2009 Amateur Draft Mock #2 Round One

I thought I'd do this every couple weeks, but I've seen over and over that every weekend counts at this juncture in the draft scouting process.  Teams will be shifting their boards from here on out, and all it takes is one great or horrible outing to stick a prospect in a certain range.  As a result, I've felt like putting out a new mock every week (that I can) is a good idea, if only to help everyone familiarize themselves with the top prospects.  My second first round mock goes as follows:

1. Washington - Steven Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State - Obviously no changes here.  One more dominant outing added to the pile.  Previously: #1.
2. Seattle - Dustin Ackley, 1B-CF, North Carolina - I've become convinced that Ackley is the best prospect behind Strasburg in this draft.  He really solidified his spot here with a good weekend against Miami, a quality team with quality pitching.  It's gotten to the point where I'm about 90% sure this is where Ackley will line up come draft day.  A major slump or injury would be the only things that could pull him out of the top three.  Previously: #2.
3. San Diego - Alex White, RHP, North Carolina - Like I said, all it takes is one great outing to convince teams that your talent is legit.  After being simply good, but not great, for most of the season, White turned in a stud performance against Miami on Friday.  He's solidified a top five spot, and I think he'll be too tempting for the Pads to pass him up.  Previously: #4.
4. Pittsburgh - Grant Green, SS, USC - Even though concerns still linger about his power, plate discipline, and defense, Green is still a top draft prospect.  His hitting is becoming a tad more consistent, and without a stellar pitching prospect left on the board, Pittsburgh would take him.  Previously: #6.
5. Baltimore - Aaron Crow, RHP, Ft. Worth Cats - No changes here, either.  Crow begins his season next month, and he could travel either direction from here.  He makes a lot of sense for Baltimore here, but this is the most fluid spot in the top ten.  Previously: #5.
6. San Francisco - Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS (CA) - Matzek didn't really do anything to make himself fall, but White and Green had good weekends, and I don't see Baltimore taking him.  He's come back from his blister ordeal, which was less than minor, and should stay in the top ten range from here on out.  Previously: #3.
7. Atlanta - Zack Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS (GA) - Apparently BA and I were both mistaken when we put Wheeler in the last half of the first round.  They mentioned that scouts have Wheeler much higher, and both their staff and Keith Law have connected Wheeler with his local Atlanta Braves.  It makes too much sense.  Previously: #18.
8. Cincinnati - Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri - Same as last time.  Gibson's not really deserving of a spot above any of the players above here, and he makes a lot of sense for Cincinnati, so that's why he's here.  You can argue he's better than Crow, but if Crow comes back and has a good season in Indy ball, he'll go higher.  Previously: #8.
9. Detroit - Donovan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS (GA) - This is where it gets confusing.  Having Wheeler moving up means Tate is the likeliest to drop.  In a few ways, Tate reminds of a Cameron Maybin, and that's maybe not doing him complete justice.  He could move as quickly as Maybin with a few adjustments, and the Tigers could have a franchise center fielder to pair with current center fielder Curtis Granderson.  Previously: #7.
10. Washington - Rich Poythress, 1B, Georgia - Same as last time.  He's starting to even earn this spot, too.  Regardless, this is a slot pick, and Poythress can step up to be a solid regular at first for the Nationals, who seem to have plenty of average guys there.  I expect most of those guys to be somewhere else by the time Poythress is ready.  Previously: #10.
11. Colorado - Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State - Talk about someone who has earned the big bucks with a great junior year.  Leake continues to simply overmatch good Pac 10 hitters this year, and he's becoming a surefire top 15 pick.  Good match for Colorado.  Previously: #19.
12. Kansas City - Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood HS (TX) - Miller also suffers as a result of Wheeler's rise.  Still considered the best starting pitcher in terms of pure talent available in this year's draft, Miller will fluctuate ten picks in either direction based on his finish.  Previously: #9.
13. Oakland - Rex Brothers, LHP, Lipscomb - I was reluctant last time to place Brothers in the first round, and as a result dropped him too low.  My bad.  I don't mind when a good player overplays my expecatations.  Keith Law calls Brothers' slider a comfortable 60-65 on the scale.  Wow.  Previously: #52.
14. Texas - Matt Purke, LHP, Klein HS (TX) - Yet another Wheeler casualty, Purke might actually fall to his home state Texas Rangers.  However, it seems to me that he's going to quietly sneak up someone's board and might be popped before anyone expects it.  Previously: #11.
15. Cleveland - Tanner Scheppers, RHP, St. Paul Saints - Scheppers, like Crow, has a lot riding on his Indy ball season.  He's thrown in front of scouts already according to BP's Kevin Goldstein, and he sat in the low 90s, reaching 94.  Positive reactions abound.  Previously: #13.
16. Arizona - Luke Bailey, C, LaGrange HS (GA) - Still considered the best prep catcher in this draft, Bailey will go anywhere from 12-20.  Arizona doesn't have anyone that would block his way, and his overall polish is impressive.  Gotta like the possibilities.  Previously: #12.
17. Arizona - Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt - Having clawed his way back into the first round, Minor makes sense here as an economical pick.  He has decent upside, though not a lot, and he could contribute as a back end rotation cog as early as Opening Day 2011.  Previously: #33.
18. Florida - Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Christian Academy (MO) - Poor Marlins.  They lost Zack Wheeler to a division rival in the span of just a week.  However, they'll have no problem taking UNC commit Jacob Turner, an impressive specimen of his own.  Previously: #22.
19. St. Louis - Max Stassi, C, Yuba City HS (CA) - Say goodbye to Yadier Molina.  The Cardinals are going to have a catcher who can hit.  Spare me the Tony LaRussa comments, as no one is dumb enough to pass up on a premier talent like Stassi if he sticks around this long.  Previously: #14.
20. Toronto - Andy Oliver, LHP, Oklahoma State - How long his pure upside will hold him up only God knows.  Oliver is quickly becoming the most disappointing college pitchers in recent memory, throwing out those who have come down with an injury.  Toronto has time and a track record with college pitchers, so here's a nice fit.  For now.  Previously: #16.
21. Houston - Mychal Givens, RHP, Plant HS (FL) - Givens' talent is spectacular, but I keep seeing too many warning signs that point to him falling more than expected.  Plus fastballs are great, but he needs some work.  Bobby Heck usually likes a little more polish from his high school arms, but I'm sure he loves Givens' arm just as much.  Previously: #15.
22. Minnesota - Matt Davidson, 3B, Yucaipa HS (CA) - Davidson would form a very nice offensive trio with first round picks Ben Revere and Aaron Hicks from the previous two years.  Having had tons of trouble locking that spot down, I'd be very surprised if they didn't take Davidson if he's available this far down in June.  Previously: #17.
23. Chicago (AL) - James Paxton, LHP, Kentucky - If his knee is fine, this is where I expect Paxton to land.  He rivals Rex Brothers with the fastball, but he's just not quite there.  I like him, but he's unpredictable right now.  Previously: #39.
24. Los Angeles (AL) - Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Santa Monica HS (CA) - The Angels would probably love to be able to tab Skaggs with their first pick.  The local product is comparable with any high schooler above him, so this would be a great value pick.  Previously: #20.
25. Los Angeles (AL) - Mike Trout, OF, Millville HS (NJ) - While Brian Goodwin is still a quality player, all the hype is building around Trout.  He's athletic, hits with authority, and apparently gets along well with scouts (so says BA).  He'd be a great hitting complement to Skaggs.  Previously: #47.
26. Milwaukee - Jason Stoffel, RHP, Arizona - There's really two choices here if I'm Milwaukee.  Stoffel or Madison Younginer.  Will Younginer sign for an affordable price?  Probably not.  Alright, there's your decision.  Milwaukee has some closing prospects, but no one as good as Stoffel.  Previously: #24.
27. Seattle - Madison Younginer, RHP, Mauldin HS (SC) - I think Jack Z will win out on this one and will convince ownership to give Younginer an above-slot bonus late in the first round.  Imagine a Dustin Ackley-Madison Younginer combo with your first two picks.  That's too good to pass up.  Previously: #29.
28. Boston - Tim Wheeler, OF, Sacramento State - I didn't think I'd have anyone in the same spot this far down, but Wheeler just fits well into this spot.  He's good at everything, spectacular at nothing, and will be a nice addition for the Sox.  Previously: #28.
29. New York (AL) - Brian Goodwin, OF, Rocky Mount HS (NC) - I think the Yankees will be looking prep here, and Goodwin's a nice young outfielder.  After having suffered with a fairly aging group out there recently, an Austin Jackson-Brian Goodwin influx would be greatly appreciated.  Previously: #25.
30. Tampa Bay - Tommy Joseph, C, Horizon HS (AZ) - I started to ask myself what would hold Tampa Bay back from getting who could end up being the best prep catcher in a strong crop.  I ended up answering nothing.  This kid can hit a ball as far as anyone in the entire draft.  Previously: #36.
31. Chicago (NL) - Kyle Heckathorn, RHP, Kennesaw State - The Cubs like their hard throwers and Heckathorn is just that.  I fully expect him to go anywhere from 25-32 in the draft, as no one at the end of the round will want to pass up a great arm like Heckathorn's.  Previously: #27.
32. Colorado - Kendal Volz, RHP, Baylor - Volz continues to hurt his draft stock by flashing stuff that's below where it was a year ago.  That's never a good sign.  If he's available here, I think Colorado would want to take a chance that they could fix him, as his arm is still one the best in the drat.  Taking Leake earlier wouldn't influence that decision.  Previously: #21.

There you have it.  This week's installment of my amateur mock draft.  Anything stand out?  Who should be moved?  Who should be added?

Dropped from last week's 1st round mock: OF Jared Mitchell, C Austin Maddox, SS Jiovanni Mier, OF AJ Pollock, 3B Bobby Borchering

Comments on draft philosophy are welcome, as I hope I can nail down at least the options most teams will be looking at come June.  As you can see, one player moving affects everyone else greatly, so try and think how it must feel to be in the war room on the day of.  Must be one heck of a rush.