2023 MLB draft tracker: Skenes goes No. 1; Results, analysis for every first-round pick
The first round of the 2023 MLB draft is over, with the Pittsburgh Pirates selecting LSU star Paul Skenes with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Washington Nationals followed by drafting Skenes’ teammate, Dylan Crews, with the No. 2 pick, making them the first pair of teammates to go 1-2 in MLB draft history. The Detroit Tigers took Max Clark with the third pick, the Texas Rangers followed with Wyatt Langford, and the Minnesota Twins rounded out the top five by selecting Walker Jenkins.
What will the following rounds bring?
Follow along for pick-by-pick coverage, with ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield and Dan Mullen breaking down everything you need to know about who your favorite team took in the first round as the picks come off the board.
Mock Draft 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0
Rankings: Top 300 prospects | Guide for all 30 teams
Who is Skenes? According to ESPN MLB draft expert Kiley McDaniel, Skenes is the best pitching prospect in the draft since Gerrit Cole went No. 1 overall in 2011. Like his college teammate Crews, Skenes was a dominant force on LSU’s national championship team as the right-hander went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and struck out an eye-popping 209 batters over 122⅔ innings during his lone season in Baton Rouge after transferring from Air Force.
1:06
The highlight-reel plays top pick Paul Skenes is taking to Pittsburgh
Check out the highlights that helped make Paul Skenes the top overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Pirates took him here: While there are three clear top prospects in this class, Skenes is quite possibly the best pitching prospect in the draft since Stephen Strasburg or Gerrit Cole. In his one season at LSU, he absolutely dominated the best competition in the top conference in the country, handling the pressure that comes with pitching in the SEC with a presence that set him apart. The Pirates have shown signs of turning things around at the major league level and Skenes is about as major league-ready as a pitcher can be on draft day. — Mullen
Who is Crews? The most well-known player in this draft, Crews hit his way into college baseball lore in winning the 2023 Golden Spikes Award and becoming the first player to win back-to-back SEC Player of the Year awards. Though he is more likely to end up in a corner outfield spot than remaining in center, there is no doubt his bat will play anywhere after Crews hit .426 with 17 home runs and a 1.280 OPS in 71 games for the College World Series champion Tigers this season.
1:10
The plays that helped Dylan Crews become a National
Check out the highlights that helped make Dylan Crews the second overall pick by the Nationals.
Why the Nationals took him here: For the first time ever, a pair of teammates have gone 1-2 in the MLB draft. Maybe the Nationals would have preferred Skenes, given that the strength of their farm system lies in its position players, but Crews dominated the best conference in the country and ranks as one of the best hitting prospects to come out of the college ranks in a long time. His combination of the hit tool, plate discipline and power indicates he should rise rapidly to the majors. — Schoenfield
3. Detroit Tigers: Max Clark, OF, Franklin Community (Ind.) HS
Who is Clark? The best prospect from the state of Indiana since Bryan Bullington went No. 1 overall (out of Indiana University) in 2002, Clark won 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year honors. Clark has a sweet left-handed swing that produces plus contact and bat speed with the only question being just how much power it will lead to in the pros given he has a smaller frame than the other elite hitters at the top of this draft.
0:38
The plays that helped make Max Clark a Detroit Tiger
Check out the highlights Max Clark will be taking to Detroit after being selected third overall by the Tigers.
Why the Tigers took him here: We have our first true surprise of the night. Going into this draft, the talk was all about the three college stars who have separated themselves at the top of the class — yet the Tigers went with a high school hitter, and not Langford, with the No. 3 pick. But don’t let that fool you into thinking Clark is a stretch here. He would have been in the running for the No. 1 overall pick in many recent drafts if not for the SEC stars ahead of him this year. Clark has electric speed and could develop plus power as he develops, drawing comparisons to Corbin Carroll and Johnny Damon. — Mullen
4. Texas Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
Who is Langford? A slugger who would be the clear No. 1 in many recent MLB drafts, Langford has been overshadowed a bit this season by the LSU combo of Crews and Skenes. The Florida slugger hit .373 with 21 home runs and a 1.282 OPS for the national runners-up this season, showing why scouts have been flocking to see him since a breakout sophomore campaign with the Gators in 2022 followed by a strong performance with Team USA last summer.
0:57
The highlight-reel plays Wyatt Langford is taking to Texas
Check out some of the plays that helped make Wyatt Langford a Texas Ranger.
Why the Rangers took him here: The Rangers have to be thrilled to see an advanced college hitter like Langford fall to them with the fourth pick — a player who had more extra-base power in the SEC this past season than Crews. Langford is somewhat limited defensively, but the Rangers can dream on soon adding him and prospect Evan Carter to an outfield that already includes All-Star Adolis Garcia and 2023 breakout performer Leody Taveras. — Schoenfield
5. Minnesota Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick (N.C.) HS
Who is Jenkins? Now the consensus top high school player in this draft, Jenkins packs high-end raw power into a compact swing that invokes comparisons to former MLB All-Star J.D. Drew. He won his second straight Gatorade state player of the year award this spring, batting .417 with an incredible .632 on-base percentage and .633 slugging percentage in 95 plate appearances while showing scouts he was fully recovered from a broken hamate bone that slowed him a bit in the summer of 2022.
0:28
The top highlights the Twins can expect from Walker Jenkins
Check out the highlights that have helped the Twins select Walker Jenkins with the fifth pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Twins took him here: This was a five-player draft and the Twins get one of those players here before the talent drops off significantly. Jenkins has 30-home run power and the hit tool to project as a future .280 hitter in the majors, and he could stay in center field. In most drafts, that type of player is thick in the running for the No. 1 overall pick, so the Twins have to be ecstatic to get that kind of talent to round out the top five. — Mullen
6. Oakland Athletics: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
Who is Wilson? The son of former Pirates shortstop Jack, who also coached him in high school, Wilson is a polished defensive shortstop who makes contact at an elite rate. Wilson posted a .361 batting average over his three seasons at Grand Canyon, including a .412 mark with just five strikeouts in 192 at-bats this spring.
0:20
The plays that helped make Jacob Wilson an Athletic
Check out the highlights that have helped make Jacob Wilson a top-10 pick by the Oakland Athletics.
Why the A’s took him here: This was always going to be the part of the draft where it started getting unpredictable, and the A’s pull out a mild surprise here in taking Wilson — although you have to love the big league bloodlines and the elite contact ability. The A’s will have to hope the power will develop, but even if it doesn’t, perhaps there is a Nico Hoerner-type player here. Plus, while teams rarely draft for need, there is no doubt the A’s need a shortstop, as Nick Allen has struggled at the plate. — Schoenfield
7. Cincinnati Reds: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
Who is Lowder? The ace of a Wake Forest squad that earned the No. 1 overall seed in this season’s NCAA tournament, Lowder joined former Virginia ace (and Mariners draft pick) Danny Hultzen as the only back-to-back ACC Pitchers of the Year. Using a fastball that hovers in the mid-90s and a strong changeup to keep hitters guessing, Lowder went a perfect 15-0 with a 1.87 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 120⅓ innings for the Demon Deacons this spring.
0:22
The highlights the Reds can expect from Rhett Lowder
Watch the highlights that helped the Reds select Rhett Lowder with the seventh pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Reds took him here: Lowder might be the safest starting pitcher in this draft as a polished big-school starter with three above-average pitches. The big question here is if he has enough stuff to be a top-of-the-rotation ace or if he ultimately settles in as more of a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. But no matter Lowder’s ceiling, he should get to the majors quickly and that has become even more important since Cincinnati has vaulted itself into contention this season. — Mullen
8. Kansas City Royals: Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS
Who is Mitchell? A rifle-armed catcher with an LSU commit, Mitchell has hit 97 mph on the mound, but his future is behind the plate where he’s viewed as the top high school catcher in the class. Some teams viewed him as a top-10 overall talent while others shied away from his age (almost 19) and the general risk associated with prep catchers. His defensive abilities are his calling card, but he also has plus power, although he’ll have to improve the swing-and-miss.
0:19
The highlights the Royals can expect from Blake Mitchell
Check out the highlights that enticed the Royals take Blake Mitchell with the eighth pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Royals took him here: Hey, Salvador Perez isn’t going to play forever and has continued to morph more into a DH anyway. This is a big roll of the dice for the Royals, as prep catchers taken in the first round have a checkered draft history. Mitchell is the first prep catcher to go in the top 10 since the Marlins drafted Kyle Skipworth sixth overall in 2008 (he never reached the majors). The Royals also look years away from being any good, so they can afford to let Mitchell develop and hope he grows into his power potential and turns into a strong two-way performer. — Schoenfield
9. Colorado Rockies: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
Who is Dollander? Dollander entered the 2023 season as the top pitching prospect in this draft before being passed by fellow SEC ace Skenes. The Tennessee right-hander’s ERA jumped more than two full runs to 4.75 this season after he went 10-0 with a 2.39 ERA while winning SEC Pitcher of the Year in 2022. At his best, he has a mid-90s fastball and a plus slider that helped make him a top-10 pick in this draft.
0:23
The plays that helped make Chase Dollander a top-10 pick
Check out the highlights that helped Chase Dollander get selected by the Rockies in the first round.
Why the Rockies took him here: Let’s not forget, Dollander was the No. 1 pitching prospect in this draft class entering the season with a fastball that had scouts buzzing — things just didn’t go quite as planned from there. But that’s what makes the upside of this pick unusually high for a college pitcher.
If the Rockies can fix whatever was wrong with Dollander’s delivery this spring and bring out the 2022 version of the Tennessee ace, they’re getting a player who would have been off the board far before No. 9 tonight. Of course, the risk here is also greater, so this pick is a bet on Dollander and a bet on Colorado’s development department being able to bring out the best in him. — Mullen
10. Miami Marlins: Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit (Ore.) HS
Who is Meyer? The clear top prep pitching prospect in this draft, Meyer hails from the same Portland high school that produced 2020 first-rounder Mick Abel (No. 15 overall to the Phillies). Standing 6-foot-5 with a fastball that gets into the high 90s coupled with a strong breaking ball, Meyer has ace upside as a pro.
0:21
The highlights the Marlins can expect from Noble Meyer
Watch the highlights that helped the Marlins select Noble Meyer with the 10th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Marlins took him here: He’s a huge upside right-hander with a triple-digit fastball and one of the best names in the draft. Start your preparation, Marlins marketing people! The Marlins have used just one of their past seven first-round picks on a pitcher and considering some of their misses on first-round position players, maybe this selection makes a lot of sense — especially if their 2026 rotations lines up as Eury Perez, Sandy Alcantara, Braxton Garrett and Meyer (and perhaps former first-rounder Max Meyer, as well). — Schoenfield
11. Los Angeles Angels: Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
Who is Schanuel? The powerful left-handed-hitting first baseman put up eye-popping numbers this spring, finishing second nationally in batting average (.447), first in on-base percentage (.615) and second in slugging percentage (.868). That combination of hit tool, patience at the plate and power had scouts flocking to FAU games as the season played out and has now made him the highest draft pick in Owls history.
Why the Angels took him here: The Angels strategy has been very clear at the top of recent drafts: Take guys who can get to the majors as quickly as possible, like 2022 first-rounder Zach Neto, who has already reached the majors. While Schanuel might not be ready to move quite that fast, he certainly fits the mold as a polished college hitter whose tools are more present than something to dream on for years down the road. While he isn’t going to match those incredible college numbers as a pro, it’s impossible to look past what he did at FAU this spring and he has the hit tool to back them up no matter the competition. — Mullen
Who is Troy? Troy has risen up draft boards after a strong summer in 2022, when he was named best pro prospect in the Cape Cod League. He followed it up by showing an uptick in power this spring at Stanford, belting 17 home runs (which matched his total from his two previous seasons with the Cardinal combined). While Troy played third base this season, the 5-foot-10, 197-pound infielder’s pro future could be at second base.
0:26
The highlights the D-backs can expect from Tommy Troy
Watch the highlights that lured the Diamondbacks to take Tommy Troy with the 12th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Diamondbacks took him here: Because he can hit. Troy hit .394/.478/.699 for Stanford and showed he can handle high velocity up in the strike zone, a strong marker given the widespread major league philosophy of attacking hitters with high heat. He also offers some positional flexibility with the arm to handle third base and the range to play second base. Currently in first place in the NL West, the Diamondbacks are entering what they view as a multiyear contention window and Troy projects as a player who can reach the majors rather fast (and perhaps plug a hole at third base that has been a revolving door in Arizona in recent seasons). — Schoenfield
13. Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw, 2B, Maryland
Who is Shaw? The 2023 Brooks Wallace Award winner as college baseball’s best shortstop, Shaw is most likely ticketed for second base in the pros. No matter his future position, it is Shaw’s powerful bat that has scouts excited as he blasted 46 home runs in 122 games over his final two years at Maryland.
Why the Cubs took him here: While Shaw’s power is his standout tool, he is a pure hitter who can do a little bit of everything on the diamond. At the plate, he hits the ball hard to all fields, rarely strikes out, draws walks and can even run — as his 18 stolen bases this season show. Defensively, second base seems like the most likely ultimate destination for Shaw, but he has shown the ability to play shortstop, third base and outfield during his time at Maryland. That gives the Cubs plenty of options as he advances through their system. — Mullen
Who is Teel? A three-year starter at Virginia, Teel was named 2023 ACC Player of the Year on the strength of a .407/.475/.655 slash line. A left-handed-hitting catcher, his draft stock took off this season as continued defensive improvement behind the plate solidified his chances of sticking at the position professionally.
0:25
Kyle Teel’s highlights that helped land him in Boston
Check out the highlights that helped Kyle Teel become the Red Sox’s first-round pick in 2023.
Why the Red Sox took him here: The Red Sox don’t really have a long-term solution at catcher as current starter Connor Wong possesses more of a backup’s skill set — and Teel’s hitting ability means he can move quickly if the defense develops. He is a left-handed hitter with an ideal swing for Fenway Park and good contact skills despite a violent swing, as well as a plus throwing arm. At the minimum, this looks like a pretty safe pick since Teel projects as a high probability major leaguer. — Schoenfield
Who is Gonzalez? Gonzalez burst onto the scene in 2021, when he won national freshman of the year honors by posting a .355/.443/.561 slash line on an Ole Miss team that made a surprising run to its first College World Series title. Though his numbers have dipped slightly since that breakout first year in Oxford, toolsy, left-handed-hitting shortstops who have proved themselves in college are very rare in the draft as this type of player is often selected and signed directly out of high school.
Why the White Sox took him here: In Gonzalez, the White Sox are getting a player who was in the conversation to sneak into the top five picks in this draft with the No. 15 pick. While the shortstop hasn’t quite followed up on the promise of his breakout freshman year at Ole Miss, he is one of the safest hitters in this draft with the tools to grow into a star, too. Chicago is getting a steady hitter with strong contact rates who doesn’t chase pitches out of the zone. He could ultimately hit 20-25 home runs in the majors — and should get to the majors pretty quickly. — Mullen
16. San Francisco Giants: Bryce Eldridge, 1B/RHP, James Madison (Va.) HS
Who is Eldridge? The top two-way prospect in this class, the 6-foot-7 Eldridge wants to play both ways in pro ball, though his draft stock is slightly higher as a hitter than on the mound. At the plate, he combines big-time power with strong contact rates — especially for a young hitter at his height — while on the mound, he complements a mid-90s fastball with a strong slider.
Why the Giants took him here: This is pretty interesting. For the second draft in a row, the Giants announce their first-round pick as a two-way player, after taking UConn P/1B Reggie Crawford 30th last year. Eldridge is a hulking young hitter who says he modeled his swing after Bryce Harper‘s — and he brings that type of power potential. The Giants have missed on some college hitters in recent years (Hunter Bishop, Joey Bart), so they’re going for more upside here in taking a high school player in the first round for the first time since Heliot Ramos in 2017. — Schoenfield
17. Baltimore Orioles: Enrique Bradfield Jr., CF, Vanderbilt
Who is Bradfield Jr.? Quite possibly the most electric player in this draft class, Bradfield stole 130 bases in 197 games over his three seasons at Vanderbilt. While his elite speed and strong center-field defense earned Bradfield a place in the first round, his power will be the biggest question mark as a pro.
0:22
The top highlights the Orioles can expect from Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Check out the highlights that helped the Orioles select Enrique Bradfield Jr. with the 17th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Orioles took him here: The Orioles’ early draft strategy in turning around their franchise has been relatively simple: take hitters, take hitters, take hitters. And they continue that trend by taking Bradfield Jr. with their first pick tonight. Bradfield is a different kind of player than Jackson Holliday or Adley Rutschman though, with a game built around game-changing speed.
He did show the potential for some future pop when he slugged just under .500 (.498) as a sophomore at Vanderbilt and nobody in baseball is better at unlocking the best version of hitters than the O’s right now. If Baltimore can add just a little more thump at the plate to go with their new outfielder’s speed, look out. — Mullen
18. Milwaukee Brewers: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
Who is Wilken? Wilken set the ACC record for career home runs by bashing 71 during his time at Wake Forest including 31 this spring. A former Cape Cod League MVP, Wilken will have a chance to stick at third base defensively but could end up eventually moving to first base — but with as much raw power as anyone in this draft, his bat should play at either position.
Why the Brewers took him here: Well, for starters, the Brewers love college hitters — this is the fifth time in a row they’ve used a first-round pick on one. Oh, they’re also last in the NL in runs scored so this pick fits an organizational need. They usually go for the more polished type, but Wilken had the second-highest isolated power figure in Division I, so there’s big-time home run potential if he can make enough contact — and he improved dramatically in that area this season for Wake Forest with 69 walks and 58 strikeouts. — Schoenfield
19. Tampa Bay Rays: Brayden Taylor, 3B, TCU
Who is Taylor? The first TCU position player to go in the first round of the MLB draft, Taylor’s eventual fit could be at either second or third base. His calling card is a left-handed swing that produces hard contact to all fields which helped him post an OPS over 1.000 in each of his seasons with the Horned Frogs and makes him one of the safest picks in this draft.
Why the Rays took him here: It’s a run of college bats! Eight of the past nine picks have been college hitters and it’s actually a little surprising that Taylor fell to the Rays at the back of that group. Taylor’s power jump — from 12 home runs as a sophomore to 23 as a junior — catapulted him into the first round and his approach is solid enough that he didn’t sacrifice much batting average to get to that newfound pop, instead just barreling baseball after baseball. Hitters like this are exactly who the Rays excel at getting the most out of and Taylor could be the next in a long line of Tampa Bay hitters who opposing pitchers dread facing. — Mullen
20. Toronto Blue Jays: Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest (Fla.) HS
Who is Nimmala? Young for his class as he is still 17 years old on draft day and with a unique background featuring time playing cricket before he began focusing on baseball, Nimmala might have the most unusual path to this year’s first round. While there are questions about his hit tool, Nimmala’s tools have drawn comparisons to Carlos Correa and Javier Baez from scouts.
0:24
The top highlights the Blue Jays can expect from Arjun Nimmala
Watch the highlights that helped the Blue Jays select Arjun Nimmala with the 20th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Blue Jays took him here: Finally, one of the high school shortstops goes — and it’s a player with ridiculous tools. Kiley says there’s 30-homer potential here and a possibility that he even develops into the best player from this draft, whether as a shortstop or a power-hitting third baseman. But there is also enormous risk and a range of outcomes given the concern over his hit tool. Still, his background makes him one of the most interesting prospects in the draft to follow in coming seasons. — Schoenfield
Who is Davis? A power-hitting outfielder with the physique to match, Davis hit .362 with 21 home runs and had more walks than strikeouts for the Wildcats, grading highest for his raw power and throwing arm. His contact ability has been questioned in the past, but he did improve in that regard in 2023. He played left field for Arizona despite above-average speed and that strong arm, so he projects as a corner outfielder in the pros.
Why the Cardinals took him here: Power has never been a question for Davis, and he did a better job of getting to it in games while limiting the swing-and-miss issues that have previously plagued him, cutting his strikeout total from 66 in 2022 to 40 this past season. While his future might be in right field, the Cardinals are likely to at least give him a chance to stick in center field — especially given St. Louis’ glut of corner types throughout the system. — Mullen
22. Seattle Mariners: Colt Emerson, SS, Glenn (Ohio) HS
Who is Emerson? The first high school position drafted in the first three rounds from Ohio since Derek Dietrich in 2007, Emerson was the third baseman on the Team USA squad that won the 18-and-under World Cup last September. He was also an all-state wide receiver as a junior before giving up football his senior season to focus on baseball. A left-handed hitter, scouts love his swing and project him as a strong contact hitter, with some believing he can stick at shortstop and others thinking he ends up at third base.
Why the Mariners took him here: The Mariners drafted shortstop Cole Young in this range last season, and that pick has worked out so far, as Young is a top-100 overall prospect with a strong showing so far in the minors. Emerson is a similar player and after trading away their top middle infield prospects last year in the Luis Castillo trade, the Mariners are now restocked. Maybe Young and Emerson turn into their future double-play combination. — Schoenfield
23. Cleveland Guardians: Ralphy Velazquez, C, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS
Who is Velazquez? A left-handed hitter who had a decorated high school career, Velazquez is a bat-first catcher with an emphasis on “bat” because there are a lot of doubts about whether he can remain behind the plate. His speed probably limits him to first base if he does have to change positions.
Why the Guardians took him here: There is no question about Velazquez’s hitting ability, which ranks among the best of any high school player in this draft, and that’s what the Guardians are betting on here. If Velazquez can develop enough defensively to stay behind the plate, this pick could look like a steal as he makes his way toward Cleveland. If not, the Guardians can still feel good about getting one of the most powerful bats in this draft this close to the back of Round 1. — Mullen
24. Atlanta Braves: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida
Who is Waldrep? While many pitchers taken this early in the draft are known for their velocity, it’s a devastating split-change that comes to hitters at 85-89 mph and drops sharply just before it gets to home plate that has Waldrep going this high. Although his overall ERA this season was an underwhelming 4.16, look no further than his postseason performance to see why he’s so highly regarded. The Florida right-hander struck out 12 batters against UConn in the regional round, followed by 13 against South Carolina over eight scoreless super regional innings, and then K’d 12 Oral Roberts batters over six innings at the College World Series.
0:31
The top highlights the Braves can expect from Hurston Waldrep
Watch the highlights that helped the Braves select Hurston Waldrep with the 24th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Braves took him here: Because they’ve been pretty good in recent years in drafting college pitchers and getting them quickly to the majors (see 2023 All-Stars Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder). From a stuff standpoint, Waldrep is more Strider than Elder, which speaks to the upside here — besides the splitter, he also hits 99 mph with the fastball. He fanned 156 batters in 101 2/3 innings for the Gators and while the control has to improve, the Braves’ track record makes this an intriguing selection. — Schoenfield
25. San Diego Padres: Dillon Head, CF, Homewood Flossmoor (Ill.) HS
Who is Head? He’s an 80-grade runner who also has a plus throwing arm to go with his blazing speed. While there is big-time athleticism here and the ability to spray the ball in the gaps, he hasn’t shown much power yet and faced weak high school competition playing in the Chicago area.
Why the Padres took him here: Any conversation about Head’s game has to start with his speed, which earns an 80 grade — the highest possible — from scouts and translates into potentially elite defense in center field. That kind of elite tool is exactly what GM A.J. Preller and the Padres love to bet on in the draft. Head isn’t just an athlete playing baseball either, with a hit tool worthy of this first-round investment. The big question is his power. If Head can grow into a 12-15 home run hitter, he could be a star — but if he doesn’t, it will greatly limit his upside as a pro. — Mullen
26. New York Yankees: George Lombard Jr., SS, Gulliver Prep (Fla.) HS
Who is Lombard? The son of a former big leaguer who played six seasons in the majors and is currently the bench coach for the Tigers, George Jr. is – no surprise – a fundamentally sound player with good baseball instincts. A 6-foot-3 right-handed hitter, he’s not a lock to remain at shortstop, but scouts love his makeup and he just turned 18 in June.
Why the Yankees took him: Have you seen Josh Donaldson‘s batting average? There are across-the-board tools here and given the recent success of sons of major leaguers, the Yankees are betting on that working for Lombard as well. Interestingly, he didn’t devote himself fully to baseball in high school — he also played soccer — so there might be untapped potential to go with the strong fundamentals. — Schoenfield
Who is Miller? A longtime member of various Team USA youth teams, Miller has drawn comparisons to Donaldson since he was 15. He’s viewed as one of the most advanced prep bats in the draft, with bat speed, plus power from the right side and a strong understanding of the strike zone. Two things that may have led some teams to pass on him: He’s already 19, so models that favor youth worked against him, and he missed most of the spring with a broken hamate bone, although he did return for pre-draft workouts.
0:24
The top highlights the Phillies can expect from Aidan Miller
Watch the highlights that helped the Phillies select Aidan Miller with the 27th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Phillies took him here: Miller has been one of the most well-known players in this class since his mid-teens, winning MVP of the Under Armour High School All-America Game and the 2022 High School Home Run Derby at All-Star Weekend. He has drawn comparisons to Donaldson for both his power swing and ability to draw walks, showing plus power against high-level competition. So how did he fall here? Miller is already 19 years old and was slowed by a hamate bone injury that derailed his senior season this spring. — Mullen
28. Houston Astros: Brice Matthews, SS, Nebraska
Who is Matthews? A high school quarterback in Texas, Matthews hit .359 with 20 home runs and 20 steals for the Cornhuskers, the first player in school history to reach 20/20 — and it came with some of the data points that front offices love these days, including an average exit velocity equal to Crews.
Why the Astros took him: New GM Dana Brown comes from a more traditional scouting background, but this is a pick that aligns with the Astros’ number-crunching models of the past decade. But Matthews is more than just a data darling, as all of his tools grade as average or better. Given the huge improvement from his sophomore to junior seasons, he could be a late-blooming prospect. He has the range and arm to play shortstop but made 21 errors, so he could end up moving elsewhere in the infield or perhaps to center field. — Schoenfield
Compensation pick
29. Seattle Mariners: Jonny Farmelo, CF, Westfield (Va.) HS
(for Julio Rodriguez winning ROY)
After taking a high school shortstop with their first pick, the Mariners go back to the prep ranks here. Farmelo is a late-blooming explosive outfielder who looks more like a center fielder now than he did a year ago and with a combination of hitting ability, power and speed.
Competitive Balance Round A
30. Seattle Mariners: Tai Peete, SS, Trinity Christian (Ga.) HS
Peete is young for his class at age 17. He’s a switch-hitting shortstop with plus power and also an early-round prospect on the mound as a pitcher. The question is whether Peete’s hit tool is strong enough to allow that power to play.
31. Tampa Bay Rays: Adrian Santana, SS, Doral (Fla.) HS
Another 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop, Santana has a contact-oriented approach at the plate and 80-grade speed with the potential to be a very strong shortstop defensively — but his power could lag behind the rest of his game.
32. New York Mets: Colin Houck, SS, Parkview (Ga.) HS
(First pick dropped 10 spots because they exceeded the competitive balance tax threshold by more than $40 million.)
0:22
The top highlights the Mets can expect from Colin Houck
Watch the highlights that helped the Mets select Colin Houck with the 32nd pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
The Mets couldn’t have asked for more than seeing a player who could have easily gone in the top 15 picks in this draft fall to them at No. 32. Houck was also a Power 5 recruit as a quarterback and while he’ll likely end up moving from shortstop to third base, his swing and offensive ability that draw Evan Longoria comparisons should play anywhere in the infield.
33. Milwaukee Brewers: Josh Knoth, RHP, Patchogue-Medford (N.Y.) HS
Knoth attended the same high school as 2023 All-Star Marcus Stroman, but his breaking-ball-heavy approach more resembles that of Lance McCullers Jr. or Matt Brash. Standing at just 6-foot-1 with inconsistent results as a prep, Knoth could develop into a starter or find his pro fit more as a reliever.
34. Minnesota Twins: Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian (Fla.) HS
Still just 17 years old, Soto has a lot of the things scouts look for in a starting pitcher: He stands 6-foot-5 with a fastball that touches 99 mph and backs it up with a plus slider and above-average splitter.
35. Miami Marlins: Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (Mass.) HS
White has struggled with consistency and command since being the best pitcher in his class just a few years ago. But he stands at 6-foot-5, hits 95 mph and shows three plus pitches when he’s on.
36. Los Angeles Dodgers: Kendall George, CF, Atascocita (Texas) HS
(First pick dropped 10 spots because they exceeded the competitive balance tax threshold by more than $40 million.)
George is in the conversation for fastest runner in this draft and has relied on that speed and his contact skills. The question here, like for many 80-grade runners coming out of high school, is how much power he can add as a pro.
37. Detroit Tigers: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner (Pa.) HS
0:18
The top highlights the Tigers can expect from Kevin McGonigle
Watch the highlights that helped the Tigers select Kevin McGonigle with the 37th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
McGonigle, No. 21 on McDaniel’s big board, is a pure hitter who can stick in the infield, although maybe not at shortstop. The rest of the tools maybe don’t jump out at you, but the most important is the hit tool — and that’s what McGonigle has.
38. Cincinnati Reds: Ty Floyd, RHP, LSU
Floyd made himself a lot of money with one of the most memorable starts in College World Series, striking out 17 Florida hitters in Game 1 of the CWS finals and rocketing himself up draft boards. His fastball velocity and slider have always been there, so the key to his pro development will be finding consistency with the command that has abandoned him at times.
39. Oakland Athletics: Myles Naylor, 3B, St. Joan of Arc (Canada) HS
Yep, Naylor is the youngest of the three Naylor brothers and joins Josh (12th overall pick in 2015) and Bo (29th pick in 2018) as a high pick. Like his older brothers, he can hit, although he doesn’t have Josh’s raw power. A shortstop in high school, Myles likely moves to third base or even the outfield as a pro.
Second round
40. Washington Nationals: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
41. Oakland Athletics: Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers
42. Pittsburgh Pirates: Mitch Jebb, SS, Michigan State
43. Cincinnati Reds: Sammy Stafura, SS, Walter Panas (N.Y.) HS
44. Kansas City Royals: Blake Wolters, RHP, Mahomet-Seymour (Ill.) HS
45. Detroit Tigers: Max Anderson, 2B, Nebraska
46. Colorado Rockies: Sean Sullivan, LHP, Wake Forest
47. Miami Marlins: Kemp Alderman, OF, Ole Miss
48. Arizona Diamondbacks: Gino Groover, 3B, NC State
49. Minnesota Twins: Luke Keaschall, 2B, Arizona State
50. Boston Red Sox: Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers College (Mo.) HS
Remaining draft order
51. Chicago White Sox
52. San Francisco Giants
53. Baltimore Orioles
54. Milwaukee Brewers
55. Tampa Bay Rays
56. New York Mets
57. Seattle Mariners
58. Cleveland Guardians
59. Atlanta Braves
60. Los Angeles Dodgers
61. Houston Astros
Competitive Balance Round B
62. Cleveland Guardians
63. Baltimore Orioles
64. Arizona Diamondbacks
65. Colorado Rockies
66. Kansas City Royals
67. Pittsburgh Pirates
Compensation Picks
68. Chicago Cubs
69. San Francisco Giants
70. Atlanta Braves
University Laboratory School
St. Frances Academy
Maryland
Committed
12/07/2024
Nixa High School
Mater Dei High School
Ohio State
Committed
07/29/2023
Nashville Christian School
American Heritage High School
Texas
Committed
06/17/2024
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School
Grimsley High School
Tennessee
Committed
08/03/2024
Tupelo High School
Hattiesburg High School
LSU
Committed
03/19/2025
Reidsville High School
Oregon
Committed
11/30/2024
Georgetown Prep
Grayson High School
Mount Miguel High School
Archbishop Hoban High School
Legacy The School of Sport Sciences
Houston
Committed
05/27/2024
IMG Academy
Sierra Canyon High School
Bowdon High School
Lake Ridge High School
IMG Academy
Bishop Gorman High School
DeSoto High School
Mater Dei High School
Saint Paul’s Episcopal School
Miami Northwestern High School
Louisa County High School
Rancho Cucamonga High School
USC
Committed
12/13/2024
Gainesville High School
USC
Committed
07/27/2024
St. Frances Academy
Jackson High School
Hartfield Academy
Pine View High School
Catholic High School
Ohio State
Committed
03/31/2025
Fremont High School
Lone Star High School
Mater Dei High School
Oregon
Committed
08/12/2024
Sprayberry High School
Alabama
Committed
03/26/2025
Tavares High School
Florida
Committed
03/06/2025
Collins Hill High School
IMG Academy
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
The Bolles School
Ohio State
Committed
04/03/2025
North Crowley High School
Newbury Park High School
IMG Academy
Georgia
Committed
01/30/2025
Vero Beach Senior High School
Benjamin Russell High School
Booker High School
Folsom High School
South Garner High School
Knoxville Catholic High School
Tennessee
Committed
10/31/2024
Picayune Memorial High School
Orange Lutheran High School
Buford High School
Central Catholic High School
Illinois
Committed
02/01/2025
Myers Park High School
Morton High School
Douglas County High School
Texas A&M
Committed
10/27/2024
Great Bend High School
Pensacola Catholic High School
Cartersville High School
Georgia
Committed
03/15/2025
Oaks Christian High School
Destrehan High School
LSU
Committed
03/22/2025
Gadsden High School
Alabama
Committed
12/25/2024
Webb School Of Knoxville
Cumberland Valley High School
Notre Dame
Committed
01/30/2025
Jackson High School
Loyola Blakefield High School
Jesuit High School
Florida
Committed
06/01/2024
Trinity Episcopal School
Sierra Canyon High School
St. Christopher’s School
Mater Dei High School
USC
Committed
04/01/2025
Byron P. Steele II High School
Texas A&M
Committed
03/22/2025
Providence Day School
Douglas County High School
Texas A&M
Committed
10/27/2024
Orange Lutheran High School
Loyola High School
USC
Committed
10/29/2023
Harrisburg High School
Penn State
Committed
07/27/2024
Forney High School
Cross County High School
Langston Hughes High School
Carrollton High School
Cardinal Mooney High School
East Ascension High School
LSU
Committed
02/13/2025
Desert Edge High School
Gonzaga College High School
Texas High School
Oregon
Committed
07/27/2024
Willamette High School
Oregon
Committed
09/23/2023
Valencia High School
Gainesville High School
Alabama
Committed
02/21/2025
Edna Karr High School
LSU
Committed
06/23/2024
Brandon High School
Thomas W. Harvey High School
USC
Committed
01/11/2025
Temple High School
Mission Viejo High School
Georgia
Committed
11/05/2024
Hough High School
Avon Lake High School
Ohio State
Committed
03/10/2025
South Pointe High School
S Carolina
Committed
10/17/2024
Hermitage High School
The Bolles School
Clemson
Committed
03/08/2025
La Salle College High School
The Hun School Of Princeton
Jackson High School
Lone Peak High School
Carthage High School
American Heritage High School
Panther Creek High School
Oscar Frommel Smith High School
Kemper County High School
Aledo High School
Mustang High School
Oklahoma
Committed
06/24/2024
Richardson High School
USC
Committed
03/14/2025
Mansfield High School
West Forsyth High School
Louisa County High School
Rutgers
Committed
07/27/2024
Oaks Christian High School
USC
Committed
04/05/2025
Carrollton High School
Cass Technical High School
Archbishop Riordan High School
First Baptist Academy
Miami Northwestern High School
Clearwater High School
Wadley High School
Edna Karr High School
LSU
Committed
08/03/2024
Bullis School
Clemson
Committed
03/08/2025
Dorman High School
Colquitt County High School
Douglas County High School
Auburn
Committed
01/11/2025
Jemison High School
Auburn
Committed
07/27/2024
Bishop Montgomery High School
James Martin High School
TCU
Committed
01/18/2025
Haywood High School
Harrisburg High School
Penn State
Committed
08/19/2023
Cardinal Newman High School
Carver High School
Dunlap High School
Auburn High School
Auburn
Committed
07/27/2024
Central High School
Lexington High School
Carol City High School
Miami
Committed
11/22/2023
Weddington High School
Providence Day School
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
USC
Committed
02/23/2025
Weddington High School
Notre Dame
Committed
11/12/2024
Monarch High School
Duncanville High School
Saint Augustine High School
Bastrop High School
Fort Cherry High School
Penn State
Committed
11/02/2024
Kell High School
Lee County High School
Mount Zion High School
Miami Trace High School
Clemson
Committed
03/07/2025
Lincoln-Way East High School
USC
Committed
02/21/2025
Rutherford B. Hayes High School
Del Valle High School
Arizona St
Committed
09/22/2024
Newberry High School
S Carolina
Committed
10/05/2024
Manhattan High School
Kansas
Committed
01/02/2025
De Smet Jesuit High School
Winter Park High School
Phillips Exeter Academy
Lake Mary High School
Notre Dame
Committed
06/01/2024
Mater Dei High School
Lakeland High School
Morgan Park High School
Langston Hughes High School
Holmes County Central High School
Buford High School
Cottage Hill Christian Academy
Auburn
Committed
07/27/2024
Shadow Creek High School
Texas
Committed
06/25/2024
Vero Beach Senior High School
Florida St
Committed
12/12/2023
Prosper High School
Duke
Committed
11/25/2024
Avon High School
Ohio State
Committed
01/02/2025
Bergen Catholic High
Texas A&M
Committed
02/13/2025
Willis High School
Brunswick High School
Petal High School
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
USC
Committed
03/11/2025
Glenville High School
Thomas County Central High School
Milton High School
Ouachita Parish High School
Peters Township High School
Cass High School
Michigan
Committed
02/28/2025
Berkeley Prep
Connally High School
Baylor
Committed
01/30/2025
Bishop Gorman High School
IMG Academy
James Madison High School
Cardinal Mooney High School
Downey High School
James Monroe High School
Green Run High School
Southwest DeKalb High School
North Cobb High School
Bergen Catholic High
Mission Hills High School
Penn State
Committed
06/25/2024
Rolesville High School
Bauxite High School
A. H. Parker High School
Klein High School
Texas
Committed
03/29/2025
Harrisburg High School
Rutgers
Committed
01/15/2024
North Oconee High School
Houston County High School
Honey Grove High School
Baylor
Committed
07/27/2024
Flower Mound High School
McDonogh 35 High School
LSU
Committed
06/23/2024
John F. Kennedy High School
Lake Highlands High School
SMU
Committed
02/06/2025
Olentangy High School
Ohio State
Committed
04/04/2025
Portage Northern High School
Mountain View Preparatory
Booker T. Washington High School
LSU
Committed
03/21/2025
Mount Carmel High School
Windermere Prep
Nebraska
Committed
11/26/2024
Booker T. Washington High School
Jonesboro High School
Miami
Committed
04/05/2025
West Boca Raton High School
Louisville
Committed
03/08/2025
Mater Dei High School
Redwood High School
Arizona St
Committed
02/05/2025
Milford Mill Academy
Walton High School
Corner Canyon High School
USC
Committed
03/11/2025
Greene County High School
Dutch Fork High School
West High School
Iowa
Committed
04/23/2024
South Garner High School
Notre Dame
Committed
04/05/2025
Lake Minneola High School
Clemson
Committed
03/09/2025
First Academy
Florida
Committed
07/31/2024
Donelson Christian Academy
Tennessee
Committed
08/05/2024
Duncanville High School
IMG Academy
East Robertson High School
Airline High School
LSU
Committed
11/12/2024
Nazareth Senior High School
Loudoun County High School
East Kentwood High School
Michigan St
Committed
02/08/2025
Bluffton High School
Virginia Tech
Committed
01/02/2025
Cocoa High School
Iowa Colony High School
Jackson Academy
St. John Bosco High School
Oklahoma
Committed
01/28/2025
Princeton Senior High School
Penn State
Committed
07/31/2024
DePaul Catholic High School
Fort Worth Christian High School
Clayton High School
Naperville North High School
Rocori High School
Minnesota
Committed
01/29/2024
Red Oak High School
Edna Karr High School
Benedictine Military High School
Owasso High School
Norman North High School
Fort Myers High School
Junipero Serra High School
Armwood High School
Miami
Committed
03/07/2025
Crean Lutheran High School
Duluth High School
S Carolina
Committed
11/04/2024
Simeon Career Academy
Miami Northwestern High School
Florida St
Committed
07/04/2024
Monsignor Donovan High School
Celina High School
Willamette High School
Oregon
Committed
10/14/2024
Queen Creek High School
Clemson
Committed
07/07/2024
Jackson Academy
Booker High School
UCF
Committed
04/03/2025
Archbishop Hoban High School
Ohio State
Committed
03/25/2025
Frenship High School
Kamehameha Schools
North Duplin High School
N Carolina
Committed
03/17/2025
West Boca Raton High School
Miami
Committed
03/22/2025
Miami Southridge Senior High School
Syracuse
Committed
03/30/2025
Buchholz High School
Venice High School
Carthage High School
Desert Edge High School
Goleman High School
Florida St
Committed
10/13/2023
Fruitland High School
IMG Academy
Kirkwood High School
The Bolles School
Ohio State
Committed
11/28/2024
Newnan High School
Pace High School
Clemson
Committed
03/09/2025
Jonesboro High School
Grayson High School
Prosper High School
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School
Auburn
Committed
01/01/2024
Davison High School
Notre Dame
Committed
12/25/2024
Prosper High School
Saint Augustine Prep
Leuzinger High School
Texas A&M
Committed
10/27/2024
Carvers Bay High School
S Carolina
Committed
03/21/2205
Watkins Memorial High School
Ohio State
Committed
11/16/2024
Willis High School
Billings West High School
Rogers High School
Pascagoula High School
McEachern High School
-
Ryan S. Clark
Less than an hour after the United States lost to Canada in overtime of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was asked about the growth of American hockey and what lies ahead.
“You know what I think it does? I think we’ve had a tough time with USA Hockey getting guys to play in the World Championships,” said Larkin, a five-time World Championships participant. “I think guys are at home watching this and I hope they are wanting a piece of this.
“They gotta go to the World Championships and prove themselves and play for their country. We gotta start winning that tournament. I think that’s where Canada, those guys go and they play.”
Larkin’s words have since sparked a discussion about one of the largest challenges facing the nation’s governing body for the sport as it tries to become the world’s strongest men’s hockey power. Getting there means having an investment that goes beyond marquee events such as the 4 Nations Face-Off or the Olympics, and it all starts with how players regard participation in the IIHF Men’s World Championship.
The leadership team at USA Hockey have heard or read about what Larkin said, as have his peers in the NHL. But a gap persists in getting all of those peers to buy in.
ESPN spoke to 10 sources, including players and management, about why it’s been a struggle for USA Hockey to get more top-level NHL players to participate at the World Championships. And while this year’s edition presents a potential path toward a player making a case for the Olympics roster next February, there are those who feel that shouldn’t be the only motivation to play for Team USA.
“We have to rebuild our culture that the tournament is important and it should be more important than it is for our players,” said Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin, who was Team USA’s GM for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and will also manage the 2026 Olympic team. “The excuses that I hear for guys not going over, they’re not good enough. We need guys to go over. We want to try to start winning more often than we do, and we need our best players to consider going over.
“I know there’s real-life situations. I know there’s injuries. I know there’s contracts. But some of the excuses I’ve heard? Quite honestly, they’re not good enough.”
THE AMERICAN HOCKEY LANDSCAPE has changed dramatically since when Guerin and John Vanbiesbrouck, who is the assistant executive director for hockey operations for USA Hockey, were in the NHL.
Neither of them were born when the U.S. won its second World Championship along with its first Olympic gold medal in 1960. They were youths when the “Miracle On Ice” team made up of amateur players beat the Soviet Union before winning America’s second hockey gold at the 1980 Olympics.
Initially, the annual World Championships tournament was limited to amateur players as well, but the IIHF allowed professionals to participate starting in 1977. The IIHF’s decision came in the wake of the Canada Cup, a six-team tournament featuring pro players that was held five times between 1976 and 1991.
Eventually, the Canada Cup was replaced by the World Cup of Hockey in 1996. The NHL then allowed its players to participate in the Olympics starting in 1998.
This created opportunities for players such as Guerin and Vanbiesbrouck to represent the U.S. throughout their professional careers. It also presented a contrast in terms of how rosters were constructed.
For example, Vanbiesbrouck represented the U.S. at the World Championships four times and was on two Canada Cup teams. He made the roster for both tournaments in 1991. The U.S. roster for the World Championships that year had 10 players younger than 23 while the Canada Cup team had only four players younger than 23.
While Guerin never played at the Worlds, he represented the U.S. at three Olympics and twice at the World Cup of Hockey. Guerin was part of the gold-medal winning team at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and the silver-medal winning team at the 2002 Olympics. Team USA’s median age when Guerin played was 30.
“Our expectations have changed,” Vanbiesbrouck said. “Whenever somebody wears the jersey, there’s a certain expectation. There’s an element of national pride to wear a jersey, to honor the flag and honor those people who came before you. It’s a great element in our game.”
One item that helped with elevating those expectations was the creation of the United States National Team Development Program in 1996. The NTDP became an incubator for the nation’s premier U18 and U17 male players.
Prior to the NTDP, the U.S. had medaled only twice — with a pair of bronze-place finishes — at the IIHF U20 World Junior Championships. The NTDP has since played an instrumental role in the U.S. establishing itself as a WJC powerhouse. Team USA has captured seven gold medals since 2010 and won its second consecutive gold earlier this year.
1:02
USA wins world junior hockey title on Teddy Stiga’s golden goal
Teddy Stiga nets the winning goal in overtime as the United States tops Finland to win the world junior hockey championship for the second year in a row.
Between the NTDP producing 98 first-round picks and the success at the World Juniors, it created the hypothesis that USA Hockey should be able to easily recruit players to represent the nation. That much was evident after the 4 Nations Face-Off, and it’s part of why the U.S. is considered to be one of the front-runners for gold at the 2026 Olympics.
“A lot of guys went through the NTDP and even coming here for two weeks, it was the closest group I’ve been around,” Columbus Blue Jackets and Team USA defenseman Zach Werenski said after the 4 Nations Face-Off. “It was awesome being here for two weeks and it was so much fun being around these guys. Everyone bought in. I think that’s a testament to what USA Hockey is doing from younger ages on right now.
“We expect to win. We expect to be in gold medal games and to be in these positions against Canada and the best teams.”
Players like Larkin and Werenski have a different experience compared to those who came before them. Fewer international opportunities existed, because the NHL didn’t allow players to participate in the Olympics in 2018 or 2022, while there have been only two World Cups (2004, 2016) since the first one in 1996.
It left the World Championships as the primary consistent option that could come close to replicating those best-on-best tournaments. But even as the demand for international hockey grows, there remains a disconnect when it comes to U.S. players and the World Championships.
The timing of the World Championships could be a factor. This year’s tournament runs from May 9 through May 25, which is simultaneous to the second round and conference finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
This limits the player pool to those whose teams didn’t qualify for the playoffs, or who were eliminated in the first round.
“It’s the time of year when everyone’s really looking for a break, and to go for a month, give it your all and sacrifice? It’s a lot for players,” Vanbiesbrouck said. “Most of the guys in the NHL are family guys, which we can all appreciate. Another is with the hip injuries that are happening today, they need a whole summer to recuperate and there’s so many significant injuries now that take such a long time that we understand. But I think that’s a big factor.”
WINNIPEG JETS DUO Connor Hellebuyck and Nikolaj Ehlers represent just how much differently the World Championships are viewed in the United States compared to the rest of the world.
Hellebuyck grew up in Commerce Township, Mich., which is a 45-minute drive from the NTDP’s headquarters. He grew up watching the Detroit Red Wings and went to games. He watched American-born players such as fellow goalie Jimmy Howard, who he idolized.
But he first learned about the tournament as a 21-year-old who had just finished his first AHL season in 2015, when he received a call from USA Hockey asking him to join the team for the World Championships.
“When USA Hockey called, it was cool. It was a cool experience,” Hellebuyck said. “The more I did it, the more I started to realize it is for the experience and it’s for the young guy trying to get better. It’s not for the veteran unless he wants to travel, unless he wants to see the world or he wants to play a little more hockey.”
American-born players like Hellebuyck often grow up associating hockey in May with the Stanley Cup playoffs. Major League Baseball, the NBA Finals and the PGA Championship, among many other sporting events, are also going on at that time. Having that many options plays into the lack of visibility.
Compare that to Ehlers. He grew up in Aalborg, Denmark where there was a pro hockey team, but nothing like the NHL. As a nation, Denmark has around 5,000 registered hockey players. But it hosted the World Championships for the first time in 2018, and had the eighth-highest total attendance in tournament history. Denmark will co-host this year’s tournament in May with Sweden.
In Europe, the World Championships have become a tentpole event within the European sporting landscape in nations such as Czechia, Finland, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland, home of the IIHF’s headquarters. Last year’s tournament in Czechia set a new tournament total attendance record of 797,727 fans. Five of the 10 most attended tournaments have come since 2010, none of which were in North America.
The U.S has hosted the tournament three times — with the most recent coming in 1962, when it was hosted in Colorado Springs and Denver. Canada, which has won the tournament a record 28 times, has hosted the World Championships just once, back in 2008.
Vanbiesbrouck said there haven’t been any discussions throughout his time with USA Hockey about trying to host the event, adding that he would like to challenge the status quo and “be able to say that we could do this.”
Ehlers, who played in his first Worlds in 2016, said the tournament has such a reverence in Europe that fans will travel to support their respective homelands. But for nations such as Denmark, Ehlers said the Worlds provide them a chance to show they do belong.
“To be able to have had the amount of NHL players that we’ve had over years and the way that we’ve gone at The Olympics, they reached the quarterfinals at the last Olympics,” said Ehlers, who is one of 17 Danes to play in the NHL. “We’ve beaten Canada and Sweden and teams like that. We go out there to try to prove we are not a small hockey country even though we are in the big picture.”
Or as Guerin said: “Because it matters to them. It’s important and it needs to be important for us.”
WHAT CAN USA HOCKEY do to get more NHL players to play at the Worlds?
Guerin said that the organization has developed a program allowing players to bring their family members and/or friends to Europe for the tournament. Vanbiesbrouck added that it’s something they’ve evolved after observing what Canada had with its program.
Utah Hockey Club coach Andre Tourigny — Canada’s coach for the past two cycles — said Hockey Canada created a family environment. He said bringing families over for the tournament means there’s a chance for them to share what it means to be in a different part of the world. But when it’s time to play, those individual families then create their own community despite being thousands of miles away from home.
“Admittedly, USA Hockey has had to do a better job of getting the people and bringing them over with a certain standard and they’ve done that,” Guerin said. “The last little while they’ve stepped up to the plate and made it a better experience for the players, their wives and their families. It can just be a great opportunity to play for your country. Hopefully, we start to see more guys feel the importance of that tournament.”
Wild forward Matt Boldy said that Guerin and others within USA Hockey have done a strong job of emphasizing why the World Championships matter, and how they used it in their process for creating Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster.
Boldy said he viewed going to the World Championships as a chance to show how he could be counted upon playing in a different system in international play. Especially when he saw other nations bring more of their best players to the tournament.
A two-time World Championship team member, Boldy got a chance to learn from Johnny Gaudreau and Brock Nelson, two players he grew up watching. While Boldy learned from them on the ice, he also got a chance to know them as people, which he said helped when it came to establishing a dynamic with teammates.
“I think the more that we can get our USA guys there playing together, comfortable with each other … it just makes things easier so in tournaments like the 4 Nations, it makes that transition smoother,” Boldy said. “It’s a big tournament. Every country wants to win it including the U.S. If we can get our biggest guys there and everyone kind of spends that extra time together, it could mean a lot.”
Guerin and Vanbiesbrouck said that they have heard from the agents of American players who missed out on the 4 Nations Face-Off about wanting to be involved in the Olympics. Vanbiesbrouck said that the 4 Nations event also made older players realize that the 2026 Olympics might be their final opportunity to play for Team USA.
“It’s one of those things where if you want to be in one of those tournaments and participate, then, be a part of it,” Guerin said. “Don’t be a part of it when you want to be a part of it. A lot of the guys we’ve had have gone to the World Championships and done that. If you want to have a better shot of something like the 4 Nations and the Olympics, help us in other areas. We need it. It’s not just trying to win the 4 Nations or The Olympics.
“The World Championships go on every year and we want to try to win it. That’s the bottom line.”
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway