6 possible 1st-rounders to attend Draft on Monday
Stewart, Bohm, Swaggerty, Casas, Edwards, Seigler to be on hand
Six potential first-round picks will be in attendance at the MLB Draft on Monday, anxiously awaiting to hear their names called to see what their immediate and long-term future holds as they embark on their pro careers.
College third baseman Alec Bohm (Wichita State) and outfielder Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama), along with high school first baseman Triston Casas (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), shortstop Xavier Edwards (Wellington, Fla.), catcher Anthony Seigler (Cartersville, Ga.) and right-handed pitcher Carter Stewart (Melbourne, Fla.) will be on hand at MLB Network's Studio 42 in Secaucus, N.J., when the first round commences.
The Draft will take place Monday through Wednesday, beginning with the Draft preview show on MLB Network and MLB.com at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. MLB Network will broadcast the first 43 picks (Round 1 and Competitive Balance Round A), while MLB.com will stream all 78 picks on Day 1. MLB.com will also provide live pick-by-pick coverage of Rounds 3-10 on Day 2, with a preview show beginning at 12:30 p.m. Then, Rounds 11-40 can be heard live on MLB.com on Day 3, beginning at noon.
Go to MLB.com/draft to see the Top 200 Prospects list, projected top picks from MLB Pipeline analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, the complete order of selection and more. And follow @MLBDraft on Twitter to see what Draft hopefuls, clubs and experts are saying.
Each of the six attendees rank among MLB Pipeline's Top 200 Draft prospects. Here is a brief breakdown of what scouts, coaches and club officials admire about each:
Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie H.S. (Fla.)
MLB Pipeline Top 200 Draft Prospect ranking: 5
In talent-rich Florida, Stewart has been outstanding. Through 11 outings this year, he has a 0.91 ERA and 128 strikeouts over 62 1/3 innings -- this after he was named First Team All-America and Florida All-Region First Team by Rawlings-Perfect Game prior to the season. With a projectable 6-foot-6 frame and with velocity that touches 98 mph to go with a power curve touted as the best breaking ball in this year's Draft class, Stewart has scouts marveling about his potential.
Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State
MLB Pipeline Top 200 Draft Prospect ranking: 7
Scouts admire Bohm's ability to manage the strike zone and make consistent hard contact, which bodes well at a run-producing position -- particularly given that if there is one area where he could see improvement, it's defense. Bohm hit .339/.436/.625 with 16 homers, 55 RBIs and 57 runs scored this year for Wichita, and he was named to the All-Missouri Valley team in each of his first two seasons. He also was named an all-star in the Cape Cod League last summer.
Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama
MLB Pipeline Top 200 Draft Prospect ranking: 11
Barring the unforeseen, and after generating marginal interest out of high school, Swaggerty will become the first South Alabama product to be selected in the first round. Ahead of last season, the speedy outfielder was named a First Team All-America by Baseball America, D1Baseball, NCBWA and Perfect Game. Scouts like Swaggerty's arm, which reached 92 mph as a pitcher in high school, his speed in center field and his ability to reach base consistently.
Triston Casas, 1B, American Heritage School (Fla.)
MLB Pipeline Top 200 Draft Prospect ranking: 20
A University of Miami commit and hybrid pitcher, Casas exhibits plenty of raw power with his bat, and his burly physical makeup has accelerated his development. Casas was the youngest player on Team USA at the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup, and he went on to lead the tournament in homers and RBIs, which was enough to take home WBSC International Baseball Player of the Year honors for his efforts. Casas has been touted as one of the more streaky hitters in this Draft class, and scouts believe there are kinks in his swing to work out. But at every level so far, he's produced.
Xavier Edwards, SS, North Broward Prep (Fla.)
MLB Pipeline Top 200 Draft Prospect ranking: 28
Could Edwards be the latest among the blossoming breed of middle infielders lacking in size but with plenty of offensive production? The numbers suggest so. Edwards is coming off a season in which he was named a Rawlings-Perfect Game First Team All-America and Florida All-Region First Team, and with good reason: through 80 at-bats this season, he had a slash line of .434/.550/.658 with one home run, 14 RBIs, 33 hits, four doubles, five triples, 35 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. With a contact-first approach, Edwards may not boast the power of the Jose Altuve or Ozzie Albies types, but there is that possibility as he grows into his frame. Edwards is currently committed to attend Vanderbilt.
Anthony Seigler, C, Cartersville H.S. (Ga.)
MLB Pipeline Top 200 Draft Prospect ranking: 46
Seigler has generated buzz for his ambidexterity as both a hitter and pitcher, though it's his bat that will play at the next level. A 2018 First Team All-America and Southeast All-Region First Team member, Seigler hit .421 this year, with 13 of his 16 extra-base hits going for homers. He also possesses above-par speed for a catcher, notching 16 stolen bases. Scouts admire his ability to hit to all fields, and they believe that he could also profile as a second baseman. The University of Florida commit helped lead Cartersville to the Georgia AAAA state championship this season.