1. If your favorite player is missing, then chances are a lot higher it was a copy/paste fail and not my complete and utter lack of baseball knowledge. I mean, sure, it could still be the latter, but if there’s somebody obvious that I’ve ignored, please give a gentle reminder in the comments or via email (robozga at gmail dot com). It’s also possible I mentally shifted a guy’s position in my head, so don’t rule out your player suddenly popping up on another position list.

2. Players designated as FAVORITEs were given that tag prior to the season, or, in some cases, upon enrolling in college. In other words, just because a guy is a FAVORITE doesn’t mean he’s automatically guaranteed a high placement on the list. I’m stubborn about which players I like, true, but I’m also quite cognizant of the fact prospect status is fluid.

3. Final opinions are all mine, but information has been culled from a variety of sources. Like anybody likely reading this site, I’m an avid follower of all things Baseball America and Perfect Game. Seriously, if you are into the draft/prospects at all, I highly recommend getting subscriptions to both sites. I also have a small but trustworthy network of friends in the game I occasionally call upon for information on prospects, especially those off the beaten path. Consider the little scouting notes section on each player a synthesis on what I’ve read, heard, and seen about each player. I’m in no way an expert and literally nothing I write, positively or negatively, influences what pro teams actually do on draft day. I’m just a baseball loving guy who has taken a hobby way, way, way too far.

4. I’m happy to answer any and all questions I can over email or in the comments. Also, for the sake of my already waning sanity, I didn’t include everything I had on every player — you’ll see some blank spots sprinkled throughout — so please don’t hesitate to ask if there’s something about a specific guy you want answered.

5. There’s a little more science in scouting college prospects than when it comes to evaluating high school guys. This is all art and totally up to interpretation. The rankings are rankings because they are…rankings (I say it every year, but next year I want to do tiers), but that doesn’t mean Prospect #3 is leaps and bounds better than Prospect #15. I’m not trying to preempt any criticism of the list or anything, just getting it out there that nothing I write should be taken as more than the semi-educated opinions of what some weird guy on the internet thinks about a bunch of ballplayers. Cool? Cool. Here we go…

***

1. 2B/SS Christian Arroyo (Hernando HS, Florida): above-average present hit tool; average at best speed; average at best arm; quick actions in field; love his approach; not loads of projection, but good ballplayer; some Kolten Wong to his game; not much power; 6-0, 180 pounds

2. 2B/SS Jamie Westbrook (Basha HS, Arizona): good defender; instinctive; strong arm; really quick bat; good hitter; average speed; double-digit HR pop; FAVORITE; 5-10, 180 pounds

3. 2B/OF Anfernee Grier (Russell County HS, Alabama): very quick bat; above-average arm; popular Brandon Phillips comp (PG?); interesting power with average upside, maybe more; good natural hit tool, at least average; could also play CF and play it well; my own Devon White comp; above-average speed; lightning quick wrists; questionable approach biggest current impediment to success as pro; FAVORITE; 6-0, 180 pounds

4. 2B Gosuke Katoh (Rancho Bernardo HS, California): good athlete; above-average to plus speed; smart hitter; fun to watch in field; very good glove, plus range; enough arm; great approach; sneaky pop, chance for average power

5. 2B Willie Calhoun (Benicia HS, California): love his hit tool, easy above-average; average defender; gap power; average speed; good enough arm; great patience; PG Ray Durham comp; have heard a shorter Jay Bell; 5-8, 170 pounds

6. 2B/SS Malik Collymore (Port Credit SS, Canada): well above-average speed; average at best arm; good athlete; should be average or better defender; some pop; we’ll see about the bat; 6-0, 190 pounds

7. 2B/3B Edwin Diaz (Ladislau Martinez Otero HS, Puerto Rico): good athlete; good defensive tools; below-average speed; solid arm; sure, steady hands; interesting hit tool; 6-2, 180 pounds

8. 2B/SS Dalton Dulin (Memphis University HS, Tennessee): above-average speed; good fielder; strong hit tool; love his baseball instincts; easy player to root for, guy you want on your side; 5-9, 165 pounds

9. 2B/SS Josh VanMeter (Norwell HS, Indiana): some pop; strong hit tool; good athlete; very quick bat; average speed; good approach; average arm; 6-0, 165 pounds

10. 2B Nate Mondou (Charles Wright Academy, Washington): good approach; nice swing; good bat speed; gap power; solid defensive tools; decent arm; productive hitter

11. 2B/SS Kramer Robertson (Midway HS, Texas): good hit tool; plus arm; 55 speed; gap power; fan of his defense; might be able to play SS; 90 FB; 5-11, 170 pounds

12. 2B/SS Errol Robinson: (St. John’s College HS, Maryland): really strong defender, may be able to stick at SS; quick hands; above-average arm; average speed; quick bat; 5-10, 170 pounds

13. 2B/SS Elliot Barzilli (Palisades Charter HS, California): above-average speed; good hit tool; good athlete; 6-1

14. 2B/SS Trevor Morrison (Archbishop Murphy HS, Washington): strong enough arm; smooth defender; smart base runner; interesting power upside; accurate arm; good speed; 6-0, 180 pounds

15. 2B Jordan Cowan (Kentlake HS, Washington): plus defender

16. 2B/RHP Hector Gutierrez (Western International HS, Michigan): quick hands defensively; good athlete; good speed; quick bat; gap power; 86-88 FB, 91 peak; CB; CU; 6-0, 170 pounds

17. 2B Felipe Rivera Adorno (Colegio De La Salle, Puerto Rico): plus speed

18. 2B/SS Ryne Birk (Seven Lakes HS, Texas): consistent hard contact; can get too aggressive; good speed; quick accelerator; 5-9, 175 pounds

19. 2B Colton Lightner (Venice HS, Florida): good defender; strong hit tool; good speed

20. 2B/RHP Seve Romo (El Dorado HS, California): average speed; uses the whole field well; good hit tool; may also be able to handle SS; 86-89 FB; 6-1, 165 pounds

And two for good luck…

21. 2B/SS Christian Padin (Colegio Carmen Sol HS, Puerto Rico): plus speed; plus arm; quick bat; 5-10, 170 pounds

22. 2B Mitch Bevacqua (Lake City HS, Idaho): strong hit tool