MLB Draft 2023: How the top 10 high school prospects fared in final prep season

Conventional wisdom calls for an LSU player going No. 1 in the 2023 MLB Draft, but with the Pittsburgh Pirates picking first, it's fair to expect the unexpected.

Last year the Pirates went the prep route, choosing Termarr Johnson (Mays High School, Georgia) with the No. 4 overall pick.

If they pass on LSU teammates Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes, the Pirates might dip into the high school ranks again with their top pick.

Here's a look at 10 projected first-round picks in the July 9 MLB Draft and the numbers they put up in their final season of high school baseball in 2023. 

Max Clark, OF, Franklin Community (Indiana)

Named the national Gatorade Player of the Year, Clark entered his senior season as one of the most feared hitters in high school baseball and didn't disappoint. The Vanderbilt commit finished his final high school season with a .646 batting average, six home runs, 33 RBIs and 45 runs scored.

Bryce Eldridge, RHP/1B, Madison (Virginia)

A power pitcher and hitter, the 6-foot-7 Eldridge was one of the most imposing baseball players in the country this season. He led Madison to its sixth baseball state championship, and "the American Ohtani" who's committed to Alabama went 10-0 on the mound with 72 strikeouts in 42.2 innings while hitting .422 with eight home runs.

Colt Emerson, SS/3B, John Glenn (Ohio)

Emerson hit .446 with eight home runs and 39 runs scored this season for John Glenn and became the first Ohio Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year from the school. The Auburn commit also stole 26 bases while posting a .594 on-base percentage.

Colin Houck, SS, Parkview (Georgia)

Houck led Parkview to a 32-8 record and a Class 7A state runner-up finish this spring. He hit .487 with eight home runs, 50 RBIs, 56 runs, 16 stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .589. The three-time first-team all-state honoree is committed to Mississippi State but is expected to choose the straight-to-MLB path.

Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick (North Carolina)

Jenkins spent his senior season being pitched around a lot, drawing 32 walks in 95 plate appearances, compiling an on-base percentage of .632. The North Carolina commit hit .417 with 33 runs scored. Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023 by Perfect Game, Jenkins also has been a regular on the USA Baseball Under-18 National Team. 

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Bonner-Prendie (Pennsylvania)

Bonner-Prendie fell just short of the state championship game for the third straight year, but McGonigle continued to prove he's one of the best hitters in the country. He finished with a .530 average while drawing 32 walks in 100 plate appearances.

Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit (Oregon)

The top-ranked high school pitcher in the country by MLB scouts, Meyer finished his prep career with another dominant season. He went 10-2 record with a 0.41 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and struck out 142 batters in 69 innings. In his two hard-luck losses, Meyer gave up one unearned run in 13 innings.

Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas)

Mitchell starred at the plate and on the mound for a team that finished the season on a 31-game win streak en route to winning its first state title since 2002. He hit .452 with 15 doubles and six homers, scoring 49 runs and stealing 44 bases. The LSU commit pitched a shutout to get Sinton into the championship game, but he'll be a catcher in the majors.

Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest (Florida)

The shortstop was as good as they come on the diamond for the Chargers, with the Florida State commit making only four errors all season. At the plate, Nimmala hit .479 with six home runs, 29 RBIs, 30 runs, seven doubles and three triples. The 17-year-old with India roots started perfecting his bat skills playing cricket as a youth.

Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (Massachusetts)

Scouts have been bullish on White's arm talent since he was 13, and now he's viewed as the top left-handed pitching prospect out of high school in this draft. The 6-foot-5 ace posted a 5-2 record as a senior with a 1.66 ERA, striking out 95 batters and allowing just 10 hits in 42 innings.