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While the pitching class in the 2019 draft (in particular on the college side) is pretty suspect, the hitting class in the 2019 MLB Draft has some really interesting guys with upside both in the high school and college ranks.
Below are some (but not all) of the biggest bats we will see taken in the 2019 MLB Draft at the beginning of June. These are not ranked in any particular order
Adley Rutschman - C, Oregon State - The prohibitive favorite to go #1 is a switch-hitting catcher with power and will stick behind the plate....which is basically all you need to know to understand why he is expected to go 1st overall. He currently sports a 1.356 OPS in college with 16 homers in 52 games.
Andrew Vaughn - 1B, California - Arguably the best pure hitter in the draft. He might fall a couple of spots because he is seen as a first base only, but his bat should play at any position. He has cooled off a little bit after a torrid start because pitchers have all but given up pitching to him, but he still has 15 home runs and a 1.267 OPS this season.
Bobby Witt Jr. - SS, Colleyville Heritage HS - Considered to be the best prep bat in the 2019 draft class by most, Witt has all of the tools in the world and has shown big-time power on the high school showcase circuit. There are some that knock him a bit for being a bit older for this draft class, but there is basically no chance he falls out of the top 5 and should go higher than that.
JJ Bleday - OF, Vanderbilt - Bleday has always been productive at the plate, but there were those who wondered how much his raw power would play in games. There are far fewer people asking that question this season as he has been among the leaders in college baseball all season and currently has 25 dingers in 55 games. He has going from just a first rounder to a guy that should be gone in the first six picks in a hurry.
CJ Abrams - SS, Blessed Trinity Catholic HS - The Georgia prep infielder came into this year as a known speedster with a chance to stick at shortstop. However, he is thought to have a chance to grow into more power and he really barrels the ball well. His defensive future is somewhat uncertain as you will find those who think he sticks as a shortstop and others that think he will have to move elsewhere in the infield or even to centerfield.
Hunter Bishop - OF, Arizona State - The tooled up Arizona State outfielder previously had been considered high on promise, but not on track record coming into 2019. However, Bishop has turned into one of the better hitters in college baseball this season with a 1.274 OPS and 22 homers on the season. Bishop can run, too and has 11 stolen bases on the season.
Corbin Carroll - OF, Lakeside HS - Not considered a masher as he is a bit smaller, but Carroll’s hit tool is real and he is a nightmare for opposing pitchers to get out as his approach is well beyond his years. Having plus speed definitely helps his cause and he should reap the benefits of a professional strength program. He could hit for more power than you would think, too, especially if he gets the chance to hit the major league baseball.
Riley Greene - OF, Hagerty HS - One of the best hitters in the high school class with a smooth swing from the left side. Has a strong approach at the plate, although the power is more based on projection rather than production as of this moment. Unless the unforeseen happens, he won’t last past the first eight picks or so.
Brett Baty - 3B, Lake Travis HS - If you are looking for the biggest raw power in the prep ranks, you can do worse than starting with Baty. It isn’t just power that gets scouts’ attention as Baty can hit and has the arm to stick at third. He is starting to see his name pop up as a potential underslot option for teams in the top 10.
Kody Hoese - 3B, Tulane - Not considered to be one of the better power hitters from the college ranks to start the season, Hoese has blown up this year with 23 homers and a 1.329 OPS in 51 games for Tulane this season. 35 walks against 23 strikeouts on the season combined with a big time bat who has a decent chance to stick at third means he is a likely first rounder.