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MLB draft 2023: Six Indiana high school players who could hear their name called

Here are six Indiana high school players to know for the 2023 MLB draft. The draft begins at 7 p.m. Sunday with Rounds 1-2. The draft continues 2 p.m. Monday with Rounds 3-10 and concludes with Tuesday with Rounds 11-20.

1. Max Clark, OF, Franklin

Franklin Community's Max Clark photographed on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at The Indianapolis Star in Indianapolis.
Franklin Community's Max Clark photographed on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at The Indianapolis Star in Indianapolis.

Clark is rated as a top-five prospect by MLB.com and Baseball America. The left-handed outfielder is projected to go in the top 10 of Sunday's MLB draft. Clark is considered one of the best pure hitters in the draft, with plus defensive ability, plus speed and a plus throwing arm. He projects as a center fielder at the next level. The Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year batted .646 with six home runs as a senior. The only question mark about Clark's ability is his in-game power, but power is often the last tool to develop for young hitters.

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2. Bishop Letson, RHP, Floyd Central

Letson is ranked 179th by MLB.com and 206th by Baseball America. The 6-4 righty has the frame of a starting pitcher, but at 170 pounds there's still a lot of projection left for the right-hander. His fastball touched 94 mph heading into his senior season. As a senior, the Purdue commit struck out 62 batters over 34 innings.

3. Cameron Tilly, RHP, Castle

Castle’s Cameron Tilly (18) pitches as the Castle Knights play the Jeffersonville Red Devils in the 2023 IHSAA Class 4A Baseball Regional championship at Braun Stadium in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, June 3, 2023.
Castle’s Cameron Tilly (18) pitches as the Castle Knights play the Jeffersonville Red Devils in the 2023 IHSAA Class 4A Baseball Regional championship at Braun Stadium in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Tilly is ranked 126th by Baseball America and 208th by MLB.com. A former standout quarterback, the Auburn commit is a physical 6-2, 190-pound righty with a fastball touching 95 mph and a wipeout slider. Tilly played on the gold-medal winning Team USA squad with Max Clark and seems to play his best in big games. Tilly racked up 35 strikeouts in three IHSAA tournament games including a 14-strikeout performance against New Palestine. If he goes to college, Tilly will be eligible for the draft in 2025.

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4. Andrew Wiggins, OF, Heritage Christian

Heritage Christian's Andrew Wiggins photographed on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at The Indianapolis Star in Indianapolis.
Heritage Christian's Andrew Wiggins photographed on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at The Indianapolis Star in Indianapolis.

Wiggins is rated as the 244th draft prospect by Baseball America. At 6-3, 210 pounds with a left-handed swing, Wiggins has the frame of a power-hitting corner outfielder. The IU commit displayed his plus raw power at the 2023 MLB Draft Combine with the second-best batting practice distance at over 430 feet. Wiggins batted .440 with seven home runs as a senior.

5. Mitchell Dean, LHP, Western

Western Panthers Mitchell Dean (20) pitches during the IHSAA Hoosier Conference Baseball Championship against the Central Catholic Knights, Friday, May 12, 2023, at Central Catholic High School in Lafayette, Ind. Western won 14-1.
Western Panthers Mitchell Dean (20) pitches during the IHSAA Hoosier Conference Baseball Championship against the Central Catholic Knights, Friday, May 12, 2023, at Central Catholic High School in Lafayette, Ind. Western won 14-1.

If teams want projectability, look no further than Mitchell Dean. The Louisville commit is 6-7, 230 pounds with a fastball touching 92 mph. With that frame on a left hander, Dean's potential could be intriguing to pro scouts. On the mound, Dean recorded 109 strikeouts over 55⅓ innings. At the plate, he batted .467 with 15 doubles, two triples and four home runs, 48 RBIs and 39 runs scored.

6. Jake Hooker, SS/RHP, University

University's Jake Hooker photographed on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at The Indianapolis Star in Indianapolis.
University's Jake Hooker photographed on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at The Indianapolis Star in Indianapolis.

Hooker generated draft buzz after touching 95 mph off the mound during an offseason showcase. The Xavier commit struck out 72 batters over 42⅓ innings as a senior, but he struggled at times against tougher competition. At 6-2, 200 pounds, he's also a capable shortstop with some power.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: MLB draft 2023: 6 Indiana high school players names to know