Mock Draft: Crews leads first round
Jim Callis has damaged down the Draft class and now it’s time to see who’s going to go the place within the first spherical. With the standard caveat that a lot will change between now and July, this projection relies on if groups had been choosing proper now. And I enlisted the help of a scouting director, who mentioned gamers and developments that groups (and the opposite scouting administrators) generally comply with when it comes time to make their high choose.
How a lot of it will maintain true seven months from now? We’ll have to attend and see.
1. Pirates: Dylan Crews, OF, LSU
The Pirates gained the inaugural Draft lottery and have the primary choose for the second time in three years because of this. In 2021, they saved some cash on Henry Davis, a participant they actually favored, nevertheless it’s means too quickly to have any sense of who that participant might be this time round. So I went with the participant perceived to be one of the best prospect within the class in Crews, a middle fielder with the prospect to be a plus hitter with plus energy.
2. Nationals: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
Sticking to the Top 100 order for now with one of the best arm within the class. Last 12 months, there wasn’t a university pitcher who belonged in conversations up right here, however Dollander, thought-about by some to be one of the best school pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg and Gerrit Cole, may find yourself going 1-1.
3. Tigers: Max Clark, OF, Franklin HS (Ind.)
Clark has one of the best all-around set of instruments within the class, along with his energy maybe his lone less-than-plus instrument. He’s a no-doubt heart fielder with a hose for an arm and an unimaginable understanding of how you can hit. The Vanderbilt recruit’s make-up can also be off the charts.
4. Rangers: Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU
The final two years choosing this excessive, the Rangers went with school arms in Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker. Skenes, who transferred from Air Force and bought scouts in Louisiana buzzing along with his work in fall ball, may make it three in a row along with his energy repertoire.
5. Twins: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
There are some scouts who suppose Langford will carry out his means into 1-1 consideration. The Twins have taken a university bat with their first choose in three of the final 5 Drafts, together with taking Brooks Lee No. 8 final 12 months.
6. A’s: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS (NC)
Jenkins and Clark are pleasant rivals competing for the unofficial “best high school bat” title, and Jenkins may carry out his approach to the highest of the checklist. The A’s is likely to be just a little sore after dropping to No. 6 within the lottery, however they may really feel higher in the event that they land Jenkins and his monumental offensive potential.
7. Reds: Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi
The Reds dropped from No. 4 by way of W-L file to No. 7 within the lottery, so getting our No. 5-ranked participant may assist make up for that. And I do know what you’re considering: Why would the Reds take one other shortstop given the depth at that place of their system? But they love school bats and you may by no means have too many up-the-middle gamers.
8. Royals: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida
Waldrep transferred from Southern Miss and wowed Florida-area scouts along with his electrical stuff this fall. If he maintains that this spring, he gained’t final this lengthy. The Royals had some success final time they took a Gators starter after they nabbed Brady Singer within the first spherical of the 2018 Draft.
9. Rockies: Aidan Miller, 3B, JW Mitchell HS (Fla.)
Miller has a ton of energy and might be a better-than-average hitter when all is claimed and finished, whereas enjoying an excellent third base. The Rockies took highschool bats round this level within the first spherical in 2020 (Zac Veen) and 2021 (Benny Montgomery), and visions of the subsequent Nolan Arenado might be dancing of their heads.
10. Marlins: Enrique Bradfield, OF, Vanderbilt
There’s usually a Marlins-Vandy connection as a result of scouting director DJ Svihlik coached there, however this might very nicely be a very good match, with Bradfield’s game-changing velocity on the basepaths and in heart subject simply what the group wants to leap begin the offense.
11. Angels: Brayden Taylor, 3B, TCU
The Angels have gone the faculty route within the first spherical during the last 4 routes and took shortstop Zach Neto in 2022. Now they will add a sophisticated school bat at third to fill out their future left facet of the infield with Taylor, who has a sophisticated method and sufficient pop for an infield nook.
12. D-backs: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
Jack’s child may very nicely carry out his means up this checklist above a few of the different school bats, however the D-backs could be thrilled if he and his super-advanced bat bought to No. 12. Last 12 months, Jace Jung made it to No. 12, so why not a repeat in a Top 10-caliber bat making it to this spot?
13. Cubs: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
The final time the Cubs went school bat within the first spherical they took Nico Hoerner in 2018, and he established himself as a giant league common in 2022. They additionally chosen Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant as school hitter first-rounders, and Morales and his energy bat may have that type of influence.
14. Red Sox: Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton HS (Texas)
High faculty catchers is likely to be one of many riskier teams to select from, and the Red Sox may recall not having large success with Blake Swihart, however Mitchell is well one of the best catcher within the class and Boston has taken a highschool bat within the first spherical in every of the previous 4 Drafts.
15. White Sox: Will Sanders, RHP, South Carolina
While the White Sox have gone the highschool route the final two years, they did take a university arm in Garrett Crochet in 2020, and it is a good a part of the Draft for the subsequent tier of faculty arms to return off the board.
16. Giants: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
It’s a mini-run on school arms right here, with Lowder and Sanders the highest of this second tier. Lowder provides much less projection than some, however his stuff now’s loads ok. The Giants have gone the faculty route in 5 straight Drafts, taking pitchers in 2021 (Will Bednar) and 2022 (Reggie Crawford, technically a two-way participant).
17. Orioles: Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland
I do know what you’re considering. Why would the Orioles do that with a lot up-the-middle expertise within the system? But Shaw’s offensive upside might be very attractive to a corporation that has drafted school infielders Jordan Westburg and Connor Norby, to not point out the faculty outfielders taken in every of the final three Drafts.
18. Brewers: Maui Ahuna, SS, Tennessee
Ahuna can hit, actually run and actually defend at a premium place. What’s to not like? The Brewers aren’t afraid to shock of us, however they’ve taken 4 school bats early within the final three Drafts.
19. Rays: Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
Hailing from the identical highschool that produced Phillies prospect (and first-rounder) Mick Abel, Meyer is taken into account to be the highest prep arm within the class. The Rays don’t draw back from excessive upside gamers within the first spherical and have taken a highschool arm within the opening spherical twice within the final 5 Drafts.
20. Blue Jays: Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian HS (Fla.)
Meyer and Soto is likely to be 1 and 1A by way of prep arms, and Soto has a ton of projection (with some “exciting now” stuff) in his 6-foot-5 body. Toronto took a highschool arm in lefty Brandon Barriera final 12 months.
21. Cardinals: Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (Mass.)
Now it’s time to get the highest prep lefty off the board. White hasn’t been seen a ton however confirmed sufficient at a few summer time stops to excite scouts. A powerful spring may simply land him within the first spherical, and the workforce that traded for Matthew Liberatore may draft the 2023 model of him (high highschool southpaw within the class).
22. Mariners: Travis Honeyman, OF, Boston College
The toolsy Honeyman may comply with Sal Frelick as a first-round choose popping out of Boston College. The Mariners haven’t taken a university bat within the first since 2017, however they do like hitters, having taken two highschool ones the final two years after three straight school arms.
23. Guardians: Kevin McGonigle, SS/2B, Monsignor Bonner HS (Pa.)
One of one of the best pure hitters among the many highschool set, McGonigle raked all summer time and will go even larger if he continues to mash. But the Guardians do like guys who know how you can hit and perceive the strike zone, so this might be an excellent match.
24. Braves: Tanner Witt, RHP, Texas
A little bit of a wild card right here as Witt is getting back from Tommy John surgical procedure, and it’s unclear if and when he’ll pitch in 2023. But the Braves, who took a pair of highschool right-handers early final 12 months, aren’t afraid of taking a threat, and a wholesome Witt might be one of the vital electrical arms within the class.
25. Padres: Travis Sykora, RHP, Round Rock HS (Texas)
It’s a little bit of a straightforward mock card to play, having the Padres taking a high-risk/high-reward choose. But they’ve earned it, taking a excessive schooler with their first choose in six straight Drafts and choosing two prep arms with their first two picks final 12 months. Sykora, a 6-foot-6 excessive schooler who throws 100 mph, nearly makes an excessive amount of sense right here.
26. Yankees: Colin Houck, SS, Parkview HS (Ga.)
Houck is a robust and bodily shortstop who can also be a quarterback standout at a powerhouse Parkview program that produced large leaguers like Matt Olson. The Yankees have taken a hitter with their first choose in six of the final seven Drafts, and two had been excessive schoolers, led by high prospect Anthony Volpe.
27. Phillies: Bryce Eldridge, 1B/RHP, Madison HS (Va.)
The Phillies have gone the highschool route the final three years, together with back-to-back prep arms, with some success. Eldridge offers upside on each side, and whereas extra scouts are leaning hitting for him after his summer time, the Phillies may resolve so as to add him on the mound behind Andrew Painter and Mick Abel.
28. Astros: Kyle Teel, C, Virginia
Teel is a no-doubt catcher with some offensive attributes he’ll have to indicate he can use persistently in 2023. If he does, the highest school backstop doesn’t final this lengthy. The Astros have taken a university bat within the final three Drafts they’d a first-round choose, together with taking catcher Korey Lee in a really related spot of the first-round in 2019.
