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- Does It Matter Where Top Prep Draft Prospects Commit?
Does It Matter Where Top Prep Draft Prospects Commit?
Plus: Watch us pull a 1/1 Superfractor from 2024 Topps Pro Debut & NL Top 10s start next week
How Often Do Top Ranked Recruits Make It To College Baseball?
What does it matter that Billy Carlson flipped his commitment from Vanderbilt to Tennessee? He’s not making it to school anyway.
That at least seems to be the prevailing public sentiment on Tennessee picking up Carlson, a shortstop/righthander who is the No. 5 player in the 2025 high school class.
It’s true that Carlson’s talent makes him a potential first-round pick if the MLB draft were tomorrow. The same goes for fourth-ranked Kruz Schoolcraft, an uncommitted lefthander/first baseman who is 6-foot-8, 225 pounds with recent visits to Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oregon State and Florida.
But the draft isn’t tomorrow, it’s in July. A lot can change in eight months.
So, how often do an elite high school prospects make it to campus? To answer that question, Ben Badler takes a look at what the data shows from recent classes.
STRIKING GOLD IN TOPPS CHROME UPDATE
To all you baseball card collectors out there: Prepare to be jealous.
During our latest card break video on YouTube, our very own Seth Mates and J.J. Cooper pulled a real doozy of a card from a Topps Pro Debut box—a 1/1 autographed Superfractor.
We’re not going to spoil who’s on the card, so you’re absolutely going to want to watch the video, which features in-depth analysis of each player pulled. Other player highlights include big names such as Paul Skenes, Kristian Campbell, Ethan Salas, Dylan Crews and more.
Be sure to subscribe to Baseball America on YouTube for more card-breaking content to come.
NL TOP 10s COMING SOON
National League Top 10 Prospect Rankings Begin Next Week
With the World Series in the rearview mirror, it’s time to put a bow on the 2024 season and begin looking ahead to the future.
Next week starts the rollout of our annual Top 10 prospect rankings, which will open with the NL East. Stay tuned each day for a new Top 10 drop, plus a corresponding team-specific prospect chat to be held each afternoon at 2 p.m. EST.
NL YOUTH MOVEMENT
5 National League Teams Receiving The Most Value From Rookies In 2024
Following up on last month’s rundown of AL teams getting the most out of their crop of 2024 rookies, Brendan Tuma is back with a look youngsters in the NL who made the most impactful debuts this season.
Highlights include:
An NL Central squad whose budding superstar led the team to an MLB-best 12.9 fWAR by rookies
An NL East team with a pair of big-name outfielders to watch heading into 2025
An NL Central team with the makings of a strong 1-2 punch at the top of its rotation
LATEST PODCASTS FROM BASEBALL AMERICA
Are you up to date on your podcast listening? Below is a selection of recent episodes from Baseball America’s podcast offerings.
🎙️ World Series Recap Podcast: Congrats To The Dodgers & What’s Next For The Yankees
🎙️ BA Draft Podcast: Reviewing 2024 AL East Draft Classes
🎙️ Future Projection: World Series Reactions & College Recruiting Buzz
🎙️ BA Fantasy Podcast: Breaking Down An Early-Season ‘Draft Champions’ Draft For 2025
🎙️ 90th Percentile: Dr. Nick Serio Of VeloU Discusses Advanced Pitcher Training & Arm Strength
Want more podcasts like these? Subscribe to Baseball America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Player FM.
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