MLB Draft 2013: Prospects with Best Chances to Improve Stock in College Tourney

While most baseball fans are focused on the MLB regular season, the 2013 MLB amateur draft is a little more than a week away and promises to steal some of the spotlight.

There is still one last chance for some prospects to improve their stock over the next week though, as the Div. 1 NCAA Baseball Tournament is set to begin.

Many of the top prospects in this year's class are currently in high school, but plenty are playing college ball as well. Most of the elite college prospects will be competing in the regional rounds this week before possibly advancing to the Super Regionals and the College World Series.

Here are three collegiate prospects in particular who have a golden opportunity to shoot up draft boards with strong tourney performances.

Colin Moran, North Carolina

As the top offensive player on the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, Tar Heels third baseman Colin Moran is in position to make some noise in the coming days.

Moran helped lead UNC to a 52-8 record this season for the right to play at home in Chapel Hill, N.C. during the regional round. The Tar Heels had many big-time contributors on offense this season, but Moran trumped them all.

The 6'3" junior has put up some monster numbers, ranking second on the team with a .357 average and leading the Heels with 13 home runs and 84 RBI. There isn't a single MLB team that wouldn't love a run-producing third baseman, so he is already considered to be one of the top players in the entire draft.

Moran will be a high pick regardless of how he performs in the tourney, but he could potentially move up even more if he is able to feast on lesser competition. Moran and UNC are in the easiest group, by far, as they will take on the likes of Canisius (42-15), Towson (29-28) and Florida Atlantic (39-20).

As long as Moran continues to swing the stick like he has all season, he will remain impressive in the coming days.

Ryne Stanek, Arkansas

Pitching is always at a premium at every level of baseball, and the major leagues are no different. A number of impressive young aces will be selected early in the 2013 MLB draft, and Arkansas righty Ryne Stanek is certainly among them.

He appears to be on the brink of a top-10 selection, but can ensure that he is a top-10 pick if he manages to come up big in the NCAA tournament.

Stanek was dominant for the Razorbacks all season, as he led an impressive triumvirate of arms. Stanek went 9-2 with a microscopic 1.40 ERA. He also struck out 76 batters in 90 innings, so it was essentially an automatic win whenever Stanek took the hill. His fantastic season was rewarded with a selection to the All-SEC First Team, according to Razorback Baseball on Twitter.

Arkansas isn't favored to advance to the next round of the tourney as the No. 2 seed in a group with No. 1 Kansas State, but the Razorbacks definitely have upset potential. Arkansas is always a threat to come out on top when Stanek pitches, so he will have a chance to prove his worth to his teammates and to MLB scouts.

Kris Bryant, San Diego

Although pitching has dominated the early part of the MLB draft in recent years, San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant could very well ascend to the top overall selection with a strong tournament performance.

The 6'5" junior was a monster for the Toreros this season, as he led the team in nearly every meaningful offensive category, including batting average (.340), runs (78), home runs (31), RBI (62), slugging percentage (.860), on-base percentage (.500) and walks (62).

Bryant is easily the best power hitter in this draft, but he also mixes in great plate discipline and the ability to make contact consistently. That is a rare blend for a young hitter with power, so Bryant seems to be as close to a sure thing as possible.

The fact that he was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year, according to the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod League, should only help his case.

Bryant and the Toreros are only a No. 3 seed in the tournament, but they are in a fairly weak group along with UCLA, Cal Poly and San Diego State. It wouldn't be a shock to see San Diego advance to the next round, and if it does, there is little doubt that it will be due to Bryant's bat.

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