We're happy to introduce our final Top 500 Prospect update for the 2023 MLB Draft, featuring blurbs for the top 250 prospects on this list.
2023 MLB Draft: Top 400 Prospects - May Update
Live Looks: 2022 PG MLK East
Happy New Year! One of my favorite things about living in Florida is that the baseball offseason is essentially two months long. When the World Series ends in late October, there are just a few weeks to wait until prep tournaments are up and running in the new year. This is truly the first look at how players spent their downtime and is the start of the most important spring of their baseball lives for high school seniors.
Before we get started, keep in mind that this tournament took place in the middle of January and is the first live action some players have seen in several months. Most everyone is out here to shake off the rust as they start preparing for their school season start. So, it’s expected that velocities and timing might be a touch off when compared to midseason form. Without further ado, here’s what I saw at the fields.
2022
Jayson Jones - Savannah, TX
Arkansas commit
Jones was without a doubt the most high profile player at the event. He’s a bat-first shortstop (likely destined for third base down the road given his strong, muscular build) who brings big time bat speed and power to the plate. The offensive profile is power over hit and Jones looks to do damage on just about every swing – and when he connects, the contact is loud. It was a tough weekend for him at the plate in his first action of the new year as he struggled to make consistent quality contact, but he did manage to square up a few pitches and collect extra bases. How much Jones hits will be the biggest question for him heading into this spring. The more he hits, the higher he’ll rise up draft boards.
Elijah Dukes - Tampa, FL
San Jacinto commit
Dukes is a masher, through and through. He’s a big, strong kid who whips the bat through the zone and is able to lift and drive the ball with authority. The bat is quick, but stays through the hitting zone for while due to its relatively flat path. He sees the ball well and is able to drive it to all fields with loud contact. Dukes moves well for his size, too; I clocked a 4.47 home to first this weekend.
Matt Graveline - Centerville, OH
Ohio State commit
Graveline’s long, projectable frame is the first thing that stands out when you see him. He has that look of a ballplayer with broad shoulders and a high waist. Athletic and versatile with a strong arm that plays well from behind the plate and in the outfield. At the plate, he uses a quiet hand load and a quick, compact swing that is direct to the ball and will produce a lot of line drive contact.
Sean Fitzpatrick - Spring, TX
Arkansas commit
There are several factors here that immediately bring Josh Hader to mind, from the near-sidearm left-handed slot to the flowing, blond locks. Fitzpatrick’s delivery is abrupt and aggressive, which gives hitters a tough look and makes it tough to pick up the ball out of his hand. Strike-throwing will be a point of concern because of the difficulty repeating mechanics like that, but he’s kept the walks in check over the last year. The fastball touched 91 this weekend, lived in the upper 80s and missed a ton of bats, showing good run and solid carry from a low slot. Showed a breaking ball while warming up, but did not feature it in-game.
Jordan Huskey - Quitman, AR
Arkansas commit
Huskey, a lefty with a strong build, dominated this weekend to the tune of 8 strikeouts over 5 innings with just 1 hit allowed and no walks. The delivery is athletic, gets down the mound well, and shows a fast arm, though there is some effort in the release. His fastball was 82-85, touching 88 and missed plenty of bats while the breaking ball was 72-75 and flashed solid bite.
Reese Robinett - Kennett, MO
Arkansas commit
Robinett was a busy man this weekend making an impact both on the mound and at the plate. He was untouchable Friday night out of the bullpen with 3.2 perfect innings and 9 strikeouts. The big righty sat low-80s with little effort and ran it up to 87, showing ride and run, as well as a pair of breaking balls in the mid-70s. At the plate, he shows a quick bat and ability to lift the ball - one of his four hits this weekend left the yard. Robinett has a big 6’3” frame that should continue to add strength.
2023
Nolan Souza - Honolulu, HI
Arkansas commit
Despite being a 2023, Souza was clearly one of the best in the field at PG’s MLK East. He’s quick, athletic, and strong, having added noticeable strength since last summer. He shows an advanced swing with good bat speed that produces loud contact when he squares it up. He manned third this weekend, but shows plenty of quickness and athleticism to stick up the middle.
MJ Seo - Plano, TX
Seo is a two-way prospect who shows potential on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he features a quick, compact swing that produces line drive contact and he has the wheels to pick up extra bases in the gap and stick up the middle on defense. On the mound, he’s catching even more buzz after popping a 97 during an offseason bullpen. This weekend, he sat upper-80s and touched 91 with an upper-70s breaking ball that flashed solid depth.
2024
Hunter Carns - Jacksonville, FL
After an excellent WWBA Underclass showing in the fall, Hunter had himself another terrific weekend driving the ball hard all over the field and racking up several extra-base hits. Carns has added strength, but remains very projectable with long levers and broad shoulders. He’s an excellent athlete who covered the bases in under 16 seconds on an inside-the-park homerun and could play just about anywhere on the field defensively with his strong arm and athleticism. Carns is quickly shaping up to be one of the premier players in the 2024 class.