MLB Draft 2015: Second round, live

SECOND ROUND

43) Arizona Diamondbacks:  Alex Young, LHP, Texas Christian: Junior, took well to starting after two seasons in bullpen, 2.39 ERA with 81/19 K/BB in 83 innings, 66 hits. Hits 90, nasty breaking knucklecurve, and improved changeup combined with sharp command. Mid-rotation upside.

44) Colorado Rockies:  Peter Lambert, RHP, San Dimas HS, California: UCLA commit, has drawn a few breathless Zack Greinke comps due to athleticism and excellent pitchability though his stuff isn’t at that level yet, fastball in low-90s but has good curve and change. I like him a lot.

45) Texas Rangers Eric Jenkins, OF, West Columbus HS, Chadbourn, North Carolina: Hits left, UNC-Wilmington commit, stands out for speed/defensive ability in center field, an immature hitter at this point who will need development time. Projects as leadoff man if bat develops as hoped. Very much a Rangers style pick, will need time but high upside.

46) Houston Astros Thomas Eshelman, RHP, Cal State Fullerton: Junior, opposite of Funkhouser: average stuff and below average velocity combined with amazingly good command, his career K/BB ratio is 312/18. Posted 1.59 ERA with 130/7 K/BB this year. Durable, stock has been rising recently. Have to like this pick for Houston if only because he'll be a heck of a lot of fun to follow.

47) Chicago Cubs Donnie Dewees, OF, University of North Florida: Junior, hits left, mashed at .422/.483/.749 with 18 homers, 23 steals, 30/16 BB/K in 251 at-bats. Intriguing power/speed combo with mature hitting approach, also strong record with wood bats. Cubs continue to stockpile hitters.

48) Philadelphia Phillies: Scott Kingery, 2B, Arizona: Junior, hits right, batted .392/.423/.561 with 9/18 BB/K in 237 at-bats, stole 11 bases, was more aggressive this year lowering walk rate but showing more pop, defense solid, can also play outfield. Rumored as high as late first round or as late as third round, so early second is a plausible slot.

49) Cincinnati Reds: Antonio Santillan, RHP, Seguin HS, Arlington, Texas: Texas Tech commit but should sign here, throws very hard but also very raw, long term development prospect.

50) Miami Marlins: Brett Lilek, LHP, Arizona State: Junior, 3.20 ERA with 66/41 K/BB in 79 innings, 58 hits. Results spotty but the stuff isn’t, can hit 92-95 with a plus breaking ball, ideal 6-4, 195 pound athletic body, but erratic command holds him back. Could take a leap forward in pro ball.

51) San Diego Padres:  Austin Smith, RHP, Park Visa Community HS, Boynton Beach, Florida: Florida Atlantic commit, well-known on showcase and international circuit, can hit mid-90s with little effort, curveball and change-up have promise but need more work, though command solid overall. I like him better than some of the high school guys who went earlier.

52) Tampa Bay Rays: Chris Betts, C, Wilson HS, Long Beach, California: Lefty hitter, committed to Tennessee. Impressive power hitter with long track record of success; there are few doubts about his bat. He is mobile for a bigger player and has strong leadership skills, but his glove tools aren’t quite as good as Stephenson’s so he fell a little behind on most boards. I'm surprised he fell this far frankly; we'll have to see if there is a signability issue but this is probably early enough.

53) New York Mets Desmond Lindsay, OF, Out-of-Door-Academy, Sarasota, Florida: Hits right, North Carolina commit, another injury victim, in his case a bad hamstring. Good power/speed potential but another guy who has signability concerns due to injury and college commitment though should sign here. Risky choice but with very high upside.

54) Atlanta Braves Lucas Herbert, C, San Clemente HS, California: Right-handed hitter, committed to UCLA. Mobile and polished behind the plate and made good strides with the bat this year, showing strong plate discipline and gap power possibilities. Projected for second round and that's where he went.

55) Milwaukee Brewers Cody Ponce, RHP, Cal Poly Pomona: Junior, 1.44 ERA with 67/14 K/BB in 62 innings, 54 hits, Division II pitcher with high-class stuff including low/mid-90s fastball., slider, curve, change. History of minor shoulder issues hurt stock a little but a solid small college choice if he is healthy, could be solid starter or more dominant reliever.

56) Toronto Blue Jays Brady Singer, RHP, Eustis HS, Florida: University of Florida commit, another rising stock pitcher as fastball improved into 90s, good command and breaking stuff, change-up also improving along with the heater. Also projectable at 6-5, 180. Might have snuck into first round under different circumstances.

57) New York Yankees Jeff Degano, LHP, Indiana State: Senior, Canadian lefty missed most of two years with Tommy John but was outstanding this year, 2.36 ERA, 126/28 K/BB in 99 innings, 78 hits, low-90s fastball and effective breaking ball combined with sharp command for success. Stock rising.

58) Washington Nationals (failure to sign Andrew Suarez)  Andrew Stevenson, OF, LSU: Junior, hits left, batted .362/.413/.466 with 26 steals, 16/24 BB/K in 232 at-bats. Lacks power but hit well with wood in Cape Cod League, very good glove, speed. Looks like a fourth outfielder to me but a good one.

59) Cleveland Indians Juan Hillman, LHP, Olympia HS, Orlando, Florida: Central Florida commit, godson of Tom Gordon and has grown up with Gordon family, outstanding pitchability is his hallmark but his velocity has picked up, too, changes speeds well, athletic, very polished, outstanding choice for Cleveland in this spot.

60) Seattle Mariners Nick Neidert, RHP, Peachtree Ridge HS, Suwanee, Georgia: South Carolina commit, typical low-90s fastball although bothered by some elbow soreness, slider and change-up need work. Good upside here.

61) San Francisco Giants Andrew Suarez, LHP, Miami-FL: Senior, 2.96 ERA with 74/19 K/BB in 79 innings, 76 hits, throws a little harder than standard finesse guy in low-90s, good assortment of secondaries and strong pitchability. Main problem is long injury history and durability questions.

62) Pittsburgh Pirates Kevin Kramer, SS-3B, UCLA: Junior, hits left, batted .323/.423/.476 with 36/38 BB/K in 254 at-bats. Regular shortstop this year but range may fit best at third base. Not a big power hitter but dangerous, gets on base, seems to have overcome labrum issues.

63) Oakland Athletics Mickey White, SS, Alabama: Junior, hits right, batted .339/.444/.537 this year, 31/47 BB/K in 218 at-bats. Physical tools average to slightly above but an instinctive player, particularly on defense, whose performance consistently exceeds tools. Some chance he winds up at second.

64) Kansas City Royals Josh Staumont, RHP, Azusa Pacific: Junior, another impressive power arm, mid/upper-90s and has a power breaking ball. Also has command issues and results don’t always match stuff, 3.67 ERA with 109/54 K/BB in 69 innings, 36 hits. Coaches would have to love getting a hold of this arm. High ceiling, low floor.

65) Detroit Tigers: Tyler Alexander, LHP, Texas Christian: Draft-eligible sophomore with exceptional command, 2.86 ERA with 69/8 K/BB in 91 innings, upper 80s fastball with OK slider and change, throws strikes, back-end starter or relief projection.

66) St. Louis Cardinals Bryce Denton, OF, Ravenwood HS, Brentwood, Tennessee: Hits right, Vanderbilt commit, projects well as a power hitter with a good measure of polish and strong makeup as well. Strong throwing arm but doesn’t run great, some see him as a third baseman. Signability risk like most Vanderbilt guys.

67) Los Angeles Dodgers Mitchell Hansen, OF, Plano HS, Texas: Hits left, Stanford commit, clean swing from left side with 6-4, 200 frame that promises more power to come. On merit looks like a second round type, but Stanford scholarship makes him a signability risk and slot will depend on bonus demands as much as talent.

68) Baltimore Orioles: Jonathan Hughes, RHP, Flowery Branch, Georgia HS: Low-90s fastball, curve, slider, change, committed to Georgia Tech, sort of lost in the shuffle among Georgia preps this year.

69) Washington Nationals Blake Perkins, OF, Verrado HS, Buckeye, Arizona: Hits right, Arizona State commit, renowned for speed, excellent defense, throwing arm. I thought he was more of a fifth or sixth round type but I'm told that was too low and understates his athletic ability.

70) Los Angeles Angels Jahmai Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS, Roswell, Georgia: Hits right, North Carolina commit, exciting athlete with speed, developing power, will hit for average, makeup rated as outstanding, still just 17 years old. I love this pick and think he is a great choice here. High ceiling.

COMPETITIVE BALANCE ROUND B

71) Cincinnati Reds:  Tanner Rainey, RHP, West Alabama: Junior, another possible fast-moving reliever with hot fastball, slider and closing experience, 50/14 K/BB in 28 innings, 1.59 ERA. He also hit 19 homers but his future is on the mound, if control improves.

72) Seattle Mariners:  Andrew Moore, RHP, Oregon State: Junior, 1.87 ERA with 90/19 K/BB in 106 innings, 75 hits. Pitchability type with three mediocre-to-average pitches but stellar command, control, feel for the craft stand out as big positives.

73) Minnesota Twins: Kyle Cody, RHP, Kentucky: Junior, huge at 6-7, 240 and has the arm strength, had designs on first round but stock slipped with command and consistency issues, 4.91 ERA, 63/17 K/BB in 66 innings, 63 hits. Was much better in Cape Cod League, good reclamation project for the right team, which could be the Twins.

74) Los Angeles Dodgers: Josh Sborz, RHP, Virginia: Hard thrower, junior, can hit 93-95, command erratic but 13 saves, 1.95 ERA, 52/21 K/BB in 60 innings, just 34 hits. Could move rapidly in relief.

75) Atlanta Braves: A.J. Minter, LHP, Texas A&M: Junior, limited to 21 innings by injury, 0.43 ERA with 29/8 K/BB then went down with Tommy John surgery. When healthy is very polished three pitch lefty with excellent pitchability.