Top 100 FYPD Rankings For 2023

College and High School baseball seasons are nearing their respective ends. This should give us a look at what the MLB draft might look like in July. Anyone who has watched the MLB draft will know predicting the draft is unlikely. For dynasty managers, a player being drafted by certain MLB clubs gives hope for major gains or in some cases makes them less desirable for fantasy purposes. This is my first crack at the 2023 top 100 players for first-year player drafts. Leading up to the draft and afterward, you will see this list evolve and change based on performance and more information to evaluate. For now, let’s get an idea of the top names we should expect to see in this year’s MLB draft.

2023 FYPD Rankings

The Top 10

Dylan Crews, OF LSU

This season we might be seeing the true 1A and 1B prospects at the top of the MLB draft as well as FYPD boards. Dylan Crews is a generational talent who has been hyped up all season long. The 6’1” outfielder has put together an impressive career at Louisiana State. Crews slashed .377/.497/694 with 214 runs scored while crushing 53 home runs and swiping 21 bags in 177 career games played.

😯🚀OF Dylan Crews has had a year for the ages! He is slashing .438/.592/.742 with 77 R, 13 HR, 55 RBIs and 4 SB in 52 GP. Crews should be the first player off the board in the MLB Draft. What a season! @__dc4__ @LSUbaseball @LSU @Fantrax @WeeklyStreamer https://t.co/iRGghQxmmJ

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

The 2023 college baseball season further solidified that elite status for Crews as he slashed .438/.592/.742 with 77 runs scored, 13 home runs, 55 RBIs, and four stolen bases in 52 games played. He profiles as a plus power-hitting outfield prospect that has elite bat-to-ball skills. Dylan could be a game-changer for the organization he gets selected by. He is expected to go first overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Paul Skenes, RHP LSU

If Dylan Crews is 1A, teammate Paul Skenes is barely 1B. There have already been talks that Paul Skenes is a once-in-a-decade type of arm. Skenes started his collegiate career as a two-way player for Air Force. Skenes struck out 126 batters in 111.4 innings pitched with a 2.71 ERA in two seasons at Air Force before transferring to LSU for the 2023 season.

⛽️🔥RHP Paul Skenes has been fun to watch this season as he has proven to be every bit the “once in a decade” talent. 152 Ks in 79.2 IP with a 1.69 ERA and 0.753 WHIP in 13 starts. I wonder if the Pirates will pass on Skenes.. 🤔 @LSUbaseball @Paul_Skenes @Fantrax https://t.co/4gKY3XpYTT

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

In his first and only season with LSU, Skenes went berserk, striking out 152 batters in 79.2 innings with a 1.69 ERA and a 0.753 WHIP. Skenes has the imposing starters build at 6’6” and 235 pounds with a legitimate 80-grade fastball that has topped out at 102 MPH this season at LSU. The slider is just as impressive coming in at 89 MPH with a sharp break out of the zone inducing tons of swing and miss. Like Jacob deGrom in the majors, Skenes has a power change-up that sits at 90 mph with the fade to pair off the fastball.

If the Nationals get Skenes second overall, dynasty managers can dream of a future rotation of Skenes, Gray, Gore, and Cavalli, not a bad dream to have!

Wyatt Langford, OF Florida

The Florida Gators are going to hate to see Wyatt Langford go! The 21-year-old Langford has had a solid career at Florida, slashing .371/.482/.750 with 134 runs scored, 40 home runs, and 12 stolen bases in 115 career games. Langford profiles as a high-contact outfielder with power who also has above average speed on the basepaths.

💣💪Florida OF Wyatt Langford has had an incredible season slashing 400/.535/.813 with 61 R, 14 HR, 37 RBI and 5 SB in only 45 GP! I can see Langford being the steal of the draft! @GatorsBB @langford_wyatt @FloridaGators https://t.co/YP8wLcG1b8

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

After missing almost a month with an “unfortunate Injury” in 2023, Langford came back strong. In 45 games, Langford is slashing .400/.535/.813 with 61 runs, 14 home runs, 37 RBIs, and five stolen bases. To miss that amount of time and still be in consideration as the third name taken off the board is nothing short of amazing. Frankly, if Crews and Skenes were not having generational years, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see Langford in the mix at one overall.

Walker Jenkins, OF H.S. NC

Full disclosure; high school numbers are hard to come by for these draft-eligible prospects until we are weeks away from the draft. For Walker Jenkins and Max Clark, I have to rely on what I read more so than what I see. Walker Jenkins is a 6’3” 205-pound power machine that some scouts praise as “BIG” plus power. Make no mistake Walker Jenkins has a smooth lefty swing that makes solid contact.

💪💣 OF Walker Jenkins has serious raw power from the left side that has excellent bat to ball skills. There are some rumors that the Nationals have been heavily scouting the H.S. Slugger from NC. @WalkerJenkins6 @Fantrax @WeeklyStreamer https://t.co/OReSGvZNnT

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

As Jenkins has filled out, the plus speed looks more like above average, leading some, myself included, to believe that he will end up in a corner outfield spot long-term. For dynasty managers not afraid to sit on a guy for three to four years, Walker Jenkins could be a major impact bat if he develops as projected.

Max Clark, OF H.S. IN

Where Walker Jenkins brings the big power, Max Clark brings the high contact and speed profile out of the high school ranks. Clark appears to be a game-changer on the field and turned plenty of heads at the 18 and Under World Cup last year. A strong lefty hitter that crushes balls to the gaps and lets his speed stretch doubles and triples, Clark is no doubt in the conversation as the first prep player taken this season.

📝🏃OF Max Clark is one of the most advanced high school bats I’ve seen. Pairing excellent bat to ball skills and plus speed Clark is an exciting prospect coming out of Indiana and should be selected in the top 10 of this seasons MLB draft! @maxxclarkk13 @Fantrax @WeeklyStreamer https://t.co/buZTzXS1K3

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

The contact skills and speed look to be graded out as double-plus tools for Clark. The power might be more of an average tool for the time being but could develop to above average as he matures physically. Overall this is a solid draft pick for managers who want to stock the farm with talent that might take several years to debut.

Jacob Wilson, SS Grand Canyon

One of the best contact hitters in the college ranks right now is Jacob Wilson out of Grand Canyon University. Playing under the tutelage of his father, Wilson has put up solid numbers all three seasons at GCU. In 149 career games, he has slashed .364/.422/.564 with 118 runs, 21 home runs, 151 RBIs, and 9 stolen bases. As you can see this might be more of a real-life player than a fantasy target but stick with me.

👀 Grand Canyon SS Jacob Wilson has 5 strikeouts in 101 AB in ‘23.. He only has 31 strikeouts in 581 AB in 3 seasons at GCU 🤯 Nick Madrigal OSU comps are definitely in play here. @Fantrax @WeeklyStreamer @GCU_Baseball @jacobwilsonn22 https://t.co/07KDUfcqLA

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) April 13, 2023

As the 2023 collegiate season comes to an end, Wilson is slashing .428/.476/.669 with 39 runs, five home runs, 57 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 43 games. No doubt these numbers might pop out a bit more than his career numbers. This season Wilson is running more and if you compare the power and average output of this 2022 season you can tell he was making it a point to hit for average not power in 2023.

Regardless, I see a 15-HR and 20-SB player here once he gets settled in an organization. There is no doubt the contact skills are elite but Wilson will need to walk more as a professional. If everything breaks right I can see a DJ LeMahieu style of hitter that could have a bit more speed.

Chase Dollander, RHP Tennessee

Coming into the season it was widely accepted that Chase Dollander was the number one college pitcher. Now let’s not take away how good Chase Dollander actually is by comparing him to Paul Skenes of LSU. Dollander has had a solid season at Tennessee, striking out 94 batters in 68.1 innings with a 4.35 ERA in 13 starts.

⛽️🔥RHP Chase Dollander is finishing up a solid season at Tennessee. He has 94 Ks in 68.1 innings pitched with a 4.35 ERA so far in 13 starts. #Vols @DollanderChase @Vol_Baseball @Fantrax https://t.co/TyBnxipo6a

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

So what went wrong? A couple of things went awry for Dollander this season. First, the walk rate jumped from 1.5 BB/9 in 2022 to 3.3 BB/9 as Dollander struggled to locate his pitches. Then came the spike in home runs and hits allowed. In 79 innings pitched in 2022, Dollander gave up 7 home runs and 5.7 hits per nine innings. To this point in 2023, he has allowed 11 home runs and 8.3 hits per nine in only 68.1 innings pitched.

This is not to say Dollander is a bad pitcher only to say he was hit more this season than he was in 2022. This is relevant because Dollander is still a good pitcher that profiles as a solid SP 2 in dynasty. It wouldn’t surprise me if he bounces back to an SP 1 once he settles into a big league organization like the Cincinnati Reds.

Rhett Lowder, RHP Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons have been a fun team to watch this season with several of their key players becoming draft eligible. Rhett Lowder has been ramping up for this season as he looks to be the third starter drafted out of Wake Forest to be selected in the first round. Lowder has 96 strikeouts in 82.2 innings pitched with a 1.96 ERA and 0.944 WHIP in 13 starts. We have seen Lowder lower his walk rate to 1.7 BB/9 while increasing his strikeout rate to 10.5 K/9.

⚾️🔥RHP Rhett Lowder has been rock stready striking out 96 batters in 82.2 IP with a 1.96 ERA and 0.944 WHIP in 13 starts. Lowder will be the third Demon Deacon SP Selected in the 1st round in 4 years! #WFU #RoadToOmaha @lowderrhett @WakeBaseball @Fantrax https://t.co/DRTeL05nsb

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

Lowder features a plus fastball that has a sinking motion to it that sits in the mid 90’s and tops out at 98 MPH. The 83 MPH slider flashes plus at times with more depth to it than sweeping motion. Of all of Lowder’s offerings, the change-up is a true plus pitch that comes in at 86 MPH that just fades out of the zone for swings over the top or weak contact. Rhett Lowder profiles as a solid SP2 for dynasty purposes thanks in large part to his plus control and above-average strikeout rates. The Kansas City Royals or the Rockies might be potential landing spots for Lowder.

Jacob Gonzalez, SS Mississippi

It seems dynasty managers are in a constant quest to find power-hitting shortstops. This season there might be more to choose from but for me, Jacob Gonzalez ranks at the top. In his three seasons at Mississippi, Gonzalez has slashed .318/.429/.561 with 185 runs scored, 39 home runs, 157 RBIs, and six stolen bases in 183 career games played. So far in 2023, Gonzalez is slashing .326/.440/.563 with 45 runs, nine home runs, and 50 RBIs in 51 games played.

⚾️💥Ole Miss SS Jacob Gonzalez mixes excellent contact with raw power from the SS position. This year Jacob has slashed .326/.440/.563 with 9 HR and 50 RBIs in 51 GP. #OleMiss @jakegonzalez717 @OleMissBSB https://t.co/2OlONRkiKx

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

Gonzalez makes a ton of solid contact to all fields and grades out as a plus hitter when he is not selling out for power as he did in 2022. Even if he doesn’t sell out for power there is still 20 to 25 home run power in his left-handed swing. More than likely stolen bases are not going to be a major part of his game but in today’s game, you never know, he could give you 10 bags per season. Gonzalez should be a solid shortstop or second base option for any team that drafts him and could be a solid option for the Rockies or Athletics.

Brock Wilken, 3B Wake Forest

Throughout his three seasons at Wake Forest, Brock Wilken has crushed baseballs. In his first season, he set the freshman home run record at Wake Forest with 17 in 47 games played. He followed that up by slashing .272/.362/.602 with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs in 60 games played. Wilken profiles as a true power threat at third base as he as evidenced by his 64 career home runs for the Demon Deacons.

💣💥3B Brock Wilken has had an amazing season. He is slashing .341/.494/.811 with 68R, 24 HR, 69 RBIs in 51 GP. He has a 20% walk rate and a 18.7% K rate in 245 PA. He has got to go in the top 15 picks! #WFU #RoadToOmaha @B_Wilkes25 @WakeBaseball @WakeForest https://t.co/FC4HAGFuY6

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

Currently, Brock Wilken is slashing .341/.494/.811 with 68 runs, 24 home runs, and 69 RBIs in 51 games. This season, Wilken has a 20% walk rate and an 18.7% strikeout rate in 245 plate appearances. Wilken is tied for third in D1 baseball with 24 home runs on the season only behind fellow draftee Shane Lewis of Troy. Brock Wilken should be a targeted prospect come draft day for dynasty as a power-hitting third-baseman who gets on base. This could be a good pick for the Cubs or Brewers.

Top 100 Players for the 2023 FYPD