MLB Dirt

The draft is getting closer and closer and its time for the second edition of our MLB Mock draft. We rolled out our first one in mid-March but a lot has changed since then. Players have seen their stocks rise while some have seen theirs really fall. Jonathan Mitchell and I have switched back and fourth taking picks and I kicked things off with the first pick. Enjoy.

1. Astros (Mike): Mark Appel (RHP – Stanford) I went with Appel in the previous mock draft and I am sticking with him. Appel has a 3.32 ERA on the year in 57 innings. He still is not really striking out batters like people want him to as he only has 55 strikeouts on the year but his stuff is just so good. If the strikeout concerns continue though, he could slip out of this number one spot.
2. Twins (Jonathan): Mike Zunino (C- University of Florida) I feel weird not taking Buxton here but I have to think the way I think the Twins will and I think they would want Zunino, a catcher who is showing power, hit tool, and great skills behind the plate. He should be ready soon and the Twins can move Joe Mauer from behind the plate with this pick.
3. Mariners (M): Byron Buxton (OF – Georgia HS) The Mariners would be very pleased if Buxton fell to them here, picking up the player with the best tools in the entire draft. He’s been having an impressive year and I don’t see how the Mariners could pass on a position player with the 5 tool potential like Buxton has.
4. Orioles (J): Kevin Gausman (RHP –LouisianaState) Gausman has ace potential with a fastball that has been clocked at 99 mph, a potentially plus change-up, and a breaking ball that can be above-average. He has an ideal frame and could move fast throughBaltimore’s system with Dylan Bundy and with Manny Machado.
5. Royals (M): Kyle Zimmer (RHP -San Francisco) I wrote about Zimmer’s climbing draft status at the start of the college baseball season and his stock has continued to rise. The 6’4″ pitcher has a fastball sitting in the mid 90s and touches the uppers 90s and he commands it well. He also had a curveball slider and changeup that could all be above average pitches. His mechanics are sound and he has front line starter potential.
6. Cubs (J): Carlos Correa (SS – Puerto Rico HS) He may be a little too similar to last year’s top pick, Javier Baez, but the bat and potential to stay at SS are so good that he could be popped here at #6. I think the Cubs would love for Gausman or Appel to fall here, though.
7. Padres (M): Michael Wacha (RHP – Texas A&M) He has been pitching very well this year and his draft stock has been rising. He has an electric fastball sitting in the mid 90s and has touched the uppers 90s. He has one of the best change-ups in the draft and it is a plus pitch. He works fast and does a good job getting ahead in the count.
8. Pirates (J): Deven Marrero (SS –ArizonaState) The Pirates might be tempted to add Giolito to their system here but it’s too early to tell how his injury will play out. I wrote in the last mock that the Pirates would love forMarrero to drop here and he has in this mock.Marrero is a plus defender at short and has an above-average hit tool and plays the game the right way. He should be up when the likes of Gerrit Cole, Starling Marte, Robbie Grossman, and Kyle McPherson are ready with Jameson Taillon right behind. Fills a void in the organization without reaching.
9. Marlins (M): Lucas Giolito (RHP – California HS) I think the Marlins pull the trigger here on Giolito, despite the injury. He is one of the highest ceiling arms in the draft and I think the Marlins would love to have him here. He has a fastball sitting in the upper 90s that can hit triple digits. He also has a potential plus power curve to go with his fastball.
10. Rockies (J): Max Fried (LHP – California HS) Kids from the same high school taken back-to-back. Fried is very polished for a pitcher his age and has one of the best, if not the best, curveball in the draft. His fastball is low-90s but he has projection in his 6’3″ 170 pound frame to add velocity and durability.
11. Athletics (M): David Dahl (OF – Alabama HS) Dahl is a toolsy outfielder that has the potential to hit for a great average with good power. He is very athletic and should stick at center field where he would provide great defense. I think he would be a great pick here for the A’s.
12. Mets (J): Albert Almora (OF – Florida HS) The Mets have a shallow system and they need high upside guys. They took Brandon Nimmo last year and if Almora is available I believe they would take him. He is a plus defender in center field and has a potential plus hit tool and should add power when he adds muscle to his wiry 6’2″ 170 pound frame.
13. White Sox (M): Walker Weickel (RHP – Florida HS) Picked Weickel here in our last mock draft and I’m sticking with that pick. High ceiling prep arm with a great frame at 6’6″. He has a great fastball and two potentially plus secondary pitches in his curveball and changeup.
14. Reds (J): Richie Shaffer (3B – Clemson) I was tempted to pull the trigger on Smoral here but Shaffer’s stock has gone way up with his big time raw power thanks to incredible bat speed and his ability to stick at 3B. I took Piscotty with this pick in the last draft but Shaffer may be the better pick.
15. Indians (M): Matt Smoral (LHP – Ohio HS) Smoral has a big build at 6’8″ 225lb and is a high upside lefty. The Indians dealt away some of the systems best pitching prospects in the Ubaldo deal and Smoral would be a great addition to the system. He is has a fastball in the low to mid 90s with a sharp curveball to go with. He had foot surgery a few weeks ago and will be out about 12-14 weeks but it isn’t expected to limit him in anyway.
16. Nationals (J): Gavin Cecchini (SS – Louisiana HS) I spoke to a team scout who said Cecchini absolutely can stay at shortstop but he does not have his brother’s, Garin Cecchini, potential with the bat. He does have the ability to hit for average but the power is not quite there. I still think he has a lot of upside and a great pick for the Nationals at 16.
17. Blue Jays (M): Stephen Piscotty (3B – Stanford) Tempted to take Stryker Trahan here but I don’t think the Jays let Piscotty fall any further. He has a great bat and is near MLB ready. He’s having a real nice year at the plate for Stanford.
18. Dodgers (J): Courtney Hawkins (OF – Texas HS) Spoke to a team scout who has seen a lot of Hawkins and said he has 70 raw power right now and good makeup with a plus arm which is good since he is likely moving to right field in pro ball. He does struggle against offspeed stuff but there is too much potential to pass up here.
19. Cardinals (M): Stryker Trahan (C – Louisiana HS) I don’t think the Cardinals can pass on Trahan here as he is one of the top prep players in the draft. He has outstanding tools at catcher with a great bat to go with. He hit for power and makes good contact as well. The defense is great and he’ll stick at catcher.
20. Giants (J): Hunter Virant (LHP – California HS) Because it is San Francisco I really want to take a college player here but I think it would be hard to pass on Virant. Super projectable with a 6’3″ 170 pound frame and already has a good feel for pitching. Could see Heaney go here as well.
21. Braves (M): Lucas Sims: (RHP – Georgia HS) The Braves sure know how to develop pitching and here they have a very talented prep arm. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and he has a great curveball that is a potential plus pitch. He put on a show in his performance at the National High School Invitational as he took a no hitter into the 6th inning.
22. Blue Jays (J): Zach Eflin (RHP – Florida HS) Eflin is a big kid at 6’5″ 200 pounds with a simple and repeatable delivery. He has a low-to-mid 90s fastball and plus change up although he needs a better breaking ball. Eflin will fit in nicely with all ofToronto’s young pitching prospects.
23. Cardinals (M): Nolan Fontana (SS -Florida) The Cardinals are known for college bats and I see them taking one here inFontana. Has the defense to stick at short and has a great arm. Reminds a lot of people of Dustin Pedroia because of his work ethic on the field. I don’t see him taking too long to get to the bigs.
24. Red Sox (M): Marcus Stroman (RHP – Duke) There are few who believe Stroman will fall out of the first round and some who believe, despite his small stature, that he can remain a starter. The Red Sox need some better pitching prospects in their upper minor league levels and Stroman could be ready very soon.
25. Rays (M): Clint Coulter (C – Washington HS) The Rays have been finding a lot of guys in the northwest over the last few years and I think they take another one in Coulter here. Coulter is a real strong catcher with loads of power potential. He has the defense to stick at catcher and he has been climbing up draft boards.
26. Diamondbacks (J): Addison Russell (SS – Florida HS) The Diamondbacks would love to add a potential position prospect with upside and power and Russell is just that. A powerful shortstop with huge power potential and might be able to stay at the position but has plenty of arm if he has to move to third base where his bat will play and glove would be well above-average.
27. Brewers (M): Carson Kelly (3B – Oregon HS) Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider really knows his stuff and Churchill says Kelly has really impressed people this spring. He has good power potential, can hit the ball for average, has quick hands at the plate, and has a plus arm at third base.
28. Brewers (J): Andrew Heaney (LHP -OklahomaState) The Brewers have been turning this system around and taking an upside pick ahead of a college pitcher seems like a reasonable approach. Heaney does not have the upside of the college arms above him but his probability of becoming a #3 starter is very high and he may not need long in the minors. Also has some projection left.
29. Rangers (M): Joey Gallo (3B – Nevada HS) Gallo’s stock has dropped a little bit since our last mock draft but I still see a first round talent here. He has plus, raw power and is one of the best power bats in the draft. He has a great arm but he does not have the defense to stick at third. He could be tried in either right field or first base. He also throws 97 on the mound so he could always move to the mound if hitting does not work out.
30. Yankees (J): Lance McCullers (RHP – Jesuit HS, Tampa, FL) I think the Yankees go for a pitcher with upside here and McCullers is as good as any to take a gamble on with his upper-90s fastball and two offspeed offerings that have above-average-to-plus potential. He plays ball 5 minutes from the Yankees high-A Tampa affiliate.
31. Red Sox (M): Travis Jankowski (OF – Stony Brook) Jankowski has had himself a nice year and is one of the top hitters in the nation. He has three above average tools in his bat, speed, and defense and he profiles as a future leadoff hitter. He has a good eye at the plate and would be a great pick for the Red Sox here.

Filed under: Draft Coverage Tagged: | Addison Russell, Albert Almora, Andrew Heaney, Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, Carson Kelly, Courtney Hawkins, David Dahl, Deven Marrero, Gavin Cecchini, Hunter Virant, Joey Gallo, Kevin Gausman, Kyle Zimmer, Lance McCullers, Lucas Giolito, Lucas Sims, Marcus Stroman, Mark Appel, Matt Smoral, Max Fried, Michael Wacha, Mike Zunino, MLB Draft, Nolan Fontana, Richie Shaffer, Stephen Piscotty, Stryker Trahan, Travis Jankowski, Walker Wei, Walker Weickel, Zach Eflin