Jonathan Mayo is MLB.com's Draft and prospect expert. He has been a reporter for MLB.com since 1999.
![]() | This year, catching is a relative strength among those eligible for next month's First-Year Player Draft. If a team wants a catcher in the first round, it more than likely will be looking at a high school backstop. With it, though, comes risk.
More»Mayo on the top catchers in the 2013 Draft |
![]() | The search for the prototypical corner infielder in the First-Year Player Draft can be an elusive quest. This year's group of such players is no exception, as most believe the demand will outpace who's available.
More»Mayo on the top corner infielders in the 2013 Draft |
![]() | Colin Moran is the third baseman for North Carolina, one of the higher-ranked teams in college baseball. He's also B.J. Surhoff's nephew, and he's following nearly the same path as his uncle.
More» Colin Moran, College Third Baseman |
![]() | Among the high school pitchers -- the highest risk-reward part of any Draft -- right-hander Kohl Stewart from Texas and lefty Trey Ball from Indiana have broken away from the pack and left the others behind. There are some other potential first-rounders, enough to allow this year's first round to at least match that of last year, when five high school pitchers were selected
More»Mayo on top high school pitchers in the 2013 Draft |
![]() | There is some serious talent among the outfielders available in next month's First-Year Player Draft, with perhaps as many as seven, from both high schools and colleges, who are candidates to go in the first round. But some have a long way to go in their development.
More»Mayo on the top outfielders in the 2013 Draft |
![]() | Heading into the spring, college pitching seemed to be a big strength in this year's Draft, and while any one of five hurlers could reasonably be taken in the top 10 picks, there have been more question marks surrounding the pitchers after Mark Appel and Jonathan Gray.
More»Mayo on the top college pitchers in the 2013 Draft |
![]() | Braden Shipley had no business being a top prospect in next month's First-Year Player Draft, left alone being a potential top-10 pick. After all, the 21-year-old right-hander didn't pitch until his junior year of high school and he started his college career at Nevada as a shortstop. Yet here he is, one of the top college pitchers in the country.
More» Braden Shipley, College Pitcher |
![]() | Indiana State southpaw Sean Manaea's road to the upcoming First-Year Player Draft has been long and winding, but he's benefited from a cool exterior that masks his desire to prove his doubters wrong.
More» Sean Manaea, College Pitcher |
![]() | Oklahoma right-hander Jonathan Gray, Stanford right-hander Mark Appel and San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant figure to be the first three picks in the June 6-8 First-Year Player Draft.
More»Jonathan Mayo picks his top 10 in mock 2013 Draft |
![]() | Time is running short for scouts to get final looks at players for this year's Draft. For now, though, there's still plenty of movement on MLB.com's Top 100 Draft prospects, with some new members, as well as some shuffling, as buzz from the industry comes in.
More» Alex Gonzalez, College Pitcher |
![]() | Georgia high schools have produced a fair share of talent, especially in recent years. Just a year ago, Byron Buxton was drafted No. 2 overall, and Lucas Sims went later in the first round. But the Peach State hasn't seen anything quite like the buzz prep outfielders Austin Meadows and Clint Frazier have created.
More»Meadows on Draft, relationship with fellow prospect |
![]() | Of the 31 players taken in last year's First-Year Player Draft, many are currently in Class A or below. Eighteen are in Class A Advanced, Class A or extended spring camp, waiting for an assignment, but a handful have accelerated their timetable with strong performances and aren't far from the Majors.
More» Byron Buxton, OF, Twins |
![]() | The depth of available talent might make the 2013 First-Year Player Draft better overall, especially as it winds into the the later rounds, even if it provides a stiffer challenge at the top
More»Mayo previews top prospects in 2013 Draft |
![]() | With each passing week, MLB.com's Top 100 Draft prospects takes on a different look as prospects move up and down the list based on how they are performing down the stretch at this point in the Draft season.
More»Mayo previews top prospects in 2013 Draft |
![]() | There are six leading candidates to go No. 1 in the First-Year Player Draft on June 6: Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, San Diego third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant, Georgia high school outfielder Clint Frazier, Oklahoma right-hander Jonathan Gray, Indiana State lefty Sean Manaea and Georgia high school outfielder Austin Meadows.
More»Mayo previews top prospects in 2013 Draft |
![]() | For the second straight year, the Houston Astros have the largest pool of money to work with in order to sign players taken in the First-Year Player Draft.
More»Mayo previews top prospects in 2013 Draft |
![]() | With the calendar about to switch to May, now is the time for Draft prospects in the Class of 2013 to make a late charge, or a fade, up and down Draft boards. Over the weekend, San Diego's Kris Bryant got the best of San Francisco's Alex Balog in a intriguing Top 100 matchup.
More» Kris Bryant, College Third Baseman |
![]() | The Draft landscape changes drastically, it seems, almost daily. It makes an exercise like MLB.com's Top 100 Draft prospects list interesting, as arguments for changes in the rankings could be made on a regular basis.
More» Marco Gonzales, College Pitcher |
![]() | Draft Watch is back for another exciting week of amateur baseball action. The days are starting to dwindle for teams to evaluate and line up their Draft boards.
More» Ryne Stanek, College Pitcher |
![]() | When the Pirates took Stetson Allie in the second round of the 2010 Draft, then gave him a well-above-slot deal to sign, it was for his power right arm, not his bat. But after a transition from pitcher to position player, Allie is lighting up South Atlantic League pitching.
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