2017 MLB Mock Draft, Version 1.1

While the Twins have the largest draft pool this season, it is not like previous seasons, where there was a huge gap between the #1 pick and future picks in draft pool money due to the new CBA. Greene has the highest level of talent in the draft by a ways with an elite arm off the mound and a legit bat at the plate. Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs recently said the only true 80-grade tool in this draft would be Greene’s arm at shortstop, but most likely Greene is going to be a pitcher for the Twins.. RHP/SS. Notre Dame HS (CA). Hunter Greene . 1. player. 2

2. player. 61. #1/2 are nearly written in pen in most mock drafts with Greene and McKay. McKay’s tremendous hitting in 2017 has led to a number of teams discussing him as a hitter first, but he’s a very high-floor guy who would be a legit top of the draft talent off the mound as well. Interesting fit in Cincinnati as at the plate, he does remind me a lot of former Cincinnati Red first baseman <strong><a rel=. 1B/LHP. University of Louisville. Brendan McKay

3. player. 127. Lewis has struggled some this spring, but he has arguably the most athleticism of any player in the entire draft. He has a strong arm that will play in the outfield and speed to burn that worked up the middle defensively. I’d gauge him as a future 2B or CF, not a SS, but he’s got an offensive profile that would lead one to think he could put up decent pop numbers along with very good speed, which would be an asset up the middle.. IF/OF. JSerra Catholic HS (CA). Royce Lewis

21. Wright was a strong consideration as the best player in this draft class in early mocks done last summer and last fall, but struggles early in the spring saw him drop down a number of boards. He’s turned around his season significantly, showing dominance of the SEC. Wright doesn’t have elite pitches, but his feel for pitching and ability to manipulate pitches in multiple ways is ahead of the normal draftee, giving him a very high floor.. RHP. Vanderbilt University. Kyle Wright . 4. player

MacKenzie Gore . 5. player. 17. The Braves love athletic players who have plenty of projection left that they can develop within their system. Gore is a perfect fit in this draft as quite possibly the best athlete in the entire draft. He’s not got the elite stuff that Greene does, but he’s just a tick below, and he’s got much more physical projection left that could lead to him ending up even better in the long term, and he’s left-handed.. LHP. Whiteville HS (NC)

96. Smith is in legit consideration for the Twins at #1 due to just how elite his bat is at the collegiate level this season. Smith is incredibly difficult to strike out, and he has very good control through the zone. While he doesn’t show big power now, he’s got the bat speed and physical power to project as a guy who could provide high average and 20+ home runs as a quick mover through the system.. 1B. University of Virginia. Pavin Smith . 6. player

OF. Ballard HS (KY). Jordon Adell . 7. player. 8. Adell may be the most athletic position player in the draft this season, as a legit prospect off the mound. His hit tool is the biggest question evaluators have, but he has power and speed that have both received plus grades depending on who is giving the grades (some like his power projection more, some like his speed projection more). With the Diamondbacks resetting their system after the struggles of the <strong><a rel=

6. The Phillies were rumored heavily last season to be pursuing a top college pitcher when the had the #1 overall selection. They instead (wisely) used their financial advantage to secure more upside players, but they certainly got a good look at Faedo in their extended scouting of his teammate <strong><a rel=. RHP. University of Florida. Alex Faedo . 8. player

J.B. Bukauskas . 9. player. 76. Often a college pitcher doesn’t have extreme projection left, and at Bukauskas’ small frame, he wouldn’t seem to have a ton of projection either, but his stuff is very possibly as good as any college pitcher in the draft, and he has the ability to profile as a front-line starter with refinement to his approach in the <strong><a rel=. RHP. University of North Carolina

Beck has jumped up boards this season as teams have seen that he is healthy after an ACL injury cost him the majority of his junior season, and he did well limiting his stress on the knee in the showcase circuit, meaning many scouts hadn’t seen him since a sophomore year that had him rocketing up 2017 future lists. Beck is a raw athlete that would rival Adell as the best athlete in the draft.. OF. North Davidson HS (NC). Austin Beck . 10. player. 102

4. Minnesota’s high school season starts later than most, and when Carlson recently got on the mound for the first time, he flashed stuff that had jumped up from his summer showcase numbers, which were legit top-two-round stuff. Touching 96-97 with a wicked slider and very advanced feel for a change, Carlson has jumped up a number of teams’ boards, but his profile fits the Pirates’ system very well here.. RHP. Burnsville HS (MN). Sam Carlson . 12. player

Romero would be working into the top 5 if he could keep his off field stuff right, but the Houston lefty earned a suspension that will keep him off of the field until the draft. He put up some solid scouting performances this spring before the suspension and his previous performance is worthy of a high slot. The Marlins have been rumored as a team that would have interest, and with two picks before the second round, they could make a play for him here.. LHP. University of Houston. Seth Romero . 13. player. 82

7. Very intriguing fit here as Pratto could certainly go much higher, but his similarity to Royals first baseman <strong><a rel=. 1B. Huntington Beach HS (CA). Nick Pratto . 14. player

RHP. Concordia Lutheran HS (TX). Shane Baz . 15. player. 135. Baz is a guy who has been getting a lot of helium as a guy with already present big stuff, but also a guy who has shown elite athleticism and a loose arm that could project to even more. Teams love his wide frame and the fact that he has a feel for five pitches presently and a clean delivery.

16. player. 43. Hall is the prototype high school lefty with low-90s present stuff that can touch 95 with an impressive curve as his primary breaking pitch. Hall isn’t huge at 6′ with a frame that will not allow for a ton of added strength, but he will be a top-20 pick nearly certain come June, barring an off-field issue or injury that’s currently unforeseen.. LHP. Valdosta HS (GA). DL Hall

After grabbing small school power guy <strong><a rel=. 3B. Missouri State University. Jake Burger . 17. player. 62

Louisiana State University. Alex Lange . 18. player. 63. Lange was a legit top draft pick out of high school, but he went undrafted due to his extremely strong commitment to LSU. Now, the 6’4, 200 pound junior has shown elite skills and was one of the best pitchers on the US college national team this past summer. With improved showing on his change in 2017, Lange could even jump much higher with a team that likes his profile, but he’s a perfect fit with the Tigers.. RHP

player. 31. After grabbing <strong><a rel=. OF. University of Virginia. Adam Haseley . 19

University of California at Los Angeles. Griffin Canning . 20. player. 3. Many seem to have the idea that the Mets develop their deep pitching core from a number of high school picks that develop in their system, but the Mets have been more known for picking excellent college players or making astute trades (only <strong><a rel=. RHP

11. Houck has been viewed for some time as a legit prospect due to his impressive fastball. He can touch upper 90s with the pitch and sits in the mid-90s, but the movement of the pitch and its sink is what makes it a truly special pitch. While that alone could get him notice, he has shown improvement in his offspeed stuff this spring, specifically his change. While his arm slot does bug some evaluators, he has a good frame and repeats his delivery well.. RHP. University of Missouri. Tanner Houck . 21. player

3B. American Heritage HS (FL). Mark Vientos . 23. player. 71. The Dodgers will want to take the best upside play they can find, and I’m not sure there’s a better one here than Vientos. Vientos came into the season with discussion as one of the top 5 high school position player prospects, and he’s had some struggles this spring, which has knocked him down some teams’ boards. Vientos has a very solid hit tool that allows him to spray the ball and raw power that many have said could translate to 25+ home run power as he fills into his 6’4 frame. Defensively, the comparison to <strong><a rel=

player. 90. Crowe and teammate Clarke Schmidt would both have been first-round selections if their health had held, and either would be in play for the Nationals, who have an organizational comfort for their in-house TJS recovery program. Crowe had his surgery in 2015 and missed all of 2016, so he’s along the time line well. He also has a four-pitch mix that has flashed top of rotation potential and is getting better as his 2017 goes along. He may not last this long on draft day.. RHP. University of South Carolina. Wil Crowe . 25

Huntington Beach HS (CA). Hagen Danner . 26. player. 95. One of the few two-way guys out of the top two that is still questionable whether he’ll be a higher pick as a pitcher or hitter, Danner has really shone one both sides this spring. He Is a tremendous defensive catcher that some believe would increase the use of his present raw power if he moved into the infield, where his quick reactions would likely suit him well at third as well. Danner off the mound has been very good, showing plus control this spring and a tick more velocity, with some reports hitting 96-97 after maxing out at 95 previously.. RHP/C

After being underutilized at North Carolina as a freshman, Little transferred to be draft-eligible this June. He had a big showing in the Cape Cod League this past summer against top collegiate hitters that set him up well, as his spring will be spent against many guys who are going to be a tough gauge for teams as far as competition goes. Little has a fastball that can work into the upper 90s and a big curve that leaves hitters frozen. His change is a work in progress, and his command seems to struggle, though he doesn’t really have any delivery concerns. There is plenty here for a team to build on, and after the successes with trade acquisitions with similar profiles, Little seems like a guy who would work well in the Cubs system.. LHP. State Junior College of Florida. Brendon Little . 27. player. 9

29. player. 95. The 6’6″ lefty from New Mexico has been pushing up draft boards all spring due to an impressive summer showcase performance and, while his performance hasn’t been as elite this spring, teams have been impressed in talking with Rogers and seeing him in game action during some adversity. While one of the older prospects in the class as well, Rogers has a three pitch mix that is very impressive from the left side and should certainly make him a first-rounder.. LHP. Carlsbad HS (NM). Trevor Rogers

Etowah HS (GA). Drew Waters . 30. player. 9. While the Cubs have been known for drafting plenty of college players, they know their way around the prep ranks as well, and this season’s prep outfield class has some depth that could intrigue the organization here. Waters is a guy who has been overshadowed in a lot of showcases because he’s more of a “good at everything, amazing at nothing” sort of profile in scouts’ eyes, but he could work in a corner or center field with good defensive instincts and a fringe-plus arm, and he’s got above-average power and speed both.. OF