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Draft  | Mock Draft  | 6/2/2017

2017 MLB Mock Draft Version 2

Photo: Louisville Sports Information



2017 MLB Draft Preview | 2017 MLB Mock Draft Version 1 | 2017 MLB Draft Order

With just over a week to go until the draft, the rumor mill has begun to spin heavily across the industry, linking players to different teams. It's important to realize that a lot of these rumors are just that--rumors--designed to drum up interest in certain things for varying reasons, and are often nothing more than smoke with no fire behind it. With that being said, here's our attempt to take a look at how the draft might play out through 36 picks. 


1. Minnesota Twins | Brendan McKay, lhp/1b, Louisville
At this point the Twins are being linked to three players most heavily, in McKay, Hunter Greene, and Kyle Wright; with a little buzz surrounding other names like Virginia's Pavin Smith. This pick is likely not going to be decided for awhile yet, so for now the Twins go with McKay, a relatively safe mid-rotation starter, who might hit as well.


2. Cincinnati Reds | Hunter Greene, rhp/ss, Notre Dame HS (Calif.)
The Reds have been very heavy on both McKay and Wright at varying points this spring; but it seems overwhelmingly likely at this point that if Greene is there at No.2; he'll be a Red. They really like Kyle Wright as well, so if the Twins take McKay as I predicted above; they'll have a harder choice to make that many expect.  


3. San Diego Padres | Royce Lewis, ss/cf, JSerra HS (Calif.)
This is where it starts to get a little weird, because in this scenario, Kyle Wright is still on the board. Hunter Greene is mostly likely No. 1 on the Padres board and they would take him if he was available, but if he goes at No. 2; it seems more likely that the Padres go with Lewis or potentially prep lefty MacKenzie Gore. 


4. Tampa Bay Rays | Kyle Wright, rhp, Vanderbilt
Wright is No. 2 on my board behind Greene, and if he were to fall to No. 4 it's likely that the Rays would do cartwheels in the draft room and sprint to the podium. It seems just as likely; however, at this point that Wright goes No. 1 overall--which would, of course, throw this whole projection out the window. There's also been a relatively consistent rumor this spring of SoCal prep bat Nicholas Pratto in play here. 


5. Atlanta Braves | MacKenzie Gore, lhp, Whiteville HS (N.C.)
The Braves are known to covet Kyle Wright, and had been linked to prep outfielder Austin Beck earlier this spring--though that has died down substantially. Gore is getting play as early as potentially No. 1 overall at the moment; and it's well-known at this point that the Braves like him a lot. They'd be pleased with this pick at this spot. 


6. Oakland Athletics | J.B. Bukauskas, rhp, North Carolina
The Athletics are still considering both prep and college players; with Bukauskas, Pavin Smith, Adam Haseley, Gore, and Austin Beck all getting buzz with the A's. Bukauskas has the best pure stuff in the college class; with a mid-90's fastball and plus-plus slider; though he's undersized and his delivery/arm action raise some concerns.


7. Arizona Diamondbacks | Adam Haseley, of, Virginia
 Haseley is getting some buzz in lots of spots all across the draft board, but he fits what Mike Hazen and Amiel Sawdaye like to do from a draft perspective and therefore is a good fit here to Arizona. Haseley is a big time collegiate performer with legitimate tools as well; and would slide right into the top spot in the D'Back's org.


8. Philadelphia Phillies | Pavin Smith, 1b, Virginia
The Phillies have been tied to both Smith and fellow UVA'er Adam Haseley for awhile now; with Austin Beck also getting some buzz here. Smith offers what might be the highest floor in the draft--he can really hit, with an outstanding approach and above average power as well. 


9. Milwaukee Brewers | Jordon Adell, of/rhp, Ballard HS (Kent.)
One of the louder buzzes all spring has been the Brewers tied to toolsy prep outfielders, with Jordon Adell, Austin Beck, and even Drew Waters generating some noise at this pick. They've also been tied to college pitching, though it's a bit harder to see anyone worthy of No. 9 right now. For now, they go with Adell. 


10. Los Angeles Angels | Alex Faedo, rhp, Florida 
Faedo has been steadily good this spring; though the rumored velocity jump from the fall never really did show up. He pitches at 90-94 mph with a plus slider and average changeup; with a certain amount of safety given his track record and present stuff. The Angels have been tied to prep bats, especially Adell, but with him gone, Faedo is the pick right now. 


11. Chicago White Sox | Jeren Kendall, of, Vanderbilt
If Kendall didn't swing and miss as much as he does, we'd likely be calling him a slam-dunk 1:1 selection--the other tools are just that good. He's got plus raw power from the left side with plus-plus speed, a plus arm, and a chance to be plus in center field. The only question is just how much the whiffs will impact his hit tool. 


12. Pittsburgh Pirates | Austin Beck, of, North Davidson HS (N.C.)
Several teams have been linked with Beck ahead of this pick (as well as several after); as the prep outfielder has as loud of tools as anyone in the class, but the lack of performance history due to a torn ACL last year has led to some concerns with evaluators. Regardless of those concerns, this is a good fit here. 


13. Miami Marlins | Shane Baz, rhp, Concordia Lutheran HS (Texas)
While having been linked to several prep players, including both of the premier lefties remaining (Trevor Rogers and D.L. Hall), the Marlins go with Baz here. He's been up to 98 mph this spring with a host of potentially impact offspeed pitches. Baz is firmly committed to TCU, so, similar to Nick Lodolo last year, we'll see if that has any kind of impact. 


14. Kansas City Royals | Trevor Rogers, lhp, Carlsbad HS (N.M.)
Rogers has been rumored as high as No. 3 overall to the Padres, though that smoke died down quickly. He's also been tied to a bunch of other places, but it's well-known in the industry that the Royals are very heavy on the prep lefty from New Mexico, who has drawn comparisons to a young Andrew Miller. 


15. Houston Astros | David Peterson, lhp, Oregon
"Dominant" doesn't even begin to describe how David Peterson has been for Oregon this spring; as the huge lefthander has had no trouble whatsoever in the PAC-12. He works 90-94 mph on most nights with a potentially plus slider and plus command, and looks to be a pretty safe mid-rotation piece at this point. 


16. New York Yankees | D.L. Hall, lhp, Valdosta H.S. (Ga.)
Hall is the No. 3 prep lefty on our draft board, one spot behind Trevor Rogers, though it's well within reason that the hyper-athletic southpaw is higher on other boards. He shows mid-90's heat with a plus curveball and quality changeup, along with the athleticism to eventually have good command as well. Yankees have also been linked heavily with Nick Pratto and Austin Beck, along with UCLA righthander Griffin Canning. 


17. Seattle Mariners | Griffin Canning, rhp, UCLA
The Mariners have been consistently tied to college pitching all spring, and Canning is the best available remaining college arm. He's not flashy but has a quality collection of above average pitches with a plus breaking ball and a fastball that can touch 95-96 mph; and he's really performed this spring as well. 


18. Detroit Tigers | Nicholas Pratto, 1b, Huntington Beach HS (Calif.)
The Tigers have been tied to their typical collection of hard-throwing righthanded arms, but we've also heard them linked with prep outfielder Drew Waters, Oregon's David Peterson, and Nicholas Pratto. Considered by some to be the best prep bat in the class, Pratto would provide a significant boost to the Detroit farm system, which is really lacking in pure hitters at the moment. 


19. San Francisco Giants | Logan Warmoth, ss, North Carolina
The Giants haven't been necessarily specifically tied to Warmoth, the shortstop from UNC who has really popped this spring due to increased power in his game, but it almost makes too much sense to tie the two parties together at this point. The Giants love prep catcher Luis Campusano, but this may be a touch high for him. 


20. New York Mets | Nate Pearson, rhp, College of Central Florida (JC)
A mountain of a righthander flamethrower, Pearson has been the No. 1 JC prospect on PG's list dating back to last fall. With a fastball that has touched 101-102 (depending on the gun you saw at his recent bullpen); Pearson pitches at 93-98 mph and will show an above average curveball along with delivery components to start. 

21. Baltimore Orioles | Evan White, 1b, Kentucky
The Orioles love college bats at this point, with White, Logan Warmoth, Jake Burger, and Keston Hiura all being tied here at various points and intensities this spring. In this scenario they go with White, who can definitely hit and is a tremendous defender at 1st base, but lacks a ton of home run power. 


22. Toronto Blue Jays | Jake Burger, 3b/1b, Missouri State
Burger has been the preeminent collegiate power bat over the last two years (though Iowa's Jake Adams has him beat this season); smashing 20+ HR's each of the last two seasons. He seems likely to slide over to first base, but offers plus plus raw power along with good feel to hit. 


23. Los Angeles Dodgers | Bubba Thompson, of, McGill-Toolen Catholic (Ala.)
 The Dodgers have been continually linked with the dual-sport superstar who is committed to Alabama to play strictly baseball. Thompson offers the type of high-impact athletic upside that few others in this class can, with the chops to be plus in the outfield long term and seriously advanced hitting tools. 


24. Boston Red Sox | Keston Hiura, 2b, UC-Irvine
The Red Sox don't shy away from drafting seemingly "unconventional" 1st rounders, and the concerns over both Hiura's future defensive home and his potentially needing Tommy John surgery put him in that mold. However, no one questions Hiura's ability to hit--he absolutely rakes--and there's potentially impact power there too. 


25. Washington Nationals | Tanner Houck, rhp, Missouri
Houck and LSU righthander Alex Lange are viewed somewhat similarly at this point, as SEC righthanders with big fastballs, quality breaking balls, and reliever concerns. Houck gets the nod in this mock, and he's been up to 98 mph with plus-plus fastball life to go with a potentially plus slider; though Lange is a name here as well. 


26. Texas Rangers | Matthew Sauer, rhp, Righetti HS (Calif.)
Perhaps the biggest single riser on draft boards this spring, Sauer's velocity took a big jump up from the 88-92 mph he mostly pitched at last summer/fall to the 93-96 mph he's pitched at this spring. He's got excellent physicality as well; with some remaining projection and a dynamic breaking ball that has earned plus grades. The Rangers are tied to him heavily at one of their two picks in the late 20's. 


27. Chicago Cubs | Nick Allen, ss, Francis W. Parker HS (Calif.)
We at Perfect Game have made no apologies for our affinity for Nick Allen over the years, as the undersized shortstop is the best defender overall in the class with a headiness for the game not seen often from a prep player. He's not going to offer much power, but he can hit, run, and will be a premium defender for years at SS.


28. Toronto Blue Jays | Brendon Little, lhp, State College of Florida-Manatee (JC)
Little is the second of the two-headed Florida JuCo pitcher monster with Nate Pearson; though more concerns about a future bullpen move have pushed him back a bit from his JC counterpart. Little works with a plus fastball and curveball from the left side, and could pitch in the majors quickly if moved to the 'pen immediately. 


29. Texas Rangers | Alex Lange, rhp, Louisiana State 
The Rangers are well-known to love prep upside, so I considered a prep bat like Jeter Downs or Drew Waters here, but having taken a boom-or-bust candidate at 26, they go a bit safer with Lange here. Many think Lange is a reliever long term, but the massive righty pitches in the mid-90's with the best true curveball in the class, so at worst he profiles as a lockdown late-innings reliever. 


30. Chicago Cubs | Heliot Ramos, of, Leadership Christian Academy (PR)
Though the Cubs went with a prep bat in their first pick, it was more of a safer selection given Allen's defensive prowess; so they go upside here with toolsy Ramos, an outfielder from Puerto Rico. There are lots of plus grades on Ramos' scouting report; though the rawness is pretty severe and makes him a boom-or-bust type of selection.


31. Tampa Bay Rays | Jeter Downs, ss, Monsignor Pace HS (Fla.)
The Rays pick at 4, 31, and 41; so expect them to get creative with their selections, though in this projection they have Kyle Wright fall into their laps at No. 4. If that happens, it's possible they go with prep upside here with a guy like Downs, Drew Waters, or Minnesota prep arm Sam Carlson. Downs has had a fantastic spring, pushing him up boards by showing more power than he'd shown on the circuit along with the tools to stay at shortstop. 


32. Cincinnati Reds | Drew Waters, of, Etowah HS (Ga.)
Cincinnati has been linked to Waters all spring long either here or at No. 38, and while it's well within reason that the switch-hitting center fielder is gone before now, the Reds would likely be ecstatic to get him here. Waters can hit from both sides with the tools to stay in center field long term. Plus, the Reds went with a toolsy prep OF from Georgia as their second pick last year in Taylor Trammell, so why not do it again with Waters?


33. Oakland Athletics | Seth Romero, lhp, Houston
Romero was getting light buzz as a potential 1:1 candidate prior to being dismissed from the team at Houston for off the field incidents, and had even drawn a few comparisons to Carlos Rodon. This could be a landing spot for him here, though it's impossible to say with any certainty. Makeup aside, Romero offers mid-90's heat from the left side along with one of the best breaking balls in the class; so the upside is hard to ignore even still. 


34. Milwaukee Brewers | Clarke Schmidt, rhp, South Carolina 
Schmidt was looking like a possible top-20, even top-15 type of pick prior to injuring his elbow and needing Tommy John surgery last month. Even with the surgery, this looks like a good potential landing spot for him after going for upside with Adell earlier. At his best, Schmidt works in the 91-95 mph range with a plus slider; and if he recovers fully could look like a steal at No. 34. 


35. Minnesota Twins | Sam Carlson, rhp, Burnsville HS (Minn.)
This is a bit too close to a Hollywood ending, as the Twins select Minnesota native Sam Carlson with their second choice. After going safer (with upside) at No. 1 overall in Brendan McKay, the Twins go for upside with Carlson here. The physical righthander has been up to 97 mph this spring with a future plus changeup; and he's shown better feel for spinning his slider as well. 


36. Miami Marlins | Corbin Martin, rhp, Texas A&M
 Typically speaking, after going for prep upside at No. 13 in Shane Baz, a good pairing here at No. 36 would be a college bat. However, the draft gets awful light on college bats at this point; so the Marlins go for a college arm here in Corbin Martin of Texas A&M, who has really flourished since joining the Aggie rotation at the start of conference play. 
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