hello nat's fans its your scouting director bartonboi comming here to give you my current thoughts heading into next weeks mock draft.first off here are our picks. 

• 1st round: #9
• 2nd round: #55
• 3rd round: #87
• 4th round: #121
• 5th round and out: +30 (i.e. 151, 181, etc)  I think the Nat's will follow last years draft strategy and target high end talent and go over slot to sign them as a result I'm targeting high upside players. 
• Fir our first pick I'm targeting 3 players Gordon Beckham, Kyle Skipworth and Aaron Hicks 
• I expect Skipworth to be gone with Beckham falling to us if Chicago passes up on him. Hick should be avaiable regardless
• Beckham would be the ideal pick due to his potenial and the glaring weakness in the minors and the majors at ss (desmond and king aren't that good) and he should only need 1-2 years in the majors  
• Skipworth would be the next pick due to his high upside the fact that he plays a premium position (not drafting for need only a plus) and catchers with his offensive potential are extremely rare. 
• Hicks is the most probable pick i see becuase, more than likely he'll be readily avaiable and his tools and upside asa center fielder will entice bowden and co to take him 

"But bartonboi what about the second to fifth rounds?" 
im glad you asked in the second round my target is currently Zach Putnam i think his ceiling of a solid 3 (that should move fast) in the second round is a steal and is the poor man's Tim Hudson and he isnt far away from the majors 
if  putnam is gone I plane to target Alabama hs of Destin Hood who is very comparable to giants 1st round pick Wendell Fairley from a year ago 
other possibilities are: anthony hewitt and jason castro 
3RD Round 
I'm a huge fa of former nfl lineman's son Daniel Schlereth who profiles as a hard throwing lefty setup man heres his scouting report http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp?mc=schlereth 
Sonny Gray yes, sonny gray is around 5'11 180 but who cares isnt tim lincecum 2? Gray would have been at the top of most draft charts had he not sprained his ankle running out a grounder in april as a result he's been shut down, but that shouldnt impact his pitching in any way he does have a strong commitment to Vanderbilt but so did Jake Mcgeary with a mid 90's fastball and power curve 2 boot its worth the risk  other possibilites are: Destin Hood   4th ROUND 
Ricky Oroespa was a probable first round pick comming into this season thanks to his huse raw power and strong arm but he's struggled this season and fallen down draft charts but if anyone's worth the risk in this round its him others: Gray/schlereth 
5th ROUND 
Tyler Landorth: speedy jc shortstop with solid tools but game changing speed drafted by the giants last draft but didnt sign. also has above average power but struggles to make contact 
Jake Jeffries solid average catcher for UC Davis but has no glaring holes nor and weaknesses should be fringe average starter at highest level 
Harold Martinez consensus top 15 overall selection heading into season has struggled mightily this season and fallen out of the first 3 rounds all together but has a high upside and is similar to Marlins 3b Matt Dominguez but with better bat  
suggestions?