Mack's Mock Draft v1.0

 

This is my first 2014 mock draft.

This is not one of the compilation drafts that I put out after averaging all the other mocks that are out there on the internet. No, this is mine and mine only.

I put the teams in the order they were at 9:44pm on September 4th. Thought that was a nice round number :)

Here goes:

 

1 – Houston – LHSP Carlos Rodon – North Carolina State – This might be the last year that the Astros gets the first pick in the draft, though it is the third in the row. It’s close to impossible… no, I take that back… it’s literally impossible for them to pass on picking Rodon, who is so far more taleted than anyone in this draft. He has a five- pitch arsenal that includes a mid-90s fastball, a wipeout slider, a lethal cutter, an above-average curveball and a change-up with nice fade. He could be in the majors by late 2015.

2 – Miami – RHSP Touki Toussaint – Coral Springs (FL) High School – The obvious ‘best player available’ here would have been RHP Tyler Beede out of Vanderbilt, but the Marlins do not want to get into a gigantic bonus negotiation with the college junior. They choose instead  a local high school senior they are banking on will sign for slot. It’s still a very good pick for a kid who is ranked in every top ten mock in the country. Very raw, but throws in the high 90s.

3 – White Sox – RHSP Tyler Beede – Vanderbilt – Miami’s reluctance to go give out big bucks is the XXXX gain with the  Beede pick. The runner-up for the Golden Spike Award as a sophomore is easily the top college righty in the draft. The classic 6-4 power pitcher has, according to TTF, “a classic three-pitch mix with a mid-90s plus fastball with great movement, a plus power curveball and a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters.” He has had some problems pounding the zone but a pro pitching coach can straighten that out. Beede has  big time talent that projects as someone that can easily start the season at the A+ or AA level.

4 – Cubs -  SS Trea Turner – North Carolina State – Turner could easily go 1-2 with his fellow Wolfpack, P Carlos Rodon. Has all 5-tools,  especially speed and the ability to stick at shortstop. Compared to Troy Tulowitzki. This is about as good as a draftable SS can be.

5 – Brewers – C Alex Jackson – Rando Bernardo (CA) HS – We can talk all day about what a great catcher Jackson is, but this a future corner outfielder in the making. He probably will rate out as an average outfielder, but he does have a ++ arm that will work well out there. But, you’re drafting this guy for his bat. Is one of the top projected power hitters of the draft.

6 – Giants – SS Nick Gordon – Olympia (FL) HS – I’ve got Gordon as the first high school shortstop to be drafted. The lefty projects as a leadoff hitter and plays a very good defensive game. Did not have a great summer, but I still have him as one of the top 10 players in the draft.

7 – Twins – 3B Jack Flaherty – Harvard-Westlake (CA) HS – I rate Flaherty as the top power hitter in the draft. He has the natural power and, because the ball jumps off the bat, he projects as an above average BA hitter as well.  Only has an average arm so he probably projects to stay at third and not move into the outfield. Potential 35/125 hitter.

8 – Padres – OF  Derek Fisher – Virginia – Excellent gap hitter with above average bat speed. Had a horrible 2013 offensively in school but still projects out as a top draft pick. Projects as one of the top college bats in the draft.

9 – Phillies – RHP   Jeff Hoffman – East Carolina – 6-4 control finesse pitcher (7.06 K/9 IP) who simply gets the job done working the corners with his 92-95, 97 fastball and two + off-speed pitches. 84 K/39 BB over 109.2 innings last season.  Had a big summer in the Cape Cod League and a lot of scouts are predicting a Jonathan Gray-like rise in the rankings for him once the season starts. I already have him there.

10 – Seattle – RHP  Dylan Cease – Milton (GA) HS – The second of four very talented high school righties that will go high in the first round.  Cease doesn’t throw as hard as the other two (92-95, 97), but he does project by most scouts to wind up being the most successful. Most of his other pitchers are still a work in progress.

11 – Toronto – (compensation pick for failure in signing 2013 10^th overall pick, P Phil Bickford) –  RHP Tyler Kolek – Shepard (TX) HS – Kolek is the third of the four top high school righties in this draft.  The 6-6 flamethrower turned on the scouts early when their radar guns hit 100. Also has a + low-80s slider, and a low 70s . He also set the record at the Perfect Game All-American Classic with a 99-mph fastball. An absolutely great combination of size and speed that is impossible to pass up on.

12 –Toronto– OF - Michael Conforto – Oregon State – This is a 6-1 bulldog type hitter. Michael Choice-like projected power.  I expect he will end this upcoming season as one of the top power hitters in college.

13 – Mets – OF Michael Gettys – Gainsville (GA) HS – Gettys could easily be drafted as a starting pitcher, but it’s his bat that’s going to get him to the major someday. Stood out at the 2013 18u WWBA National Championship. Showed some serious power at the Under Armour All-American Game home run derby at Wrigley Field that caused his summer stock to rise so rapidly. Throwing speed from outfield: 100

14 – Rockies – RHP Grant Holmes – Conway (SC) HS – The last of the ‘big 4’ high school right handers. Holmes  sits 93-95 and has an above average chamge-up. He’s only 6-1 which could lead him in the direction of the pen someday.

15 – Angels – SS Jacob Gatewood – Clovis (CA) HS – This is a big guy (6-5) for a shortstop and also generates Tulo comparisons.  He generated a ton of power through excellent bat speed, plus has excellent speed, soft hands, and plays a great defensive game. This is definitely the year of some great shortstops.

16 – Arizona – LHP Brady Aiken – Cathedral Catholic (CA) HS – 6-4 frame, Aiken is going to be a great major league pitcher. Had a great summer at the 11th All-American Classic and the Area Code Games. Every scout was wowed by his control… 91-92 fastball… 73-74 curve. He also will be one of the youngest players in the 2014 draft. Could easily wind up a top 10 pick.

17 – Nats – RHP Michael Cederoth – San Diego State – 6-6 power pitcher that has fell down the list due to all the press this season by the high schooler. Still, he is routinely clocked at 100 with a mid-80’s slider to boot. 109 K/48 BB over 95.1 innings this past season.  He does need to work on his control but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t go highr next June.

18 – KC – RHP Luke Weaver – Florida State - Excellent control pitcher with a 2.90 FIP, only walking 17 in 92-IP. Over 15 starts, he has a 2.29 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 119 K/19 BB over 98.1 innings. Fastball sits in the mid-90s. Scouts say there is still room for projection.

19 –  Indians – OF Kel Johnson – Home School (GA) – This is easiest the most talented home schooled ballplayer in the history of the game. Plays for the legendary travel team, the East Coast Braves. As one scout said, ‘you go out just to see this guy hit batting practice’.  A ton of raw power.

20 – Orioles – LHP Dave Peterson - Regis Jesuit (CO) HS – Peterson went into this summer rated as the top high school lefty, but lost some ground to Aiken. His fastball hits 92, but because he’s 6-7, that comes off like 97-98 due to his release point. 76-77 slurve is his secondary pitch.

21 – Yanks – RHP Luis Ortiz – Sanger (CA) HS – Ortiz burst on the scene in July when he traveled across the country and wowed scouts at the USA Baseball’s National Team Identification Series in Cary, N.C. with his 91-93 mph fastball and 80-82 mph slider. Hit 91-93, at the Tournament of Stars in August along with an 83-84 slider. Good height (6-3) and reportedly lost 35 pounds over the past year. Keep an eye on this one.

22 – Reds – C Chase Vellott – St. Thomas More (LA) HS – There’s a lot of good catching in this draft and Vellott is one of them. Has a strong arm capable of pop times in the 1.9-2.0 second range. Vallot is one of the youngest players in the class and will not turn 18 until the end of the minor league season next year.

23 – Tampa Bay – RHRP Nick Burdi – Louisville – Very few relief pitchers are drafted in the first round, but Burdi will be the exception.  His fastball consistently hits 100 and his slider is in the low 90s range. Last year, had a 0.78 ERA and 61-Ks in 34.2-IP. Rumors are he will be moving to a rotation slot for his junior year.

24 – Oakland – LHP Forrest Griffin – The First Academy (FL) HS – Another big lefty (6-5) tha has moved into my first round after an impressive summer at places like the 2013 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars and Under Armour All-Star Game. Fastball: 89-91… curve 73-75… still some velo projection. Had a great summer

25-  Texas  - SS Greg Deichmann – Brother Martin (LA) HS – Deichmann is another power bat shortstop. He’s first known for his defensive skills. Had a bad showing this summer at the East Coast Pro Showcase. A very strong arm and has the same power range as Gatewood.

26 – Cards – LHP Kodi Medeiros - Waiakea (HI) HS – No one has come out of nowhere quicker this summer than Medeiros, who turned heads at June's PG National in Minnesota. Scouts said his stuff was ‘absolutely filthy’, aided by his strange deliver. FB: 90-93, 94… 78-80 breaking ball… throws from low three-quarters — almost sidearm.

27 –Reds -  LHP Brandon Finnegan – TCU – In any other year Finnegan would be easily ranked as the top college lefty in the draft.  Fastball: 93-96, 97…  slider: 85-85... change 82-85… Very polished pitcher who mixes pitches well. Some project him out as an eventual closer.

28 – Pirates – RHP Cameron Varga – Cincinnati Hills (OH) – High school stats were sick: 148 strikeouts and just 14 walks in 64 innings pitched. He was 8-2 with a 0.21 ERA. Fastball sits 92-95 (National Showcase). Was converted fro SS after showing the fastball. Also throws  up-70s change and curve which are still a work in progress. This is a fastball pitcher.

29 – Red Sox -  RHP Michael Kopech – Mt. Pleasant (TX) HS – Classic 6-4 frame, touched 94 at the Tournament of Stars and National Showcase. Loose arm, needs to work on mechanics. Still projects or more velo.

30 – Dodgers -  C Max Pentacost – Kennesaw State – Players earn their summer stripes in different ways and Pentacost earned his at the Cape Cod Games. He dominated offensively and was also named the Perfect Game College Summer Player of the Year. You can’t do better than that.

31 – Braves -  RHP Aaron Nola – LSU – Nola is considered the top control pitcher in the 2014 draft. As a sophomore, he went 12-1 over 17 starts with a 1.57 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 122 K/18 BB over 126 innings. Low 90s fastball with nasty sink. Lack of height (6-2) could send him to the pen.