Men’s College World Series: Future Pros and Plenty of Contenders

Will I see some future pros?

Yes, a lot of them.

The top three players in the latest M.L.B. mock draft will all be at the Series: Dylan Crews, outfielder, Louisiana State (.434 BA, .576 OBP, 89 runs scored); Paul Skenes, right-handed pitcher, L.S.U. (12-2, 1.77 E.R.A., 188 strikeouts); and Wyatt Langford, outfielder, Florida (76 runs scored).

Other possible top 10 guys in July’s draft at the Series are Chase Dollander, right-handed pitcher, Tennessee; Rhett Lowder, right-handed pitcher, Wake Forest (15-0, 1.92 E.R.A., 131 strikeouts); and Kyle Teel, catcher, Virginia (.418 BA).

And other potential first-rounders include Brock Wilken, third base, Wake Forest (30 HR, .517 OBP, .835 SLG); Brayden Taylor, third base, Texas Christian; Tommy Troy, shortstop, Stanford; and Hurston Waldrep, right-handed pitcher, Florida (142 strikeouts).

Jac Caglianone of Florida, a sophomore who is not yet eligible for the draft, leads the nation with 31 home runs and was 7-3 as a pitcher. He and the L.S.U. players Crews and Skenes are the finalists for the Golden Spikes Award as college baseball’s best player.

Who are the other contenders?

No. 5 Louisiana State looks particularly dangerous. It was the preseason No. 1 and scored 588 runs this season, the most in the nation, with 133 home runs. It has had perhaps the most impressive postseason so far, going 5-0 with wins of 14-0 and 8-3 over No. 12 Kentucky to advance to the College World Series.