We are less than a month away from the 2019 MLB draft. I typically do a mock every year as I feel they are fun exercises that help inform and work as conversation starters for people who follow the draft and for those that don't as well. This year I decided I wanted to change the format and do something different this year. I reached out to Darryl Zero/FLA-Giant (@Darryl_Zero . . . give him a follow everyone) in an attempt to collaborate on a "dueling" mock draft where we split up the teams and only make picks for the teams we are assigned. This adds a layer of mystery and strategy as none of the players are really guaranteed to be there for any specific pick. In some instances one us was picking 4 or 5 times in a row which made it difficult for the other person to predict who would be around when it was ultimately their turn . . . just like a real draft. Our goal in this draft was to combine our own rankings/thoughts on specific players with a level of realism in terms of being cognizant of teams' draft budgets and the type of players they tend to covet.

Before we get to the actual mock I would just like to put out a little disclaimer: We are not insiders. We don't have much info when it comes to what players are "signable" and which players aren't. We can't identify scouting directors or general managers in the crowds at games. With that said I assure you we both spend a huge chunk of time combing and digesting info from sources "in the know". I'd also like to thank my mock partner. It took us multiple days to finish this mock. It was a privilege for me to work with someone that clearly has a passion for not only the draft but baseball in general. Thanks FLA/Darryl_Zero for committing to this project and making it run as smoothly as possible.

So without further ado here are our picks. Selections in regular font were made by Darryl_Zero and selections that are italicized and bold were made by me. Included after each pick are our comments on the player and/or are thinking for a particular pick. Let us know what you think of the mock and the Giants picks in particular. Enjoy!!!

ROUND 1

1. Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman, c, Oregon State- By far the easiest pick of the draft for me. It's extremely rare for a player to be ranked #1 overall on day 1 and then finish in the same spot. Rutschman will of course be compared to the last high profile catcher the Orioles took in Matt Wieters. While it can be argued that Wieters was a disappointment in some ways he still had a career that spanned a decade. I for one would be surprised if Rutschman had a career that turned out any worse than Wieters'. He not only has the chance to be a top tier offensive catcher, but also one that should compete for gold glove awards on a yearly basis. Has the tools to be an MVP candidate at his peak.

2. Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr., ss, Texas HS- I'm not as high on him as most, but he's got a very high floor at a position of premium impact and he's a really good fit for them on both a need & talent basis.

NA: I'm not as high on Witt as many others either. But for a team at the beginning stages of a rebuild it always make sense to build "up the middle". Witt could be a star if he continues to make gains in his contact ability. At the least he is a good defender at a very difficult position. A pretty high floor for a high school bat.

3. Chicago White Sox: Andrew Vaughn, 1b, California- First base only hitters who are R/R tend not to be valued highly. Vaughn is an exception to the rule. He combines excellent feel for contact, an elite approach at the plate, and top of the line raw power. Bats like his play regardless of the position. Vaughn is a likely top 50 prospect in all of baseball the moment he signs. He should move quickly and provide some impact hitting and a mature approach to a young White Sox team.

4. Miami Marlins: J.J. Bleday, of, Vanderbilt- Considered Abrams here but it's hard to ignore a bat with his feel for hitting and potential game power, especially one in the SEC. Before the season began I comp'd him to 2018 1st rounder Trevor Larnach who had a breakout junior season. Sure enough Bleday put it all together like Larnach did, but it turns out he exceeded my expectations. As of this writing he has 23 homers (4 more than Larnach's ‘18 total) and we haven't even entered conference tournament play yet. The groundwork is here for a middle of the order bat and solid defensive corner outfielder.

5. Detroit Tigers: Hunter Bishop, of, Arizona State- I'll take Hunter Bishop. It was touch & go between Bishop & Riley Greene, but went with Bishop due to Greene's advanced age & lower athleticism; as well as Bishop's likely quicker path to the majors.

6. San Diego Padres: C.J. Abrams, ss, Georgia HS- Abrams is currently ranked 2nd on my personal board so I feel like this is a great value for the Padres. Abrams has 70 (20-80 scouting scale) grade speed and has the potential for a plus hit tool and average game power. The tools are there to stick at short but it might just be easier to let him run wild in centerfield. He reminds me a lot of former #1 overall pick Royce Lewis (6th overall prospect in baseball at fangraphs.com), though I think Lewis had the better chance to stick at SS at draft time than Abrams.

7. Cincinnati Reds: Nick Lodolo, lhp, TCU- Lodolo was picked 41st overall 3 years ago for the Pirates but did not sign. Had an up-and-down career at TCU until this season where he's entrenched himself as the best college starter in the draft. Will show three plus pitches with above average command, though he still struggles with his consistency time to time. Potential top of the rotation arm that could move quickly.

8. Texas Rangers: Riley Greene, of, Florida HS-He seems like a perfect fit for them & good value at this point.

NA: Greene is an advanced high school bat with a pretty solid track record of hitting. Not the greatest athlete which is probably why I have him slightly lower than others. Still see him as a fine selection in the 5-10 range.

9. Atlanta Braves: Shea Langeliers, c, Baylor- This is an unprotected pick, so Braves have to take a guy they 100% know will sign at or below slot value at #9. Braves should get him for enough below slot to allow them to splurge with later pick(s). Catcher's a big need in their system, Langeliers is a very advanced defensive catcher who could easily be in the majors by the 2021 season based on his defense & receiving skills. I like his bat better than most & think he'll eventually provide at least average offensive value for a catcher in the majors.

10. San Francisco Giants: Bryston Stott, ss, UNLV-This was Darryl Zero's pick but we decided to collaborate on both Giants picks since we are both Giants fans. Darryl had a list of players he was considering and asked for my thoughts. We both decided that Stott made sense from both a talent/value standpoint and we both believed there was a strong level of realism for the Giants to select him here. Both of us agreed that we weren't in love with his swing, though it undeniably gets results, and we both saw a potential above average bat overall. Defensively he will almost certainly be a rung or two down from Brandon Crawford, but we both felt he could be average or better there and that his bat should play enough if he needed a move to 3b.

11. Toronto Blue Jays: Jackson Rutledge, rhp, San Jacinto JC- For Toronto, at #11, I'll go with Jackson Rutledge. It was between him, Allan, & Manoah. I went with Rutledge, because he has the highest ceiling & highest floor of those 3 - and he shares a similar profile to Nate Pearson, a JuCo RHP that the Jays have had good luck with after drafting him in round 1 less than 2 years ago.

12. New York Mets: Alek Manoah, rhp, West Virginia- Manoah had some questions that scouts/teams wanted answered. Can he start full time? Can he throw more strikes? He's answered those questions and then some. You can make an argument that he is the best pitcher in this draft. A solid piece for the Mets who are pitching deprived in their minor league system, with the potential to move quickly.

13. Minnesota Twins: Josh Jung, 3b, Texas Tech- I haven't been as high on Jung as others because I'm concerned with his power ceiling and his ability to stay at third. That said he has really stayed consistent and owns a career .359 average while posting strong walk and strikeout totals over three years at Texas Tech. Seems to be tapping in to his above avg power more in 2019. Another college bat who could move quickly for a Twins organization that has a solid collection of potential impact bats (Larnach, Rooker, Lewis, Kiriloff).

14. Philadelphia Phillies: George Kirby, rhp, Elon- Over the last several years the Phillies have taken college starting pitchers with excellent strike throwing ability and command ceilings. Connor Seabold, Colton Eastman, Spencer Howard, Cole Irvin were all top 5 round picks who were advanced arms with good pitchability. Kirby fits in this category as well. In nearly 80 innings Kirby has a 96:6 strikeout to walk ratio. Combines solid present stuff, some projection, and top of the line command. Has some "Aaron Nola" type qualities though I think Kirby is more of a #2 than a bonafide ace at his peak.

15. Los Angeles Angels: Zach Thompson, lhp, Kentucky- The Angels have shown they aren't afraid to take risks on talented pitchers with some injury concerns. In the 2017 draft the Angels took Griffin Canning 47th overall after he fell out of the first round because of some medical issues. Less than two years later and Canning is impressing in the majors and Thompson could be close behind him. When healthy, the athletic lefty will flash three potential plus pitches. He's made just 31 starts in his career at Kentucky, but the 11 he's made in 2019 have been masterful. There is a non-zero chance Thompson turns out to be the best pitcher in this class, but he could also blow out and provide little value overall.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks: Will Wilson, ss, NC State-The first of 7 picks the Diamondbacks have before the 3rd round. My plan was to snatch strong college bats early and take more high upside risks later. Wilson isn't the toolsiest player but he's been a strong 3 year performer in a good conference with an OK chance at staying at SS. The Diamondbacks have also liked their ACC bats in recent drafts (Pavin Smith, Drew Ellis, and Jake McCarthy) and Wilson has been one of that league's best hitters so far. Could represent a slight money savings for any overslot picks later in the draft.

17. Washington Nationals: Matthew Allan, rhp, Florida HS- For Washington, at #17, I'll take Matthew Allan. Came down to Carroll & Allan, the two best value picks left on my board. Went with Allan as the Nats look to find a true future ace to eventually replace their aging superstar, Scherzer.

18. Pittsburgh Pirates: Brennan Malone, rhp, Florida HS-For Pittsburgh, at #18, I'll take Brennan Malone. I had a group of 3 HS pitchers that I considered as the top choices for this pick. I went with Malone, because he's got the longer track record of plus velo & succeeding vs. the highest levels of teenaged competition. He also fits in well with the tall, well-built, & very athletic pitchers that the Pirates have an affinity for.

19. St. Louis Cardinals: Corbin Carroll, of, Washington HS- The Corbin slide ends at 19 as the Cardinals once again grab a high upside high schooler in the mid-to-late first round (Nolan Gorman in ‘18). Was considered strongly for the Giants pick at 10th overall but both Darryl and I had some concerns about his strength. I think there is a slight fear for outside observers of drafting another Mickey Moniak. Scouts and national draft publications have said over and over again that his strength plays better in person so we'll see how that plays out. Potential steal for the Cardinals here.

20. Seattle Mariners: Logan Davidson, ss, Clemson- Davidson is one of the toolsiest college hitters in this draft. He's starting to put it together in ‘19 as he's improved his consistency at the plate and in the field. Swing and miss concerns exist at the next level but it's hard to ignore the tools and performance in a strong conference.

21. Atlanta Braves: Quinn Priester, rhp, Illinois HS- I was sorely tempted to go with Maurice Hampton here. Braves have plenty of room to pay over slot after saving some money with the Langeliers pick at #9. But, I have zero insight into his signability away from football that I couldn't justify it. Priester's not as risky as Hampton, but he has just as much upside. Two high-upside Georgia HS kids (Espino & Gunnar Henderson) were also given strong consideration here.

22. Tampa Bay Rays: Daniel Espino, rhp, Georgia HS- The Rays have such a loaded farm system & young core already in the majors, that there was a million ways to go with this pick. In the end, I went with the powerful, well-built, power-armed Georgia kid who is already hitting triple digits. Some mechanical issues to clean up, but the Rays have proven to be very adept at developing HS pitchers over the past 10 years. At 22, the Rays get a pitcher that most had as a top 5 pick back in late-February.

23. Colorado Rockies: Kameron Misner, of, Missouri- Misner's not as polished at hitter as the other bats (Busch, Callihan, Hoese, Baty) that I considered with this pick, but he has a lot more upside than those others and he provides a ton of value as an outfield defender & base-runner. Misner can provide CF-level defense in a corner OF spot for the Rox. Even the LFer should be a stud defender in Coors Field.

24. Cleveland Indians: Brett Baty, 3b, Texas HS- The big knock on Baty is his age. He will be 19 at draft time and there just haven't been that many successful high schoolers who have been that old on draft day. On the field Baty combines a potential above average bat and plus power with a decent chance of staying at third. Gives off some Nolan Gorman comps (Gorman is actually younger than Baty) and could move a bit quicker than the average high schooler because of his age and advanced hitting tools.

25. Los Angeles Dodgers: J.J. Goss, rhp, Texas HS- A highly projectable arm who can spin it and who reminds me a bit of a current Dodger starter, Walker Buehler. There are several power bats that are good value at this point, but the Dodgers farm needs to replenish its supply of front-line SP talent.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks: Michael Busch, of/2b/1b, UNC- Busch fits in well with my plan for the Diamondbacks as a college hitter with a strong track record (also another ACC bat). He hasn't been quite as dominant as I expected but he's still posting strong numbers in ‘19 (1.043 OPS, 12 homers, 46:30 K/BB ratio). The big question with Busch is defense. He's a below average outfielder currently and his height (5'10) isn't ideal for 1b. There have been murmurs from scouts about giving him a crack at 2b and seeing if that sticks. That would be my plan here as the Dbacks can give him a chance to do his best Daniel Murphy impression.

27. Chicago Cubs: Seth Johnson, rhp, Campbell- Johnson has one of the more unique profiles in this mock. He transferred to Campbell this year after playing shortstop in junior college. He converted to pitching in ‘19 and he's flashed some really loud tools including the potential for 4 above average pitches, two of which could be plus in his fastball and slider. Teams flock towards high upside arms with low mileage and Johnson certainly fits the bill. He's understandably raw and will need to work on handling a starter's workload over a full season and maintaining consistency in his stuff, delivery, and mechanics. Somebody the Cubs can try to mold into an above average starter.

28. Milwaukee Brewers: Josh Wolf, rhp, Texas HS- Kody Hoese seems like a perfect fit with the Brewers, but then you realize that they have Erceg almost ready to take over at 3B and that they have a huge lack of high quality, high-upside pitchers in their farm system. I tried to find a college starting pitcher for them here, because I think that is their preference, but I don't see one that comes close to Wolff's upside and likely outcome.

29. Oakland Athletics: Tyler Callihan, 3b/1b/c, Texas HS- I really love Callihan's feel to hit & think some evaluators are selling short his future power potential. His defense at 3B will likely be below avg, but he might be able to develop as a catcher and the A's can play him at 1B and DH. I also considered Hoese very strongly here. In the end, I thought Callihan fit better in terms of timing. Callihan should be ready for the majors just about the time that some of the A's current vets will be itching to leave in free agency.

30. New York Yankees: Hunter Barco, lhp, Florida HS- Barco will flash some really impressive stuff from the left side. Unfortunately a lot of it comes and goes along with his arm strength. The Yankees have been one of the best organizations in baseball at getting the most out of their arms and increasing fastball velocity. At his best Barco will reach 95 and flash a plus slider and changeup.

**NOTE** Shortly after this mock Barco was shut down with a shoulder injury. It remains to be seen how serious the injury is and how it will affect his draft stock.

31. Los Angeles Dodgers: Kody Hoese, 3b, Tulane- I think this is the floor for Hoese. He brings a pretty attractive profile for an unprotected pick at this point. I also thought long and hard about nabbing Greg Jones or Anthony Volpe here.

32. Houston Astros: Gunnar Henderson, ss/3b, Alabama HS- Gunnar Henderson just flat out hits. Barrels the ball often, hits the ball hard consistently, and will show above average bat speed to catch up to high velocity arms. He's a good athlete with a chance to fit at shortstop with third base being the fallback option. The Astros system is filled with depth and they can afford to wait a bit on a strong hitter like Henderson.

COMPENSATION PICKS

33. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jack Leiter, rhp, New Jersey HS- The son of longtime MLB starter Al Leiter, rumors have been circulating that Jack will require a very large bonus to skip out on his Vanderbilt commitment. With multiple extra picks and the largest bonus pool in the draft, the Dbacks have as good a chance as anyone to get Leiter signed. Leiter is an advanced arm and may have the best curveball in the high school class which pairs well with his fastball that has touched 96. The knocks on Leiter have been his lack of size (not buying his listed height at 6'1) and the fact that he's older for his class.

34. Arizona Diamondbacks: Matthew Dyer, c, Arizona- On a team with Nick Quintana, Cameron Cannon, and Austin Wells it may be a transfer bat who becomes the best hitter of the bunch. Dyer originally played at Oregon and then a JuCo before moving on to Arizona. In his first year in the lineup Dyer has posted elite numbers (.393/.480/.571 line) while proving to be a dependable backstop. I have him ranked as the 3rd best catcher in this draft, though that exceeds many of the national publications. He should sign well underslot here and provide the Diamondbacks with yet another quality college bat. Through four picks the Diamondbacks have taken Will Wilson, Michael Busch, Jack Leiter, and now Matthew Dyer.

COMPETITIVE BALANCE ROUND A

35. Miami Marlins: Nasim Nunez, ss, Georgia HS- I have Nunez rated as the best defensive shortstop in this draft. At 5'9 he has a small build which will certainly have some teams moving him further down their ranks. Despite his size he still has some punch and projects to be a solid hitter because of his strong and quick hands/wrists. He's performed well on the showcase circuit and while he won't be a masher, he could be an above hitter with plus speed. One of my personal favorite players in this draft.

36. Tampa Bay Rays: Maurice Hampton, of, Tennessee HS- With their stacked farm system, big bonus pool, and strong recent track record of developing high school talent, the Rays are one of the few teams that Hampton makes sense for at this point in the draft. Even if he doesn't sign, the Rays won't be hurt much and it will give them the #37 overall pick in the 2020 Draft as compensation. Hampton's upside is too good for the Rays to pass on when I look at the rest of the board.

37. Pittsburgh Pirates: Blake Walston, lhp, North Carolina HS- Tremendous projection and an advanced ability to spin it make this an exciting pick for Pittsburgh. Good value here for the Pirates on a very young kid that fits their system. Best case, this guy could easily be a top 10 prospect in all of the minors within the next 3-5 years.

38. New York Yankees: Keoni Cavaco, 3b, California HS- A pop-up bat from Chula Vista, Cavaco has rocketed up draft boards over the last few months. He has improved his strength to the point that his hit tool and game power have the potential to be above average. He's also a good athlete and shows some solid tools in the field as well. He doesn't have much of a track record, but a team that has gotten some good looks of Cavaco could select him even earlier than this. The Yankees have a history of selecting strong California performers.

39. Minnesota Twins: Ethan Small, lhp, Mississippi State- The second of three Twins picks in this mock, this may seem like a reach here. Small has solidified himself as one of the top aces in the SEC. His stuff has ticked up lately and his pitchability has grown by leaps and bounds. He is an unorthodox pitcher with a track record of success in the toughest conference in the NCAA. Will likely be signable for an underslot deal, giving the Twins flexibility later in the draft.

40. Tampa Bay Rays: Brady McConnell, ss, Florida- This is a truly shocking pick for those basing their evaluations on info from national media.For those of us that follow the SEC in general, and the Gators in particular, it won't be that surprising of a pick. McConnell is a draft-eligible true sophomore who has been tearing up the SEC all season long. He's easily one of the ten best position playing prospects from the SEC in this draft class. He's a prospect with at least four tools that rate 50 or above, who plays well above average defense at SS & projects to be at least an average defensive SS in the majors. He's improved his offense, defense & mechanics so much in 2019, when compared to 2018, that it's easy to tell he's highly coachable and a very diligent worker. He plays in the Rays' backyard, so they know him intimately. By taking McConnell here, the Rays are emulating their high-risk/high-reward strategy that saw them take Hampton at #36. If both guys sign, it's a grand slam. If they only get one of them to sign, they still get a 2020 comp pick in late round 1 in a draft class that is universally believed to be much better than the 2019 draft class.

41. Texas Rangers: Matt Canterino, rhp, Rice- A college pitcher with one of the highest floors in his draft class & well above average upside. Canterino has been an extremely consistent performer for Rice ever since he made his first start for them as a freshman. He's also been one of the most statistically dominating starting pitchers in all of college ball in each of the past two seasons. He seems like just the type of ultra-reliable pitching prospect the Rangers are lacking in their system as they attempt to rebuild their way back to playoff contention.

ROUND 2

42. Baltimore Orioles: Sammy Siani, of, Pennsylvania HS- Siani is the brother of Reds 2018 draft pick Mike Siani. Sammy has a similar profile as his brother with perhaps more feel for hitting and a bit less tools overall, especially on defense. Scouts like his swing and he makes a lot of hard contact with above average bat speed. Decent chance to stick in center, giving the Orioles two strong up-the-middle bats to restock the farm.

43. Boston Red Sox: Carter Stewart, rhp, Eastern Florida JC- Too much upside for them to pass up with their first pick of the draft.

NA: Stewart's stuff has not been as impressive as it was this time last year as both his fastball and curveball have backed up. There are also injury concerns after the Braves chose to pass on signing Stewart because of medical issues. He's also not a great athlete. He was a top 20 prospect for me much of the year before I could no longer ignore the down stuff. Upside still exists as he could potentially return to previous form under pro coaching and development.

44. Kansas City Royals: Braden Shewmake, ss, Texas A&M- He's got too high of a floor, and he's got too much value, for them to pass up at this point.

NA: Thought Shewmake would take a step forward offensively as a junior as he still has some projection remaining. Hasn't really happened so he's dropped down my board quite a bit after being a top 20-30 player for me earlier in the year. Still provides a solid base of tools and a track record of performing in the SEC. Still like his approach, defensive chops, and feel for contact.

45. Chicago White Sox: Drey Jameson, rhp, Ball State-The list of arms with better stuff than Jameson is extremely short. Both his fastball (which has hit 98 with excellent life) and slider are future plus pitches, while his changeup could be above average as well. The loud stuff comes with some concerns. He has a small build and is only 6'0. Jameson also has considerable effort to his delivery along with a head whack. Those two factors give him some strong reliever risk, but the stuff projects well in the bullpen and he could be a high leverage arm. I could see Jameson settling in as a multi-inning arm/opener in the same vein as Ryne Stanek (who has thrived in that role).

46. Miami Marlins: Anthony Volpe, ss, New Jersey HS- Jack Leiter's teammate, Volpe is an impressive prospect in his own right. He doesn't have the loud tools as some of the other shortstops selected so far in this mock, but Volpe has a feel for the game that many players his age simply don't possess. He plays above his tools and is a leader on and off the field. He shows a strong feel for contact, an ability to use his speed well both on offense and defense, and should be an above average fielding shortstop at the next level. Has some "Jeter" type qualities making this pick even more interesting. Marlins grab two shortstops in this mock, both with enticing skills and strong intangibles.

47. Detroit Tigers: Graeme Stinson, lhp, Duke- Another "best player available" value play here. Tigers get a pitcher with premium velo and stuff that would likely have been selected 35 spots earlier if not for his injury issue. Tigers timeline to compete is long enough in the future that they can easily afford to pay for Stinson to have TJ surgery & sit out the entire 2019 season.

48. San Diego Padres: Antoine Kelly, lhp, Wabash Valley JC- I've heard the name "David Price" mentioned by multiple scouts/publications in reference to Antoine Kelly. The 6'5/185 19 year old was a 13th rounder for the Padres last year but did not sign. His velo has spiked to 97 and some believe triple digits could be in the near future. Kelly is a plus athlete and someone that a team can dream on. Shows some feel for a changeup but his game is extremely raw. His mechanics/delivery need a lot more consistency and refinement and his overall pitchability is low. He's a project pitcher that offers the Padres a high upside/high risk arm.

49. Cincinnati Reds: Josh Smith, ss, LSU- Very high floor guy who should move through their system quickly and end up as an above avg defender at shortstop, second base, or third base. High contact, high OBP, high character guy who should be a doubles machine for the Reds.

50. Texas Rangers: Greg Jones, ss, of, UNC Wilmington-A draft-eligible sophomore. Really athletic, high-upside CF/SS with blazing speed that fits their system and tendencies well. Has a small chance to stick at SS, but I think his best position is CF. Has raised his floor significantly with his much improved plate discipline in 2019.

51. San Francisco Giants: Kyren Paris, ss, California HS-Paris is incredibly young (doesn't turn 18 until November) and his only below average tool is power (which easily could be average or above by the time he fully grows into his frame and adult strength). He has above average speed and arm-strength and already has the defensive tools & actions to project as an above average Major League defender at SS.

52. Toronto Blue Jays: Matt Wallner, of, Southern Miss- A big LH thumper who should hit 30-40 HRs every year for the Jays. He's got a surprisingly low K-rate & elite BB-rate for a big, dumb power hitter.

53. New York Mets: Isaiah Campbell, rhp, Arkansas- Campbell was a personal favorite of mine going into the spring. There were questions surrounding his durability and his ability to remain a starter both in the SEC and at the next level. To date he's turned in 78 innings of 2.54 ERA ball with an 87:13 K/BB ratio, cementing himself as Arkansas' ace. Potential for two plus pitches, an average changeup, and a strong pitcher's body. Has some similar attributes to Mets 2016 first rounder Justin Dunn.

54. Minnesota Twins: Brooks Lee, ss, California HS- Lee flashes some really impressive skills at shortstop and looks like a potential plus fielder there. The offensive side of his game is not as refined though his above average bat speed gives him the potential to grow his offensive role. There has been some talk of him converting to catcher (easy plus arm) which would increase his prospect ceiling substantially. For me, he projects well as a versatile player who could have a long career even without being much of a hitter.

55. Los Angeles Angels: Aaron Schunk, 3b, Georgia- There are some schools that simply do things their own way, especially with their hitters. Stanford used to be one of those schools with their dreaded "Stanford swing". Georgia is one of the best teams in college baseball but the swing mechanics they preach aren't the best for the pro game. Schunk has been a strong performer this year and projects to be an average bat with above average raw power. There is potential here to unlock even more power with some swing adjustments as his bat speed/strength is impressive. He's raw defensively, but has a plus arm and could be a strong defender in time at third base though catcher could be an option as well. Schunk is also Georgia's closer and he currently has 11 saves and a 2.14 ERA giving him a solid fallback option on the mound. Overall Schunk offers a lot of options and versatility for his drafting team.

56. Arizona Diamondbacks: Tre Fletcher, of, Maine HS- A very unique pop-up bat out of the northeast. Fletcher was reclassified making him eligible for the 2019 draft. Because of this and being a Maine recruit teams have had limited looks giving him some interesting upside potential. He's a true five tool athlete, though his game is raw. He gets compared often to former Rays 1st rounder Garrett Whitley. It will likely be a long road for the Vanderbilt recruit, but the upside is undeniable. Perfect player for the Dbacks to combine with the college bats already selected.

57. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jack Kochanowicz, rhp, Pennsylvania HS- He's a big-upside guy with low-miles. The Pirates should love that they're getting this high quality kid at this point in the draft.

Kochanowicz has gotten his fastball velocity in the mid 90's already and is one of the more projectable arms in this draft. Shows the ability to spin a nice curveball and has feel for a changeup. Like Darryl said Kochanowicz is a high upside arm.

58. St. Louis Cardinals: Michael Toglia, 1b/of, UCLA-Toglia was once viewed as a potential top 10-15 pick but hasn't met expectations over the last calendar year. He struggled in the CCL and is performing slightly worse in ‘19 compared to his sophomore season. Still possesses the ability to make hard contact and has plus raw power. He is unlikely to work in the outfield but could be a plus fielding first baseman with more reps. Presents some upside and value at this point for the Cardinals.

59. Seattle Mariners: T.J. Sikkema, lhp, Missouri- Sikkema is maxed physically but already has some impressive stuff. The SEC ace has a 1.22 ERA in 73.2 innings and a 87:27 K/BB ratio. Shows good life on his 95 mph fastball, throws a high spin slider, and a major league average change. He's a fearless competitor who really trusts his three pitch arsenal and shows strong pitchability.

60. Atlanta Braves: Spencer Jones, lhp/of, California HS- Braves and Rays (with the next pick) were almost surely the last two spots that could accommodate Jones.Jones is also very young for his class (turns 18 less than 3 weeks before the Draft). Jones is one of the top two-way players in this HS class. Jones will likely cost $2M or more to sign away from Vandy. Jones had to sit out the entire 2019 season with a bone fracture in his throwing arm (in the elbow area), which is a big reason that he's fallen down many boards

NA: Jones was strongly considered for the Giants second round pick. Darryl specifically wanted to see Jones worked out on both sides of the ball similar to Shohei Ohtani and Rays prospect Brendan McKay. His signability was just enough of a concern for us that we went with Kyren Paris instead. Braves have multiple picks which makes them a better candidate for Jones.

61. Tampa Bay Rays: John Doxakis, lhp, Texas A&M- Should be able to save some money vs. slot here, or at least not exceed slot. Doxakis could end up being the perfect change-of-pace, funky LH starting pitcher for the Rays to slot in between all their power-armed guys and mess up the timing of the opposing hitters. His stuff plays up & I think he's clearly proven that any worry about his durability as a starter are entirely unfounded.

62. Colorado Rockies: Ryan Pepiot, rhp, Butler-The walk rate is worrisome, but I believe the Rox think they can help him to improve in that area. The combination of his power fastball and plus changeup are just too tempting for the Rox to pass up here. That's the perfect two combination of pitches for a Rockies starting pitcher to have. Pepiot's long-term, consistent history of putting up K/9 rates between 12 & 14.6 during his last two college seasons and last summer in the Cape Cod League must have the Rox salivating to get their hands on him.

63. Cleveland Indians: Erik Miller, lhp, Stanford- I was high on Miller going into the season and thought he would take the next step forward and solidify himself as a top tier college arm. Miller started off the year strong but hasn't been nearly as impressive down the stretch. The 6'5 pitcher will flash three plus pitches at his best with a fastball reaching 97 from the left side. His consistency in his stuff and ability to throw strikes is poor. He will go long periods where he just can't find the zone. The upside is here and the Indians have had success getting the most out of some high end arms.

64. Chicago Cubs: Kendall Williams, rhp, Florida HS-The 6'6 Williams shows some quality current stuff and high end projectability. The arm speed is plus and with the extension he gets off the mound it allows his stuff to play up. He's been up to 96 in the past but sits more comfortably in the 91-94 range with feel for spin and projection in his secondaries. An upside arm for the Cubs to be patient with and let develop. Vanderbilt commit.

65. Milwaukee Brewers: Bryce Osmond, rhp, Oklahoma HS- Great athlete with lots of projection. He's an impressive two way player but offers a bit more upside on the mound. Shows above average-to-plus stuff and the starter traits teams look for in high school arms.

66. Oakland Athletics: Rece HInds, 3b, Florida HS- A lot of risk due to his swing-and-miss issues, but the A's have been relatively successful at fixing and developing this type of hitter lately. If successful, this is a HR value pick for them at this spot. Light tower power to all fields.

67. New York Yankees: Grant Gambrell, rhp, Oregon State-Yankees take another pitcher that flashes starting pitcher traits and above average stuff that has struggled with his consistency. Gambrell has come on strong as of late with a sub 3.00 ERA and a 55:13 K/BB ratio in 42.1 innings. Features a fastball that can reach 96 and two above average secondaries at his best.

68. Houston Astros: Korey Lee, c, California- A breakout performer for Cal, Lee currently has an OPS right around 1.000 with 12 homers. He has strength throughout his frame and is also a solid athlete. Potential for average game power and a near average hit tool. His receiving needs work behind the plate but he's projected to remain a catcher as a pro. College catchers that hit get popped earlier than expected on draft day and I could see Lee being a guy that goes well before his projections. Catcher is a bit of a weak spot for the Astros and Lee represents a chance to add some depth and talent.

69. Boston Red Sox: Chase Strumpf, 2b, UCLA- Too good of a value, and too high of a floor for Boston to pass up here. He should move quickly through their system - which they need.

COMPETITIVE BALANCE ROUND B

70. Kansas City Royals: Andrew Dalquist, rhp, California HS- It will likely take a relatively large over slot bonus to sign him at this spot, but KC has plenty of overage available from a large bonus pool. Huge upside with Dalquist

71. Baltimore Orioles: Evan Fitterer, rhp, California HS-A UCLA commit, Fitterer could be a tough sign. With the first selection in the draft and an extra selection, the Orioles have the potential to meet Fitterer's price. Fitterer is older for the class and has some consistency issues but is highly projectable and has really good feel for spinning the baseball. He's a good athlete with a fastball that's been up to 94. Someone that the new Baltimore Orioles front office can work with and develop into an above average starter.

72. Pittsburgh Pirates: Carter Bins, c, Fresno State- A boring college catcher for the Pirates, after three straight high upside, high cost high school pitchers. They need to save a bit of money under slot with this pick. They also need some decent catchers in their system. They have no catchers ranked in their 30 prospects list & their three major league catchers are old and mediocre.

73. San Diego Padres: Conor Grammes, rhp/3b, Xavier-Grammes has one of the more interesting profiles in the entire draft and is also one of my personal favorite prospects. He's a two way player that has real potential on both sides of the ball. His future is likely on the mound, but as a position player Grammes has plus raw power and the ability to be a strong defender at third. Grammes lacks polish on the mound but has an elite fastball that I'm comfortable putting a future 70 grade on as he will routinely reach the upper 90's with better than plus life. He will also flash a plus slider or better giving him a strong two pitch combo. He struggles throwing strikes and his consistency in his mechanics is below average. Strong reliever risk but he could be an elite late inning option at the next level. Between Kelly and Grammes the Padres get two of the best raw arms in the entire draft.

74. Arizona Diamondbacks: Noah Song, rhp, Navy- I'm confident Song would be a top 30 pick if he played at a different school. The senior righty has an ERA just over 1.00 with 150 strikeouts in 87 innings. He features two plus pitches in his fastball and slider while also showing a potential average changeup. Because he will be a Navy graduate Song will be required to serve in the armed forces for a minimum of two years. He will be 24 years old by the end of his service time which puts serious time constraints on his development time. There has been some talk about the potential for Song to work out and pitch while he is in the armed forces though that still remains unclear. As a senior the pick provides a major bonus savings for the Dbacks to allow them to lock up tough signs like Leiter and Fletcher and potentially picks later in the draft.

**Note** Song isn't the first player to be signed/drafted under these circumstances. For example the Yankees drafted Alex Robinett in 2015 and the Blue Jays signed Chris Rowley after the the 2013 draft. Rowley actually made it all the way to the majors throwing 18 innings for the Jays in 2017. Found this short video on Robinett's life as a ballplayer and military man. Interesting stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFCknexrJIE

75. Arizona Diamondbacks: Matthew Lugo, ss, Puerto Rico HS- Lugo is one of the younger players in his high school class and shows some nice all around tools. He is a nephew of Carlos Beltran and attends Beltran's baseball academy in Puerto Rico. He shows really solid hitting mechanics along with some good bat speed and could be an above average bat in time. Also has some defensive chops giving him a chance to stay at shortstop. Darryl and I both agreed at the conclusion of this draft that Lugo could go much higher than this on draft day, possibly in the 30's. Puerto Rican draftees typically don't require large, over slot bonuses but maybe in this scenario the Dbacks were able to "float him" down to the 70's and give him pick 30 money.

76. Seattle Mariners: Cameron Cannon, 2b/3b, Arizona- Cannon has solidified himself as one of the better pure hitters in this draft. He's walked more times than he's struck out this season after completing that feat last year as a sophomore. His swing is geared more towards hitting line drives, but he has some power upside as he hits the ball hard consistently. He offers his drafting team some versatility as he should be a plus defender at both second and third base. There is a chance a team could give him a look at shortstop. Could see him going much higher in the real draft because of his strong track record and solid hitting tools. Currently holds a .370/.463/.582 line.

77. Colorado Rockies: Drew Mendoza, 3b, Florida State- Elite power and a sweet swing. He likely won't ever hit much above .250 for them, but he should consistently hit 30+ homers and post a high OBP. If he really hits his peak upside he could even exceed those numbers. His arm is too scatter-shot to play 3B, but his good hands & above average range make 1B a cinch.

COMPENSATION PICKS

78. Los Angeles Dodgers: Tommy Henry, lhp, Michigan- He seems a perfect fit for the Dodgers at this spot. They'll very likely feel supremely confident that they can get him in their system & coach him up to permanently be the dominant frontline starting they saw in February & March - and not the enigma he's been during the 2nd half of the college season.