We are just four short days away from the MLB Draft and I’m practically giddy at this point. I’m going to spend the next four days introducing and previewing some of my favorite draft prospects ahead of the Sunday festivities and I introduced all this action in a post yesterday. I went through the format of these articles including the details on how I’m separating guys into categories. The quick and dirty? The dudes at the top of the draft, the dudes that should be available for the Cubs’ first pick, and the dudes further down draft boards.

The firepower around this draft is with the high school hitters. The class is loaded with them at the top and talent in this category can be found throughout the depths of this 20-round effort. So what better way to start the fun than with those guys that have everyone so excited?

Lucky To See at 21

We came into the year thinking that the story of the 2021 draft class was going to be the Vanderbilt duo of Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker going 1-2 at the top. And to real no fault of those two high quality arms, they have been overtaken by a different storyline. High school shortstops are going to be hearing their name called early and often on Sunday night, with Marcelo Mayer, Jordan Lawlar, Kahlil Watson, and Brady House all expecting to go within the first ten picks of the draft. But for my money, the next best option when it comes to a high school bat is another shortstop in Colson Montgomery. The big left-handed bat has one of the sweetest swings in the draft and paired with a big body at 6-3 and 195 pounds, you might be looking at a guy with plus power as a pro. He doesn’t possess great speed and the size will probably necessitate a move to third base, but in a system full of shortstops, that could work out well. Montgomery might be my favorite option of all the names you will read here the next few days.

Good Fits at 21

I’ll say it plenty throughout these posts: I hate player comps. They throw unrealistic expectations on players. But what I will do is compare swing types, fielding abilities, and overall vibes to other Major League players. Peyton Stovall has a follow through on his swing that reminds me a lot of Kyle Schwarber. Stovall has arguably the best hit tool in the entire draft and his swing lends itself to developing some above average power. His hitting will carry his profile as a pro though, as he seems pretty destined for a shift from his high school position of shortstop over to the keystone. All in all, I think you can do a whole lot worse than an elite bat on an 18-year-old with your first round pick.

From his name and his huge power, to a big swing and miss profile, to a massive hack at the plate, Joshua Baez might as well be Javy Baez as an outfielder. While he is technically a two-way player thanks to the heat he brings on the mound, I think Joshua will do just fine showing off his cannon in either right field or center field. The speed plays right now in center but I think he will eventually move to a corner as he fills out and continues to add to his plus-plus home run pop at the plate. He will swing and miss plenty, but some dudes are fun to dream on and Baez qualifies.

The Cubs have made the move in past years to drafting really impressive athletes. Brennen Davis was a two-sport star in high school, as were DJ Herz and Koen Moreno. A guy that really pops off the page as a freak athlete is Jay Allen, an outfielder that is committed to Florida right now. If the speed sticks around as he continues to fill out his frame, I think we are looking at a center fielder that hits atop the order. If he fills out even more, I think he could potentially hit for enough power in a corner. What really stands out to me with Allen is his balanced and under control stance, load, and swing. There is something about a guy with that type of balance that really displays just how athletic he is, and it got me hooked on Allen right away.

Other Guys I Like

I have to give a shoutout to Ivy Futures for putting me onto James Triantos. He is a shortstop on the best team in Virginia, in an area that is scouted by Cubs legend Billy Swoope. That alone is cause to keep an eye out for this kid. Throw in the fact that he has a swing with some absolute conviction, but one that stays in the zone for a long time, and you’re looking at a guy in Triantos that, if available in the second round, the Cubs will absolutely select.

Up to this point I have included plenty of high school products that are fairly advanced for their age. All draft prospects need some fine tuning, but a lot of the guys listed above need less than your typical 18-year-old. Michael Braswell isn’t that way. He has some actions in his game, both from the right-handed batters box to his defensive work at shortstop, that need cleaned up. His physical skills are absolutely there, but I would best describe his work all over the field as a bit whippy. He is always moving and I think if pro coaching allows him to slow the game down, his incredible natural abilities will take over. Something that the Cubs could immediately build off of? His advanced approach at the plate, a skill that doesn’t really run alongside my description of Braswell up to this point. He is fun, he is talented, and he could be shaped into a damn good pro. Pluck him in the third round, Kantrovitz.

Alright, here is a deeper cut for you to wrap things up. It is looking like Cam Butler might be available as late as the fifth round. A utilityman from a super small high school, Butler looks like he might profile best in the outfield where he can let his speed and athleticism roam free. For a really good athlete, he actually has some cleaning up to do with his swing that appears to be kind of clunky. That should be the first thing that gets fixed up under professional coaching but it is the already strong frame that should really allow him to take off once he is selected in the draft.

I’ll be back tomorrow as I take a look at what the high school pitching crop has to offer!