These NC high school baseball players could be picked in the 2023 MLB Draft

The 2023 MLB Draft is set to take place from Sunday, July 9 through Tuesday, July 11.

College players and high schoolers across the country will eagerly wait to hear their names called.

For some, it will be an opportunity to immediately jump to the professional level and begin their journeys to the big leagues.

For others, it will set up a life-changing decision between either starting or continuing in college baseball or making that leap to the minor leagues.

Prep players from North Carolina always figure in to the draft, and have even gone in the first round in three of the past six years.

This year will be no exception, with a top-of-the line prospect from the Tar Heel state expected to go off the board early on Sunday.

Here are the North Carolina high school baseball players who could be selected in this year's draft.

Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick

It has been years since we have seen a prospect of Jenkins's caliber come out of the North Carolina high school ranks.

You could go back to MacKenzie Gore, a Whiteville alum now playing for the Washington Nationals. Gore was picked third overall in the 2017 draft, in a first round that has produced just one MLB All-Star in the six years since. Gore is establishing himself as part of the future core for the rebuilding Nationals.

You could then go back to Josh Hamilton, the outfielder from Athens Drive who went first overall in the draft in 1999 before going on to make five all-star games, win an MVP award and slug 200 career homers.

That's the type of prospect Jenkins is. The smooth-swinging lefty bat is a five-tool prospect. He played center field in high school, but projects as a plus-glove in the corner outfield. His arm is strong, and he runs the bases well. His power tool is his best, as his ability to quickly get his wrists around to the ball helps him generate great bat speed and high-level power.

Jenkins was the two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina, and his high level of character is up there among the reasons that teams are keen on drafting him. Mature beyond his years, Jenkins always made time after games to sign autographs and take photos for young fans, win or lose.

As a junior, Jenkins helped lead South Brunswick to a 3A eastern regional championship and an appearance in the state championship series. He is committed to play in college at the University of North Carolina.

Jenkins is a unanimous top five prospect in a draft class that is widely seen as dropping off after the top five. Louisiana State's duo of outfielder Dylan Crews and pitcher Paul Skenes are the consensus top prospects in the draft, but the fact that the money-conscious Pittsburgh Pirates own the top pick means Crews may not be headed to the Steel City, opening the door for prep prospects like Jenkins and fellow outfielder Max Clark if the Pirates opt against either of the Tigers.

The Texas Rangers at fourth overall present a possible (and widely-projected) landing spot for Jenkins, as their system is loaded with pitching and lacking in outfield talent outside of top prospect Evan Carter.

Chance Mako, RHP, East Rowan

A tall, lanky right-hander, Mako proved to be one of the state's best pitchers as a senior in 2023.

Signed to NC State, Mako put up a 2.77 ERA and struck out 102 hitters in his 62 innings of work as the Mustangs went 23-6 and made the fourth round of the 3A state playoffs.

Due to his height and wingspan, Mako generates good extension that makes his already-fast fastball come in to the eyes of hitters at an even higher perceived velocity.

Mako compliments this fastball with a good breaking ball, and has the traits that scouts look for in a modern-day pitching prospect.

Jaxon Lucas, RHP, Garner

Lucas is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who is also committed to NC State.

As Garner's most effective player as both a hitter and pitcher, Lucas projects best as a pitcher at the next level.

Lucas led Garner in batting average this season, but struck out 98 hitters and put up a 1.57 ERA in 11 appearances on the mound.

Scouts like Lucas for his pure stuff on the mound, as his fastball has reached up to as high as 96 miles per hour recently.

Bristol Carter, OF, Northwest Guilford

Carter is a high-motor outfielder who helped lead the Vikings to a successful season in the spring.

As the Vikings went 27-7 and won a conference championship, Carter proved to be one of the very best bats in the state, hitting .546 with 9 home runs while getting on base at a .633 clip.

The standout tool for Carter is his speed, as he swiped 50 bags to lead the entire state.

Carter is committed to play his college baseball at East Carolina, and he could hear his name called on the third day of the draft.

Haiden Leffew, LHP, South Rowan

Talented left-handed pitching is always in demand in professional baseball, and that's what Leffew brings to the table.

At six-foot-three, Leffew has the size to generate extension and the natural tools to project well at the next level.

While being drafted and signing is a possibility, Leffew's commitment to Wake Forest could set him up for an even better situation in the draft.

Current Wake Forest pitchers Rhett Lowder, a projected first rounder this year, and Josh Hartle took the route of staying in North Carolina to play their college ball in Winston-Salem, and the Demon Deacons' forward-thinking pitching philosophy has been highly successful at developing arms.

Tucker Holland, LHP, The Burlington School

Holland is a flame-throwing lefty in a similar spot as Leffew.

While talented enough to be picked this year out of high school, Holland has a lot to potentially gain by following through on his commitment to Arkansas and going through the process of playing and developing in Fayetteville.

As such, it could take a signing bonus offer that comes in over slot value to convince Holland to turn pro, but he is of the caliber of player that gets picked.

The Burlington School won an NCISAA state championship this year with Holland serving as the team's ace.

Holland overpowered hitters all season long with 96 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched.

Luke Stevenson, C, Wake Forest

Stevenson proved to be one of the top sluggers in the nation in his senior year at Wake Forest.

At one point, the UNC signee was tied for the national lead in home runs. But power is not the only part of his game that has Stevenson on the radar at both of the next two levels.

He's an above-average athlete at the catching position with a clear feel for how to play it, and his .512 batting average in his senior season shows his hit tool complements his power tool well.

Stevenson wrapped up his high school career in style, as he helped lead Wake Forest to just its second regional championship in program history.

Nathan Brittain, RHP, Stuart Cramer

Like some of the other pitchers on this list, Brittain already possesses one of the most sought after skills a pitcher can have at the next level with his high-end velocity.

For Brittain, that ability helped him put together outstanding numbers for Cramer in his senior year, as he started 11 games and reached 101 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched.

The Campbell commit made a big difference in his team's success, going 6-2 in his 11 starts.

Nick Parham, SS, T.C. Roberson

Parham became a standout and key leader in his senior year for a T.C. Roberson team that set out for the season desperate for a state championship.

After a heartbreaking regional final loss the year prior, Parham and the Rams achieved their goal and took home the 4A championship series.

An athletic infielder with an efficient swing and good bat, Parham crushed an extra-base hit that proved pivotal in delivering his team the title.

Parham is committed to East Carolina, but could figure in to the later rounds of the draft.