We're getting lots of questions about when we'll unveil our updated and expanded Draft Top 150. That will come out the evening of April 29, and we'll have a Top 200 in late May and a Top 250 in late June as well. Now for more of your queries and some more detailed answers ...
Corona (Calif.) could become the first high school ever to produce three first-round picks in the same Draft, with Seth Hernandez the most talented of the trio that also includes infielders Billy Carlson and Brady Ebel. A right-hander, Hernandez combines a lively mid-90s fastball with an advanced changeup, plus curveball and solid slider, not to mention plenty of athleticism and polish. He also offers plus-plus raw power and hitting ability as well, but he's getting drafted as a pitcher.
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The question is how high, because no high school righty ever has gone No. 1 overall and only nine went as high as second in the first 60 Drafts. That demographic scares teams more than any other, and they're usually more comfortable giving prep righties over-slot bonus with their second selection rather than popping them with their first choice. But there also aren't very many obvious candidates for the top pick this year in a down Draft.
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo is a former scouting director and isn't afraid to make bold moves, so Hernandez could make history and become the No. 1 overall pick. On pure talent, he shouldn't get past the Mariners at No. 3, but the absolute floor feels like the Reds at No. 9. I can't see Cincinnati passing on him.
The Tigers seem to be going very, very slow with promoting Max Clark, so slow it’s agonizing. Other prospects from his year are much higher by now. Why don’t they speed up his progression a little? -- Joel K., Silver Spring, Md.
I'd describe the Tigers' approach to Clark more as "pragmatic" than "very, very slow." He's often mentioned with the Twins' Walker Jenkins, another high school outfielder who also went in the first five picks of the 2023 Draft, and Jenkins is in Double-A. But Detroit's sole concern is and should be doing what it thinks is best for Clark.
Clark just turned 20 last December and is still one of the younger players in High-A, so it's not like the Tigers are holding him back. In 45 games at that level in 2024-25, he has slashed .265/.374/.414, which is fine considering his age but isn't exactly dominating the pitcher-friendly Midwest League. He's managing the strike zone much better in his return to West Michigan, but he's still working on driving the ball in the air more frequently to tap into his 20-homer potential.
Middle infielder Kevin McGonigle was a Tigers supplemental first-round pick out of high school in the same Draft as Clark, and the club has handled him in similar fashion even though he's as advanced as any prep bat in the 2023 class. McGonigle sprained his right ankle in his first game this year and is currently on the injured list.
Conrad entered this year ranked No. 23 on our Draft Top 100 after transferring from Marist to Wake Forest. He hit .389/.467/.704 with nine homers and a NCAA Division I-leading 13 triples last spring, then placed second in the Cape Cod League in batting (.385) and OPS (.919). Scouts liked his ability to barrel balls and make hard contact, but there were some questions about his ability to pull the ball for power.
Conrad batted .372/.495/.744 with seven homers in 21 games for the Demon Deacons before injuring his left shoulder diving for a ball against Miami on March 15, which led to season-ending surgery. He still focused on driving the ball from gap to gap, but evaluators felt better about his ability to turn on pitches and make the most of his formidable strength. He could be a solid hitter with power and speed to match and fits the right-field profile, all of which should land him in the middle of the first round.
Griffin Burkholder (Phillies' No. 7 prospect) offered one of the most enticing power/speed combinations in the 2024 high school class, which led the Phillies to draft him in the second round and sign him for $2,497,500 -- matching the bonus they paid first-rounder Dante Nori, a fellow prep outfielder. Burkholder was bothered by hamstring problems as a Virginia high school senior last spring, and they limited him to two at-bats in his pro debut and delayed the start of his 2025 season.
Philadelphia has worked with Burkholder to tighten his right-handed swing in hopes that he'll make more consistent contact and make the most of his at least plus raw power. He has double-plus speed and the upside of a high-impact center fielder, earning the nickname "Captain America" because of his physicality and all-around ability. He should join Single-A Clearwater by the end of the month.