Sports Illustrated - Mock

1. Houston Astros

Carlos Rodon
Position: LHP
Size: 6-foot-3, 235 lbs 
School: North Carolina State

For the third straight year, the Astros hold the first overall pick in the draft. General manager Jeff Luhnow and scouting director Mike Elias are dedicated to sabermetrics but not imprisoned by them. Houston made a non-sabermetric, projection pick on high school shortstop Carlos Correa at the top of the 2012 draft; Correa is now universally considered one of the top prospects in the minors. Last year's 1-1 choice, Stanford righthander Mark Appel, was a safe pick as an accomplished college pitcher with a resume bolstered by both statistics and radar gun readings.

With no blatantly obvious talent at the top of this year's draft, odds are the Astros will play it safe and go with Rodon, who was a favorite to go No. 1 overall when the college season began. He has improved drastically since a shaky beginning to this, his junior season. Luhnow and Elias will look past Rodon's won-lost record (6-7 through May 21) and instead concentrate on his 2.01 ERA and 117 strikeouts in just 98⅔ innings. His velocity has been down at times but Rodon still has terrific close-to-the-majors stuff and a powerful big league frame.

2: Miami Marlins

Brady Aiken
Position: LHP
Size: 6-4, 210 
School: Cathedral Catholic High, San Diego, Calif.

High school lefties are often high risk, high reward propositions in the early portion of the draft. (good: Clayton Kershaw; not so good: Tyler Matzek.) All clubs holding single digit picks this year have scouted Aiken thoroughly, and he went from being a mid-to-late first rounder at this time last year into a 1-1 candidate. He touches 95 mph with his fastball but sits at 91-94. He'll need to develop more of a downward plane to that pitch, however, so it's not as hittable up in the zone. His curveball is his best pitch: 74-79 mph with late-breaking movement and a diagonal tilt.

3. Chicago White Sox

Tyler Kolek 
Position: RHP
Size: 6-5, 230
School: Shepherd (Texas) High

A pro scout surveyed the White Sox starting lineup during a spring training game in March. "Almost everyone is thick and slow" he mused. Jabbing a finger at several of the White Sox players, the scout said: "Thick. Thick. Thick. Thick."

For that reason, the White Sox may be the first team in this draft to break form and gamble on an athletic high schooler, such as Jacob Gatewood, Michael Chavis or Nick Gordon. Odds are, though, that they will resist temptation and select Kolek, who, despite being rather thick himself, has the big-bodied, hard-throwing profile teams love. In fact, he might have the best pure velocity of any high school kid in the draft, with an upper 90's fastball that has been clocked over 100 mph. His mechanics are a concern, though. He has a tendency to wrap his arm severely behind himself, meaning that there's more chance for things to go wrong before he gets back to his release point.

4. Chicago Cubs

Alex Jackson
Position: Catcher, bats right/throws right
Size: 6-2, 210
School: Rancho Bernardo High, Escondido, Calif.

Cubs GM Theo Epstein has been busily stockpiling talent in his minor league system, aiming to build a powerful contender by decade's end. Jackson could play a crucial role in those long term plans. He possesses a howitzer arm and displays superior righthanded power, a scarce commodity in this draft.

5. Minnesota Twins

Tyler Beede 
Position: RHP 
Size: 6-4, 215
School: Vanderbilt

The Twins have been smartly and gradually rebuilding their system, beginning with outfielder Byron Buxton, who is currently the closest thing in the minors to Mike Trout. Beede, drafted but not signed by Toronto in 2011, is a righty with top-of-the-rotation stuff who could find his way to Target Field within two years. He has a mid-90s fastball but he needs to mix his pitches more, and his curveball, while good, is inconsistent. He profiles as a No. 2 starter.

6. Seattle Mariners

Kyle Freeland
Position: LHP 
Size: 6-4, 185
School: Evansville University

Righthander Jeff Hoffman of East Carolina would have been the best player available at this stage, but his 2014 season ended earlier this spring with an elbow injury that will require Tommy John surgery.

Hoffman's misfortune should let Kyle Freeland to move up in the draft. Enjoying a wonderful junior season (10-2, 1.90 ERA), Freeland delivers a low- to mid-90s fastball and adds an effective slider, change and cutter.

7. Philadelphia Phillies

Jacob Gatewood, 
Position: SS, BR/TR 
Size: 6-5, 190
School: Clovis (Calif.) High

Everyone with a significant position in the Phillies organization has traveled west to see Gatewood this spring, and with good reason. His projectable frame, easy fielding actions, powerful arm and smooth home run power are unmatched by any other prospect in this draft.

Philadelphia's long range plan may be to move Gatewood to third base and pair him with its top pick from 2013, shortstop J.P. Crawford, on the left side of the infield.

8. Colorado Rockies

Bradley Zimmer
Position: OF, BL/TR, OF
Size: 6-5, 205
School: University of San Francisco

Colorado will hope that a premier catching talent is available at this spot but since that is unlikely, Zimmer may be the best option. He's tall and rangy, runs well, has an above average arm and shows a "use the whole field" swing that should eventually develop power.

9. Toronto Blue Jays

Aaron Nola
Position: RHP
Size: 6-1, 195
School: LSU

With two of the top 11 picks, Toronto is in the most enviable position in this draft. Sources say the Blue Jays will select a "safe" college pitcher with their first choice at No. 9, then gamble on a tools-laden high school position player with their second pick at No. 11 overall.

Toronto will have plenty of options to satisfy its first preference. Nola may be the best fit. He's not a fireballer, but he has an impressive array of pitches and works consistently down -- a necessity in this age of the low strike zone.

10. New York Mets

Nick Gordon, 
Position: SS, BL/TR
Size: 6-2, 180
School: Olympia High, Orlando, Fla.

Gordon is the son of ex-big league reliever Tom and the brother of current Dodgers outfielder Dee. He is also easily the premier high school middle infield prospect in this draft. Gordon has the speed, arm and fielding skills to be a future All-Star. His development at the plate in the minors will dictate whether he will hit at the top or bottom of a big league lineup.

 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20140522/mlb-mock-draft-2014-carlos-rodon-dave-perkin/#ixzz32UoyN7OA