TOP 10 POPUPS

The amateurs who have done the most to boost their draft stock this spring

- CARLOS COLLAZO

In a typical year, a list of popup draft prospects and players trending up would be filled more with high school standouts who have taken a big step forward or who came out of nowhere after not playing on the summer showcase circuit.

However, given the shortened 2020 amateur season and a blown-up evaluation period for the college class last summer, it makes sense that there are plenty of players from the college ranks who are turning heads and moving quickly up draft boards.

Perhaps without the pandemic, many of these players would have been able to establish themselves as top players in the class a year ago—but that isn’t the case.

Here are 10 players—along with their ranking on the BA board—who have popped up this spring and taken a step forward. The list includes nine collegians and one of the top high school performers who could land in the first round on July 11.

PEYTON STOVALL, SS

HAUGHTON (LA.) HIGH NO. 37

Stovall was one of the first names left off of our preseason top 200 and he quickly showed the industry he needed to be quite a bit higher than the sixth-or seventh-round range implied. Stovall has been one of the most impressive offensive performers in the high school class, and some scouts believe he’s the best pure hitter in the South on the prep side. His ability to access power now should overcome any concerns about his defensive profile fitting best at second base at the next level. He is an Arkansas commit.

MICHAEL MCGREEVY, RHP

UC SANTA BARBARA NO. 34