MLB Mock Draft Monday, Version 6.1

The 2019 MLB draft will take place June 3-5. This is the sixth of the mock drafts that I will put out, looking to put out one per week all the way up to the draft.

Before we get into the picks, let’s start with a quick look at the bonus pools for each team:

Arizona $16.09M
Baltimore $13.82M
Kansas City $13.11M
Miami $13.05M
Chicago (A) $11.57M
Atlanta $11.53M
Texas $11.02M
San Diego $10.76M
Detroit $10.40M
Tampa Bay $10.33 M
Pittsburgh $9.94M
Minnesota $9.91M
Cincinnati $9.53M
San Francisco $8.71M
Toronto $8.46M
New York (N) $8.22M
Los Angeles (N) $8.07M
Los Angeles (A) $7.61M
Seattle $7.56M
New York (A) $7.46M
Colorado $7.09M
St. Louis $6.90M
Philadelphia $6.48M
Cleveland $6.15M
Washington $5.98M
Chicago (N) $5.83M
Oakland $5.61M
Houston $5.36M
Milwaukee $5.15M
Boston $4.79M

Now to the draft! We will make picks for every selection through the first collective bargaining picks, which means every team but Boston will have a selection…

1. Baltimore Orioles – Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State

Orioles GM Mike Elias insists that this isn’t a done deal, but from all accounts, the top guys have been checking in on 2nd round guys primarily outside of JJ Bleday, who they could potentially attempt to do a deal with in order to get money to their 2nd round pick, but that’s a risky proposition as they’d be waiting for 40 selections before getting another chance at a player.

2. Kansas City Royals – Bobby Witt, Jr., SS, Texas HS

Bleday is beginning to get his name mentioned here as well, but a scout for a rival team recently told me that his conversations at the field with Royals scouts indicate that it’s roughly 50% Witt, 35% Vaughn, 10% Bleday, 5% field. Witt would definitely bring a load of athleticism to the organization up the middle.

3. Chicago White Sox – C.J. Abrams, SS, Georgia HS

The White Sox and Tigers have been the hardest after Abrams lately, and the Tigers would have to hope Abrams falls as he’s going to be in play really from the point of the second pick on down. Abrams is a “hair on fire” sort of player that could be a great fit anywhere up the middle with his speed.

4. Miami Marlins – Andrew Vaughn, 1B, Cal

In this scenario, with Witt and Abrams both off the board, the Marlins would be looking hard at a college bat. There is some discussion about a potential prep arm here, but the team is bearing down on college hitters right now, and they get the best one on the board with this pick.

5. Detroit Tigers – J.J. Bleday, OF, Vanderbilt

This is the first spot where a college arm is being discussed, but it’s one of the top two right-handed arms. When it breaks down with what is left on the board here, the decision is among Bleday, Hunter Bishop, and Riley Greene. Bleday and Greene have a lot of similarities, with Greene really being a prep version of what Bleday is at the collegiate level. Going with Bleday right now, but the Tigers will have a tough decision.

6. San Diego Padres – Hunter Bishop, OF, Arizona State

The Padres will be looking for the best athlete possible. They will be interested in prep arms, and if they fall in love with one, they could get grab one here. A very intriguing rumor that came this week in phone calls is that the Padres have been sending more national-level guys to see Shea Langeliers. That would fit in the mold of getting value on a guy as they did with Cal Quantrill.

7. Cincinnati Reds – Bryson Stott, SS, UNLV

Many have thought a pitcher would fit here, but I’ve been hearing that the Reds are the biggest team on Stott right now, and this seems to be the first spot he could go. He would be a solid fit into the Reds system, working in well with the recent selections with premium skills on the defensive side along with very good offensive tools as well.

8. Texas Rangers – Riley Greene, OF, Florida HS

With the draft breaking down this way, the Rangers could be in play for a number of players, but it likely would boil down to the corner power of Greene or center field athleticism of Corbin Carroll. I’ve mocked Carroll to Texas multiple times, but the raw power could certainly be too intriguing to pass up, especially with a system deep in center fielders right now.

9. Atlanta Braves – Matthew Allan, RHP, Florida HS

With the word that the Braves can be more aggressive with this selection, the potential of grabbing an arm that they really like would fit well. The team has been aggressive lately on Allan, and this could allow them to grab an arm that they definitely love early and set up the draft from that point forward with one of the highest bonus pools in the draft.

10. San Francisco Giants – Nick Lodolo, LHP, TCU

The Giants have been looking at athletic players and would love to see Bishop or Bleday fall to them, but in this case, they are choosing between an arm and Corbin Carroll. The chance to get an arm that would move quickly through their system like Lodolo is expected to do would be tough to pass up.

11. Toronto Blue Jays – Corbin Carroll, OF, Washington HS

The Jays have been in on prep bats and college pitching, and at this spot, they’d have the last of the top prep bats on the board and could choose to take him over the college arms, like Manoah, Thompson, and Rutledge.

12. New York Mets – Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia

With a new regime, it’s hard to know for sure how the Mets will behave in the end, but they have been sending national guys to see the top collegiate arms, so there is some indication that they are looking at a college pitcher.

13. Minnesota Twins – Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor

Langeliers is having a great finish to the season, closing the season on an active 15-game hitting streak, where he’s hit .394/.437/636 with 5 of his 6 home runs on the season as he’s getting healthy from an early-season hamate bone injury. The elite defense behind the plate is still there, and combining he and Mitch Garver behind the plate could be an elite combo.

14. Philadelphia Phillies – Zack Thompson, LHP, Kentucky

A lot of the word is on the Phillies after an arm at this pick, but with picks lost later due to free agency, the Phillies are working with a smaller bonus pool than other teams around them, making a college arm nearly a must here. Thompson has some injury history at Kentucky, but he’s been healthy all season this year and when healthy, he’s an impressive talent on the mound from the left side.

15. Los Angeles Angels – Jackson Rutledge, RHP, San Jacinto JC

The Angels are looking for upside, and at this spot, they might find that the biggest upside is a junior college arm, as Rutledge has some of the most impressive work on the mound of any pitcher this spring.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks – Brennan Malone, RHP, Florida HS

The first of 7 first-day picks for the Diamondbacks. I don’t think you’ll see them go nuts with all four picks before the second round, but there will likely be 2-3 prep picks among them, so I’m putting in prep picks in their first two selections to ensure they get the guys they want in those spots. Malone, in many eyes, is the top arm of the prep class, which would make him an exceptional value here.

17. Washington Nationals – Daniel Espino, RHP, Georgia HS

The Nationals are known for taking raw pitching talent without worry to size, delivery, or injury status, and that could net them arguably the most talented arm in the 2019 draft. Few that have seen Espino argue against that fact, but his delivery and size have seemingly scared off some teams.

18. Pittsburgh Pirates – Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech

The Pirates may be in a bit of a catbird seat as they are certainly a team wanting to add talent across the board into their farm system and have two picks before the second round to utilize. Jung is a guy in February who would have been a near-lock as a top-10 guy, and an early season lack of power may have bumped him down the board, but he’s closing out very well. Since the first weekend of April, Jung has hit .405/.554/.865 with 10 doubles, 8 home runs, and an impressive 23/13 BB/K ratio over 74 at bats.

19. St. Louis Cardinals – Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson

There are a few college players who are currently dropping on boards or settling into this area of the draft that really seem to fit the Cardinals draft mold, but then again, that was a feeling last year as well, and the team grabbed a dropping top prep bat. In lieu of that this year, the Cardinals grab an excellent athlete in Davidson with potential plus power and plus speed along with the potential ability to stick at shortstop.

20. Seattle Mariners – George Kirby, RHP, Elon

While not heralded the way some of the more-hyped bats that have been selected recently have been, last year’s selection of Logan Gilbert has posted a 2.63 ERA and 7/37 BB/K ratio over 24 combined innings across both A-ball levels this year, coming from a school roughly the size of Elon. Kirby could have a similar positive first impact in his pro career and potentially move quickly.

21. Atlanta Braves – Will Wilson, SS, North Carolina State

Wilson’s raw tools could allow him to get even higher on the board, but in this case, he’s an excellent fit in the Braves system with a need up the middle within the system and always looking for talent of the type that Wilson brings to the table, regardless of position.

22. Tampa Bay Rays – Brett Baty, 3B, Texas HS

If Baty were even 10 months younger, he’d be a top 10-12 pick, but being 19 at the draft is leading to him being a question even at this point of the draft, but a team like Tampa with multiple first-round picks seems like an ideal match to grab the potentially prodigious bat of Baty.

23. Colorado Rockies – Kameron Misner, OF, Missouri

Misner is one of the most gifted athletes in college this season and his raw tools had him initially high on boards, but his production has not kept up as he entered SEC play. The loud tools should still land him in the first round, and his tremendous athleticism would play well in the big outfield in Colorado.

24. Cleveland Indians – Michael Busch, OF, North Carolina

Interestingly, beyond the top 2 picks, the surest connection seems to be the Indians and Busch, who is a fit in team drafting strategy, should fit their financial restrictions, and could move quickly as well.

25. Los Angeles Dodgers – Anthony Volpe, SS, New Jersey HS

The Dodgers have done well grabbing talent that was perhaps a bit off the very top of most ranking lists in their draft spots. They could follow the selection of Gavin Lux, another cold-weather shortstop, in pursuing Volpe. Volpe would be among a host of prep shortstop options here, with Yordys Valdes, Brooks Lee, Nasim Nunez, Matthew Lugo, and Gunnar Henderson, among others all in play right here. Volpe is a grinder that is known for his work ethic and could be a guy who plays beyond his raw tools in the end.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks – Keoni Cavaco, 3B, California HS

Cavaco is continuing his meteoric rise up boards that began last fall, and he’s now getting some discussion at the back end of the top 10. For him to get to this spot would be excellent value for the Diamondbacks to utilize one of their selections on the first day.

27. Chicago Cubs – Quinn Priester, RHP, Illinois HS

The Cubs do have one of the smaller bonus pools, but they have been heavy on Priester, and that could indicate a willingness to push a lot of their financial chips on Priester in this draft. His lack of instruction would really intrigue many teams who see his ability to teach himself and self-evaluate as big positives.

28. Milwaukee Brewers – Davis Wendzel, 3B, Baylor

Wendzel came into the season with a hit-over-power profile that many thought would be an early day two selection, but he’s shown so well defensively and continued to show a very good hit tool this year, but he’s taken a big step up with his power (increasing his slugging over 100 points) and even showing a lot more using his fringe-average speed very well. He’s done well to get his body into shape and has excellent first-step quickness. Wendzel has shown the ability to handle a number of defensive positions, and the way the Brewers flex guys around the diamond, that versatility could definitely be a plus.

29. Oakland Athletics – Kyren Paris, SS, California HS

One of the youngest players in the entire draft is also one of the most athletic ones. He won’t turn 18 until November, and he shows already that he can handle shortstop very well with smooth movements at the position along with a plus arm. He can be aggressive at the plate, but he has raw strength that could lead to average-ish power, perhaps with 10-20 home runs and a whole lot of doubles and triples.

30. New York Yankees – Tyler Callihan, 3B, Florida HS

Callihan is a guy that has been on the radar for some time now as a player with one of the better hit tools in the entire draft. He has shown the ability to handle third well defensively, but he has also taken some reps behind the plate, and with their selections of two catchers with defensive flexibility last year, the Yankees could be working to build up that flexibility.

31. Los Angeles Dodgers – Hunter Barco, LHP, Florida HS

Barco is considered the top left-handed prep arm, but he’s also got a fairly strong commitment (reportedly) to Florida, which could make signing him a challenge, but with grabbing Volpe earlier to likely be underslot, they could use those savings to bring in Balco.

32. Houston Astros – Seth Johnson, RHP, Campbell

The Astros have a low signing pool to work with, likely making their targets either underslot prep players or collegians. College picks are definitely in their wheelhouse, and getting the chance to grab Johnson here would give them an excellent arm with upside from the college ranks.

The Diamondbacks have the only two free agent compensation picks this year, selections #33 and #34.

33. Arizona Diamondbacks – Braden Shewmake, SS, Texas A&M

One of the more stable college players in the draft, Shewmake is a very high-floor sort of player who has excellent defensive skills that should play around the dirt. Shewmake may never be an elite offensive player, but he could be a second-division regular.

https://youtu.be/IrdeQd2o_58

34. Arizona Diamondbacks – Isaiah Campbell, RHP, Arkansas

Campbell has been getting a lot more notice as the SEC season has gone on, and many view him as a high-floor pitcher, with his fastball/slider/splitter mix being a potential excellent relief profile. He has seen much better feel of his change this year that could lead to a future in the rotation.

The rest of the selections (outside of the Pirates pick at #37) are the Competitive Balance, Round A picks. Interestingly, three of six CBA picks were traded this offseason.

35. Miami Marlins – Gunnar Henderson, 3B, Alabama HS

The Marlins would like to see one of the top prep arms end up in this spot, but failing that, they can address the top prep prospect available here. Henderson would fit that, as he has helium all the way up into the top 20 at this point, so getting him at this spot would be an excellent grab for the Marlins.

36. Tampa Bay Rays – Kody Hoese, 3B, Tulane

Hoese has had an exceptional spring for Tulane, showing more than capable defense at the hot corner and challenging for the NCAA home run lead. He’s not just been hitting home runs, though, as he’s slashed .404/.491/.829 on the season with 19 doubles to go along with his 21 home runs and has more walks than strikeouts.

37. Pittsburgh Pirates – Kendall Williams, RHP, Florida HS

If you’re drafting a prep pitcher purely based on frame, Kendall Williams is off the board very early in this draft. The 6’6″ righty with a very good frame has feel for four pitches to at least an average level. However, he doesn’t have an elite level of velocity at that frame, and he has a strong commitment to Vanderbilt, so he could be a tough sign. He’s recently seen his velo tick up to mid-90s in a start, and that plays up with Williams’ extension.

38. New York Yankees – Ryan Pepiot, RHP, Butler

Pepiot has jumped up many teams’ boards due to an excellent two springs at Butler. He has a very good frame, and the righty has been one of the top strikeout artists in the NCAA this year. He’s also seen his pitches tick up plenty in his time at Butler, working up into the mid-90s with a plus change and at least an average grade for both his curve and slider. He would be the type of guy that could tick up significantly in the Yankees development system.

39. Minnesota Twins – Matthew Lugo, SS, Puerto Rico HS

The Twins and Lugo continue to get more and more traction as calls go out, though Lugo is certainly liked by more than just the Twins, and he could be off the board before this spot. He has excellent tools across the board with the type of defensive tools that could work both on the left side of the infield or in the outfield, giving him plenty of potential projection.

40. Tampa Bay Rays – J.J. Goss, RHP, Texas HS

Goss is the top prep arm in Texas, and typically that’s a sure-fire first-round guarantee, but Goss has been rumored to have a very strong commitment to Texas A&M, so his price tag could bump him from that guarantee unless he’s taken much earlier than this spot. With multiple picks, the Rays could take the risk here.

41. Texas Rangers – Greg Jones, SS, UNC-Wilmington

Jones is getting a ton of helium due to his athleticism, but he’s likely to be a late first-round pick or early second-round pick. Jones has potentially 80-grade speed, enough raw strength to potentially be above-average power at full development, and the type of speed and arm strength to work at second base or center field or potentially be a second-division shortstop. If he can even support an average hit tool, this would be a huge grab for the Rangers.

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