Everything you need to know: Draft Combine
Two hundred and fifty-five players are attending the second annual MLB Draft Combine, which is running June 14-20 at Petco Park in San Diego. That group includes 139 members of MLB Pipeline's Draft Top 200 Prospects list, starting with 20 of the top 30.
The main event is a pro-style workout on Friday that will be broadcast live on MLB Network from noon to 6:30 p.m. ET. The six-and-a-half-hour show will include analysis of the prospects as well as interviews with players and club executives.
There is batting practice and infield/outfield prior to games involving high school players on Wednesday and Thursday, strength and performance assessments on Thursday and Friday and a second workout on Saturday. MLB Network also will broadcast from the Combine from noon to 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, as well as a live session of MLB Tonight that evening at 6 p.m. ET.
While in San Diego, players have the opportunity to meet with general managers, scouting directors and other executives from big league clubs, as well as attend programs to educate them about their upcoming professional careers and about social media branding. Those who consent to undergo a comprehensive medical exam will be guaranteed at least 75 percent of the assigned pick value for wherever they are selected in the Draft, which begins July 17 in Los Angeles.
The highest-ranked attendees are (* indicates players participating in on-field workouts):
*Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays HS, Atlanta (No. 4 on the Draft Top 200)
Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly (No. 5)
Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech (No. 6)
Jacob Berry, 3B/OF, Louisiana State (No. 7)
Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech (No. 9)
Daniel Susac, C, Arizona (No. 11)
*Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola (Fla.) JC (No. 12)
Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas (No. 13)
Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. (No. 15)
Robby Snelling, LHP, McQueen HS, Reno, Nev. (No. 16)
Jackson Ferris, LHP, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (No. 17)
*Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny HS, Wexford, Pa. (No. 18)
Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison (No. 19)
Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga (No. 20)
*Dylan Beavers, OF, California (No. 21)
*Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama (No. 24)
Zach Neto, SS, Campbell (No. 25)
Sterlin Thompson, OF, Florida (No. 27)
*Logan Tanner, C, Mississippi State (No. 29)
Andrew Dutkanych, RHP, Brebeuf Jesuit Prep, Indianapolis (No. 30)
Complete list of attendees »
The most anticipated performer may be Prielipp, a potential candidate to go No. 1 overall before he had Tommy John surgery in May 2021. He didn't pitch during the college season, and the only time clubs have seen him throw this year was during a bullpen session in the rain at Hoover, Ala., on May 23, the day before the Southeastern Conference Tournament began. His fastball reached 93 mph and his slider flashed plus, and evaluators are anxious to see him again.
At last year's inaugural Combine, several players helped themselves with their on-field performance. Arizona high school left-hander Brock Selvidge looked sharper than he had all spring, throwing strikes with a quality fastball and slider during three shutout innings, and wound up signing for a well over-slot $1.5 million as a Yankees third-rounder. Georgia prep shortstop Ryan Spikes (Rays, third round, $1,097,500) and Nevada high school right-hander Tanner McDougal (White Sox, fifth round, $850,000) also signed for well over pick value after playing well in game action.
Teams and players universally praised the interview process, which allowed both sides to get to know each player. Louisville catcher Henry Davis, who went No. 1 overall to the Pirates, impressed clubs in that setting.
Besides the prospects, several ex-big leaguers are playing a variety of roles at the Combine, including Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman and former All-Stars Dante Bichette, Mike Cameron, Eric Davis, Torii Hunter, Charles Nagy and Dmitri Young.