The 2022 MLB draft is complete with Rounds 11-20 taking place Tuesday. In total, 616 players were drafted. Teams can sign players for up to $125,000 before counting against their pool and don’t get penalized for not signing a player. The PBR and D1Baseball staff share storylines and favorite picks from the final day.

STORYLINES

+ Baltimore started the final day by taking RHP Zack Showalter (Wesley Chapel HS, FL), a South Florida recruit with a quick arm and low-90s fastball that gets on hitters quick with riding action up in the zone. He also spins a tight, sweeping slider.

+ Players from the MLB Draft League then started flying off the board. LHP Kohl Drake (Walters State CC) went 319th overall to Texas and the Cubs took LHP Branden Noriega four picks later. Noriega, who can run his fastball into the upper 90s, didn’t pitch for a school this spring. In the 12th round, Pittsburgh took RHP K.C. Hunt (Mississippi State), the younger brother of our own Shooter Hunt. For more, check out the Draft League breakdown.

+ As usual, there were some noteworthy high school selections early on. Seven preps were taken in the 11th round, starting with Showalter. The Angels took RHP Caden Dana (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) and RHP Isaiah Lowe (Combine Academy, NC) went two picks later to San Diego. Three straight came off the board with OF Mari Boyd (South Panola HS, MS) to Philadelphia, RHP Ben Brutti (South Kingstown HS, RI) to Cincinnati and LHP Christain Oppor (Columbus HS, WI) to Oakland. Houston then took OF/1B Ryan Clifford (Pro 5 Academy, NC) 343rd overall.

+ After Day Two, we noted three names to watch: 3B Mac Horvath (North Carolina), RHP David Sandlin (Oklahoma) and RHP Andrew Walters (Miami). Horvath went undrafted and could easily play his way into the Day One conversation after another year with the Tar Heels. Sandlin didn’t last long, going to Kansas City with the ninth pick of the day. Walters lasted until the 18th, when Baltimore scooped him up.

FAVORITE PICKS

RODE: Dana was one of my favorite arms in the class and I think there’s a very good chance the Angels get something done with him. The Kentucky recruit has an intimidating presence on the mound with his 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame and competitive demeanor. He goes right after hitters with a fastball that gets into the mid 90s and a hammer curveball. He also has feel for a changeup and added a sharp slider to his arsenal this year.

SHOOTER: Among a whole host of talented high prospects that teams drafted on the final day, a pair of Super 60 standouts from the Hoosier State were particularly intriguing to me. 3B Cameron Decker (Evansville North HS, IN) was chosen in the 18th round by the Dodgers, and RHP Gage Stanifer (Westfield HS, IN) was selected by the Blue Jays. Decker’s ability to manipulate the barrel while creating quickness in a short window and still driving the ball with authority stands out right now, and there is the potential for him to hit for much more power in the future. Stanifer was a metrics darling who saw the fastball velocity creep into the mid 90s with quality feel for multiple secondary pitches. His spring wasn’t quite as strong as some may have hoped, but the upside remains incredibly high thanks to elite athleticism and innate ability to move down the mound freely.

ON TO 2023!

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