2017 MLB Draft: First Round Live

Welcome to the Minor League Ball 2017 MLB Draft liveblog! We will be updating every pick as they occur while discussing events in the comments section.

1) Minnesota Twins Royce Lewis, SS/OF, San Juan Capistrano, CA: Ultra-toolsy and widely-regarded as the best overall high school hitter in the class, with 70-grade speed and at least 60 raw power plus a chance to stay at shortstop and quality makeup. Full Report.

2) Cincinnati Reds Hunter Greene, RHP, Sherman Oaks, California: Supreme athlete with a fastball up to 102 MPH and enough athleticism to be a first round pick as a shortstop, mixed with exceptional makeup. Full Report.

3) San Diego Padres MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Whiteville, NC: Best high school southpaw and some regard him as the best high school pitcher over Greene, with a fastball up to 95 and polished secondaries for his age. Full Report.

4) Tampa Bay Rays Brendan McKay, 1B, University of Louisville: The best two-way player in the history of college baseball, McKay has been drafted as a first baseman by the Rays. He has well above-average power and is possibly the most polished hitter in the draft. Full Report.

5) Atlanta Braves Kyle Wright, RHP, Vanderbilt University: Long-rumored as a possible first-overall selection, Wright could be a great value here for the Braves with his mid-90s fastball, curve, slider, and change. He won’t need long in the minors. Full report.

6) Oakland Athletics Austin Beck, OF, Lexington, NC: Featuring a complete set of tools, Beck has excellent bat speed, a strong throwing arm, and above-average running speed, giving him multi-category threat potential. Full report.

7) Arizona Diamondbacks Pavin Smith, 1B, University of Virginia: If Brendan McKay doesn’t have the best college bat in the draft, Pavin Smith does. He’s a pure hitter with excellent contact ability, plate discipline, and above-average power. Full report.

8) Philadelphia Phillies Adam Haseley, OF, University of Virginia: Smith’s teammate Haseley is another very polished hitter who showed more power this spring to go with speed and outfield defensive ability. Full report.

9) Milwaukee Brewers Keston Hiura, 2B/OF, UC Irvine: Hiura has the bat speed and polish to be a devastating hitter and could have gone several spots higher if not for questions about a defense and an elbow likely heading towards Tommy John surgery. He’s a bargain when healthy. Full report.

10) Los Angeles Angels Jordon Adell, OF, Louisville, Kentucky: The Angels need upside and Adell certainly provides that with speed, power, and excellent arm strength. There’s some rawness in his game but he looked better this spring and boosted his stock. His makeup also draws raves. Full report.

11) Chicago White Sox Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State University: Big power hitter with 70-grade pop and a decent chance to stick at third base; doesn’t have the classic athletic body but feel for hitting is impressive and the glove is decent enough. Full report.

12) Pittsburgh Pirates Shane Baz, RHP, Tomball, TX: Classic hard-throwing Texan clocked as high as 97-98 MPH, also has a good curve, committed to TCU but should be signable here; Pirates have had good luck with similar pitchers. Full report.

13) Miami Marlins Trevor Rogers, LHP, Carlsbad, New Mexico: He’s a 6-6 lefty who can hit 95, although works more commonly in the 88-93 range, mixes in an effective slider, will need development time for the third pitch but a high ceiling. Full report.

14) Kansas City Royals Nick Pratto, 1B, Huntington Beach, CA: Rumored as high as fourth overall at one point, Pratto is a polished hitter with smooth swing mechanics and advanced strike zone judgment. He’s a good fielder, too. Full report.

15) Houston Astros J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, University of North Carolina: Projected as high as sixth-overall, Bukauskas had a rough finish to the season which probably cost him a few slots. He’s a bargain here with the best slider in the draft and a mid-90s heater. Full report.

16) New York Yankees Clarke Schmidt, RHP, University of South Carolina: Currently on the shelf with Tommy John surgery, a healthy Schmidt features a fastball into the mid-90s with a plus slider and improving change-up. He’ll need recovery time of course. Full report.

17) Seattle Mariners Evan White, 1B-OF, University of Kentucky: Exceptional defensive first baseman and athletic enough to play center field; line drive hitter with polish but opinions about his power long-term are mixed; should hit for high averages. Full report.

18) Detroit Tigers Alex Faedo, RHP, University of Florida: An advanced college arm, Faedo features a three-pitch arsenal with a low-90s fastball, a plus slider, and a change-up, along with a deceptive delivery, projecting as a mid-rotation starter. Full report.

19) San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos, OF, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico: Exceptional tools with outstanding power potential, good speed and a strong arm, classic right field profile, rather raw but quite young at age 17. Full report.

20) New York Mets David Peterson, LHP, University of Oregon: Ridiculous stats this year (140/15 K/BB in 100 innings) with excellent command of his sinker and slider, won’t need long in the minors, projects as a fourth starter. Full report.

21) Baltimore Orioles D.L. Hall, LHP, Valdosta, Georgia: Fastball can get into mid-90s, has a plus curve, mixes in a change-up as well, represents huge value in this pick; six months ago he was considered a top 10 guy. Full report.

22) Toronto Blue Jays Logan Warmoth, SS, University of North Carolina: He can stay at shortstop; bat took a step forward with development of more power this spring; was linked to Blue Jays for weeks and this came true. Full report.

23) Los Angeles Dodgers Jeren Kendall, OF, Vanderbilt University: Excellent tools, 80-speed, above-average power, excellent defense; was first-overall candidate six months ago but contact problems this spring dropped him back. Have to love the ceiling here but pure hitting skills need more work. Full report.

24) Boston Red Sox Tanner Houck, RHP, University of Missouri: Missouri Tigers ace is another arm projected earlier who dropped but represents good value here with low-90s power sinker and slider. Could move quickly as a reliever. Full report.

25) Washington Nationals Seth Romero, LHP, University of Houston: Exceptionally talented and a top ten guy on talent, but fell here because he was thrown off his college team. Full report was written before that happened and represents his upside, if he can keep his head on straight.

26) Texas Rangers Bubba Thompson, OF, Mobile, Alabama: Excellent athlete with 70-speed, 60-arm, improving raw power, showed more polish this spring, was rumored in the top ten a couple of days ago for an under-slot deal; smart enough to choose baseball over football; Rangers love this type of player. Full report.

27) Chicago Cubs Brendon Little, LHP, State Junior College of Florida: Big lefty with mid-90s fastball and a plus curve; can be erratic and needs better change-up but a high ceiling, excellent value in this spot. Full report.

28) Toronto Blue Jays Nate Pearson, RHP, Junior College of Central Florida: Dominated Florida junior college ranks with Little; can hit 100 MPH and showed improved control this year, strong value here, pairs nicely with Warmoth. Full report.

29) Texas Rangers Christopher Seise, SS, Winter Garden, Florida: Athletic shortstop who should stick at the position, made offensive progress this spring although hitting still behind defense; another stereotypical Rangers upside pick. Full report.

30) Chicago Cubs Alex Lange, RHP, Louisiana State University: Latest in long line of LSU aces, relies on excellent curveball, low-90s fastball, workable change, velocity can vary but an excellent track record. Full report.

Competitive Balance Round A

31) Tampa Bay Rays Drew Rasmussen, RHP, Oregon State University: Fastball in the mid-90s, Tommy John recovery guy, posted 0.83 ERA in 21.2 innings with 22/5 K/BB, stock rose rapidly in the last few weeks.

32) Cincinnati Reds Jeter Downs, SS, Miami, Florida: Multi-tooled athlete whose stock rose in recent weeks Full Report

33) Oakland Athletics Kevin Merrell, SS, University of South Florida Fastest player in college baseball Full report

34) Milwaukee Brewers Tristen Lutz, OF, Arlington, Texas Solid hitter with excellent power potential Full report

35) Minnesota Twins Brent Rooker, OF, Mississippi State University Devastating college hitter, good value here Full report

36) Miami Marlins Brian Miller, OF, University of North Carolina Very athletic, strong glove, strong record in summer ball Full report