Top 10 Georgia baseball players in Class of 2022
THOMASTON, Ga. (BVM) — The state of Georgia has a generational senior class, with many that will hear their names called within the first few rounds of the MLB Draft. After dissecting a state with a treasure trove of future major leaguers, here are the top 10 seniors in the Peach State.
10. Riley Stanford, OF, Buford
Stanford is the perfect prototype for what every team wants in a right fielder. He gives you the heavy power profile along with an elite arm that sits in the upper 90s when he is on the mound. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Georgia Tech commit hit .366 with four home runs as a junior along with a 1.024 OPS. When he is on the hill, it is not just the fastball that hitters have to worry about. His promising slider and changeup are also able to pick up swings and misses. It would be surprising if he is not utilized as a two-way player at the collegiate level.
Riley Stanford (2022, GA) with an absolute no-doubt bomb to the pull side. #PGHS #PGDraft #GT commit. pic.twitter.com/aFwhQzWOPG
— Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) February 19, 2022
9. Elgin Bennett, OF, Woodward Academy
It is rare to see a high schooler with a power-speed combination such as Bennett’s. The 6-foot, 190-pound center fielder only hit two home runs as a junior, but his stature and bat speed suggests there is much more in the tank. The left-handed Kansas State commit was a catalyst for Woodward’s lineup last season hitting .466 along with stealing 27 bases. When Bennett gets to Manhattan, he will immediately be one of the best pure athletes on campus.
Backside triple.. @RAKEwBLAKE @therealcgray22 pic.twitter.com/yeTFlHBGMj
— Elgin Bennett Jr. ✞ (@ElginBennettJr1) April 20, 2022
8. Chandler Pollard, SS, Woodward Academy
A teammate of Bennett, Pollard is a smooth defender at shortstop for Woodward Academy. Whether he is taking ground balls in the infield or running the bases, he is certainly fun to watch. Pollard puts pitchers on edge as soon as he got on base stealing a jaw-dropping 49 bags in 30 games as a junior. The 6-foot-2 infielder has a quick swing that allows him to pepper balls from foul pole to foul pole. The Washington State commit hit .350, driving in 17 runs last season. It will not be long until Pollard is wreaking havoc on the basepaths in the Pac-12.
SS Chandler Pollard (Woodward Academy, 2022) busts it down the line to easily reach on this bunt single—he advanced to 2B on the throw. Plus plus run time, and that might be conservative. pic.twitter.com/tU1RWHh6cI
— Will Hoefer (@whoeferbaseball) March 21, 2022
7. Javier Santos Tejada, RHP, Georgia Premier Academy
Any high school senior that can get up to 98 mph with their fastball will get the attention of scouts. Standing at 6-foot, 180 pounds, Santos Tejada’s heater explodes out of his hand with his electric arm speed. Along with the fastball, he has a nice curveball that sits in the high 70s that can produce strikeouts. Santos Tejada has a very intriguing makeup that should allow him to dominate hitters at Northwest Florida State College.
Javier Santos Tejada (‘22, Ga.)- electric stuff from #NWFRaiders commit. 96-97 FB w/ 12/6 CB from high slot 73-77. Couple Ks over 1.1 IP of work from George Premier Academy. @PG_Scouting #PGDraft pic.twitter.com/UsO98hnE9b
— Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) April 16, 2022
6. RJ Austin, SS, Pace Academy
Typically any game that Austin plays in, he is the best athlete on the field. With his 6.36 60-yard dash, no ground ball is an easy out when he puts it in play. He gets on base often with his .562 OBP from last season, and then utilizes his speed with 34 career stolen bases. His athleticism also carries over to the mound, where he can hit 90 mph on the bump with his fastball. He is committed to Vanderbilt, but Austin could have a tough decision to make if he is drafted within the first few rounds.
.@vandyboys commit @RjAustin14 is one of the smoothest we’ve seen 🔥@Official_ECB @PaceKnights @paceacademy
🔗: https://t.co/Bf6RfBjT3t pic.twitter.com/m65bBqWJ4x
— Press Sports App (@PressSports_) December 4, 2021
5. Hayden Murphy, RHP, Tiftarea
Standing at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Murphy is a great athlete on the bump, with a repeatable delivery that limits his walks. He has a sturdy, three-pitch repertoire that is highlighted by his low-90s fastball, which could see an increase in velocity as he puts on weight. The Auburn commit pitched to a 1.37 ERA last season with 99 strikeouts in 61 innings. Murphy will likely go in the first two rounds of the draft, with a ceiling of being near the top of a major league rotation in a few years.
Hayden Murphy (GA) long-lean body with good rhythm to the delivery. 89-92 W/ more to come. SL/CU in the low-80s and all 3 offerings got
S/M. 2 clean innings with 4Ks, starter profile. #PGNational pic.twitter.com/wMr5saQLyr— PG Showcases (@PGShowcases) July 17, 2021
4. Jared Jones, C, Walton
It is not often that you see a 6-foot-5 catcher, but Jones’ elite arm allows him to throw out any baserunner. Regardless of if he can stay behind the plate beyond the high school level, Jones can slug with the best of them. His raw power and quick bat speed should keep him in the middle of the lineup no matter the level he is at. He is an LSU commit, but it would not surprise anyone if he never steps foot on campus, as he is projected to be selected within the first couple of rounds in the MLB Draft.
Another big night last night for Walton HS catcher Jared Jones. He's hitting .600 through 9 games, slugging the hell out of the ball. Jones is an athletic 6-foot-4-inch, 230 pounds. LSU commit. Big MLB Draft name. pic.twitter.com/RjlL6XWhGD
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) March 4, 2022
3. Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford
If Lesko did not already have the attention of MLB scouts, he earned it with the eye-popping stats that he put up in his junior campaign. The 6-foot-2 hurler struck out 112 batters in 60 innings with a 0.35 ERA. This was enough for the Vanderbilt commit to win the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year. The projected top-10 pick has a lively changeup that is set up by his mid-90s fastball. This combination paired with an intriguing curveball sets Lesko up to potentially be the first pitcher taken in this summer’s draft.
Dylan Lesko lived up to the hype tonight: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB (1 HBP), 7 Ks on 51 pitches.
FB: 93-97
CH: 78-82
CB: 76Here are all 14 of his whiffs on video. I *think* I got each of them: FB, CH, CH, CB, CH, FB, FB, CH, CH, FB, FB, CB, CB, CH.#MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/RWVYAaJcLb
— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) April 7, 2022
2. Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays
When watching Johnson swing the bat, it is hard not to think of eight-time All-Star Robinson Cano. Standing at 5-foot-10, Johnson has great plate discipline for his age along with an elite knack for making contact. He was a .400 hitter last season with eight home runs, although he is projected to hit more with added strength as he gets older. It would not surprise many scouts if he turns out to be the best pure hitter in his draft class.
One of the elite bats in the 2022 prep class, 2B Termarr Johnson (GA) starts his 2021 season off with a 💣
Potential for the best pure hit tool in the class with lightning quick bat speed and sneaky power potential. Top 5 potential in the ‘22 #MLBDraft
(🎥 via Johnson’s IG.) pic.twitter.com/8jUzSmm8bf
— Ian Smith (@FlaSmitty) February 10, 2021
1. Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan
The son of 10-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star Andruw Jones, Druw has all the tools just like his father. The potential top pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, Druw excels in center field for Wesleyan High School, covering plenty of ground with his elite speed and a good arm. The 6-foot-4 Vanderbilt commit also raked at the plate in his junior season, hitting .434 with 16 home runs and 39 RBIs. As crazy as it sounds, the younger Jones has the ceiling to possibly surpass what his father did in the majors.
.@RawlingsSports Defensive Player of the Year – Druw Jones pic.twitter.com/S8OGLfMvPD
— Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic (@PGAllAmerican) August 22, 2021
