Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
This is the third iteration of my MLB Draft Big Board. For the first time, we have a new No. 1, and new No. 2 and some big risers.
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Previous Boards
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Gone from v 2.0 are prep right-hander Andrew Dutkanych and Tennessee righty Blade Tidwell. They were ranked No. 3 and 4 respectively last time. Dutkanych removed his name from consideration and is honoring his commitment to Vanderbilt. Tidwell dropped because there’s almost no way he’ll slide all the way to the 40th spot. A couple others who dropped from last time are East Carolina lefty Carson Whisenhunt and prep righty Jackson Cox. Both are quality prospects, but were bested by others below. They might find their way back on in future iterations of the board.
There are a couple of big movers — as you’ll see — including player making his board debut, and doing so in the Top 5 (he’s also been loosely linked to the Dodgers). Other than that, there are mostly familiar names, with some new ones toward the end of the list.
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Big Board 3.0
- RHP Peyton Pallette, Arkansas [Profile]
- OF Ryan Cermak, Illinois State [Profile]
- SS/3B Peyton Graham, Oklahoma [Profile]
- OF Drew Gilbert, Tennessee [Profile]
- RHP Cade Horton, Oklahoma
- RHP Landon Sims, Mississippi State [Profile]
- RHP Thomas Harrington, Campbell [Profile]
- OF Jud Fabian, Florida
- C Malcolm Moore, McClatchy HS (Calif.)
- OF Dylan Beavers, Cal
- 1B/OF Spencer Jones, Vanderbilt
- RHP Walter Ford, Pace HS (Fla.)
- LHP Reggie Crawford, Connecticut
- SS Eric Brown, Coastal Carolina
- 3B/OF Cayden Wallace, Arkansas
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Pallette has jumped to the top of my board. He has electric stuff and, if he comes back healthy from Tommy John, he could end up being a steal.
Cermak jumps big time on my board, as he has an intriguing power-speed combination that could play well at the next level.
Graham falls a couple spots because the other two jumped ahead of him, but I’d still be plenty happy if Graham were the pick at 40.
Gilbert is still firmly in my Top 5, but it’s looking less and less likely he’ll make it to the 40th spot.
Horton is a new entrant as his College World Series performance has catapulted him up everyone’s list. Expect a profile on him soon.
Sims is giving Sam Bachman vibes from last year, minus the whole recovering-from-TJ-thing. He’s a wild card in this draft as he could be a Top 10 pick or fall to the third round.
Harrington’s low-floor-over-high-ceiling is being tested by some of the higher-ceiling arms ranked ahead of him, but some think he could take a step forward in the right system at the next level.
Fabian is still in the Top 10 and is more likely to be at 40 than he was this time a few weeks ago.
Moore is the highest-ranked prep player on my board right now. While he might not stick at catcher, his bat should play anywhere.
Beavers has contact issues, but the power and athleticism are undeniable.
Jones has a chance to hit for big-time power at the next level, but contact might always be a concern for him.
Ford takes over as my top prep pitcher who might make it to No. 40. He reclassified from the 2023 draft, making him one of the youngest prospects available. He’s the spitting image of what former scouting director Logan White looked for in a prep pitching prospect.
Crawford is yet another TJ pitcher who might only be available at 40 because of the injury. When healthy, he has a plus-plus heater and plus-curveball.
Brown is a solid overall shortstop prospect who should stick there. He has good contact ability, sneaky pop and athleticism.
Wallace is a power-over-hit college bat the Dodgers can work with. He has a rocket arm that should play well at the hot corner or right field.
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The board should expand to 20 players next time and then for the final version on draft day. Profiles will continue until then. At this pace, we might get to 12-15 profiles.
