It's very early to do a Mock Draft, but that isn't going to stop me from speculating. There are a lot of 1st round caliber talents, so this is hard to do at this point but here is my 1st
- 1. Pirates: Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
Rendon is the best talent in this draft and should go 1st overall.
- 2. Mariners: Matt Purke, P, Texas Christian
Purke's two plus pitches will allow him to dominate again this season making him a more clear second choice.
- 3. Diamondbacks: Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
Cole is too talented to let fall past #3 for the Diamondbacks.
- 4. Orioles: Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Texas
Jungmann is a polished young righty that would fit right in with the Baltimore rebuilding effort. He isn't too far from the majors and should fit solidly in that young rotation.
- 5. Royals: Bubba Starling, OF/RHP, Gardner Edgerton HS, Gardner, Kan.
The Royals have had a knack lately taking high ceiling high school talents, and Starling may be have the highest of all the amateur talents in this draft.
- 6. Nationals: Daniel Norris, LHP, Science Hill HS, Johnson City, Tenn.
Norris has the size and velocity to be an ace. The Nationals have shown they want high ceiling guys and Norris is definitely one of them.
- 7. Diamondbacks (for not signing Barret Loux):
John Stilson, rhp, Texas A&M Stilson is a back of the bullpen arm and is more of a supplemental or second round talent, but could get taken here because of signability since it is a compensation pick.
- 8. Indians: Jackie Bradley, OF, South Carolina
Bradley is a potential 5 tool talent and will need to show more power, but he is a polished college bat that would fit well in the Cleveland outfield.
- 9. Cubs: Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA
Bauer is a quirky player and would fit well in the Cubs rotation. He would follow in the footsteps of many other quirky talents to grace the friendly confines.
- 10. Padres (for not signing Karsten Whitson): Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia
The Padres have typically went with a high upside talent the last few season with their first pick but this pick isn't protected like normal 1st round picks. I think they will play it safer here and go with a signable college talent.
- 11. Astros: Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
Gray is most frequntly compared to Roy Oswalt so what better place to go than Houston, where Oswalt spent most of his career.
- 12. Brewers: George Springer, OF, Connecticut
He's a big powerful athletic OF with a ton of upside. The Brewers could go with a variety of players here but Springer may be the best available talent.
- 13. Mets: Archie Bradley, RHP, Broken Arrow (Okla.) HS
Bradley can throw in the mid 90's and has a plus breaking ball. The Mets could add another athletic pitcher to their farm system.
- 14. Marlins: Travis Harrison, OF/3B, Tustin (Calif.) HS
The Marlins have a track record for taking high schoolers with their first pick and Harrison would continue that.
- 15. Brewers (for not signing Dylan Covey): Ricardo Jacquez, RHP/SS, Franklin El Paso TX
Jacquez doesn't fit the signability profile here although he may not be a top 15 talent. He is small but has a huge arm and if the Brewers want to make up for missing out on a great talent in Dylan Covey, this could be it.
- 16. Dodgers: Henry Owens, LHP, Edison HS, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Owens is a tall lefty that throws in the low 90's with a slow curveball. The Dodgers could be looking at another Clayton Kershaw type pitcher.
- 17. Angels: Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde (Fla.) Academy
A shortstop that can stay there and has offensive potential will not last deep into the 1st round. I don't see him getting past the Angels, who love raw high school talents.
- 18. Athletics: Alex Dickerson, OF, Indiana
Dickerson follows the recent movement by the A's in acquiring power hitting OF. Dickerson is just that.
- 19. Red Sox (from Tigers for Victor Martinez): Matt Barnes, RHP, Connecticut
Barnes is a top of the draft talent with his upper 90's fastball and a nice breaking ball. He would join a deep core of prospects in Boston.
- 20. Rockies: Greg Bird, C, Grandview HS
Bird is a local talent that has a ton of potential. He would likely sign for slot or less and has top of the draft potential with his bat. He is average at best defensively and may end up elsewhere.
- 21. Blue Jays: Jack Armstrong, RHP, Vanderbilt
Armstrong has a mid 90's fastball with room to gain strength. He needs polish but another arm would go well in the Blue Jays system.
- 22. Cardinals: Michael Kelly, P, West Boca Raton (Boca Raton Fla.)
Kelly could be another hard throwing high school arm to follow Shelby Miller up to the majors.
- 23. Nationals (from White Sox for Adam Dunn): Alex Meyer, RHP, Kentucky
The Nats could take Meyer to add a college righty to go along with the H.S. lefty the took earlier.
- 24. Rays (from Red Sox for Carl Crawford): Blake Swihart, C, Rio Rancho, N.M.
Swihart is a solid defensive catcher with the potential to be a solid hitter. The switch hitter could be a valuable player if he gains some power.
- 25. Padres: Dillon Maples, RHP, Pinecrest HS, Southern Pines, N.C.
Maples fits more of what the Padres usually do in the 1st round, taking a high school kid with upside. He could balance the Hultzen pick from earlier.
- 26. Rangers: Charlie Tilson, OF, New Trier, Wilmette, IL
Tilson could move up boards this spring. He is a potential five tool talent, but the power isn't there yet. The speed is off the charts and could gain more attention this spring, but it may be tough in Illinois. Keep an eye on him.
- 27. Reds: Joshua Bell, OF, Jesuit HS, Dallas TX
Bell is a raw toolsy outfielder with a lot of potential. The Reds typically go with college talents, but considering how well they did in 2005 with Bruce and before that with Votto, they may go with a high schooler.
- 28. Braves: Joshua Tobias, 2B, Southeast Guilford Greensboro NC
I like Tobias more than most and I think the Braves will stick more with their high school profile than stay in their back yard.
- 29. Giants: B.A. Vollmuth, SS, Southern Mississippi
Vollmuth is a typical recent Giant draft pick. He is close to a finished product, like Gary Brown was last year and shouldn't be too far from getting a shot in the majors. Not a high ceiling guy by any means though.
- 30. Twins: Jason Esposito, 3B, Vanderbilt
Esposito doesn't fit the Twins profile, but I think he could be a good fit there. The Twins don't have a lock at 3B for the future (not a big Valencia believer) and could potentially be a Michael Cuddyer type player if he develops.
- 31. Yankees: Dillon Howard, RHP, Searcy (Ark.) HS
While the Yankees seem to take college guys most of the time, they broke out of that last season and may take this top talent if he slips to them.
- 32. Rays: Zach Cone, OF, Georgia
Cone is another 5 tool type of guy but he needs some time to develop these skills. He fits the Rays toolsy OF mold.
- 33. Phillies: Mikie Mahtook, OF, Louisiana State
Mahtook is a superior athlete that fits the Phillies mold and I can't see him getting out of the 1st round and I can't see the Phillies passing on him.
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