2018 MLB Mock Draft: Third Edition

Here is the third edition of my 2018 MLB Mock Draft.

1. Detroit Tigers- Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn: Mize is pretty much thought out to be the slam dunk consensus number one pick. Mize has always had the stuff, with three plus pitches, including a double plus split-finger, but health has held back his projection. Showing consistent health in 2018 has kept him #1 and should keep him here as a projection as a future #1/2 rotation piece with an impressive competitive streak.

2. San Francisco Giants- Joey Bart, Catcher, Georgia Tech: Bart opened the season as an elite defensive catcher with definite plus skills behind the plate, a plus arm, and highly-regarded coachability in his receiving skills with some raw ability with the bat in his hand. His hitting this spring has him in such a spot that there is talk that the Giants are considering him at two and even the Tigers might take him first over Mize.

3. Philadelphia Phillies- Nick Madrigal, Second Baseman, Oregon State: While there could be a legit argument that Madrigal is the best overall player in the draft, a player listed at a generous 5’7″ tall and weighing in at a generous 160 pounds isn’t going to be the type of guy who would go 1-1, even without Mize. As much progress as scouting has made to look beyond just body type to the player, that much bias still exists, much like the “no HS RHP will go 1-1” bias.

4. Chicago White Sox- Alec Bohm, Third Baseman, Wichita State: Bohm could end up going second or even first with the talent he has. He has the offensive profile for third base, has shown a tick up in his defense, and he’s a hard worker at the position, which should serve him very well as a pro. The bat is special, however, with plus contact and raw double-plus power abilities that could allow him to be a future home run champion.

5. Cincinnati Reds- Brady Singer, RHP, Florida: In many places, Singer was the preseason top overall player in the draft class, and like A.J. Puk a few years ago, he had a rough opening to his season, but he’s really worked well in recent weeks, and a strong finish should keep him in the top 10 and make his drafting team very happy. I won't be shocked if Singer goes second, if not first.

6. New York Mets- Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS (ARI): Really the one top high school arm coming into the spring that has held his spot all spring, Liberatore was the definite top of a shallow left-handed high school crop at the end of last summer, and he’s shown well enough that he has even led many to argue him as high as #2 overall. Liberatore does not bring any one double-plus pitch to the mix, but he throws four above-average pitches with impressive command for a high school arm, and he’s already showing the ability to manipulate his mix on the second time around to keep hitters off base.

7. San Diego Padres- Ethan Hawkins, RHP, Forsyth Central HS (GA): Hawkins had a rough spring and an injury have put some questions on Hankins – enough to drop him out of the top 10 for sure, but does have top ten talent. After that point, it could require a fairly significant bonus to get Hankins away from his Vanderbilt commitment, which could see Hankins slide to the back of the first round and especially to the comp round possibly.

8. Atlanta Braves- Nolan Gorman, Third Baseman, O'Connor HS (AZ): Gorman put on shows at summer showcases, making home run derby competitions his highlight reels all summer, but now that he’s working in the spring, some have whispered about his hit tool being messed up from a focus on showing out in those derby performances, seeing his swing elongate and even hitch. Gorman’s also added some muscle that he did not work into his body along with flexibility, so he’s become stronger, but more rigid, leading many to wonder about his future at third, though he’s definitely got the arm.

9. Oakland Athletics- Travis Swaggerty, Outfielder, South Alabama: Swaggerty has plus speed at the least along with above-average power, a fringe-plus hit tool, and above-average outfield defense at all three outfield spots. He takes plenty of walks and could be an elite leadoff man that offered 15+ home run pop or better at his best or develop into a middle of the lineup guy who has an impressive OBP.

10. Pittsburgh Pirates- Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (CA): Winn had good frame and three pitches that would project plus as a prep from Colorado. He transferred to one of the biggest schools in California for baseball to get more exposure, and he’s certainly done that, with plenty of scouts seeing him throw weekly.

11. Baltimore Orioles- Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS (FLA): Stewart had a strong summer and then came out this spring even better, with a couple ticks more velocity, allowing his fastball to grade out as a plus-plus pitch. He has a good frame at 6’6″ and already filled in to 200-210 pounds, and he pairs his incredible fastball with a curve that when it’s on will flash double-plus as well.

12. Toronto Blue Jays- Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida: McClanahan has had a bit of an up and down season as about the only college arm that’s had peaks as high as Mize, but he’s shown some wear as the season’s gone on, and, unless he turns around to the performances we were seeing in the early spring season, he’ll likely hold to a top 10 spot, but likely lower in the top 10, which will make whomever grabs him a very happy team.

13. Miami Marlins- Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss: Rolison is not likely going to be a guy to go early in the draft, but he could move quickly with polish and high raw grades on at least one of his breaking pitches. Rolison spins a curve that flashes 70-75 grade break, but his balance of pitches allow him to keep hitters honest and not let them sit on it, which allows his raw stuff to play up.

14. Seattle Mariners- Ryan Weathers, LHP, Lorretto HS (TN): Weathers has the pedigree, with a father who pitched for nearly 20 years, and the balance of pitches, with three above-average pitches and plus control, to be a high schooler who could move fast yet also factor at the front of a rotation. He was an excellent basketball player as well in high school, and the athleticism shows in his repeatable delivery and quick adaption to learning new pitches and new nuances to the game.

15. Texas Rangers- Jonathan India, Third Baseman, Florida: Most assumed India would be a later rounds pick that might have to come back for his senior year when the year opened in Gainesville. Instead, he’s hitting as well or better than any college hitter this year, showing tremendous polish in his swing, adjustments within game, and maintaining his above-average defense and speed that he’s always had.

16. Tampa Bay Rays- Jarred Kelenic, Outfielder, Waukesha West HS (WI): One of the biggest climbers in the spring is really just getting his season truly underway as fields in Wisconsin are finally being cleared of snow for Kelenic to launch balls out of them. He is thought be many to be a top ten talent so the Rays selecting him 16th would be a steal.

17. Los Angeles Angels- Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS (GA): An extremely mature body for a high school player, Rocker impressed summer showcases with his double-plus fastball and plus slider that has wicked break when it’s on. Some scouts worry about a bit of “bad weight”, but Rocker is athletic off the mound and repeats well, just working to be more consistent in his grips on pitches at this point.

18. Kansas City Royals- Brice Turang, Shortstop, Santiago HS (CA): One of the more divisive prospects among scouts, there is one thing everyone is in agreement on – Turang can flat-out field the ball. A certain above-average shortstop, and arguably a plus one, Turang is a hard worker and has natural leadership skills that have many comparing him on the field to former top overall selection Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves.

19. St. Louis Cardinals- Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson: With aces like Jacob deGom and Corey Kluber hailing from Stetson, the history of arms from the school developing well as pros could help push Gilbert as well. He doesn’t offer an elite fastball or a plus offspeed pitch, but he has above-average control of all of his pitches, and flashes plus with all four pitches with a great frame to project.

20. Minnesota Twins- Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida: Kowar has a nasty fastball that is one of the toughest to square up in college this spring, and he pairs it with a plus change that he locates very well. He’s worked to locate his curveball better this spring, though he still struggles a bit with consistency in the pitch’s break. He should move quickly through the Twins’ system.

21. Milwaukee Brewers- Trevor Larnach, Outfielder, Oregon State: Larnach showed out big-time in the early spring and has cooled off some, but after a big summer in the Cape Cod, he’s not going to fall off too far. Larnach is a guy with corner outfield skills offensively and defensively, with more hit over power right now, but there’s certainly plenty of raw power there that would allow him to grow into a dominant hitter

22. Colorado Rockies- Tristian Casas, First/Third Baseman, American Heritage HS (FL): One of the most impressive power hitters in the high school class of the 2018 MLB draft, Casas generates double plus raw power in cage and already shows above-average power in game situation in Team USA competitions. While the bat is special, Casas offers very little defensively and could use some work on trimming down his body.

23. New York Yankees- Mike Vasil, RHP, Boston College HS (MA): Vasil was a guy to watch this spring as he had an impressive pitch mix during the Tournament of Stars with USA Baseball. He has a definite plus fastball that can reach 97 with decent movement. He has above-average breaking pitches, but he’s still working to repeat his delivery, something many thought could be that launching step for a Northeast pitcher to jump into the top half of the first round.

24. Chicago Cubs- Connor Scott, Outfielder, Plant HS (FL): Not many have the run tool that Scott does in the 2018 MLB draft class, and he also flashes raw power that could be at least average, if not a tick above. Scott has a plus to double-plus arm on defense that just adds to his impressive range, though he could use some refinement in his jumps off the bat.

25. Arizona Diamondbacks- Nick Schnell, Outfielder, Roncalli HS (IN): Schnell is a fast riser among peoples draft boards. People have him linked to the D-Backs. He's athletic, raw, long and lanky and he can drive the ball to all fields.

26. Boston Red Sox- Steele Walker, Outfielder, Oklahoma: Walker's best tool is his bat and to go along with his outstanding instincts and makeup that allow his tools to play up. He's also one of the better offensive performers in college this year and that could appeal to the Red Sox.

27. Washington Nationals- Mason Denaburg, RHP/Catcher, Merritt Island HS (FL): Denaburg would have been a top ten sure thing if he was fully healthy. He is a very good kicker and punter in football, and he could play for Florida as well as playing both ways. When healthy, he has good feel for a hard curve and can reach upper 90s. There’s going to be some development time with Denaburg, but there’s legit frontline potential.

28. Houston Astros- Jordan Groshas, Third Baseman, Magnolia HS (TX): Groshas is the type of guy that really will grow on teams the more they see him as he doesn’t explode off of film when you watch him, without any standout tool that jumps off the page, but he’s got average to above-average present tools across the board with raw plus tools in his fielding and power. He’s played short in high school, but his physical body and range works at third, so once he gets reps there, he should jump forward in his defensive ability and could be a very valuable late first round selection.

29. Cleveland Indians- Noah Naylor, Catcher/Third Baseman, St. Joan of Arc Catholic HS (Ontario): Naylor's lefthanded bat and very high-level of athleticism have plenty of scouts speculating about whether the top Canadian prospect in the class might be better off starting his career at third base to maximize those two talent areas.

30. Los Angeles Dodgers- Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford: Beck has the frame and loose arm to project additional velocity, and he already shows great feel for a change and control of all three of his pitches. After being drafted originally last year, he decided to go back to school and is better because of that decision.