Rebels Jacob Gonzalez Listed As Consensus Top 10 Prospect For 2023 MLB Draft
Jacob Gonzalez made plenty of headline plays at Swayze Field during his time in an Ole Miss uniform. His next big swing will come in July whenever he hears his name called in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Best expect him to have a short wait in the green room. Scouts are already sold on Gonzalez's five-tool potential that should shoot him up draft boards just after the top-three selections.
Based on nearly every major prospect website, Gonzalez is a consensus top 10 prospect in this year's class. While the positioning might change, the junior shortstop has often seen his name linked just past position players like LSU outfielder Dylan Crews and Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford.
In the latest installment of MLB.com’s top 150 prospect list, Gonzalez is currently ranked as the No. 8 prospect. He's the sixth-ranked college prospect and second-ranked shortstop behind Grand Cayon's Jacob Wilson.
Other collegiate prospects listed include Crews (No. 1), Langford (No. 3), LSU right-hander Paul Skenes (No. 2), Tennessee right-hander Chase Dollander (No. 6) and Wilson (No. 7).
Similar results occur on Keith Law's rankings with The Athletic. Gonzalez is listed as the No. 9 prospect, this time ahead of Wilson, but behind Strawberry Crest High (Fla.) prospect Arjun Nimmala. Five college prospects are ranked before Gonzalez, this time excluding Wilson and Dollander, but including Virginia catch Kyle Teel (No. 6) and Wake Forest right-hander Rhett Lowder (No. 8).
Future Star Series lists Gonzalez as the No. 10 prospect and the second-best shortstop behind Nimmala. Crews, Skenes, and Langford lead the charge at No. 1-3, respectively, but college newcomers include Stanford second baseman Tommy Troy (No. 8). Both Dollander and Teel make the top 10 at No. 4 and No. 9, respectively.
Gonzalez wrapped up his likely final season in Oxford hitting .327, finishing behind Kemp Alderman (.376) in batting average. He finished with 10 home runs, 66 hits, 51 runs batted in and 18 doubles, all ranked inside the top three of everyday Rebels players.
Defensively, Gonzalez has the athletic capabilities to play shortstop professionally. The 6-2 infielder recorded just five errors in 2023, four fewer than Wilson (9) at Grand Canyon.
Law considers Gonzalez as one of the "safer" prospects in the class due to his consistency. While he doesn't possess any plus tools at the plate or in the field, his floor could be higher than most other players. Law believes he's also a natural shortstop and won't switch positions once in the minors.
"He definitely stays at shortstop, as he makes a lot of contact, and he has enough power to profile as more than a Nick Madrigal type. He’s also never had the big performance in college that would be typical for a first-rounder, which is the reason I’ve slid several guys past him since the season began." - Keith Law
On MLB.com's latest prospect list, Alderman and catcher Calvin Harris were also listed as prospects to monitor. Alderman, the 2023 recipient of the Ferriss Award, was listed as the No. 64 prospect, while Harris was listed at No. 145.
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