2019 MLB Mock Draft: Third Edition

Here is my third edition of my 2019 MLB Mock Draft.

1. Baltimore Orioles- Adley Rutschman, Catcher, Oregon State: Rutschman is the favorite to go first overall according to many people in the industry, although there is buzz the O's can take Andrew Vaughn here. He would immediately become the Orioles catcher of the future and he could get to the big leagues faster than a lot of folks due to his switch hitting ability and he provides a lot of power.

2. Kansas City Royals- Bobby Witt Jr., Shortstop, Colleyville Heritage HS (Texas): The Royals are a team that wants top tier talent to build around and in their system. Enter Witt, who is a five-tool prospect that hits for a ton of power and projects to be a shortstop long term would immediately become the Royals top prospect.

3. Chicago White Sox- J. J. Bleday, Outfielder, Vanderbilt: Bleday is someone that scouts thought had some power to go with his bat and he's displayed it this year in college. There is a lot of talk about Bleday being the choice here by the White Sox after many have speculated Andrew Vaughn or CJ Abrams.

4. Miami Marlins- Andrew Vaughn, First Baseman, California: The Marlins are a team that lacks college position players in their system. Vaughn is arguably the best all-around hitter in this draft and he could go third to the White Sox. If Vaughn falls here, it's a major win for the Marlins as they finally have a possible franchise player.

5. Detroit Tigers- CJ Abrams, Shortstop, Blessed Trinity HS (California): The Tigers are possibly getting a steal here with Abrams falling to them at five and he's someone that could go third to the White Sox. He is one of the best hitters and athletes in this draft. If it doesn't work out for him as a middle infielder, than he could work out in center field.

6. San Diego Padres- Riley Greene, Outfielder, Hagerty HS (Florida): Greene is the best high school hitter in this draft and the Padres snag him here. They could go with a college hitter here, but they settle on Greene here, who is a below average defensive player which doesn't bode well for a National League club like the Padres.

7. Cincinnati Reds- Nick Lodolo, LHP, TCU: The Reds have a farm system that's loaded with hitters and high school pitchers, but it lacks collegiate arms. Lodolo is the first pitcher taken off the board as he's the best pitcher in the draft and he's someone that has three good pitches.

8. Texas Rangers- Hunter Bishop, Outfielder, Arizona State: The Rangers system lacks college hitters and they take one here in Bishop. The Orioles apparently like him too, but taking him number one overall is a bit of a stretch. Bishop is somebody who's stock has risen from the start of the season to put him in this position.

9. Atlanta Braves (compensation pick)- Jackson Rutledge, RHP, San Jacinto (Texas): A year after not signing Carter Stewart, the Braves take another high school arm in Rutledge. He's shown high velocity and is an analytics darling and that's something the Braves would like.

10. San Francisco Giants- Bryson Stott, Shortstop, UNLV: The Giants have options here and they tend to go with the highly touted shortstop in Stott. He is the best college infielder in the draft class and he projects to be an impact hitter with enough defense to stick at short.

11. Toronto Blue Jays- Corbin Carroll, Outfielder, Lakwood HS (California): The Blue Jays have options here with this selection as they can opt for a college arm here. Carroll is somebody that can rake and makes great contact with a nice left-handed swing, has a ton of speed that works on offense and defense.

12. New York Mets- Zach Thompson, LHP, Kentucky: Many folks are linking Thompson to the Mets and it would be a solid draft choice here. If it weren't for injury concerns, he'd go in the top ten of this draft, but he has put together a great season.

13. Minnesota Twins- Shea Langeliers, Catcher, Baylor: If it weren't for Adley Rutschman, Langeliers would have been the best catcher in this draft. He doesn't have Rutschman's offensive upside, but he's one of the best defensive catchers of the last decade and is hitting better this spring despite a broken hamate that sidelined him for just three weeks.

14. Philadelphia Phillies- Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia: The Phillies have options with this pick as they can go in a numerous number of directions. Manoah is the best college righty pitcher in the draft and he's somebody that has improved his walk rate from last year to this year.

15. Los Angeles Angels- Matthew Allan, RHP, Seminole HS (Florida): The Angels have drafted a lot of position players in the first round the past few seasons, but this time around they take a high school arm in Allan. Scouts love his curveball and his fastball, but if he falls far, he may be heading to college rather than the pros.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks- Brett Baty, Third Baseman, Lake Travis HS (Texas): Baty is somebody with tremendous upside and possibly could go higher than this. Some scouts believe he's the best high school hitter and not Riley Greene as he's also shown to hit for average and power. There are teams that won't touch him in the first round because of his age while others don't think he'll last 20 picks.

17. Washington Nationals- Josh Jung, Third Baseman, Texas Tech: Jung is somebody that was thought out to be a top ten or even top five pick prior to this season. He's having a down season, but is still producing solid numbers and he's worth a first round choice due to his past success.

18. Pittsburgh Pirates- Brennan Malone, RHP, IMG Academy (Florida): The Pirates could go in a number of directions here whether that could be a high school or a college position player, but here I have them taking a fast riser in Malone. Malone is somebody that displays four good pitches and I wouldn't rule out him going in the top ten.

19. St. Louis Cardinals- George Kirby, RHP, Elon: The lack of college arms that are first round worthy will push guys like Kirby up the draft boards. He is someone that is a great strike thrower and he lead the country in strikeout-walk ratio to back it up.

20. Seattle Mariners- Quinn Priester, RHP, Cary-Grove HS (Illinois): After having college position players mocked in this spot, I have the Mariners going with the high school arm in Priester. He is somebody that is one of the fastest risers of the spring and has a great curveball.

21. Atlanta Braves- Logan Davidson, Shortstop, Clemson: There is a lot of buzz surrounding the Braves and Davidson of late to the fact this could indeed be the choice here. He is a switch-hitting shortstop that plays good defense and runs the bases well too.

22. Tampa Bay Rays- Keoni Cavaco, Third Baseman, Eastlake HS (California): Cavaco is one of the drafts fastest risers as the draft is less than a week away. He has huge raw power and a strong defensive profile at the hot corner.

23. Colorado Rockies- Will Wilson, Shortstop/Second Baseman, North Carolina State: Wilson is solid across the board, with a nice swing, decent pop and the arm and quickness to potentially land at short long-term. He has below-average speed, which means he may wind up at second, but he’ll likely hit.

24. Cleveland Indians- Michael Busch, First Baseman/Outfielder, North Carolina: Busch is someone that is very polished and mature as a hitter, but he doesn't have a clear position. He hits for a ton of power and many folks he's a first baseman long term.

25. Los Angeles Dodgers- Gunnar Henderson, Shortstop, John T. Morgan Academy (Alabama): Henderson is someone who's stock is rising to the point that he's in the conversation for best shortstop in the draft. He can hit at a high rate and has some power that has emerged this year.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks (compensation pick)- Daniel Espino, RHP, Georgia Premier Academy: With the second of two first round picks, the Diamondbacks go with a high school righty with a ton of upside in Espino. He offers plenty of good pitches and has big velocity and spin rate.

27. Chicago Cubs- Kody Hoese, Third Baseman, Tulane: The Cubs would love a college arm to fall to them, but they settle here on Hoese. He made some swing changes in summer ball last year that unlocked his natural strength and turned him into a big time power threat.

28. Milwaukee Brewers- Tyler Callihan, Third Baseman, Providence HS (Florida): Callihan profiles similar to Brett Bady due to his being old for the high school class. He is someone else that's worth a first round pick due to the fact he can flat out hit.

29. Oakland Athletics- Greg Jones, Shortstop, UNC Wilmington: Here's another possibility that is gaining momentum. Jones is a player that is among the fastest in the draft and he has intriguing offensive upside.

30. New York Yankees- Kameron Misner, Outfielder, Missouri: Misner is the college prospect with the best tools package among college position players. He has a good lefty swing and significant power potential, plus he draws praise for his makeup and worth ethic, but there are lingering concerns about his ability to make consistent contact at the upper levels.

31. Los Angeles Dodgers (compensation pick)- Braden Shewmake, Shortstop, Texas A&M: The Dodgers decide to go with the college position player in Shewmake. He's a grinder whose whole is greater than the sum of the parts and has outstanding hand-eye coordination and rarely strikes out, and he'll pepper the ball to all fields.

32. Houston Astros- Seth Johnson, RHP, Campbell: Johnson was a shortstop without much of a bat before transferring to Campbell, where he was moved to the mound full-time. He needs a lot of work because of his relative inexperience on the mound, but if he has one of the liveliest arms in the draft.