Top 50 2018 MLB Draft Average Rankings

Last year, I created the MLB Draft Rankings Database, in which you can view 2017’s here. It was an excellent resource to track draft experts thoughts on where college and prep players rank heading into the June Draft. For 2018, I have brought back the database for our Patreon supporters where you can see how each publication lists the prospects. Fun to see who is high and who is low on the same player. The rankings are compiled and then averaged out in which I create an average rankings list. If you would like to see the fine details, please sign up to be a Patreon supporter and you will receive a link to view the database. 

We’ll be streaming our MLB Draft reactions on June 4th covering both the first and second round this year on mixlr.com/soxmachine. With the major public publications releasing new MLB Draft Rankings, here is the first Top 50 average prospect rank for the upcoming 2018 MLB Draft.

Rank Player School Position
1 Casey Mize Auburn RHP
2 Nick Madrigal Oregon State 2B
3 Matthew Liberatore Mountain Ridge HS LHP
4 Shane McClanahan South Florida LHP
5 Travis Swaggerty South Alabama OF
6 Jarred Kelenic Waukesha West HS OF
7 Alec Bohm Wichita State 3B
8 Brady Singer Florida RHP
9 Carter Stewart Eau Gallie HS RHP
10 Ryan Rolison Ole Miss LHP
11 Kumar Rocker North Oconee HS RHP
12 Jackson Kowar Florida RHP
13 Nolan Gorman Sandra Day O’Connor HS 3B
14 Cole Winn Orange Luthern HS RHP
15 Brice Turang Santiago HS SS
16 Joey Bart Georgia Tech C
17 Logan Gilbert Stetson RHP
18 Ethan Hankins Forsyth Central HS RHP
19 Ryan Weathers Loretto HS LHP
20 Mason Denaburg Merritt Island HS RHP
21 Mike Vasil Boston College HS RHP
22 Jeremy Eierman Missouri State SS
23 Cole Wilcox Heritage HS RHP
24 Jonathan India Florida 3B
25 Trevor Larnach Oregon State OF
26 Connor Scott Plant HS OF
27 Triston Casas American Heritage HS 1B
28 Tristan Beck Stanford RHP
29 Sean Hjelle Kentucky RHP
30 Grayson Rodriquez Central Heights HS RHP
31 Mike Siani William Penn Charter OF
32 Jake McCarthy Virginia OF
33 Greyson Jenista Wichita State OF
34 Alek Thomas Mount Carmel HS OF
35 Will Banfield Brookwood HS C
36 Nander De Sedas Montverde Academy SS
37 Noah Naylor Joan of Arc HS C
38 Steele Walker Oklahoma OF
39 Tristan Pompey Kentucky OF
40 Konnor Pilkington Mississippi State LHP
41 J.T. Ginn Brandon HS RHP
42 Jordan Groshans Magnolia HS 3B
43 Anthony Seigler Cartersville HS C
44 Griffin Conine Duke OF
45 Nico Hoerner Stanford SS
46 Blaine Knight Arkansas RHP
47 Kris Bubic Stanford LHP
48 Xavier Edwards N. Broward Prep SS
49 Tim Cate UConn LHP
50 Seth Beer Clemson 1B
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47 Comments
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striker

I’m hoping for McClanahan in rd 1 and De Sedas in rd 2

Otter

Thomas in the first, Beer in the 2nd or GTFO

Otter

They’re taking Thomas.

PauliePaulie

BA with a new Mock. Backing up the recent FanGraphs rumors, Madrigal to the Sox.

PauliePaulie

I was shocked at how much MiLB loved India in their new rankings.

My current top 4 are Mize, Madrigal, Kelenic and Stewart.

Greg Nix

I barely follow the draft, but that hasn’t stopped me from getting my heart set on Madrigal. Looking forward to the inevitable heartbreak when Hostetler chooses Fatbody McFirstbaseman instead.

PopeDonnPall

Yeah I think I’ve seen enough of plus-sized all on power may not stick at the position for a bit.

Lurker Laura

Nice user name.

PopeDonnPall

One of my favorite nicknames and pretty solid reliever. Apparently works at Morgan Stanley now if you’re looking for a financial advisor.

MrTopaz

What if we’re looking for a spiritual advisor?

Eagle Bones

Ditto. I’m so happy with the possibility of them getting Madrigal that something almost has to happen to screw this up.

Soxfan2

I’m hoping Bohm or Madrigal are there at pick 4. Everyone else after that is kinda meh to me. 

Eagle Bones

Per Kiley, Bohm won’t get past Philly. Sounds like Madrigal or Swaggerty at this point depending on who SF goes with.

PopeDonnPall

I don’t see the Sox doing it but I’d love Madrigal. Best hit tool and covers two positions we lack depth in. If he forces the issue and Ricky has to figure out how to play he, Yoan and Tim and where – that’s a fantastic problem to have. That should not be the reason not to take him. Other than that, second choice would be a close to MLB ready P like a Singer.

PopeDonnPall

No idea about round two but certainly is interesting they could potentially still see Thomas and Seth Beer there.

egib52

Shouldn’t Thomas be barred from going elsewhere since we picked every other org member’s kids?

egib52

Well if he prefers baseball, and is going to give up a football, I hope they RH that, and everyone else something different.

L2R

If he has a brain, it would be wise to pick baseball so he has one at age 50. If not, well maybe it is more important to follow the money and invest well while you can.

lil jimmy

His football future ends in college.

MrTopaz

There’s something ominous about how you phrased that.

Otter

In all seriousness, I could see the Sox drafting someone at #4 under slot just to try and force Thomas to them at #46.

PauliePaulie

As much flak as this FO gets, they’re better run than that.

PauliePaulie

The strength of this draft is high upside High Schoolers. I hope they go in that direction in round 2. (Or round 1 if Mize and Madrigal are gone)

lil jimmy

Thomas is moving up. Maybe late first round. Also, the idea that Xaviar Edwards is still there in the second, does not seem likely. If you add Madrigal to all the other middle infielders in our top prospects, that makes one. Three years of college stats, takes a walk and knows the strike zone are Hostetler criteria.
I will say the draft is six weeks away. Things will change.

35Shields

The Sox have the #47 pick this year? We better get Beer for no reason other than the name.

35Shields

If you had to guess what the main sources of difference between the average rankings and what the mlb teams actually go with, what would they be and how would you rank them?

I’d guess (in no order) something like:
– Signability
– Individual team preference for certain positions
– Bonus pool shenanigans
– Different talent evaluations

35Shields

That definitely answers my question. Given that I knew very little about the draft and even less about college ball, your coverage in the last few years has been great! I’d really like for the Sox to take a middle infielder like Madrigal.

Sidenote: please don’t call me Shields; even I haven’t achieved that level of disappointing

L2R

But what about age? Isn’t it riskier to pick someone younger? Seems like:
Unknown ceiling
Risk of injury (particularly a pitcher)
Unknown personality traits as an adult ( violence /drugs)
All would seem to increase the risk of someone who is still under control of the parent and body is still under development.

Greg Nix

All things being equal, younger prospects are usually better because they generally have more room to improve and more physical projection.

For instance, Blake Rutherford was in the general conversation to go at the top of the 2016 draft, but fell to #18 in part because he was a year older than other high school outfielders.

lil jimmy

high school pitchers have the biggest bust rate.
MLB has two in their top #4. I doubt the Sox take either. They picked Burger last year in part because he would sign for less than slot. So if they like two guys and one will sign under slot. That guy might well get the call.

35Shields

They might have a higher bust rate, but they apparently have a higher ceiling to compensate.

High school pitchers as a group performed better than high school hitters and college pitchers from 2000-2007.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/moneyballs-draft-advice-has-outlived-its-usefulness/

sausalito pale hose

I think the Sox will also consider another College pitcher. Shane Mclanahan appears to be worthy consideration; maybe for their second pick. Madrigal’s offense and defense have been awesome

lil jimmy

That’s all well and good but the last time the White Sox used their first pick on a HS Pitcher was 2001.

sausalito pale hose

good thought; forgot his name, a Chicagoan.

NateDPT12

It doesn’t really matter in the long run because you can draft him and figure out where to play him later, but does Madrigal’s bat profile enough at 3B or is there not enough power?

MrTopaz

I think the consensus is he doesn’t have a whole lot of power. At least that’s why so many people don’t want to hang an Altuve comp on him, despite the general physical similarity.

PauliePaulie

IF the Sox draft him, and IF he reaches his ceiling and IF he isn’t traded, Madrigal plays 2B and Moncada moves. Madrigal would be a better 2B.

PopeDonnPall

If Madrigal can play SS (can he?) I also think they can consider Anderson at 3B. Certainly has arm. And PS, if we sign Manny and Manny wants to play SS, same idea applies if TA’s still with the team in that scenario.

PauliePaulie

I don’t see lowering multiple players’ positional values.
Anderson is best at SS. Madrigal best at 2B.
If Anderson is putting up 3+ WAR seasons at SS, I would hope they wouldn’t spent $40MIL per year for a temporary 3 WAR upgrade at SS with Machado.
The $ would be better spent elsewhere.

lil jimmy

Quality teams have quality depth. Having all three is what they call a “good problem.”

PauliePaulie

Agreed. If available, Madrigal is my first choice.

Trooper Galactus

Any chance De Sedas drops to the White Sox in the second round? I’m doubtful, but man would that be nice.

PauliePaulie

FG and others said if DeSedas fell too far he’d just go to college.