The best prospects in this year's DREAM Series

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The primary purpose of the DREAM Series, which kicked off its sixth year on Friday, is to provide a high-level development experience for a diverse group of amateur players, predominantly African American. More than 80 players are on hand for this weekend aimed at diversifying the talent pool of pitchers and catchers -- including a ton of elite-level athletes, some of whom could be early-round Draft picks this summer and beyond.

Just how good of a showcase has this been over the years? Taking a look at a list of alumni will show several big leaguers, including Hunter Greene, who was on hand as a guest instructor on Friday, a Rookie of the Year and eight members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list at the end of the 2022 season. A pretty good team could be constructed drawing only from former DREAM Series participants, being a little liberal with positional assignments to form the best possible lineup:

C: Harry Ford, Mariners’ 2021 first-round pick (No. 65 on 2022 Top 100)
1B: Cam Collier, Reds’ 2022 first-round pick (No. 60 on 2022 Top 100)
2B: Termarr Johnson, Pirates’ 2022 first-round pick (No. 29 on Top 100)
3B: Jordan Walker, Cardinals’ 2020 first-round pick (No. 6 on Top 100)
SS: Jordan McCants, Marlins’ 2021 third-round pick (No. 27 on Marlins’ Top 30)
OF: Michael Harris II, Braves (2022 NL Rookie of the Year)
OF: Druw Jones, D-backs’ 2022 first-round pick (No. 11 on Top 100)
OF: Elijah Green, Nationals’ 2022 first-round pick (No. 28 on Top 100)

This year’s contingent has the chance to add to an already-robust roster. There are three prospects on the Draft Top 100 here, several others who are in that vicinity and many more who could raise their stock by performing well at this event as well as during their senior high school seasons this spring. And that doesn’t even count the underclassmen in attendance who could lead future Draft classes. The best players for the Class of 2023 are:

Dillon Head, OF, Homewood Flossmoor HS (Ill.): He’s the top-ranked player here, coming in at No. 40. His best tool is the plus-plus speed he uses well on both sides of the ball as a basestealing threat and as a plus defender in center field. The Clemson recruit has good bat speed and uses more of a gap-to-gap approach.

Cameron Johnson, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.): Johnson moved from Maryland to attend IMG Academy for his senior year, so he’ll get seen plenty by scouts. He’s a 6-foot-5 lefty committed to LSU who can run his fastball up to 96 mph with a nasty slider that showed glimpses of being a true out pitch over the summer. The No. 50 prospect tired a bit by the end of the summer, but the combination of size, stuff and left-handedness is extremely intriguing.

Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers College HS (Mo.): The No. 58 prospect really put himself on the map by playing well on the summer showcase circuit. It all started with an MVP performance at the Breakthrough Series last June and continued through him hitting .429 for Team USA in a qualifying tournament in the fall. He has five-tool potential with the room to add strength and consistent speed and the chance to stick at short, either as a pro or if he heads to Arkansas.

Zion Rose, C, IMG Academy (Fla.): Scouts who want to see Johnson throw will now get to see Rose catch him as the Chicago native also moved south to IMG for his senior year. He didn’t miss the Draft Top 100 by much and a strong spring in Florida could easily move him into that position as a super-athletic backstop who has the chance to be a dynamic player on both sides of the ball.

Antonio Anderson, SS, North Atlanta HS (Ga.): Committed to Georgia Tech, Anderson has the chance to be a physical middle infielder. He’s 6-foot-3 and a switch-hitter, one who has shown a good approach at the plate and should grow into plenty of power. He has the arm to play short, but could outgrow the spot, with the potential to fit the offensive profile to slide over to third if needed.

Others of note: George Baker, C, Pro5 Baseball Academy (N.C.); Luther Ellis, SS, Pro5 Baseball Academy (N.C.); Boston Flannery, RHP, Brunswick School, New City (N.Y.); Kyle Johnson, OF, Riverside HS (Va.); LJ Mercurius, RHP, Faith Lutheran HS (Nev.); Camron Poe, LHP, Christian Brothers College HS (Mo.); Oliver Service, C, University Liggett HS (Mich.)