Mack - "What Are You Nuts, a 2022 Mock Draft Already?" v1.0

Too early, right? Well, not for me...

1. OF Elijah Green IMG Academy

 

Green is the creme brulee of this draft. 6-3, 5-* player that may be the best prep layer to come along in a decade. ++ power, 70 speed, 70 arm… this is what the last place team’s next season draft pick looks like.

 

2. RHP Dylan Lesko Buford HS

 

4-pitch mix with a fastball up to 99. ++ change. Last year: 174 games, 192 2/3 innings pitched, 313 strikeouts, 0.93 WHIP. I not only have him as my top prep pitcher, but the top pitcher overall.

  

3. LHP Hunter Barco Florida

 

Top projected college arm. 6-4, 208. Got his feet wet last year for primo school Florida: 16-starts, 10-3, 4.01, 83-IP, 94-K, 26-BB. Looks like Madison Bumgarner on the bump. 90-93, T-96 heater. Delivery makes fastball look 100+. Definite Friday starter this season.

 

4. LHP Connor Prelipp Alabama

 

Mid-90s, top 97 fastball and a ++ upper 80s 3,150 rpm slider. Induced upwards of a 20.0 SwStr% on all three pitches (FB: 22.3%, SL: 25.0%, CH: 23.8%). A 47.9 K% s. 2021 stat line: 3-starts, 1-1, 3.86, 7-IP, 12-K. Posted a 0.0-ERA in 4-starts as a freshman. I am also told he does windows.

 

5. RHP Bryce Osmond Oklahoma State

 

Fastball touches 96. 83-86 + slider. Started out as a shortstop (he he…). Had a disappointing season last year for Oak State (13-G, 10-starts, 2-5, 7.42, 57-IP, 67-K, 33-BB), but still is lined up to be the Friday night in 2022.

 

6. 1B Spencer Jones Vanderbilt

Getting early rise in mock drafts. Fueled By Sports already projects him as 1.1. TJS made him stop pitching and turn to first base. Huge (6’7) with projectable plus-hit and plus power skills. Very limited defensive skills, but isn’t that why he’s on first? 2021 Vandy stat line: 34-G, 95-AB, .274, 3-HR, 33-K

 

7. OF Andruw Jones Westleyan HS

 

Son of.. well, you know. Has exploIsive athletic ability. Developing ++ power to go along with +++ defensive skills. Should stick in center. Could easily be drafted higher if he has a great senior year.

 

8. SS Termarr Johnson Mays HS

 

I’ve got this defensive wizz as my number one shortstop in this draft. Top of the order hitter with developing power. Many say he could also play and center as he grow.

 

9. RHP  Victor Mederos Miami

 

Another prep speed baller. Still working on control of the heater.6-3, 220. Said to have the best prep 3-pitch mix in this draft.

10. LHP Nate Savino Virginia

 

91-94 fastball, touching 96. + upper-70s breaking ball. Was billed as the top lefty prep arm in the 2020 draft, but chose to go to Virginia instead. Quietly developing into a Friday starter, replacing Mike Vasil. 2021 Virginia stat line - 16-G, 10-starts, 3-3, 3.79, 54.2-IP, 34-K, 16-BB.

 

11. C Logan Tanner Mississippi State

 

The first of three catchers in the next three picks. Big time slugger for the World Champs. Great speed. Still developing addition pop after leading the team with 15 bombs. 2021 HailState stat line: 67-G, 244-AB, .287, 15-HR, 53-RBI 

 

12. C Kevin Perada Georgia Tech

 

Perada was the top rated prep catcher in the 2020 draft, but chose to go to school in Atlanta. Legit raw power. + arm and athletic approach behind the plate. 2021 GT stat line - 52-G, 220-AB, team leading .318, 9-HR, 42-RBI, 41-K. Could wind up being the first catcher picked.

 

13. OF Brock Jones Stanford

 

Jones is one the top quality power hitters in this draft. Does miss the ball a tad too much, but don’t most sluggers that have 18 home runs in 56-games do? 5-tools with muscles on muscles. Makes up for it with 49 walks. 2021 Stanford stat line - 56-G, 206-AB, 59-K, .311, .646-slug, 18-HR, 62-RBI. I love this guy!   

 

14. SS Robert Moore Arkansas

 

The second shorttop I picked in this mock. Question… what do you do with a shortstop that puts up numbers like these… 2021 Arkansas stat line - 61-G, 233-AB 51-K, 41-BB, .283, .384-OBP, 16-HR, 53-RBI? I don’t remember the last time I saw 16 home runs out of a college shortstop. And, he only stands 5-9! I’m really confused now.

  

15. RHRP Landon Smith Mississippi State

 

No one impressed me more in the College World Series. He just mowed down one Vandy batter after the next in the finals he helped his team win the crown for. Hitting 97 consistently. Closer mentality and the only way he doesn’t come off this board as the first reliever chosen is if HailState turns him into a 2022 starter.

16. SS Brooks Lee Cal Polyl

 

Another college shortstop with pop. Passed on the 2019 draft to play for his Dad (aw…). Really strong switch hitter with great skills in the field. Because of his size (6-1, 180 pounds of muscle), I project him to move to third some day. Either way, he will be a first round pick in 2022. 

 

17. OF Chris Newell Virginia

 

Hit .407 in 2020’s shortened season. Since then… 2021 Virginia stat line - 58-G, 194-AB, 75-K, 17-BB, .258, 5-HR. This is a big time talent that is coming off… for him… a miserable season. He can do better than this. And I predict he will.

 

18. C Hayden Dunhurst Ole Miss

 

Knows how to elevate the ball. Above average for both hit and power. + arm… + defender… and projected to stick behind the plate. 2021 Ole Miss stat line - 65-G, 232-AB, 44-K, 32-BB, .280, .385-OBP, 7-HR

19. LHP Tristan Smith Boiling Springs HS

 

6-2/220 prep arm with a deceptive 95-mph fastball. 95-mph fastballs are tough enough and the last thing a hitter needs is extra deception. Out pitch is a high-70s slider. Quality spin rates on both. Some say he’s the best prep arm in the upcoming draft. I say close. 

 

20. 3B Peyton Graham Oklahoma

 

Graham is the first of three third basemen I have here. Yes, three of them. He has an excellent feel of hitting and a top defensive glove. Was a shortstop in high school but added muscle and was switched to third in college. Had a decent 2021 (2021 Oklahoma stat line - 53-G, 215-AB, 58-K, 30-BB, .288, 11-HR) and I look for more in 2022.

 

21. RHP Gabriel Hughes Gonzaga

 

Everybody loves a 6-4/220 righty. Fastball was 93-95 last year. Upper 80s slider that has touched 90-91. Mod-80s change. 2021 Gonzaga stat line - 10-starts, 4-2, 3.23, 61.1-IP, 67-K

 

22. RHP Ian Richie Bainbridge HS

 

6-2/185. Mid-90s fastball, with movement. Nice command with changeup and slider too. Big spin. 43 games, 58 1/3 innings pitched, 58 strikeouts. Needs to cut down on the 1.54 WHIP. No relation to Lionel. 

 

23. SS Trey Faltine Texas

 

Faltine came to the Longhorns as a highly touted infield prospect. 2021 was not what he wanted to show the world what he could do (2021 Texas stat line - 66-G, 217-AB, 72-K, 5-BB, .249-BA, .374-OBP). Above average tools across the board. I look for a better 2022 here.

24. 3B/2B Jace Jung Texas Tech

 

Our next third baseman plays both third and second. And, I could easily have him too low on this list. Just a pure power hitter that makes up the amount of strikeouts with the amount of walks he gets. The 2021 stat line is a work of art: 2021 Texas Tech stat line - 56-G, 208-AB, 45-K, 49-BB, .337, 1.159-OPS, .462-OBP, .697-slug, 21-HR, 67-RBI. Scouts project him to be a pure third baseman at the next level. 

 

25 OF Maurice Hampton Memphis Univ. School

 

Tough choice here. Highly touted recruit due to his multiple tools. Power, speed, and defense are all there. Now he just has to put it together. Should stick in center. 

 

26 LHP Brandon Barriera Amer. Heritage School

 

Has some of the best pitching skills in this draft. 92-94, T97 fastball. But that’s not his go-to pitch. That goes to his wipeout slider. Just 6-1 and needs to beef up the 180 frame.

  

27 RHP Brandon Sproat Florida

 

This is a big time reliever that, simply put, had a poor season (16-G, 2-starts, 2-1, 6.65, 21.2-IP, 18-K, 15-BB) in 2021. 3-pitch mix with significant arm strength. Could go the starter route in 2021. 

 

28 3B Brennan Malone South Carolina

 

Yes, this is my third 3^rd baseman I’ve picked, but, right now, with limited knowledge of the high school kids entering their senior year, Graham, Jung, and Malone are three of the top 3B  talents in this draft. True, Malone did nit produce for the Gamecock’s in 2021 (38-G, 116-AB, .216, 2-HR), but he did perform excellently in the Coastal Plains summer league (9 HR, .365 in 27 G. I expect a big 2022 from him. 

 

29 SS Josh Rivera Florida

 

The third Gator I pick in the first round. You draft this kid for his defensive skills first. Has all the skills there needed to play top notch shortstop at any level. ++ arm, speed, focus. Now… 2021 Gators stat line - 54-G, 190-AB, .253, 5-HR… work on the bat.

 

30 RHP Cade Horton Oklahoma

 

Is there 30 picks in the first round in 2021? Well, if there is, I have 6-2/190 righty there. Horton was expected to be the Freshman Of The Year last season but toe an elbow ligament that required Tommy John Surgery. He will be eligible for the 2021 draft and I expect him to go pro come June.