2019 MLB Mock Draft
The MLB Rule 4 Amateur Draft is today! While not the spectacle that is the NBA or NFL draft, the MLB draft still has the potential to alter franchises, but these guys generally take a few years to blossom and shine at the big league level. Still, it’s time for our MLB mock draft.
The past few weeks, I have run through a bunch of scouting reports, including:
- Top 10 College hitters
- Top 10 High School hitters
- Top 10 College pitchers
- Top 10 High School Pitchers
In putting those together, I put the prospects in my order of preference without regard for how certain teams might feel about a given player. Today, it’s time to hone in on how things might play out this afternoon. I have shifted this around multiple times, including moving Shea Langeliers into the top 10 after his performance on Saturday (3 HR’s, 11 RBI’s). Scouts are paying attention right up to draft time when you get to see players have success closer to draft day, it makes a huge impact in the draft rooms.
#1 Baltimore Orioles- Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State
Rutschman is the unanimous #1 Pick. Imagine a Gold Glove Switch Hitting Catcher who could hit for average with 25 plus home run power and you can see why scouts feel he is the best player available since Bryce Harper. He would be able to come in and work with some of the Orioles top young pitchers down on the farm like D.L. Hall and Grayson Rodriguez as well.
#2 Kansas City Royals- Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Colleyville Heritage HS (TX)
Bobby Witt Jr. is the top high school player in this class, and might be the best high school shortstop since Alex Rodriguez. He is a plus defender at shortstop with a good power and speed combo, with plus makeup. If it weren’t for Rutschman he would probably be the #1 Pick, even though he’s older than the average high schooler.
#3 Chicago White Sox- Andrew Vaughn, 1B, California
Even though the White Sox might not have a need at first base thanks to Jose Abreu and having recently signed Yonder Alonso in the off-season, it will be hard for them to not take one of the most advanced hitters in the draft. Andrew Vaughn has an excellent track record and won the Golden Spikes Award (Best College Player) last year. He is considered the best hitter in this year’s draft class and if the White Sox pick him they will have drafted the top hitting prospect for two years in a row.
#4 Miami Marlins- J.J. Bleday, OF, Vanderbilt
J.J. has done nothing but hit all season long leading the country in homeruns, which has helped secure his name among the best hitters in the whole country. It also helps that the Miami director of scouting, DJ Svihlik, previous job was as a member of Vanderbilt’s coaching staff.
#5 Detroit Tigers- Riley Greene, OF, Hagerty HS (FL)
The Top High School Hitter Available at this point and there is a chance he could possibly go even earlier than this as he is considered perhaps the best offensive player among all high school hitters.
#6 San Diego Padres- C.J. Abrams, SS, Blessed Trinity Catholic HS (GA)
Abrams is an excellent up the middle 5-tool talent with outstanding speed, there is a good chance he is picked before this pick as he is one of the best players available, especially up the middle. There’s a chance he goes to the White Sox at pick #3.
#7 Cincinnati Reds- Nick Lodolo, LHP, TCU
Cincinnati has been linked to college pitchers and Lodolo is a beast who throws an easy 96-97 mph from the left side he should be the first pitcher taken this year. He pitched well in his last start against Arkansas and he could possibly go earlier if a team really likes him.
#8 Texas Rangers-Brett Baty, 3B, Lake Travis HS (TX)
There’s been rumors that the Rangers might be trying to save money with this first pick. If that’s the case, they will probably draft Brett Baty or Josh Jung here or one of the other players they really like. Baty is the best player available here; he’s had his draft stock move up this spring and scouts feel could possibly hit 30 plus home runs some day.
#9 Atlanta Braves- Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor
Shea Langeliers is an elite defensive catcher and he had a huge game on Saturday (3 HR’s ,11 RBI’s). He was always considered a potential top 10 and his performance might have secured his spot. For a team with plenty of young arms and outfield prospects, it would make the most sense for them to take a Catcher that could move quickly here especially as they look to be contenders in the future.
#10 San Francisco Giants- Hunter Bishop, OF, Arizona State
The Giants have desperately needed bats for quite some time. They are fortunate that Hunter Bishop is available and he’s from the area so they would be getting a local kid who grew up playing High School Baseball less than an hour away but he might not last until this pick.
#11 Toronto Blue Jays- Zack Thompson, LHP, Kentucky
I think after the Top 10 we notice there starts to be a small run on pitchers and the Blue Jay’s would love to add a talented college pitcher who might be quick to the majors as they look to be hopeful contenders as their young players continue to improve at the major league level. Alek Manoah could also be their guy as he also fits that description.
#12 New York Mets- Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia
Alek Manoah was one of the top college pitchers all year and is probably the top right handed pitcher available on teams boards at this point and there’s a chance he might not last until this pick.
#13 Minnesota Twins- Bryson Stott, SS, UNLV
The Minnesota Twins have had success with drafting good hitters in the first round and might want to continue that and take Bryson Stott who was once thought to be a top 10 caliber talent. They also might like Corbin Carroll.
#14 Philadelphia Phillies- Jackson Rutledge, RHP, San Jacinto JC (TX)
The Phillies have not taken a High School player in the draft before the 5th Round the last 2 years not sure if the 2016 Draft left a bad taste in their mouth with high school talent but I feel like the organization loves college players.
Jackson Rutledge is a very nice projectable pitcher who should have a few plus pitches but will need to work on improving his control. He has one of the higher ceilings among the pitchers at the top and could be gone by this pick.
#15 LAA Angels- Corbin Carroll, OF, Lakeside HS (WA)
The Angels have drafted high school hitters the past few years and they might do so again thanks to Corbin Carroll still being available here. He is a bit undersized but a very talented player and one of the more advanced high school hitters in this draft he might not even last until this pick, so they might also consider taking the #1 prep pitcher here.
#16 Arizona Diamondbacks- Keoni Cavaco, 3B, Eastlake HS (CA)
The Diamondbacks love Keoni Cavaco a high school third baseman who has seen his stock go up a lot this spring and there’s a chance he goes somewhere around this pick. The Diamondbacks have plenty of early picks in this year’s draft and might be looking for value picks with talent early so they can take some of the higher priced players later on in the draft. George Kirby fits that bill and he has a good chance to go around this spot as well.
#17 WSH Nationals- Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech
At the start of the year it seemed like Josh Jung was going to be a top 10 pick but he has struggled to hit for power so he has dropped a bit. He should still be a 1st Rounder and would probably go somewhere around here as one of the better college bats still available. The Nationals might also like their pick of the top prep pitchers and they could go in that direction also.
#18 Pittsburgh Pirates- Matthew Allan, RHP, Seminole HS (FL)
Allan is the top High School pitcher in this years draft class. He has plenty of upside and there is a good chance he is picked by now. The Pirates love pitching and they have their pick of the top high school pitcher available.
#19 St. Louis Cardinals- Will Wilson, SS, N.C. State
The Cardinals have been tied to both college bats and high school pitchers and they have a chance to take one of the top prep arms but I feel that Will Wilson could go around here and would be a good fit to St. Louis.
#20 Seattle Mariners- Greg Jones, SS, UNC Wilmington
The Mariners have a track record of taking college hitters early and it sounds like they are looking at middle infielders this year. I feel that the Mariners also like speed on their team so this would be a good spot for Greg Jones who has seen his stock rise a lot this spring, he might be the most exciting player heading into the draft and could possibly even go earlier if a team really likes him.
#21 Atlanta Braves- George Kirby, RHP, Elon
The Atlanta Braves have been rumored to be interested in college pitchers and George Kirby is one of the better college arms still available and should go somewhere around here.
#22 Tampa Bay Rays- Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson
He has a chance to become a switch hitting super utility type of player one who might remind people of a Ben Zobrist type, but his bat leaves questions as to whether or not he could be an everyday type of player, still he looks to be a major league talent and one who would be a great bench player if not more. Interesting fact for his college career he hit 21 home runs from the right side and 21 home runs from the left side.
#23 Colorado Rockies- Michael Busch, 1B/OF, North Carolina
The Rockies could go in a few different directions but I feel that they are interested in taking one of the better left handed college bats or one of the top prep high school pitchers. The Rockies had some of their higher end scouts out at the ACC Tournament last weekend, and Michael Busch should figure to go somewhere in the next 10 picks.
#24 Cleveland Indians-Brennan Malone, RHP, IMG Academy (FL)
The Cleveland Indians love High School talent. In the last 3 years their first 3 picks have been high school players so I think Brennan Malone could be their guy or one of the other prep pitchers.
#25 Los Angeles Dodgers- Kody Hoese, 3B, Tulane
I have the feeling that the Dodgers are similar to the Diamondbacks and will take value picks early and more expensive players later on. Kody Hoese would be a good fit here and should go around here if not sooner.
#26 Arizona Diamondbacks- Daniel Espino, RHP, Georgia Premier Academy (GA)
I think the Arizona Diamondbacks like taking high school players and they could take one of the top prep pitchers here or one of the top high school shortstops available as they gained this pick due to Matt McLain a high school shortstop not signing with them a year ago. They should be able to afford whoever they like with this pick as they have one of the largest pools in this draft.
#27 Chicago Cubs- Quinn Priester, RHP, Cary-Grove HS (IL)
I feel that Cubs have a need to improve the depth of their minor league pitching and would be ecstatic to be able to draft the local kid who might not last until this pick.
#28 Milwaukee Brewers- Kameron Misner, OF, Missouri
The Brewers have taken a hitter first for the last 5 drafts. I feel that Kameron Misner could be one of the top guys on their board.
Thought at one point to be a possible top 15 pick his stock has taken a hit as he has struggled in conference play this spring still his tools and potential make this a solid value pick with plenty of upside.
#29 Oakland A’s- Gunnar Henderson, SS, Morgan Academy (AL)
Oakland historically has favored college hitters and I could see them taking another one but there are still some good prep shortstops available and I could see Gunnar Henderson going before this pick.
#30 New York Yankees- Jack Leiter, RHP, Delbarton HS (NJ)
The Yankees can go in a few different directions with this pick but I feel they are looking for a talented young pitcher. Jack Leiter seems like a really hard player to sign so this is more of a longshot but his talent is 1st Round Caliber and the Yankees drafted his dad Al Leiter in the 2nd Round in 1984 so they might be the only team that could have a good chance to sign him. They might also like his high school teammate shortstop Anthony Volpe.
#31 Los Angeles Dodgers- J.J. Goss, RHP, Cypress Ranch HS (TX)
I believe that J.J. Goss is a first round talent and the Dodgers enjoy adding pitchers and they get a chance to get one of the better prep pitchers in the class, he could be a good value pick here.
#32 Houston Astros- Mike Toglia, 1B/OF, UCLA
Toglia has been a fast riser the past few weeks as he’s gone 22-55 (.400) with 6 home runs in his last 13 games and the Astros love college hitters and he has been one of the top names that have been tied to the Astros.
#33 Arizona Diamondbacks- Braden Shewmake, SS, Texas A&M
Again the Diamondbacks will probably go with a value pick at some point and I feel that might be Braden Shewmake who could possibly be a day 2 pick but might go earlier as he could be one of the easier signs with the talent to justify an early round pick as he could go somewhere around this spot.
#34 Arizona Diamondbacks- Blake Walston, LHP, New Hanover HS (NC) Blake Walston is a pitcher with plenty of upside and he has a good chance to go in the first round he might be a tough sign but with enough balanced picks Arizona should have enough money to sign him away from NC State.
-James Weisser
