WEEI.com will continue to offer insight and analysis regarding options that might be available to the Red Sox when it comes to the 2013 MLB draft. For the first time since 1993, the Red Sox have a top-10 selection and will be drafting seventh. Here is one in a series of profiles of players who could be on the board when it’s time for the Red Sox to make a selection.

AUSTIN MEADOWS

Outfielder Austin Meadows might be the top prep talent in the 2013 draft. (Jed Hixson/Gwinnett Baseball)

Position: OF

School: Grayson (Ga.) High School

Born: May 3, 1995

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Bats/throws: L/L

2013 class: Senior

Committed to: Clemson

Achievements: 2012 Under Armour All-American, 2012 Perfect Game underclass first team, 2012 All-Region 8 AAAAA, 2011 USA Baseball 16U team

What he brings: Meadows is believed to have five-tool potential. His swing often has been referred to as smooth with plus power potential from the left side of the plate.

Several reports describe Meadows as a solid defensive outfielder with a strong arm and tremendous speed. His 60-yard dash time reportedly has measured as low as 6.31 seconds. In comparison, according to Baseball America, Jacoby Ellsbury posted a 6.55 in the 2005 draft notes. More recently, Meadows ran a 6.64 in an August showcase.

Notes: Meadows is viewed as one of the early front-runners to be taken with the first overall pick, so in all likelihood, something would have to go awry in his senior season of high school for him to be on the board when the Red Sox make their selection at No. 7. Meadows has tremendous across-the-board tools, inspiring the sort of star comparisons that accompany a player who can do a little of everything. One ESPN article suggested he blended the athleticism and power of a Josh Hamilton with the swing of Andre Ethier. Baseball America described Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus as a comparable talent.

Meadows is the second-ranked high school player on the ESPN Super 60 list. His speed and athleticism suggest a player who can be a top- or middle-of-the-order hitter and an potentially above-average defensive outfielder at any position.

Meadows is heralded for being level headed and not allowing growing national attention to detour him from playing baseball at a high level. He’s also shown the ability to dominate against top competition, most notably, for the USA Baseball 16U team in 2011. Against international competition last August in Mexico, Meadows hit .537 with a .568 OBP, .878 slugging mark, five doubles, three triples and a homer (as well as six steals in nine attempts) in eight games. He racked up 22 hits with 28 RBIs (a record for the most in tournament history).

Links:

http://espn.go.com/high-school/baseball/story/_/id/8015630/junior-austin-meadows-potential-first-round-pick-next-year-mlb-draft

http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/2013-scouting-report-austin-meadows-of-grayson-hs-ga/