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Draft  | Mock Draft  | 4/18/2023

PG Staff Mock Draft

This is an annual exercise we all enjoy doing, where numerous members of the Perfect Game scouting department get to “play GM” for a day. We had 15 scouts participate, and each were randomly assigned two MLB teams to pick for. These are not projections—we don’t think this is how the draft is going to go, or anything like that. This is for fun, giving our scouts some freedom to be creative and pick whoever they want for their assigned teams. We are not tying players to teams here, we are not trying to project how the draft will go, or anything like that. That kind of mock draft will come out next week. This is merely an exercise of our scouting staff picking whoever they’d want. Enjoy!
 
Pittsburgh Pirates
Picks:
1:1 Dylan Crews, OF, LSU
2:42 Hunter Owen, LHP, Vanderbilt
2:67 Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers

For the Pirates, the first pick in the draft seems pretty straight forward if you ask me! The best player, on the best team in the country and he plays in the toughest conference in college baseball. Crews simply continues to up the ante, as the dynamic centerfielder is hitting .500 with more walks (39) than Ks (16) through 35 games this season. It is about as well-rounded of a toolset as you could ask for with his power, speed, arm, and overall hit tool being considered plus. Some think he can stick in center but the bat will certainly play anywhere. We stayed in the college ranks for our next pick in LHP Hunter Owen from Vanderbilt. The electric left-hander possesses mid-to-upper 90s stuff with a promising breaker and changeup that will only continue to get better. The results have been really good with this the first season in-which he has made multiple starts. The stuff has held up during the lengthier outings and he has generated plenty of swings-and-misses with his octane arsenal. We round out our selections with OF Ryan Lasko from Rutgers. Despite a relatively slow start, Lasko has righted the ship and has been hot as of late. The toolsy centerfielder brings a dynamic power, speed combination to the table and consistently hits the baseball with authority. Highlighted by a transformational piece at the front, all three selections bring exciting tools and should be able to continue aiding the turnaround in Pittsburgh. -John McAdams



Washington Nationals
Picks:
1:2 Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU
2:40 Adam Hachman, LHP, Timberland HS (MO)

Paul Skenes as the second pick of the draft I think is a pretty easy choice. Obviously a big fastball that reaches triple digits, a wipeout slider and a changeup. Improved the walk rate while pitching in a better conference this year. It’s difficult to predict player MLB timelines, but as of now he looks to be a pretty close fit with the current group of Nationals top prospects. No matter the measurement used right now, Skenes is good. Hachman at pick 40 could be a steal, but it will be a development process that takes time. I like the idea of drafting unique fastball quality and designing the off speed. Hachman certainly fits that mold with one of the more unique fastballs in the 2023 draft. There’s arguments he doesn’t throw enough strikes right now, my argument is what if he does as a pro. This could be at least a mid-rotation starter or high leverage left-handed reliever. Both are extremely valuable outcomes. Nationals add two high upside arms with premium fastball quality in this mock draft. -Blaine Peterson

Detroit Tigers
Picks
1:3 Maxwell Clark, OF, Franklin Community HS (IN)
1:37 George Lombard, OF, Gulliver Schools (FL)
2:45 Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami

The Tigers made a splash with their first pick in the draft, selecting one of the two consensus top high school prospects in Maxwell Clark. The outfielder possesses above average marks in each of the five tools, plays really hard on the diamond, and can be a centerpiece in what will, hopefully, soon be a competing Tigers team. Their comp round pick will be George Lombard Jr., a name Tigers fans will be familiar with as he is the son of current bench coach  George Lombard. The toolsy shortstop is one of the best prep prospects coming out of South Florida during this cycle and was one of the best hitters on the summer circuit. Yohandy Morales rounds out the first two rounds for Detroit as there’s few hitters in the draft with as much power as Morales. There are strikeout concerns and he’s not a sure bet for third base long term but this is a prospect who was once compared to Miguel Cabrera during his underclass prep days. The high school class is flush with talent, especially high school shortstops, so Detroit gets a good mix of potential impact bats at premium positions in Clark & Lombard while Morales offers sky high upside with risk. -Vinnie Cervino

Texas Rangers
Pick:
1:4 Walker Jenkins, OF, New Brunswick HS (NC)

Jenkins is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound left-handed hitting center fielder that is known for his ability at the plate. His incredible bat speed and ability to hit for average and power is the reason he is the second prep bat off the board. Jenkins is an advanced prospect with an extremely exciting toolset and five-tool potential. He has a consistent barrel with the ability to use the whole field. His speed on the base path stands out. Defensively, Jenkins is a quality center fielder with a plus arm. His speed allows him to cover a lot of ground.  He has a desire to stay in center with some projecting a move to a corner spot in the future. -Scott Rankin

Minnesota Twins 
Picks:
1:5 Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Ole Miss
1:34 Matt Shaw, INF, Maryland
2:49: Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas 

Following a year in which the Twins selected collegiate infielder Brooks Lee and 3 other infielders inside their first 6 picks I had to follow it up with more of same just due to how the board unfolded for me when Minnesota was on the clock. At 1.5 admittedly I had hoped that one of Walker Jenkins and Max Clark would fall in my lap but when they were off the board it left me a tough choice between Jacob Gonzalez or Tennessee right-handed pitcher, Chase Dollander. With Dollander’s slight downtrend in 2023 I felt good about Gonzalez as one of the highest floor picks in the draft. Everything we’ve seen in Gonzalez’s time at Ole Miss leaves me to suspect he could be faster than fast tracked, similar to the Angels and Zach Neto pairing of 2022. I’m a buyer on Gonzalez’s translatable tools to immediate success in the professional game, for example his elite plate discipline and polished hit tool. Matt Shaw, the Twins next selection is a fringe first round talent but his performance for the Terps in 2023 left him as the clear-cut choice when he was available at 34th overall. There are some questions about defensive fit long term where it be SS, 3B, or 2B, but the bat was just too good to pass up here. At the Twins next choice, after much deliberation in my own head, I was ready to make my ceiling pick. Wiggins' monstrous frame and elite fastball characteristics were the deciding factor for me. If everything breaks right, with improvements to command and off-speed arsenal, as well as a fully healed arm, there is frontline starter potential. At bare minimum we get a budding power arm that could play a high leverage role down the road. -Troy Sutherland

Oakland Athletics
Picks:
1:6 Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
1:39 Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
2:41 Juaron Watts-Brown, RHP, Oklahoma State

With the Oakland A’s picks in this draft, I decided to stick with proven collegiate talent. At sixth overall, Wyatt Langford was still on the board. He’s been having an exceptional season for the Gators with top-of-the-class tools and was an easy grab for the A’s at No. 6 with tools that should excite fans. One of the players who has risen up the board a bit is the University of Virginia’s third baseman Jake Gelof. He’s been putting up great numbers for the Cavaliers with 16 bombs already and shows the potential to be a true power threat in the future. Another draft riser is Juaron Watts-Brown, a draft-eligible sophomore who has been exceptional for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Watts-Brown had a huge summer on the Cape last year and has carried it into his performance in Stillwater after transferring in. Grabbing the collegiate standout with the A’s pick at No. 41 was an easy choice. -Tyler Kotila

Cincinatti Reds
Picks:
1:7 Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest HS (FL)
1:38 Chase Davis, OF, Arizona
2:43 Zander Mueth, RHP, Belleville East HS (IL)

Pretty simple pick at 7 with Nimmala, who offers an immensely projectable prospect with prodigious power that is likely to stick on the left side of the infield. The Florida High School product is a true impact bat with potential to hit 25-plus homers and play in the dirt. Tough not to bet on that happening. At 38, we went with Chase Davis and his smooth left-handed stroke. He provides above-average defense and a big arm likely destined for right field. The power continues to show up in-game and he has refined his overall approach, reading spin much better than in previous seasons. He has more walks than strikeouts currently and is on his way to surpassing his offensive output from his 2022 breakout season. Rounding out our selections, we went with HS arm Zander Mueth. A 6-foot-6, 200-pound righty with a high octane, swing-and-miss arsenal and potentially more upside is hard to pass up at pick 43. Its mid-90s with hard sinking life, a power slider that misses bats and a developing changeup that could end up at-least average. He’s an athletic mover with fluidity and mobility down the slope despite his long levers. Should the changeup continue to develop, you get a potential workhorse rotation piece with upside or a potential late inning star with upper-90s heat and dastardly slider. This is certainly an eclectic mix of potential star-power with all three selections here for the Reds. -John McAdams

Kansas City Royals
Picks:
1:8 Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
2:44 Roch Cholowsky, SS, Hamilton HS (AZ)
2:66 James Ellwanger, RHP, Magnolia HS (TX)

The Royals may have to dish out a good amount of their bonus in the first couple rounds, but they grabbed a group of high upside talents. Lowder is one of the premier college arms who has an incredible amount of polish. It's three above-average offerings or better with great metrics. Cholowsky has put the all-fields power on display this summer, and is a first-round type of talent with his defensive skill set that will stick at short. The athleticism combined with the well-rounded tool set makes him enticing at this spot, not to mention being one of the premier defenders in the prep class. Ellwanger screams upside at No. 66 as he's come out as one of the best Texas prep arms. He can run it up to 97-98 and hold there with life and flashes traits of a plus splitter and above-average slider with electric armspeed. Kansas City's class would mix floor and ceiling with these three selections. -Isaiah Burrows

Colorado Rockies
Picks:
1:9 Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (MA)
2:46 Dillon Head, OF, Homewood Floosmoor HS (IL)
2:65 Eric Bitonti, 3B, Aquinas HS (CA)

In this exercise we went high school heavy for the Rockies and while we've seen them go the prep route early in past drafts, realistically it'd be unlikely they don't grab at least one college player in their first three picks. What we do know is that Colorado tends to develop their arms and with White at No. 9, they're getting one of the best arms in the draft. He's off to a scorching hot start this spring, comfortably working in the mid-90s with reports of higher, though it's the improvements to both his changeup and slider that help him continue to rise up boards. With Head and Bitonti, both PG All-Americans, there's no shortage of tools and the upside with both is enormous. Head is an easy plus runner and can impact a game in a variety of ways, from his speed on the bases and in the outfield, to his left-handed stroke that's continuing to come into power, complementing his already revered bat-to-ball skills. A model of projection, Bitonti will still be 17 at draft time and though he's already showing next level juice from the left side, scouts can't help but imagine what the profile will look like at maturity and he could ultimately end up being a steal here at pick 65. -Jheremy Brown

Miami Marlins
Picks
1:10 Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
1:35 Travis Sykora, RHP, Rond Rock HS (TX)
2:47 Camden Kozeal, SS, Millard South HS (NE)

If Chase Dollander falls to pick 10, the Marlins are ecstatic. We’re less than two months removed from people labeling him as the best college pitch prospect in the last decade. Maybe he hasn’t dominated at that level this season but the traits are still there to develop into a front line starter. There’s potential for at least three potential plus pitches with control here. That’s not falling out of the top 10. Sykora at pick 35 is a development project with present high fastball quality. A pitch that reaches 100 in high school to add to the makings of a wipeout slider out of a physical 6-foot-6 frame. Could easily develop into a hard throwing, durable starter over time. That makes it two upside arms with potential plus-plus fastballs in the first 35 picks for the Marlins. Cam Kozeal at pick 47 might surprise some as he’s somehow a bit of an unknown despite an accomplished prep career. So here’s what he is: a confident, athletic left-handed hitting middle infielder with one pretty unquestioned tool, the hit tool. Any time you have the opportunity to add a middle infielder that’s a multi-sport athlete with a high baseball I.Q and a potential plus hit tool, I think you do it. And he’s certainly had big moments in big games during his prep career as well. -Blaine Peterson

Anaheim Angels
Pick:
1:11 Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

Waldrep, is a 6-2, 215-pound right-handed pitcher who transferred in from Southern Miss for his final collegiate season. The case can be made that he has the best pure stuff in the draft. The fastball, slider, 12-6 curveball and splitter, all from an over-the-top arm slot, and a quick, athletic delivery can overwhelm opposing batters with his repertoire while generating swings and misses with his four pitches. His fastball sits 94-96 with the ability to touch the high 90s. Waldren is a power pitcher with number one starter potential.  -Scott Rankin

Arizona Diamondbacks
Picks:
1:12 Walker Martin, SS, Eaton HS (Colo.)
2:48 Garrett Baumann, RHP, Hagerty HS (Fla.)
2:64 Jace Bohrofen, OF, Arkansas

These are both “reaches” relative to the PG Draft Board, but I liked the potential for cutting deals at each pick to spread my bonus pool down the board a bit more. Obviously such an exercise Is not fully realized in this draft as we only went through 70, but the motivations behind the picks remain the same. Walker Martin is an elite athlete in a big frame with huge lefthanded power and the ability to play on the left side of the infield long term. I’m obviously betting on that twitch/power combo, and am happy to do so at this point in the draft. Garrett Baumann has been a consistent performer throughout his prep career and continues to pile up great starts this spring, missing more and more bats with the slider as the spring goes along and showing a pair of potential pluses in his fastball/changeup, all from a monster frame with good durability projection. Bohrofen has long been intriguing due to his combination of athleticism and power potential, and he’s fully realizing it this spring at Arkansas and looks the part of an everyday player in a corner outfield spot. -Brian Sakowski

Chicago Cubs
Picks:
1:12 Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS (OR)
2:68 Cole Schoenwetter, RHP, San Marcos HS (CA)

The Cubs have begun their upswing of the rebuilt mode that they found themselves in a few seasons back. With their two top-70 picks, I decided to go out and get two of the top prep right-handers from the west coast. Noble Meyer is one of the top pitchers in the entire class as he has been into the upper-90s and has the best breaking ball in this year’s prep class. Cole Schoenwetter is another prep right-hander from California that continues to show big stuff on the bump. He’s been comfortably sitting in the mid-90s with good projection left to the frame. He also has a curveball with true hammer traits. These two prep righties have big stuff already and even though prep righties are risky, I’m betting on these two to be two of the best from this class. -Cam McElwaney

Boston Red Sox
Picks:
1:14 Blake Mitchell, C/RHP, Sinton HS (TX)
2:50 Alex Mooney, SS, Duke

The Red Sox have gone prep early on for a few years now, and in this mock, for me, they start out with a high school hitter again in Texas’ Blake Mitchell. He’s one of the more touted high school catching prospects in years, given the totality of the profile, and it’s not just plus bat speed from the left side, monster power projection and a good overall approach but also that he can hop on the mound and work the mid-90s, with peaks at 97-98, that makes him a first-round talent both ways. He’s a standout catching prospect, with a massive arm, and he’s got some of the better upside of anybody in this high school group. After that, I think they’d be getting a steal with Alex Mooney at 50, given he was very talented as a prep and now he’s a sophomore eligible infielder performing well in the ACC; he’s got excellent athleticism, great instincts on the diamond and a high contact rate, which with additional power, makes him a pretty safe bet to perform well at just about every level he makes his way to after draft day. -Tyler Russo

Chicago White Sox
Picks:
1:15 Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian Academy (FL)
2:51 Blake Wolters, RHP, Mahomet-Seymour (IL)

The draft board got interesting both times the Chicago White Sox were up to make a selection in the mock draft. But, after taking Colson Montgomery in 2022 with their first-rounder, I figured it would be safe to grab Charlee Soto at No.15 in this one. Soto’s an uber projectable arm that has continued to prove he will sneak up the draft board with continued success on the prep scene with Reborn Academy. He’s been up to 99 mph and holds the upper-90s throughout his starts. It’s a makeup that should excite fans moving forward and an easy choice at No.15 for the White Sox. At No.51 with the White Sox pick, I stayed in state, grabbing Blake Wolters, another big stuff prep arm. Wolters has been ticking up in velocity, being another arm slated to bring the heat and work the upper-90s. For that reason, I stayed in the backyard, going down to Mahomet, Illinois, and grabbing the right-handed pitcher with the White Sox pick in the second round. -Tyler Kotila

San Francisco Giants
Picks:
1:16 Kyle Teel, C, Virginia
2:52 Will Sanders, RHP, South Carolina
2:69 Steven Echavarria, RHP, Millburn HS (NJ)

This wouldn't be the first time the Giants have gone after an ACC backstop with their first pick as we've seen over the years with Buster Posey (Florida State) and more recently Joey Bart (Georgia Tech) and they'd be getting a player in Kyle Teel who could ascend through the system pretty quickly. Capable of playing almost anywhere on the field at a high level, similarly to Posey in his collegiate days, Teel has a knack for finding the barrel like very few in this draft class can replicate, working counts while attacking his pitch, scorching balls to all parts of the yard, including over the outfield fence. Sanders has long been a picture of projection since his prep days and it's safe to say he's coming into his own as the heater now works into the mid-90s pretty routinely while a pair of secondary pitches (CH/SL) are both mid-80s offerings with present swing-and-miss ability. Take in how well he controls his long 6-foot-6 frame and leverages the ball downhill, and Sanders could be a steal long term. After two safer picks with college players, New Jersey right-hander Steven Echavarria offers some serious upside and it'll be interesting to see if he can continue to maintain what he's showing early this spring; electric arm speed that's producing a mid-90s (peak 97) heater along with a hard, late biting slider into the mid-80s. The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic is pretty stacked with arms this HS season and Echavarria seems to be rising towards the top of the crop. -Jheremy Brown

Baltimore Orioles
Picks:
1:17 Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
2:53 LuJames Groover III, IF/OF, NC State
2:63 Trent Caraway, 3B, JSerra Catholic (CA)

The O’s appear to be on the verge of becoming a playoff contender yet again and have a chance to add another influx of talent with three picks within the top 65 selections. Wilson and Groover possess some of the best hit tools in all of college baseball. Advanced approaches and bat-to-ball skills could allow them to accelerate through the minor leagues quickly. Prep infielder Trent Caraway rounds out a trio of players with advanced hit tools that all have a track record of performing. There are some questions about where each of the three ended up defensively, but the offensive upside of the trio was too good to pass on. -Tyler Henninger

Milwaukee Brewers
Picks:
1:18 Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
1:33 Colt Emerson, SS, John Glenn HS (Ohio)
2:54 Cade Kuehler, RHP, Campbell

I would be thrilled as the Brewers if this is the first few picks I come away with, as I think I found value in each spot with good balance. Schanuel is an elite performer with huge lefthanded power, plus bat to ball skills, and a good approach—he fits the mold of a middle order bat at the highest level. Emerson has been excellent so far this spring and projects as a plus hitter with good power, and while he might not be a shortstop long term, I like the upside at third base regardless thanks to the offensive profile. My final pick was Cade Kuehler from Campbell, who comes with reliever risk but also a 70-grade fastball and plus slider. He’s a performer who can really miss bats, and even with the risk I love the value at pick 54. -Brian Sakowski

Tampa Bay Rays
Picks:
1:19 Tommy Troy 2B/3B. Stanford
1:31 Adrian Santana, SS, Doral Academy Charter HS( FL)
2:55 Tai Peete, SS, Trinity Christian HS (GA)

Tampa Bay gets great value with Troy at No. 19 overall as he's a sure-fire bat who has handled second base well this year and offers versatility on the dirt. It stays in-state in the Comp round with Santana, who continues to climb up boards with an elite speed/power tool that oozes upside. He's a switch hitting shortstop with high level tools all around that can fit the mold of what Tampa Bay envisions. Swooping back around to 55, pitching became a bit thin so I had the Rays also nab another highly touted up-the-the-middle prospect in Peete. Peete is an uber athletic left-handed stick with a premiere hit/power projection. There's lots of whip to the barrel and the power has shown big this spring. Also some huge two-way ability there. Some of the pitching metric darlings didn't fall into the Rays' lap this time around, so going another route with high level position players on the dirt won't hurt. -Isaiah Burrows

Toronto Blue Jays
Pick:
1:20 Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest

Wilken was part of the 2020 high school graduation class that got cut short after just eight games that spring. He was heating up and hit four homers over those eight games. The strong commitment easily brought him to Wake Forest where he has just continued to show a middle of the order offensive profile. To date, he has 56 homers for the Deacs. This year he’s worked 35 walks in just 34 games. That’s a massive improvement from last year where he walked 34 times in 60 games. He also has the Cape Cod Most Valuable Player award under his belt. This type of development in terms of power/patience, coupled with the resume, should help his name be called early in the ’23 draft. Wilken has the type of power that any team covets. -Jered Goodwin

St. Louis Cardinals
Pick:
1:21 Colton Ledbetter, OF, Mississippi State

Ledbetter gives the Cardinals a proven college bat with considerable upside. After spending two years at Samford, Ledbetter transferred to Mississippi State and has put up big numbers this spring in the SEC. The outfielder is currently slashing .333/.483/.606 with nine long balls on the spring. Ledbetter doesn’t chase often and has walked (38) nearly twice as much as he has struck out (22). He has put up big exit velocity numbers as well, and the swing is smooth and loose with loft. A plus athlete, Ledbetter’s speed plays on the base paths too, as he is 15-of-16 in the stolen base department up to this point. -Kyler Peterson
 
Seattle Mariners
Picks
1:22 Bryce Eldridge, 1B/RHP, James Madison HS (VA)
1:29 Brayden Taylor, 3B, TCU
1:30 Alexander Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken HS (RI)
2:57 Grant Gray, OF/SS, Norco HS (CA)

The Mariners have the most picks in the top ten rounds thanks to a Comp Round A pick and an extra pick they were awarded via Julio Rodriguez winning the AL Rookie of the Year. They get to be very creative with prep prospects and as such, draft the top two-way high schooler in the first round with Bryce Eldridge. He’s a very solid pitching prospect, working up to 95 with an above average slider, but has more upside offensively, producing top of the scale exit velocities and drawing comparisons to Yankees 2022 1st rounder Spencer Jones. Brayden Taylor is a value scoop up at 29, as there’s a legitimate shot he goes in the top ten in July. Taylor does everything well and has one of the safer offensive profiles. Alexander Clemmey is surging since the Northeast got underway, as a left-handed pitcher flirting with triple digits and will still be only 17 on draft day. Grant Gray is the wild card, a two-sport athlete with elite athleticism, he’s a bit of an unknown as he didn’t play on the summer circuit but has been drawing big crowds this spring. The Mariners take some big swings here in the top two rounds thanks to the flexibility of their picks and there’s a monster amount of upside with Taylor being the balancing anchor. -Vinnie Cervino

Cleveland Guardians
Picks:
1:23 Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Vanderbilt
2:58 Brice Matthews, 2B, Nebraska
2:62 Chance Mako, RHP, East Rowan HS (NC)

If it wasn’t already obvious enough by the picks, the idea here was to get as much value as possible at as many spots as possible. With Bradfield Jr. falling to 23, it was almost a must draft given the pure speed and contact tool the Vandy kid brings to the table on top of the stellar defense he provides. Bradfield isn’t going to be a project for an organization like Cleveland and should get a chance to play fairly quickly. We then move to pick 58, where rumblings of Brice Matthews shooting up draft boards are only getting louder. The 6-foot, 190 pound Nebraska infield is hitting for a .409 average this season with 13 bombs and also creates a threat on the bases. Finally, it never hurts to pick up a young arm at 62, and Chance Mako certainly has the talent to be real deal. The high school righty towers at 6-foot-6, 190 pounds and sits in the 91-94 mph range that many expect to jump up as the physicality projects and develops. He has quality off speed offerings and again has plenty of time to transform into something special. -AJ Denny

Atlanta Braves 
Picks:
1:24 Raffaele Velazquez, C/1B, Huntington Beach HS (CA)
2:59 Maui Ahuna, SS, Tennessee
2:70 Brandon Winokur, OF, Edison HS (CA) 

The Braves picking near the end of the first round left me a very tough decision with Vandy center fielder and Braves target Enrique Bradfield going the pick before the Guardians. The board here definitely leaned prep with options including arms Cam Johnson and Travis Sykora as well as locally grown shortstop Colin Houck. All would have been nice and worthy selections, Velazquez was the pick because I felt there could be other teams that felt similarly in that his bat is worthy of the first round investment. The bat speed/power combo isn’t something you see very often. There are maybe a few questions about whether or not he sticks behind the dish, but I’d bet on the Braves track record of quality PD. In the second after passing on Houck, the board could not have unfolded better, netting the ball club Tennessee shortstop Maui Ahuna a strong middle infielder that provides excellent defense and polished hit tool. There is some juice in the stick and profiles best as a future .300-ish hitter with 20/20 potential.  Brandon Winokur’s best comp for me is Jo Adell lite. It’s a ceiling pick with 5 tool player potential. He profiles best to the corner outfield, but I could see a team trying him at third base as well. The power is immense and has shown itself against premier prep competition. A sub 7 second runner with an asset of an arm from the outfield. Similar to Adell if he makes frequent enough contact, he could very well reach his 30 home run potential. -Troy Sutherland

San Diego Padres
Pick:
1:25 Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner HS (PA)

Just the one selection here, but it’s a loud one. If the Padres do have the fortune of McGonigle sitting there at 25, I think it’s a more than realistic option as the Aldan native has some of the best upside in the draft. Apart from the natural athleticism, McGonigle has a countless number of things about his game to like and really doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses. He’s reliable, consistent, and still has some of the best projection in terms of power from the left side compared to names around him. The LHH has shown the ability to perform at a high level for years and will adjust quickly (and successfully) to arms at the next stage. -AJ Denny

New York Yankees
Pick:
1:26 Jack Hurley, OF, Virginia Tech

The Yankees have used their first round pick in each of the last three drafts to select a college bat. That trend continues here with the selection of Virginia Tech outfielder Jack Hurley. Hurley possesses lightning quick bat speed that generates impressive raw power to go along with speed that can make an impact on the bases. An inconsistent approach leads to some swing and miss concerns at times, but Hurley has still shown the ability to perform against high-end arms and velocity. He has continued to improve in each of his three seasons for the Hokies and looks like a potential big league regular if it all clicks. -Tyler Henninger

Philadelphia Phillies
Pick:
1:27 Colin Houck, SS, Parkview HS (GA)

With their only pick inside the top 70, I chose to go with Parkview shortstop Colin Houck. He’s one of the top ranked players in the country and has only increased his stock this spring. Houck shows big tools in every look with the bat being the best of them currently. He may be asked to move to third base at some point in his career but the arm and glove will play over there very well. Betting on a player from Parkview isn’t the worst idea either as they have continued to churn out great players every year. Houck has a chance to be the next great one, making him an easy selection at #27. -Cam McElwaney

Houston Astros
Picks:
1:28 Aidan Miller, 3B, Mitchell HS (FL)
2:61 Liam Peterson, RHP, Calvary Christian HS (FL)

The Astros get two high ceiling prep players from the Sunshine State in Miller and Peterson. Although Miller hasn’t yet seen action this spring due to a minor injury, he has a very strong record of hitting throughout his entire high school career. He possesses plus bat speed and has some of the best power projection in the class. Miller’s arm is plus and projects as an above-average defender at the hot corner. Standing at 6-foot-5, 200-pounds, Peterson is a prep right-hander that has high octane stuff with even more projection remaining. Sitting mostly at 92-95, he is capable of running it into the mid-90s and may be an arm that reaches triple digits one day. The spin has come a long way and his slider has become a swing-and-miss offering. With size, stuff, and projection, Peterson would give the Astros a high upside arm, an area where their farm is currently thin. -Kyler Peterson

New York Mets
Picks:
1:32 Samuel Stafura, SS, Walter Panas HS (NY)
2:56 Travis Honeyman, OF, Boston College

The Mets won’t pick until the comp round in 2023, but getting a big riser who also happens to play his high school ball in New York would be an excellent get at that point in the draft in July. Stafura is an outstanding athlete with tons of twitch and great run times, which allows him to be a well above average defender at the premium position, not to mention he’s got a big arm from over on the left side too. He’s gaining strength in a big way, and he’s got lightning quick hands, both things that are making him a real power threat now and for the long-term; it’s an enticing profile with a huge up arrow that the Mets would love to plug into their system. Honeyman is also a New York native and burst into a big spot on draft boards after a big Cape. He can run, throw and defend in a big way in the outfield, while the bat to ball is solid and he’s turned in some power at times. He’s got the upside of a first rounder and is a great option to pair with Stafura as they’d be getting two outstanding up-the-middle athletes who have swung it well. -Tyler Russo

Los Angeles Dodgers
Picks:
1:36 Cameron Johnson, LHP, IMG Academy (FL)
2:60 Drew Burress, OF, Houston County HS (GA)
 
Johnson is a strong and physically imposing 6-5/240 left-handed pitcher with a long resume that trends toward an appealing organic developmental rise. Over the last three years he has made a consistent jumps with his velocity and stuff. The pinnacle may have been his last Perfect Game outing where he sat 95-98 with his slider missing bats in a big way as the 10 strikeout outing went along. He has held mid 90s velocity throughout the spring and fanned 43 batters in 27 innings. Johnson presents one of the more difficult repertoires to square up for even elite hitters and his durable frame should help his stuff hold up over the long pro season. Burress is a throwback of sorts with his ‘do anything to win’ mentality. That being said, Burress has plenty of carrying tools. He is a very good runner, has a huge arm, and has hit 34 homers during his Perfect Game career. He also has 28 jacks to date over the last two years in high school. The IQ, hit + power, and the fierce mentality to just win is too much to not think he will hit the ground running at the next level. The outfielder is a stellar academic and is committed to Georgia Tech, but he has the tools and mentality to fly through a system if he so chooses. -Jered Goodwin
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