Rivals.com Prospect Rankings: Top 100 High School Prospects

Dallas Jackson is the Senior Analyst for RivalsHigh. Email him your question, comment or story ideas to DallasJ@Yahoo-Inc.com and follow him on Twitter.

Athletes always are looking for places they can play right away.

That appears to be the type of players Major League Baseball teams will go after in this spring's MLB draft.

There is not the once-in-a-generation-type player that has topped the past two drafts (Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper), but there are a handful of guys that appear to be close to major-league ready.

Four of the top five picks in the Yahoo! Sports' first mock draft of the spring are college players. Rice 3B Anthony Rendon looks worthy of being the top pick (Pirates), followed quickly by UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole (Mariners) at No. 2, TCU left-hander Matt Purke (Diamondbacks) at No. 3 and UConn outfielder George Springer (Royals) at No. 5.

All could be a year or two away from the big leagues.

Owasso (Okla.) High right-hander Dylan Bundy is the only high schooler to make the top five, going No. 4 (Orioles). Bundy, however, will have plenty of company before the first round is through: Fifteen of the 33 first-round selections in our mock draft are high school players.

With that, a look at our board:

1. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pick: Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice The Buzz: The Pirates have a good amount of arms at the high level of its minor league system; grabbing a major league-ready bat like Rendon seems like the logical pick. He will likely be two years away from the big leagues, which may be the perfect amount of time to get Pedro Alvarez ready to slide to first base.
2. Seattle Mariners
The Pick: Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA The Buzz: Cole was the No. 7-ranked player in the Class of 2008 and has done nothing but elevate his game since. While at UCLA, he grew another inch and added almost 30 pounds of power behind his pitch. At this point, the Mariners need a lot of help all over the system; adding a solid pitcher is generally a good idea.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Pick: Matt Purke, LHP, TCU The Buzz: The Diamondbacks look to go after pitching again early in the draft and, after failing to sign Garrett Loux last year, Purke makes a lot of sense here. Purke was the No. 1 player in the Class of 2009 and as a draft-eligible sophomore will come off the board quickly. His command of multiple pitches and tenacious approach will help him quickly shoot through the minor league system.
4. Baltimore Orioles
The Pick: Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso (Okla.) High The Buzz: Baltimore is in a great spot here with any number of very solid pitching options to target. The Orioles landed the very talented Manny Machado with the third pick last year and probably go young again to land Bundy. One of the more polished high school pitchers in this season's class, Bundy is the No. 4 player in the Class of 2011, but first to come off the board.
5. Kansas City Royals
The Pick: George Springer, OF, Connecticut The Buzz: The Royals have become the minor league envy of a lot of teams and this year the organization continues to add bats. Springer has been graded out very highly by many scouts and could be another quickly developed player.
6. Washington Nationals
The Pick: Bubba Starling, OF/RHP, Gardner (Kan.) Gardner-Edgerton The Buzz: Starling is already commited to playing football at Nebraska and could still choose that route if he so desires. One of the best athletes in the class, his bat and arm are both very projectable and the Nationals could not go wrong developing him as either a position player or pitcher. He is the No. 3 player in the Class of 2011.
7. Arizona Diamondbacks - For Failure to sign Barrett Loux
The Pick: Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Texas The Buzz: Stockpiling quality arms has been a proven winner in the development of a quality minor league system and the Diamondbacks are in that frame of mind. The 6-foot-6 Jungmann hit a major growth spurt (growing from 6-foot-1) when he was the No. 39 player in the Class of 2008. His development on the mound has been as impressive as his body maturing.
8. Cleveland Indians
The Pick: Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde (Fla.) Montverde Academy The Buzz: Cleveland is in need of a young, talented middle-infield prospect and Lindor fills that gap nicely. The slick-fielding shortstop has already drawn comparisons to former Indian Omar Vizquel. Lindor is the No. 1 rated high school baseball player in this class.
9. Chicago Cubs
The Pick: Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgia Tech The Buzz: The Cubs have gone a little off projections in recent years with their first picks and this may be another case of the organization going for a guy they like and not the highest projected player. That is not to say that the lefty is not a good pick here, because Bradley very well could be, just a little out of the order that is expected.
10. San Diego Padres - For failure to sign Karsten Whitson
The Pick: Archie Bradley, RHP, Muskogee (Okla.) Broken Arrow The Buzz: After not signing Whitson last year, the Padres go back into the well of high school pitching. Bradley has been a dominant pitcher in Oklahoma and comes in as the No. 2 player in the Class of 2011. There is a lot to like with Bradley - namely a seemingly never tiring arm.
11. Houston Astros
The Pick: Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt The Buzz: The Astros had three first round picks last season and seemed to reach on all three. This year, with Gray still on the board, the Astros make the right pick. Just under 6-foot, Gray has developed into a reliable arm learning in a Vanderbilt environment that churns out quality pitchers every year. Gray was the No. 27 ranked player in his high school class.
12. Milwaukee Brewers
The Pick: Jackie Bradley, OF, South Carolina The Buzz: By most reports, the Brewers look to be targeting an outfielder in the draft. Unless the Royals pass on Springer - or Bubba Starling is still on the board - Bradley is the highest graded prospect at this pick. The team could reach for Brian Goodwin or Alex Dickerson here as well. With another pick coming in the first round, this pick could go to a high school arm, too.
13. New York Mets
The Pick: Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia The Buzz: This figures to be a left handed pitcher for the Mets at No. 13. Whether it is Hultzen, Daniel Norris or Henry Owens, look for a lefty to come off the board. Hultzen has the most durable body and would be the safer pick for the financially-strapped Mets, that otherwise may not be able to buy the other players out of their college options.
14. Florida Marlins
The Pick: Nick Delmonico, C/SS, Knoxville (Tenn.) Farragut The Buzz: Delmonico has made the move to catcher from shortstop, adding 25 pounds of good frame; the Marlins would like to get an athletic backstop who understands the rest of the infield. Delmonico has been a known commodity since his sophomore year of high school and, while this may be a bit of a stretch to grab him this high, getting a quality player is a smart pick.
15. Milwaukee Brewers - For failure to sign Dylan Covey
The Pick: Henry Owens, LHP, Huntington Beach (Calif.) Edison The Buzz: Grabbing the 6-foot-6 Owens is very good value here if the team can sign him and keep him from heading to Miami. Owens showed well in the Aflac week and has been on the radar of many teams since his sophomore year. Owens is the No. 5 player in the Class of 2011. This pick could also be another high school lefty, Daniel Norris, but pitching seems to be the play at this pick.
16. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Pick: Josh Tobias, 2B, Greensboro (N.C.) Southeast Guilford The Buzz: Tobias is a borderline first-round projection that the Dodgers can cheat up and take and possibly pay below slot to keep him from heading to Florida. His bat and defense could take a little longer to develop but he is a very instinctual player that would eventually look good in Dodger Blue. He is the No. 19 high school player in the Class of 2011.
17. LA Angels of Anaheim
The Pick: Blake Swihart, C, Rio Rancho (N.M.) Cleveland The Buzz: The Angels had five first round picks in 2010 and went with high school talent at each pick. This year, the team only has one first rounder but stays the course with young talent. Swihart has one of the best young bats in the draft and can call his own game already - the Angels brass has to love that combination. Signing him away from Texas could be a challenge but not impossible.
18. Oakland Athletics
The Pick: Joshua Bell, OF, Irving (Texas) Jesuit College Prep The Buzz: Oakland goes back-to-back seasons with outfield picks in the first round. Bell has a solid frame at 6-foot-3 that can still add mass without cutting his game. He checks in at 185 pounds but can get to 200 without much slowing in his footspeed. The No. 9 player in the class is committed to Texas but could be signed here.
19. Boston Red Sox - Compensation for Detroit signing Victor Martinez
The Pick: Matt Barnes, RHP, Connecticut The Buzz: Barnes has been projected into the first 10 picks in some drafts; for the Red Sox to still have a chance to land him at No. 19, it seems like the right value pick. The 6-foot-4 pitcher has had some shaky moments and some dominant ones as well. With his scouting grades, getting the chance to develop in the Red Sox system will allow people to forget the blowups.
20. Colorado Rockies
The Pick: Daniel Norris, LHP, Johnson City (Tenn.) Science Hill The Buzz: Norris stayed on the board a little longer than expected for the No. 6 player in the Class of 2011. He may not be here if the Brewers choose to take him at No. 15. At 6-foot-1, the Clemson-bound Norris may opt to head to college to fine tune his game.
21. Toronto Blue Jays
The Pick: Jason Esposito, 3B, Vanderbilt The Buzz: Toronto took four pitchers with its four first round picks a year ago; while there are still quality arms that grade out higher than Esposito, it is time to get a third baseman into the system. This could also be high schooler Travis Harrison if the Jays prefer him.
22. St. Louis Cardinals
The Pick: Dillon Howard, RHP, Searcy (Ark.) High The Buzz: The Cardinals have fallen into quality in the recent few drafts and this year is no different. Picking at No. 22 can land them a pitcher that has graded out higher than this slot. The 6-foot-2 pitcher is committed to in-state Arkansas and could be tough to sign, but the lure of being part of one of baseball's best organizations could be too much to pass up.
23. Washington Nationals - Compensation for Chicago signing Adam Dunn
The Pick: Brian Goodwin, OF, Miami Dade Junior College The Buzz: Goodwin was the No. 10-ranked player in the Class of 2009 and opted to go to junior college instead of his initial commitment to North Carolina. The more-speed-than-power outfielder would be a strong pick at No. 23 and would give the Nationals two very solid first round picks. This organization has landed a lot of talented prospects in recent years and - if it develops - may lead to major league success.
24. Tampa Bay Rays - Compensation for Boston signing Carl Crawford
The Pick: Tyler Beede, RHP, Auburn (Mass.) Lawrence Academy The Buzz: Tampa Bay generally loads up on high school talent in the draft, using all three picks on high schoolers last year. This pick makes sense as it is a low-risk play. Beede may stick with his commitment to go to Vanderbilt but, with two more picks this round, the Rays can risk signability because of Beede's upside. The 6-foot-4 pitcher ranks as the No. 10 high school player in this class but could also be well served to develop at Vandy.
25. San Diego Padres
The Pick: Alex Meyer, RHP, Kentucky The Buzz: Meyer was a five-star player and ranked No. 17 overall in his high school class in 2008. At 6-foot-9, the Wildcat pitcher is certainly intimidating on the mound. Meyer has the talent for a 15-20 pick so to be around at No. 25, it is the right time to take best player on the board for the Padres.
26. Boston Red Sox - Compensation for Texas signing Adrian Beltre
The Pick: Travis Harrison, 3b/OF, Aliso Viejo (Calif.) Tustin The Buzz: Harrison can develop into a solid third baseman if he so chooses but his natural fit would likely be right field. His frame is likely right where it should be - at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds - for what his game is at this point. Pushing up to 235 may start to negatively impact his game as an outfielder. He is the No. 16-rated high school player and his commitment to USC could be bought by the Red Sox.
27. Cincinnati Reds
The Pick: Mikie Mahtook, OF, LSU The Buzz: If it weren't for the drafting of Yasmani Grandal in the 2010 draft, there are plenty of strong catchers who are of value at this pick but the Reds go to the outfield here. With several options available, this could also be Indiana's Alex Dickerson or high schoolers Charles Tilson or Brandon Nimmo.
28. Atlanta Braves
The Pick: Tyler Anderson, LHP, Oregon The Buzz: Anderson seems to be a perfect fit for the Braves at this point and the pick would make sense for both value and need. The 6-foot-4 pitcher has some developing left to do but, with potential to be a solid No. 3 pitcher, this pick looks to be safe but with upside.
29. San Francisco Giants
The Pick: Andrew Susac, C, Oregon State The Buzz: The draft-eligible sophomore has developed quickly from being the No. 34 prospect in the Class of 2009. He is grading out a little above high schooler Austin Hedges but both could be first round picks. Susac's bat is a little further along but that comes with age.
30. Minnesota Twins
The Pick: Alex Dickerson, OF, Indiana The Buzz: Dickerson has received mixed reviews with projections as high as early 20s and as low as middle of the compensation rounds, the Twins figure to split the difference and hope he develops to the high side of his projections.
31. Tampa Bay Rays - Compensation for New York signing Rafael Soriano
The Pick: Austin Hedges, C, San Juan Capistrano (Calif.) JSerra Catholic The Buzz: Hedges becomes the third high school catcher to come off the board in the first round. The No. 21-ranked high school player in the Class of 2011 is a smart player that likes to get dirty. His style of play would fit well in the Rays system as he impressed at the Aflac game.
32. Tampa Bay Rays
The Pick: Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA The Buzz: Straying from the high school norm, the Rays grab Bauer at the bottom of the first round. This is a value pick that forced the hand of Tampa Bay. Having the choice of Bauer, Anthony Meo of Coastal Carolina, and high schooler Michael Kelly is a good place to be.
33. Texas Rangers - Compensation for Philadelphia signing Cliff Lee
The Pick: Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, North August (Ga.) Spring Valley The Buzz: Mixed reviews have come in on Guerrieri, grading him as a player who could go as high as pick No. 10 to as low as a second rounder. This could be a more safe pick, like Michael Kelly, but the upside with the strike-thrower Guerrieri wins out with the last pick before compensation picks.

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