In just about three weeks players from around the country will hear their names called at the MLB Draft. As teams get ready to scour over hundreds of players, I will take a look at how the draft will play out. Here is just version 2.0 which includes the first and second rounds. There will be more rounds added as we move closer to July 11. This year’s draft has 20 rounds and although I won’t cover all of them, expect a final mock draft covering the first three rounds along with some notable players to keep an eye out for over the next few years as they develop.
#1 Pittsburgh Pirates, Henry Davis, Catcher, Louisville
The Pirates take the best all-around player in the draft when you consider the position and offensive ability. A franchise catcher is hard to find but when you consider where the Giants would be without Buster Posey or the Cardinals without Yadier Molina, you have to consider that this is the right move for Pittsburgh.
For more on Davis, check out our draft profile on him here.
#2 Texas Rangers, Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS (CA)
Obviously, the Rangers have a tough choice here, but they can’t resist the athleticism. Mayer has above-average tools across the board and profiles as a franchise shortstop for years to come. The prepster will surely be tied for years to come with the next guy on this list.
For more on Mayer, check out our draft profile on him here.
#3 Detroit Tigers, Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep HS (TX)
The Tigers need some athleticism. Detroit has drafted a ton of pitching over the past few years. From 2006-2018, they drafted 15 players in the first round, 12 were pitchers. They get a staple in the middle of their infield here. Another team starting their rebuild, Detroit can develop Lawlar and have him starting at shortstop in 2024.
For more on Lawlar, check out our draft profile on him here.
#4 Boston Red Sox, Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt
I’m sure the Sox may be surprised that Leiter falls to them but he is exactly the pitcher they need. Leiter has the highest floor and is likely to hit the majors in short order. With Boston set in their lineup core for a while, they get the ace they want.
For more on Leiter, check out our draft profile on him here.
#5 Baltimore Orioles, Brady House, SS, Winder-Barrow HS (GA)
After taking Adley Rutschman last year, the Orioles go with another up-the-middle guy to solidify their rebuild. Although this is the fifth pick, Baltimore went with a shortstop out of High School back in 2010 third overall. Manny Machado wound up being pretty good.
For more on House, check out our draft profile on him here.
#6 Arizona Diamondbacks, Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
I’m sure the Diamondbacks may be surprised that Rocker falls to them, and despite recent struggles in the College World Series, Arizona gets a live arm. The Diamondbacks could go back to the well and draft McLain again as they did with the 25th pick in 2018. Instead, they go with the undeniable arm. Rocker has incredible upside and that keeps Arizona from going with a bat.
For more on Rocker, check out our draft profile on him here.
#7 Kansas City Royals, Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College
Athleticism is where the Royals like to go. After taking pitchers for the last couple of drafts, they get a guy who is similar to Andrew Benintendi, the player they just traded for.
For more on Frelick, check out our draft profile on him here.
#8 Colorado Rockies, Matt McLain, SS, UCLA
An experienced college player who was drafted in the first round three years ago and raised his stock? Of course. The Rockies grab the infielder who could take over for Trevor Story.
For more on McLain, check out our draft profile on him here.
#9 Los Angeles Angels, Ty Madden, RHP, Texas
Pitching has been a black hole for the Angels recently, so they drafted Reid Detmers last year at number 10. This year they go with the best college arm not named Leiter or Rocker.
For more on Madden, check out our draft profile on him here.
#10 New York Mets, Jackson Jobe, RHP, Heritage Hall HS (OK)
The first High School arm off the board goes to the Mets. The kid has as much talent as any pitcher in the draft, which includes Leiter and Rocker, and is extremely polished for an 18-year-old.
For more on Jobe, check out our draft profile on him here.
#11 Washington Nationals, Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston
The big outfielder doesn’t quite crack the top-10 but Washington is happy he falls to them. Cowser is a solid prospect with all of his tools average or above. The Nationals get a complete player here who could be a major-leaguer in a couple of years.
For more on Cowser, check out our draft profile on him here.
#12 Seattle Mariners, Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (GA)
The second catcher off the board, and the first prep one at that. Ford is advanced beyond his years and even though High School catchers have a sketchy track record, the Mariners realize the potential and grab him, Steven Baron flashbacks notwithstanding
For more on Ford, check out our draft profile on him here.
#13 Philadelphia Phillies, Kahlil Watson, SS, Wake Forest HS (NC)
The Phillies, like the Royals, go athletic here. Watson has the defensive chops to stick at shortstop but also has the tools to play anywhere. A lot like Cowser, the North Carolina prepster has average or above-average grades across the board and the Phillies see the ceiling.
For more on Watson, check out our draft profile on him here.
#14 San Francisco Giants, Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State
One of my personal favorite players in this draft, Wicks has everything you want from a starter. He is competitive, aggressive, and has a solid four-pitch mix. The Kansas State ace also has an easy delivery and excellent command. His arm will fit well in San Fran and he may even become the next MadBum.
For more on Wicks, check out our draft profile on him here.
#15 Milwaukee Brewers, Sam Bachman, RHP, Miami (Ohio)
Bachman has the velocity hitting triple digits on the gun. He also has a solid three-pitch repertoire which will serve him well as a starter. Scouts think that he may be a reliever in the future, but it’s not like Milwaukee has shied away from that.
For more on Bachman, check out our draft profile on him here.
#16 Miami Marlins, Adrian Del Castillo, C, Miami
The bat will play as Del Castillo can definitely hit. Whether he stays behind the plate is the million-dollar question. Even if he can’t, the Marlins keep the Miami product at home.
For more on Del Castillo, check out our draft profile on him here.
#17 Cincinnati Reds, Joe Mack, C, Williamsville East HS (NY)
You gotta love the name. It just sounds like old-school baseball. Mack does a lot on the field also to back it up. As mentioned before with Ford, prep catchers don’t have a great history in the draft, but Mack may break the mold. The Reds aren’t scared away from High School backstops either having taken Tyler Stephenson in the first round in 2015
For more on Mack, check out our draft profile on him here.
#18 St. Louis Cardinals, Michael McGreevy, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Somewhat of a late-bloomer on the scene, McGreevy wasn’t drafted out of High School and only began in the rotation for UC Santa Barbara in 2020. Nevertheless, the kid has the size at 6-foot-4 and has increased his velocity and improved his pitch mix without sacrificing his control.
For more on McGreevy, check out our draft profile on him here.
#19 Toronto Blue Jays, Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land HS (PA)
Arguably the best power-speed prepster in the country lands in Toronto. The raw skills are there as Montgomery just blows scouts away with exit velocity, speed, and defensive prowess. Is he still developing? Yes. Can he be a superstar? Also yes.
For more on Montgomery, check out our draft profile on him here.
#20 New York Yankees, James Wood, OF, IMG Academy HS (FL)
So the Yankees are setting up their next big outfield duo with Wood and youngster Jasson Dominguez. At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, the 18-year-old has massive power. Hitting in the Bronx is a dream come true for this kid and the Bombers.
For more on Wood, check out our draft profile on him here.
#21 Chicago Cubs, Will Bednar, RHP, Mississippi State
He is solidly built and his brother already pitches in the majors for the NL Central-rival Pirates. What more could you want? Aside from that, Bednar has a solid mix of pitches and is an excellent pick here by the Cubbies.
For more on Bednar, check out our draft profile on him here.
#22 Chicago White Sox, Anthony Solometo, LHP, Bishop Eustace HS (NJ)
He is already being compared to Madison Bumgarner and MacKenzie Gore due to his long delivery and high leg kick. The Sox have plenty of talent to make a run over the next few years and develop a top-of-the-rotation arm like Solometo.
For more on Solometo, check out our draft profile on him here.
#23 Cleveland Indians, Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian HS (FL)
One of the top prep pitchers in the class, Painter is tall at 6-foot-6 and drops his curveball like a hammer to go with his 96 mph fastball. The Indians love their starters and to develop one like Painter is too much to pass up here.
For more on Painter, check out our draft profile on him here.
#24 Atlanta Braves, Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland HS (NJ)
The third prep pitcher in a row is not a surprise with the Braves. They’ve used their first-round picks on prep pitchers like Ian Anderson, Kolby Allard, and Mike Soroka. Petty is undersized at six feet tall but the pitchability is there.
For more on Petty, check out our draft profile on him here.
#25 Oakland Athletics, Ryan Cusick, RHP, Wake Forest
Cusick can hum it up to the plate, hitting 102 on the gun when he needs it. Where it’s going is another issue. The Athletics could use a hard-thrower and even if Cusick becomes a closer, his stuff is definitely worth taking a chance on at this spot.
For more on Cusick, check out our draft profile on him here.
#26 Minnesota Twins, Joshua Baez, OF, Dexter Southfield HS (MA)
The kid from Brookline, Massachusetts can hit the cover off the ball. It is that power that has the Twins grabbing the 18-year-old. He also has a cannon for an arm which should play well in the outfield.
For more on Baez, check out our draft profile on him here.
#27 San Diego Padres, Jud Fabian, OF, Florida
Fabian is a high-risk player according to some scouts. The power is there and the fact that he can stick in centerfield is also a selling point. He needs to fix his swing to get to that game power. If he can do that in the Padres minor league system then this will be a steal.
For more on Fabian, check out our draft profile on him here.
#28 Tampa Bay Rays, Tommy Mace, RHP, Florida
Not as much of a strikeout guy as many of the first-round arms, Mace still can pitch. He has improved his spin rates and is a big body built for durability. Featuring more of a sinker, if I had to put a player comp on him it would be Kyle Gibson.
For more on Mace, check out our draft profile on him here.
#29 Los Angeles Dodgers, Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mississippi
Teams have looked past Hoglund because of his recent Tommy John Surgery. Don’t look past the talent though. If healthy this kid could’ve gone top-15. The Dodgers see that and have the luxury of waiting on the Ole Miss prospect to become an ace by 2025.
For more on Hoglund, check out our draft profile on him here.
#30 Cincinnati Reds, Gavin Williams, RHP, East Carolina
Durability and control were questions about Williams coming into the 2021 season. He has put both to bed and even looked great in the Super Regionals against a tough Vanderbilt squad. The Reds use their compensatory pick on the big righty with top-of-the-rotation upside.
For more on Williams, check out our draft profile on him here.
#31 Miami Marlins, Jaden Hill, RHP, LSU
Just like Hoglund, Hill will miss some time recovering from Tommy John Surgery. The upside is there and with a patient approach, the Marlins have a flamethrowing right-hander who could be a staple in their starting five for a while.
For more on Hill, check out our draft profile on him here.
#32 Detroit Tigers, Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee HS (GA)
The two-way High School star has an offer to play football at Clemson. With the Tigers taking him here, he may not see the campus. The next question is where does Chandler play? He is a switch-hitting shortstop but also an excellent starter with a solid three-pitch mix. Either way, Detroit has the luxury of deciding with their pick here.
For more on Chandler, check out our draft profile on him here.
#33 Milwaukee Brewers, Colson Montgomery, SS/3B, Southridge HS (IN)
The 6-foot-4 Indiana commit is already 19 years old but is also a physical player. Depending on how much he grows, Montgomery may stick at shortstop. Even if he moves to the hot corner, Milwaukee is adding a big bat to their infield.
For more on Montgomery, check out our draft profile on him here.
#34 Tampa Bay Rays, Ethan Wilson, OF, South Alabama
The Rays go with one of the top college bats with this pick. Wilson has a knack for finding the barrel. His other tools are around average and depending on how he progresses in the minors, Tampa Bay may be getting a steal.
For more on Wilson, check out our draft profile on him here.
#35 Cincinnati Reds, Chase Burns, RHP, Beech HS (TN)
After going with a big college arm at #30, the Reds double down and get one of the hardest-throwing prep pitchers in the class. Burns is a big-bodied pitcher who can hit triple digits on his heater. Along with Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Williams, Cincinnati is building a downright scary rotation.
#36 Minnesota Twins, Matt Mikulski, LHP, Fordham
While the lefty had some command issues early in his college career, it seems like he has tightened them up. Mikulski has also shown that he can maintain his uptick in velocity throughout his starts. This is a great pick for the Twins at the end of the first round.
For more on Mikulski, check out our draft profile on him here.
#37 Pittsburgh Pirates, Peyton Stovall, 2B, Haughton HS (LA)
With the first pick in the second round, the Pirates take the Arkansas commit. Stovall played shortstop in High School but may fit better at second base. It really doesn’t matter much as Pittsburgh will be getting an advanced bat. I had the Louisiana native a little lower originally but his hit tool is undeniable.
For more on Stovall, check out our draft profile on him here.
#38 Texas Rangers, Josh Hartle, LHP, Reagan HS (NC)
The prep southpaw has a solid three-pitch mix which he commands extremely well for an 18-year-old. Right now he isn’t the hardest thrower, but there is a belief he could add a few ticks to his velocity as he grows.
#39 Detroit Tigers, Izaac Pacheco, 3B, Friendswood HS (TX)
The Texas slugger has about as much power as any prep bat in the draft. He also brings a good glove to the hot corner. With the Tigers selecting the athletic Lawlar and the hybrid Chandler, they now go with the power in Pacheco.
For more on Pacheco, check out our draft profile on him here.
#40 Boston Red Sox, Frank Mozzicato, LHP, East Catholic HS (CT)
Four straight no-hitters? Yep. It is hard to deny the production of Mozzicato in his senior season. The Red Sox add to their arsenal with arguably the best prep lefty in the draft as far as ceiling.
For more on Mozzicato, check out our draft profile on him here.
#41 Baltimore Orioles, Connor Norby, 2B, East Carolina
#42 Arizona Diamondbacks, Ben Kudrna, RHP, Blue Valley Southwest (KS)
#43 Kansas City Royals, Christian Franklin, OF, Arkansas
#44 Colorado Rockies, Gage Jump, LHP, JSerra Catholic HS (CA)
#45 Los Angeles Angels, Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP/SS, Nebraska
#46 New York Mets, Will Taylor, OF, Dutch Fork HS (SC)
#47 Washington Nationals, Trey Sweeney, SS, Eastern Illinois
#48 Seattle Mariners, Alex Mooney, SS, St. Mary’s Prep (MI)
#49 Philadelphia Phillies, Doug Nikhazy, LHP, Mississippi
#50 San Francisco Giants, Carson Williams, SS, Torrey Pines HS (CA)
#51 Milwaukee Brewers, Andrew Abbott, LHP, Virginia
#52 Miami Marlins, Jose Torres, SS, North Carolina State
#53 Cincinnati Reds, Tommy Dilandri, OF, Palo Verde HS (NV)
#54 St. Louis Cardinals, Thatcher Hurd, RHP, Mira Costa HS (CA)
#55 New York Yankees, Ky Bush, LHP, St. Mary’s
#56 Chicago Cubs, Wes Kath, 3B, Desert Mountain HS (AZ)
#57 Chicago White Sox, Matheu Nelson, C, Florida State
#58 Cleveland Indians, Jay Allen, OF, John Carroll Catholic HS (FL)
#59 Atlanta Braves, Daylen Lile, OF, Trinity HS (KY)
#60 Oakland Athletics, Lonnie White, OF, Malvern Prep HS (PA)
#61 Minnesota Twins, Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Bolles HS (FL)
#62 San Diego Padres, Edwin Arroyo, SS, Central Pointe Christian Academy HS (FL)
#63 Tampa Bay Rays, Alex Binelas, 1B/3B, Louisville
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