one who has so much velo there’s really no need to throw it at the HS level. He dotted multiple 83-84 CH with comeback run+sink away from RHH, and threw a 74-77 CB for strikes. Athletic ability, arm speed, secondary pitches, and lack of mileage are his separators. Another one who would be a guaranteed draft pick if not for his strong commitment to UGA and signability. We still believe his separators could be too enticing to pass up.
Javier Santos Tejada, RHP, Georgia Premier Academy 
Northwest Florida State Commit. Standing at 6 foot 180 pounds. Tejada has one of the biggest FB’s in the draft coming from a HS arm. Big overtop AA with 2 pitch mix. FB sits anywhere from 92-96 and has touched 98mph with vertical break numbers reaching 20in. The FB command/control has been below average at the moment, yet the direction and mechanics show promise for him to potentially possess near avg control in the minors. His second pitch, the CB, sits in the mid-upper 70’s with sharp downer shape and the life it creates projects to deliver real swing and miss potential at next level. The CB command/control, like the FB, has shown inconsistencies and I ultimately believe it will become below average command/control of the pitch. Pitching off his FB in the minors or possibly adding another weapon will be huge in his development. The arm can be late at times which causes inconsistent release points and possibly shortening this could lead to better success in the zone? It is an athletic arm with a lot of exciting traits who also still has a lot to work on. Fun upside! Separators - 2 Pitch Life Upside, Athletic Frame.

 


Brady Jones, RHP, Decatur
Georgia State commit. Standing at 5 foot 11 190 pounds. Jones possesses one of the quickest arms in the entire draft and this is no understatement. The FB has posted very intriguing metric numbers from a lower release height that has caused some serious problems for hitters to pick up on. The FB sits 90-93 and has touched 96mph this spring with ride+run. Has been recorded with 17-21in of IVB and 13-15in of HZB at 2300spin. Mixes in a CH that shows slight fade and depth in the low 80’s that he can throw to both right handed and left handed hitters. The confidence in the CH is drastically more apparent than his SL in the fact that he will at least show his CH when behind in the count as opposed to only when he is ahead. The SL shows a short gyro profile in the upper 70’s that is still a developing offspeed weapon. SL control/command and confidence is not necessarily there as of yet, but the lightning quick arm speed that Jones possesses, shows promise that the SL could be a weapon in the future. Absolute competitor on the mound that has seen his stock drastically improve since his very impressive start last fall in Jupiter! One of the younger players in GA’s ‘22 class seems like a nice fit in Rd 4-5, or a Day 3 overpay after Rd 10. Separators - Arm Speed, FB Life/Metrics, Changeup.

 


Jared Jones, C/1B, Walton 
LSU Commit. Stands at 6 foot 4 230 pounds. Jones has been a living nightmare for pitchers to face during his highschool and travel ball years consistently depositing baseballs into the trees. The hit tool can lag behind at times and the feel/recognition for overall spin has been a work in progress, but no one is denying that the overall power potential is something special. The catching+throwing ability that Jones possesses is one that we feel gets overlooked when evaluating Jones as an overall player. Jones is a legitimate candidate to stick behind the plate full time once he steps on a college campus or in the minor leagues. Has posted sub 2.0 pop times in games, has been 85mph+ on throwdowns, and shows extremely quick feet before transfer. Swing shows a very slight shift to the back half with smooth rhythm in hands just before stride. Upper body drift, however, the hands stay in a powerful still position until he begins into rotation. Clears hips well as he uses strong core to pull hands through the zone w/ creates crazy barrel whip. Overall, this is a backstop that could potentially produce some crazy power numbers, throw out a significant amount of runners, and control/command a game behind the dish. Separators - Arm, Raw Power, Overall Strength.

 

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