MLB Draft: Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Auburn. Casey Mize. 1. player. 63. This is basically academic at this point unless something catastrophic happens to Mize happens. It has been a number of years since we’ve seen a consensus top overall selection, but Mize is the top guy across all boards at this point, and it will take an injury of some variety for him to fall. Mize has always had the stuff, with three plus pitches, including a double plus split-finger, but health has held back his projection. Showing consistent health in 2018 has kept him #1 and should keep him here as a projection as a future #1/2 rotation piece with an impressive competitive streak.. RHP

Wichita State. Alec Bohm. 2. player. 31. In the eyes of many scouts, if anyone were to move Mize, it’d be Bohm. He has the offensive profile for third base, has shown a tick up in his defense, and he’s a hard worker at the position, which should serve him very well as a pro. The bat is special, however, with plus contact and raw double-plus power abilities that could allow him to be a future home run champion. The Giants just acquired <strong><a rel=. 3B

Really the one top high school arm coming into the spring that has held his spot all spring, Liberatore was the definite top of a shallow left-handed high school crop at the end o last summer, and he’s shown well enough that he has even led many to argue him as high as #2 overall. Liberatore does not bring any one double-plus pitch to the mix, but he throws four above-average pitches with impressive command for a high school arm, and he’s already showing the ability to manipulate his mix on the second time around to keep hitters off base. He’ll end up in the “next <strong><a rel=. LHP. Mountain Ridge HS (AZ). Matthew Liberatore. 3. player. 6

While there could be a legit argument that Madrigal is the best overall player in the draft, a player listed at a generous 5’7″ tall and weighing in at a generous 160 pounds isn’t going to be the type of guy who would go 1-1, even without Mize. As much progress as scouting has made to look beyond just body type to the player, that much bias still exists, much like the “no HS RHP will go 1-1” bias. If he makes it to 5, the Reds would be sprinting to the podium with visions of Madrigal and <strong><a rel=. SS/2B. Oregon State. Nick Madrigal. 5. player. 61

3. Bart opened the season as an elite defensive catcher with definite plus skills behind the plate, a plus arm, and highly-regarded coachability in his receiving skills with some raw ability with the bat in his hand. His hitting this spring has him in such a spot that the Mets may sprint to the podium to get Bart with their catching issues up and down their system and Bart’s ability to move very quickly with his advanced defense.. C. Georgia Tech. Joey Bart. 6. player

In many places, Singer was the preseason top overall player in the draft class, and like <strong><a rel=. RHP. Florida. Brady Singer. 7. player. 127

Sandra Day O'Connor HS (AZ). Nolan Gorman. 8. player. 17. Gorman put on shows at summer showcases, making home run derby competitions his highlight reels all summer, but now that he’s working in the spring, some have whispered about his hit tool being messed up from a focus on showing out in those derby performances, seeing his swing elongate and even hitch. Gorman’s also added some muscle that he did not work into his body along with flexibility, so he’s become stronger, but more rigid, leading many to wonder about his future at third, though he’s definitely got the arm. Frankly, all this sounds like a Braves prospect tearing up the minor leagues right now in <strong><a rel=. 3B

96. Two years ago, the top college lefty in the draft ended up slipping right into the Athletics’ hands when Puk fell down the draft to the A’s at #9. McClanahan has had a bit of an up and down season as about the only college arm that’s had peaks as high as Mize, but he’s shown some wear as the season’s gone on, and, unless he turns around to the performances we were seeing in the early spring season, he’ll likely hold to a top 10 spot, but likely lower in the top 10, which will make whomever grabs him a very happy team. A three-headed lefty monster in the rotation of <strong><a rel=. LHP. South Florida. Shane McClanahan. 9. player

player. 4. An extremely mature body for a high school player, Rocker impressed summer showcases with his double-plus fastball and plus slider that has wicked break when it’s on. Some scouts worry about a bit of “bad weight”, but Rocker is athletic off the mound and repeats well, just working to be more consistent in his grips on pitches at this point. As one of the most physically impressive prospects in the entire MLB draft in 2018, it’d not surprise if Rocker went much earlier, but the Pirates would love his big arm in their development system.. RHP. North Oconee HS (GA). Kumar Rocker. 10

11. The Orioles have been pounding the pitching lately, but have been checking in heavy on hitting this spring, and with a number of their big players at the big league level ready to move on over the next couple of seasons, a player with elite talent like Swaggerty from the college level. Swaggerty is not the typical Orioles “see ball, bash ball” player, with plus speed at the least along with above-average power, a fringe-plus hit tool, and above-average outfield defense at all three outfield spots. He takes plenty of walks and could be an elite leadoff man that offered 15+ home run pop or better at his best or develop into a middle of the lineup guy who has an impressive OBP.. OF. South Alabama. Travis Swaggerty. 11. player

The Marlins have been pursuing high school arms without a lot of success lately, but if the draft fell this way, they’d likely stay in state to grab one of the biggest leapers this spring in the college class, arguably the most consistent Gator arm all season. Kowar has a nasty fastball that is one of the toughest to square up in college this spring, and he pairs it with a plus change that he locates very well. He’s worked to locate his curveball better this spring, though he still struggles a bit with consistency in the pitch’s break. He should move quickly through the Marlins’ system.. RHP. Florida. Jackson Kowar. 13. player. 82

Jonathan India. 14. player. 62. Under Jerry DiPoto, the Mariners have shown a preference for high-rising college hitters, and India absolutely fits that bill. Most assumed he’d be a later rounds pick that might have to come back for his senior year when the year opened in Gainesville. Instead, he’s hitting as well or better than any college hitter this year, showing tremendous polish in his swing, adjustments within game, and maintaining his above-average defense and speed that he’s always had. Some scouts have even been willing to put a plus raw grade on his power. However, much like last year’s selection Evan Whtie, India plays a position typically expected to offer premium power, and he does not have that to offer, which could be an issue in the end.. 3B. Florida

Denaburg fully healthy would have been a top 10 talent, so with the Rangers’ proclivity to the highest upside player available, Denaburg likely won’t fall past the Rangers if he was available. Denaburg is a very good kicker and punter in football, and he could play for Florida as well as playing both ways. When healthy, he has good feel for a hard curve and can reach upper 90s. There’s going to be some development time with Denaburg, but there’s legit frontline potential.. RHP/C. Merritt Island HS (FL). Mason Denaburg. 15. player. 95

Brice Turang. 16. player. 21. One of the more divisive prospects among scouts, there is one thing everyone is in agreement on – Turang can flat-out field the ball. A certain above-average shortstop, and arguably a plus one, Turang is a hard worker and has natural leadership skills that have many comparing him on the field to former top overall selection <strong><a rel=. SS. Santiago HS (CA)

Ryan Rolison. 17. player. 102. After the Angels have stocked up their system with elite bats, they have been in on a number of arms after striking well with <strong><a rel=. LHP. Mississippi

7. Weathers has the pedigree, with a father who pitched for nearly 20 years, and the balance of pitches, with three above-average pitches and plus control, to be a high schooler who could move fast yet also factor at the front of a rotation. He was an excellent basketball player as well in high school, and the athleticism shows in his repeatable delivery and quick adaption to learning new pitches and new nuances to the game. Weathers could be an ideal rotation anchor for the future of the Royals in their current rebuild.. LHP. Loretto HS (TN). Ryan Weathers. 18. player

SS. Montverde Academy (FL). Nander De Sedas. 19. player. 32. De Sedas was one of the top prep prospects for the 2018 MLB draft coming out of last summer, but a less-than-impressive spring has seen him tumble down a number of boards due to concerns about how quickly his bat will be able to move, and if he will ever be able to hit at the pro level. With the glove, those questions definitely are not there, and that would certainly attract the Cardinals, who are finding defense to be a point in their system that has been lacking to some degree. De Sedas can pick it well at short and has enough arm to handle the position well.

20. player. 2. The Minnesota Twins have used the MLB draft and smart international signings to build up one of the brightest systems on the way up in the entire game. Seeing catching as the major need in the system along with elite arms, the Twins address one here with Rodriguez, a prototype Texas arm that has jumped forward in his senior year, flashing a double plus fastball, but also showing much more than just a fastball, as he does have four pitches that he can control with excellent downhill plane as he stays tall in his delivery from a 6’5″ frame.. RHP. Central Heights HS (TX). Grayson Rodriguez

Orange Lutheran HS (CA). Cole Winn. 21. player. 76. Winn had good frame and three pitches that would project plus as a prep from Colorado. He transferred to one of the biggest schools in California for baseball to get more exposure, and he’s certainly done that, with plenty of scouts seeing him throw weekly. The Brewers have featured hitters high the last few years, but with just one pick in the first 50 this season, they will likely go for a high school pick here and use their two second round picks to find bats that are falling among a deep college bat class.. RHP

22. player. 108. Interestingly, one of the focuses in the Colorado system over the last few years has been finding elite-level athletes on offense. That has allowed many of the top prospects to work at multiple positions due to their athleticism, and it’s meant that even corner outfielders have significant outfield range, an essential in spacious Coors Field. Not many have the run tool that Scott does in the 2018 MLB draft class, and he also flashes raw power that could be at least average, if not a tick above. Scott has a plus to double-plus arm on defense that just adds to his impressive range, though he could use some refinement in his jumps off the bat. With plenty of depth in the system, Scott will have the ability to develop, but also give the Rockies a player with elite-level talent that is perfectly suited to their ballpark.. OF. Plant HS (FL). Connor Scott

43. The Yankees liked Beck enough last year even with injury that they selected him in the 28th round, but they weren’t able to come to an agreement. He’s come back to Stanford and is showing the stuff that made him one of the best freshmen in the country in 2016. Beck has the frame and loose arm to project additional velocity, and he already shows great feel for a change and control of all three of his pitches. The Yankees have a history of taking guys just like Beck and seeing them blow up with additional velocity. Beck would be a big get for their system with more present stuff than most of their previous “blow up” candidates.. RHP. Stanford. Tristan Beck. 23. player

Stetson. Logan Gilbert. 24. player. 9. After building their major league core with young bats, the Cubs have been focusing on arms in recent drafts, and they would be getting one of the best all-around arms in the entire 2018 MLB draft here in Gilbert. With aces like Jacob deGom and <strong><a rel=. RHP

Hattiesburg HS (MS). Joe Gray. 25. player. 8. Gray may be suffering a bit of “prospect fatigue” this MLB draft season, as he has been on the radar for multiple seasons after being one of the best players in the country as a sophomore. Many see him as a cross between <strong><a rel=. OF

An incredible offensive player in the Cape this last summer, winning the MVP award. Jenista isn’t a bat-only guy either, with raw plus power and fringe-plus speed with passable defense in a corner outfield spot with plus arm as well. Though his present swing generates a ton of line drives, he impacts the ball a ton, which could definitely turn into more home run power down the line. Jenista also has very good zone judgement, which should allow him to move quickly.. OF/1B. Wichita State. Greyson Jenista. 36. player. 4

Larnach showed out big-time in the early spring and has cooled off some, but after a big summer in the Cape Cod, he’s not going to fall off too far. Larnach is a guy with corner outfield skills offensively and defensively, with more hit over power right now, but there’s certainly plenty of raw power there that would allow him to grow into a dominant hitter, especially in Camden Yards. Pairing Swaggerty and Larnach would be a coup for the Orioles from their first two selections.. OF. Oregon State. Trevor Larnach. 37. player. 11

Not an intentional pairing from the get-go, when Naylor was still on the board after using their first selection on a college arm, the pick was obvious.to pair Noah with his older brother, already in the Padres system. Noah Naylor put on a show at the All-Star game in the high school home run derby. With plus raw power and a plus arm, Naylor would fit the third base or right field profile if he needs to move out from behind the plate, but he works hard at his catching.. C. St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS (Canada). Noah Naylor. 38. player. 127

39. player. 8. Roberts has arguably the best slider in the entire 2018 MLB draft. He was a dominating closer in 2017 for Wake Forest, but concerns about whether he would sign dropped him to the 29th round in the 2017 MLB draft. Returning to school this spring, he moved to the rotation, and he has shown very well, throwing low-90s with heavy, hard sink on his fastball, then using that mid-80s slider as a solid guy that could be a mid-rotation guy with a “show me” change as long as he can locate his first two pitches as well as he has this year. He’d also have the fall back of moving back to the bullpen as a back of the pen arm, a <strong><a rel=. RHP. Wake Forest. Griffin Roberts

7. After taking two elite high school arms and one of the best upside college bats, the Royals would likely need to get themselves a cost-saving pick here, and while Cate is probably not a guy who profiles as a frontline starter, he has quite possibly the best curveball in the entire draft, and while he’s small at 6′ and 170ish pounds, he repeats everything well with good control. He has been ridden hard and put up wet during his time at UConn, and worries about that usage will likely drive down his cost, though he should be a fairly safe future major leaguer, at least as a LOOGY, and likely as a solid mid- to back-rotation starter from the left side.. LHP. Connecticut. Tim Cate. 40. player

108. Northeast pitchers often end up late risers, due to their season getting underway late and plenty of eyes being located on the East Coast, so they often get more late season coverage than Midwest players that get going late as well. Torres has the raw stuff to impress, and he’s come out this spring hitting the top end of his stuff already, working a fastball that sits 92-95 and can touch 97 with tremendous late movement along with a slider that he’s shown some ability to manipulate. Torres added some good weight over the winter, and that could really jump his stock, similar to the jump fellow New Yorker <strong><a rel=. RHP. Beacon School (NY). Lineras Torres, Jr.. 42. player

OF. Oklahoma. Steele Walker. 43. player. 32. The Cardinals may just do a cartwheel to the stage to see Walker still on the MLB draft board for this selection. With a high contact profile that shows some ability to develop above-average power and likely very quick as he’ll be a fast-mover in the system. Walker’s a left field profile due to a below-average arm and average defensive tools. Walker’s the type of guy that the Cardinals usually turn into an elite player.