Casey Mize is projected to go first overall to the Tigers.
After two months of reading various scouting reports and watching YouTube videos, I give our first round baseball mock draft.
Here’s where we think the top prospects in this draft will go.
1. Detroit Tigers: Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn: Mize is the best prospect in this draft. He has front of the rotation but signability could be an issue.
2. San Francisco Giants: Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech: The Giants settle on the second best player in this draft and in the process they find Buster Posey’s replacement.
3. Philadelphia Phillies: Brady Singer, RHP, Florida: Singer has front of the rotation stuff and projects as a one or two starter.
4. Chicago White Sox: Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State: The White Sox haven’t gotten the return they were hoping for from Yoan Moncada. Madrigal could be their future starter at second.
5. Cincinnati Reds: Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS (Ariz.): A legit four pitch mix makes Liberatore one of the most advanced pitching prospects in years. Could go higher than this but if he doesn’t, the Reds will happily take him.
6. New York Mets: Jonathan India, 3B, Florida: David Wright is done and Todd Frazier is a stop gap. India makes sense here.
7. San Diego Padres: Ryan Weathers, LHP, Loretto HS (Tenn.): The Padres want to develop more pitching in their farm system. Weathers went 11-0 with 0.09 ERA in a dominant senior year. His mix of pitches will play well at PETCO Park.
8. Atlanta Braves: Nolan Gorman, 3B, O’Connor HS (Ariz.): Gorman has the best power bat in this class. If he develops physically and his defenses improves, he has the tools to be another cornerstone piece for the Braces.
9. Oakland Athletics: Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State: The A’s love college prospects because they are more ready to play than high schoolers. Bohm is good enough to go in the top five in this draft. He would be a steal for Oakland.
10. Pittsburgh Pirates: Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (Calif.): Classic lefty with size, smooth mechanics and an above average three pitch mix. Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage could make a lot out of Winn.
11. Baltimore Orioles: Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Central Heights HS (Texas): The Orioles need to develop more pitching. Rodriguez has elite stuff but he will need time to develop. Especially his command.
12. Toronto Blue Jays: Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha West HS (Wisc.): Kelenic has a lot of upside physically. The power is there and the defensive metrics add up. Kelenic has five tool potential.
13. Miami Marlins: Connor Scott, OF, Plant HS (Fla.): The 6-4 180 Scott has the size and the athleticism to be an impact player. He can hit any from the one to three spot in the line up and be a plus defender.
14. Seattle Mariners: Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama: The Mariners need to develop more position players in their farm and Swaggerty is a good addition to the group they already have. Swaggerty hit 13 home runs this past season.
15. Texas Rangers: Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS (Fla.): The Rangers need to develop pitching, especially because they are still playing at Globe Life Park for another two seasons. The Texas heat and giving up home runs can stunt the growth of pitchers.
16. Tampa Bay Rays: Jordyn Adams, OF, Green Hope HS (NC): It’s all about upside with this pick for the Rays. Adams has verbally committed to playing football at North Carolina but the belief he is willing to sign and play baseball full time.
17. Los Angeles Angels: Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson: The Angels like tall right handlers who mix their stuff and have multiple pitches more than they like power arms. Gilbert fits that profile.
18. Kansas City Royals: Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State: Larnach’s power could play well at Kaufman Stadium in the future. He hit 17 home runs this season for the Beavers.
19. St. Louis Cardinals: Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida: The 6-5 180 Kowar hits 98 on the gun and has a live arm. Kowar needs to develop his off speed stuff more. He can be stretched out as a starter but could be a back end of the bullpen arm long term.
20. Minnesota Twins: Noah Naylor, C, St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS (Ont.): Developing catcher is hard these days. Naylor has the tools and the mental capacity to play the position. He also has raw power which means he can hit home runs and play first as well.
21. Milwaukee Brewers: Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida: Fastball, slider, change up combo make McClanahan an intriguing prospect in this draft.
22. Colorado Rockies: Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss: The pitching run continues. The Rockies have eyed several position prospects in this area but settle on Rolison whom scouts say has the best pure curveball in this class.
23. New York Yankees: Brice Turang, SS, Santiago HS (Calif.): The Yankees are set at first base, second base and third base for a while. They need to develop a shortstop and the talented Turang makes sense with this pick.
24. Chicago Cubs: Cole Wilcox, RHP, Heritage HS (Ga.): Wilcox will be expensive for the Cubs given the slot but they have the money and could get it done if they want Wilcox.
25. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jameson Hannah, OF, Dallas Baptist: The Diamondbacks need to develop outfielders that could play for them in the next 2 to 4 years. Hannah has the tools to be that type of players.
26. Boston Red Sox: Seth Beer, 1B, Clemson: Beer is a liability defensively. He profiles strictly as a designated hitter after hitting 54 home runs in three seasons at Clemson.
27. Washington Nationals: Mason Denaburg, RHP, Merritt Island HS (Fla.): The Nationals like developing high school pitchers. Denaburg has had injury issues in high school but at 6-3 180 with a filthy fastball, curveball combo makes Denaburg a terrific prospect.
28. Houston Astros: Kyler Murray, OF, Oklahoma: Murray plays quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and has committed to playing this fall. Teams will stay away from him as a result. The Astros won’t. The speed is too tantalizing to pass up.
29. Cleveland Indians: Alek Thomas, OF, Mount Carmel HS (Ill.): Thomas is a terrific athlete who fits the outfield profile the Indians look for. He reminds me of Bradley Zimmer.
30. Los Angeles Dodgers: Nick Schnell, OF, Roncalli HS (Ind.): The Dodgers have developed pitching and outfielders in recent years. They’ll keep that trend going with Schnell.