10 Prospects to Know for the 2027 MLB Draft
Now that the dust has settled on the 2026 MLB draft, the focus of the amateur baseball world shifts to next year's class and how things are shaping up heading into the summer showcase circuit and wood bat leagues.
Who will be the headliners of the 2027 MLB draft?
Arizona State outfielder Landon Hairston will be back on campus after finishing as one of the three finalists for 2026 Golden Spikes honors, and while he is widely viewed as a top-10 talent, he is not the consensus top prospect right now.
That honor belongs to California high school shortstop Dylan Seward, while Florida shortstop Brendan Lawson and Mississippi State left-hander Tomas Valincius are also part of the top tier of talent.
Ahead we've highlighted 10 prospects to know for the 2027 MLB draft, though there is still almost a year of rising and falling ahead that will ultimately shape next year's draft board.
1B Tague Davis, Louisville
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Height:ย 6'3"ย |ย Weight:ย 205 |ย Bats/Throws:ย L/L
2026 Stats: 273 PA, .355/.443/.848, 45 XBH (34 HR), 98 RBI, 4 SB
After hitting 18 home runs as a freshman, Tague Davis nearly doubled that total to an impressive 34 homers in 57 games as a sophomore while edging out Golden Spikes winner Daniel Jackson (32 HR) for the NCAA lead.
With limited athleticism and a first-base-only defensive profile, Davis' value stems almost entirely from what he does in the batter's box, and that means he will need to take a step forward with his hit tool to be a top-tier draft talent.
His 25.6 percent strikeout rate needs to drop significantly during his junior season, but his status as the top returning power bat in the country is enough to make him one to watch.
C Chase Fralick, Auburn
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Height:ย 6'3"ย |ย Weight:ย 205 |ย Bats/Throws:ย L/R
2026 Stats: 289 PA, .314/.420/.649, 39 XBH (20 HR), 61 RBI, 1 SB
Vahn Lackey went from consensus top catcher in the 2026 draft heading into his junior season to consensus top-three overall talent in the entire class, and Chase Fralick is capable of a similar leap next spring.
He hit .335/.426/.472 with 17 doubles, four home runs and 41 RBI in 59 games as a freshman while serving as Auburn's primary catcher after a fractured scapula forced eventual first-round pick Ike Irish to play primarily in the outfield.
His plus raw power and well-rounded offensive profile make him a first-round prospect, and a step forward with his receiving skills will be the key to cementing his status as the top catcher in the 2027 class.
OF Landon Hairston, Arizona State
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Height:ย 5'11"ย |ย Weight:ย 195 |ย Bats/Throws:ย L/L
2026 Stats: 291 PA, .400/.509/.860, 50 XBH (28 HR), 81 RBI, 11 SB
Sophomore Landon Hairston was the only underclassman among this year's Golden Spikes Award finalists, joining UCLA shortstop and No. 1 overall pick Roch Cholowsky and Georgia catcher and winner of the award Daniel Jackson.
Now he returns to campus as one of the most accomplished hitters in the country, and with a polished enough offensive game that he logged 44 walks against just 27 strikeouts while piling up his impressive run production numbers.
He has played left field during his first two seasons at Arizona State, and there is little doubt he is a bat-first prospect, but his combination of power, hit tool and advanced overall game should give him one of the highest floors in the 2027 class.
C/2B Gavin Kelly, West Virginia
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Height:ย 6'0"ย |ย Weight:ย 175 |ย Bats/Throws:ย R/R
2026 Stats: 305 PA, .382/.477/.725, 44 XBH (19 HR), 63 RBI, 5 SB
Defensive versatility always helps raise a player's value floor, and Gavin Kelly provides a unique skill set after splitting his sophomore season between catcher and second base.
After hitting .299/.402/.395 with two home runs as a freshman, he took a significant step forward with his power production this spring, though his pure hitting ability will be what pushes him toward the top of the college position player ranks.
If he shows long-term catching potential next season, even in a part-time capacity, it raises his entire profile. If second base looks more like his long-term home, his hit tool and budding power still make him one of the top bats in the class.
SS Brendan Lawson, Florida
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Height:ย 6'3"ย |ย Weight:ย 215 |ย Bats/Throws:ย L/R
2026 Stats: 264 PA, .312/.511/.699, 32 XBH (19 HR), 48 RBI, 14 SB
Brendan Lawson settled in as Florida's starting shortstop during his sophomore season after splitting his time between first base, second base and third base to get his bat into the lineup as a freshman.
With 11 doubles, 19 home runs, a .511 on-base percentage and more walks (53) than strikeouts (46), he was one of the best all-around offensive performers in the country last year, though he could look to do even more damage with a slightly more aggressive approach.
He will likely shift away from shortstop in pro ball given his lack of quick-twitch athleticism, but it's his bat that has him slotted among the top prospects in the 2027 class right now.
RHP Chris Levonas, Wake Forest
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Height:ย 6'1"ย |ย Weight:ย 175 |ย Bats/Throws:ย L/R
2026 Stats: 15 GS, 10-3, 2.82 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 33 BB, 116 K, 73.1 IP
Shortstop Tyler Bell was the highest-drafted player in 2024 to go unsigned, honoring his commitment to the University of Kentucky after the Tampa Bay Rays took him No. 66 overall, and two years later he was the No. 10 pick in the 2026 draft.
Chris Levonas went one pick later at No. 67 overall in 2024, spurning the Milwaukee Brewers to head to Wake Forest, and he will be one of the top returning pitchers in the country next spring.
He touches 101 mph with his fastball and backs it with a variety of electric offspeed stuff. If he can cut down an 11.1 percent walk rate and show the ability to consistently work deep into games, he could be the first arm off the board in 2027.
LHP Connor Salerno, Sun Valley HS (NC)
7 of 10Height:ย 6'4"ย |ย Weight:ย 225 |ย Bats/Throws:ย R/L
There is not a more volatile demographic than high school pitching, so trying to project who will be the top high school arm in next year's draft this early in the summer is tricky.
That said, left-hander Connor Salerno checks all the boxes to be that guy with a strong 6'4" frame, extremely advanced pitchability for his age and clean, smooth mechanics.
He has already touched 98 mph with his fastball and can spin a plus slider, and his ability to pound the zone with strikes suggests he should be able to continue developing his changeup as a quality third offering.
SS Dylan Seward, Norco HS (CA)
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Height:ย 6'2"ย |ย Weight:ย 200 |ย Bats/Throws:ย R/R
2026 Stats: 129 PA, .436/.519/.727, 17 XBH (7 HR), 29 RBI, 17 SB
With quick-twitch athleticism and top-of-the-scale speed, Dylan Seward has the loud raw tools to not only be the top prep shortstop in the 2027 class, but the No. 1 overall pick.
His present power stems more from his plus bat speed and barrel skills than strength, which should help him grow into even more playable pop as he physically matures.
A switch-hitter with a smooth, compact swing and all the tools to stick at shortstop long-term, he is exactly the type of potential five-tool talent at a premium position that often climbs to the top of draft boards.
LHP Tomas Valincius, Mississippi State
9 of 10
Height:ย 6'2"ย |ย Weight:ย 225 |ย Bats/Throws:ย L/L
2026 Stats: 17 GS, 11-2, 3.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 20 BB, 134 K, 97.2 IP
After logging a 4.59 ERA and 70-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 64.2 innings as a freshman at Virginia, left-hander Tomas Valincius followed head coach Brian O'Connor to Mississippi State for his sophomore season.
He went 6-2 with a 3.49 ERA and a conference-leading 86 strikeouts in 59.1 innings over 10 starts during SEC play, including five double-digit strikeout performances.
With an upper-90s fastball, hard-biting slider and developing changeup, he is poised to dominate college hitters in 2027 and looks the part of a future impact starter with a healthy mix of floor and ceiling.
RHP Dax Whitney, Oregon State
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Height:ย 6'5"ย |ย Weight:ย 220 |ย Bats/Throws:ย R/R
2026 Stats: 11 GS, 6-1, 2.00 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 18 BB, 104 K, 63.0 IP
Dax Whitney was Baseball America's No. 45 prospect in the 2024 draft class coming out of the Idaho high school ranks, but a strong commitment to Oregon State led to him going undrafted.
In 28 starts over his first two years on campus, he went 12-4 with a 2.77 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 224 strikeouts in 139.2 innings, and this spring he cut his walk rate from 11.2 to 7.2 percent while touching 101 mph with his fastball and backing it with electric secondary stuff.
However, he suffered a torn UCL in May and underwent a hybrid Tommy John and internal brace procedure that will sideline him for 12 months. Can he make a late-season return in 2027, or will teams have to draft him based on pre-injury potential and a possible Draft Combine appearance?
