Nazzan Zanetello posted the best season of his prep career this spring. It wasn’t necessarily a surprise the Christian Brothers College (Mo.) High School shortstop accomplished what he did this season, though. He has matured and developed into one of the best prep players in the country and expected himself to perform at a high level during his senior season.
Zanetello hit .421 with nine home runs, 33 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. His success came as he dealt with tons of attention from professional scouts this year. Scouts project Zanetello as a likely early-round pick in July’s MLB draft. His improved power and speed enhanced his draft status this spring.
“There is a lot of nerves going on, which I think is a good thing because with something as big as this coming up,” Zanetello said. “I’m either going to play pro baseball as an 18-year-old or going to college and playing Power Five SEC baseball – they are both life-changing opportunities.
“I am confident in my decision, and I have a lot of great people in my circle who will help me with the decision I will make. They are both really good life-changing opportunities, so I don’t think I can go wrong.”
Zanetello is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound shortstop with a well-balanced toolset. He is a right-handed hitter with a quick swing and gap-to-gap power. He makes consistent and hard contact against premium pitching and has quality strike-zone awareness.
Zanetello displayed an ability to hunt his pitch early in counts and consistently impacted the baseball this spring. He also showed improved base running.
Defensively, Zanetello’s above-average athleticism and arm strength allow him to make all the plays at shortstop. Scouts believe he can handle the position in pro ball. But if he moves off of shortstop, he has the skill set to play third base and center field.
Zanetello has the tools and potential to impact the game in various ways. He also is a team leader and possesses quality makeup. He has all the characteristics teams seek in a potential early-round pick.
“It feels so surreal to see my development,” Zanetello said. “To see what I have polished up on, like my swing, footwork on the infield, baserunning, adding strength, athleticism, maturity, confidence, everything, I have just come a long way. It’s surreal to look back on and see what I have improved on.”
Besides his status as a top draft prospect, Zanetello is an Arkansas commit.
Zanetello committed to Arkansas after initially committing to Miami. He is in an ideal spot with his pro prospect status and commitment to a premier college baseball program.
Arkansas has a track record of winning at an elite level and producing high-end talent for the pro ranks. Arkansas’ coaching staff, 2023 recruiting class and player development system intrigue Zanetello if he makes it to campus.
“If our recruiting class goes to campus, I think it could be a special thing, and we could possibly bring a ring back to Fayetteville,” Zanetello said.
Read more in-depth stories on top 2023 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Want to know more about Nazzan Zanetello? Read a previous draft profile on Zanetello from earlier this year HERE.
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.
