Being able to watch the top 3 draft prospects in the College World Series has made everyone look forward to this draft more than usual. This is not a mock of what I think will happen, instead it is a mock of what I think each team should do with their selection. Which LSU star should the Pirates select...?
1. Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Paul Skenes, LSU
The Pirates are in desperate need of an ace, and it is a toss-up between Crews and Skenes. They should land their future rotation anchor and go to work on polishing that changeup. Skenes has the stuff and command to fly through the minors. The Pirates shouldn't even think about saving money for their future picks. They should land the LSU star.
2. Washington Nationals OF Dylan Crews, LSU
The Nationals should take whoever is left between Crews or Skenes. When a player is this talented, it doesn't matter if your system is loaded with outfielders already. Crews also has a chance to quickly work up the minors and could make in impact in Washington quickly.
3. Detroit Tigers OF Wyatt Langford, Florida
Langford is an outfielder who can hit much better than he can field. The bat will play nicely at park even as big as Comerica Park. Expect some big-time offensive numbers on a yearly basis, especially in the power department. The only question is how well Langford will defend. He seems destined for a corner outfield/DH role.
4. Texas Rangers OF Max Clark, Franklin (IN)
The Rangers will have their pick of the two high school outfielders, and I think they should go with Clark because he has Jenkins beat on 4/5 tools. Clark will be able to stick in centerfield for the duration of his career because of his speed and arm. As for hitting, he should continue to hit for a high average while using the whole field. The only knock on Clark is there may be a lack of power, but all the other tools make up for that.
5. Minnesota Twins OF Walker Jenkins, South Brunswick (NC)
The Twins have the luxury of waiting to see who of the tier-1 players falls to them. I think Jenkins should make it to Minnesota. He probably has a higher ceiling than Clark but a lower floor. The two are going to be compared for the length of their careers, especially if they are picked back-to-back like this. Where Jenkins can separate himself is by having more impressive power numbers, which is definitely possible.
6. Oakland Athletics RHP Rhett Lowder, Wake Forest
Oakland is in desperate need of safe prospects that are definitely going to be big leaguers. They can't afford to take high school projects. Lowder is a very safe bet to be at least a solid mid-rotation arm. His control and changeup are his biggest attributes, and he should be able to make it into the A's rotation quickly.
7. Cincinnati Reds RHP Chase Dollander, Tennessee
The Reds can add another talented young arm into their rotation with this selection. I don't see much ace potential in Dollander but his combo of being a strike thrower with his power offerings is a good pair of things to have.
8. Kansas City Royals SS Jacob Gonzalez, Ole Miss
The Royals can help cement their infield for the next 7 years and pair Bobby Witt Jr. with Gonzalez. Gonzalez does a good job of using the whole field and putting the ball in play, and also has the ability to hit for some power.
9. Colorado Rockies SS Colin Houck, Parkview (GA)
Houck should be the first high school infielder taken because of his all-around game. Houck has a very simple and short swing that should lead to a lot of consistent contact. The power should develop more as Houck fills out his frame. Houck has an above average arm which should allow him to stay on the left side of the infield.
10. Miami Marlins C Blake Mitchell, Sinton (TX)
The best catcher in the draft lands with Miami to help their pitcher heavy system. Mitchell has a fantastic arm so he should be able to stick behind the plate. Offensively, he should have an above average bat and above average power.
11. Los Angeles Angels SS Jacob Wilson, Grand Canyon
Wilson has a lot of movement in his swing but he has a history of making consistent contact. The power wont be anything special but he should mark as average in that department. The Angels should grab Wilson to help solidify their middle infield.
12. Arizona Diamondbacks SS Colt Emerson, Glenn (OH)
I have the Diamondbacks taking Emerson earlier than many expected because the bat is too good to pass up. Emerson has a very smooth and simple left handed swing that should lead to a high batting average at the next level.
13. Chicago Cubs RHP Noble Meyer, Jesuit (OR)
Noble's slide ends here with the Cubs taking the tall high school righty. If Meyer polishes the changeup and improves upon the command he could be an absolute steal in the draft.
14. Boston Red Sox 3B Brayden Taylor, TCU
Taylor is an all around player who looks like he should be a third baseman for his career. The only problem is that Rafael Devers signed an extension and will lock down 3B for the near future for the Red Sox. Boston is taking Taylor for his bat and they will figure out which position he will play on the fly.
15. Chicago White Sox SS Kevin McGonigle, Monsignor Bonner (PA)
This is the beginning of the next tier of players using my rankings, and the White Sox reach a little bit to take McGonigle. The PA product might look like a long term 2B but the hit tool is very good, and this pick allows so the White Sox to save money for their later picks.
16. San Francisco Giants 2B Matt Shaw, Maryland
Shaw is another well rounded college infielder, but he profiles best at 2B because of his below average arm. The power and bat should be above average so if Shaw indeed is a 2B he could win multiple silver sluggers there.
17. Baltimore Orioles RHP Travis Sykora, Round Rock (TX)
The Orioles should take the high upside high school righty here. Skykora has impressive size and a very nice repertoire with a heavy FB, and great secondary offerings of a slider and splitter. He has three pitches that will eventually be MLB ready. He just needs to improve the command.
18. Milwaukee Brewers LHP Thomas White, Phillips Academy (MA)
The Brewers should take White to help them continue to churn out quality arms. White is the best lefty in the draft by far and operates with an above average fastball and curveball, and an average changeup. White needs to work on that third pitch and focus on improving his command.
19. Tampa Bay Rays 3B Brock Wilken, Wake Forest
The Rays seem to do well with players who possess great power with not necessarily a good hit tool. Wilken has a rocket arm but needs to improve on his glove to stick there. The Rays land a nice future middle of the order bat here.
20. Toronto Blue Jays SS Tommy Troy, Stanford
Troy puts together professional at bats consistently, even though his tools don't grade above average. The Stanford product should be a good top of the order bat who gets on base, but Troy may have to move to 2B eventually.
21. St. Louis Cardinals RHP Charlee Soto, Reborn Christian (FL)
The Cardinals usually do well with college players but I think the upside Soto possess is worth the switch up in philosophy. Soto is a young high schooler so he has time to improve his command and changeup.
22. Seattle Mariners RHP Hurston Waldrep, Florida
The Mariners have done extremely well with developing right-handed starters over recent years. Waldrep has all the stuff to succeed but he needs some serious work in the command department. Waldrep has a floor of a very good big-league reliever with a ceiling of an ace if he fixes his command.
23. Cleveland Guardians OF Enrique Bradfield, Vanderbilt
The speedy Vandy outfielder finally goes here to the Guardians. With the increase in stolen bases across the leagues that adds to Bradfield's value. Bradfield is an elite defensive center fielder. Bradfield doesn't have much power so he should focus on hitting the ball on the ground, getting on base, and swiping bases.
24. Atlanta Braves 1B Nolan Schanuel, FAU
For a player who profiles as a first baseman, there is some concern about the lack of power. But Schanuel has impressive bat to ball skills that should lead to a high batting average. A massive bonus would be if Schanuel can lock down a corner outfield spot.
25. San Diego Padres C Kyle Teel, Virginia
Teel ends his slide here with the Padres as they could use college players to make a quick impact at the MLB level. Teel has a good bat but lacks a little bit of power. He will stick at catcher for his whole career and should be a very solid contributor.
26. New York Yankees 3B Aidan Miller, Mitchell (FL)
The Yankees should grab the Miller without question this far in the draft. Miller is a player with very good power, but might struggle making consistent contact. He has the arm to stick at 3B.
27. Philadelphia Phillies OF Jack Hurley, Virginia Tech
The Phillies could use another outfielder to help out the MLB club soon. Hurley should be a true centerfielder with potential leadoff skills.
28. Houston Astros SS Arjun Nimmala, Strawberry Crest (FL)
The Astros should end the slide for Nimmala and take a potential future starting SS for them. Nimmala is a young infielder and there is a ton of room for growth. Nimmala has a compact swing that should allow him to hit for a high average. Patience is key for Nimmala.
