MLB Draft: Projecting the Top 41 Picks, Version 3

6. Puk pushed in his last start, and he’ll get one more before the draft this next week in regional play of the College World Series. He’s doing everything needed for a #1 pick at the end game. If the Phillies don’t go cheap with this pick, Puk will be the definite #1.. lhp. Florida. A.J. Puk . 1. player

61. If Philadelphia decides to go cheap with Rutherford or Moniak at #1 for less than half slot, Puk would go here. The Reds have been working college hitters for deals, and they like Senzel. Perez is still a big possibility here.. 3b. Tennessee. Nick Senzel . 2. player

of. La Costa Canyon High, Carldbad, Calif.. Mickey Moniak . 3. player. 17. Lewis is absolutely Atlanta’s #1, but the word is that Atlanta is working hard to secure multiple players through pre-draft deals (technically illegal, but functionally extremely common), and Moniak is possibly the player they’ve scouted the heaviest this spring. He’s the most projectable high school bat in the draft.

Mercer. Kyle Lewis . 4. player. 108. The Rockies would have a pretty intriguing choice here. Do they take the monster power of Lewis to mash in Coors, or do they pursue what many believe to be their premier desire, to “luck” into one of Groome or Puk at #4? Lewis has a monster power stroke that would likely put up incredible numbers in Colorado.. of

of. Louisville. Corey Ray . 5. player. 76. The Brewers have been strongly linked to two players in the draft as their “favorites” – Ray and Perez. In this scenario, both are still on the board, and the Brewers have to make the choice. I would wager they’ll go with who they can get for the least amount of money, which will most likely be Ray.

player. 96. This plays out perfectly for the Athletics, who certainly wouldn’t mind one of Ray or Senzel, but having Groome fall in their lap would be an ideal scenario for the Oakland front office, who would love getting the high-upside arm into their system.. lhp. Barnegat (N.J.) High. Jason Groome . 6

Delvin Perez . 7. player. 82. The Marlins and Perez have seemed a perfect match on many levels, but it may be difficult for him to actually make it to this point with multiple teams ahead with heavy interest. If he’s here, the Marlins will be all over him, putting arguably the most dynamic high school player into their system.. ss. Professional Educational High School, Carolina, P.R.

player. 127. The Padres have a huge pool, 3 picks in the top 25, and they’re already reported to have deals in place for the picks 24/25 just for a scenario like this to play out. Pint is the clear top right-handed prep arm, with velocity into the triple digits and breaking stuff that has received plus grades.. rhp. St. Thomas Aquinas High, Overland Park, Kan.. Riley Pint . 8

Chaminade College Prep, Canoga Park, Calif.. Blake Rutherford . 9. player. 63. With a number of the pitchers starting to price themselves up, the Tigers may zig while everyone else is zagging here, going with the high school bat that was touted the loudest at the start of the spring after a huge summer in showcases. His spring didn’t really set him apart, but the talent is still there.. of

22. player. 4. Another match that is too obvious to ignore. Zeuch pitches off of his fastball as well as nearly any pitcher in the draft. Pittsburgh loves to teach their pitchers to work off of their fastball. Add in that he’s a local guy, and this is a fit that is just too good, and there’s a reason why it’s popping up everywhere.. rhp. Pittsburgh. T.J. Zeuch

Mississippi State. Dakota Hudson . 23. player. 32. The Cardinals would likely jump all over this if Hudson found his way to their lap. He’s the type of pitcher that works so well in their system – a guy with a high floor as a dominant reliever if he can’t work out as a pro starter, but also a guy that should move quickly as a starter if he’s got the shot to be one, so you’ll know soon. Think Michael Wacha.. rhp

127. Quantrill has been getting loud, loud rumors of a deal in place with the Padres for one of their three selections. Coming off a lost season, Quantrill could be a real solid gamble as an under slot pick with a high floor if he’s healthy.. rhp. Stanford. Cal Quantrill . 24. player

of. Buford (Ga.) High. Brandon Marsh . 25. player. 127. The other big rumor is that the Padres have a rumor with a Georgia prep bat to go at 24/25. Nearly everyone had put Will Benson here, some in pen, but more and more the word is that it’s not Benson. That’s led to some speculation about Trammell, Lowe, Marsh, and Carter Kieboom. Marsh has the type of power bat that could even play in the new Petco. He’d need some time to develop, but he could be a very nice pairing with Quantrill to save the money to make Pint work.

Nolan Jones . 27. player. 11. The Orioles may do cartwheels all the way to the podium with this selection if Jones is still on the board when they pick on June 9th. He’s got a bat that I’ve seen some call special. He may not stay at short, though I’m seeing more and more talk that he could make the majors still playing the position, which is huge.. ss. Holy Ghost Prep, Langhorne, Pa.

lhp. Stoneman Douglas High, Pompano Beach, Fla.. Jesus Luzardo . 28. player. 90. The Nationals have a history of working well with injured pitchers with elite stuff. Luzardo was up in the discussion with Garrett and Joey Wentz as the best prep lefty behind Groome before TJS ended his season. He would be a financial pick here, but he couldn’t find a better organization ot work with him, just ask Lucas Giolito and Erik Fedde.

90. Hansen has ended his season looking like the guy who started the college season as the #2 guy on draft boards. I don’t think he works his way that high, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he goes higher than this, even. However, I could see the Nationals making a play by working with Luzardo to have extra money to offer Hansen, and he could move quickly in their system.. rhp. Oklahoma. Alec Hansen . 29. player

Vanderbilt. Jordan Sheffield . 30. player. 95. The Rangers need arms. Sheffield has recovered from TJS and looks to be an arm that will move quickly through the system that selects him, but barring a monster start this coming weekend in regional play, he’s gone under the radar seemingly. I would imagine that would be just fine by the Rangers.. rhp

player. 3. Benson seems to be tumbling down boards for no reason that I can explain. Unless he has a pretty high price tag that hasn’t been reported yet, or he has a deal with a team that also hasn’t been reported, he hasn’t done anything this year to stop anyone from thinking he’s one of the top 3-4 prep outfielders in this class. The Mets would let Benson’s loss of draft position be their gain, taking the money they’d likely under sign on Craig by a bit and applying it here to lock in Benson.. of. The Westminster Schools, Atlanta. Will Benson . 31

71. To get Manning done, the Dodgers would have to make some moves with money in their next few picks, and this would definitely be one that could still work out. Sedlock had a monster work load as Illinois flat out abused his arm this year. That’s scared away a lot of teams, but the stuff is excellent, so if you’re willing to take on that risk, he could be an under slot sign that turns into a very solid #3 sort of starter.. rhp. Illinois. Cody Sedlock . 32. player

32. Kay forced his way into pitching more than I’d ever like to see a guy go in UConn’s conference tourney, but in the end, his performance may have cemented him as one of the guys that teams will be looking to bring in as an under slot first rounder, a guy with the ability to turn into more than a back end starter but going to take low cash.. lhp. Connecticut. Anthony Kay . 33. player

34. player. 32. Lux has established himself as the second prep middle infielder behind Perez. The Cardinals would be overjoyed to get a player of his talent this deep in the draft along with two solid college arms.. ss. Indian Trail Academy, Kenosha, Wisc.. Gavin Lux

Ian Anderson . 35. player. 61. The Reds would use their savings from drafting Senzel to take Anderson off the board here. Anderson is in the running for the second-best prep righty behind Pint, but his price tag and illness this spring could drive him to the CBA picks. Cincy would love to get an arm like his into their system.. rhp. Shenendohowa High, Clifton Park, N.Y.

c. Clemson. Chris Okey . 36. player. 71. This is another move for the Dodgers to free up some cash for Manning. Okey is a guy who has solid skills across the board, but he doesn’t excel at any one thing. I could see him being a money-saving pick in the back of the first 41 picks for someone.

Connor Jones . 37. player. 96. Jones really didn’t pitch his best in the ACC tourney, so he has fallen down boards some, which to me just makes minimal sense. As I watch college starters this season, he looks to me like the safest bet of the righty college starters. The A’s could use the money saved here to help with Groome.. rhp. Virginia

38. player. 108. Muller was considered a top-15 prospect going into the season, and he’s really done nothing to hurt his stock, but others have pitched exceptionally well at various big events since those showcases in the summer, and Muller has just continued to be one of the best lefties, consistently great. Prospect fatigue could end up getting the Rockies the great lefty arm they covet at #4.. lhp. Dallas (Texas) Jesuit Prep. Kyle Muller

8. The Diamondbacks have one pick in the top 41, so they want a home run here. Mendoza may be a tough sign, but in raw skills, there’s not much more of a home run than Mendoza left on the board.. 3B. Lake Minneola (Fla.) High. Drew Mendoza . 39. player

player. 17. This pick will be a high school pitcher. That much is a near guarantee at this point. The Braves are out working with high school pitchers to find out what sort of money it’d take to get different pitchers to this spot. Wentz is one guy who it sounds like may be picky and have a high number, but he reportedly likes the Braves. One thing to watch: the Braves love Pint, and Pint and Wentz are good buddies. The Braves could package Pint and Wentz at 3/40 in a way that both would sign, and they’d walk away from that tickled pink, though I think the offense-starved Braves fan base may riot if that were to happen!. lhp. Shawnee Mission East HS, Prairie Village, KS. Joey Wentz . 40

Santa Barbara (Calif.) High. Kevin Gowdy . 41. player. 4. Gowdy is another one of those names that was big coming into the spring, and he’s done nothing at all to hurt himself, but he hasn’t had a 20-strikeout game or a no-hitter or something that grabs headlines to separate himself, so prospect fatigue has pushed him down. The Pirates would be a perfect organization for Gowdy to shine, and with Zeuch likely going for under slot, they could make it work to sign Gowdy as well.. rhp