MLBDC - Mock Draft v6.0

The Entire List...

1) Houston Astros- Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

For all the talk of Appel slipping out of the top spot, we offer this: everyone was picking on Gerrit Cole this time last season for under-performing, and the draft “geniuses” had the Pirates going in another direction. To their credit, Pittsburgh tuned out the critics and went after their guy. Houston will do the same.

2) Minnesota Twins- Kevin Gausman, RHP, Louisiana State

This works out for Minnesota, who would probably prefer Gausman to Appel anyways.

3) Seattle Mariners- Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County HS (GA)

Despite each team’s hesitancy to draft a HS outfielder, especially with the recent track records of Donovan Tate and Aaron Hicks, there’s no way Buxton slips past Seattle at three.

4) Baltimore Orioles- Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco

The O’s need position players, but they have enough young position talent at the big-league level to continue to bolster their rotation. Zimmer could hold the number one spot until Dylan Bundy arrives, and then he’ll slot in nicely as a number two.

5) Kansas City Royals- Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke

Probably too high for a small-frame pitcher who has only one season of starting under his belt, but this is what the Tim Lincecum-effect has done. Stroman has electric stuff and could be a number two.

6) Chicago Cubs- Mike Zunino, C, Florida Gators

Pittsburgh (Tony Sanchez), Baltimore (Matt Wieters) and even Houston (Jason Castro) began their rebuilding process with a franchise catcher. So it begins in Chicago.

7) San Diego Padres- Stryker Trahan, C, Acadiana HS (LA)

The Padres went off the board last year for Cory Spangenberg and they have to be pleased with his start. Trahan is a unique player who would give the Padres a true offensive force at catcher.

8) Pittsburgh Pirates- Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rican Baseball Academy

The Pirates will be gunning for one of the top shortstop prospects, be it Deven Marrero, Gavin Cecchini or Correa, who has drawn some pretty impressive comparisons.

9) Miami Marlins- Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)

The Marlins tend to favor high schoolers, and Fried likely has the highest ceiling of any HS pitcher not named Lucas Giolito. Fortunately, he doesn’t have Giolito’s injury scare.

10) Colorado Rockies- Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy (FL)

Almora has drawn comps to a young Carlos Beltran. His power-speed combo will appear to many teams in the top ten, and there’s very little chance he slips past Colorado.

11) Oakland Athletics- David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS (AL)

Dahl hasn’t had the most impressive spring, but you can’t question his tools. The A’s tend to be more about results than potential, hence their tendency towards college players, but Dahl’s ceiling is so high they’ll make an exception.

12) New York Mets- Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

In Marrero, the Mets can find a beautiful merger of need and best-player-available. If he can figure things out at the plate, he could be a perennial All-Star, in addition to all the Gold Gloves he’s likely to take home.