5 Collegiate Hitters to Know for the 2016 MLB Draft

Corey Ray, OF, Louisville

MLB.com Rank: 6th | Keith Law Rank: 1st

Dudes who jack 15 dingers in a competitive conference while walking nearly as often as they strikeout are generally noteworthy. How often do those same peeps also swipe 44 bases in 52 attempts? The answer is rarely, but Corey Ray ain't yo daddy's power hitter.

A good way to gauge a hitter's true power is by comparing him heads up with his teammates who will face the same competition in the same home park. Ray passes that smell test as only one other player on the team had double-digit home runs, and that was Logan Taylor with 10. Ray surpassed that total by 50%. He also had well beyond twice as many steals as Taylor, who was also second in that category. If we're measuring him to his teammates, Ray runs laps around the field, and this is for a team that's going to a super regional. Not too shabby.

This isn't something that just appeared out of nowhere for Ray, either. He got the hype train rolling as a sophomore last year by hitting 11 home runs and swiping 34 bags during school ball. He followed that up by showing well for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, leading the squad with 10 stolen bases and a .548 slugging percentage over 16 games. He was a top draft prospect entering the year, and nothing that happened during his junior year should make us think any differently of him now.

Law mentions in his write-up that Ray's floor is that of an everyday left fielder. Even if he doesn't end up being the top pick in the draft, Ray will likely enter pro ball as the top dynasty asset for upcoming rookie drafts. That combo of speed and pop is just too tasty to pass up.