The Biggest MLB Draft Prospects In The College World Series

By John Perrotto - Draft Nation National Baseball Columnist

This year’s College World Series is unique, as the eight-team field comes from just two conferences – four from the ACC and four from the SEC - something that hasn’t happened since 1950.

There will be another unique aspect to the CWS when it gets underway Friday in Omaha. All the top MLB Draft prospects in the event will be hitters (unless Florida two-way star Jac Caglianone is counted as a pitcher, though scouts overwhelmingly believe first base will be his long-term position in professional baseball).

Florida (34-28) is the only unseeded team in the CWS, and has made it this far in large part because of the left-handed hitting Caglianone. He has belted 33 home runs with a .411/.532/.860 slash line and is talented as any player in this draft.

Caglianone is also one of Florida’s top pitchers with a 5-2 record and a 4.71 ERA in 15 games. He also has 82 strikeouts in 72 innings.

Florida will play its first game on Saturday night against third-seeded Texas A&M (49-13), whose top draft prospect is outfielder Braden Montgomery. The switch-hitting transfer from Stanford is batting .322/.454/.733 with 27 homers in his first season with the Aggies.

Montgomery is a better hitter from the left side and has improved his plate discipline throughout his collegiate career. His best tool is his outstanding arm - perhaps the best of any outfielder in the draft.

The CWS begins Friday afternoon with an All-ACC matchup of No. 4 seed North Carolina (47-14) against No. 12 seed Virginia (46-15).

North Carolina has one of the most dynamic players in the event in right-handed hitting outfielder Vance Honeycutt. He could reach a 30-30 season with a big showing in the CWS as he enters with 26 homers and 28 stolen bases to go with a .314/.409/.703 slash line.

Honeycutt is a dynamic athlete who made a major impact in the college game immediately by hitting 25 homers and stealing 29 bases as a freshman in 2022.

Virginia doesn’t have any first-round projected prospects, but scouts love the baseball IQ of shortstop Griff O’Ferrall. He has been the Cavaliers’ starting shortstop for three seasons and is considered their heart and soul.

O’Ferrall is hitting .332/.372/.446 with five homers and 17 steals. He lacks power but does have outstanding contact skills.

On Friday night, top-seeded Tennessee (55-12) takes on eighth-seeded Florida State (47-15). This might be the most appealing matchup of the entire CWS for draftniks, as both teams each have two players certain to be selected in the first round.

Second baseman Christian Moore and third baseman Billy Amick are a fearsome power-hitting infield duo for the Volunteers.

Moore is hitting .376/.453/.796 with 32 home runs and has some of the top exit velocities in college baseball. Though prone to swing and miss at times, Moore makes up for it with hard contact.

Amick has a .313/.392/.678 slash line and 23 homers. He generates considerable bat speed and power with his large forearms.

The Seminoles are led by third baseman Cam Smith and first baseman/outfielder James Tibbs, who provide a strong right-left punch in the lineup.

Smith casts an imposing figure at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds and is hitting .402/.497/.677 with 16 home runs. The stocky Tibbs has blasted 28 homers while slashing .375/.497/.813.

Matching up on Saturday afternoon will be No. 2 seed Kentucky (45-14) versus No. 10 seed North Carolina State (38-21). The Wildcats are making their first-ever appearance in Omaha. NC State upset Georgia in the super regionals, ending the collegiate career of outfielder Charlie Condon, who is likely to be drafted first overall by the Cleveland Guardians.

Outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt is Kentucky’s best draft prospect with good power and above-average speed. He has 14 home runs, 24 stolen bases and a .346/.473/.634 slash line.

North Carolina State’s Jacob Cozart is one of the top catchers in this draft class. He is considered a solid defender but what sets him apart is that he is hitting .300/.430/.604 with 19 homers.

Be sure to stay plugged into Draft Nation’s continued coverage of the leadup to the MLB Draft.