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Draft  | Mock Draft  | 6/12/2017

2017 MLB Mock Draft Version 3

Photo: Louisville Sports Information




2017 MLB Draft Preview | 2017 MLB Mock Draft Version 1 | 2017 MLB Mock Draft Version 2 | 2017 MLB Draft Order

We are mere hours until the draft kicks off, so without much in the way of an introduction, here is Perfect Game's final mock draft as we try to project how the first 36 picks will unfold this evening. 


1. Minnesota Twins | Brendan McKay, lhp/1b, Louisville
We've maintained this opinion for some time that the Twins--while doing their due diligence on several others--are mostly focused on McKay. We're sticking with that pick as we lead up to the draft kicking off later this evening. 


2. Cincinnati Reds | Hunter Greene, rhp/ss, Notre Dame HS (Calif.)
The consensus top prospect in the class across the entire industry, Greene's upside is too much to pass on for the Reds. Sticking with this pick for Cincinnati, who gets the best player in the class. 


3. San Diego Padres | MacKenzie Gore, lhp, Whiteville HS (N.C.)
 The Padres would likely not pass on Greene if he were to slip to No. 3, but with him gone in this projection, it looks like it's going to be Gore at this point, who has also received some 1:1 buzz in recent weeks. 


4. Tampa Bay Rays | Royce Lewis, ss/of, JSerra HS (Calif.)
 The rumors swirling about Bubba Thompson here are legitimate--more than just rumors at this point; but even with the Rays potential to get creative with all of their pool money, I can't see them passing on Lewis, the best prep position prospect in the class. 


5. Atlanta Braves | Kyle Wright, rhp, Vanderbilt 
It's well-known in the industry that the Braves covet Wright, and likely didn't have a prayer of him falling to them at No. 5 as recently as last week. There are consistent rumors of an underslot deal here, potentially with Keston Hiura as others have pointed out; but again, I think it's Wright if he falls. 


6. Oakland Athletics | Austin Beck, of, North Davidson HS (N.C.)
Beck has seemingly bounced up and down boards this spring, but the hyper-athletic, super-toolsy prep outfielder shouldn't wait around for his name to be called tonight. He has several potential landing spots on the board, with the Braves at 5 likely the ceiling. 


7. Arizona Diamondbacks | Pavin Smith, 1b, Virginia
There exists plenty of chatter about potential players sliding to 7, such as Wright or Lewis, and in those scenarios the D'Backs would absolutely have to consider them. In this scenario, however, I think the choice is going to come down to one of the UVA bats; with Smith earning the edge over Haseley for the moment. 


8. Philadelphia Phillies | Adam Haseley, cf, Virginia
The industry is still holding firm on the Phillies loving both of the Virginia bats; and in this projection they get Haseley, who should be a stalwart in the outfield and at the top of the lineup for years to come. They are also known to be sniffing around Alex Faedo here. 


9. Milwaukee Brewers | Jordon Adell, of/rhp, Ballard HS (Kent.)
Adell comes with some of the highest upside in the class, with plus (or better) tools dotting his scouting report in several areas. He has a chance to fit the class power-hitting right fielder with a plus arm archetype; though he's also got a legitimate future on the mound if necessary. 


10. Los Angeles Angels| Alex Faedo, rhp, Florida
The Angels have been linked to several of the players picked ahead of them, most notably Haseley and Adell; and J.B. Bukauskas could be in play here as well. The rising sentiment is that Bukauskas is slipping a bit due to his final performance, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him selected here. 


11. Chicago White Sox | J.B. Bukauskas, rhp, North Carolina
The White Sox would likely be ecstatic if Bukauskas fell to No. 11; as it looked all season like he'd be long gone by the time this pick rolled around. He's got premium stuff but there are potential reliever concerns here--either way, the stuff is amongst the best in the class.


12. Pittsburgh Pirates | Jeren Kendall, of, Vanderbilt
Kendall is likely the toolsiest player in the collegiate class, with pluses in the grade box of raw power, arm, and defensive potential in CF to go along with plus-plus speed; but he struck out a great deal this season and the hit tool concerns push him down a bit. Pirates are also a potential landing spot for Faedo or Bukauskas, as well as prep righthander Shane Baz. 


13. Miami Marlins | Shane Baz, rhp, Concordia Lutheran HS (Texas)
Baz has generated a significant amount of hype thus far this spring, and has even been mentioned as high as No. 3 overall to the Padres, with other linkings up and down the top 15. He's a firm commit to TCU, so we'll see how big of a factor that plays. Prep arms Trevor Rogers and D.L. Hall are also in play here. 


14. Kansas City Royals | Trevor Rogers, lhp, Carlsbad HS (N.M.)
We've liked this landing spot for the long, lanky lefthander and Perfect Game All-American for weeks now, and we're going to stick with it here. Rogers has excellent upside though he is old for the class, and Royals are known to be heavy on him. 


15. Houston Astros | David Peterson, lhp, Oregon
The Astros are for sure in on collegiate bats here, with names like Keston Hiura, Jeren Kendall, Jake Burger, and Evan White mentioned frequently. But in this projection they go with the relative safety of uber-performer David Peterson; who fits as a potential mid-rotation starter long term, who could also move quickly. 


16. New York Yankees | Nicholas Pratto, 1b, Huntington Beach HS (Calif.)
Pratto has been getting buzz all spring long as evaluators in southern California are calling him the best prep bat in the class. Playing 1B limits his profile a bit; but he's likely going to hit and there will be power there as well. The Yankees have been tied to him all spring. 


17. Seattle Mariners | Keston Hiura, 2b/lf, UC Irvine
My hunch here is that Hiura could go significantly higher, but if he doesn't go in the top 6ish picks there could be a bit of a fall. The Mariners are heavy on college players at this point and this would be a good spot for Hiura, who, even with positional and injury concerns, he's one of the safer picks in the class because he's extremely likely to rake. 


18. Detroit Tigers | D.L. Hall, lhp, Valdosta HS (Ga.)
The Tigers have shown in recent years that they are willing to draft for actual upside in the first round, and Hall fits that mold. Detroit has been heavily linked with the prep lefty, as well as Nate Pearson, Drew Waters, Faedo, and others. Hall is a high upside prep lefty with big time athleticism and stuff. 


19. San Francisco Giants | Logan Warmoth, ss, North Carolina
This pick just makes too much sense, honestly. So that means it probably won't happen, but the fit is ideal and the Giants have been tied to the Tar Heel shortstop, so we'll go with it. They also like Evan White and David Peterson a great deal. 


20. New York Mets | Nate Pearson, rhp, College of Central Florida (JC)
You won't miss Pearson when he walks onto the mound at 6'6" 250+; and the size definitely backs up the stuff. He's been up to 102 mph in short burst bullpens while sitting more 93-98 as a starter. This pick also starts to be the range where rumors about prep OF's Tristen Lutz and Heliot Ramos start. 

21. Baltimore Orioles | Heliot Ramos, of, Leadership Christian Academy (PR)
Given the Orioles propensity towards college bats; this may come as a surprise, but the rumors are consistent and strong that the O's like Ramos this much. Ramos has legitimate upside but is amongst the more raw prospects in the class; though if it comes together he could be a role-6 type of player. 


22. Toronto Blue Jays | Evan White, 1b, Kentucky 
The Jays have been linked to basically nothing but collegiate players, so much so that it would almost be a shock if any prep prospect was taken here. I think they'd prefer Keston Hiura, but with him gone in this scenario, they go with White; whose profile is extremely intriguing due to positional versatility. 


23. Los Angeles Dodgers | Bubba Thompson, of, McGill-Toolen HS (Ala.)
 This pick in this spot has been long-rumored all spring, and even with the consistent (and legitimate) chatter of Thompson going 4th to the Rays, we still believe this is the pick in this spot if Thompson is there. The Dodgers certainly are enamored with him, and have been heavily linked with the two-sport star all spring. 


24. Boston Red Sox | Jake Burger, 3b/1b, Missouri State
The Sox have been heavy on bats all spring, with Evan White and Keston Hiura getting a significant amount of buzz at this selection. Burger has big time raw power with enough feel to hit to get to it in games, though it's likely he has to slide across the diamond to first base long term. 


25. Washington Nationals | Seth Romero, lhp, Houston
This rumored selection has come on strong in the last couple days, as the Nationals see the potential to get a top 10 talent at 25, though the makeup is a concern. At his best, Romero can work in the mid-90's with a dynamic slider, and even drew light comps to Carlos Rodon earlier this spring. 


26. Texas Rangers | Matthew Sauer, rhp, Righetti HS (Calif.)
The Rangers have been linked to the hard-throwing, popup righthander from California for weeks now; and that chatter hasn't died down according to our industry contacts. It's within reason that Sauer may go before this pick; however. 


27. Chicago Cubs | Nick Allen, ss, Francis W. Parker HS (Calif.)
We've had Allen pegged to the Cubs for seemingly months now, and that chatter hasn't died down, though it's within reason that he goes to the Cubs at either this pick or No. 30 overall. Allen is the best defender in the class with good feel to hit and above average speed. 
 

28. Toronto Blue Jays | Sam Carlson, rhp, Burnsville HS (Minn.)
After going with the relative safety of White earlier, the Jays could look to go for upside with Carlson here. The physical and projectable Carlson has touched 97 this spring and his changeup will be a plus pitch, in addition for increased slider feel. A curious option in this scenario would be Wake Forest's Gavin Sheets, especially if the Jays feel that Evan White could play the outfield (he can). 


29. Texas Rangers | Tristen Lutz, of, Martin HS (Texas)
There have been rumors of a Lutz-to-Rangers deal brewing in recent days; and it's not out of the realm of possibility for the Rangers to take two upside prep players with their first two picks. Lutz has tremendous righthanded raw power with good athleticism for his size, profiling well in RF. 


30. Chicago Cubs | Clarke Schmidt, rhp, South Carolina
 Though he underwent Tommy John surgery last month, Schmidt is still seen as a first round value by several teams picking in this range, and he could potentially go higher. At his best Schmidt pitches with two pluses in his fastball and slider, and could be a steal here if he regains full health. 


31. Tampa Bay Rays | Griffin Canning, rhp, UCLA
The poor medical reports on Canning have pushed him down the board some--he's still in play in several spots throughout the back half of the first round--but this could be a good landing spot for him. The Rays went upside in this mock with Royce Lewis early, now, if they trust Canning's health, they could go with a safer college arm here. 


32. Cincinnati Reds | Brendon Little, lhp, State College of Florida (JC)
After getting the best player in the draft at No. 2 with Hunter Greene, the Reds could choose to go with Brendon Little here. Many feel he's destined for the bullpen, but could be a star there, as he pitches with two pluses in his fastball and curveball and could pitch in the majors very soon. 


33. Oakland Athletics | Alex Lange, rhp, LSU
In this scenario the A's went with boom or bust type upside at No. 6 with Austin Beck, so they could choose to pair him with the relative safety of LSU's Alex Lange here. Lange has reliever risk--a good amount of it--but could pitch in a major league bullpen quickly where he should have a pair of plus pitches in his fastball/curveball combo. 


34. Milwaukee Brewers | Tanner Houck, rhp, Missouri 
You could see a run on college arms here, as these teams all went for upside with their first picks in this projection; which could then cause them to go with a bit more floor in their second picks. Houck, like the two before him, has premium stuff but carries a lot of reliever risk. 


35. Minnesota Twins | Drew Waters, of, Etowah HS (Ga.)
Waters is frequently mentioned as one of the potential "overslot in the comp round" types of prospects; and it could stand to reason that the Twins grab the prep outfielder here after going with Brendan McKay at 1:1. Waters is a switch hitter with feel from both sides along with the chops to stay in CF. sh


36. Miami Marlins | Gavin Sheets, 1b, Wake Forest
 The Marlins swung out of their shoes for upside at No. 13, taking Shane Baz, and could go wth Sheets here who has been making some noise as a potential back-of-the-first riser. He's got tremendous raw pop from the left side with a swing that is surprisingly short given his size, and projects to hit for average and pop long term at the MLB level. 
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