MLB Draft 2014: Scouting Reports for Top Major League Prospects

While the MLB draft does not usually come with the buzz of its NFL or NBA counterpart, it still has a huge impact in the future of top organizations, even if it takes a few years to realize.

This year's class features a number of high-upside prospects just coming out of high school. While it will likely be some time before any of these players reach the majors, the potential for each is through the roof.

Every team has a different strategy for the draft, whether they are looking to take pitchers or hitters, prospects out of high school or college. However, there is enough talent that each of the teams picking early should be satisfied with their selection.

Here is a look at the top players available in the 2014 class.

Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State

Since Carlos Rodon was a freshman, professional teams have been waiting to get their hands on him. He posted an incredible 19-3 record in his first two seasons while keeping his ERA down and striking out seemingly every batter he faced.

Although his record was worse as a junior, that had more to do with his teammates. Rodon remained one of the top players in the country at any position thanks to his mentality on the mount. 

His coach, Elliott Avent, explained to Jeff Bradley of Sports Illustrated:

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Carlos' number one thing, above anything is that he loves to win. He's a throwback. He's Bob Gibson. He's Pete Rose. I recruited him to play both ways, because he's a good hitter. Most guys, knowing the type of money that's going to be swirling around after this season, would go to their coach and tell them they want to focus on pitching. He begs me to hit. That shows you what kind kid he is. When the game's over, he looks back and sees how he did. He doesn't calculate things as they're going on.

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Rodon has a strong fastball that he supplements with a sweeping slider that becomes his out pitch. Both of these offerings are certain to be plus pitches at the next level as he looks to quickly climb through the minor leagues.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports explained that the pitcher is the early favorite to be taken with the first overall pick:

As a proven starter who can make his way to the majors within a few years, this seems like the smartest choice for the Houston Astros.

Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (Calif.)

Those looking for even more upside than Rodon in the first round can instead look toward Brady Aiken. ESPN's Keith Law considers him the top overall player in the class:

With a projectable frame that will allow him to add muscle, those 96 mph fastballs could end up being even faster down the line. This is a scary thought for hitters who will also have to deal with a solid curveball and a changeup that already seem to be above average.

Aiken has a good feel for pitching and has already had plenty of success for his age. This could lead him to moving quickly through the minor leagues relative to most high school prospects.

Considering he is just 18 years old, teams might see the rare combination of polish with upside to make him a can't-miss prospect.

Alex Jackson, C/OF, Rancho Bernardo HS (Calif.)

When you can find a catcher who can hit, you draft him without a second thought.

Alex Jackson projects to have plus power with a solid hitting approach and the strength to drive the ball to all fields. If he can stick behind the plate, he could have great value for whichever team takes him.

However, there are still questions about where he will end up, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com:

With his bat, Jackson would certainly find a way to get to the majors and contribute as a corner outfielder if he does end up changing positions. He also has a strong arm that will allow him to be a quality defender as well.

Still, there is more value for a good-hitting catcher, and you can be certain that the team that picks him early believes that he will stay behind plate throughout his career.

Tyler Kolek, RHP, Shephard HS (Texas)

Considered the third member of the elite group of pitchers, Tyler Kolek will make some team very happy.

The young player is simply a flamethrower, capable of hitting triple digits on the radar gun. MLB Draft Insider's Christopher Crawford had good things to say about the prep star, via Justin McGuire of Sporting News:

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Simply put, Kolek has the best fastball of the prep class, and maybe of any pitcher in the entire draft class, college included. It routinely hits the 97-99 range, and some have seen triple digits on their radar. He doesn’t command it exceptionally well yet, but if that comes, look out.

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This lack of command could be a problem, but it is easier to improve control than it is to learn how to throw a fastball in the upper 90s.

Kolek also has a wide arsenal of pitches that includes a curveball, slider and a changeup. He might have to abandon the curve for the moment to focus on the other offerings, but the ability to keep hitters off-balanced will help him at any level.

Nick Gordon, SS, Olympia HS (Fla.)

Baseball scouts love to talk about pedigree for prospects, and Nick Gordon certainly has it, according to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com:

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Gordon is talented enough to follow in the footsteps of either his father Tom, a former All-Star pitcher, or his brother Dee, an infielder with the Dodgers. Gordon looked good on the mound during last summer's showcase circuit, throwing a low-90s fastball and a good curveball, but he prefers to play every day and has pitched only sparingly this spring.

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In all likelihood, he will end up at shortstop where he can use his strong arm to gun down runners trying to beat him to first. With his impressive range, you can be certain that he has the chops to stick at shortstop throughout his career.

The only doubt about Gordon is how well he will hit as he rises through the system. He does have a good approach at the plate, but he does not have much extra-base power.

Still, the shortstop's speed will help him get on base with consistency no matter what level he is at.

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