Redrafting 2021 MLB Draft: Jackson Merrill, James Wood Lead

The 2021 MLB Draft always felt like it would look weird in hindsight. Now, five years later, Baseball America is finally digging into the class. By reimagining the first 30 picks as a redraft, the magazine shows just how much player development, opportunity, and projection can flip perceived value on its head.

It’s a fascinating look at why draft night grades rarely tell the full story.

The Unique Context of the 2021 MLB Draft

The 2021 draft landed in the middle of some wild circumstances. The pandemic had shrunk the 2020 draft to just five rounds, so a flood of talent rolled over into the next year. Suddenly, the 2021 pool was one of the deepest anyone could remember.

Teams weren’t hurting for ability—they were hurting for clarity. Nobody could agree on a clear No. 1 player.

Clubs split their bets across high-upside prep bats, college arms, and risky developmental projects. That uncertainty feels almost prophetic now, because the redraft looks nothing like the original order.

Scattered Evaluations and Split Decisions

Without a single elite talent, teams leaned into different priorities—ceiling, proximity, athleticism, or just who they thought they could sign. Looking back, that divergence created some wild value gaps that only time could reveal.

Jackson Merrill’s Rise to the Top

In Baseball America’s redraft, Jackson Merrill jumps all the way to No. 1. That’s a huge leap from where he started. His move from shortstop to center field unlocked his offensive profile and turned him into a complete, modern star.

Between 2024 and 2025, Merrill racked up an impressive 8.4 fWAR, made an All-Star team, and took home a Silver Slugger Award. His combination of athleticism and bat-to-ball skills made him the safest elite pick in hindsight.

A Star Hiding in Plain Sight

Merrill’s rise shows just how much a position change or a tweak in development can totally alter a player’s path. Nobody really saw that coming on draft day, did they?

James Wood and the Power of Pure Hitting

Another huge riser in the redraft is James Wood. He was a second-round pick by San Diego, then became a key piece in the Juan Soto trade to Washington. Wood turned into the draft’s most dangerous power bat.

Sure, he struck out a lot, but in 2025 Wood crushed 31 home runs and flashed elite raw power. That kind of offensive ceiling shot him way up from his original draft slot.

Risk Versus Reward

Wood proves that teams willing to gamble on offensive volatility can sometimes land a true star.

Pitchers Stealing the Spotlight

Maybe the most surprising part of the redraft is how many pitchers from outside the original top 10 became standouts. Guys like Jackson Jobe, Tyler Bibee, and Logan Webb are now rotation anchors.

Jobe, picked in the sixth round, came back from Tommy John surgery and posted a 2.94 ERA in 2025. He even made an All-Star team, thanks to his command and poise. Bibee, meanwhile, is another example of Cleveland’s knack for developing pitchers.

The Guardians’ Draft-Day Brilliance

Cleveland keeps finding and refining arms later in the draft. Their pitching pipeline just keeps churning out value.

Hits, Misses, and Lessons Learned

Not every early pick panned out. First-rounders like Colton Cowser and Sal Frelick are still solid everyday outfielders—Cowser even finished second in 2024 AL Rookie of the Year voting. But some others fell off hard.

Big-name picks like Henry Davis slid quite a bit, and arms like Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are still question marks in terms of ultimate value.

Why the 2021 Redraft Matters

Let’s be honest: prospect evaluation in baseball is never an exact science. Every team wants to get it right, but there’s always an element of guesswork.

The clubs that really thrive? They mix sharp scouting with top-notch player development—and, honestly, a lot of patience.

Five years down the line, the 2021 MLB Draft feels like proof that you really never know what’ll happen. Talent can bloom way after that draft card hits the table, and sometimes, you just have to wait and see.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Redrafting The 2021 MLB Draft: Jackson Merrill, James Wood Top The Class