After months of speculation, the MLB First-Year Player Draft is now upon us. Countless players will hear their name called and have their life completely changed. Let’s take a peek at who your favorite team might take:
2018 MLB Mock Draft
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Detroit Tigers:
Casey Mize RHP Auburn. The latest intel shows that Tigers management has narrowed their selection to three candidates: Mize, Florida righty Brady Singer and Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart. The most common thought is that Mize is the choice, especially after his very solid regional start. Some buzz has been put out there about the small chance of Bart going first, followed by prep pitcher Cole Winn and then Mize.
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San Francisco Giants:
Joey Bart C Georgia Tech. This pick is very likely to be Bart as the Giants have been on him intensely. The alternative scenarios depend on who goes first overall. If the Tigers surprise and take Bart, then the Giants will take Winn on a below-slot deal instead of Mize who insists on an over-slot bonus.
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Philadelphia Phillies:
Alec Bohm 3B Wichita State. Again, the Phillies are in a precarious situation depending on how the first few picks shake out. Bart is very unlikely to get to No. 3 with the Phillies looking for a college player here. If Mize falls, this is a likely stopping point, but the smart money is on the dominant Bohm to be the pick. An alternative to Bohm would be Nick Madrigal, the Oregon State dynamo.
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Chicago White Sox:
Brady Singer RHP Florida. In most situations, this pick comes down to Singer against Madrigal. With 1-1 projections before Mize’s explosion, Singer is the likely choice. Yoan Moncada’s presence at second base for the foreseeable future possibly impacts the choice. In the Bart-Winn-Mize scenario, this pick likely remains between Singer and Madrigal.
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Cincinnati Reds:
Nick Madrigal 2B Oregon State. The Reds are in a position to scoop up whoever falls from the top five prospects, in this case, that is Madrigal. In all likelihood, this pick will come down to who falls from the Singer-Madrigal-Bohm trio. A slight chance for prep lefty Matthew Liberatore or Florida third basemen Jonathan India to go here exists.
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New York Mets:
Jonathan India 3B Florida. India versus Wisconsin prep outfielder Jarred Kelenic is the buzz surrounding the Mets first pick. Bohm could easily be the choice if he falls, but here India is the choice due to his stellar season. Kelenic could be the choice at a below-slot bonus, although it is entirely possible they could get India for just under slot as well.
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San Diego Padres:
Matthew Liberatore LHP Mountain Ridge HS (AZ). Going the prep lefthander route is nothing new to the Padres as last year they selected North Carolina prep product Mackenzie Gore. Here since none of the top five have fallen, GM A.J. Preller gets his choice of prep players. Most predictions are that the high upside lefty Liberatore is the choice. Bohm certainly won’t get past here if he falls that low, but the Padres are looking for a below-slot deal from their other options.
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Atlanta Braves:
Nolan Gorman 3B O’Connor HS (AZ). Having been linked to Atlanta for a long time, Gorman is the choice here. Some of the prep arms such as Winn or Stewart could be up for debate here, but Gorman’s power profile wins out.
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Oakland Athletics:
Travis Swaggerty OF South Alabama. Another team looking to strike a below-slot deal, the A’s have been in on Swaggerty for a while. Although his market may have dried up outside of Oakland, Swaggerty could be had for a bargain, right up the A’s alley.
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Pittsburgh Pirates:
Carter Stewart RHP Eau Gaille HS (FL). The Pirates draft board likely comes down to Stewart, Winn, or Kelenic. Throughout the process, the Pirates have been in on arms and Stewart’s name has been mentioned as high as No. 2 and as low as the teens. Here the Pirates split the difference due to Stewart’s phenomenal breaking ball.
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Baltimore Orioles:
Cole Winn RHP Orange Lutheran HS (CA). The Pirates choice will just remove one possible selection from the O’s board. Here the incredibly productive Winn gets to No. 11 and the O’s aren’t willing to pass on his upside. Ryan Weathers, another prep pitcher, is a distinct possibility here as well.
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Toronto Blue Jays:
Logan Gilbert RHP Stetson. Toronto has dipped into the college pitcher market in nearly every recent draft, look for the trend to continue. Gilbert’s velocity has worked its way back up in his last few starts, especially during a sterling NCAA regional outing against Oklahoma State with 14 strikeouts in seven, two-run innings. If the trend reverses itself look for Kelenic to be the choice.
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Miami Marlins:
Jarred Kelenic OF Waukesha West HS (WI). The Marlins would be ecstatic to land Kelenic, a prospect whose name has been mentioned as high as No. 1. A recent workout with Kelenic likely pushed management over the top. Alternatives lie in local prep slugger Triston Casas and another Florida prep hand Connor Scott.
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Seattle Mariners:
Trevor Larnach OF Oregon State. A college hitter heavy approach marks the last few drafts in Seattle as the Mariners ended up with Kyle Lewis and Evan White in the past two drafts respectively. Here the best college hitter on the board is powerful Oregon State outfielder Trevor Larnach. Outside of the consensus, look for Canadian prep catcher Noah Naylor as a high upside alternative. If Gilbert falls, look for his slide to end here.
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Texas Rangers:
Ryan Weathers LHP Loretto HS (TN). Seemingly always in the market for high school players, this year’s Rangers draft seems no different. Linked to prep arms from Winn to Stewart as well as Weathers and Texas prep product Grayson Rodriguez. Weathers is the best of the remaining prep arms, resulting in his selection. Rangers management may seek a prep hitter as an alternative, so look for speedy two-sport sensation Jordyn Adams.
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Tampa Bay Rays:
Mason Denaburg RHP Merritt Island HS (FL). With the second largest bonus pool and numerous extra picks, the Rays have enviable flexibility with their first choice. Players with signability concerns such as Adams could be the choice here. Same with below slot players such as Casas to try and lengthen out the bonus pool as much as possible. Here the Rays take in-state prep product Mason Denaburg, a high upside player with top 10 talent despite some injury concerns.
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Los Angeles Angels:
Ryan Rolison LHP Ole Miss. A conservative team when it came to GM Billy Eppler’s first draft, the front office has expanded into riskier picks such as last year’s first rounder Jo Adell. Adams has a high likelihood of landing here due to Adell’s success. However, the sense from the league is that the Angels are largely in on collegiate arms, the best of which is Rolison, the ace on the Ole Miss staff. Rolison has been scorching hot of late, as a no-hitter through six innings in the SEC tournament and a 13 strikeout outing in the NCAA regionals highlight.
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Kansas City Royals:
Nick Schnell OF Roncalli HS (IN). An outfielder out of the Indiana prep ranks, Schnell has seen his stock soar recently with teams flocking to the Indianapolis area to scout the rising prospect. With the largest bonus pool, the Royals could afford to take a chance on a player like Adams, or Georgia prep pitcher Ethan Hankins who offers risk and a high price tag, but with elite ability to boot.
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St. Louis Cardinals:
Jackson Kowar RHP Florida. Long tied to college arms, Kowar is the choice with Rolison off the board. Often in the shadow of Singer, Kowar offers front of the line stuff albeit without as much polish. USF lefty Shane McClanahan is also a possibility although this season has not treated the preseason top-10 choice kindly at all.
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Minnesota Twins:
Osiris Johnson SS Encinal HS (CA). The biggest surprise of the draft comes as the Twins select Johnson, a cousin of Jimmy Rollins, coming off a sparkling season. Long tied to the weak shortstop class, the latest buzz has shown the Twins are very much into Johnson and his power-speed combination. Along with development at the plate, large improvements defensively place his future in the middle infield. Other options here could include preseason top overall choice Brice Turang, or McClanahan.
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Milwaukee Brewers:
Ethan Hankins RHP Forsyth Central HS (GA). A team without a distinguishable trend, the Brewers seem wide open. Linked to prep players such as Adams, Casas, and Scott as well as collegiate pitchers, mainly McClanahan, the board is wide open. In this case, the best player available is Hankins who was the presumptive first overall selection before some shoulder issues hindered his season. Assuming the medical reports are clean, all indications so far is that they are, the Brewers could be getting the steal of the draft. Once Hankins returned from injury his velocity returned, showing large glimpses of what made him so highly touted.
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Colorado Rockies:
Anthony Seigler C Cartersville HS (GA). Maybe the most unique prospect in the entire draft class, the switch-pitching, switch-hitting Seigler offers a rare combination of tools behind the plate too good to pass up. The Rockies have been linked to some collegiate pitchers, and Kowar will not fall any further than this Colorado pick. But latest buzz points towards prep hitters. With Adams still on the board, the Rockies may see too much value. However, the positional value and tools of Seigler prove too much to pass on here.
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New York Yankees:
Brice Turang SS Santiago HS (CA). Another player projected during the preseason to go first overall, Turang did not have a very good senior season, but the tools are still there. In a weak shortstop class Turang stands out because, well, he is solid across the board. He possesses no sparkling tools, but he has no poor ones either. Another draft surprise could come here as New Hampshire prep product Grant Lavigne has shot up draft boards recently.
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Chicago Cubs:
Shane McClanahan LHP USF. Theo Epstein and the Cubs management have never shied away from value and here McClanahan presents immense value. A lefty who can throw gas up to 100 mph with some potential out pitches is a rare commodity. Despite a fairly poor season, especially recently, the talent and promise of McClanahan are too much. If Hankins is still on the board here look for the Cubs to take a shot.
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Arizona Diamondbacks:
Steele Walker OF Oklahoma. A team commonly linked to college hitters, the Diamondbacks have a lot of avenues to venture down. The Diamondbacks are often tied to collegiate hitters such as Oklahoma star Steele Walker and Virginia outfielder Jake McCarthy. They are also linked to prep players and could take Denaburg if he falls or Illinois prep Alek Thomas. Walker’s incredibly productive campaign makes him the choice here.
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Boston Red Sox:
Triston Casas 1B American Heritage HS (FL). A team with links across the board from college sluggers, such as Clemson’s Seth Beer, to high upside prep products like Naylor and Casas. Casas’ slide likely ends here as the Sox have been on the Miami prep product throughout the spring.
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Washington Nationals:
Cole Wilcox RHP Heritage HS (GA). Another prep arm whose name has been linked alongside all of the previous names taken is Wilcox, a Georgia righty without much separating him from those picked ahead. Denaburg likely won’t make it past the Nationals if he slides. In terms of hitters, Adams’ slide may end here or Thomas could come off the board as well.
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Houston Astros:
Grayson Rodriguez RHP Central Heights HS (TX). The Astros are in an interesting position as the team is full of young stars with a solid minor league system. But you can never have enough arms, and Rodriguez had as much helium entering the draft as any other arm. Naylor could be an intriguing choice here as well.
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Cleveland Indians:
Jordyn Adams OF Green Hope HS (NC). At this point in the first round, Adams’ price tag may be too much for anyone to pay, but the Indians would gladly snap up the two-sport sensation if he fell as they have a larger than usual bonus pool. Thomas could be the choice if Adams is off the board, same with Florida prep shortstop Xavier Edwards and Dallas Baptist outfielder Jameson Hannah.
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Los Angeles Dodgers:
Alek Thomas OF Mount Carmel HS (IL). Mostly linked to prep players: Thomas, Naylor, and Seigler, the Dodgers have lots of options. Georgia high schooler Parker Meadows, the brother of Pirates rookie Austin, could enter the discussion here.
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