2022 MLB Draft Report: Top 100 update features new targets for White Sox

We have another update for the Top 100 Average MLB Draft Rankings as both MLB.com and Prep Baseball Report shuffled their Top 200 prospect lists. As an industry, it’s almost a consensus that the top six players in some order are:

• Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS (GA)
• Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy (FL)
• Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays HS (GA)
• Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS (OK)
• Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
• Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech

Harken to our 2022 MLB Draft Report looking at the preseason “Sensational Seven.” It’s good to see Druw Jones, Elijah Green, Termarr Johnson, and Brooks Lee continue to play well enough to be considered selected number one overall.

Jackson Holliday’s draft profile has skyrocketed the last month as he has been mashing Oklahoma prep pitching. His blend of power and pedigree (His father is former All-Star Matt Holliday) has garnered much attention. 

I’ve always been a fan of Kevin Parada, and he’s made a giant leap at the plate, hitting 26 HR and 85 RBI with a crazy .356/.451/.728 slash line. 

What’s shocking for this updated Top 100 is only seeing one pitcher in the Top 10, Dylan Lesko, and his 2022 season ended abruptly, needing Tommy John surgery. Prep pitchers are scattered in the Top 20, but the first college pitcher you’ll find is Alabama’s LHP Connor Prielipp, and he hasn’t pitched this season rehabbing from his Tommy John surgery. 

However, before the SEC Conference Tournament started, Prielipp did throw a bullpen in front of scouts, and the results were promising. 

From a White Sox perspective, new possibilities have emerged for their first-round pick. In the past, it was easy to narrow the field down to just college pitchers, college hitters, or like last year, prep bats. Not this year, as they are open to all possibilities, even taking a prep pitcher in the first round, which they haven’t done since 2001.

Drew Gilbert, OF, Tennessee

We know the White Sox need more left-handed bats to help combat their issues against right-handed pitching. With a more comprehensive view, they are attempting to develop a few spending significant resources on 2021 first rounder Colson Montgomery and top international signee Oscar Colas. Tennessee outfielder Drew Gilbert could be a possible fit at pick 26. 

Gilbert was selected as 2022 All-SEC First Team and All-Defensive Team manning center field for the #1-ranked Volunteers. Despite his smallish body frame (5’9”, 185 lbs), Gilbert does an excellent job of reading batted balls off the bat and takes good routes giving him a high floor. There’s little question about his arm strength, and it may be a plus attribute if moved to right field. 

As for his ceiling, well, that depends on how Gilbert continues to develop offensively. His walk rate has increased from a poor 4.95% in 2021 to 15.2% this season before the SEC Tournament. That improved pitch recognition has helped Gilbert put up an impressive 1.175 OPS with 8 HR and 57 RBI in 2022. 

Robby Snelling, LHP, McQueen HS (NV)

Another prep player seeing their draft stock skyrocket is LHP Robby Snelling from Reno, Nevada. Last year, Snelling was flirting with a two-sport commit at the University of Arizona to play baseball and football, where he was once a four-star linebacker. When Jay Johnson left Arizona for the same head coaching job at LSU, Snelling changed his commitment but is now focusing just on baseball. 

When watching Snelling on the mound, you notice the linebacker build. It’s a stout 6’3” 220 lbs body frame, and the velocity has jumped in 2022. During national showcases in 2020 and 2021, Snelling would range from 91 to 94 mph. In 2022, Snelling has hit 97-mph in bullpen sessions but game footage is still around 90 to 91 mph. That velocity potential paired with a plus-curveball, and that’s why Snelling is considered a possible first-round pick. Snelling set the Nevada state record with 20 strikeouts in a seven-inning game a month ago. 

Roman Anthony, OF, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)

Any team looking to add a power-hitting bat will keep tabs on Roman Anthony. Anthony has already showcased his power potential during the national showcase circuit, putting on a show during home run derbies. Add an impressive 60-yard time at 6.52 seconds, and there are hopes Anthony could be a five-tool type of player. 

The issue is contact, and at times Anthony has demonstrated swing-and-miss tendencies. Any team that selects Anthony will have to be patient with his development to improve pitch recognition and a consistent swing path. 

Top 100 Average 2022 MLB Draft Rankings
(Updated 5/26/2022)

Take a second to support Sox Machine on Patreon