School: IMG Academy;Class: Senior
Position: OF; B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3; Weight: 225
Previously Drafted: N/A
College Commitment: University of Miami
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 35/40 | 60 | 60 | 45 | 60 | 60 |
Background: IMG Academy has a pretty interesting backstory. It was originally the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, which opened all the way back in 1978. Less than a decade later IMG would purchase the tennis coach’s school and would slowly add athletic programs under their brand. Baseball, along with soccer, would eventually be added in 1994.
From there it took another 11 seasons before a player from the Florida-based school would be drafted. And, for the most part, IMG Academy had very little sway in the sport for nearly a another decade – though they would eventually send the likes of Paolo Espino, Tyler Pastornicky, and John Ryan Murphy, to the big leagues – none of who were drafted particularly early.
But beginning in 2015 the school has had a tremendous run of talent called in the MLB draft:
- 18 total players were chosen over the previous seven years
- Of those 18, ten of them received bonuses of at least $500,000
- In 2019 and 2021, the program had 20 players drafted – including one first rounder (Brennan Malone), three second rounders (Rece Hinds, Kendall Williams, and James Wood), and a third round selection (Drew Gray).
Elijah Green, the explosively talented outfielder, is slated to become the highest drafted player in school history.
The son of former NFL Pro Bowler Eric Green, the younger Green slugged a scorching .462/.592/1.000 with 11 doubles, two triples, nine homeruns, and 15 stolen bases. He’s committed to the University of Miami.
Scouting Report: Joe Mauer, a future Hall of Fame catcher, famously struck out just one time during his four-year high school career – a span that lasted 222 at bats. Paul Feiner, a digital marketer, was the pitching culprit that snapped off a curveball that the Mighty Casey swung right through.
Elijah Green, on the other hand, has whiffed a lot during his final two seasons.
As a junior the 6-foot-3, 225-pound outfielder struck out 34 times in just 98 plate appearances – or nearly 35% of the time. Last season, he improved that horrific total to a still-concerning 20%. That seems like an awful lot for a potential top prospect. Green faced a bevy offspeed pitches during his final season and he looked vulnerable at times, particularly to slow stuff low and away. Big time power, perhaps the best in the draft class. Toolsy oozing from every pore. Plus arm, plus speed, plus power. The question: will the bat be enough to make him a consistent threat in the professional ranks. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Green slide to the latter half of the first round or second, despite having the Potential Top Pick label slapped on him.
Ceiling: 5.0-win player
Risk: High
Grade: First / Second Round
