American League Central Mock Draft Review

Chicago

23) Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana
38) Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College
61) Keyvius Sampson, RHP, Florida HS
71) Brian Goodwin, OF, North Carolina HS
102) Blake Smith, RHP, California

COMMENT: This is a good mixture of talent. Arnett and Sanchez are polished college players, with Sanchez in particular being a potential bargain at 38. Sampson and Goodwin provide high-upside ability. I'm a particular fan of Sampson, but Goodwin could have some signability issues with Boras and North Carolina being factors. Blake Smith has a great baseball name and two-way ability. He is much more polished as an outfielder than as a pitcher. I don't know if the real White Sox would have a huge interest in Arnett and Sanchez, but as a theoretical use of multiple picks this is a sound draft.

Cleveland

15) Shelby Miller, RHP, Texas HS
63) Aaron Miller, LHP, Baylor
94) David Nick, SS, California HS

COMMENT: When the Rangers didn't pick Miller, he seemed like a logical choice to fall one spot to Cleveland. Baylor's Miller needs more polish than the average college pitcher, but the Indians need power arms, and he combines well with Shelby Miller to add heat to the system. Nick has a strong bat but will likely move to second base as a pro. The two pitchers carry risk but the rewards could be strong, and they fit the need of the system.

Detroit

9) Grant Green, SS, Southern Cal
58) Brody Colvin, RHP, Louisiana HS
89) Andrew Doyle, RHP, Oklahoma

COMMENT: Green has had a somewhat disappointing spring, but is still the top infielder available this year and a good fit for the Tigers. Colvin is athletic and projectable, and seems very much like the kind of young pitcher the Tigers covet. Doyle is more of a polish and precision guy, but should move quickly through the system. Good mixture here, although I'm not particularly high on Doyle.

Kansas City

12) Rex Brothers, LHP, Lipscomb
91) Stephen Perez, SS, Florida HS

COMMENT: An impressive power arm in Brothers, though one that will need more development time than a lot of college guys. Perez in the third round strikes me as an overdraft. He is athletic, has some speed and polish, and makes contact, but at 5-10, 170 is rather undersized and I'm not convinced about his bat. The lack of a second round pick obviously hurts depth here, and there isn't much slack for development.

Minnesota

22) Jiovanni Mier, SS, California HS
46) Reymond Fuentes, OF, Puerto Rico HS
70) Victor Black, RHP, Dallas Baptist
101) A.J. Morris, RHP, Kansas State

COMMENT: This looks a lot like something the real Twins would do: toolsy high school hitters and college pitchers. I like Fuentes a lot, but I'm not at all certain that Mier will hit enough to justify a first round choice. Black has a great arm but could use more polish, while Morris has had a terrific season but has less stuff and a heavy workload. My Twins Shadow Draft will probably look a lot different.

American League West Mock Draft Review

Los Angeles

24) James Paxton, LHP, Kentucky
25) Matt Davidson, 3B, California HS
40) Alex Wilson, RHP, Texas A&M
42) Madison Younginer, RHP, South Carolina HS
48) Josh Phegley, C, Indiana
80) Brooks Raley, LHP, Texas A&M
110) J.R. Murphy, C, Florida HS

COMMENT: With multiple early picks, the Angels have a chance to rebuild their system quickly, and it will be interesting to see if the real draft takes a similar tack to this one. The Angels usually prefer tools and upside. Although Paxton is a college pick, he's very projectable and needs more polish. Davidson might be a slight overdraft, but I don't have a problem with it and he does seem like the kind of hitter they would like. The mixture of high school and college choices that follow seem logical, though I'm not sure Wilson and Phegley are "Angels types." On the other hand, preps Younginer and Murphy fit the Angels profile, and Raley is unusually athletic for a college pitcher, which seems like something they would like. Overall I think this is a good use of multiple picks.

Oakland

13) Donavan Tate, OF, Georgia HS
92) Robert Stock, RHP, Southern Cal

COMMENT: While Tate doesn't fit the stereotype of what the Athletics look for, rumors persist that Oakland is strongly considering him should he fall this far. Stock has huge first round upside as a pitcher but his signability is a question. This pair would be expensive and somewhat risky, but the upside would be outstanding.

Seattle

2) Dustin Ackley, OF, North Carolina
27) Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford
33) Mychal Givens, SS, Florida HS
51) Angelo Songco, OF, Loyola Marymount
82) Andrew Susac, C, California HS

COMMENT: Ackley is a no-brainer. Storen relieved in college, but the mock organization director drafted him as a starter according to his comment in the thread. Givens has a very high ceiling and blends nicely with Ackely and Storen's college polish. Songco provides another power bat for the outfield. Susac has gotten a bit lost in the shuffle of high school catching this year, but is a legitimate pick. Overall, a draft like this would provide a nice combination of tools and skills for the system.

Texas

14) Chad James, LHP, Oklahoma HS
44) Jared Mitchell, OF, LSU
62) Zack Van Rosenberg, RHP, Louisiana HS
93) Billy Bullock, RHP, Florida

COMMENT: A lot of people are projecting home-state product Shelby Miller for the Rangers at 14, but the mock director selected James instead. Either would fit based on talent, fitting the mold of the power arm that the Rangers have been trying to collect. Mitchell at 44 is a steal. I'm also fond of Rosenberg, who may not have the pure stuff of some of the others but has terrific pitchability for a prep. Bullock in the third round is a guy who could help in the pen relatively soon. Overall, I like the mix of high school and college guys, upside with polish.

National League West Mock Draft Review

Arizona

16) Wil Myers, C, North Carolina HS
17) Matt Purke, LHP, Texas HS
35) David Renfroe, SS, Mississippi HS
41) Brett Jackson, OF, California
45) Tommy Mendonica, 3B, Fresno State
60) Jeff Kobernus, 2B, California
64) Joe Kelly, RHP, UC Riverside
95) Bryan Berglund, RHP, California HS

COMMENTS: I think this is terrific on paper, but in reality I doubt the Dbacks would go for Purke due to his high price tag. On the other hand, if they DID do something like this, and if Purke proved unsignable, you could take that money and make sure you lock up Myers and Renfroe, giving you two strong preps even if you miss out on Purke. The college picks should all be affordable and provide some balance for the high schoolers. Berglund is a very interesting high school pitcher and would be a nice slot there in the third round.

Colorado

11) Tanner Scheppers, RHP, St. Paul Saints
32) Tim Wheeler, OF, Sacramento State
34) Everett Williams, OF, Texas HS
59) Jake Eliopoulos, LHP, Canada HS
90) Derek McCallum, 2B, Minnesota

COMMENT: This is a very good draft. Scheppers carries the extra risk due to his shoulder problem last year, but if he can stay healthy he could be the second-best pitcher in the draft. Wheeler and Williams are both first round talents, and getting them at 32 and 34 is a coup. Eliopoulos is probably a slight overdraft, but as a projectable high schooler with a fresh arm he has lots of upside. McCallum is a personal favorite and a target for my Shadow Twins. Overall, I like this broad mix of talent.

Los Angeles

36) Garrett Gould, RHP, Kansas HS
56) Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas HS
65) Matt Bashore, LHP, Indiana
96) Josh Leyland, C, California HS

COMMENT: This looks like something the Dodgers do, given their liking for big strong athlete types. Gould is a candidate to sneak into the first round unexpectedly, so getting him at 36 is good value and he does fit the Dodgers mold. Heathcott does as well. Bashore is a polished college guy, providing some leavening for the preps, similar to Josh Lindbloom in last year's draft. Leyland returns to the high school theme and again is the type of player the Dodgers favor. Overall, this is a very realistic draft.

San Diego

3) Aaron Crow, RHP, Fort Worth Cats
52) Nick Franklin, SS, Florida HS
83) Robbie Erlin, LHP, California  HS

COMMENT: The Padres are usually college-oriented. Crow is a logical pick at number three overall if they don't feel they can afford Donavan Tate. Franklin is a tools guy with a good glove and offensive potential, though there are some questions about his power. Erlin is a short lefty at 5-11, but has a lively fastball/curveball combination and a lot of people think he is underrated. Although I don't think the Padres draft will actually look like this, given their past track record, on its own terms this is a good trio of talent.

San Francisco

6) Jacob Turner, RHP, Missouri HS
55) Kentrail Davis, OF, Tennessee
86) Austin Maddox, C, Florida HS

COMMENT: The Giants have a good track record with high school pitchers, and Turner seems to be the type who would definitely interest them, though cost-wise I don't know if they would actually do this. Davis has high upside for a college player, but also high risk, and likewise has a big pricetag and leverage as a sophomore. Maddox's stock fell a little this spring, but again has high upside. This is a risky and expensive group, but in terms of potential impact ranks highly and could end up being excellent if these guys live to their potential.

Looks like it might be an interesting afternoon around here.

National League Central Mock Draft Review

Chicago

31) A.J. Pollock, OF, Notre Dame
79) Tanner Bushue, RHP, Illinois HS
109) Tyler Kehrer, LHP, Eastern Illinois

COMMENT: The Cubs director didn't show up, so I ended up making these picks. The Cubs/Notre Dame connection is probably a bit overblown in the press, but Pollock does make sense for the Cubs at the bottom of the first round. After that I went with two home-state pitchers, one high school and one college, to provide a mixture of talent for the system. I'm not sure the real Cubs would be interested in Bushue, but Kehrer does seem the type they would like based on recent college-oriented drafts.

Cincinnati

8) Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
43) Kyle Heckathorn, RHP, Kennesaw State
57) Jason Kipnis, OF, Arizona State
88) Kyle Seager, 2B, North Carolina

COMMENT: College-oriented but solid. I love Leake and he would seem to match up well with what the Reds need. Heckathorn's stock has dropped. . .he can be erratic and has some ugly arm action in my opinion, but given his upside is a nice pick at 43. Kipnis and Seager are solid college bats, unlikely to be stars but both likely to get to the Show in some capacity.

Houston

21) Mike Trout, OF, New Jersey HS
69) Colton Cain, LHP-1B, Texas HS
100) Kendal Volz, RHP, Baylor
111) Jake Cowan, RHP, San Jacinto JC

COMMENT: The Astros need everything, but are noted for some unusual draft decisions. This mock draft is a good mixture and if they did something like this it would not surprise me. Trout has tools galore but could need a bit more time due to cold-weather background. Cain is also high-ceiling but won't be cheap to get away from Texas; perhaps the home state connection would help. Volz was an anticipated first round pick who dropped due to a puzzlingly ineffective spring performance, but given his past record could be a bargain at 100. Cowan is one of the best junior college talents available. All in all, there is risk here but a lot of upside as well.

Milwaukee

26) Andrew Oliver, LHP, Oklahoma State
39) Rich Poythress, 1B, Georgia
47) Sam Dyson, RHP, South Carolina
73) LeVon Washington, OF, Florida HS
74) Chris Dwyer, LHP, Clemson
105) David Hale, RHP, Princeton

COMMENT: I think this is a sound use of multiple picks. Oliver is something of an enigma, but lefties with his arm strength don't grow on trees. Poythress is a strong college bat of the type often favored by the Brewers. Dyson has first round arm strength and could be a bargain at 47. Washington is a toolsy speed demon, but provides some young leavening for the college picks. Both Dwyer and Hale have lively arms but perhaps some signability issues, given the former's unusual freshman status and the latter's educational opportunities at Princeton. However, if you fail to sign one you can plow the cash into signing the other.

Pittsburgh

4) Tyler Matzek, LHP, California HS
49) Marc Krauss, OF, Ohio
53) Luke Bailey, C, Georgia HS
84) Chris Dominguez, 3B, Louisville

COMMENT: I love this. I don't know if the Pirates would actually go for Matzek in real life, but perhaps it isn't impossible given the money they showed the willingness to spend last year. Krauss, in my opinion, has a very strong bat and is a cost-effective pick. Bailey has the injury, but getting both him and Matzek into the system would definitely prove to doubters that the new look Pirateas mean business. Dominguez in the third round is very nice; I love his power. Overall, I think this is a fine draft, with the mixture of high school and college types I like. Will the Pirates do something like this in real life?

St. Louis

19) Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt
67) Randall Grichuk, OF, Texas HS
98) Robbie Shields, SS, Florida Southern

COMMENT: This looks very much like something the Cardinals might actually do: they lean towards guys with strong college performance records, but will mix in the occasional toolsy high schooler. Grichuck has some of the best power in the draft. Minor and Shields are solid performers who could move through the system swiftly. Shields, in particular, could be underrated and a bargain in this spot.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Mock Draft!

NL EAST

Atlanta:

7) Alex White, RHP, North Carolina
87) Jacob Stewart, OF, Colorado HS

COMMENT: Although the Braves generally prefer local high school talents, Zach Wheeler was already off the board. I don't know if they would go for White in real life, but talent-wise I don't have a problem with this. With no second round pick, making a big splash in the third round with Stewart is intriguing. It will cost a lot of money to get Stewart to pass up Stanford, but perhaps not having a second round pick would free up the cash. If they could actually sign Stewart, this is a good draft.

Florida
18) Bobby Borchering, 3B, Florida HS
66) Brad Boxberger, RHP, Southern Cal
97) Chris Jenkins, RHP, New Jersey HS

COMMENT: Nice mixture of talent here: booming high school bat with home-state connection; college pitcher with above average stuff but some command issues; high ceiling high school arm that needs polish. Jenkins would be expensive to buy out of Stanford, but on paper this is a good fetch of talent.

New York
72) Ryan Buch, RHP, Monmouth
103) Ruben Sierra Jr, OF, Puerto Rico HS

COMMENT: The Mets director didn't show up, so I did this. Buch had one of the best arms still on the board, perhaps a bit raw for a college guy but the type of pitcher the Mets seem to be interested in. He is also local with a New Jersey connection. This is also an organization that loves raw tools types, and Sierra fits that category very well.

Philadelphia

75) Jake Marisnick, OF, California HS
106) Ian Krol, LHP, Illinois HS

COMMENT: Marisnick is a high-ceiling-but-raw-tools outfielder, the kind of guy the Phillies have liked historically. Krol is an intriguing cold-weather high school pitcher. The money saved by not having a first round pick can be deployed to keep these guys out of college, and I can easily see the Phillies doing something like this.

Washington

1) Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State
10) Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kennesaw State
50) Kent Matthes, OF, Alabama
81) D.J. LeMahieu, 2B, LSU

COMMENT: I ran this draft myself since the director was a no-show. Strasburg at 1 was a no-brainer of course. Jenkins at 10 is a very solid college pitcher who should be signable for slot money, an important consideration given the dollars Strasburg will command. Matthes is a budget pick in the second round; he has a fine power bat but as a senior he has little negotiating leverage. LeMahieu was hard to pass up at the top of the third round, despite his erratic spring I still think he has a bright future. Would he sign for third round money, or return to college for his junior year?

Use this thread to discuss the Mock Draft.

Overall I thought it went pretty well. There were a few glitches, which is to be expected, but it came out to less than an hour per round. I'll post thoughts about each draft starting tomorrow.

This is the final round. I'm picking for the Nationals, Yankees, Mets, and Cubs due to no-shows. Also the Tigers.

81) Nationals: D.J. LeMahieu, 2B, LSU
82) Mariners: Andrew Susac, C, California HS
83) Padres: Robbie Erlin, LHP, HS
84) Pirates: Chris Dominguez, 3B, Louisville
85) Orioles: Deven Marrero, SS, Florida HS
86) Giants: Austin Maddox, C, Florida HS
87) Braves: Jacob Stewart, OF, Colorado HS
88) Reds: Kyle Seager, 2B, North Carolina
89) Tigers: Andrew Doyle, RHP, Oklahoma
90) Rockies: Derek McCallum, 2B, Minnesota
91) Royals: Stephen Perez, SS, Florida HS
92) Athletics: Robert Stock, RHP, USC
93) Rangers: Billy Bullock, RHP, Florida
94) Indians: David Nick, SS, California HS
95) Diamondbacks: Bryan Berglund, RHP, California HS
96) Dodgers: Josh Leyland, C, California HS
97) Marlins: Chris Jenkins, RHP, New Jersey HS
98) Cardinals: Robbie Shields, SS, Florida Southern
99) Blue Jays: Justin Marks, LHP, Louisville
100) Astros: Kendal Volz, RHP, Baylor
101) Twins: A.J. Morris, RHP, Kansas State
102) White Sox: Blake Smith, RHP, California
103) Mets: Ruben Sierra JR, OF, Puerto Rico HS
104) Blue Jays: Max Walla, OF, New Mexico HS
105) Brewers: David Hale, RHP, Princeton
106) Phillies: Ian Krol, LHP, Illinois HS
107) Red Sox: Daniel Fields, SS, Michigan HS
108) Rays: David Holmberg, LHP, Florida HS
109) Cubs: Tyler Kehrer, LHP, Eastern Illinois
110) AngelsL J.R. Murphy, C, Florida HS
111) Astros: Jake Cowan, RHP, San Jacinto JC

I'm picking the Nationals and Yankees.

Please keep arguing to a minimum....we can critique each other's picks later. Signability should be factored in to some extent. I'm doing that with the Nationals right now due to cost of Strasburg.

50) Nationals: Kent Matthes, OF, Alabama
51) Mariners: Angelo Songco, OF, Loyola Marymount
52) Padres: Nick Franklin, SS, Florida HS
53) Pirates: Luke Bailey, C, Georgia HS
54) Orioles: Todd Glaesmann, OF, Texas HS
55) Giants: Kentrail Davis, OF, Tennessee
56) Dodgers: Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas HS
57) Reds: Jason Kipnis, OF, Arizona State
58) Tigers: Brody Colvin, RHP, Louisiana HS
59) Rockies: Jake Eliopoulos, LHP, Canada HS
60) Diamondbacks: Jeff Kobernus, 2B, California
61) White Sox: Keyvius Sampson, RHP, Florida HS
62) Rangers: Zach Van Rosenberg, RHP, Louisiana HS
63) Indians: Aaron Miller, LHP, Baylor
64) Diamondbacks: Joe Kelly, RHP, UC Riverside
65) Dodgers: Matt Bashore, LHP, Indiana
66) Marlins: Brad Boxberger, RHP, Southern Cal
67) Cardinals: Randall Grichuk, OF, Texas HS
68) Blue Jays: Jeff Malm, 1B, Nevada HS
69) Astros: Colton Cain, LHP-1B, Texas HS
70) Twins: Victor Black, RHP, Dallas Baptist
71) White Sox: Brian Goodwin, OF, North Carolina HS
72) Mets: Ryan Buch, RHP, Monmouth
73) Brewers: LeVon Washington, OF, Florida HS
74) Brewers: Chris Dwyer, LHP, Clemson
75) Phillies: Jake Marisneck, OF, California HS
76) Yankees: Jake Barrett, RHP, Arizona HS
77) Red Sox: Billy Hamilton, SS, Mississippi HS
78) Rays: Dane Williams, RHP, Florida HS
79) Cubs: Tanner Bushue, RHP, Illinois HS
80) Angels: Brooks Raley, LHP, Texas A&M

SUPPLEMENTAL ROUND 

33) Mariners: Mychal Givens, SS, Florida HS
34) Rockies: Everett Williams, OF, Texas HS
35) Diamondbacks: David Renfroe, SS, Mississippi HS
36) Dodgers: Garrett Gould, RHP, Kansas HS
37) Blue Jays: Tyler Skaggs, LHP, California HS
38) White Sox: Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College
39) Brewers: Rich Poythress, 1B, Georgia
40) Angels: Alex Wilson, RHP, Texas A&M
41) Diamondbacks: Brett Jackson, OF, California
42) Angels: Madison Younginer, RHP, South Carolina HS
43) Reds: Kyle Heckathorn, RHP, Kennesaw State
44) Rangers: Jared Mitchell, OF, LSU
45) Diamondbacks: Tommy Mendonica, 3B, Fresno State
46) Twins: Reymond Fuentes, OF, Puerto Rico HS
47) Brewers: Sam Dyson, RHP, South Carolina
48) Angels: Josh Phegley, C, Indiana
49) Pirates: Marc Krauss, OF, Ohio