Baseball America draft writer Carlos Collazo says that although Atlanta-area high school outfielder Druw Jones is the best prospect in the 2022 MLB Draft class, Orlando-area high school outfielder Elijah Green has the biggest upside in the draft.
Green is from Windermere, Fla., and plays for IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He is the son of former Ravens tight end Eric Green, who totaled 1,173 receiving yards, 114 catches and seven touchdowns in Baltimore from 1996-1998. Eric said last September that it would be “fantastic” if his son were to be drafted by the Orioles.
The 18-year-old Elijah Green has been mentioned as a top-of-the-draft candidate since last summer. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound outfielder is known for his big-time power and ability to run. He is committed to Miami.
“Just physically, Elijah Green is one of the more unique athletes that we have had come out of the draft in a very long time,” Collazo said on Glenn Clark Radio May 26. “You just don’t see baseball players that look like him, who have the sort of power that he has with the speed that he has, and he’s done a fantastic job of showing that power in games throughout the summer showcase circuit last year and this spring against good competition in Florida.
“I think if you look at just in terms of overall upside, if all of these players came out to the best of their tools, his tools are the most explosive.”
But it’s Jones, the son of longtime big leaguer Andruw Jones, who is seen as the top overall player in the class because he “possesses the best combination of future upside, tools and current skills,” according to Collazo. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, Druw Jones is a potential plus-plus defender in center field with the ability to hit for average and power, making him a special prospect in the class.
There’s a little more certainty in Jones’ profile than Green’s, according to Collazo.
“I think the reason you’d have a guy like Elijah below Druw on the board maybe is you have a few more questions about where he’s going to play defensively, the quality of that hit tool,” Collazo said. “How much of his offensive profile is going to come with some swing and miss? Is he just going to be a lower average guy who’s just going to succeed by getting to enough power? Maybe there’s a little bit more risk in his offensive profile, but [in terms of] the tools and the pure upside, I think it’s very easy to say Elijah has the biggest upside overall in the class.”
For more from Collazo, listen to the full interview here:
See Also:
• 2022 MLB Draft Prospect Elijah Green: Would Be ‘Great Feeling’ To Be Selected By Orioles
• ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel: Why Druw Jones Is Top Prospect In 2022 MLB Draft
• MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo: Brooks Lee Is ‘Without Question’ Draft’s Top College Bat
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Perfect Game