MLB Draft: 2016 Top High School Third Baseman

Josh Lowe, born February 2, 1998, is the top third base high school prospect. Lowe, who comes from Pope High School in Georgia, is committed to Florida State University, and is a two way prospect. He is a player that will be gone when the Pittsburgh Pirates pick, as Lowe will probably go in the top 15.

The six-foot-four 190 pound high schooler has a nice left handed swing. When in the box, Lowe stands square to the plate with a semi crouched stance. He has a high leg kick, drops his hands, and features a slight uppercut in his swing. His swing plane should allow Lowe to develop doubles and home run power form the left side, as he already has some raw power to work with. As he grows and fills out his frame, the power will develop. Lowe also has great speed and a plus arm, and he is a good with the glove allowing him to stay at the hot corner.

Overall Lowe might be like when the Cardinals took Jack Flaherty in 2014, an interesting two way prospect. His bat will get him drafted as a third baseman, and he’ll become a very good one. Overall, his ceiling might be the Mike Moustakas of 2015.

Next: From Holy Ghost Prep in Pennsylvania

Nolan Jones comes from Holy Ghost Prep in Pennsylvania and is committed to Virginia. He stands at six-foot-four, weighs 185 pounds, and has room to grow into his frame. Jones just turned 18, as he was born May 2, 1998. Jones is a player who could fall to the Pirates, as he will go in the 20 range.

Jones currently plays shortstop, but with his frame a move to third, or even second, is more likely. He has a left handed stroke and should develop into 15 home runs and mid 30 doubles a year player, as Jones has good bat speed. He stands square and wide in the box, brings his front leg back but not his foot (see Albert Pujols), and then he brings his hands back before launching forward. He has solid hands and a slightly better than average arm, which makes third or second his most likely options.

Overall, Jones would be an excellent pick at 22, it would not be an overreach, and it would be about where he should go. His overall ceiling is a Daniel Murphy type player, a player who doesn’t have the best range or speed, but hits for a nice average and has decent pop.

Next: Another Florida State

Drew Mendoza comes from Lake Mineola High School in Florida and is committed to Florida State, the same school as Josh Lowe. Mendoza, born October 10, 1997 stands at six-foot-four and weighs 195 pounds, and he has room to grow into that frame. Mendoza is a player will more than likely be there at pick number 22, but not 41, as he looks to go mid-20s.

Mendoza features a left handed swing, and with his quick hands, he will become a solid everyday player that just rakes. In the box, Mendoza stands open with a somewhat wide stance and long stride. He has doubles power that projects to develop into home run power. He currently plays short, but his frame will cause him to move over to third. He’s a solid athlete, and with his plus arm and good enough hands, Mendoza should become at least an average defender.

The only concern over Mendoza would be his wrist injury in the fall of 2015, but he looks to be fine now. With his quick bat and doubles power, which should translate into putting the ball over the fence, Matt Carpenter sticks out as a comparison. If the Pittsburgh Pirates want Mendoza, it’ll be at 22, because he won’t fall to 41.

Next: A power hitting right handed stick

Carter Kieboom comes from Walton High School in Georgia, which is also the place Oakland Athletics outfielder Billy Burns attended. Kieboom, born September 3, is committed to attend Clemson. He stands at six-foot-two and weighs 185 pounds, which is a good size. Kieboom also has two brothers in pro organizations.

Carter projects as more of an offensive threat than a defensive one. He features a right handed stroke, as he squares up baseballs routinely. In the box, he stands open and tall, has a high leg kick, drops his hands, and has a slight uppercut. His great bat speed should allow him to develop power as he matures both in his body and age. Speed is not something to expect from Kieboom, as he is average at best. But his arm and defense should allow him to stay over at the hot corner.

Kieboom would be best suited for the Pirates at pick number 41, as it would be an overreach at 22, and the money saved to use on players later would not be equal to the talent the Pirates would be leaving on the board. Carter Kieboom has a ceiling of a Trevor Plouffe type, a player with some power but not the best defense.

Next: Another left handed swing

Joe Rizzo, from Oakton High School in Virginia, is committed to South Carolina. Born March 31, 1998, Rizzo stands at five-foot-nine and weighs 194 pounds. Rizzo doesn’t have a projectable frame, but he does hit. He’s not really a stellar athlete, so the Rizzo could fall. He’s a player that will go in the first round, and one that the Pirates could potentially avoid do to limitations in project ability.

With all that said, Rizzo does have a nice left handed stroke – notice a trend among the top high school third baseman prospects? In the box, Rizzo stands with an open stance, kicks his leg up high, and brings everything forward. He doesn’t possess speed in the slightest, his arm isn’t the greatest, and his defense could use some work. Sticking at third could become a question, but with his limit in height and lack and speed, there are not many positions where he would fit the prototypical profile. A move to the first would be the most logical option, but Rizzo doesn’t feature the same power that you’d expect from a first baseman.

Overall, I’m not too high on Rizzo, he can hit, but that seems to be it. He’ll go in the first round, probably in the Competitive Balance Round A portion, but if he somehow slides to the Pirates in round two, it may be an interesting option. His ceiling is somewhat difficult to look at, but Martin Prado may stick out as one. A player with a lack of height that just rakes.

Next: What to expect

The 2016 MLB Draft features a great group of talented high school third baseman prospects, with most being left handed sticks. All five of the guys mentioned have a high chance of going round one, with maybe only one falling to early round two.

Josh Lowe is the best, but will go top 15, so the Pirates won’t get a chance. Nolan Jones and Drew Mendoza will go in the range of the Pirates, and one, or even both, could be there for the choosing if the team is interested in picking another high school third baseman. Carter Kieboom and Joe Rizzo could be below slot value picks at 22, but I don’t think the money gained to use elsewhere outweighs the talent left on the board. Of course, those two could fall to the Bucs at 41, but Rizzo’s lack of project ability is worrisome.

Next: Pirates 8, Diamondbacks 3: Stars And Stiffs

The third baseman ranks go as follows: Josh Lowe, Nolan Jones, Drew Mendoza, Carter Kieboom, and Joe Rizzo. After going Ke’Bryan Hayes last year, the Pirates may shy away from doubling down. Lowe, Jones, and Mendoza are the only three that would be best on the board.

Next week I’ll take a look at another good high school position in outfielders as the MLB Draft continues to get closer and closer.

Draft Previews

• High School Arms
• High School Catchers/First Baseman
• High School Infielders
• College Arms
• College Outfielders
• Pirates and Relievers
• MLB Pipeline Mock Draft
• Pirates and Buddy Reed