First Round
1. Baltimore Orioles OF Druw Jones, Wesleyan (GA), 6'4"/180, (B/T: R/R)
The Orioles shouldn't do anything fancy with manipulating their bonus pool money. They should take Druw Jones with the first pick. Jones legitimately could be a 5-tool player. His defense is going to be well above average, and he should have above average power as well. The big question for me is how well he will hit for average, but even if he doesn't reach his full potential at being a good contact hitter, he has a good enough eye at the plate to carry a solid OBP. I see a high floor on Jones.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks SS Jackson Holliday, Stillwater (OK), 6'1"/175, (B/T: L/R)
The first thing to notice about Holliday is his smooth swing from the left side. He is able to hit the ball to all parts of the field and should be a hits machine at the next level. He will never be an elite defender but should be able to stick at SS for a while. A move to 2B is possible though, and a very good double play duo of Jordan Lawlar and Jackson Holliday could be formed in Arizona.
3. Texas Rangers 1B Jacob Berry, LSU, 6'0"/212, (B/T: S/R)
I listed Berry here as a 1B because that is where I think he will ultimately end up defensively. The bat is the reason the Rangers will take him here though. Berry has a good combination of contact and power and should be able to make it to the big leagues quickly.
4. Pittsburgh Pirates C Kevin Parada, Georgia Tech, 6'1"/197, (B/T: R/R)
At first this must seem like a ridiculous pick for the Pirates to grab a catcher two years in a row. I do not believe Parada will stick at catcher especially with Henry Davis moving through the Bucs minor leagues quickly. Parada will move to first base. The Pirates are in need of some power in their big league lineup and Georgia Tech standout is the best power hitter available out of the top prospects.
5. Washington Nationals 2B Termarr Johnson, Mays (GA), 5'10"/175, (B/T: L/R)
The first thing to notice about Johnson is his bat to ball skills and his potential to be a high batting average guy. He possess a compact swing that still has some potential power available. Johnson will likely stick at 2B for the duration of his career, but that could be a good thing where his bat will project to be well above average at the position.
6. Miami Marlins SS Brooks Lee, Cal Poly, 6'2"/205, (B/T: S/R)
The Marlins can't pass up the chance at taking Lee, who is an exceptional contact hitter from both sides of the plate. He will start out as a SS but could move to 3B or 2B. I think he will hit enough to be a solid contributor at 3B. He isn't just all contact, as there is some decent power in Lee's game as well.
7. Chicago Cubs 3B Cam Collier, Chipola JC, 6'2"/210, (B/T: L/R)
It was very tempting to have the Cubs grab a pitcher since their minor league system is position player heavy at the top. Collier has a very simple left handed swing that helps him make consistent contact. The power probably won't be elite, but he has enough pop to stick at 3B long term. Defensively, he should be solid at the hot corner.
8. Minnesota Twins RHP Brock Porter, Orchard Lake St. Mary's (MI), 6'4"/208, (B/T: R/R)
There were a few bats in contention for this pick but Porter is the first pitcher off the board at #8. Porter operates mainly with a fastball in the 94-97 range and a changeup in the low 80s. He also mixes in a slider as his third offering, which is a little behind his changeup. A 12-6 curveball is a distant fourth offering.
9. Kansas City Royals OF Elijah Green, IMG Academy (FL), 6'3"/225, (B/T: R/R)
The slide for Green ends here as the Royals take the toolsy outfielder. Green has four of the five tools down already. He has above average power and plays fantastic defense with his speed and above average arm. The only concern is how well he'll be able to make consistent contact.
10. Colorado Rockies 2B Jace Jung, Texas Tech, 6'0"/205, (B/T: L/R)
Jung has a chance to get to the Majors quickly. He profiles defensively as a second baseman with his below average arm. His hit tool is what is going to make him successful. Even with an unorthodox stance, Jung still shows the ability to hit for power without sacrificing contact.
11. *New York Mets RHP Dylan Lesko, Buford (GA), 6'2"/195, (B/T: R/R)
The Mets take Lesko who is the second pitcher taken in the draft. Lesko is recovering from Tommy John Surgery, but when healthy his ceiling could be the highest of any pitcher in the draft. His changeup pairs nicely with his 92-95 mph fastball. He also mixes in a curveball as an above average third offering.
12. Detroit Tigers RHP Kumar Rocker, Tri-City ValleyCats(Frontier), 6'5"/245, (B/T: R/R)
One year later I have Kumar Rocker back as a top draft pick. Rocker's fastball tops out at 99 but he has been inconsistent with velocity. His best pitch is his mid-80s slider, which might be the best pitch in the draft. He also mizes in a curveball and occasional changeup.
13. Los Angeles Angels LHP Brandon Barriera, American Heritage (FL), 6'2"/180 (B/T: L/L)
Barriera is the first lefty pitcher selected in this years draft and he is a solid pick. There is not one exceptional thing he does well but he possesses an above average fastball, changeup, and slider. He reminds me a little of how Matthew Liberatore operates.
14. New York Mets OF Gavin Cross, Virginia Tech, 6'3"/210, (B/T: L/L)
We have been in the second tier of players for a few picks now, and Gavin Cross is a guy that does everything well it seems. He is above average as a contact and power threat, but defensively he has an average arm. He is big enough to play first base or he could be more of a corner outfielder.
15. San Diego Padres RHP Cade Horton, Oklahoma, 6'1"/211 (B/T: R/R)
Horton mainly works with a mid 90s fastball and pairs it with a mid 80s slider with life. He has a solid floor of a multi inning reliever but his ability to work on his curveball or slider as a third pitch will determine if he makes it as starter.
16. Cleveland Guardians C Daniel Susac, Arizona, 6'4"/218, (B/T: R/R)
Susac is a catcher who does everything well on the ball field. He will hit for average and power and has an above average arm behind the plate. He will be able to stick behind the plate for the duration of his career.
17. Philadelphia Phillies SS Cole Young, North Allegheny (PA), 6'0"/180, (B/T: L/R)
The Phillies are able to add a solid shortstop prospect with an excellent hit tool. Young will be able to make plenty of contact. He has the chance to add some size and because of that add some power to his game Defensively he should be able to stick at shortstop long term.
18. Cincinnati Reds OF Justin Crawford, Bishop Gorman (NY), 6'3"/175, (B/T: L/R)
Crawford's slide ends here with the Reds taking him. Speed is the elite tool Crawford possess. He should be an above average contact hitter and the defense will be great with his speed. But there is limited power in Crawford's game now. With his size he should be able to improve in that category without sacrificing batting average.
19. Oakland Athletics OF Chase DeLauter, James Madison, 6'4"/235, (B/T: L/L)
Another left handed outfielder is taken and the offensive tools are impressive for DeLauter. He has impressive power while still being able to make consistent contact. Defensively, he profiles well as a corner outfielder.
20. Atlanta Braves SS Jett Williams, Rockwall-Heath (TX), 5'8"/175, (B/T: R/R)
Williams is just 5'8" but still has some decent pop. It will be below average and he also carries an average arm from shortstop. A move to second base would make sense and his high contact rates from the plate would profile well there.
21. Seattle Mariners LHP Connor Prielipp, Alabama, 6'2"/210, (B/T: L/L)
Priellip could easily go higher than this. I compare his path to Garret Crochet of the White Sox. He will get a shot to start but it will all depend on the development of his third offering, the changeup. His fastball and slider will give him a solid floor as a late inning reliever.
22. St. Louis Cardinals SS Zach Neto, Campbell, 6'0"/185, (B/T: R/R)
Neto should be able to stick at shortstop for a long time with his arm strength. The reason he will be picked is because of his hit tool. He has a big leg kick that concerns me slightly with his ability to make contact at the next level, but he does stay balanced with it.
23. Toronto Blue Jays LHP Jackson Ferris, IMG Academy (FL), 6'4"/195, (B/T: L/L)
Ferris has the chance to be a very impressive rotation piece but it will come down to his command. He has a solid three pitch mix led by his mid 90s fastball. His secondary pitches are a curveball and changeup that will be above average offerings.
24. Boston Red Sox Gabriel Hughes, Gonzaga, 6'4"/220, (B/T: R/R)
Hughes' repertoire starts with his fastball slider combo. The fastball sits at 94-97 and his slider comes at at high 80s. He mixes in an occasional changeup. That changeup and his command will be the difference between him coming a bullpen arm or a quality starting pitcher.
25. New York Yankees LHP Robby Snelling, McQueen (NV), 6'3"/210, (B/T: R/L)
There is a solid two pitch mix in place for Snelling as he has a fastball that reaches 94 along with an upper 70s curveball. The changeup is far behind the others and the command needs to be improved.
26. Chicago White Sox RHP Blake Tidwell, Tennessee, 6'4"/207, (B/T: R/R)
Tidwell already has the 3 pitch mix in place with his fastball, slider, and changeup. A distant fourth offering is his changeup. What it comes down to is his command with all his pitches.
27. Milwaukee Brewers RHP Jacob Miller, Liberty Union (OH), 6'2"/180, (B:T: R/R)
Similar to the last few pitchers selected, the command is what it will come down to for Miller. He already has a 4 pitch mix. His changeup takes the backseat to the other three offerings, but his fastball, curveball, and slider mix will all be above average.
28. Houston Astros OF Sterlin Thompson, Florida, 6'4"/200, (B/T: L/R)
The hit tool is what is going to have to carry Thompson to the big leagues because his defense and power will profile as average at best. LF in Houston seems like it could be a good fit.
29. Tampa Bay Rays RHP Peyton Pallette, Arkansas, 6'1"/180, (B/T: R/R)
This seems like a great fit for Pallette as the Rays have been able to work with hard throwing rightioes and improve their command. Pallette has two primary offerings; a mid 90s fastball and a low 80s curveball. He mixes in an occasionalk changeup. He will at worst be a solid late inning reliever.
30. San Francisco Giants RHP Justin Campbell, Oklahoma State, 6'7"/219, (B/T: L/R)
The size is the first thing to notice about Campbell. He is able to get great downward movement on his fastball and mixes in a curveball and changeup as his main secondary offerings. There is a distant slider. The command is above average for Campbell so he has a solid floor of a decent starting pitcher.
*Compensation for unsigned 2021 first-rounder Kumar Rocker
