2019 MLB Draft Mock Draft (v1)

Adley Rutschman - 2018 - Oregon State Beavers (Bill Mitchell)

Featured Photo: Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State Univ.

For our first mock draft of the 2019 MLB Draft season we focused on personal preference (based on first-hand scouting, statistical analysis and industry contacts) while keeping in mind an overarching strategy for each team and, as applicable, historical preferences. This mock covers the full First Round, Compensation Picks and Competitive Balance A Picks, in the aggregate totaling the first 41 selections.

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Full 2019 MLB Draft Video Library (LINK)

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1:1 Orioles: Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State
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Rutschman is the best player in college baseball and a no brainer selection for the Orioles. The switch-hitting backstop is currently slashing .429/.576/.800 (!) as an above-average up-the-middle defender, projecting to at least plus hit and power at the next level to go with plus actions behind the plate and a plus catch-and-throw game. He mashed with wood last summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, as well, slashing .321/.424/.500. Simply put, Rustchman is the easiest 1:1 selection since the Nationals won the Bryce Harper lottery in 2010. As a bonus, we already know he looks good in orange and black. –Nick Faleris

1:2 Royals: Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Collyville Heritage (TX)
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Witt has been long been considered the top high school player in this class. After taking college players with their first 11 picks last year, Witt could diversify the Royals talent pool for their rebuild.  After some up and down performances in the showcase circuit, he quieted some hit tool concerns when he slashed .576/.615/1.121 while leading USA Baseball 18U to a Gold Medal in the Pan-American Championships. –Burke Granger

1:3 White Sox: Andrew Vaughn, 1B, California
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It would be no surprise if Vaughn ultimately emerges as the most impactful offensive talent in this draft class, capable of a .300/.400/.500 slash line at maturity. There are still some evaluators who will point to an underwhelming showing with wood last summer with a raised eyebrow, but the Berkeley first baseman raked as a freshman (.349/.414/.555 with 12 home runs), a sophomore (.402/.531/.819 with 23 home runs) and again this spring (.370/.525/.681 with 11 home runs). As a bonus, he would slot in nicely as the heir apparent to Abreu. –NF

1:4 Marlins: CJ Abrams, SS, Blessed Trinity Catholic (GA)
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A quick twitch athlete, Abrams is a contact oriented hitter who can provide significant impact with his double-plus speed both on the base paths and in the field. He has smooth actions at shortstop with an average arm and also saw time in centerfield in the summer and into the fall. –BG

1:5 Tigers: JJ Bleday, OF, Vanderbilt
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Bleday impressed on the Cape last summer, showcasing a feel to hit while flashing solid over-the-fence pop. He’s grown that profile this spring, currently sitting on a .343/.448/.763 slash line with 21 bombos in 208 plate appearances. He has a big right field arm and plenty of athleticism to profile as a quality corner defender at the next level and adds so offensive impact to a Tigers system light on the same. –NF 

1:6 Padres: Hunter Bishop, OF, Arizona State
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Perhaps no player has bolstered their draft stock in the calendar year more than Bishop. After slashing a pedestrian .250/.352/.407 last season, he’s absolutely mashing this season, posting a 1.364 OPS with 18 home runs through this weekend. While he’s cooled some during PAC-12 play, a potential fast track college bat would complement an already strong farm system in San Diego. –BG

1:7 Reds: Bryson Stott, SS, UNLV
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Stott is a steady defender that shows extreme comfort (and plenty of arm) making plays across his zone at shortstop. While he profiles as an everyday six-spotter at the next level, he has the athleticism to move around the infield as needed and would complement Senzel nicely on the dirt in some formulation. He has made big improvements in his swing this spring and possesses the tools to provide above-average power to go with a quality hit tool. –NF 

1:8 Rangers: Nick Lodolo, LHP, Texas Christian
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After turning down a reported $1.75 million from the Pirates in 2016 as the 41st overall pick, it appears likely the gamble on himself will pay dividends this June for the long and lanky southpaw. The 6-foot-6 lefty has a deep repertoire and has shown improved control this spring, cutting his walk rate in half, while showing impressive swing-and-miss stuff from a tough low slot. –BG

1:9 Braves: Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia
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It doesn’t seem fair to add Manoah to the stable of arms the Braves have already amassed, yet here we are. The big-bodied power arm has been filthy this spring, holding opponents to a.180 average while striking out 103 in 76.2 while allowing just 48 hits and 17 walks. It’s loud stuff with an impressive ability to attack the zone. –NF

1:10 Giants: Riley Greene, OF, Hagerty (FL)
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Greene has perhaps the best hit tool in the prep class and flashed plus raw power on the showcase circuit. Limited athleticism and a fringe average arm restrict his defensive possibilities to left field or first base. He could be in play as early as #5 to the Tigers. –BG

1:11 Blue Jays: Corbin Carroll, OF, Lakeside (WA)
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The UCLA commit is a burner (plus-plus run) who can go get it on the grass in addition to legging out extra bases with ease. He has excellent feel for the barrel and good strength in his core to go with fast twitch actions, hinting at a nice bump in future power. Carroll slots in well to a Blue Jays system that has well blended high floor college picks and upside high schoolers. –NF

1:12 Mets: Zack Thompson, LHP, Kentucky
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Thompson has bumped his game this spring, punching out 102 in just 71.2 innings while holding opponents to a .179 average – all while navigating a brutal SEC schedule. The lefty boasts a plus fastball backed up by a slider, curve and change that can all show as at least above-average offerings. –NF

1:13 Twins: Brennan Malone, RHP, IMG Academy (FL)
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Malone represents an appealing mix of present stuff and future projection. In a recent showing at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational with a lot of scouting heat on hand, Malone held 93-to-96 for the entirety of his complete game shutout, missing bats with three pitches. –BG

1:14 Phillies: Jackson Rutledge, RHP, San Jacinto CC
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Rutledge has overtaken Carter Stewart (RHP, Eastern Florida JC) as the top junior college arm in the class, regularly working into the upper-90s with his fastball and the mid-to-upper-80s with his plus slider. He also wields a solid 79-to-81 mph curve as a change-of-pace offerings, giving him a weapon to keep hitters from sitting on the hard stuff. He isn’t a surefire starter at the next level, but he has an adequate foundation to build that profile and the Phillies could make use of his power arm regardless of whether it winds up in the rotation or at the back of the bullpen. –NF

1:15 Angels: Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech
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Jung is an advanced college stick with a penchant for driving the ball the other way. Through 40 games he’s slashing .333/.472/.580 with more walks (39) than strikeouts (30). He doesn’t have a lot of range at the hot corner, but he’s sure handed within his fielding radius with an above average arm. –BG

1:16 Diamondbacks: Michael Busch, 1B/OF, North Carolina
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The hits aren’t falling as frequently as you’d hope for a mid-first rounder, but all of the supporting stats are popping, including a .147 spread from OBP to AVG (.446 vs. .299) and an ISO of almost .300 (.591 SLG vs. .299 AVG). There’s more than enough on-base and power production to warrant selection here and a college bat is an added fit for a thin system – particularly at the upper levels. –NF 

1:17 Nationals: Matt Allan, RHP, Seminole (FL)
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Allan is a sturdily-built prep righty that can work into the mid-90s with his fastball while showing potential for a double-plus curve at maturity. The Florida commit blends simple mechanics and an easy arm with loud present stuff and a starter’s build, making him one of the few surefire first-round high school arms of the class and an excellent fit here for the Nats. –NF

1:18 Pirates: Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson
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A switch hitting shortstop with pop and a track record for collegiate success, there’s a lot to like about Davidson, including his 12 homers, .300 ISO and .424 on-base percentage through his first 45 games of the spring. There are some swing and miss concerns, however, and he’s hit poorly with wood in each of the last two summers on the Cape. –BG 

1:19 Cardinals: George Kirby, RHP, Elon
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Kirby impressed on the Cape last summer working exclusively out of the Harwich pen in establishing himself as a potential Day 1 arm. He’s bumped that profile this spring, showcasing easy low-to-mid-90s heat and a true swing-and-miss curve that works from the upper-70s into the low-80s while tunneling well off the fastball. Everything works clean and simple with the righty and his 85 strikeouts to just five walks this spring underscores his comfort with and command of his arsenal. –NF

1:20 Mariners: Kameron Misner, OF, Missouri 

Misner’s season has been one of three true outcomes, with BB and K rates over 20% while also slugging 10 home runs thus far. He garners double-plus raw power grades and he possesses all the tools to be an advanced defender in right field. An excellent athlete, Misner’s also a heady runner with above-average speed who’s been successful in 17 of his 18 attempted steals this spring. –BG

1:21 Braves: Quinn Priester, RHP, Cary-Grove (IL)
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The TCU commit has been one of the better high school arms in the country this spring, pushing his way towards the top of the class, even in the face of always unpredictable (and seldom pleasant) Midwest weather. Priester works consistently in the low-to-mid-90s with his fastball and pairs it with a hard-biting curve while offering both physical projection and mechanics/athleticism to project further growth in this already impressive stuff. –NF

1:22 Rays: Daniel Espino, RHP, Georgia Premier (GA)
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After snagging Matthew Liberatore in the second half of the 1st round last year, another prep arm who dominated the showcase circuit slides to Tampa in this scenario. Owner of the best fastball in the prep class, Espino has dialed up his heater to 99 in short stints on the and has shown a plus slider. –BG 

1:23 Rockies: Seth Johnson, RHP, Campbell
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Johnson has moved from throwing just a handful of innings last spring for Louisburg College last spring as a shortstop converting to a two-way player to a potential first round target after transferring to Campbell. Johnson sits comfortably in the low-to-mid-90s, regularly touching as high as 98 from start-to-start, and shows feel for a full four-pitch mix, all on a low-mileage arm still learning the craft. –NF

1:24 Indians: Will Wilson, SS, NC State
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Although there are already a couple of candidates in the farm system, Wilson would give the Indians a balanced shortstop capable of providing value across his game as they prepare for the potential of losing Francisco Lindor to free agency after the 2021 season. Wilson doesn’t have a standout tool, but he’s an average defender at shortstop and has shown the ability to hit and hit for power in the ACC. –BG

1:25 Dodgers: Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor
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This is purely a value pick for the Dodgers, with Langeliers offering elite defense behind the plate to go with an average hit tool and fringe average playable power. There are some contact-oriented issues at play based on his summer showings with wood, but with the offensive bar so low at the position these days it might not take much to put him a stone’s throw from being one of the better backstops in the game. –NF

1:26 Diamondbacks: Davis Wendzel, 3B, Baylor
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The DBacks stay focused on college bats with this unprotected pick. One of the more impressive bats on a solid Hyannis club last summer on the Cape, Wendzel has pushed his production to the next level this spring, slashing .385/.500/.647 through his first 40 games. Critics question his over-the-fence potential at the next level, but there’s lots of natural lift in the swing and room to add some strength as his body firms up at maturity. He’s also a capable defender at third. –NF

1:27 Cubs: JJ Goss, RHP, Cypress Ranch (TX) 

Although the Cubs have gone the college route with their first round selections in each of the past five years, Goss represents a better value here than his collegiate contemporaries. A Texas A&M commit, he can run his fastball into the mid-90s with a put-away slider that showcases hard, wipeout action and excellent depth.  –BG

1:28 Brewers: Brett Baty, 3B, Lake Travis (TX)
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Baty is old for the class, but has enough present physicality that it shouldn’t scare teams off from what appears to be one of the better hit/raw power tool combos at the prep ranks. High-end offensive tools aren’t easy to come by this late in the first round, making this a nice opportunity for the Brewers to nab a potential impact lefty bat. –NF

1:29 Athletics: Kendall Williams, RHP, IMG Academy (FL)
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After losing Kyler Murray to football without compensation, a high school arm might represent too much risk for the Athletics. But if they’re looking for upside, it’s hard to do better than Williams. Long limbed and projectable, he gets the most out of his 6-foot-6 and 190-pound frame, working downhill and getting out front with excellent extension while already showing feel for three quality offerings, including a low-to-mid-90s fastball. –BG

1:30 Yankees: Jack Leiter, RHP, Delbarton (NJ)
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Leiter lacks a typical starter’s size, but more than makes up for it with a hard 91-to-94 mph fastball and perhaps the best curveball in the class, working in the mid-70s with plus bite and depth on a 12-to-6 path. Given the effectiveness of his fastball/curveball pairing and the deception with which the two pitches come out of his hand, it’s easy to see a little Sonny Gray in the profile. –NF 

1:31 Dodgers: Anthony Volpe, SS, Delbarton (NJ)
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Volpe’s a quick-twitch athlete with clean actions at short, plus hands and enough arm for the left side. Offensively he shows good feel for the barrel and a compact stroke to go with good bat speed, projecting as a quality stick with at least solid gap power and a chance to grow into more than that. There’s some developmental work to do on the offensive side, but the Dodgers have fared pretty well so far with the last cold weather high school bat they popped in the first round. –NF

1:32 Astros: Josh Wolf, RHP, St. Thomas (TX)
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The Astros go local here in scooping up Wolf – a Houston area prep arm who’s been rising up draft board this spring. Though he’s slight of frame (6-foot-2, 160 pounds) he can run his fastball into the mid-90s with relatively low effort and his curveball is a legit swing-and-miss offering. –BG 

1CP:33 Diamondbacks: Tyler Callihan, 3B/C, Providence (FL)
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After going with two corner college bats the Diamondbacks shift their attention to the prep ranks with their next two selections. Callihan boasts big raw power and was one of the more consistent performers throughout the showcase and travel ball circuit during this draft cycle. He’s a solid athlete with good present strength, a knack for finding the ball with the barrel, and the potential to provide solid value and the infield dirt (and perhaps behind the plate). –NF 

1CP:34 Diamondbacks: Gunnar Henderson, SS/3B, Morgan (AL)
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Henderson’s profile dovetails a bit with Jordan Groshans (Blue Jays, 2018 1st Round (12th Overall)). Like Groshans, Henderson can really swing it while showing promise for a jump in playable power in the near future. He’s a solid defender at short but may slide over the third base at maturity depending on how the body plays at maturity.

*Having locked down quality college performers and some high upside prep bats, the clear target with the DBacks next pick (had we gone to Round 2) would be senior Noah Song (RHP, Naval Academy) (Video). Song is a clear top 20 talent with a military commitment muddying the signability waters at this point. With so many Day 1 picks, the Diamondbacks are positioned better than anyone to pull the trigger on Song without sacrificing the quality of their draft. He’s a four-pitch righty with a starter’s body, mechanics and control that works consistently in the 94-to-96 mph range and hit multiple 97s and a 99 for us in our viewing with a mid-80s slider that can play to plus. He’s presently the Division I strikeout leader (133) averaging almost two strikeouts per inning, with opponents batting just .159 against him this spring. –NF

1CBA:35 Marlins: Hunter Barco, LHP, Bolles (FL)
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After selecting Abrams at #4, the Marlins double down and take another high upside prep star here. A well-known commodity heading into the draft cycle, Barco underwhelmed on the showcase circuit. The stuff and consistency ticked back upward this spring, as he’s established his low-80’s splitter is a formidable weapon. –BG

1CBA:36 Rays: Carter Stewart, RHP, Eastern Florida JC
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Like Shane McClanahan last season, the Rays use one of their compensation picks on a high-upside gamble. The unsigned 8th overall pick last season (Braves), Stewart has shown flashes of the electric stuff he displayed last year, including a devastating plus-plus 12-to-6 curve, but hasn’t been able to consistently channel it. –BG

1CBA:37 Pirates: Maurice Hampton, OF, Memphis Univ. (TN)
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A two-sport standout committed to LSU for both football and baseball, Hampton represents an upside dev pick in this spot. As one would expect, there’s some rawness in his game but it comes with uncommon speed and impact power potential. –BG 

1CBA:38 Yankees: John Doxakis, LHP, Texas A&M
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The Yankees follow their prep arm first-round selection with a steady college lefty capable of consistently working deep into games with a quality three-pitch arsenal at his disposal. The A&M pairs a low-90s fastball with a potential plus low-80s that works well as both a freeze pitch and swing-and-miss offering. – NF

1CBA:39 Twins: Kody Hoese, 3B, Tulane

Hoese has thrust himself into Day 1 consideration with an absurdly productive spring for the Green Wave, as he’s currently slashing .417/.500/.881 and leading all Division I hitters with 21 home runs. He’s on the older side for the college crop and doesn’t possess elite bat speed, but there’s legit pop in the barrel and the profile has parallels to the club’s 2017 competitive balance pick, Brent Rooker. –BG

1CBA:40 Rays: Michael Toglia, 1B, UCLA
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With three picks in the first round and a hefty $10,333,800 bonus pool to work with, the Rays will have an opportunity to get creative such as taking someone under slot at 22 or 36 and floating a higher priced prep talent here. In this scenario, they get an athletic corner infielder who won’t turn 21 until August. –BG

1CBA:41 Rangers: Bryce Osmond, RHP, Jenks (OK)
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Were he to make it to Oklahoma State, Osmond has potential to impact the program both on the mound and with the bat. As a professional, his future is as a pitcher. The projectable righty presently sits in the low-90s while spinning a quality slider and showing feel for a low-to-mid-80’s changeup. –BG