Let’s not waste any time…
1.1
This man child finished his high school senior year with this:
25 G .462/.592/1.000 11-2B 2-3B 9-HR 15-SB 20.4% K-Rate
His final 15 games? .578/.667/1.349
And this was for the elite IMG Academy playing against the top schools in the nation.
This is my guy to start the draft off.
OF Elijah Green
1.2
How about a college junior catcher that is tied in CBB with the most home runs, and has more HRs (22) than Ks (19).
Some question his defense, but I don’t. It’s improving throughout the season and, who cares with the universal DH in place now.
You simply can’t pass on this power bat.
C Kevin Parada
1.3
The mock world keeps searching for top 5 draft picks, but it always comes back to a few that were on the top well over a year ago.
He may not play for the biggest team in college (Cal Poly), but his stat line this season is as consistently off the charts as it was last year:
.367.476/.633, 8-HR
Plays a good short, but I have him shifting to second in paid ball.
SS Brooks Lee
1.4
Next comes another shortstop, though I, like many others, have him winding up on second.
He only stands 5-8, but his lightning fast bat speed added to his tremendous feel for hitting has had him as high as 1.1 this season. Plus, he has incredible power for his lack of height.
Can’t miss.
SS/2B Termarr Johnson
1.5
The next prospect started this year as the top pick on most mock drafts.
This 6-3 outfielder is currently red hot during his high school team’s playoffs. He has substantial raw power plus top-of-the-scale speed and on-field instincts.
Any one of these top five picks could go 1.1, but, in my draft, someone has to be 1.5.
OF Druw Jones
1.6
Here’s a guy that has come out of nowhere to become a solid early first round pick.
Another shortstop. Has huge power. Had 13 home runs in the first 31 games for Stillwater High School.
Future could be at second or DH.
SS Jackson Holliday
1.7
Here a bat:
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
2022 stat line as of 5-3-22 - 168-AB, .375/.522/.702, 12-HR, 49-RBI
One of the top bats in the draft, but has limited range defensively both at second and third. I like him more as a third base project or a solid DH.
2B/3B Jace Jung
1.8
We’re going back to the outfield for pick 1.8.
This stud has missed some major time this season due to a broken foot, but check the stat line before the injury:
2021 James Madison stat line -
26-G, 101-AB, .386/.508/.723/1.231, only 14-K, 6-HR
2022 stat line as of 5-3-22 - 87-AB, .437/.576/.828, 8-HR
Has a plus arm and plus plus speed, and many think he will stick in center. Even if he doesn’t, he will most probably become a premier outfielder at the next level.
OF Chase DeLauter
1.9
We’ve chose one talented catcher in the draft and now is the time to snag the other one.
Talented catchers always go early in the draft because there are always only so many that are super talented.
This 6-4 college stud has put up this mad stat lines the past two seasons for Arizona:
2021 Arizona stat line - 61-G, 242-AB, .335/.392/.591, 12-HR, 65-RBI, 47-K
2022 stat line as of 5-6-22 - 204-AB, .368/.434/.593, 9-HR, 45-RBI
Seriously plus arm from behind the plate (ex-star HS QB), scouts have him sticking there despite his height.
A future star in this game.
C Daniel Susac
1.10
If I cheated, I would have saved this guy for the next pick (Mets), but, right now, he is the 10th top player in this draft regardless of his sitting down this season rehabbing from arm woes.
He is slowly working himself back into the rotation and is putting up the same quality innings he did that made him, easily, the number two pitcher in this draft when the draft season started.
This was not a TJS injury so I see no problem going forward with this guy.
RHP Blade Tidwell
1.11
The first Mets pick and we go back to the best bat still on the board.
He was nowhere near this high…. hell, he wasn’t even a first round pick… until he took off to the moon in the past two months playing for the number one ranked team in the nation that plays quality SEC teams every weekend series.
He currently is the hottest hitter in baseball and his name is now being quoted as one of the top four everyday players (Druw Jones, Elijah Green, Termarr Johnson) in the draft.
Check out the improved stat line verses last years:
2021 Vols’ stat line - 67-G, 258-AB, .258/.333/.523, 15-HR
2022 stat line as of 5-6-22 - 182-AB, .319/.390/.593, 12-HR
If the draft was today, and the 10 players I picked earlier were off the board, this guy would be my pick at 1.11.
OF Jordan Beck
1.12
Speaking of great hitters, this next guy does very little wrong.
He followed his Arizona coach to LSU and the results are below:
2021 Arizona stats - 17 HR, .352/.439/.676, 2 SB, 58/33 K/BB in 63 games.
2022 LSU stat line as of 5-6-22 - 175-AB, .377/.464/.680, 5-HR, 17-K
Plays on the same team as another top third baseman (Cade Doughty) so he has spent much of this season also playing first base and being a DH. Just adds to the resume.
He’s a tough out, but his defensive game still needs work at both corners. Still, his bat will, at the least, make him a quality designated hitter someday.
3B Jacob Berry
1.13
My first wild card.
This lefty has been lights out for a top SEC team all season.
His stat line is something any prospect would be proud of:
2022 stats (as of 5-8-22 - 12-starts, 6-2, 2.56, 77.1-IP, 128-K, and only 12-BB.
Most draft pundits have this guy in the second round, but read it here first… he will go off the board in the middle range of the first round.
LHP Parker Messick
1.14
And that leaves the other Mets pick in the first round.
This one is easy for me. I, like most mockers, had this guy ranked in the top three pitchers in this draft until he went down for Tommy John Surgery on May 3rd. He will sit out the entire 2023 season but will be ready to reclaim his dominant hold on this game… this time as a Met.
Is he worth the wait? You bet he is.
RHP Dylan Lesko
I'd wait for a Dylan Lesko - this game is all about real stars. If he has a chance to be the next Jake once he recovers, I want that guy.
ReplyDeleteMe? I'd also like that 105 MPH reliever. Just having one guy like that would keep other teams from beaning our guys.
I hope we don't feel we should draft a catcher.
The interesting thing about Ben Joyce is he never hit above 80 until his sophomore year in high school.
DeleteConcentrated on building muscle in weight room and long tossing
God, I have so much up in my head and only you cares.
Very bitter ending.
I absolutely love these post Mack...
ReplyDeleteI cannot and pray we dont land a 5'8 5'9 2nd baseman even if he turn out to be a allstar...
I dont want to be the team to risk that...
I also feel like we need pitchers and aces pitchers to sustain success with the high price signings we have made... So i hope we land 2 stud aces with the first 2 picks... though for years i wanted a OF so cant argue that... you need 3 of them after all...
Amazing about Joyce. I'll bet my brother could have followed suit - he said he was around 90 in HS, but was about 6'0" 130. Lacked support structure.
ReplyDeleteEddie I write about a short-ish IF tomorrow at 7 AM. I like him. Gotta admit it.
ReplyDeleteThese mock drafts are some of the best pieces. They tie together all of the individual scouting reports. Many times it is difficult to ascertain where some of these guys are going to fall in the draft order...many of the scouting reports make everyone sound like a top 20 pick. Your ordering really helps that
ReplyDeleteThank you for rolling this info up and getting it out to us.
I would like to see your mock draft of the top 5 to 10 left handed pitchers. That Noah Schultz looked very interesting...I love the idea of drafting Lesko, but would almost overslot a guy like Schultz.
ReplyDeleteUnless I feel a player is a real stud, I would like to see as many high upside pitchers as possible for two reasons, other than the most obvious one: they need them badly. 1. The Met just signed two outfielders in Juan and Fanas and there’s a decent supply there. 2. This draft has alot of pitching so I pull an Angels maneuver and sign nothing but arms.
ReplyDeleteSorry, that was me.
ReplyDeleteGus, that is exactly what my brother said - "What the Angels did? Do that."
ReplyDeleteBut Gus, of course there is the enigma that I just posted in another article: Moises Gomez of another organization has 14 HRs in 24 games, while the entire Cyclone team has 5 in 26 games. An entire team of Bud Harrelsons?
ReplyDeleteAnd that is when this sorry organization actually drafts hitters.
Angels' High A team has 8 more HRs than Brooklyn's by the way.
Without looking at the Brooklyn roster, I have to seriously doubt whether any of their hitters stand a chance of making the bigs - MLB is a power league. Muscle up, fellas.
If Ron Acuna Jr can star for the Braves after his father Ron Acuna Sr played in the Mets system (AA), then why not draft Druw Jones? He has a great pedigree, has shown he has skills, and would be coming up through the system just as the the Mets' senior outfield starts thinking about hitting a smaller white ball.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason they won't draft him is that he'll have already been drafted by the time the eleventh pick rolls around. :-(
ReplyDelete