1. Pittsburgh Pirates - RHP Gerrit Cole, UCLA
The Pirates have announced they will be taking Gerrit Cole first overall.
2. Seattle Mariners - 3B Anthony Rendon, Rice
Rendon seems like the likely choice for the M's. He actually may be the most talented coming out of the draft. Some teams are scared off because he doesn't have a true position, but neither did Albert Pujols when he was drafted.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks - LHP Danny Hultzen, Virginia
Hultzen seems to be the consensus number three pick. Arizona selected him in the tenth round in 2008 but couldn't sign him and continue to be very high on him.
4. Baltimore Orioles - RHP Dylan Bundy, Oswasso HS
Baltimore has proven they aren't afraid to take high school kids early in the draft (their last two picks were high schoolers and both were in the top five). Dylan is the brother of Bobby Bundy, currently pitching in high-A for the O's.
5. Kansas City Royals - OF Bubba Starling, Gardner Edgerton HS
Very toolsy outfielder, heavily recruited by the Royals, local kid. I'll be pretty surprised if they pass him up.
6. Washington Nationals - RHP Trevor Bauer, UCLA
Bauer's stock continues to rise this year. Currently 10-2, 1.40 ERA, 13.71 K/9 and is outperforming teammate Gerrit Cole in virtually every category.
7. Arizona Diamondbacks - RHP Matt Barnes, UConn
Arizona loves to draft college pitchers early in the draft that have a good signability projection. Barnes fits the description perfectly, but drafting him this early would be a reach.
8. Cleveland Indians - RHP Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt
The Tribe hasn't picked a high schooler in the first round since 2002. Gray is the best available college player as the Indians will look to stifle their already loaded minor league pitching staff.
9. Chicago Cubs - RHP Taylor Jungmann, Texas
Another college loving team, two of the last three Cubs 1st draft picks have come out of Texas.
10. San Diego Padres - SS Francisco Lindor, Montverde Academy HS
GM Jed Hoyer and scouting director Jaron Madison have both been with the Padres since 2009 and in the past two years, the Friars have drafted high school kids. A Starlin Castro type, Lindor should provide pop and great defense for San Diego, a perfect fit.
11. Houston Astros - OF George Springer, UConn
General Manager Ed Wade was actually decent at drafting when he was in Philly, but his luck has changed. He's now completely useless. Springer is a nice multi-tool outfielder.
12. Milwaukee Brewers - C Blake Swihart, Cleveland HS
Brewers have a pretty bad farm system, Swihart would definitely add depth. High school catchers are always a risk but Swihart looks like he's got a good combo of offense and defense.
13. New York Mets - RHP Alex Meyer, Kentucky
Best player available at this point, Meyer has good upside.
14. Florida Marlins - RHP Archie Bradley, Broken Arrow HS
Marlins love drafting high school players and have been good at developing them. Bradley could be a risk as he may be going to Oklahoma to play football.
15. Milwaukee Brewers - LHP Jed Bradley, Georgia Tech
Some scouts believe Bradley will go earlier in the first round, but his stock is dropping a bit. He's got a solid fastball but lacks a good breaking ball. He should be up sooner rather than later which seems to fit the Brewers 'win now' mentality.
16. Los Angeles Dodgers - RHP Taylor Guerrieri, Spring Valley HS
LA has picked a high school pitcher with four of their last five first picks. Guerrieri has a lot of upside and would be a great addition to the Dodgers, but high school players are always a risk and with the Dodgers ownership in shambles, they may not want to take a risk.
17. Los Angeles Angels - RHP Jose Fernandez, Alonso HS
Good power armed high schooler from Cuba so he's a bit older than other high school kids. He should rise through the minors quickly which is why he'd be a good fit for the Angels who have a lot of prospects at the top already. Fernandez is projected to be a late first round pick but I think he'll go a little earlier.
18. Oakland Athletics - OF Mikie Mahtook, LSU
Last three Oakland first picks have been college position players. Wouldn't be surprised if Billy Beane went with a pitcher here because of the loaded pitching depth of this year's draft, but Oakland needs bats.
19. Boston Red Sox - LHP Daniel Norris, Science Hill HS
The top high school lefthander in the country, works with special needs students at his school, goes on mission trips with his church, committed to Clemson. Seems like the kind of kid that will want a good education; Red Sox will have the money to change his mind.
20. Colorado Rockies - 3B Dante Bichette, Jr., Orangewood HS
Son of former major leauger, Bichette Jr. has a lot of power but he's committed to Georgia. Colorado hasn't made many risky picks in the past, but Bichette Jr. should still be on the board when its their turn and they'll be tempted. He'll definitely be a stretch, but this guy's power is for real.
21. Toronto Blue Jays - SS Levi Michael, UNC
Good speed and defense, very signable, and should rise quickly through the minors.
22. St. Louis Cardinals - LHP Matt Purke, TCU
The third ranked lefthanded college pitcher in the draft goes to Dave Duncan and the St. Louis Cardinals.
23. Washington Nationals - OF Josh Bell, Jesuit Prep HS
Probably the best available bat by this point in the draft. Great power upside. Just seems like a Mike Rizzo pick. Don't be surprised if they go for a pitcher like Stilson instead, Rizzo is all about improving the pitching staff.
24. Tampa Bay Rays - RHP Josh Stilson, Texas A&M
Stilson is moving up the board quickly and could go earlier than this. Tampa is known to take the best player available and Stilson would be the best available here.
25. San Diego Padres - RHP Dillon Howard, Farragut HS
San Diego has proven they're okay with taking high school players early in draft. Howard projects to be a late first round to second round pick, but with the uncertainty of the late first round I think they'll reach here.
26. Boston Red Sox - SS Corey Spanenberg, Indian River CC
The Red Sox have a lot of interest in Francisco Lindor who won't be available for them to pick this late, but Spanenberg is kind of a Lindor-lite.
27. Cincinnati Reds - OF Brandon Nimmo, East HS
It may take a few years, but Brandon Nimmo will eventually be an impact player for a ball club. He's got pretty solid tools and I think the Reds will buy into his upside. He may even go earlier than this.
28. Atlanta Braves - RHP Tyler Beede, Lawrence Academy HS
Four of the Braves last five first picks have been high school players and they love picking out of the eastern portion. Beede would be a good fit to a loaded minor league pitching system if he falls this far.
29. San Francisco Giants - OF Larry Greene, Berrien HS
Left handed power hitting outfielder in San Francisco. Need I say more?
30. Minnesota Twins - 2B Kolton Wong, Hawaii
Twins drafted Wong out of high school but he didn't sign.
31. Tampa Bay Rays - 1B/C CJ Cron, Utah
Great power and signability, Cron should be a nice pick for the Rays late in the round. He's been playing more 1B than catcher lately because his arm strength is limited.
32. Tampa Bay Rays - OF Jackie Bradley, Jr. - South Carolina
Bradley has had a lot of success in college, but there are concerns about his development. Some scouts don't think he'll develop his power, but he does have a deadly arm. He strikes me as a BJ Upton type of guy, and the Rays have enough picks to take a chance on him. He continues to fall on the big boards.
33. Texas Rangers - LHP Josh Osich, Oregon State
A left hander with a mean fastball. He displays good size and potential.
I think you're spot on with your top 10
ReplyDeleteJosh Bell will be the most interesting selection tonite. A guy whose agent (Boras) has advised teams NOT to draft his client because he fully intends to go to college.
ReplyDeleteBluffing?
Will someone use a high pick anyway?