2020 MLB Mock Draft: Third Edition

Here is the third 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- Zac Veen, Outfielder, Spruce Creek HS (FL): The Royals go with the fast rising prep school prospect here with Veen. Many believe he's the best high school player in the draft and 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.

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- Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville: This would be a great selection for the Mariners as they could use more young pitching in their farm system. 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.

7. Pittsburgh Pirates- 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.

8. San Diego Padres- Robert Hassell III, OF, Independence HS (TN): The Padres are in good shape in terms of their farm system, so they can conceivably go in any direction they'd like. Hassell is someone flying up draft boards due to his pure hitting ability and his bat control.

9. Colorado Rockies- Patrick Bailey, Catcher, NC State: The Rockies could go in a number of directions here with their selection. Bailey is a defense first catcher who's shown great athleticism and a switch hitter that's shown power on both sides with solid tools in front and Bailey brings a special combination of the two.

10. Los Angeles Angels- Max Meyer, LHP, Minnesota: The Angels land a possible steal here with 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.

11. Chicago White Sox- Heston Kjerstad, Outfielder, Arkansas: The White Sox are a team that's a bit of an unknown in terms of what direction they'll likely go, but here I have them taking the talented college outfielder with Kjerstad. He 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.

12. Cincinnati Reds- Austin Hendrick, Outfielder, West Allegheny HS (PA): Hendrick is one of the fast rising prospects as the draft is a week away. Hendrick is perhaps the best power hitting prep player in this draft although there are concerns due to a high number of strikeouts.

13. San Francisco Giants- Cade Cavalli, RHP, Oklahoma: The Giants are an interesting team here with this selection. Cavalli was the ace of the Sooners's staff who people are mixed about. 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.

14. Texas Rangers- Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee: This would be a win for the Rangers as they land a very good college arm with this selection. 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.

15. Philadelphia Phillies- Nick Bitsko, RHP, Central Bucks East HS (PA): This pick would make sense for the Phillies, who could use some young arms in their system and this is a local kid as well. Bitsko is someone that can drop out of the first round due to the lack of information due to the shortened season, but he is just as advanced as any prep arm in the pitch feel department.

16. Chicago Cubs- Mike Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (OR): Another top prospect who was hurt by the shortened 2020 season is off the board here to the Cubs. The righty has a clean, fluid delivery that offers projection and the potential for him to have three above-average pitches. He has all the makings of being a top-of-the-rotation arm.

17. Boston Red Sox- Garrett Mitchell, Center Fielder, UCLA: Mitchell is a prospect that is dropping in a lot of mock drafts. He is a great athlete and generates a ton of power and speed, but there is risk due to his swing and miss concerns and due to his Type-1 diabetes.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks- Pete-Crow Armstrong, Outfielder, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA): The Diamondbacks go with an upside play here with Armstrong, who could go higher than this. The left-handed-hitting center fielder has five-tool potential and is a prototypical, top-of-the-lineup hitter with the defensive abilities to stick in centerfield.

19. New York Mets- Tanner Burns, RHP, Auburn: The Mets go with the talented college arm in Burns here. He has three above average pitches with his fastball, curveball, changeup and he throws them with solid command. Burns also has great pitching history in the SEC, which matters to a lot of scouts.

20. Milwaukee Brewers- Clayton Beeter, RHP, Texas Tech: The Brewers have perhaps the worst farm system in baseball and they need to nail this pick. Beeter is rising up draft boards due to his big velocity on the fastball and great spin on the out-pitch curveball.

21. St. Louis Cardinals- Ed Howard, Shortstop, Mount Carmel HS (IL): The Cardinals could go in a number of directions here with the selection. Here I have them snagging the talented prep shortstop in Howard, who has 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.

22. Washington Nationals- JT Ginn, RHP, Mississippi State: Ginn was someone that was drafted a few years ago, but opted to go back to school. Blowing out his elbow and getting Tommy John Surgery is what perhaps cost Ginn to go in the top 10. The Nationals are a team that has a history of taking players with risks, so they continue that track record here.

23. Cleveland Indians- Jared Kelley, RHP, Refugio HS (Texas): The Indians get themselves a steal here with the prep arm in Kelley, who many people think can go in the top fifteen. Many people project Kelley to be a front-line starter and has confidence in his swing-and-miss changeup and displays potential with his slider.

24. Tampa Bay Rays- Nick Loftin, Shortstop, Baylor: The Rays are in great shape farm system wise so they can go in any direction they'd like. Loftin is someone a lot of people feel will go higher than this due to his bat-to-ball skills and his ability to stay up the middle defensively.

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- Justin Foscue, Second Baseman, Mississippi State: The Athletics are a team that loves taking college players and here I have them taking one with Foscue. He is someone that has a chance to be an impact hitter, but he is limited defensively.

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- Austin Wells, Catcher/Outfielder, Arizona: The Yankees have been linked to college bats this draft season and here I have them snagging a versatile one in Wells. He 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.

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.