2021 MLB Mock Draft: Second Edition

Here is the second edition of my 2021 MLB Mock Draft. The draft will be held the during All-Star Week.

1. Pittsburgh Pirates- Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS (CA)- This time around the consensus seems to think that Mayer is the guy here for the Buccos. Mayer is not a perfect player, but he's somebody that does just about everything right.

2. Texas Rangers- Jordan Lawler, RHP/SS, Jesuit Prep HS (TX)- The thought here is that Lawler will be drafted as a shortstop rather than a pitcher, despite the two-way talent. There are some folks comparing him to Carlos Correa about the way he plays.

3. Detroit Tigers- Brady House, SS/3B, Winder-Barrow HS (GA): The Tigers go with a talented left infielder here with House. He has a fabulous arm as folks have compared him to the likes of Nolan Arenado and Josh Donaldson and some feel is a star in the making.

4. Boston Red Sox- Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt: One pick later, Vanderbilt has another talented pitcher drafted, this time being Jack Leiter, the son of former MLB pitcher Al. You can make a case that Leiter is the better of the two Vandy pitchers and has a shot to go first in this draft.

5. Baltimore Orioles- Sal Frelick, Outfielder, Boston College: This would be a solid pick for the Orioles as they don't have a ton of college position players in their farm system. Frelick is somebody who has a ton of pop, but is short.

6. Arizona Diamondbacks- Henry Davis, Catcher, Louisville: The first college position player off the board is here with Davis, who really took his game a whole other level this past season. The Diamondbacks are a team that could be heading for a rebuild and snagging a potential franchise catcher here.

7. Kansas City Royals- Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt: The Royals have been going pitching heavy in recent drafts, and here I have them going with a talented pitcher in Rocker. He was drafted a few years ago out of high school, but decided to go to college and that decision surely paid off as he's slated to go at the top of the first round.

8. Colorado Rockies- Khalil Watson, SS, Wake Forest HS (NC): The Rockies go with a possible need pick here with the possibility of Trevor Story getting traded. Watson is somebody that is a great hitter with a ton of power and has a chance to go higher than this.

9. Los Angeles Angels- Jackson Jobe, RHP, Heritage Hall HS (OK): Jobe is someone that went from showing flashes to becoming the best prep pitcher in this draft class. The Angels lack some prep pitching in the farm system and Jobe would be a nice fit.

10. New York Mets- Matt McLain, SS, UCLA: This would be a solid pick by the Mets, who could use a college position player in their system. McLain has a solid bat and has some speed, but does not hit for much power, similar to the Angels's David Fletcher.

11. Washington Nationals- Sam Bachman, RHP, Miami (OH): The Nationals system could use college arms and Bachman would be a nice pick here. He is someone that could fly through the minors and could end up in the big leagues sooner rather than later and if it doesn't work out as a starter, he could be an elite reliever.

12. Seattle Mariners- Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land HS (PA): The Mariners are a team that's usually a wild card with draft picks. I can see the Mariners going in this direction with a wild card player in Montgomery, who's super athletic and has a lot of power.

13. Philadelphia Phillies- Harry Ford, C, North Cobb (GA): The Phillies do have JT Realmuto locked up another couple seasons, so I can see a world where they think long term with this pick. Ford has tremendous offensive upside and is a good athlete.

14. San Francisco Giants- Ty Madden, RHP, Texas: The Giants have some options here with this pick and here I have them going with a college arm in Madden. The team has some nice arms in their system, but a lot of their current rotation arms are veterans who may not be around for much longer.

15. Milwaukee Brewers- Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State: I really would like this pick for the Brewers, who can use college arms in their system. Wicks has a solid pitch selection, throws for solid speeds, and is an innings eater.

16. Miami Marlins- Will Taylor, OF, Dutch Fork HS (SC): The Marlins apparently want a college player here, but Taylor here would be interesting. His athleticism may be too good to pass up here.

17. Cincinnati Reds- Gunnar Hogland, RHP, Ole Miss: This would be a nice pick for the Reds here. Hogland recently had Tommy John surgery and if it weren't for that, he would have had a quick path to the majors and would have certainly gone higher in this draft.

18. St. Louis Cardinals- Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Ocenee HS (GA): The Cardinals are supposedly looking at pitching for this pick and here they take a two-way talent in Chandler. There is some uncertainty whether Chandler is better off as a shortstop or a pitcher, but Shohei Ohtani is proving that it's conceivable to do both.

19. Toronto Blue Jays- Anthony Del Castillo, Catcher, Miami: This pick may surprise some folks as the Jays tend to go with prep guys. Del Castillo has some big power and a disciplined approach.

20. New York Yankees- Colton Cowser, Outfielder, Sam Houston: Cowser is somebody who has really nice potential and would be a nice fit with the Yanks, who could use college bats. Cowser has a nice lefty swing, but no one is sure what outfield spot he'll turn out to be.

21. Chicago Cubs- Michael McGreevy, RHP, UC Santa Barbara: The Cubs have some choices here and the first mock here I have them going with a talented college arm in McGreevy. He is someone that really broke through this past season due to his stuff and pitchability.

22. Chicago White Sox- Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland Regional HS (NJ): The White Sox are a team that loves taking college players and here they go the opposite. Petty has three pitches that are great and has potential to reach triple digit with his pitches. He would make for a tremendous possible closer down the road.

23. Cleveland Indians- Joshua Baez, Outfielder, Dexter Southfield HS (MA): This time around, I have the Indians going with a prep bat in Baez. High risks, high reward picks don't always play out, but his tools and makeup is what can make it work.

24. Atlanta Braves- Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christina HS (FL): Painter is somebody that many are struggling to place in mocks whether it's in the low teens or low-mid twenties. He is one of the better athletes in terms of pitchers in this draft and he could be a boom or bust prospect.

25. Oakland Athletics- Trey Sweeney, Shortstop, Eastern Illinois: The Athletics love taking college bats and here I have them taking another one in Sweeney. They do have other options, but Sweeney is a classic A's type of prospect that has a lot of great qualities and aspects about him.

26. Minnesota Twins- Joe Mack, C, Williamsville East HS (NY): This is my favorite name of the draft, but as we know that means zero when it comes to projecting and analyzing. Mack is somebody that is a great two-way catcher, but there is a chance he doesn't sign if he's not picked in the first round. Some people have compared Mack to Joe Mauer.

27. San Diego Padres- Frank Mozzicato, RHP, East Catholic HS (CT): The Padres are pretty much stacked in their farm system sans graduating some big names recently and being a contender now. Mozzicato is somebody with an interesting arsenal and has different speeds for his pitches.

28. Tampa Bay Rays- Gavin Williams, RHP, East Carolina: The Rays have some choices here and this second mock draft I chose Williams for them. His improvements of his control and his quality of the breaking ball are encouraging, but health issues could cause a drop.

29. Los Angeles Dodgers- Ryan Cusick, RHP, Wake Forest: The Dodgers love to take college players and here I have them going with a college pitcher in Cusick. This is a high risk pick due to some inconsistencies, but can occasionally hit triple digits when he pitches.

2021 NHL Mock Draft: First Edition

Here is my first edition of my 2021 NHL Draft.

1. Buffalo Sabres- Owen Power, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): Power is the consensus choice among experts and people around the league to go first overall. The Sabres here with the first overall pick for the second time in four years get another top pair defenseman  to go with Rasmus Dahlin for the future.

2. Seattle Kraken- Matthew Beniers, Center, Michigan (NCAA): The second overall pick here I have being yet another Michigan Wolverine product, this time the center in Beniers. He stood out in his first college season, being a point per game player and he is someone that is a good skater.

3. Anaheim Ducks- Dylan Guenther, Right Wing, Edmonton (WHL): The Ducks need some youth injected into their organization so they have a lot of choices here. Guenther was a points machine in the WHL and he has the ability to shoot from anywhere and that's what makes him dynamic.

4. New Jersey Devils- Brandt Clarke, Defenseman, Barrie (OHL): The Devils should go defense here due to the fact they do have some dynamic young forwards that already on the upswing. Clarke is somebody that is a great two-way player who is very careful with the way he plays.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets- Simon Edvinsson, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): This pick would make a ton of sense for the Blue Jackets, who might be targeting this position due to a possible departure of Seth Jones. Edvinsson's game is reminiscent of Jones's due to his mobility and ability to create chances for himself and teammates.

6. Detroit Red Wings- Jesper Wallstedt, Goaltender, Lulea (SWE): The Red Wings are in dire need of a goalie of the future and Wallstedt has potential to be one. He has the calmness and control to be a successful goalie in the league and he tracks pucks very well.

7. San Jose Sharks- William Eklund, Center, Djurgardens (SWE): The Sharks are a team that needs an injection of youth in the worst way. Eklund is somebody that has top-offensive skills, has shown some physicality, and does some of the little things that teams like.

8. Los Angeles Kings- Luke Hughes, Defenseman, USA-U18 (USHL): Getting Hughes at 8th overall would be a huge steal for the Kings. Many people have compared Hughes to his brother Quinn due to his skating ability and getting the puck in the right spots.

9. Vancouver Canucks- Kent Johnson, Center, Michigan (NCAA): The third Michigan player goes off the board here with Johnson, who would be a nice fit with the Canucks. He is a solid playmaker and has shown versatility as well as his puck carrying ability.

10. Ottawa Senators- Matthew Coronato, Right Wing, Chicago (USHL): The Senators here go with Coronato to add to their young forward collection. Coronato is somebody that is a dominant offensive force with the puck, has a physical approach, and is a strong skater.

11. Chicago Blackhawks- Carson Lambos, Defenseman, Winnipeg (WHL): The Blackhawks have options here with this selection and here I have them selecting Lambos. He is a two-way defenseman that has good patience in the defensive zone and in transition.

12. Calgary Flames- Fabian Lysell, Left Wing, Lulea (SWE): The Flames can go anywhere with this selection and here I have them selecting the talented forward in Lysell. He has shown good craft in his game and has great speed and skill as well.

13. Philadelphia Flyers- Mason McTravish, Center, Peterborough (OHL): The Flyers have a lot of promising youth in their organization and here I have them going with the center in McTravish. He has the feistiness that teams like and has shown strength in battles along the boards.

14. Dallas Stars- Corson Ceulemans, Defenseman, Brooks (AJHL): The Stars are a team that should be targeting defense in this round. Ceulemans is someone that is an outstanding skater who can lead rushes into offensive zones in transition and also has good mobility.

15. New York Rangers- Brennan Othmann, Left Wing, Flint (OHL): The Rangers have one of the most promising young group of talent in the entire league and they add another young gun in Othmann. He is a two-way player that has a lot of physicality in his game and this is what the young Rangers can use.

16. St. Louis Blues- Isak Rosen, Left Wing/Right Wing, Leksands (SHL): The Blues are a team that needs some scoring with David Perron being a free agent and Vladimir Tarasenko having shoulder issues. Rosen lacks the size, but is an offensive force.

17. Nashville Predators- Cole Sillinger, Center, Sioux Falls (USHL): The Predators are a team that could use some young blood and here I have them picking Sillinger. He has a strong offensive presence and has strong playmaking abilities.

18. Edmonton Oilers- Sebastian Cossa, Goaltender, Edmonton (WHL): Goaltending has been a major long-term issue for the Oilers for sometime now and here I have them taking the in-town kid in Cossa. He has excellent size and athleticism to be a starting goalie in the league.

19. Minnesota Wild- Simon Robertsson, Right Wing, Skellefta (J20): The Wild are coming off a successful season and I have them adding a nice and talented wing in Robertsson. He is someone that is capable of being in a top six and has excellent vision for the game.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto Maple Leafs)- Aatu Raty, Center, Karpat (Liiga): Karpat was someone that a while ago was thought out to be in play for the number one overall pick, but his stock plummeted due to underperforming this past season. Raty has promising offensive abilities and is a good skater.

21. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington Capitals)- Sasha Pastujov, Left Wing, USNTDP (USHL): With their second first rounder, the Red Wings take the winger in Pastujov. He is one of the most patient players in the class, with an ability to show up clutch in games.

22. Minnesota Wild (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Daniil Chayka, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): With their second first rounder, the Wild get more defense depth for their organization with Chayka. He is a reliable, two-way defender with a long reach.

23. Florida Panthers- Xavier Bourgault, Center, Shawinigan (QMJHL): The Panthers have some choices here and this mock I have them taking the talented center in Bourgault. He is an offensive presence that is fearless in his drive to the high-danger areas. 

24. Winnipeg Jets- Carson Lambos, Defenseman, Winnipeg (WHL): The Jets go with the in-city kid here with Lambos with their selection. Due to a leg injury, his stock plummeted so if he gets back to that level or close, this pick could be a steal.

25. Boston Bruins- Zachary L'Heureux, Center/Left Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Bruins have choices here and this pick I have them taking L'Heureux. He has high-end offensive skill in his finishing ability and has a knack for getting under an opponent’s skin.

26. Carolina Hurricanes- Logan Stankoven, Center/Right Wing, Kamloops (WHL): The Hurricanes are just picking for value and depth at this point as they pose on the leagues best rosters. One of the most competitive players in the class, Stankoven plays hard every shift and makes up for his size with great skating ability and an excellent shot.

27. Colorado Avalanche- Oskar Olausson, Right Wing, HV71 (SHL): The Avalanche are coming off a disappointing playoff series loss against the Vegas Golden Knights and they can use some more depth. Olausson is a confident player that has some speed in his game, both in his feet and hands.

28. Montreal Canadiens- Chaz Lucius, Center, USNTDP (USHL): The Canadiens are in the midst of a magical run to the Stanley Cup Semifinals, but this team still needs help. Lucius has the ability to get to the high-danger areas is impressive, and his shot is high-end.

29. New Jersey Devils (from New York Islanders)- Zachary Bolduc, Center, Rimouski (QMJHL): The Devils go offense with their second first rounder as they go with Bolduc. He has the speed and "hockey smarts" that would have teams excited.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Samu Tuomaala, Right Wing, Karpat (Liiga): With their third first rounder, the Jackets go with Tuomaala. He brings a ton of energy that the fans always enjoy and is a fast player.

31. Vegas Golden Knights- Benjamin Gaudreau, Goaltender, Sarnia (OHL): The Golden Knights here go with the possible heir-apparent to Marc-Andre Fleury with Gaudreau. He played at an advanced level in the U18 worlds leading the Canadian team to the gold metal and that shows that he could be a quality starter in the league.

2021 NBA Mock Draft: First Edition

 Here is my first edition of my 2021 NBA Mock Draft.

1. Houston Rockets- Cade Cunningham, Point Guard, Oklahoma State: Although it's not a guarantee that the Rockets will be picking first overall, but Cunningham would be the guy for the Rockets if they were to pick first. Cunningham's playmaking is something that should translate into the NBA and he has the "it factor" teams look for in players.

2. Detroit Pistons- Evan Mobley, Center, USC: Mobley was outstanding this past season for the Trojans and had some folks talking about whether he should be considered to go first over Cunningham. The Pistons have needs everywhere on their roster and Mobley has great size and is great around the rim as well.

3. Orlando Magic- Jalen Suggs, Point Guard, Gonzaga: The Magic are heading for a full rebuild here and they would be lucky if they were to land in the top three in the lottery and really could use that. Suggs will forever be known for the big shot against UCLA, but outside of that he's notorious for great decision making and has great poise.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder- Jalen Green, Shooting Guard, G-League/USA: The Thunder are still in a long-term rebuild and here I have them taking Green, but it also brings an interesting scenario since they already have Shae Gilgeous-Alexander. Green is an elite scorer and has good playmaking abilities as well.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers- Jordan Kuminga, Small Forward, G-League/Congo: The Cavaliers need help on the wing and Kuminga would be a solid choice. Despite being oversized for a wing, he is someone that put up solid numbers in the G-league, despite not having a great shot.

6. Golden State Warriors (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Scottie Barnes, Small Forward, Florida State: Courtesy of the D'Angelo Russell trade, there's a good chance the Warriors end up with another lottery pick. Barnes is somebody that would be a good fit for the Warriors and has good defensive abilities although he does not shoot the ball very well.

7. Toronto Raptors- Davion Mitchell, Point Guard, Baylor: The Raptors have not been in the lottery in eight years and here I have them selecting Mitchell, the brother of Donovan. Kyle Lowry may depart as a free agent so it would makes sense for them to go with a point guard that could be their point guard of the future, who is a great defender, passer, and can shoot open shots.

8. Orlando Magic (from Chicago Bulls)- Isaiah Jackson, Power Forward, Kentucky: Courtesy of the Nikola Vusevic trade, the Magic get another pick in the lottery and this one they go with Jackson. He is a great athlete with some good abilities on the defensive side of the floor and he and Jalen Suggs would be a nice duo to come away with if that would be the case.

9. Sacramento Kings- Moses Moody, Shooting Guard, Arkansas: This pick would be interesting due to the fact that the Kings already have a crowded backcourt to begin with. Moody's perimeter defense is outstanding and has a nice mid range jumper as well.

10. New Orleans Pelicans- Corey Kispert, Shooting Guard, Gonzaga: The Pelicans should look more at guard options than forward/big options due to their current roster construction. Kispert is somebody that could develop into a solid three-and-D wing that this team currently lacks.

11. Charlotte Hornets- Kai Jones, Power Forward/Center, Texas: The Hornets biggest need lies in the middle and they should prioritize the big men situation this offseason. Jones is somebody that is capable of elite shot blocking and can space the floor well, which fits what the Hornets are looking for.

12. San Antonio Spurs- James Bouknight, Shooting Guard, Connecticut: Bouknight falling this far some may consider a steal. Bouknight screams a classic Spurs guy, who can score in a variety of ways and could end up adding more to his game as well sans the team being loaded with guards.

13. Indiana Pacers- Franz Wagner, Small Forward, Michigan: The Pacers have a lot of talent on their roster and someone like Wagner would only make this team deeper. Wagner is another classic 3-and-D player and would give the Pacers another dimension with their second unit.

14. Golden State Warriors- Jalen Johnson, Small Forward, Duke: Johnson is someone that really didn't pan out as the player the Blue Devils hoped he would be, but maybe he will find it in the pro's. Johnson is a solid passer and has a good frame and teams are seriously banking on potential here.

15. Washington Wizards- Josh Giddey, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Australia: Giddey to me is a huge wild card in this draft due to playing overseas. Giddey is a great play maker, passer, and has excellent court vision, but his defense is not very good.

16. Boston Celtics- Jaden Springer, Point Guard, Tennessee: The Celtics are a team that has not hit on draft picks recently (outside of Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown). Springer is an excellent shooter and is capable of being a starting point guard and this pick would make sense if the team were to move on from Kemba Walker.

17. Memphis Grizzlies- Jared Butler, Point Guard, Baylor: The Grizzlies go with Butler here to be their backup point guard and to give them Ja Morant insurance. Butler can shoot the ball very well and developed a passing game as well.

18. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami Heat)- Alperen Sengun, Center, Besiktas: The Thunder lack young bigs with potential and they get one here with Sengun. He provides a little bit of an old school game with double-double potential and also can protect the rim.

19. New York Knicks- Usman Garuba, Center, Real Madrid: This pick would make sense for the up-and-coming Knicks as they may have a need for a backup big depending on free agency. Garuba has a big wing span and he excels defensively and provides a ton of energy.

20. Atlanta Hawks- Chris Durate, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oregon: This would be the classic Hawks pick- a three-and-D player that is versatile and if he were younger, he'd be picked sooner. Durate can score at all three levels and can defend multiple positions as well.

21. New York Knicks (from Dallas Mavericks)- Tre Mann, Point Guard, Florida: Courtesy of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, the Knicks have an extra first round pick. Mann would be an interesting pick here and he can play both on and off the ball and can shoot it from three.

22. Los Angeles Lakers- Ziaire Williams, Small Forward, Stanford: The Lakers are a team you can make a case has to nail this selection. Williams is somebody that really didn't live up to hype in college, but has defensive upside and is a solid athlete. Williams also played with LeBron's son Bronny so that's a fun subplot here.

23. Houston Rockets (from Portland Trail Blazers)- Josh Christopher, Shooting Guard, Arizona State: The Rockets have a second first rounder courtesy of the Robert Covington trade. Christopher had a great Freshman season on the underachieving Sun Devils and showed an ability to get to the basket a lot.

24. Houston Rockets (from Milwaukee Bucks)- Greg Brown, Power Forward, Texas: The Rockets with their third first rounder go with an upside play with Brown. He wasn't consistent with the Longhorns, but is long and athletic and could learn from current Rocket Christian Wood.

25. Los Angeles Clippers- Johnny Juzang, Shooting Guard, UCLA: Juzang gets to stay home as he goes to the Clippers in my first mock. Juzang helped the Bruins in their surprising run to the Final Four a season ago and he's shown playmaking ability as well as length on defense.

26. Denver Nuggets- Cameron Thomas, Shooting Guard, LSU: The Nuggets need guard depth with Jamal Murray slated to miss the start of next season as he recovers from his torn ACL. Thomas is a basket maker, despite being raw in terms of his outside shot.

27. Brooklyn Nets- Ayo Dosumnu, Shooting Guard, Illinois: This would be a fabulous selection for the contending Nets, who can use some depth on their bench. Dosumnu facilitated in all ways of the game and would be a solid backup for Kyrie Irving.

28. Philadelphia 76ers- Sharife Cooper, Point Guard, Auburn: Cooper is a really good player, but I'm not sure if the 76ers are the team for him due to them being somewhat guard heavy from a bench standpoint. Cooper is outstanding at creating shots not just for himself, but for his teammates.

29. Phoenix Suns- Joel Ayayi, Shooting Guard, Gonzaga: The Suns are pretty much deep all over their roster so the point here is to get a good depth piece. Ayayi was an unsung hero on Gonzaga's near perfect season run and has good length and shooting ability.

30. Utah Jazz- Charles Bassey, Center, Western Kentucky: Bassey is somebody that was not always given the attention due to where he played and the fact he was injured his Sophomore season before dominating as a Junior. He is an outstanding defender in the middle and does a lot to impact the game.

2021 MLB Mock Draft: First Edition

Here is the first edition of my 2021 MLB Mock Draft. The draft will be held the during All-Star Week.

1. Pittsburgh Pirates- Jordan Lawler, RHP/SS, Jesuit Prep HS (TX)- The Pirates have some options here with this selection and here I have them taking the two-way talent in Lawler, who is likely to be drafted as a shortstop. His bat and shortstop play has folks comparing him to Carlos Correa, but his game isn't perfect, but he does just about everything right.

2. Texas Rangers- Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS (CA)- This would be a great pick for the Rangers considering that they have a need for infielders in their system and the fact Mayer is in play to go first. Mayer, like Lawler, does everything right, but nothing really elite, although there is raw power he provides.

3. Detroit Tigers- Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt: The Tigers have a ton of options here, and here I have them going with a talented pitcher in Rocker. He was drafted a few years ago out of high school, but decided to go to college and that decision surely paid off as he's slated to go at the top of the first round.

4. Boston Red Sox- Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt: One pick later, Vanderbilt has another talented pitcher drafted, this time being Jack Leiter, the son of former MLB pitcher Al. You can make a case that Leiter is the better of the two Vandy pitchers and has a shot to go first in this draft.

5. Baltimore Orioles- Brady House, SS/3B, Winder-Barrow HS (GA): The O's go with a talented left infielder here with House. He has a fabulous arm as folks have compared him to the likes of Nolan Arenado and Josh Donaldson and some feel is a star in the making.

6. Arizona Diamondbacks- Henry Davis, Catcher, Louisville: The first college position player off the board is here with Davis, who really took his game a whole other level this past season. The Diamondbacks are a team that could be heading for a rebuild and snagging a potential franchise catcher here.

7. Kansas City Royals- Khalil Watson, SS, Wake Forest HS (NC): The Royals are a team that is in good shape in terms of young shortstops in their organization. Watson is somebody that is a great hitter with a ton of power and has a chance to go higher than this.

8. Colorado Rockies- Jackson Jobe, RHP, Heritage Hall HS (OK): Jobe is someone that went from showing flashes to becoming the best prep pitcher in this draft class. The Rockies should prioritize pitching in this draft due to a lack of pitching in the farm system and Jobe would be a nice fit.

9. Los Angeles Angels- Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land HS (PA): The Angels are a team that likes to go with college players or safe bets, but here I have them going in a different direction with Montgomery. I can see the Angels talking themselves into going in this direction and adding him to a system full of outfielders.

10. New York Mets- Sal Frelick, Outfielder, Boston College: This would be a solid pick for the Mets as they lack college position players in their farm system. Frelick is somebody who has a ton of pop, but is short. Would this make up for trading away Jarred Kelenic? Probably not, but Frelick certainly is a great talent.

11. Washington Nationals- Ty Madden, RHP, Texas: The Nationals have some options here with this pick and here I have them going with a college arm in Madden. Max Scherzer is a free agent at the end of the season (or they could trade him) and Stephen Strasburg is always injured so this pick makes sense from a future standpoint.

12. Seattle Mariners- Matt McLain, SS, UCLA: This would be a solid pick by the Mariners, who could use a player like McLain in their farm system. McLain has a solid bat and has some speed, but does not hit for much power, similar to the Angels's David Fletcher.

13. Philadelphia Phillies- Colton Cowser, Outfielder, Sam Houston: Cowser is somebody who has really nice potential and would be a nice fit with the Phillies, who could use college bats. Cowser has a nice lefty swing, but no one is sure what outfield spot he'll turn out to be.

14. San Francisco Giants- Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State: I really would like this pick for the Giants, who lack college arms in their system and a lot of their current rotation arms are older. Wicks has a solid pitch selection, throws for solid speeds, and is an innings eater.

15. Milwaukee Brewers- Gunnar Hogland, RHP, Ole Miss: This would be a nice pick for the Brew Crew here. Hogland recently had Tommy John surgery and if it weren't for that, he would have had a quick path to the majors and would have certainly gone higher in this draft.

16. Miami Marlins- Joshua Baez, Outfielder, Dexter Southfield HS (MA): The Marlins are a team that is not afraid to take prep bats and here I have them going with another one in Baez. High risks, high reward picks don't always play out, but his tools and makeup is what can make it work.

17. Cincinnati Reds- Jud Fabian, Outfielder, Florida: Fabian is somebody that has been considered a top fifteen guy in the draft, but his stock has fallen due to striking out a ton. The case for him going higher is his ability to hit all fields and his maturity at the plate.

18. St. Louis Cardinals- Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Ocenee HS (GA): The Cardinals are supposedly looking at pitching for this pick and here they take a two-way talent in Chandler. There is some uncertainty whether Chandler is better off as a shortstop or a pitcher, but Shohei Ohtani is proving that it's conceivable to do both.

19. Toronto Blue Jays- Gavin Williams, RHP, East Carolina: The Blue Jays have some choices here and this first mock draft I chose Williams for them. His stock has risen due to his improvements of his control and his quality of the breaking ball, but health issues could cause a drop.

20. New York Yankees- Harry Ford, C, North Cobb (GA): What makes me skeptical about this being the selection is that the Yankees have a ton of catchers in their farm system as is. Ford is someone that has great bat speed and is a superb athlete to the point that he could go higher than this.

21. Chicago Cubs- Sam Bachman, RHP, Miami (OH): The Cubs system lacks college arms and Bachman would be a nice pick here. He is someone that could fly through the minors and could end up in the big leagues sooner rather than later and if it doesn't work out as a starter, he could be an elite reliever.

22. Chicago Whtie Sox- Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christina HS (FL): Painter is somebody that many are struggling to place in mocks whether it's in the low teens or low twenties. He is one of the better athletes in terms of pitchers in this draft and he could be a boom or bust prospect.

23. Cleveland Indians- Michael McGreevy, RHP, UC Santa Barbara: The Indians have some choices here and the first mock here I have them going with a talented college arm in McGreevy. He is someone that really broke through this past season due to his stuff and pitchability.

24. Atlanta Braves- Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland Regional HS (NJ): The Braves are a team that loves taking prep players and here the trend continues. Petty has three pitches that are great and has potential to reach triple digit with his pitches. He would make for a tremendous possible closer down the road.

25. Oakland Athletics- Ryan Cusick, RHP, Wake Forest: The Athletics love to take college players and here I have them going with a college pitcher in Cusick. This is a high risk pick due to some inconsistencies, but can occasionally hit triple digits when he pitches.

26. Minnesota Twins- Joe Mack, C, Williamsville East HS (NY): This is my favorite name of the draft, but as we know that means zero when it comes to projecting and analyzing. Mack is somebody that is a great two-way catcher, but there is a chance he doesn't sign if he's not picked in the first round. Some people have compared Mack to Joe Mauer.

27. San Diego Padres- Frank Mozzicato, RHP, East Catholic HS (CT): The Padres are pretty much stacked in their farm system sans graduating some big names recently and being a contender now. Mozzicato is somebody with an interesting arsenal and has different speeds for his pitches.

28. Tampa Bay Rays- Tommy Mace, RHP, Florida: Like the Padres, the Rays are another team that is stacked in their farm system with some talent graduated (or traded away). Mace is somebody that has a high floor and I think was overlooked in college due to other talented SEC arms.

29. Los Angeles Dodgers- James Wood, OF, IMG Academy (FL): There are a ton of ways the Dodgers can go here and the Dodgers are a team that it would not surprise anyone which direction they went. Wood is somebody that has super raw power and this would be a good fit organizational wise because they tend to teach their players well in the minors.