MLB Mock Draft 2018

With the the first two rounds of the draft, Darren Jackson and WhiSoxMan20051917 offer up some possible picks for the White Sox and the other 29 ball clubs.

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1. Tigers: Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn

Mize is the consensus number one pick among experts. MLB Pipeline grades Mize as the only 60 in the entire draft. He has a plus fastball and slider, and to go along with an above average changeup and control.

2. Giants: Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

3. Phillies: Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

4A. White Sox: Nick Madrigal, 2B/SS Oregon State (Darren’s pick, and closer to mock consensus; WSM is going Brady Singer). Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

5. Reds: Brady Singer, RHP, Florida

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

6. Mets: Jonathan India, 3B, Florida

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

7. Padres: Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge H.S.

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

8. Braves: Nolan Gorman, 3B, O’Connor H.S.

Gorman is among the top-rated high school hitters in the draft. He is a lefty with plus power and average hitting ability. It is not known if Gorman will stick at third base, but his power is next level already.

9. Athletics: Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

10. Pirates: Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha H.S.

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

11. Orioles: Ryan Weathers, LHP, Loretto H.S.

Another high school pitcher comes off the board here, with the lefty Weathers. He is above-average with his fastball, curveball, changeup, and control already as an 18-year-old.

12. Blue Jays: Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran H.S.

Another 18-year-old pitcher is taken in Cole Winn. He has a plus fastball with an above-average slider and control. His changeup is coming along but again, he is 18, so he has time to improve it.

13. Marlins: Connor Scott, OF, Plant H.S.

High-schoolers are flying off the board, and it’s no different with this pick. Scott might be the fastest player in the draft. His run tool is graded at a 70 and he is six-foot-four. When he reaches a professional development program, power should come around as well with a weight gain.

14. Mariners: Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson

Finally, back to a college player, in Gilbert. He has a plus fastball but the MPH on it has differed over the past year, from low 90s to 97 mph. He also has an above-average slider and changeup.

15. Rangers: Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

16. Rays: Nick Schnell, OF, Roncalli H.S.

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

17. Angels: Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida.

Another University of Florida player is drafted in the first round. Kowar has a plus fastball and changeup that work well with each other. Singer is rated higher than his teammate because Kowar does not have a breaking pitch on par with his fastball and changeup.

18. Royals: Xavier Edwards, 2B, North Broward Prep H.S.

Edwards is another athlete like Connor Scott, with a 70 grade run tool. He is a plus fielder with a good arm that should get stronger. He does not have much power, but can still hit for contact.

19. Cardinals: Ryan Rolison, LHP, Mississippi

Back to lefties. Rolison’s best pitch is his plus curveball, while the rest of his pitches are near average, with a low 90s fastball. He, like any other first rounder, has been improving, which is why he will move up from his draft spot last year (37th) out of high school.

20. Twins: Jordyn Adams, OF, Green Hope H.S.

This is where some reaching for high schoolers may begin, to keep them from going to school. Adams is not ready, and probably is several years away from being in the majors, but he has an elite run tool at a 75 grade. He is also average in the hit and fielding tools.

21. Brewers: Ethan Hankins, RHP, Forsyth Central H.S.

Don’t feel old, but you may want to sit down: Hankins was born in 2000. 1990s babies are a thing of the past,man. Hankins has a Kopech-like fastball that grades out as 80. Every other pitch runs as average, much like Kopech, but Hankins does not reach 100 mph.

22. Rockies: Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State

Lanarch has steadily been climbing draft boards this past season while showing hitting and power tools. He will be a corner outfielder, but his arm might limit him to left.

23. Yankees: Brice Turang, SS, Santiago H.S.

Turang is above average on most tools besides power. He does not stick out anywhere as of yet, but he is almost a complete player. The No 23 pick might not be high enough to get Turang to go to the majors; however, the stature of the Yankees could turn the tables.

24. Cubs: Daniel Lynch, LHP, Virginia

Lynch is a bit of a dark horse here for the Cubs, but they need pitching that is closer to the majors, and more than anything, that describes Lynch. Lynch is relatable to Jon Lester in that he has a low-90s fastball with a good changeup and an average slider.

25. Diamondbacks: Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie H.S.

Stewart is one of the best pitchers in the draft, but as Jim Callis has noted, high school righthanders tend to drop in the draft. Stewart has a high-90s fastball, with a plus curveball and an average changeup.

26. Red Sox: Mason Denaburg, RHP, Merritt Island H.S.

According to Jim Callis, Denaburg reminds people of John Smoltz. That’s all that needs to be said here.

27. Nationals: Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS.

Rocker already has a great 1-2 punch with his fastball and slider. It seems like he does not have a consistent delivery, but what 18-year-old can repeat things? If the delivery and stuff does become consistent, Rocker should have an above-average pitching repertoire.

28. Astros: Alek Thomas, OF, Mount Carmel H.S.

Here is a White Sox connection: Thomas is the son of Allen Thomas, the Sox director of strength and conditioning, and another 2000 kid. Thomas is gaining comparisons to Andrew Benintendi and Jacoby Ellsbury.

29. Indians: Anthony Seigler, C, Cartersville H.S.

Another reach, but a worthy one. Seigler is a switch-hitter and thrower (also a pitcher in high school). He is getting comparisons to Austin Barnes, as some scouts think he can also play second base. However, Seigler is already one of the top defensive catchers in the draft to go along with his above-average bat.

30. Dodgers: Parker Meadows, OF, Grayson H.S.

Meadows can play all three outfield spots and has the power necessary to permanently move to a corner spot. His raw power is what scouts are excited about, but it will need to translate more to game power to be a successful hitter.

Supplemental First Round

31. Rays: Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Central Heights H.S.

Another right-handed high school pitcher falls, and the Rays pounce. Rodriguez uses four pitches, headed by a plus fastball with good control. The slider is his second-best pitch and has been used as an out pitch. He has a full frame, so not much more velocity is expected.

32. Rays: Noah Naylor, C, St. Joan of Arc H.S.

Naylor is a better hitter than Seigler, but there are questions of whether he stays at catcher. His field tool is graded at 45, but he does have a good arm. He will, like Zack Collins, be given an opportunity to catch — but a switch seems likely.

33. Royals: Jordan Groshans, 3B, Magnolia H.S.

Groshans plays in the middle infield currently, but can play third base because of his good arm. He has the power to go along with playing the hot corner. He is average to above average on every other tool.

34. Royals: Greyson Jenista, OF, Wichita State

Jenista will play the corner outfield or first base. The six-foot-four slugger obviously comes with pop in his bat, but he also has above-average speed with a decent contact tool. However, after hitting only .309 with nine home runs, Jenista fell in rankings.

35. Indians: Nander De Sedas, SS, Montverde Academy

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

Competitive Balance Round A

36. Pirates: Jeremy Eierman, SS/3B, Missouri State

Eierman’s best tools are on the diamond instead of the batters box. He can play both shortstop and third base because of a 65 grade arm. Eierman can hit for power, but his contact tool is average to below average.

37. Orioles: Cole Wilcox, RHP, Heritage H.S.

Wilcox is rated higher but again, a right-handed high-schooler. Wilcox is one of the older 18-year-olds, but he does have a plus fastball and plus changeup coming with him. His slider is improving, but looks to be a legitimate pitch.

38. Padres: Nico Hoerner, SS, Stanford

Unlike many middle infielders chosen already, Hoerner lacks on the defensive end. He will have to be a second baseman, but he has a hit tool to help compensate his defensive deficiencies. Jim Callis compares him to Ian Kinsler.

39. Diamondbacks: Jameson Hannah, OF, Dallas Baptist

Hannah will be limited to center field because of a below-average arm, but he has the speed to make up for his arm strength. He also has an above-average hit tool, but power will elude the five-foot-nine hitter.

40. Royals: Seth Beer, 1B, Clemson

Seth Beer may be the most polarizing hitter in the draft. He can hit for average and has a ton of raw power. However, he is limited to first base, and even that may be a stretch. His speed, on the 20-80 scale, is a 20. There is not much athleticism in Beer’s game.

41. Indians: Steele Walker, OF, Oklahoma

Walker is a good contact hitter, but he may be limited to left field because of his speed and arm. He was one of the best hitters for Team USA, which usually makes or breaks a hitter. For Walker, it boosted him to Day One consideration.

42. Rockies: Lenny Torres, RHP, Beacon H.S.

Torres is one of the youngest players in the draft. He will not turn 18 until October. Right now, Torres only has two above-average pitches, his fastball and slider. He will need to improve his changeup or add another pitch to avoid the bullpen.

43. Cardinals: Griffin Conine, OF, Duke

The son of Jeff Conine should be a right fielder in the next level. He has the power and arm strength to stick there. He has fallen in rankings because his hit tool is not up to par. He hit .273 last season with 70 strikeouts in 59 games — very Washington Nationals Adam Dunn of him.

Second Round

44. Tigers: Tristan Pompey, OF, Duke

Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.

45. Giants: Triston Casas, 1B, American Heritage H.S.

This is getting dangerously close to commit to college territory for Casas, but the Giants should be early enough in the second round to snatch him. He looks to be a first baseman with plus power in the future, but did play third base in high school.

46A. White Sox: Blaine Knight, RHP, Arkansas

Darren is going with Knight (Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.)

46B: White Sox: Jeremiah Jackson, SS, St. Luke’s Episcopal H.S.

WSM is picking Jackson. (Click on his name for SSS’s linked profile.)