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3 players whose MLB Draft stock exploded in the College World Series

By Bayden Collins

Jun 17, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons starting pitcher Rhett Lowder (4) throws against the Stanford Cardinal in the first inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 17, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons starting pitcher Rhett Lowder (4) throws against the Stanford Cardinal in the first inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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OMAHA, NEBRASKA – JUNE 25: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Florida Gators celebrates with Josh Rivera #24 after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals against the LSU Tigers at Charles Schwab Field on June 25, 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska. Florida defeated LSU 24-4. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – JUNE 25: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Florida Gators celebrates with Josh Rivera #24 after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals against the LSU Tigers at Charles Schwab Field on June 25, 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska. Florida defeated LSU 24-4. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) /

MLB Draft prospects who improved their stock: Josh Rivera – Florida

Ranked as the second-best shortstop in college baseball, Josh Rivera’s draft stock soared to the top five rounds after the CWS. As the No. 111 prospect in the upcoming MLB Draft by MLB.com. Rivera can do it all for any franchise. With a .348 batting average and 72 RBI’s, he is one of the best bats in the college game and a major contributor in the Gators lineup.

One of the most versatile players in the draft, his game is very similar to Whit Merrifield’s out of South Carolina and current Blue Jay with even more power in his bat homering 19 times in the ’23 season.

Scouts also love Rivera in the field with a .965 fielding percentage for Florida this past year. He also has one of the best arms of any shortstop in the draft and put that on display against TCU in Omaha nailing a runner at the plate on a great cut-off throw. Only making one error in the Gator’s run to the national championship series, Rivera proved he can be plugged into any club and be a solid everyday shortstop and could be moved to multiple positions such as former Florida Gator and Cincinnati Red Jonathan India.

After the CWS, Rivera could have rose his draft stock to the top three rounds in the upcoming draft and would be a major steal for a big-league club. If Seattle passes up on George Lombard Jr. at the tail end of the first round, Rivera could be the way to go for the Mariners as a middle-round pickup.

Next. 2023 MLB Mock Draft 2.0: A surprise No. 1 pick?. dark

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