What follows is my last attempt to mock out the first round of the 2017 amateur draft. It’s mostly names with teams and nothing more, but I’ve included exposition where I think it’s merited. I’ll update it as information flows throughout the day, perhaps several times. Players have been assigned to teams based on multiple factors: rumors I’ve heard from various industry sources, the presence of front-office members at certain games (especially lately), each club’s own particular modus operandi, etc. Be sure to check out our draft rankings here. Chris Mitchell and I will be covering the draft live here.

1. Minnesota – Brendan McKay, 1B/LHP, Lousiville

I’ve heard JSerra SS Royce Lewis was being considered above where I had him on my last mock (which was as a potential option at No. 3, mocked at No. 5) and MLB.com has reported that it’s at No. 1. Presumably, Lewis would be an underslot target. That said, he’s a Boras advisee and an option at third overall, whereas McKay’s next home is at pick No. 4, so I’m not sure how Minnesota has more negotiating leverage over Lewis than McKay. If they take Lewis, I think it’s just because they like him most and the savings will be marginal.

2. Cincinnati – Hunter Greene, RHP, Notre Dame HS (CA)

3. San Diego – MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Whiteville HS (NC)

Greene is the other option, if he’s still available, with Lewis as a dark horse.

4. Tampa Bay – Royce Lewis, SS, JSerra HS (CA)

I think McKay stops here if he falls. Alabama high school OF Bubba Thompson has been mentioned as an underslot possibility here.



Royce Lewis: now to Tampa Bay? (Photo: Bill Mitchell)

5. Atlanta – Kyle Wright, RHP, Vanderbilt

Wright is the top player on my board, and I think he’d be a steal here, but there’s a chance Atlanta goes underslot with Concordia Lutheran HS (TX) Shane Baz, UC Irvine 2B? Keston Hiura and Huntington Beach HS 1B Nick Pratto. They’ve also had North Carolina prep outfielder Austin Beck in to work out, but I think there’s less money to be saved there than with the other names. If Wright doesn’t go here, he should be considered the favorite at each pick until he does.

6. Oakland – Austin Beck, OF, North Davidson HS (NC)

Hiura and Virginia CF Adam Haseley are sleepers here.

7. Arizona – Adam Haseley, CF, Virginia

8. Philadelphia – Pavin Smith, 1B, Virginia

9. Milwaukee – J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, North Carolina

Ballard HS (KY) OF Jo Adell is an option here. So is Beck if he’s still on the board.

10. Los Angeles of Anaheim – Jo Adell, OF, Ballard HS (KY)

11. Chicago AL – Jeren Kendall, CF, Vanderbilt

If any of the three toolsy outfielders (Adell, Beck, Kendall) or UVA hitters are here, I think they’re the pick.

12. Pittsburgh – D.L. Hall, LHP, Valdosta HS (GA)

I’ve heard Baz is a possibility here, but the Pirates were burned by another TCU commit (Nick Lodolo) in last year’s draft. Bukauskas and Kendall are also possibilities but off the board in this mock.

13. Miami – Heliot Ramos, CF, Alfonso Casta Martinez HS, Maunabo, Puerto Rico

14. Kansas City – Trevor Rogers, LHP, Carlsbad HS (NM)

I also have them on Kendall and Missouri State 3B Jake Burger.

15. Houston – Shane Baz, RHP, Concordia Lutheran HS (TX)

Houston can pay Baz. Keston Hiura is another possibility.

16. New York AL – Nick Pratto, 1B, Huntington Beach HS (CA)

I like Rogers if he’s here, too.

17. Seattle – Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State

Keston Hiura has to go at some point. It’d be here, if not before.

18. Detroit – Keston Hiura, 2B/DH, UC Irvine

I think hard-throwing JUCO righty Nate Pearson is in play here, too.

19. San Francisco – Evan White, 1B, Kentucky

I also have the Giants with Burger and Georgia prep C Luis Campusano.

20. New York NL – David Peterson, LHP, Oregon

21. Baltimore – Alex Lange, RHP, LSU

I’ve heard Baltimore with California prep righty Matt Sauer and, in general, college arms, and I think RHP Tanner Houck of Missouri could go here.

22. Toronto – Logan Warmoth, SS, North Carolina

23. Los Angeles NL – Bubba Thompson, OF, McGill-Toolen HS (AL)

Thompson to LA has been a rather ubiquitous rumor.

24. Boston – Seth Romero, LHP, Houston

25. Washington – Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford

26. Texas – Mark Vientos, SS, American Heritage HS (FL)

27. Chicago NL – M.J. Melendez, C, Westminster Christian (FL)