Bryce Harper, c, College of Southern Nevada
Nothing more needs to be said at this point. I would caution draft followers not to get too over-involved in the hype about how much money Harper eventually gets on the Aug. 16 signing deadline. That’s a game for high-powered agents and professional general managers to play. The important thing is that the 17-year-old Harper has a sound and well-managed development plan, free of stress and urgency. Just like Stephen Strasburg.
2. PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Jameson Taillon, rhp, The Woodlands (Texas) HS
The Pirates may not agree with me, but I would personally take Taillon over Machado for any number of different reasons. Aren’t young power pitchers still the most valuable currency in baseball? Ask a veteran Texas scout who they would pick between Josh Beckett (No. 2 overall in 1999) and Taillon? I think it would be a toss-up, at best.
3. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Manny Machado, ss, Brito Private HS, Miami
I’m still more of a fan of the Orioles picking Chris Sale in this spot, as I did in my first mock draft, but I’m going to listen to the wise sages that say that Harper, Taillon and Machado are the clear top three picks.
4. KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Chris Sale, lhp, Florida Gulf Coast
I’m convinced the choice here is essentially between the two premium college lefthanders, Sale and Mississippi’s Drew Pomerenz. There are pluses and minuses related to both. Neither has a beautiful, classic delivery, but deception is in the eye of the beholder. Sale hasn’t pitched against top-level competition on a consistent basis, but has no blemishes on his record. Pomerenz has dominated the top level of college baseball, but has been dinged up over the last month, when decisions are made. Both are good, sound choices.
5. CLEVELAND INDIANS
Drew Pomeranz, lhp, Mississippi
The irony here is that Sale might benefit more than Pomeranz from his school being narrowly passed over for an NCAA regional berth. Pomeranz might have welcomed the rest since he has not been dominant since straining an oblique several weeks ago, and is at risk for another mediocre outing before the draft. There is also the chance that Mississippi will pitch him on short rest at a critical moment, as it did in last year’s NCAA tournament.
6. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Yasmani Grandal, c, Miami (Fla.)
Just as picks No. 4 and No. 5 came down to deciding between two similar prospects, I think the next five picks will all come from a pool of five players from relatively the same demographic: Grandal, 2B Kolbrin Vitek, 3B Zach Cox, SS Christian Colon and OF Michael Choice—all college bats. Teams in the Nos. 6-10 slots all need immediate help, and wouldn’t hesitate to go after a college bat at this point. The kicker for me on Grandal, who is clearly the least-developed hitter among the five, is that he is a top defender at a premium position. Cox and Vitek still have question marks about their eventual position, and Choice is very likely a corner outfielder. The low-ceiling, low-risk Colon doesn’t strike me as a typical Arizona-type athlete.
7. NEW YORK METS
Christian Colon, ss, Cal State Fullerton
I put Colon in this spot on my first mock draft and I see no reason to move him out, although Cox or Vitek would certainly be comfortable picks in this slot as well. I’m curious how many of the players from this group of five position players that Minaya went out to see during the spring.
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