By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

Any conversation regarding the 2016 high school class starts with two names—LHP Jason Groome (Barnegat HS, NJ) and RHP Riley Pint (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, KS). Both have electric arsenals, fronted by blazing fastballs and complemented with wipeout secondary offerings, and they have established themselves as the top prospects in the class. There are six months until the 2016 MLB Draft and many things that can change, but Groome and Pint are in the conversation of being the first overall pick—thus putting them at Nos. 1 and 2 respectively in the 2016 PBR Draft 100.

The PBR Draft 100 ranks the top high school prospects eligible for the upcoming draft, including players outside of Prep Baseball Report’s coverage area of 27 states. This list is compiled after months of seeing games across the country and conversations with scouts and college recruiters. Players within PBR’s coverage area remain in the same order as they are in the 2016 Overall Rankings.

At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Groome has the frame scouts look for in projecting a frontline arm. His left-handedness and age are key factors in his advantage over Pint. The Vanderbilt recruit has a fastball that easily sits 91-94 mph and touches 95-97 at times. He also mixes in a hard slider with sharp break at 75-78 and shows feel for a changeup at 77-78. Born in August of 1998, he will still be 17 when drafted.

Pint has long been on the prospect radar, capturing the attention of coaches in Kansas early in his high school career. A Louisiana State recruit, he has a long, projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90s and he touched 99 a couple times this summer. His arm is lightning quick and he gets some occasional life to his fastball. His slider has hard break and sits 81-85.

Labeling the top position player in the 2016 class is a fun debate and may not have a wrong answer, but for this list the distinction goes to OF Mickey Moniak (La Costa Canyon HS, CA). Most of his tools are at least average with his hitting ability and speed standing out the most. He has broad shoulders and room to add strength so he could grow into some power down the road. Moniak, a UCLA recruit, is an instinctual player, wreaking havoc on the bases and defense. Right behind him is a fellow Southern California product and UCLA recruit in OF Blake Rutherford (Chaminade College Prep, CA). Rutherford has the advantage in power over Moniak. Though he runs well, he may move to a corner spot where his bat would profile just fine. Working against him is his age, as he will turn 19 a month before the draft.

Rounding out the top 10 are RHP Ian Anderson (Shenendehowa HS, NY), RHP Reggie Lawson (Victor Valley HS, CA), RHP Kevin Gowdy (Santa Barbara HS, CA), RHP/3B Josh Lowe (Pope HS, GA), RHP Forrest Whitley (Alamo Heights HS, TX) and SS Delvin Perez (International Baseball Academy, PR).

Of the top 100 prospects, 14 earned a gold medal with the Team USA 18U National Team this summer. They were Moniak, Rutherford, Anderson, Lawson, Gowdy, Whitley, SS Daniel Bakst (Poly Prep Country Day School, NY), SS Cole Stobbe (Millard West HS, NE), C Michael Amditis (Boca Raton HS, FL), C Cooper Johnson (Carmel Catholic HS, IL), SS Nicholas Quintana (Arbor View HS, NV), RHP Austin Bergner (Windermere Prep, FL), OF Will Benson (The Westminster Schools, GA) and LHP Braxton Garrett (Florence HS, AL).

At the back of the list are a couple of wild cards in RHP Dalton Feeney (Century HS, ND) and RHP Mason Thompson (Round Rock HS, TX). Feeney is a good athlete, starring as a quarterback for Century as well, but he has had limited exposure. His name burst onto the scene this summer after he was 92-95 with a nasty curveball and easy, athletic delivery at the Midwest Scouts Association workout at the end of July. He is committed to Missouri. Thompson was the ace of the 2013 Team USA 15U squad and pitched at the 2014 Area Code Games as an underclassman. He likely would have made the rounds this summer and been a hot name, but he had Tommy John surgery in the spring so he may not be back on the mound in time for scouts to get their looks. He is committed to Texas.

A Look At The Top 10

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
1	Jason Groome	NJ	Barnegat	2016	LHP	Vanderbilt
2	Riley Pint	KS	St. Thomas Aquinas	2016	RHP	Louisiana State
3	Mickey Moniak	CA	La Costa Canyon	2016	OF	UCLA
4	Blake Rutherford	CA	Chaminade College Prep	2016	OF	UCLA
5	Ian Anderson	NY	Shenendehowa	2016	RHP	Vanderbilt
6	Reggie Lawson	CA	Victor Valley	2016	RHP	Arizona State
7	Kevin Gowdy	CA	Santa Barbara	2016	RHP	UCLA
8	Josh Lowe	GA	Pope	2016	RHP	Florida State
9	Forrest Whitley	TX	Alamo Heights	2016	RHP	Florida State
10	Delvin Perez	PR	International Baseball Academy	2016	SS

CLICK HERE to view complete PBR Draft 100 List