Team USA Top 10 Prospects

Hitters of all sizes take center stage.

- John Manuel

USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team typified the 2018 college draft class in many ways, in terms of both its strengths and weaknesses.

That’s often the case. Last year’s club featured the highest-drafted college player for 2017 in Louisville’s two-way star Brendan McKay and 11 of the 16 college players picked in the first round overall. This year’s club likely won’t produce 11 first-rounders, but it should come close with its clutch of the college game’s top position players and depth of lefthanded pitchers.

Every member of the Top 10 Prospects is eligible for the 2018 draft.

1 NICK MADRIGAL, 2B/SS Oregon State

Just 5-foot-7, 161 pounds, Madrigal will face durability questions as a pro, and scouts don’t see him hitting for the kind of power that other stars at his size, such as Dustin Pedroia and Jose Altuve, have produced as big leaguers.

Madrigal’s other tools, his baseball skills and makeup give him a high floor and likelihood of being a big league regular, however. One of the stars of Oregon State’s 56-6 spring season, he took charge of Team USA upon arrival from Omaha, showing leadership on and off the field. He’s at least a plus runner with excellent baserunning and basestealing instincts, has enough arm strength and plus footwork for shortstop and will be a plus defender at second base if he winds up there. His hands are his best asset defensively and offensively, and he makes consistent contact, with some power to his pull side. Madrigal’s game awareness, instincts and feel also earn plaudits.

2 TRAVIS SWAGGERTY, OF South Alabama