2016 MLB Draft: high school pitchers, potential 2nd round options

In this final entry covering the players who could be fits where the Blue Jays pick in the second round, if they're still on the board, which is no guarantee. The list picks up where the 1st round list left on, and while there is a bit of a gap, it wouldn't be surprising at all for some of the player here to go above some on the other list. There some more names listed at the end, and there's really no rhyme or reason to the cutoff point - it just had to stop somewhere.

As usual, some background from MLB.com profiles, as well as consensus rankings from Perfect Game, MLB.com and Baseball America.

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Cole Ragans (video)

Ragans is well known lefty who is from the same high school as Carson and Cole Sands, who were highly regarded draft prospects the last few years. There seems to be a split on Ragans, with some sources calling him more a pitchability prospect, and others more projectability pick. His fastball is in the low 90s, though ws some concerns about command and strike throwing ability. In terms of secondaries, his curveball is considered a potential above average pitch, and his change-up his potential too.

Jesus Luzardo (video)

Luzardo is an interesting wild card, especially for the Blue Jays. He was talked about as a potential first rounder this spring, as a lefty with a fastball in the high 80s to low 90s last summer that had increased early this spring. He also had relatively advanced secondary pitches with a curveball and changeup that Perfect Game considered one of the best along high school pitchers. But he got hurt and needed Tommy John surgery in March, which hit his draft stock. The Blue Jays in recent years had not shied away from recovering TJ pitchers with early picks: most obviously Jeff Hoffman in 2014, but also Patrick Murphy in 2013 out of high school and even Clinton Hollon that same year who had arm problems that eventually required the surgery. Also, last year Cleveland took Brady Aiken, so the new guys have some track record there too.

Reggie Lawson (video)

Coming into 2016, Lawson was arguably the best high school pitching prospect in California after a breakthrough summer in which his fastball was up to 94, sitting the low 90s with a quick arm and good mechanics. However this spring he's dealth with injuries and his stuff hasn't been as good, with his secondary pitches in particular less consistent. Still, there's a lot to like and he could fit well in the second round with plenty of upside.

For more, Perfect Game had a good profile of Lawson.

Nick Hanson (video)

Hanson is one of the youngest players in the draft, and there's a pretty wide range of opinion on him. Some of that is attributable to being from Minnesota with a very late starting season, and some of that is due to his inconsistency. At this best, his fastball will sit in the low 90s and touching as high as 96, but it's also dipped down into the 80s at some points. He also has a potential plus power curveball, but doesn't really have a third pitch at this point that he's used.

Nolan Martinez (video)

Martinez gets good marks for his delivery and overall athleticism (another potential two way guy if he gets to San Diego State), and has plenty of projection despite being a little smaller than a lot of the other names. His fastball sits in the low 90s, which could bump up a little as he gets older and fills out, and curveball as his best secondary. His changeup lags behind as a third pitch (which is more of a concern for a Southern California pitcher than say a guy from Mineesota like Hanson above).

Braeden Ogle (video)

Ogle's fastball spiked early this spring, as high as 96 from the left side but has been inconsistent since, sometimes settling in the low 90s. His command also lags behind, and needs some mechanical adjustments so he's more of a project than a lot of the other names - but the flip side of that is there's plenty of upside left. His most advanced secondary is his curveball.

Ryan Rolison (video)

Rolison is one of the older players, and was considered more of a polished pitchability pick until his fastball ticked up from the high 80s last year (when he was basically already 18) and this spring into the low 90s. Comitantly, his curveball (best secondary) has also gained speed as well as shape.

Nick Lodolo (video)

Lodolo is the personification of projection and upside as a 6'6" lefty with a lot of room to fill out. His present stuff isn't as good as a lot of the other pitchers on this list, with his fastball usually sitting in the high 80s (though low 90s at a few events). Perfect game has his curveball ranked as a 4th best among high school pitchers, though MLB.com isn't as high, dinging it for inconsistently, frequently too slow and shapeless. To me, this seems like a potential Blue Jays pick - huge upside, lots of risk

Adam Laskey (video)

Another lefty in the low 90s, Laskey is a little different than most high school prospects in that his change-up is his best and most developed secondary pitch. His third pitch is a slider that's way behind, but the feeling is he should be able to develop a breaking ball to give him a usable third pitch. The general profile sort of reminds me of Justin Nicolino.

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Finally, a table with some others who could be in play at some point (especially given the Blue Jays proclivity to go off the board), with each ranking on the top 100 of at least one of the above sources: