With picks #8, 24, and 25 in the first and comp, there are a lot of different prospects in play for the mock Padres, so here is my top 25:
1. Jason Groome LHP
2. Kyle Lewis OF
3. Riley Pint RHP
4. Dakota Hudson RHP
5. Corey Ray OF
6. Delvin Perez SS
7. A.J. Puk LHP
8. Mickey Moniak OF
9. Nick Senzel 3B
10. Blake Rutherford OF
11.Matt Manning RHP
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12. Joey Wentz LHP
13. Jordan Sheffield RHP
14. Zack Collins C!
15. Josh Lowe 3B
15. Nolan Jones 3B
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17. Ian Anderson RHP
18. Anfernee Grier OF
19. Connor Jones RHP
20. Alex Kirilloff OF
21. Braxton Garrett LHP
22. Justin Dunn RHP
23. T.J. Zeuch RHP
24. Carter Kieboom 3B
25. Robert Tyler RHP
Fuck the man, I still like Groome the best. As I already know Groome, Lewis, Pint, Ray, or Puk have close to 0% chance of being available, it's basically a showdown between the rest of that first tier. Hudson is holding steady as the likely choice. The top 10 in this draft is Ft. Knox, but Matt Manning belongs, and definitely a real candidate if the first 7 teams aren't cooperating.
Attempts to talk myself out of Anfernee Grier have been unsuccessful. Josh Lowe and Nolan Jones remain the same person as far as I'm concerned.
Of those outside the top 25, Taylor Trammell, Alec Hansen, and Joe Rizzo have the best chance at jumping on. I'm in a holding pattern on the first two. I have trouble unpacking super toolsy HS hitters like Trammell, and Hansen's a liquid. I have a good handle on Rizzo, I'm just not sure how aggressive I want to be with a guy like him. He could easily be in Kirilloff's spot.
Now for some of the slightly (or not-at-all) off-the radar guys I'm looking at, maybe as 4th Rounders
Cole Stobbe OF? AR HS
Far from obscure but he's falling a bit, and I've always been a buyer. Laughably listed at SS til recently, and perhaps too clumsy for the infield altogether, but the bat is on point with effortless power, and FWIW, a Trackman bat speed superstar.
Jeremy Martinez C USC
Our top scientists are trying to figure out what the difference is between Martinez and Matt Thaiss.
Carlos Cortes ? FL HS
The 'ol switch-throwing hitter. Described as a 2B/OF/C, and may even have a lefty relief fall back if he's struck by lightning or something. For all that, probably settles in at 2B where his physical tools should work best. Not a huge ceiling, but bound to hit and packs a punch for his size. Interestingly, committed to South Carolina alongside Rizzo, another safe HS bat whose positional future is up in the air.
Bailey Clark RHP Duke
Had helium at one point (February is usually not a great time for that) and now...not so much. May not hack it as a starter, though it's worth exploring. One way or another, he's riding the ERA Train straight to Bargain Town.
Ryan Williamson LHP NC State
Lefty with the stuff and athleticism to start. Scattershot. Needs a few coats of paint, but misses good bats and looks the part.
Jaren Shelby OF KY HS
Had some hype last year and has really fallen off the radar. I'm not plugged in enough to know why that happened, but a great candidate for a mid-round overdraft. Reminds me a lot of Orioles 2015 4th rounder Ryan McKenna.
JaVon Shelby 2B/OF Kentucky
Why not? This Shelby's stock has eaten it even more ravenously. Little guy with a big swing.
Avery Tuck OF CA HS
Another HS OF who fell off the radar. Good chance to totally eat it in the pros, but might be worth a flyer.
Kep Brown OF JuCo
Kind of a RHH version of Tuck, but actually has (had) better tools. Unimpressive run in JuCo, rather than HS, which is a plus. He looked like a 2nd rounder last year, I wonder if the achilles has slowed him down.
Kramer Robertson UTIL LSU
Pat Summit's son. I have very little idea of where he will go in the draft, though wherever it is, it will likely be later than the 4th, and too late. Very small framed guy at 5'10" 166 and already well built (he's looked exactly the same since he was 15), he has developed serious contact skills and could possibly play SS. Good vibes. Dead ringer for a late blooming Tony Renda.
Blake Tiberi 3B Louisville
The poor man's Nick Senzel. If the Astros or Cards don't draft this guy in real life, I will eat my hat.
