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2022 MLB Draft prospects from Washington: Bainbridge's JR Ritchie, Toutle Lake's Jackson Cox in tight race for top-pick nod

Both recent high school graduates are high-upside right-handed pitchers who could be selected in the first 50 picks

The 2002 Major League Baseball amateur draft is set to start Sunday in Los Angeles, and the 20-round event will carry over three days.

The draft is also wrapped into All-Star Game festivities, which are taking place at Dodgers Stadium.

Several Washington products - college and high school - are expected to hear their names called by the any of the 30 major-league organizations.

NBC Sports amateur baseball draft analyst Christopher Crawford breaks down who should be the top in-state prospects taken:

JR RITCHIE, Bainbridge

JR Ritchie, Bainbridge baseball, class of 2022 and potential first-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

Position: Right-handed pitcher.

Projection: Day 1; late first round to early second round.

Skinny: Ritchie has been listed among the nation's elite high school pitchers for most of his career - and some scouting services have him among the top 10 high school pitching prospects in the nation.

MLB officials obviously see the potential: They invited him to attend the MLB Draft in person this week, which he accepted.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound hurler will decide between UCLA and turning pro after the draft. It’s a decision that Ritchie said is becoming more difficult as his stock rises. While there are no deals in place, Ritchie said talks with several teams have gotten more serious this week.

Until this spring, Ritchie had always thought UCLA was the next step.

What Crawford’s says: "The debate right now is between who the best pitching prospect in the state is, with scouts torn between Ritchie and Jackson Cox. For me, it's Ritchie. He's a 6-foot-2 hurler who still has projection left in his right arm but a fastball that has already been into the high 90s and sits 92-94. Ritchie's slider is another 'out' pitch, and he can keep hitters honest with a solid curve and occasional change for good measure. He gets quality reviews for his feel for pitching, and should throw enough strikes to be a starter."

JACKSON COX, Toutle Lake

toutle lake ducks jackson cox

Position: Right-handed pitcher.

Projection: Day 1; second round.

Skinny: This recent high school graduate hurls it in the mid-90s and reportedly topped out at 95 mph as a senior. Athletic at 6-foot, 1-inch and 185 pounds, Cox boasts swing-and-miss stuff, especially with his breaking-ball pitches.

Cox has signed with the University of Oregon should he decide not to pursue baseball professionally.

Cox led the Ducks to the Class 2B state title game. Toutle Lake lost to Brewster, 7-6, for the title on May 28. He struck out 107 of the 175 batters who faced him during his senior season at Toutle and completed his high school career with a 0.72 earned run average.

In 116-plus career innings, Cox allowed just 12 total earned runs, and half of those came during his ninth grade season. Prospectslive.com rates Cox as the No. 69 overall prospect in the 2022 draft.

What Crawford’s says: "Cox isn't too far behind Ritchie, however, and it's understandable why some prefer the right-hander. He has more life on his offerings, for one, and his curveball has a chance to be a 'plus-plus' (or 70 grade) pitch because of his ability to generate loads of spin. His feel for pitching appears to be a little behind, however, and he'll need to show more consistency with the change. Add in the fact that he doesn't turn 19 until the end of September, and Cox has upside that competes with the majority of the starters in this class on the prep side. It's just a question of the floor."

TRYSTAN VRIELING, Gonzaga/Kamiakin

Trystan Vrieling, Gonzaga baseball, 2022 MLB Draft

Position: Right-handed pitcher.

Projection: Day 2; sixth to eighth round.

Skinny: Another one of the highly touted right-handed pitching prospect from Washington, Vreiling was an honorable mention all-WCC selection for the Bulldogs as a sophomore working mostly out of the bullpen (19 of 21 appearances). He nearly doubled his innings pitched as a junior this spring (to 80-plus).

Vreiling compiled a 4-4 overall record at Gonzaga this past spring with a 4.91 ERA, though after a rough first outing against national power Oregon State in February, he got that number down to a season-low 2.61 after an appearance against BYU in late March. He struck out 10 or more batters three times this season, totaling 107 for the season.

Prospectslive.com rates Vreiling as the No. 77 overall draft prospect.

What Crawford says: "Vrieling's overall numbers aren't great with a 4.91 ERA in his time with Gonzaga in 2022, but to say those numbers aren't indicative of his talent is an understatement. He's a 6-foot-4 right-hander who has shown three 'plus' pitches in his fastball, curve and change; respectively, and he also has a cuttler/slider that goes into the hands of left-handed hitters. The issue is that Vrieling can't throw these pitches for strikes on a consistent basis, and it's why some (scouts) view him as a reliever. Someone will give him a chance to start, and with a couple of mechanical tweaks, he could be a member of an MLB rotation someday."

CARTER YOUNG, Vanderbilt/Selah

Carter Young, Vanderbilt baseball (Selah), 2022 MLB Draft

Position: Utility infielder.

Draft projection: Day 2; seventh to eighth round.

Skinny: A year after smashing 16 home runs for the Commodores, Young struggled in the spring as a junior, posting a .207 batting average with just seven long balls.

His offensive struggles may have changed Young’s course moving forward. After entering the transfer portal in late June, the shortstop announced he would be transferring to LSU. Listed as the No. 249 overall prospect by Prospectslive.com, and still considered among the Top 200 overall by other services, Young will have a chance to turn pro this summer if he chooses. With a new commitment to LSU, however, it seems more likely that the professional baseball will get another crack at the infielder after a senior season with the Tigers.

What Crawford says: "Young was a player that was considered a potential first-round selection not too long ago, but not much has gone right - at least offensively - in 2022 with a .207 average and .710 OPS for the Commodores. There is above-average power in his bat as a switch-hitter, but there's too much weak contact to expect a (high batting) average - and there's lots of swing-and-miss in his profile. The good news is he's a solid defensive player that could contribute at a few positions."