Here is how this mock draft went down. Since Blaise is a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, he acted as the GM for all teams drafting in the odd number slots including his Pirates at 1, and Brendan acted as the GM for all teams drafting in the even number slots including his Cleveland Indians at 8. An MLB First Year Player Mock Draft is very difficult to get correct due to all the options a Major League club has between high-school players and college players. So check out who we have your team taking, and enjoy the 2011 MLB First Year Player Draft on Monday, June 6.
1. Pittsburgh Pirates- Gerrit Cole RHP/UCLA
-Reports leaking out of Pirates camp is that they will take Cole with the first pick on Monday. The 6’4 right-hander has an upper 90’s fastball with a nice change-up and slider. Cole just adds another young, strong arm in the Pirates farm system.-BT
2. Seattle Mariners-Anthony Rendon 3B/Rice
- Highly overpaid Figgins makes this an easy choice; combine with Ackley and there’s a solid infield for years to come.-BP
3. Arizona Diamondbacks- Danny Hultzen LHP/Virginia
-Hultzen is arguably the best pitcher in college baseball this year. He is this draft’s best left-handed pitcher and he gives the Diamondbacks a young arm that they are looking for.-BT
4. Baltimore Orioles-Trevor Bauer RHP/UCLA
- Overshadowed by the # 1 starter, Bauer leads the NCAA in K’s; O’s need some depth with an up and coming staff.-BP
5. Kansas City Royals- Taylor Jungmann RHP/Texas
-The Royals have said to be looking for a college pitcher that will be ready for the bigs soon. Jungmann fits that description, and 6’6 frame just adds another great pitching prospect in the Royals farm system.-BT
6. Washington Nationals-Dylan Bundy RHP/Owassa HS
- Bundy has one of the best arms in the draft, and will have time to develop coming out of high school.-BP
7. Arizona Diamondbacks- Bubba Starling OF/Gardner Edgerton HS
-Starling is the best high school player in the draft, but his commitment to play quarterback at the University of Nebraska might scare some teams. But with a solid pick already in Hultzen with the third pick, the D-Backs can afford to be risky by taking Starling.-BT
8. Cleveland Indians-Jed Bradley LHP/Georgia Tech
- The Tribe hasn’t had the best luck with left-handed college arms, but with Pomeranz last year and potentially Bradley, their staff looks very promising.-BP
9. Chicago Cubs- Sonny Gray RHP/Vanderbilt
-The Cubs need help and a college pitcher like Gray will add depth. The 5’11 junior is a little undersized but a mid 90’s fastball and a great curveball makes him suitable for the next level.-BT
10. San Diego Padres-Francisco Lindor SS/Montverde Academy
- The Padres haven’t had a solid SS since the great Khalil Geene, and Lindor has plus defense and can be a huge asset as a switch hitter.-BP
11. Houston Astros- Blake Swihart C/Cleveland HS
-The Astros might end 2011 with the worst record in the MLB. With a long way to go, the Astros could Swihart who is an exceptionally talented high school catcher that could develop into a great player.-BT
12. Milwaukee Brewers-Archie Bradley RHP/Broken Arrow HS
- Being out of high school, the brew crew can let Bradley develop with guys like Greinke, Marcum, and Gallardo.-BP
13. New York Mets- George Springer OF/Connecticut
-Springer is a gifted outfielder that could find himself to the big league quick. With uncertainty surrounding the Mets and some of their veteran players, the selection of Springer would give the Mets faithful reason to celebrate.-BT
14. Florida Marlins-Matt Barnes RHP/Connecticut
- Barnes has 3 very solid pitches that will only develop and with a Marlins team that needs some support behind Johnson and Nolasco, Barnes could blow through the minors.-BP
15. Milwaukee Brewers- Daniel Norris LHP/Science Hill HS
-The high school lefty has committed to Clemson, but if signed, the Brewers would add a great young pitching talent into their system. With some minor league coaching, Norris could find himself in the Brew crew’s rotation in 4-5 years.-BT
16. Los Angeles Dodgers- Javier Baeys SS/Arlington County HS
- With Furcal constantly on the DL and not much depth in the minors, Baez should develop into a very solid SS down the road.-BP
-Purke is rated by some as a top 5 pitcher in this draft. In 7 years down the road, I believe he might be the best out of this class. Why do I have him a 17 then? Well he has slipped in the recent months, but he’s got nasty stuff that will make him a potential dominating pitcher in the MLB.-BT
18. Oakland Athletics-Mike Mahtook OF/LSU
- Mahtook has proven himself in college over the past couple years and the A’s are developing a very nice young outfield.-BP
19. Boston Red Sox- Austin Hedges C/Junipero Serra HS
-The UCLA commit has tremendous defensive skills at the catcher position. He might fall more due to his commitment to UCLA, but he is worth the risk for the Red Sox to try and sign.-BT
20. Colorado Rockies- Taylor Giuerri RHP/Spring Valley HS
- Guerrieri slips to the Rocks because of his commitment to South Carolina, but he’s got great stuff and has the potential to put it all together and be a good # 1 or # 2.-BP
21. Toronto Blue Jays- Levi Michael SS/UNC
-Michael is ranked as my best shortstop. The UNC standout is a pure shortstop with switch hitting capabilities. It would be a smart pick for the Blue Jays here at 21.-BT
22. St. Louis Cardinals-Jose Fernandez RHP/Braulio Alonso HS
- Conditioning is the only concern for Fernandez but he couples a strong fastball with a good slider.-BP
23. Washington Nationals- Joshua Bell OF/Jesuit College Prep
-With a plethora of athletically talented players in their farm system, the Nationals’ future is looking bright. Bell is another athletically gifted player that could find himself in the Nationals outfield in a couple of years.-BT
24. Tampa Bay Rays- Dillon Howard RHP/Searcy HS
- Howard has a unique plus fastball that never stays straight, but signability becomes a problem because of his agent Scott Boras.-BP
25. San Diego Padres- Alex Meyer RHP/Kentucky
-Meyer reminds me a lot of Padres former pitcher, Chris Young. Meyer’s 6’9 frame is something to waste a first round pick on alone. His upper 90’s fastball is capable of becoming a dominant pitch in the MLB.-BT
26. Boston Red Sox-Tyler Anderson LHP/Oregon
- The Nation has had an interesting mix of pitchers over the past couple years, some not panning out; Anderson has a Lester-type body and can move his stuff around effectively.-BP
27. Cincinnati Reds-C.J. Cron 1B/Utah
-Cron’s talent is worth this pick. Although the Reds system should be set at 1B for a couple years to come with Votto and Alonso, Cron has also played catcher. A switch to catcher should be inevitable. Cron hits for power as well as average. -BT
28. Atlanta Braves-Jackie Bradley OF/South Carolina
- Bradley was destined to be a for sure first rounder, but injury concerns and a lackluster year at the plate drops him to the late first round.-BP
29. San Francisco Giants- Henry Owens LHP/Edison HS
-Owens is a 6’6 right-hander and a Miami commit. The Giants organization has been known to develop young pitchers, and Owens has all of the tools.-BT
30. Minnesota Twins-Anthony Meo RHP/Coastal Carolina
- A starter right now, Meo is best suited as a setup man in the Bigs with a mid-90s fastball and a good slider to mix in.-BP
31. Tampa Bay Rays-Brian Goodwin OF/Miami Dade College
-The Rays always go for the best available athletes. Goodwin reminds me of a promising Delmon Young that the Rays took with the 1st overall pick in 2003. Hopefully Goodwin turns out better than young did for Tampa Bay.-BT
32. Tampa Bay Rays-Colton Wong 2B/Hawaii
- The Rays have had lackluster production since Aki Iwamura from 2B, and Wong has a pure bat and won’t take much time to move through the minors.-BP
33. Texas Rangers- Joe Ross RHP/Bishop O’Dowd HS
-Ross is a raw talent that is definitely worth a first round pick. He just recently turned 18 and he has a 6’3 frame. Give him a couple years developing in a pro organization and he could be a potential top of the rotation starting pitcher.-BT
