The inaugural MLB draft lottery is tonight. The lottery will determine the top 18 picks in the 2023 MLB draft, with the teams having the worst records from last season having the strongest probability of securing the top picks.
The Nationals, Athletics and Pirates have the best odds to land the No. 1 pick. Below are the five top prospects in the 2023 MLB draft.
Dylan Crews, OF, LSU
Crews has a powerful right-handed swing that produces elite exit velocities and uses the entire field. He hits for average and power while possessing respectable plate discipline.
Crews has the skillset to remain in center field. He has above-average speed and arm strength. He also has quality instincts that allow him to make all the necessary plays in the field.
Crews is the complete package. The 6-foot, 203-pound outfielder has five-tool potential with the ability to move through a minor-league system quickly.
Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
Dollander is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-handed pitcher. He throws a four-seam fastball, changeup, slider and curveball from a three-quarters arm slot, smooth delivery and quick arm action.
His fastball is his best pitch. It sits in the mid-90s and reaches 100 mph. He attacks hitters up in the strike zone with his fastball due to its vertical ride. He will use it to steal a strike low in the zone.
Dollander’s changeup and slider are his best off-speed pitches. His slider is his outpitch. The 85-89 mph breaking pitch features hard and late movement. It is an above-average pitch.
Learn more about Dollander by reading an in-depth profile here.
Max Clark, OF, Franklin Community (Ind.) High School
Clark can do it all on the baseball field, possessing five-tool potential. He also has tremendous makeup. He is confident in his ability but is humble and wants to serve as a role model for young baseball players.
Clark is a 6-foot-1, 198-pound left-handed hitter with an advanced approach at the plate. He uses a quick and compact swing that allows him to drive the ball to all parts of the field effortlessly. He also understands the strike zone and rarely swings and misses.
In pro ball, Clark projects to hit for average and above-average power while using his athleticism and speed to be disruptive on the bases.
Learn more about Clark by reading an in-depth profile here.
Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick (N.C.) High School
Jenkins is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound left-handed hitting center fielder known for his ability at the
plate. He has notable bat speed and an exciting knack to hit for average and above-average
power. He is a confident hitter with simple mechanics and a quality understanding of the strike
zone.
Besides his ability to consistently barrel up pitches and drive the ball to all parts of the field,
Jenkins also makes an impact with his above-average speed on the base pads.
Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi
Gonzalez has made a tremendous impact offensively in his first two years at Ole Miss. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound left-handed hitter is a well-rounded offensive player. He has notable bat-to-ball skills and hits for average and power to all fields. He also has tremendous plate discipline, as he has more walks (88) than strikeouts (66) at Ole Miss.
Defensively, Gonzalez is athletic and possesses above-average arm strength. He has good instincts and will remain at shortstop in the future.
Read more in-depth stories on top 2023 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Do you enjoy reading Baseball Prospect Journal’s draft content? Support our work and become a Patron!
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for eight years. He has interviewed 433 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
