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

rhp. Boston College. Justin Dunn . 11. player. 62. Dunn has been rising faster than any college player in the draft. He’s been rumored as high as 6 to Oakland, so to have him end up with Seattle would be something of a coup for the Mariners. He’s not had a lot of wear on his arm as a reliever before this season, and while his third pitch still needs work, he’s got a floor of a high-end reliever.

Trammell is arguably the best athlete in the draft, a guy who would probably win a foot race against most anyone in the draft, yet he flashes power in his athleticism that some believe could transition onto the field. He’s extremely raw right now, but he’s a guy who has moved up draft boards, so going here wouldn’t be at all out of the question.. of. Mount Paran Christian School, Kennesaw, Ga.. Taylor Trammell . 13. player. 21

2. It will be an arm in Minnesota. That much we know. Whether it’s a prep arm, which the Twins have been rumored to prefer, or one of the many college arms still on the board remains to be seen. Whitley would be a nice fit into the Twins system with their recent selections of players with his profile of high-end stuff.. rhp. Alamo Heights High, San Antonio, Texas. Forrest Whitley . 15. player

102. Lowe is a bat that will be intriguing to watch on draft day. He’s got probably top-5 hitting talent in the prep class this year. He’s got an arm that would probably slot in the early 2nd round. He could be a guy that is picked as early as #3 by Atlanta in a big money-saving move, or he could fall back with Atlanta’s second selection at #40 as probably his floor. The Angels will love getting his bat into their barren system.. 3b. Pope High, Marietta, Ga.. Josh Lowe . 16. player

Zack Burdi . 17. player. 135. The Astros have been talking arm for this selection, and the more you talk to folks, the more you hear that it will most likely be a college arm. Burdi brings that type of arm that the Astros are enjoying right now in Michael Feliz that could possibly start, but is absolutely dominant in the bullpen.. rhp. Louisville

Matt Thaiss . 18. player. 43. This is a pairing that is coming more and more in mocks, but for me, it’s something I’ve heard a lot more from folks that I know aren’t susceptible to “draft speak” as we get close to the draft. Thaiss’ swing seems perfectly fit for Yankee stadium, and his raw skills behind the plate could give him some flexibility for the Yankees of perhaps moving him out to 3B or 1B.. c. Virginia

3b. Wake Forest. Will Craig . 19. player. 3. Another New York team strongly rumored to a college bat. This one is possibly an issue of Craig actually getting all the way down to #19. Craig has garnered more headlines late in the season as Wake Forest’s closer, but his power bat is the type of hitter that has been overdrafted in recent years, so I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him selected even in the top 10.

Matt Manning . 20. player. 71. Manning hasn’t dropped for any negative reason to do with his stuff, as his athleticism and genetics are pretty special in this class, and he has a great repertoire on the mound to go with it, but his reported $4M+ price tag has scared away a lot of teams, especially for a high school righty. The Dodgers can take this risk with a number of picks in the next 20 selections.. rhp. Sheldon High, Sacramento

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