Druw Jones

For most evaluators, Jones was the best prep position player to come along in years, comparing favorably to the likes of Bobby Witt and Byron Buxton when they were amateurs. The Orioles opted for Jackson Holliday at 1-1 due to him being a lefty-hitting shortstop, and the Diamondbacks jumped on Jones with the second-overall pick in the 2022 draft. Jones is the son of legendary center fielder Andruw Jones, so it should come as no surprise that he is bursting with tools and projects to be an excellent defensive center fielder. His scouting report is littered with 60's and 70's, and he has one of the most projectable frames an 18-year-old baseball player can have, measuring in at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds. Jones could add 20 pounds of muscle and still maintain his explosive athleticism. His high-end speed, defense and throwing arm are not up for debate, and his approach and hit tool are more advanced than the average top-five pick from the high school ranks. He projects for at least above-average power, and it's possible all his fantasy-relevant tools will be plus or better when he reaches the majors. Unfortunately, Jones needed labrum surgery in August, so he won't make his pro debut until 2023. However, we have to look no further than his org. mates Corbin Carroll and Jordan Lawlar to find examples of premium prospects who rebounded in a major way from untimely surgeries early in their careers. Read Past Outlooks