2023 MLB Draft Results

Round 2

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: July 9, 2023.

40. Washington Nationals: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami FL A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-4 225 lb Yohandy Morales is a power hitter that dominates with home runs and line drives despite not showing the ability to get on base with grounders and bunts. Yohandy Morales had a .329 batting average and 18 home runs and a .933 fielding percentage as a sophomore in 2022. Yohandy Morales had a .408 batting average, 20 home runs, and a .954 fielding percentage in 2023.
    
    
    
    Yohandy Morales improved his batting average, home run ability, stolen bases, and fielding percentage in all three seasons with Miami FL. He also interviewed really well on the Inside The U Podcast.
    
    
    
    The Washington Nationals got the best player in this draft at 2 and got my fifteenth best player to start the second round. The last team to get that kind of value in the first and second round was the 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates when they drafted Gerritt Cole and Josh Bell who was fifteenth on my big board back in 2011.
    
    
    
41. Oakland Athletics: Ryan Lesko, CF, Rutgers C Grade
    
    
    Ryan Lesko was a third round prospect, but he had the production of a first round pick. He's a reach at 41, but not a massive reach.
    
    
    
    
    
42. Pittsburgh Pirates: Mitch Jebb, SS, Michigan State C- Grade
    
    
    Mitch Jebb was a top 100 player. However, he was a late third round prospect. Taking a late third round prospect in the second round is something I'm gonna old Ben Cherrington accountable for especially when one of my top twenty eight players is still there.
    
    
    
43. Cincinnati Reds: Samuel Stafura, SS, Panas HS (NY) A Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 187 lb Samuel Stafura has potential to develop into a 20 to 25 home run hitter. If he doesn't go in the first round, someone will gamble on him in the back half of the first round. The Reds gambled on him in the second round, so this is an A grade.
    
    
    
    
    
44. Kansas City Royals: Blake Wolters, P, Mahomet-Seymour HS (IL) B Grade
    
    
    The 6-4 200 lb Blake Wolters has a 94 mile per hour fastball with 2,300 rpm and an 84 mile per hour changeup with 2,700 rpm. Blake Wolters also has a changeup that he hardly uses. Kansas City can develop Blake Wolters as a long-term project..
    
    
    
45. Detroit Tigers: Max Anderson, 3B, Nebraska A Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 200 lb Max Anderson was the top hitter in the Big Ten Conference in 2023. Max Anderson had a .414 batting average, a .771 slugging percentage, 1.232 OPS, 101 hits, 21 home runs, and 20 doubles with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2023. The Detroit Tigers can stash this college batter in their prospect pool.
    
    
    
    
    
46. Colorado Rockies: Sean Sullivan, P, Wake Forest A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-4 190 lb Sean Sulllivan had a 4.45 ERA in 14 starts at Northeastern in 2022. He transferre to Wake Forest and had a 2.61 ERA and a 33.2 percent strikeout to walk ratio in 2023 which was second to LSU pitcher Paul Skenes.
    
    
    
47. Miami Marlins: Kemp Alderman, LF, Ole Miss A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-2 250 lb Kemp Alderman had a .376 batting average, 19 home runs, 80 hits, 44 runs, and 14 doubles for Ole Miss in 2023. Kemp Alderman blasted balls at the plate when swinging at the 2023 MLB Combine.
    
    
    
    
    
48. Arizona Diamondbacks: Gino Groover, 3B, North Carolina State D Grade
    
    
    Arizona reached here. Gino Groover was not a good value pick here.
    
    
    
49. Minnesota Twins: Luke Keashall, SS, Arizona State B Grade
    
    
    Luke Keashall is versatile enough to play shortstop or second base. Luke Keashall was a top 100 player.
    
    
    
    
    
50. Boston Red Sox: Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers HS (MO) C Grade
    
    
    Nazzan Zanetello got invited to the 2023 MLB Draft in Seattle. The worst grade I'll give the Red Sox here is a C grade.
    
    
    
    
    
51. Chicago White Sox: Grant Taylor, P, LSU C Grade
    
    
    Grant Taylor missed this season due to an injury. The White Sox opt to gamble on him in the fifth round.
    
    
    
52. San Francisco Giants: Walker Martin, SS, Eaton HS (CO) A+ Grade
    
    
    The San Francisco Giants get another shortstop prospect for their farm system while Brandon Crawford gets older. The 6-2 185 lb Walker Martin had a .683 batting average and hit 20 home runs at Eaton High School as his home runs for a high school batter was best in the country for a High School batter.
    
    
    
    
    
53. Baltimore Orioles: Mac Horvath, RF, North Carolina A- Grade
    
    
    The 6-1 185 lb Mac Horvath played both third baseman and right fielder at North Carolina. Mac Horvath has the versatility to play third baseman, left fielder, or right fielder in the MLB. Mac Horvath had a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, 21 doubles, and 25 stolen bases in 2023.
    
    
    
54. Milwaukee Brewers: Mike Boeve, 3B, Nebraska-Omaha B Grade
    
    
    Mike Boeve was arguably a top 50 batter. This was a great value pick for the Brewers in the second round and I'm giving it a B grade.
    
    
    
    
    
55. Tampa Bay Rays: Colton Ledbetter, CF, Mississippi State A Grade
    
    
    The 6-2 205 lb Colton Ledbetter had a .320 batting average, 12 home runs, 52 runs, 52 RBI's, 63 hits, 2 doubles, 17 stolen bases, and a .966 fielding percentage in 2023. Colton Ledbetter is a center fielder that you can develop for the future here.
    
    
    
56. New York Mets: Brandon Sproat, P, Florida A Grade
    
    
    The 6-3 215 lb Brandon Sproat was a 2022 third round pick that did not sign. Brandon Sproat should get drafted in the second round as a senior this year, but it's also possible he falls further than this.
    
    
    
    The Mets took him in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft, but failed to sign him. This time the Mets took him a round earlier.
    
    
    
    
    
57. Seattle Mariners: Ben Williamson, 3B, William & Mary D Grade
    
    
    The 2023 CAA player of the year didn't make MLB Network's top 200. He did hit 12 home runs.
    
    
    
58. Cleveland Indians: Alexander Clemmey, P, Bishop Hendricken HS (RI) A Grade
    
    
    The 6-5 205 lb Alexander Clemmey had a 98 mile per hour fastball and an 80 mile per hour curveball. He's got a decent changeup which could be a third plus pitch down the road, but he needs to refine his command.
    
    
    
    
    
59. Atlanta Braves: Drue Hackenberg, P, Virginia Tech D Grade
    
    
    Drue Hackenberg barely cracked the top 200. That's the biggest reason the Braves got a D grade.
    
    
    
60. Los Angeles Dodgers: Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia A Grade
    
    
    The 6-1 195 lb Jake Gelof had a .377 batting average, 21 home runs, 65 runs, 80 hits, 81 RBI's, 15 doubles, 2 triples, and 162 total bases with the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC in 2022. Jake Gelof had a .321 batting average, 23 home runs, 71 runs, 81 hits, 23 doubles, 3 triples, and a 179 total bases with the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC in 2023.
    
    
    
    Jake Gelof averaged a .937 fielding percentage in three seasons at Virginia. Jake Gelof is the younger brother of Oakland Athletics third baseman prospect Zack Gelof who also played third baseman at Virginia.
    
    
    
    
    
61. Houston Astros: Alonzo Tredwell, P, UCLA A Grade
    
    
    The 6-7 225 lb Alonzo Tredwell posted a 2.11 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 6 walks in 47 innings out of the bullpen in 2022. Alonzo Treadwell had a 3.57 ERA in 9 starts before back and rib injuries ended his season in 2023.
    
    
    
    
    
62. Cleveland Indians: Andrew Walters, P, Miami FL B Grade
    
    
    The 6-4 220 lb Andrew Walters gives Cleveland a bullpen arm. I'll give this pick a B grade.
    
    
    
63. Baltimore Orioles: Jackson Baumeister, P, Florida State A Grade
    
    
    The 6-4 235 lb Jackson Baumeister did well out of the bullpen with a 3.71 ERA in 2022. Jackson Baumeister had a 4.96 ERA in 69 innings as a starting pitcher in 2023. The Baltimore Orioles draft Jackson Baumeister as a bullpen arm here.
    
    
    
    
    
64. Arizona Diamondbacks: Caden Grice, P, Clemson C Grade
    
    
    Clemson pitcher Caden Grice was the 2023 John Olreud Player of the year. He had a fourth round grade on most boards.
    
    
    
65. Colorado Rockies: Cole Carrigg, LF, San Diego State A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-3 190 lb Cole Carrigg is versatile enough to play shortstop, second base, third base, catcher, left fielder, center fielder, and pitcher. He will mainly be a bat in the MLB since he's the most versatile player in College Baseball, but the big question is where will he play after posting a .348 batting average in 2021, a .419 batting average in 2022, and a .486 batting average in 2023.
    
    
    
    I had Cole Carrigg going one pick earlier to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Fantastic value pick for the Rockies that gets an A+ grade.
    
    
    
    
    
66. Kansas City Royals: Carson Roccaforte, CF, Louisiana D Grade
    
    
    I was gonna give this an F grade, but he has a good swing. He also plays with a good energy so the Royals get a D grade.
    
    
    
67. Pittsburgh Pirates: Zander Mueth, P, Belleville East HS (IL) B Grade
    
    
    This guy wasn't in my top 70. Jim Callis praised this pick that the Pittsburgh Pirates made in the second round, so I'll give the Pirates a B grade.
    
    
    
    
    
68. Chicago Cubs: Jaxon Wiggins, P, Arkansas C Grade
    
    
    Jaxon Wiggins was a reach here. He could be a nice bullpen guy for the Cubs down the road.
    
    
    
69. San Francisco Giants: Joe Whitman, P, Kent State A+ Grade
    
    
    San Francisco wraps up the first round with an under the radar starting pitcher that many have going in either the compensation portion of the first round or the second round. Joe Whitman only pitched 5 2/3 innings in two seasons at Purdue, but he really put everything together during his junior sesaon at Kent State and stood out in a big way.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 200 lb Joe Whitman went 9-2 in 15 starts with a 2.56 ERA pitching 81 innings getting 100 strikeouts winning MAC Pitcher Of The Year in 2023. Whitman played lackluster competition and only had 2 games with 10 or more strikeouts. His career high for innings pitched was 7.1 innings pitched as he was a reliever at Purdue prior to transferring to Kent State where he was a Friday Night Starter in 2023. It's possible for the San Francisco to use him as either a starter or a reliever.
    
    
    
    Joe Whitman has a 94 mile per hour fastball, a 83 mile per hour slider, and a 81 mile per hour changeup. Whitman still needs to develop his curveball, but he's capable of being used as a starter or a reliever.
    
    
    
    
    
70. Atlanta Braves: Cade Kuehler, P, Campbell A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 205 lb Cade Kuehler was a Friday Night starter in 2023 with a 2.71 ERA pitching 73 innings in 13 starts. He's a player that could be the number five starter on the Atlanta Braves down the road.