2011 Community Mock Draft Review: NL Central

by John Sickels on Jun 5, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Moving forward with the Mock Draft reviews brings us to the NL Central.

National League Central Mock Draft Review:

Chicago Cubs
1-9) Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
2) Charlie Tilson, OF, Illinois HS
3) Dante Bichette, Jr, OF-3B, Florida HS
COMMENT: Here we have a near-ready major league arm with Sonny Gray, a local high school outfielder, and a bloodline Florida prep. I am lukewarm towards Tilson, but I love Bichette in the third round. The Cubs often march to their own drummer in the first round, but it would be hard to see them passing on someone like Gray to make a more unique choice that early in the round.

Cincinnati Reds
1-27) Henry Owens, LHP, California HS
2) Ryan Carpenter, LHP, Gonzaga
3) Tyler Gibson, SS, Georgia HS
COMMENT: Owens is extremely polished for a high school guy and I think he's a sound pick at 27^th overall. Carpenter in the second round may be a stretch by a round or two, but you can make a case for him. Gibson doesn't get as much attention as he deserves, but he has a good bat from the left side and solid power potential. He might be expensive to buy away from Georgia Tech.

Houston Astros
1-11) Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Texas
2) Bryan Brickhouse, RHP, Texas HS
3) Brett Austin, C, North Carolina HS
COMMENT: Two home-state power arms headline the Astros choices, one who should advance quickly and one who will need more time. Then you pick up someone to catch their pitches with Austin, though there is some concern that his defense won't develop sufficiently and he'll end up at another position.

Milwaukee Brewers
1-12) Matt Barnes, RHP, Connecticut
1-15) Javier Baez, SS, Florida HS
2) Larry Greene, OF, Georgia HS
3) Joe Musgrove, RHP, California HS
COMMENT: Barnes and Baez are solid picks at 12 and 15, with a good balance of affordability and upside in both cases. Greene draws a lot of mixed opinions; he's very raw but has huge power upside, and I think he fits better here in the second round than in the first, where he was rumored to go a week ago. Musgrove is a fine pick in the third round and would have been a first round choice in some draft classes.

Pittsburgh Pirates
1-1) Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
2) Chris Reed, LHP, Stanford
3) Navery Moore, RHP, Vanderbilt
COMMENTS: Current rumor has Cole going to the Pirates at 1-1, so this makes perfect sense as the Pirates seek to build their future pitching staff. Reed relieved in college but has the arsenal to start. The Pirates scouting director left before the third round. I wasn't sure what he was interested in, but I felt that Navery Moore, Vanderbilt closer, continued the college power arm theme and you could then fill in with position players in later rounds.

St. Louis Cardinals
1-22) Josh Bell, OF, Texas HS
2) Andrew Gagnon, RHP, Long Beach State
3) Tyler Greene, 3B-SS, Florida HS
COMMENTS: Bell will be very expensive to sign, if you can sign him at all, but the Cardinals have taken similar risks in the past. Andrew Gagnon is a perfect Cards pick in the second round, an efficiency college strike-thrower. Tyler Greene in the third has strong tools but polish questions, plus the Cardinals already have a Tyler Greene! It would all come down to if you can sign Bell or not.

Poll

Who had the best Mock Draft in this division?

Chicago Cubs

32 votes

Cincinnati Reds

11 votes

Houston Astros

54 votes

Milwaukee Brewers

51 votes

Pittsburgh Pirates

56 votes

St. Louis Cardinals

36 votes

240 votes | Poll has closed

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Read More: Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs

Comments

Cubs

I think the Cubs drafter did a good job, Gray is a fine pickup, and adding bats in the next few rounds will probably be the tact that Wilken takes in the real draft. I’d rather have added another infielder in the 2nd round, like Vogelbach, who is a real masher. Purke would’ve been an interesting choice as well, LHP are a weakness in the Cubs system too.

by neifiisgreat on Jun 5, 2025 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

agreed

I like Tilson more than John does, so this was a great draft as far as I’m concerned.

by AndrewTorrez on Jun 5, 2025 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Ditto

If he’s ultimately signable, Charles Tilson could be one of the best prep values out there.

by Matt0330 on Jun 6, 2025 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

reminds me a little

of Trout.

by Havok1517 on Jun 6, 2025 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I still hold out hope the Cubs blow minds, take, and then pay

Josh Bell. I just think his bat is going to play big.

Still, this draft is solid though I do agree that Tilson’s a little meh. He’s got a line drive stroke and some looseness about him, but will there be powah?

by SenorGato on Jun 5, 2025 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

I don't know enough about supplemental and later guys

So my evaluation is mostly based on first round picks. For me, the order would go like this (assuming they all sign):

1. Cardinals - Bell is fantastic. I’m sold on the bat.
2. Pirates - I’m not nearly as sold on Cole as some (I think it’s a silly pick at number one for Pittsburgh). He’s high on my board, but I actually have him slightly behind Bell.
3. Astros - Bauer and Jungmann are my personal favorites among the college arms, and I have Jungmann just behind Cole.
4. Brewers - Barnes and Baez are solid but unspectacular picks at those positions.
5. Cubs - Too much possible Gray ends up as a closer for me to put him in the top 10, I think it’s an overdraft.
6. Reds - Mainly because they’re picking at 27 and the best are off the board, but Owens is obviously lower down than the other guys on this list in my mind.

http://www.crawfishboxes.com

by OremLK on Jun 5, 2025 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

Cole smokescreen

I think all this Cole hype is just that, a guy with tools but still needs work. His last several starts have shown a decline on his fastball, which makes you question his ability to last 7+ innings down the road. I still think the Pirates should take Hultzen. They’re going to have to shell out money regardless. Also to be considered: Cole and Rendon are both represented by the (in)famous Scott Boras, who was also Pedro Alvarez’s agent. I think we remember how well that went, as it went to the last minute (literally) on getting the deal done. I don’t think the Pirates want to go through that again. Hultzen is polished and should be ready to play in the majors at least by late 2012/early 2013. At this point with just over a day to go, I think Rendon is definitely out and it comes down to Cole and Hultzen. Pirates realize arms win games.

by rblythepittsteel on Jun 5, 2025 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

I hang out at BucsDugout a lot

A poster over there is saying that people in the know have told him that Rendon has structural damage to his shoulder, and that the Pirates have been advised by medical people to not pick him. The guy is pretty believable overall, in my opinion.

by Woo! on Jun 5, 2025 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Hebner......

Is more reliable than Charlie, that’s for sure.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Jun 5, 2025 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Also

The Pirates have no problem dealing with Boras. The alvarez deal did get done, after all.

by Woo! on Jun 5, 2025 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

As a pirates fan...

I absolutely hate the 2nd and 3rd round picks

by Drufan11 on Jun 5, 2025 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

In the end I voted for the Cubs, but each team made at least 1 pick that I have issues with. Pittsburgh’s draft especially felt like a missed opportunity to me.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

Keep an eye on my son, Jake "The Jacksonville Rifle" Dunning. From SS to the mound - exclusively toeing the rubber since March 2010.

by Fla-Giant on Jun 5, 2025 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

How?

What was Pittsburghs missed opportunity, I’m guessing its because your a Rendon guy. So explain to me how picking two third basemen in the top 2 of the draft withing a span of 4 years is a smart way to build a team.

They need arms to win and Cole like him or not is the best arm in the draft and he has the best chance of becoming an ace. None of these guys are finished products now so I don’t know why everyone is getting hung up on college stats. I’ll take my chances that the pro coaches can take his stuff and turn him into a tremendous pitcher.

by GoldenSpikes24 on Jun 5, 2025 6:39 PM EDT reply actions

Bauer is better than Cole

I’m just going to put that out there, straight-up.

http://www.crawfishboxes.com

by OremLK on Jun 5, 2025 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually, I was totally fine with the Cole pick. If I was choosing for the Pirates it would be a toss-up between Cole, Bauer, and Bundy. I would prefer Bauer, but only by the teensiest margin over the other 2.

No, my problem with the Pirates mock draft were it’s last 2 picks. It’s just my opinion, but I feel that picking at #61 overall, and at #91 overall, and seeing who was still left on the board, they should have done a lot better than Chris Reed and Navery Moore (who, let’s face it, profile best as relievers).

Just doing a quick check, here’s who I would have taken instead of Reed at #61 (in no particular order):
Connor Barron, Jake Hager, Jace Peterson, Dillon Maples, Kyle Crick, Tyler Goeddel, and Riley Moore

Here’s who they could have had at #91:
Joe Musgrove, Tyler Marlette, Tyler Greene, Nick Ahmed, Noe Ramirez, Cory Massoni, and James McCann

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

Keep an eye on my son, Jake "The Jacksonville Rifle" Dunning. From SS to the mound - exclusively toeing the rubber since March 2010.

by Fla-Giant on Jun 5, 2025 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Reed

I picked Reed in the second round because I like him, I believe he has a ton of ability, and apparently I’m not the only one as he just went #16 overall

by GoldenSpikes24 on Jun 6, 2025 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

To the Dodgers... you really need that one explained?

by bdlugz on Jun 8, 2025 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Reed

Reed was the only signable pick in the whole draft?!

There were a bunch of guys they could have taken just to avoid a big bonus. They took him because he has a 1st Round arm. They may have avoided the big ticket names because of finances, but to act like he has no talent because he is signable is just ridiculous.

by GoldenSpikes24 on Jun 8, 2025 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Rendon

If he were healthy and picked #1 that would accelerate the move to 1B for Pedro which will happen later or sooner. Reed will be decent but not a pick this FO would make. The high upside high schooler has been their track record. So I agree with Maples or Crick

by buccoben on Jun 5, 2025 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

This year

I like Bauer, yes he’s better than Cole this year, but this year doesn’t do the Pirates any good. The question is who is likely to be better for the next 6 years or more, if I’m betting on a pitcher maintaining his stuff over that period of time I’m taking Cole.

by GoldenSpikes24 on Jun 5, 2025 8:56 PM EDT reply actions

I don't see any way Bell signs if he goes that low.

by lhb98 on Jun 6, 2025 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

Bell

Its not about where you get drafted but how much money is thrown at you. I think it would be hard for him to pass up $3.5-$4.5M.

Redbird Dugout
http://www.redbirddugout.com

by JDizzidy on Jun 6, 2025 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Cincinnati Reds Draft

Cincinnati Reds Draft 1.27 – Henry Owens, LHP, Edison HS, Huntington Beach, California

I thought long and hard about what to do here. Since the Reds have never drafted this late before, they are on uncommon ground and recently read an article that the Reds intend to target the higher upside but al will depend upon who is available. Jocketty has had more success drafting HS players late than college players and I followed suit.
At 6’5 195, I personally felt that the large and projectable Henry Owens was the best available talent. His skinny frame indicates he’s not done growing and I feel he’ll add velocity. I also couldn’t help pay attention to his competition saying how great he was.

2.84 – Ryan Carpenter, LHP, Gonzaga
A 6’5 Alaskan lefty Ryan Carpenter is very talented. Many people wanted the Reds to draft a capable college arm that will contribute sooner rather than later and here he is. I had him tabbed as a supplemental pick that works in the mid 90’s with 3 potential plus pitches. Pitching for Gonzaga, he might be more of an unknown but I was happy to see him there for the pick as I feel he has top of rotation stuff.

3.114 – Tyler Gibson, SS, Stratford HS, Macon, Georgia

Gibson filled a need while providing organizational depth at a thin position. He is capable of playing SS and at 6’2 190 even if he outgrows SS and needs to be moved to 3B, that would be alright. Coming out of HS, he will allow the Reds to see what they have with Hamilton and Frazier, and his lefty bat will play great for the Reds in the future as well. I think in the end, he will be impressive at the hot corner. Another pick I was excited about.

Pre-draft, I actually predicted 2 of my 3 picks (Owens & Gibson). If the draft had carried on, I would have targeted in no particular order…

Matt Skole, 3B/1B/OF, Georgia Tech
Austin Slater, SS/3B, The Bolles HS, Jacksonville, Florida
Carter Capps, RHP, Mount Olive
Wallace Gonzalez, OF, Bishop Amat HS, Covina, California
Austin Wood, RHP, USC
Harold Martinez, 3B, Miami
Nathan Burns, OF, Howard
Scott Lyman, OF, UC Davis
Thomas Robson, RHP, Delta Secondary School, Delta, British Columbia
Andrew Suarez, LHP, Columbus HS, Miami, Florida
Chris Jensen, RHP, San Diego
Gabriel Rosa, OF, Colegio Hector Urdaneta, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

by Havok1517 on Jun 6, 2025 9:57 AM EDT reply actions