These 10 players stood out at Draft Combine workout
Collier, Johnson among group to impress scouts
SAN DIEGO -- The Friday on-field workout has become the centerpiece of the Draft Combine in the two years it has been staged. Fifty-two players, including a half-dozen potential first-round picks, participated this time around as MLB Network broadcast the action live for six and a half hours.
Several players made a strong impression on the crowd of scouts who gathered at Petco Park, highlighted by these standouts (listed alphabetically):
Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola (Fla.) JC
Collier reclassified from the 2023 Draft to 2022, graduated early and attended junior college in what would have been his junior high school season, then headed to the Cape Cod League and became the youngest player (age 17) anyone could remember in the recent history of the prestigious summer circuit. After going 3-for-9 with three walks in his first three games on the Cape, he flew to San Diego and took one of the best rounds of batting practice. The son of former big league infielder Lou Collier didn't shoot for the fences and repeatedly barreled balls with one of the best left-handed strokes in this Draft.
Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays HS (Atlanta)
The highest-ranked prospect (No. 4 on MLB Pipeline's Draft Top 200) to participate in the workout, Johnson is the best high school hitter in recent memory. He took a professional batting practice, working the ball around the park and displaying effortless pull-side power.
Jared Jones, C, Walton HS (Marietta, Ga.)
Jones showed off his power when he became co-champion of the High School Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game last July, and he lit up another big league park at the Combine. He used his bat speed and the strength and leverage in his 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame to bash the two longest blasts at 462 and 442.9 feet and produced four of the seven highest exit velocities, topping out at 109.6 mph.
Jayson Jones, 3B, Braswell HS (Aubrey, Texas)
Another Jones with huge raw power and a home run derby title (at the Baseball Factory All-America Game last September) on his résumé, he launched more 400-foot shots (four) than anyone, including a 423.9-foot bomb. His aggressive right-handed uppercut also resulted in two of the four best exit velocities at 110.9 and 109.6 mph.
Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt
Jones' 6-foot-7 frame helps him create plenty of bat speed and leverage from the left side of the plate, and he's also athletic for his size. He averaged 103.6 mph in exit velocity on his 10 swings, including the hardest bolt of the day at 112.2 mph.
Dominic Keegan, 1B/C, Vanderbilt
The second Commodore on this list, Keegan topped everyone in hard-hit percentage (all nine of his swings produced exit velocities of at least 95 mph) and average exit velo (106 mph). He hammered balls with less exertion than most of the hitters, letting his prodigious strength do most of the work for him.
Nolan McLean, 3B/RHP, Oklahoma State
Few college players in this Draft have more raw power than McLean, who began the day with one of the more impressive early BP sessions, driving one ball 424.6 feet and four others at exit velocities of 106.6 mph or higher. He also took the best infield of any of the players in the third-base group, showing off the athleticism that made him a quarterback recruit and a strong arm that has been clocked up to 98 mph (though he didn't pitch at the Combine).
Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
Unquestionably the most impressive pitcher to take the mound, Misiorowski threw eight fastballs and they were the eight hottest pitches recorded, averaging 99.8 mph and topping out at 100.7. His heater had the highest peak (2,816 rpm) and average (2,688) spin rates, producing impressive carry while he also used his 6-foot-7 frame to create outstanding extension. Beside his fastball exploits, he delivered two of the three hardest sliders at 90.3 and 89.3 mph.
Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama
The most anticipated performer at the Combine, Prielipp didn't disappoint. A potential candidate to go No. 1 overall before he had Tommy John surgery in May 2021, he missed this season while rehabbing and had thrown just a single bullpen session workout for scouts before arriving in San Diego. He showed the stuff he had before his injury, averaging 93 mph with his sinker, snapping off three of his signature sliders at 85-87 mph and mixing in a couple of 87 mph changeups. He posted the highest breaking ball spin rate of anyone at 3,045 rpm.
Tucker Toman, 3B, Hammond HS (Columbia, S.C.)
One of the best high school hitters in this class, Toman made loud contact and routinely found the sweet spot from both sides of the plate, showing a tick more bat speed as a lefty. The son of Middle Tennessee State coach Jim Toman, he comes with some questions about his future defensive home but looked fine taking infield at the hot corner.
Highest exit velocities, batted ball
112.2 mph -- Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt
110.9 mph -- Jayson Jones, 3B, Braswell HS (Aubrey, Texas)
109.6 mph -- Jared Jones, C, Walton HS (Marietta, Ga.)
109.6 mph -- Jayson Jones, 3B, Braswell HS (Aubrey, Texas)
109.4 mph -- Jared Jones, C, Walton HS (Marietta, Ga.)
108.8 mph -- Dominic Keegan, 1B/C, Vanderbilt
108.6 mph -- Jared Jones, C, Walton HS (Marietta, Ga.)
108.6 mph -- Jared Jones, C, Walton HS (Marietta, Ga.)
108.6 mph -- Nolan McLean, 3B/RHP, Oklahoma State
108.5 mph -- Jayson Jones, 3B, Braswell HS (Aubrey, Texas)
Longest distances, batted ball
462.0 feet -- Jared Jones, C, Walton HS (Marietta, Ga.)
442.9 feet -- Jared Jones, C, Walton HS (Marietta, Ga.)
424.6 feet -- Nolan McLean, 3B/RHP, Oklahoma State
423.9 feet -- Jayson Jones, 3B, Braswell HS (Aubrey, Texas)
422.5 feet -- Jayson Jones, 3B, Braswell HS (Aubrey, Texas)
419.8 feet -- Brett Roberts, 2B/3B, Florida State
418.8 feet -- Jayson Jones, 3B, Braswell HS (Aubrey, Texas)
418.6 feet -- Ryan Cermak, OF, Illinois State
414.9 feet -- Ryan Cermak, OF, Illinois State
412.2 feet -- Michael Gupton, OF, Rolesville (N.C.) HS
Highest hard-hit percentage
100% (9/9) -- Dominic Keegan, 1B/C, Vanderbilt
100% (6/6) -- Mason Neville, OF, Basic Academy (Henderson, Nev.)
91% (10/11) -- Cade Hunter, C, Virginia Tech
90% (9/10) -- Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt
82% (14/17) -- Jayson Jones, 3B, Braswell HS (Aubrey, Texas)
82% (9/11) -- Adonys Guzman, C, Brunswick HS (Greenwich, Conn.)
80% (12/15) -- Alan Roden, 1B/OF, Creighton
78% (7/9) -- Nolan McLean, 3B/RHP, Oklahoma State
75% (18/24) -- Jayden Hylton, OF/1B, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) HS
75% (15/20) -- Tucker Toman, 3B, Hammond HS (Columbia, S.C.)
75% (9/12) -- Jared Jones, C, Walton HS (Marietta, Ga.)
75% (6/8) -- Henry Bolte, OF, Palo Alto (Calif.) HS
(Hard-hit balls have an exit velocity of at least 95 mph.)
Highest sweet-spot percentage
91% (10/11) -- Adonys Guzman, C, Brunswick HS (Greenwich, Conn.)
88% (7/8) -- Jeric Curtis, OF, Tomball (Texas) Memorial HS
83% (5/6) -- Mason Neville, OF, Basic Academy (Henderson, Nev.)
82% (9/11) -- Cade Hunter, C, Virginia Tech
80% (16/20) -- Tucker Toman, 3B, Hammond HS (Columbia, S.C.)
78% (7/9) -- Nolan McLean, 3B/RHP, Oklahoma State
78% (7/9) -- Cameron Smith, SS, Palm Beach Central HS (Wellington, Fla.)
75% (6/8) -- Henry Bolte, OF, Palo Alto (Calif.) HS
69% (11/16) -- Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola (Fla.) JC
64% (9/14) -- Tyler Locklear, 3B/1B, Virginia Commonwealth
64% (9/14) -- Max Martin, SS, Moorestown (N.J.) HS
(Sweet-spot hits have a launch angle from 8-32 degrees.)
Highest fastball velocities
100.7 mph -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
100.3 mph -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
100.2 mph -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
99.9 mph -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
99.7 mph -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
99.6 mph -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
99.1 mph -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
98.8 mph -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
98.4 mph -- Zach Maxwell, RHP, Georgia Tech
98.3 mph -- Zach Maxwell, RHP, Georgia Tech
Highest fastball spin rates
2,816 rpm -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
2,777 rpm -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
2,738 rpm -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
2,705 rpm -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
2,675 rpm -- Zach Maxwell, RHP, Georgia Tech
2,669 rpm -- Zach Maxwell, RHP, Georgia Tech
2,657 rpm -- Zach Maxwell, RHP, Georgia Tech
2,648 rpm -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
2,638 rpm -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
2,636 rpm -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
Highest breaking ball spin rates
3,045 rpm -- Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama
3,031 rpm -- Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder (Mo.) JC
2,985 rpm -- Orion Kerkering, RHP, South Florida
2,950 rpm -- Orion Kerkering, RHP, South Florida
2,944 rpm -- Orion Kerkering, RHP, South Florida
2,938 rpm -- Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama
2,933 rpm -- Orion Kerkering, RHP, South Florida
2,928 rpm -- Orion Kerkering, RHP, South Florida
2,906 rpm -- Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama
2,888 rpm -- Jackson Humphries, LHP, Fuquay-Varina (N.C.) HS