And we are back.

First of all, what do you think of the facelift? With MLB.com blogs migrating over to Medium from WordPress, it was time to consider a move. If you read my transition post on the old site, you’ll know that this was a long time coming. WordPress was kind to me, but I have to admit, I like how Medium gives me more control regarding certain styles. Anyway, going back to the post: If you read it, you’ll know that MinorLeagueMadhouse will still be active, however, with me joining Baseball Ranks as a content writer, this publication will be publishing on designated months, and it will only be doing mock drafts.

But that’s enough babbling, because MOCK DRAFT! Yes, MLB Pipeline has released their top 50 draft prospects, and with actual scouting reports, my job has been made ten times easier.

As usual, the same rules apply. Draft picks are based on organizational weaknesses, although best player available is considered. Team tendencies are not strongly considered, unless they are explicit, or there is any information on who the team is planning to pick.

Additionally, compensatory picks will be done in this mock.

So strap in, and let’s get ready to mock.

Minnesota Twins:

Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics

How exactly did a team that finish in second place in the AL Central a year ago, a team that was considered on the rise, become the worst team in baseball a year later? That’s a question we may never truly figure out. Minnesota has spent the last few years quietly building a strong farm system with long term prospects, and with many of the fruit now ripe, the team and its new personnel department should find a talented collegian that can quickly ascend through the system.

In what can only be described as the Year of the Pitcher, I believe that J.B. Bukauskas is the best college pitcher in the draft. And before you grab your torch and pitchforks, hear me out. While Vanderbilt and Florida have had continued success as far as developing pitching, and admittedly, they do deserve a pat on the back for that, when North Carolina has a bona fide pitcher available, you pay attention. Andrew Miller in 2006 may not have been a great starter, but ten years later, he’s one of the most valuable non-closer relievers in baseball. Matt Harvey may have had some of the worst injury luck in two of the past three years, but in any rotation other than the Mets, he’d be considered an ace. With that reputation, Bukauskas should be rated higher than he is.

Bukauskas isn’t an unknown commodity either, as he was considered a first round talent in 2014, before he instructed teams not to take him. J.B. has the best college fastball in the draft, and while it isn’t triple digit pure gasoline, it can fool hitters with sinking action. Bukauskas also has a professional grade slider that works very well as an out pitch. He does have a third offering, an average changeup, which he has been working on making even better. The one knock on J.B. is his control, as his mechanics will need tinkering in order to make him a professional starter.

Offensively, the Twins are set for the future, but in order to play with the big boys, the rotation is going to need to get up to that level. Bukauskas strikes me as a player that should rise fairly quickly through a system. I could see him making his major league debut as early as mid 2018.

Cincinnati Reds

Photo courtesy of JSerra High School

Two years in a row, the Reds finished with the second worst record in baseball, but failed to gain a significant haul of future assets. Sure, they traded one of their expensive stars in Jay Bruce, but failed to get a significant prospect haul, and no, Dilson Herrera and Max Wotell are not a significant haul.

In my opinion, the Reds are not primed for an immediate rebound, which means that they should look at long term prep prospects. I feel that Royce Lewis is probably the best fit here. Lewis has five tool potential, with his speed being his greatest asset. He has solid contact and power potential that could make him a #3 hitter in Cincinnati’s lineup.

Like most Highly Anticipated Prep Shortstops though, Lewis may move away from the position professionally. He’s got value as an outfielder, and assuming Billy Hamilton will likely leave Cincinnati in the coming years, don’t be surprised if Lewis would slide right in afterwards.

San Diego Padres

Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times via YouTube

‘Member 2015, when the San Diego Padres went all in in the hopes of catching the Dodgers and the Giants? It seems like a long time ago, when the Padres gutted their system in order to get Matt Kemp and the Upton brothers, as well as Craig Kimbrel. Fast forward to now, and the Padres have shed all their high priced contractual obligations, and still don’t look like they’ve set a direction for themselves.

A year ago, the Padres were considered the favorites to draft uber prep pitching sensation Jason Groome, only to lose out on him when Boston swiped him after the team opted to take Cal Quantrill. This year, they stand at a prime position to grab the best prep pitcher, and incidentally, the best two-way player in the draft, Hunter Greene. Greene, a backyard product from Notre Dame High School, is a right handed pitcher and a shortstop. His best weapon is his fastball, and he backs it up with a solid curveball/changeup combo.

Although the Padres didn’t do so well the last time they opted to pick out of their backyard, it shouldn’t scare them this time around. Scouts have noted Greene’s work ethic is phenomenal. Assuming he does stay on the mound for good, Greene’s selection would be the perfect energizer for fans who are waiting to see what the future holds.

Tampa Bay Rays

Earlier this week the result of the CBA ratification vote came out. 29 of 30 teams voted yes. Take a wild guess which team voted no. Yes, Stuart Sternberg, likely upset that his 10 first rounders from 2011 haven’t become a young superteam that he doesn’t have to pay top dollar for, while Boston rebuilt the entire core of their team with that class, threw a hissy fit when he said that the draft shouldn’t be based on worst record alone. Granted, he did cite the fact that the Red Sox, who have a much higher payroll, have picked higher in a few drafts, but still, I find myself laughing at Sternberg’s pettiness.

Mocking aside, the Rays really do have a problem drafting, as surefire first round picks like Rickie Shaffer and Mikie Mahtook have not met expectations. Though the fourth overall pick isn’t a guaranteed success, the Rays could find a gem if they revisit an old college friend. Vanderbilt’s Kyle Wright has seen his stock rise the past two seasons. A year after pitching in the bullpen, Wright settled into the rotation and delivered results. In addition, the Commodores pitcher bulked up over the offseason, adding more power to his pitches. Wright also is one of the few prospects on this list with a four pitch arsenal, though his command with those pitches does need work.

With Chris Archer likely leaving sooner rather than later, it’s time to groom the next big star pitcher, and Wright fits the bill. He has the stuff, he just needs to grow into it, and when he does, the Rays will have another Price-like weapon.

Atlanta Braves

Photo Courtesy of The Tennesseean

I give John Coppollella credit for being able to build up so strong a system, especially considering how much talent he’s gotten rid of, and how many times he’s swindled the Arizona Diamondbacks. Through drafting and trading, Coppy has managed to obtain his future pitching staff, shortstop, and a couple other pieces as well. With such a strong system, you may wonder where Atlanta goes from here?

I personally like having Atlanta making a trip to Vanderbilt and grabbing Jeren Kendall with this pick. Kendall is a fast, defensive outfielder whose play would be strongly suited for SunTrust Park. Kendall may not be a great hitter, but when he gets on base, he can change a game with his exceptional speed.

Kendall strikes me as a better hitting Billy Hamilton, and although he may be the best college position player in the class, he’s not going to ascend as quickly as his old college teammate Dansby Swanson. Still, Kendall and Swanson would be an excellent combo, and certainly would help energize a fanbase looking to get re-energized.

Oakland Athletics

Photo Courtesy of the Louisville Herald-Ledger

With the Oakland A’s slowly being phased out of revenue sharing starting in 2017, Billy Beane and David Forst are going to have to look at different ways to build their squad. In an ideal situation, the team will change owners to someone who is committed to building and buying a winner, as well as moving the team out of the Oakland Coliseum.

While we wait for that to happen, the A’s can continue to build up their farm system by appointing Sonny Gray or Mark Canha’s eventual successor. Brendan McKay is a two way player from recently established talent factory Louisville. Because he does well as both a southpaw and a first baseman, scouts aren’t sure where he will land professionally, although dedication to one position will likely help him, with a move to first base likely shooting his draft stock up. Mckay’s offerings as a pitcher are above average, and his fastball can touch the mid 90’s, although he’s not a workhorse starter. However, what he lacks in consistent velocity, he makes up for with pinpoint command and control. On the offensive side, he is a solid contact hitter with great power potential, and his summer with Team USA showed he has a lot more promise hitting.

While it would be fun to have a Brooks Kieschnick-type player who can both hit and pitch, I can imagine the A’s grooming McKay to focus on pitching. Still, should Louisville have him play first base, expect there to be a lot more teams interested, especially considering this year’s limited positional talent crop.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Photo courtesy of Andrew Davis on Twitter

I think we can all agree that the Shelby Miller trade should have never happened. In fact, the Diamondbacks would have likely been better with Aaron Blair pitching instead of Miller. However, as is tradition with NL West teams not in San Francisco or Los Angeles, the Diamondbacks felt the need to go all-in, only to watch their spending spree blow up in their faces. If it weren’t for the Anfernee Grier and Jon Duplantier picks in the draft, last year could have been disastrous for the farm.

With the D-Backs back in the top 10 for the second time in three years, it makes sense for Arizona to find a quality quick riser in this year’s draft. If not for J.B. Bukauskas, I’d make the argument that Tanner Houck was the top pitcher in this year’s draft. Houck, who has been on the radar ever since a dazzling freshman year, has been compared to fellow Mizzou Tiger Max Scherzer, and after another quality summer, could be on the rise. Houck’s best weapon is his mid to high 90’s fastball, a lively pitch that dares batters to hit it. His unorthodox delivery is questionable in its future viability, but it allows him to have above average control. What prevents him from being a great pitcher, however is his secondary pitches, which do need fine tuning (his slider) and use (his changeup).

Houck could be a bullpen arm in the future, however should he improve his secondary offerings, there would be a good chance that he makes it as a mid-rotation starter.

Philadelphia Phillies

Photo Courtesy of LSU Sports

I am of the belief that the Phillies may be ready to compete in 2017. With Aaron Nola and Maikel Franco poised to break out, JP Crawford likely to become the Phils’ everyday shortstop, Odubel Herrera being a breakout player the Phillies have expected, and no Ryan Howard looming overhead, the Phillies stand a good chance of being able to hang with the Mets and Nationals this year.

While the Phillies may have the offense, and a decent rotation with Nola, Velazquez, Hellickson, and now Clay Buchholz, in order to truly take advantage of the potential of this club. I believe the Phillies could make another trip to the Bayou and grab another LSU Tiger to pitch alongside Aaron Nola, Alex Lange. Lange is a righty with two power pitches, a mid 90’s fastball and a power curve. A durable starter, Lange can keep throwing hard even in the later innings. What Lange needs work on is consistency and control, as he has been known to get a little wild.

If it weren’t for the control issues, then Lange would be a solid pick for first 2017 draftee to the majors, but a little fine tuning his delivery will do him good. He has starter potential, but only if his flaws are fixed.

Milwaukee Brewers

Photo Courtesy of USA Today

To say college hitters are at a premium this year is probably the biggest understatement of the draft. Scouts have all but confirmed that many players will likely be overvalued because they aren’t pitchers, and two-way players like Brendan McKay will likely be seen as more valuable should they focus on developing their offensive skill sets.

In my first mock, I had JJ Schwarz listed as a likely first overall pick, and while I still see him as possibly the best bat in the draft, sorry Jeren Kendall, his sophomore slump certainly didn’t help his cause. Schwarz has the offensive skillset to bring value to the lineup, and while he does draw concerns of being an all-or-nothing Chris Carter-type, he does exhibit patience and when locked in, can be a power threat. Schwarz’s value is decreased though in the fact that he seems to be without a position; he played catcher his freshman year, but was moved to DH the following season with the emergence of Mike Rivera. Still, should Schwarz show his freshman promise again, there’s a good chance he could be the best player available.

Schwarz is no stranger to the Brewers, having been drafted by them out of high school, and his profile seems to fit very well with what Milwaukee preaches. Best case, he becomes Lucroy with weaker defense, worst case, he’s Chris Carter 2.0. Either way, Schwarz excels, and the Brewers end up better.

Los Angeles Angels

Photo Courtesy of Baseball America

Over the summer, I had the pleasure to read Jeff Passan’s fascinating study of pitching mechanics titled, The Arm, and found it to be very enlightening. It’s amazing to see how the slightest adjustments to a windup can be the difference between a long and mostly healthy career, or an injury plagued one. One of the things mentioned was the “Inverted W” pose, which is believed to be a harbinger of injury, which leads me to the Los Angeles Angels’ pick.

Every year, a highly projected college pitcher ends up taking a stock tumble, to the point where they could be taken at the end of the first round, or in a later round. 2015 had Michael Matuella, 2016 had Alec Hansen, this year, I think it’ll be Alex Faedo. Faedo, who was a key part of the Florida Gators’ rotation last year, has been rated as a top 5 to top 10 pick, mainly because of his professional grade pitches. Possessing a mid 90’s fastball and a solid curve, as well as a developing changeup, Faedo does have starter potential, and he is of the ideal build for pitchers.

So what’s wrong with Faedo that causes him to drop? Well, if you look at the attached picture, you will note that he is throwing with the above mentioned “Inverted W”, which could lead to injury. Additionally, Faedo did not have the opportunity to pitch in fall ball due to knee surgery, so he does already stand out as a possible health risk. Still, Faedo does have the opportunity to prove people wrong, but I’m admittedly skeptical on him.

Chicago White Sox

Photo Courtesy of the Voice-Tribune

This year’s Chicago White Sox are definitely not going to be fun to watch, but the future does look bright, with a group of young hurlers and hitters looking to contribute immediately to almost immediately. With the White Sox guaranteed to land the top spot in the prospect rankings for 2017, one wonders what they could do with their first round draft pick.

Assuming they aren’t going to throw it away on a QO free agent, they could draft a prep player with their first round pick, and maybe even take a chance on a project. Jordon Adell is hard to pinpoint value-wise, mainly because while he has four-tool player value, his hitting does raise questions. He can generate power, has excellent speed, and can play a solid centerfield, but scouts are concerned that he could be an all-or-nothing player based on his swing.

Adell has an entire spring to adjust his swing mechanics, and should he show more consistent contact, there is a good chance that he can be taken in the top 5 to top 10. The White Sox would definitely love to have a player with his potential, especially in the hitters haven that is Guaranteed Rate Field.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Photo courtesy of Baseball America

Much like Chris Sale in 2016, I could see the Pirates playing the “Will they or won’t they” game with Gerrit Cole. It’s clear that he’s no longer happy there, and considering how much of a haul the White Sox got for Sale, the Pirates could set his market value at whatever they want. The question is whether or not they would be willing to send off other assets as well to boister their farm system, and how ready Jameson Taillon, Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows are to take over.

Because of the precipitous nature of where the Pirates are strategically, I really wasn’t sure what would work for them as a pick. Last mock, I gave them a college catcher, this time, I’m leaning towards conesnsus top prep lefty DL Hall. Hall transferred from Houston County High School to Valdosta High School this year, obviously to raise his profile, and justifiably so. Hall has a nice low to mid 90’s fastball with movement, and a curve that can get outs. He is working on a changeup as well. What Hall needs to work on is slot consistency, as his delivery has been said to adversely affect his average control and command.

Hall strikes me as a fast riser, and tutelage under pitching guru Ray Searage has been shown to be exceptionally effective. I could see Hall jumping into a rotation spot with the Pirates by mid 2020.

Miami Marlins

Photo Courtesy of d1Baseball

There will never be another Jose Fernandez. The Marlins know that, baseball knows that, and everyone who is a baseball fan knows that. There will never be another prep pitcher who inexplicably makes the jump from high school to the big leagues in 2 years, and blows everyone away like Fernandez did. Though the Marlins would certainly love to grab another homegrown star pitcher, a combination of draft position and lack of certainties could concievably hamper their abilities, leaving them to possibly focus on other areas in the draft.

Since graduating Fernandez to the big leagues, as well as trading Andrew Heaney and Colin Moran, the Marlins haven’t been able to gain much traction in ascending the prospect rankings. One solution would involve going back to drafting college players, and there is perhaps no better player for Miami than Pavin Smith. Smith, UVA’s latest offensive prospect, is a contact-first player who’s spent his career in pitchers parks. Smith isn’t a fast runner, but he can field his position well, and has shown potential in the outfield as well.

Smith is an ideal player for Miami because of his contact based game with occasional power potential. His game would greatly translate to Marlins Park and its pitcher friendly nature, plus he strikes me as the perfect middle of the order hitter.

Kansas City Royals

Photo Courtesy of Today’s Knuckleball

When I think of the Kansas City Royals, I think of a team that puts more emphasis on building than buying a club. Ian Kennedy signing with the Royals for a massive contract and costing the team a 2016 draft pick that turned out to be Eric Lauer was definitely confusing to me. In addition, having the Royals finish in third place was kind of surprising, and somewhat surreal, considering how much of the core they had kept together, with the exception of Johnny Cueto. Will the Royals go back to building instead of buying?

In my opinion, the Royals could use a prep bat in this year’s draft, especially after committing their last four first round picks to pitchers. If there’s anyone who I think would fit well with the Royals, it’s Brady McConnell. McConnell comes from Shortstop Country, otherwise known as Florida, home to many HAPS prospects. A skinny kid with low power, McConnell changes a game on the basepaths, and with his glove, in fact, out of all prep shortstops listed in MLBPipeline, he stands the best chance to stay at the position.

McConnell may have had a Daz Cameron-like showcase circuit, where he was highly hyped, but tailed off, but there is still a belief that he can be a top 15 pick at least, and for a team like the Royals, his game translates very well to their style of play.

Houston Astros

Photo Courtesy of the Dallas Morning News

If the Minnesota Twins’ complete collapse was the most shocking season of 2016, then Houston’s was definitely the most disappointing. And while the Astros do have a lot of solid future pieces that are controllable for the foreseeable future, the question is how long their window of contention will be, and how strong will in-division teams become.

With Jason Castro signed by the Twins and Brian McCann taking his place, as well as there being no definitive answer regarding who the future catcher will be, I saw Evan Skoug as a no-brainer here. Skoug is an offensive catcher with considerable pop, something the Astros could use. While there are some who believe that Skoug profiles better at first base, he has shown he can handle the defensive side of the game with a quick release. Additionally, he commands respect because of his leadership quality.

Skoug would be ideal for the Astros pitching staff, and would seamlessly transition in once McCann was finished. I see him as a possible quick riser, especially in Houston’s system.

New York Yankees

Photo Courtesy of The Cullman Times

Even though the Yankees rebuilt their farm system from the ground up, we all know that they are a buying team at heart, and in all likelihood, players like Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Dillon Tate, and Gleyber Torres could find themselves being packaged for major league assets once the Yankees are deemed competitive enough. And yet, for some reason, the Yankees seem hesistant to deal their own homegrown prospects. James Kaprielian has become virtually untouchable, and who knows how much value they will place on Blake Rutherford once he makes it out of rookie ball?

This isn’t the first time I profiled an Alabama prep southpaw to the Yankees, considering I mocked Braxton Garrett to them once, but still, if anyone screams Yankees right now, it’s Jacob Heatherly. Heatherly has all the tools he needs to succeed and them some, with an above average 4 pitch arsenal, although no pitch stands out over any other right now. What Heatherly has that puts him ahead is pro level control and command that allows him to play the strike zone as he sees fit. Still, Heatherly could be an even better pitcher if he can get his curveball to be a consistent pitch.

Heatherly strikes me as a really advanced prep pitcher, and a solid senior season could considerably raise his stock to the point where he could be the first prep lefty taken Still, the Yankees would certainly kill to have someone like Heatherly in their system.

Seattle Mariners

Photo Courtesy of Baseball America

I’m sure with a bit of time and plenty of prospect development, Seattle’s reputation as a prospect wasteland will be a distant memory, however, trading Alex Jackson a mere two years after he was drafted, and having the second overall pick from the 2011 draft fizzle out isn’t exactly bringing forth warm fuzzy feelings. In fact, any player that I mock to the Mariners, I immediately feel sorry for.

So apologies to you, Hagen Danner. Danner, famous for his role in the 2011 Little League World Series, is an intriguing two way player, serving as both a pitcher and catcher for Huntington Beach High School. Danner as a pitcher is best known for a mid 90’s fastball with plenty of life, and a curveball and slider that complement the fastball well in order to get punchouts. As a catcher, his arm is pro-grade, and his contact is solid in spite of a Jeff Bagwell-like batting stance. He does have power potential as well.

Usually a two way player is considered more valuable if he becomes a pitcher, but in this weak position player class, I think Danner would make it better as a catcher. Hopefully the Mariners, should they select him, not make the same mistake they made with the last California prep backstop they took.

Detroit Tigers

Photo courtesy of USA Baseball

I don’t get what our collective fascination is with undersized scrappy shortstops. Ever since the Cardinals found out the Astros Director of Scouting had a man crush on David Eckstein, people have suddenly come to appreciate the little guys in baseball. Maybe it’s because they hustle more, knowing they tend to get overlooked. Whatever it is, if it produces great talent, then why change what’s not broken?

Looking at Nick Allen. a California prepster, you immediately wonder why he is a shortstop in the first place. He is undersized, however, he can hold his own at the shortstop position. Allen reminds me a lot of international shortstop prospects in his lack of power coupled with outstanding speed and fielding ability. His contact ensures that at best, he’ll be a leadoff hitter.

Allen is a fighter, he’s shown that he can excel at a position that others gradually move away from. Because of this, I could see Allen as a potential gold glove infielder, and with Detroit likely undergoing an identity shift in the future, should they play small ball with an emphasis on defensive prowess, he would fit in well with that culture.

San Francisco Giants

Photo Courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics

Last year, people hopped onto the Kyle Lewis hype train after an impressive summer in the Cape. Coming from Mercer University, Lewis was almost completely unheard of before his junior year. Still, a hot summer indicated preseason hype. Lewis didn't disappoint, completely toying with NCAA pitching en route to a Golden Spikes award and the 11th overall pick in the draft. His selection goes to show that in college baseball, small schools are just as important as larger ones.

This year’s small school darling comes from Lipscomb University, a small school located 8 minutes from powerhouse Vanderbilt. Michael Gigliotti may not be the first Bison first rounder, but he stands a chance to be their first offensive first rounder. Gigliotti was praised in the Cape by his manager and considered “better than Jacoby Ellsbury”. He does come off as a slightly better Ellsbury though, with above average contact and below average power. What sells him as a prospect is his speed, he has leadoff ability and can steal plenty of bases. Additionally, in spite of a weaker arm, Gigliotti profiles as a center fielder with a pro graded fielder ability.

San Francisco’s outfield may look flashy on the surface, but let’s be honest, Denard Span, Mac Williamson and Hunter Pence aren’t exactly the all-star outfield you want. Gigliotti provides a youth infusion ready to be deployed in two years, or just in time for Span or Pence to fall into a part time role.

New York Mets

Photo Courtesy of d1Baseball

It’ll be a sad day when David Wright retires. The cornerstone of a franchise through both good and bad, while still viewed as a positive clubhouse presence, is clearly on his last legs as a player, and considering how much of a toll the spinal stenosis has taken on his body, it’s time to start looking at future heirs.

While a flashy third base prospect would be ideal to energize the fanbase, the fans don’t want a potential prima donna, instead hoping for someone who gives it his all. When I read MLBPipeline’s profile on Jake Burger, I instantly thought, “This is the guy that Mets fans want”. Burger, from Missouri state, is a power hitter, but rather than being an all-or-nothing player, he balances himself out with average contact. Burger’s hustle is excellent, and he’s been regarded as a scrappy blue collar player who, while his play isn’t pretty, gets results defensively. He has the range and the arm to stay at third.

Burger’s hustle and all-around ability would endear him to Mets fans, who while the love the big market stars, want someone who gives it is all and is willing to put it all on the line.

Baltimore Orioles

Photo courtesy of d1Baseball

The Baltimore Orioles offense, with all due respect, is somewhat one-dimensional. With a lot of power mashers in their lineup, the Orioles always look dangerous during the season, but end up being exposed by masterful pitching or mind-boggling strategy in the playoffs. Don’t get me wrong, Buck Showalter is a great manager, but his lineup needs more dimension if he wants his team to make the step towards being an elite team.

My surprise pick here is from the University of California-Irvine, a school that has seen some major league talent, including former Orioles Brady Anderson and Garrett Atkins, but no first round draft picks. Say hello to Keston Hiura, a utility second baseman and outfielder. Hiura is a great contact hitter who can split the outfielders, and while he’s no speed threat on the basepaths, can easily stretch singles to doubles. While Hiura is primarily listed as an outfielder, his arm and instints profile better towards the right side of the infield.

Second base prospects are rare for the first round, but in Hiura’s case, being a second baseman would actually raise his value. The Orioles could definitely use a player of his talents on their future roster.

Toronto Blue Jays

Not since 2012, when Max Fried and Lucas Giolito came out of Harvard-Westlake High School, has there been two potential first round picks from the same prep school. To say that Huntington Beach High School is the school to watch this spring is definitely an accurate statement, especially considering their two big stars.

Nick Pratto became a household name in California for his heroics in the 2011 Little League World Series, and like his teammate Hagen Danner, followed that up with an outstanding prep career. Also like Danner, Pratto is another two way prospect, although he seems to be destined to being a position player rather than a pitcher. Pratto generates consistent and smooth contact which is complemented with average power. He fields his position well, giving his prospect profile a boost. As a pitcher, he’s got the makings of a back end starter, with an above average low 90’s fastball, and a changeup which is better than his curve.

Pratto seems like an ideal project for the Blue Jays. I could see them looking at him possibly being a pitcher, but feel that they would find better value out of him as a first baseman.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Photo courtesy of the Current-Argus

When you think of New Mexico, the first thing that may come to mind is Breaking Bad, and justifiably so. However, with Blake Swihart looking to become the Red Sox starting catcher, and Alex Bregman looking to find a spot in the lineup with the Houston Astros, it’s possible that New Mexico could become an underrated baseball state. The Dodgers are no stranger to New Mexico, being the original parent club of the Albuquerque Isotopes.

Trevor Rogers comes from Carlsbad High School. He does have a major league bloodline through former outfielder Cody Ross. However, unlike Ross, Rogers is a lefthanded pitcher, and a project, but his upside is impressive. He flashes a mid 90’s fastball, and a tweener breaking ball. He does have a changeup as a third pitch, but it is rarely used. Rogers needs work on his control as well.

As of now, Rogers figures to be a professional reliever, but work with a team like the Dodgers could potentially maximize his potential. Should he find consistency with his breaking ball and improve his control, as well as use his changeup, he has the makings of a starter.

Boston Red Sox

Image Courtesy of Stanford Daily

Back in 2012, I wrote an article for Bleacher Report where I listed Kevin Gausman as a bad pick because he was a draft eligible sophomore, and today, I want to own up to being an idiot at the time. In the wake of Andrew Benintendi completely balling out in 2015 and making his big league debut a year later, I have come to realize that being a draft eligible sophomore hurts a draft value very little, unless you’re TJ Friedl and teams don’t realize you’re draft eligible until you’re playing summer ball.

In an earlier piece, I wrote that Tristan Beck was a solid pitcher in the vaunted Class of 2018. At the time, I did not know that he was a draft eligible sophomore. Regardless, Beck may be the best Tier 2 college pitcher in this year’s class. One of the few pitchers who’s changeup is better than his fastball, Beck relies on craft rather than power to get hitters out. His fastball is precise, if not blazing, and his skinny frame does stand out as a possible deception point. Beck also has proven that he can handle major responsibility, since he was able to pitch well enough to be a Freshman All-American when Cal Quantrill sat out the year due to injury.

Boston lost a considerable amount of pitching talent when they went after Chris Sale, and while Michael Kopech’s 105 mile per hour heater will never be replaced, getting a player like Beck certainly will be enough to keep Boston’s farm system going strong.

Washington Nationals

Photo Courtesy of University of Houston Athletics

Another team that sold the farm to get a Chicago White Sox player, the Washington Nationals came off much worse when they sacrificed a future ace and mid rotation pieces for a very good but not great centerfielder. As a result, the Nationals find themselves low on pitching talent, a hallmark of the organization, especially lefthanded pitching talent.

They stand the best bet of taking Seth Romero, a Tier 2 college lefty. Romero is a big bodied pitcher at 6'3" and 240 pounds, but don’t let his size fool you. He can throw a mid 90’s fastball, and a slider that looks like a potential weapon. He does have a changeup that is rarely used. Romero also has above average control which can only get better with training. However, he does have a red flag in his alleged lackadaisical attitude, which got him suspended during his freshman year. Though he showed progress this year, teams should take that into consideration when discussing him. Additionally, like Alex Faedo, his windup includes the dreaded inverted W when he throws, which could be an injury risk.

The Nationals have gotten considerable mileage out of their homegrown pitchers, and Romero would be an excellent player to have once certain issues are ironed out. If his delivery can be tweaked and he can show accountability in training, he stands a chance at going higher in the draft.

Texas Rangers

Photo Courtesy of the Gonzales Weekly Citizen

Last year’s top LSU pitching recruit was Riley Pint, who until the very end, was being considered as a potential number 1 overall draft pick, and potentially the first righthanded pitcher taken first overall. It’s safe to say that when LSU finds someone, they make a lot of noise.

This year’s top recruit is Blayne Enlow, a righthanded pitcher from St. Amant High School. In a very weak class for righthanded prep pitchers, Enlow is the second best one available, behind only consensus top prospect Hunter Greene. Armed with a plus fastball and curve, Enlow has the potential to be a #2 starter in a rotation. He does have above average control, which helps a lot. What Enlow does need to work on is maintaining his fastball velocity, as he does lose a few ticks later in games.

The Texas Rangers have deviated from their “draft an offensive player” strategy with picks like Dillon Tate (since traded) and Cole Ragans in the past two years. If Enlow is available here, I can see them grabbing him to boister a farm system that lost a lot of assets on Deadline Day.

Chicago Cubs

Photo courtesy of Brent Hock

I don’t know how many times I can mention this, but I have a soft spot for NECBL summer league prospects. Maybe it’s because I work with one, but regardless of the team, if there’s an NECBL alum, you can bet he’s going to get my attention.

Newport Gulls alum and Stanford pitcher Colton Hock may not have had the best summer in New England, but that shouldn’t matter. Part of the pitching staff that took some of the heavy lifting when Cal Quantrill went down, Hock pitched primarily out of the bullpen. With Quantrill gone, there’s a possibility that he will join teammate Tristan Beck in the rotation. Hock’s fastball is faster than Beck’s and he keeps it low to get outs. He complements his fastball with an above average curveball. Expect Hock to use his third pitch, a developing changeup, in order to improve his chances of sticking as a starter.

Hock is a rare college project, but should he not make the transition to starter, he could make for a valuable bullpen arm. Considering the Cubs rode their bullpen to a title in October, I could see them taking a flyer on the Stanford hurler.

Compensation picks

Toronto Blue Jays

Photo Courtesy of the Carolina Times

Normally, I’m not high on juco prospects, but in the case of Brendon Little, a UNC transfer, I think I can make an exception. Little was rarely used during his freshman season with the Heels, but a great summer kept him on scouts’ radar. Little stands to be the ace of State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota rotation and with a nearly elite fastball and above average curve, he will definitely demand attention. I could see him going to Toronto who could be interested in his projectability.

Texas Rangers

Photo courtesy of the International Power Showcase

The emergence of Rougned Odor as a potential star is promising for the Rangers’ talent development, and could lead to the Rangers going after more infield talent. I like Mark Vientos here because he strikes me as a more well-rounded third baseman, unlike Joey Gallo, who I see as a future first baseman/designated hitter. Vientos’s contact ability and arm, as well as his fielding make him a better infield prospect than he is rated on MLBPipeline

Photo Courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune

Scouts call Rancho Bernardo “The Factory” due to its reputation for producing major league talent. This year’s example is Calvin Mitchell, who many say has the best prep lefty bat in the class. Mitchell does have power potential, but his calling card is definitely his contact ability. He’s an okay fielder, but will likely be limited to left field as a pro due to his lack of speed. With Chicago taking a lot of college talent in recent drafts, perhaps a long term prospect would be good here.