1. Houston Astros select Jonathan Gray, Pitcher, Oklahoma
(Prev. Mark Appel, Pitcher, Stanford)
Almost every mock draft site lists Jonathan Gray as a top pick, and I’m willing to go that route too. Gray is a potential frontrunner for the Golden Spikes award, given annually to the best amateur (I would say college, but Bryce Harper and Alex Fernandez won at the JuCo level) baseball player. He is in the top five in strikeouts, top 25 in ERA, and has brought Oklahoma back into the College World Series discussion. Gray’s stock can only get better with the NCAA tournament looming. Gray is armed with a long-lasting high velocity fastball as well as a solid slider. He’s a workhorse starter, and has the potential to pitch a full game. Houston will not hesitate to take this pick, no matter what.
2. Chicago Cubs select Mark Appel, Pitcher, Stanford
(Prev. Sean Manaea, Pitcher, Indiana State)
This may change as the NCAA tournament approaches, but in all likelihood, Appel will once again fail in his quest to go first overall, whether it’s due to signability concerns or the fact that Gray is better. Appel’s fall could be short, though, as the Chicago Cubs are always on the lookout for promising arms. Appel’s fastball isn’t as dazzling as Gray’s, but his other stuff is practically majors material. It will be interesting to see how long he stays in the minors, if he does at all.
3. Colorado Rockies select Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego
(Prev. Austin Meadows, OF, Grayson High School, Georgia)
Colorado’s most glaring farm system need is at first, but if Kris Bryant is still available at the third spot, expect the Rockies to draft him. Bryant has emerged as one of this year’s top collegiate bats, A power hitter with fielding ability, the possibility that Bryant becomes Todd Helton’s heir is a very possible reality. Bryant also has the benefit of playing in a dry climate, so the adjustment from playing in San Diego to Denver isn’t exactly the world’s biggest issue.
4. Minnesota Twins select Reese McGuire, Catcher, Kentwood High School, Washington
(Prev. Jon Denney, Catcher, Yukon High School, Oklahoma)
MLB Trade Rumors published some draft notes a couple weeks ago that indicated that the Twins were looking towards making a deal to draft and sign Reese McGuire. McGuire, whose stock has risen to the point where he is a potential top ten pick, is most likely going to succeed Joe Mauer as the team’s catcher in the distant future. McGuire has a great arm coupled with solid fielding ability and a developing hitting skill set. Playing in Washington State will help the adjustment to the cold Minnesota springs as well.
5. Cleveland Indians select Colin Moran, 3B, North Carolina
(Prev. Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego)
The Indians lose out on Kris Bryant, but get another prized Tar Heels infielder in Colin Moran. Morans value is that he is defensively capable at third base, He also has the ability to hit, and in a spacious ballpark like Progressive Field, Moran is definitely a hot commodity. Having Moran also proves valuable with top shortstop prospect Francisco Lindor also coming up in the next two years, so expect the left side of the infield to be one of the best up-and coming infields in the future.
6, Miami Marlins select Austin Meadows, Outfielder, Grayson High School, Georgia
(Prev. DJ Peterson, 1B, New Mexico)
Meadows is the top high school talent in the draft, but with the above teams having more pressing minor league needs, soon to be major league, Meadows falls all the way to the Marlins. Though the Marlins need a first baseman for their minor league system, the chance to go after Meadows is likely going to have them change their minds. Meadows is also a first baseman though, so he could be guided through the system as an infielder. Meadows is a solid all-around guy, and should merit a lot of attention, plus playing in Georgia isn’t too far from playing in Miami.
7. Boston Red Sox select Clint Frazier, Outfield, Loganville High School, Georgia
(Prev. Ryne Stanek, Pitcher, Arkansas)
Clint Frazier and Austin Meadows are friends and rivals, so you can imagine the media angle if they are drafted one after another. The Red Sox have been connected to Frazier for the longest time, and rightfully so. Frazier is almost a mirror image of Meadows as well, except he is a better power hitter. It will be interesting to see how Frazier and Meadows do when they both reach the majors.
8. Kansas City Royals select Sean Manaea, Pitcher, Indiana State
(Prev. Jonathan Gray, Oklahoma)
Sean Manaea fell all the way from number 2 to number 8 in my draft, but fortunately, to a team which is likely to have a bright future on the horizon. Manaea garnered attention this past summer as a member of the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, and while he doesn’t have the benefit of facing top level competition like Grey or Appel, he still looks like a promising lefty, which are hard to come by these days. Manaea also has the benefit of possibly joining James Shields and Wade Davis in a vastly improved Royals rotation.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates select Ryne Stanek, Pitcher, Arkansas
(Prev. Chris Anderson, Pitcher, Jacksonville)
Ryne Stanek is a big college name, and the Pirates love big college names. Once considered the top pick in this draft, Stanek’s injury concerns and velocity drop have lowered him to a top ten selection. Stanek may have had problems this year, but his arsenal is two standard deviations above the average college pitcher. If Stanek can get past this season and return to top form, he, Gerrit Cole, and Jameson Taillon could make for a scary good front part of the Pirates rotation.
10. Toronto Blue Jays select Kohl Stewart, Pitcher, St. Pius X High School, Texas
(Prev. Clint Frazier, Outfield, Loganville High School, Georgia)
Toronto, as of late, has been drafting and developing high ceiling pitchers, and that strategy doesn’t look like it’s going to change. With the Marlins and Mets decimating their minor league pitching prospects down to Deck McGuire, Aaron Sanchez, Daniel Norris, and Marcus Stroman, and with the sting of losing 2011 pick Tyler Beede to Vanderbilt, where he has gone on to look like a top five pick in the 2014 draft, the Jays could go after one of the best athletes in the high school ranks. Kohl Stewart. Stewart is an excellent high school baseball player with a great arsenal of pitches, Stewart is also one of the top rated football quarterbacks in the nation and has signed a letter of intent to play for Texas A&M in both baseball and football. Stewart could command a high bonus, which the Jays would most likely oblige to give, especially with the possibility of Stewart’s quarterback competition, Johnny Manziel, likely leaving for the NFL after the 2013 college season. Stewart’s only knock is his health, as he is a diabetic, but with the recent success of diabetics in baseball, don’t expect it to be much of an issue.
11. New York Mets select Aaron Judge, Outfield, Fresno State
(Prev. Phillip Ervin, Outfield, Samford)
The Mets outfield is a mess, with the team now relying on clearly past their prime players like Rick Ankiel and Marlon Byrd, while players like Brandon Nimmo are years away from the big leagues. Barring a trade for Giancarlo Stanton, if the Mets want an outfield bat that has plenty of pop, the answer is Fresno State’s Aaron Judge. Judge, who is a physical anomaly, with a 6’7″ 255 pound body, which makes him one of the biggest outfielders in baseball. Judge also has shown plenty of power, like last year when he homered of Mark Appel twice. Judge reminds me a lot of Jeromy Burnitz and Dave Kingman, both average hitters with plenty of power potential. Having a guy like him patrol Citi Field’s outfield will be a sight worth waiting for.
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