2020 MLB Mock Draft: First Edition

Here is the first edition of my 2020 MLB Mock Draft.

1. Detroit Tigers- Spencer Torkelson, First Baseman/Left Fielder, Arizona State: It seems like Torkelson is the overwhelming favorite to go first overall. Torkelson was one of the most-feared hitter in all of college baseball throughout the last three seasons. There is a chance that he also blows through the minors and is in the bigs sooner than people expect.

2. Baltimore Orioles- Austin Martin, Third Baseman/Center Fielder, Vanderbilt: The Orioles have a tough decision as they can go with Martin or the best pitcher in the draft with Asa Lacy. They go with Martin dazzles with a hit tool that is easily plus, utilizing a swing with natural loft and double plus bat speed.

3. Miami Marlins- Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M: The Marlins are happy with whomever falls to them whether it's Lacy or Austin Martin. Lacy is someone that is equipped with a four pitch mix, two of which already grade at plus-or-better (fastball and slider) with another (changeup) seemingly on its way.

4. Kansas City Royals- Nick Gonzalez, Second Baseman, New Mexico State: Gonzales is one of the more interesting prospects as we head closer to the draft. Folks are skeptical of him due to putting up great numbers against lesser competition. Some think Gonzales won’t be able to stick at second base long term, but I see his make up and work ethic being able to keep the elite hit tool he carries at the keystone.

5. Toronto Blue Jays- Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia: There's a case to be made that Hancock is the best pitcher in the draft, but he probably is the safest bet in terms of pure starting pitchers. Hancock presents the same four pitch mix as Asa Lacy (fastball, slider, curveball, changeup) with less electricity but more command and polish.

6. Seattle Mariners- Garrett Mitchell, Center Fielder, UCLA: The Mariners could go in a numerous different directions here. Mitchell is a game-changer with a truly-elite speed tool, Mitchell is capable of making a legitimate impact on the bases while also being a plus defender in center field.

7. Pittsburgh Pirates- Zac Veen, Outfielder, Spruce Creek HS (FL): The Pirates could go in a number of directions here depending on how the board falls. Here I have them taking perhaps the best high school prospect in the draft in Veen, who has tremendous upside. His vision at the plate looks advanced well beyond his age and allows his violent swing to barrel up balls with ease, leading to the hit tool grading at average while projecting better at peak. 

8. San Diego Padres- Max Meyer, LHP, Minnesota: The Padres are a bit of a wild card here with the eighth pick. Here I have them playing it safe and going with the college pitcher in Meyer. A former closer who only started 15 games while at Minnesota presents certain reliever risk due to size and durability concerns, but the question marks are overshadowed by the explosive arsenal Meyer brings to the table.

9. Colorado Rockies- Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville: The Rockies have to be thrilled with Detmers falling to them at this spot. The curveball is unspeakably good when it’s on, and that’s all of the time. He pounds the strike zone great and is great at getting swings and misses. He'd instantly become the best pitcher in the Rockies farm system.

10. Los Angeles Angels- Patrick Bailey, Catcher, NC State: The Angels could go in a number of directions here with their selection. Here I have them addressing a longterm need at catcher taking the best catcher in the draft with Bailey. He's a switch hitting backstop with solid tools in front and Bailey brings a special combination of the two.

11. Chicago White Sox- Austin Hendrick, Outfielder, West Allegheny HS (PA): The White Sox are another team that is a wild card and their choice is dependent on how the board breaks. Hendrick is a free swinger who gets full extension when he sees a ball he wants leads to some swing and miss concerns, but he does have good hand placement on the bat.

12. Cincinnati Reds- Mike Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (OR): The first top prospect who was hurt by the shortened 2020 season is finally off the board here to Cincinnati. Abel has a great two-pitch combination with his fastball and slider which would add to a stronger pitching side of the Reds farm system that includes Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene.

13. San Francisco Giants- Heston Kjerstad, Outfielder, Arkansas: The Giants could go in a number of directions here. Kjerstad is someone that has a unique, complex left handed swing he brings to the table with double plus raw power who many compare to Philadelphia's Rhys Hoskins.

14. Texas Rangers- Jared Kelley, RHP, Refugio HS (Texas): The Rangers would gladly scoop up the in-state kid here at fourteen. He's hard throwing and has solid command as well as a plus changeup that sits 82-84 to keep hitters uncomfortable at the plate.

15. Philadelphia Phillies- Robert Hassell III, OF, Independence HS (TN): The Phillies have options here with this selection and here I have a talented outfielder falling to them. Hassell may present the best hit tool from any prep in this year’s class, including the guys picked ahead of him. He brings it with a compact left handed swing with plus bat control, allowing him to control the strike zone better than most players his age.

16. Chicago Cubs- Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee: This would be a win for the Cubbies as a very good college arm falls to them here at this spot. Inconsistency and an early season injury is what will probably cost him from going higher than this, but with a plus slider and a developing changeup, the Tennessee product has some of the best raw stuff in this class.

17. Boston Red Sox- Cade Cavalli, RHP, Oklahoma: The Sox are another team that benefits as another solid college arm falls here to seventeen. This could be a risky pick due to the flaws he has and injury issues. What makes him intriguing is his ability to strike guys out and his great fastball and a devastating slider.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks- Ed Howard, Shortstop, Mount Carmel HS (IL): The irony of this projected selection is that the Diamondbacks selected Howard's former teammate Alek Thomas two years ago. Howard's ability to make all the plays necessary to stick at shortstop stands out and can seem to cover ground effortlessly without having a plus speed tool. 

19. New York Mets- Nick Bitsko, RHP, Central Bucks East HS (PA): Many mocks have the Mets selecting a catcher, where they have a surplus in their system. Here I have them taking a high school arm in Bitsko, who is still seventeen years old and he’s just as advanced as any prep arm in the pitch feel department.

20. Milwaukee Brewers- Tyler Sodersrtom, Catcher/Outfielder, Turlock HS (CA): The Brewers have arguably the worst farm system in the league so they have to nail this draft. Sodersrtom is the best prep catcher in this class and is one of the best overall bats in the prep class, showing massive raw power and loud contact from a smooth left-handed swing.

21. St. Louis Cardinals- Pete-Crow Armstrong, Outfielder, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA): This would be the typical Cardinals type of pick as they are thrilled he's still here at twenty one. Armstrong is a prototypical, top-of-the-lineup hitter with the defensive abilities to stick in centerfield.

22. Washington Nationals- Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia: Wilcox is one of the more underrated arms in this class and the Nats would gladly take him here. Wilcox leans on two plus pitches in the fastball and slider, but he is only a sophomore that doesn't have much starting experience.

23. Cleveland Indians- Tanner Burns, RHP, Auburn: Here goes another college arm off the board as the Indians snag one here with Burns. He has three above average pitches with his fastball, curveball, changeup and he throws them with solid command.

24. Tampa Bay Rays- Austin Wells, Catcher/Outfielder, Arizona: The Rays farm system as we know is absolutely loaded and really don't have a need that stands out. Here I have them rolling with Wells, who shows good qualities as a backstop with a big arm and great leadership, but he struggles with breaking balls and doesn’t move particularly well.

25. Atlanta Braves- Chris McMahon, RHP, Miami: The Braves are another team that's in good shape in terms of it's farm system. Here I have them taking the polished righty in McMahon, who flashes an exciting three pitch mix that all possess above-average-or-better qualities.

26. Oakland Athletics- Dylan Crews, Outfielder, Lake Mary HS (FL): Crews is another one of these intriguing high school prospects that have high upside. He has lightning-quick hands allow him to show plus raw power from the right side of the plate.

27. Minnesota Twins- Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP, South Carolina: The Twins have options, but they go with a fascinating pitching prospect in Mlodzinski, who looked amazing in the Cape Cod league, but spotty versus better competition. He has shown flashes with a few good pitches in college, but this is what makes him a wild card in the draft.

28. New York Yankees- Daniel Cabrera, Outfielder, LSU: The Yankees are in an interesting spot since their farm system isn't what it was three-four years ago. Here they go with Cabrera, who doesn’t blow you away in any facet of his game, but his hit tool could reach plus at peak, and you can’t find anything within the profile that grades worse than average.

29. Los Angeles Dodgers- Jordan Westburg, Third Baseman/Shortstop, Mississippi State: The Dodgers are in excellent shape farm system wise so they can go in any direction they'd like. Westburg is super versatile and possesses above average power and speed, with a decent shot to stick at shortstop defensively to boot.