2017 MLB Draft names to know
The 2017 MLB Draft featured impressive high school talent along with many accomplished college players. The following 25 players are worth following after the draft, and some will be up in the majors sooner rather than later.
Jake Adams, Astros: 6th Round
The Houston front office is known for taking accomplished college hitters, and Adams certainly fits that mold. The Iowa first baseman led all college hitters this season with 29 home runs, hitting .335-29-72 for the season.
Darren Baker, Nationals: 27th Round
Baker has been known to baseball fans since the 2002 World Series, when J.T. Snow saved him from being run over at home plate as a bat boy. Fifteen years later, he was drafted by the Nationals out of high school as a second baseman and outfielder.
Cole Bellinger, Padres: Round 15
The younger brother of Dodgers star rookie Cody Bellinger, Cole is a right-handed pitcher out of high school in the Phoenix area.
Jake Burger, White Sox: Pick 11
Arguably the top college hitter in the 2017 class, Burger hit 43 home runs over the last two seasons at Missouri State. He's potentially Chicago's third baseman of the future and could get to the majors quickly.
Kacy Clemens, Blue Jays: 8th Round
Clemens followed in his father's footsteps, going to Texas like his dad, Roger Clemens. He hit .305-12-49 with 10 steals in his senior season while playing first base.
Joe Dunand, Marlins: Pick 51
The nephew of Alex Rodriguez, Dunand resembles the former superstar. The junior out of N.C. State heads back to his hometown organization after hitting .287-18-51 for the Wolfpack this year.
Hunter Greene, Reds: Pick 2
The consensus most talented player in the draft, Greene is projected as a star either as a pitcher or hitter. Drafted out of high school, he can already hit triple digits with his fastball.
Keston Hiura, Brewers: Pick 9
Perhaps the most accomplished college hitter available in the draft, Hiura led college baseball in batting average (.442) and on-base percentage (.567) this season at California-Irvine. It does remain to be seen how much power the second baseman will develop, but he should reach the majors quickly.
Jeren Kendall, Dodgers: Pick 23
A toolsy outfielder from Vanderbilt, Kendall hit .307-15-53 with 20 stolen bases in his junior season. His poor contact rate is a major concern, but the Dodgers have done well with other high-upside picks like Kendall.
Royce Lewis, Twins: Pick 1
The first overall pick in the draft, Lewis is a shortstop who was signed slightly below value by the Twins. He has toolsy ability and could move to center field from shortstop with his athleticism.
M.J. Melendez, Royals: Pick 52
Melendez signed with the Royals well above pick value, choosing to go pro instead of playing for his father at Florida International. He has the ability to stick at catcher defensively and has some power potential at the plate.
Trevor Rogers, Marlins: Pick 13
Rogers could be Miami's top prospect after he signs given the organization's poor farm system. The cousin of former major league outfielder Cody Ross, Rogers is a 6-6 high school lefty who has the command to move quickly.
Brent Rooker, Twins: Pick 35
A wildly successful player in his junior season, Rooker led D-I in slugging and OPS. He finished the regular season hitting .387-23-82 with 18 steals, showing the skill to move through Minnesota's system quickly.
Clarke Schmidt, Yankees: Pick 16
A college pitcher out of South Carolina, Schmidt potentially joins one of the best farm systems in the game. He made only nine starts this season due to Tommy John surgery or would have likely gone much higher in the draft.
Connor Seabold, Phillies: Round 3
Arguably the best control pitcher in the draft, Seabold had only nine walks in 83.1 innings during his sophomore season. He followed that up with 23 walks in 127.2 innings this year for Cal State Fullerton.
Chris Singleton, Cubs: 19th Round
Singleton's mother was tragically killed in the Charleston church shooting. A fast and talented outfielder, Singleton stole 18 bases in his junior season at Charleston Southern.
Pavin Smith, Diamondbacks: Pick 7
As a first baseman now in the Arizona organization, Smith's defensive position is in question behind Paul Goldschmidt. The Diamondbacks clearly felt his bat was worth it after hitting .342-13-77 with 38/12 BB/K at Virginia in his junior season.
Jake Thompson, Red Sox: 4th Round
Thompson has become a legitimate prospect this year after going 14-0 in 18 starts for Oregon State with a 1.84 ERA. He's shown much better velocity and control in his senior season.
Taylor Walls, Rays: Pick 79
Leave it to the stat-minded Rays to draft the college leader in walks. Walls had 67 walks in his junior season at Florida State and posted a .427 on-base percentage in three seasons for the Seminoles as a shortstop.
Kyle Wright, Braves: Pick 5
Wright signed for well above slot value at $7 million, giving the loaded Braves farm system another impressive arm. The Vanderbilt right-hander posted a 3.40 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 103.1 innings during his junior season.
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