Post by Bryce-KC on Jan 8, 2021 20:39:56 GMT
Well it's almost here. January 15th is the draft start. The pool is locked in, and the order is ready to go.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WKK1hbh9IuPowaUGO7oF1r4vte-8ZGpy28jevavQw-A/edit#gid=938384816
Here's a Round 1 mock draft & preview.
Pick #1 - Colorado Rockies
3B Spencer Torkelson
MLB Team - Detroit
MLB Draft Slot - 1
"As a right-handed first baseman who can really hit and who wasn't drafted out of high school, Torkelson draws invariable comparisons to Andrew Vaughn, the Cal standout who was the No. 3 pick in the 2019 Draft. A patient hitter who controls at-bats extremely well and draws plenty of walks, Torkelson can drive the ball from foul pole to foul pole and uses the middle of the field when he's at his best. He's able to hit the ball out to all fields, with tremendous loft power to his pull side. He doesn't sell out for that power, but rather gets to it with ease.
Defensively, Torkelson worked hard to improve as a first baseman at ASU and is very comfortable there. The Tigers, however, intend to see what he can do at third base, a position that Torkelson played in high school and one where he’d taken ground balls in fall ball the past couple years. Regardless of where he ultimately lands on the defensive spectrum, it will be Torkelson’s bat that makes him a special player in the big leagues. "
Pick #2 - Minnesota Twins
RHP Max Meyer
MLB Team - Miami
MLB Draft Slot - 3
"Meyer owned the best pitch in the 2020 Draft, a wipeout slider that ranges from 87-91 mph and from which he can add and subtract depth. His four-seam fastball overpowers hitters as well, sitting at 93-97 mph, clocking at 98 in the ninth inning of one start during the spring and topping out at 100. His fading changeup shows flashes of becoming a solid offering as he uses it more often.
Because Meyer is listed at 6 feet tall, there were some questions about whether he could be an impact starter in the big leagues, but he has erased those. Strong and athletic, he has no trouble repeating his fluid delivery or filling the strike zone with quality stuff. He's a dogged competitor who also got regular at-bats in Minnesota's lineup."
Pick #3 - Chicago Cubs
SS Austin Martin
MLB Team - Toronto
MLB Draft Slot - 5
"The best pure hitter in this year's Draft, Martin has outstanding feel for the barrel and effortlessly makes hard contact with a short, quick right-handed stroke. He's not overly physical and may not possess more than average raw power, but his uncanny hitting ability allows him to make the most of it. He controls the strike zone very well and uses the entire field, showing no weaknesses at the plate.
Though Martin is a twitchy athlete with soft hands and quick feet, there are concerns about his arm and questions about where he'll find a defensive home. Though Toronto announced him as a shortstop, he never could win that job at Vanderbilt and throwing issues prompted a move from third base to center field a week into the shortened 2020 season. He could be a solid defender in center and several evaluators think he'll wind up at second base. "
Pick #4 - Toronto Blue Jays
OF Heston Kjerstad
MLB Team - Baltimore
MLB Draft Slot - 2
"Kjerstad's strength and bat speed give him well-above-average raw power to all fields. He has a complicated swing that features a big hand circle in his load, so he has to be precise with his timing to make it work -- but he has done so in college and was the top performer in the U.S. collegiate team's lineup last summer. He's an aggressive hitter who always will accumulate strikeouts as a tradeoff for his pop.
Though Kjerstad records below-average running times out of the batter's box, he displays average speed once he gets going. He's not a threat on the bases but plays a capable right field. His huge power and solid arm strength fit the profile for the position."
Pick #5 - St. Louis Cardinals
SP Asa Lacy
MLB Team - Kansas City
MLB Draft Slot - 84
"Lacy has boosted his fastball from 87-91 mph in high school to 92-97 mph these days and uses his 6-foot-4 frame to create downhill plane, leaving hitters often looking helpless against it. He uses two distinct breaking balls, with his harder slider surpassing his downer curveball during his junior season and becoming a true plus pitch. His changeup features fade and sink, grading as a consistent plus offering and well-above-average at its best.
While there are no questions about the quality of Lacy's pitches, he'll need to improve his command and control to realize his ceiling as a frontline starter. There's some effort in his three-quarters delivery and he can't always harness his overpowering stuff. Even without precise location, he's a left-hander who can elicit swings and misses with four different offerings."
Pick #6 - Houston Astros
OF Robert Hassell
MLB Team - San Diego
MLB Draft Slot - 8
"The best pure hitter in the 2020 high school class, Hassell has a pretty left-handed swing and the hand-eye coordination to repeatedly barrel balls. He's at his best when he focuses on lashing line drives to all fields, but his stroke got too uphill when he made a concerted effort to hunt homers during the middle of the showcase circuit last summer. Scouts debate how much power he'll ultimately produce -- some project solid raw pop and believe he'll tap into most of it, while others see him as more lean than projectable and envision him as a 15-homer guy.
There's also debate about Hassell's profile, with his proponents viewing him as a plus defender who can stick in center field. Other evaluators think his bat and arm are his only above-average attributes and see him landing on an outfield corner. Clocked up to 93 mph on the mound and a legitimate prospect as a pitcher, he definitely has enough arm to play right field."
Pick #7 - Boston Red Sox
SS Nick Gonzales
MLB Team - Pittsburgh
MLB Draft Slot - 7
"The 5-foot-10 middle infielder has as much pure hitting ability as just about any bat in the 2020 class. He does it with a short and compact swing and a ton of bat speed, controlling the bat head extremely well through the strike zone. There's strength in his compact frame, but he might be more of a doubles hitter even though he did homer seven times on the Cape in 154 at-bats with wood. Gonzales has decent speed and is a solid baserunner, and while he played shortstop this spring and was announced at that position, some evaluators don't think he has the arm or range to play shortstop long-term. That does limit him to second base, but he's at least average there defensively.
Gonzales fits the profile well as an offensive-minded second baseman, reminding some of the Brewers' Keston Hiura. There are fewer questions about Gonzales' defense and he might be more athletic than Hiura when all is said and done."
Pick #8 - Arizona Diamondbacks
RHP Emerson Hancock
MLB Team - Seattle
MLB Draft Slot - 6
"Hancock shares a lot in common with Casey Mize, whom Detroit took with the top pick in 2018. They both were Southeastern Conference right-handers with similar builds who pound the strike zone with a deep repertoire and missed some time during their sophomore seasons. His best offering is a fastball that sits at 94-97 mph and peaks at 99 with riding life, and all three of his secondary pitches grade as at least plus at their best.
His go-to breaking ball is a mid-80s slider with which he manipulates the break exceptionally well, and Hancock also has a hard curveball that he relied on more in high school. He hasn't had to use his changeup much but he fades and locates it well, earning some plus-plus grades at times. A quality athlete with good body control, he commands his entire arsenal and should be a frontline starter if he stays healthy."
Pick #9 - Atlanta Braves
LHP Reid Detmers
MLB Team - Los Angeles Angels
MLB Draft Slot - 10
"Detmers is similar to former Louisville star and current Rays standout Brendan McKay, with an almost identical build and slightly less stuff. His fastball usually ranges from 90-94 mph but plays better than its average velocity because hitters don't seem to see it and he commands it so well. His 72-76 mph curveball has good shape and can be a plus pitch at its best, while his sinking changeup is effective as well.
Detmers has a strong, durable frame that helps him repeat his delivery with ease, allowing him to pound the strike zone. His ability to locate his pitches permits him to succeed even when his fastball dips into the upper 80s. His outstanding pitchability and mound presence should allow him to move through the Angels system and reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation type starter quickly."
Pick #10 - Pittsburgh Pirates
OF Zac Veen
MLB Team - Colorado
MLB Draft Slot - 9
"Veen has the kind of left-handed swing that scouts can dream on, all coming from a projectable 6-foot-4 frame that can definitely add strength. He's more hit over power in games with excellent bat speed, especially because he utilizes a spread out stance, but he'll show off big-time power in batting practice when he stands more upright and creates leverage, showing the ability to loft the ball consistently. He's reminded some of Cody Bellinger offensively and has drawn some Kyle Tucker comps as well, though he's not quite as athletic.
A solid average runner underway, Veen played center field in high school, but is probably better suited for a corner spot. He has enough arm to play right, with the power potential to profile there as well."
Pick #11 - Seattle Mariners
OF Austin Hendrick
MLB Team - Cincinnati
MLB Draft Slot - 12
"No one questions Hendrick’s raw pop and he’s tapped into it at times on big stages over the past two summers. He has incredibly quick hands and bat speed, along with leverage and loft, to generate that power from the left side of the plate, but he tinkered with his setup this past summer and there was some concern with the uptick in swing and miss to his game. A very good athlete, Hendrick runs well enough to play center field, but he might profile best in right field, and has the arm strength to fit there as well.
There might always be some swing-and-miss risk with Hendrick, but he has tremendous offensive upside. The Reds have done well in developing hitters, and they could have a middle-of-the-lineup run producer down the road."
Pick #12 - Chicago White Sox
LHP Garrett Crochet
MLB Team - ChiSox
MLB Draft Slot - 11
"After working with a 91-95 mph fastball and topping out at 97 as a sophomore, Crochet boosted his heater to 96-101 mph as a junior and averaged 100.1 mph as a big league reliever. His 82-85 mph slider also features plenty of spin and his long arms create difficult angle on his breaking ball. He shows flashes of a well above-average changeup, throwing it around 90 mph with deceptive arm speed.
The 6-foot-6 Crochet does a nice job of keeping his long levers in sync and providing strikes. His delivery and arm action are conducive to starting, though he'll need to refine his command to work at the front of a rotation. The White Sox rushed him to the big leagues in September to use him out of the bullpen down the stretch like they did with Chris Sale a decade ago, making him the first player to go straight to the big leagues from the Draft since Mike Leake of the Reds in 2010."
Pick #13 - Oakland Athletics
OF Garrett Mitchell
MLB Team - Milwaukee
MLB Draft Slot - 20
"Mitchell has made real strides with his left-handed swing, one of the concerns when he was coming out of high school. He hit consistently for the first time in 2019 and he was doing it again during his junior season. He showed plus power in BP and his ability to transfer that to games helped him to become one of the top prospects in the country. Big and strong, Mitchell is an easily plus runner who can steal bases and cover a ton of ground in center field, a premium position he'll be able to play long term with the chance to develop into at least an above-average defender in time.
Mitchell has been playing with Type 1 diabetes since being diagnosed in third grade and has shown he can be a premium athlete while dealing with the disease. He featured perhaps the best collection of tools in the entire 2020 Draft class, and the Brewers believe he will be able to use those tools consistently in games at the pro level."
Pick #14 - San Francisco Giants
RHP Mick Abel
MLB Team - Philadelphia
MLB Draft Slot - 15
"The 6-foot-5 right-hander shows flashes of three plus pitches, starting with a fastball that was regularly in the 93-95 mph range last summer, though he tired a bit near the end of his run. He throws it downhill with good life at the bottom of the zone and then can come back with a four-seamer up in the zone with riding action. His 82-86 mph slider is a very effective pitch, and he also has feel for a curveball with more over the top rotation to it. The two morph into each other at times, but there's enough differentiation to believe he could throw both in the future, along with a future plus changeup that he sells with good arm speed and features sink and dip at the end.
Abel generally throws strikes and he gets as high marks for his maturity and makeup as he does his stuff. He's only going to get stronger and throw harder as he physically matures, a big reason why he was the first prep arm in the 2020 class to come off the board."
Pick #15 - Los Angeles Dodgers
SS Ed Howard
MLB Team - ChiCubs
MLB Draft Slot - 16
"There's no doubt that Howard will be able to remain at shortstop. He's a smooth defender with athletic actions, quick hands and a strong arm capable of making throws from a variety of angles. He has a high baseball IQ and the ability to slow the game down on both sides of the ball.
Though Howard had some ups and downs as a hitter on the showcase circuit, he has a simple right-handed swing and calm approach that should allow him to make consistent contact. With impressive bat speed and a 6-foot-2 frame that has room to add more strength, he could dev"
Pick #16 - Tampa Bay Rays
RHP Cade Cavalli
MLB Team - Washington
MLB Draft Slot - 22
"Cavalli produced some of the easiest velocity in his Draft class, working at 92-96 mph and topping out at 98 with riding action while expending barely more effort than he would playing catch. He also can make hitters look bad with a low-80s spike curveball with power and depth, and he has developed an upper-80s slider/cutter that is catching up to his curve. He shows the potential for an average changeup once he starts using the pitch more often.
While Cavalli has the upside of a frontline starter, he comes with concerns. Though he has a strong 6-foot-4 frame and clean mechanics, he doesn't have much track record of staying healthy -- he was bothered by a back issue as a high school senior and also missed three weeks with a stress reaction in his arm as an Oklahoma sophomore -- or throwing strikes, and his lack of command and deception also means that his premium stuff gets hit harder than it should. But the Nationals have done well developing big physical pitchers with good stuff in the past and believe Cavalli, whom the organization scouted extensively, has all the ingredients needed to become an impactful big league starter. "
Pick #17 - Detroit Tigers
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RP Brayan Abreu
MLB Team - Houston
MLB Draft Slot - 2013 IFA
"After signing for $40,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, Abreu spent four years in Rookie ball trying to find the strike zone. While that's still an issue, his electric stuff allowed him to rise from Class A Advanced to Houston last season. He pitched in the American League Championship Series, giving up a homer to Gio Urshela in his lone appearance before Chris Devenski replaced him on the World Series roster.
Abreu relies heavily on his plus-plus curveball, an absolute hammer with exceptional power, high spin rates and tremendous depth. He also flashes a wipeout slider with similar mid-80s velocity, albeit with less consistency, and sets up both of his breaking balls with a four-seam fastball that ranges from 92-97 mph with riding action. He'll try to throw a changeup when he starts but hasn't had much success with it.
Though the Astros still entertain the idea of continuing to develop Abreu as a starter, he's ready to help now as a reliever and may be destined for the bullpen regardless. He still struggles to command his fastball and his curveball breaks so much that it can be difficult to land in the strike zone. If he can do a better job of locating his pitches, he'll profile as a closer."
Pick #18 - Washington Nationals
C Patrick Bailey
MLB Team - San Francisco
MLB Draft Slot - 13
"A switch-hitter whose strength gives him solid raw power from both sides of the plate, Bailey went deep as a lefty and righty in the same game twice during his college career. While his pop stands out more than his hitting ability, he makes consistent contact and draws a healthy amount of walks. Though he wasn't productive with wood bats last summer with Team USA, scouts believe he'll produce enough offense to play regularly in the big leagues.
Even if he doesn't hit, Bailey is a quality defender who should at least serve as a backup. He's more athletic and moves better than most catchers, and he displayed solid receiving skills on a more consistent basis during the shortened 2020 season. He also has the arm strength to keep basestealers in check."
Pick #19 - Kansas City Royals
C Austin Wells
MLB Team - NY Yankees
MLB Draft Slot - 28
"Wells has all of the ingredients to make an offensive impact, starting with a quality approach. He possesses a controlled yet quick left-handed swing, uses the entire field and recognizes pitches and manages the strike zone well. He lets his plus raw power come naturally and had no problems driving the ball with wood bats on the Cape.
While there's little doubt that Wells will hit, there's much more uncertainty about where he'll find a defensive home. His receiving skills are shaky and he has a below-average arm, not to mention elbow problems that began in high school. He runs well enough to play left field and also could wind up at first base, with some scouts seeing him as a Kyle Schwarber type who would maximize his offensive production if he didn't have to deal with the demands of catching."
Pick #20 - Cincinnati Reds
C Tyler Soderstrom
MLB Team - Oakland
MLB Draft Slot - 26
"Soderstrom is an athletic, left-handed-hitting catcher whose bat is ahead of his defense. At the plate, he's really polished with a solid overall approach and makes the kind of loud contact that makes people sit up and take notice when he's taking batting practice. He's a hitter first, but he will get to his power. He might be a tick above average as a runner, especially for a catcher, and has shown he has the athleticism to play third and even the outfield.
Soderstrom's hands work and he has a very strong arm, but he is raw in terms of blocking and game management. If the A’s want him to stick behind the plate, they might need to be patient, with an offensive-minded big league regular backstop his ceiling, knowing his bat will likely profile well at any of a number of positions if needed."
Pick #21 - Baltimore Orioles
C Drew Romo
MLB Team - Colorado Rockies
MLB Draft Slot - 21
"Romo's prowess behind the plate allowed him to lock down the starting job on the U.S. 18-and-under national team for two years in a row. A potential Gold Glover, he possesses soft hands, advanced receiving skills and a strong arm with a quick release. He also garners praise for his leadership ability, work ethic and baseball IQ.
Scouts have fewer questions about Romo's bat after he performed well against quality pitching on the summer showcase circuit, though he didn't get off to a great start in 2020 before his senior season ended prematurely. A switch-hitter, he has a better swing from the left side but has improved from the right. He’s more contact and on-base than power, but he can become a .260 hitter with 12-15 homers per year while running the bases better than most catchers."
Pick #22 - New York Mets
OF Pete Crow-Armstrong
MLB Team - NY Mets
MLB Draft Slot - 19
"Crow-Armstrong stood out early on in his high school career because of his ability to hit and run. Some swings and misses over the summer had some evaluators concerned, but he does have a track record of making a lot of loud contact from the left side of the plate. Though he profiles as a hit-over-power offensive player, he’s also stronger than some people think and could surpass his early power projections. Some of that strength and power was starting to show up before his senior season was shut down.
A plus runner, Crow-Armstrong can really play center and was viewed by scouts as perhaps the best defensive outfielder in his class. He’s a dynamic athlete who goes hard at all times and seemingly gets to everything hit in the air with his outstanding first-step quickness and preternatural feel for reading the ball off the bat. That defensive prowess gives Crow-Armstrong a higher floor than the typical high school pick, though his ultimate ceiling will be determined by his development at the plate. "
Pick #23 - Philadelphia Phillies
2B Justin Foscue
MLB Team - Texas
MLB Draft Slot - 14
"The U.S. collegiate national team's starter at second base in 2019, Foscue has a game somewhat reminiscent of Jeff Kent's. He's an offensive-minded player whose strength, bat speed and pull-heavy approach produce plenty of power from the right side of the plate. Despite his aggressive mentality, he makes consistent contact and projects as a 20-homer threat without piling up strikeouts.
While Foscue records below-average run times out of the batter's box, he displays closer to average speed once he gets going. He has good hands and turns the double-play well, though his arm and range are ordinary at second base. He might be able to handle third base but shortstop would be a stretch, limiting his potential utility value."
Pick #24 - Miami Marlins
RHP Nick Bitsko
MLB Team - Tampa
MLB Draft Slot - 24
"Bitsko is 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, with plenty of projection and now stuff. He stood out particularly at the East Coast Pro Showcase over the summer, but he has shown consistent ability at every stop. Bitsko was up to 96-97 mph at East Coast Pro, with all fastballs in the 92- to 96-mph range. He combines it with a hard breaking ball that shows plus shape, thrown in the 78- to 82-mph range to get a lot of swings and misses. While he doesn't throw his changeup as much, he does have a solid feel for it. Bitsko isn't pure power, either, showing the ability to throw all three pitches for strikes with a chance for future plus command.
Bitsko is exactly the type of young pitcher that the Rays love to develop, and the organization has had plenty of success doing so in the past with high school Draft picks. He will need considerable time to develop in the Minors, especially in an organization that seldom rushes its young arms, but it can already be argued that the teenager has one of the higher ceilings in Tampa Bay’s loaded system."
Pick #25 - Texas Rangers
RHP Cole Henry
MLB Team - Washington
MLB Draft Slot - 55
"Henry has the potential for three solid to plus pitches. His fastball usually sits at 90-94 mph and tops out at 96 with riding or sinking action, and he could add some more velocity once he gets stronger. His mid-70s downer curveball gives him a second plus pitch when it's on, while his mid-80s changeup has some depth and continues to get better, projecting as at least an average third pitch.
Henry's delivery featured a lot of effort and some head whack as a prep, but he has improved his mechanics and had no trouble throwing strikes at LSU. He has the look of a durable mid-rotation starter, one with relatively little mileage on his arm, perhaps even more if the secondary pitches continue to improve.
Henry has the potential for three solid to plus pitches. His fastball usually sits at 90-94 mph and tops out at 96 with riding or sinking action, and he could add some more velocity once he gets stronger. His mid-70s downer curveball gives him a second plus pitch when it's on, while his mid-80s changeup has some depth and continues to get better, projecting as at least an average third pitch.
Henry's delivery featured a lot of effort and some head whack as a prep, but he has improved his mechanics and had no trouble throwing strikes at LSU. He has the look of a durable mid-rotation starter, one with relatively little mileage on his arm, perhaps even more if the secondary pitches continue to improve. "
Pick #26 - Cleveland Indians
RHP Eddie Yean
MLB Team - Pittsburgh
MLB Draft Slot - 2017 IFA
"Yean’s improved velocity can be attributed to his recent physical gains, as he’s quickly grown into his projectable frame without it detracting from his athleticism and clean delivery. His explosive fastball touches 97 mph regularly and parks in the low- to mid-90s with late life and angle, setting up an a slider up to 88 mph with depth that projects as at least an above-average pitch. A promising changeup gives Yean another potential weapon, and club officials are pleased with his progress in developing the pitch.
Pick #27 - San Diego Padres
3B Jordan Walker
MLB Team - St. Louis
MLB Draft Slot - 21
"Walker offered some of the best power potential in the 2020 Draft, the product of easy bat speed from the right side of the plate and tremendous leverage and projectable strength in his 6-foot-5 frame. Because his size creates a naturally long stroke and he sometimes struggles to recognize breaking balls, there are some mixed opinions on his hitting ability. He does display some feel for hitting and the ability to make adjustments, however, so he should make enough contact to tap into his pop.
More athletic than most big men, Walker can produce some solid run times but may lose a step once he matures physically. He should be able to stick at third base for a while, though if he slows down some he'll probably wind up on an outfield corner. He possesses solid arm strength and has shown a low-90s fastball on the mound, so he'll profile well in right field if he does move. "
Pick #28 - Milwaukee Brewers
RHP Bryce Jarvis
MLB Team - Arizona
MLB Draft Slot - 18
"After working with an 88-93 mph fastball at the beginning of 2019 and dipping to 86-91 by season's end, Jarvis added 20 pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame and operated at 92-96 with effective downhill plane last fall and this spring. His breaking ball used to be average at best, and now he flashes a plus curveball in the upper 70s that he can manipulate into a distinct and equally effective slider in the mid-80s. His fading changeup remains his best secondary offering, grading as well above average at its best.
Jarvis has improved his control along with his stuff, posting a 40-2 K-BB ratio in 27 innings this season while showing the ability to move his pitches around the strike zone. He repeats his delivery well and long has drawn praise for his competitiveness. He does have a narrow frame and lack of track record, but the D-backs clearly believe the 2020 version of Jarvis is for real."
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WKK1hbh9IuPowaUGO7oF1r4vte-8ZGpy28jevavQw-A/edit#gid=938384816
Here's a Round 1 mock draft & preview.
Pick #1 - Colorado Rockies
3B Spencer Torkelson
MLB Team - Detroit
MLB Draft Slot - 1
"As a right-handed first baseman who can really hit and who wasn't drafted out of high school, Torkelson draws invariable comparisons to Andrew Vaughn, the Cal standout who was the No. 3 pick in the 2019 Draft. A patient hitter who controls at-bats extremely well and draws plenty of walks, Torkelson can drive the ball from foul pole to foul pole and uses the middle of the field when he's at his best. He's able to hit the ball out to all fields, with tremendous loft power to his pull side. He doesn't sell out for that power, but rather gets to it with ease.
Defensively, Torkelson worked hard to improve as a first baseman at ASU and is very comfortable there. The Tigers, however, intend to see what he can do at third base, a position that Torkelson played in high school and one where he’d taken ground balls in fall ball the past couple years. Regardless of where he ultimately lands on the defensive spectrum, it will be Torkelson’s bat that makes him a special player in the big leagues. "
Pick #2 - Minnesota Twins
RHP Max Meyer
MLB Team - Miami
MLB Draft Slot - 3
"Meyer owned the best pitch in the 2020 Draft, a wipeout slider that ranges from 87-91 mph and from which he can add and subtract depth. His four-seam fastball overpowers hitters as well, sitting at 93-97 mph, clocking at 98 in the ninth inning of one start during the spring and topping out at 100. His fading changeup shows flashes of becoming a solid offering as he uses it more often.
Because Meyer is listed at 6 feet tall, there were some questions about whether he could be an impact starter in the big leagues, but he has erased those. Strong and athletic, he has no trouble repeating his fluid delivery or filling the strike zone with quality stuff. He's a dogged competitor who also got regular at-bats in Minnesota's lineup."
Pick #3 - Chicago Cubs
SS Austin Martin
MLB Team - Toronto
MLB Draft Slot - 5
"The best pure hitter in this year's Draft, Martin has outstanding feel for the barrel and effortlessly makes hard contact with a short, quick right-handed stroke. He's not overly physical and may not possess more than average raw power, but his uncanny hitting ability allows him to make the most of it. He controls the strike zone very well and uses the entire field, showing no weaknesses at the plate.
Though Martin is a twitchy athlete with soft hands and quick feet, there are concerns about his arm and questions about where he'll find a defensive home. Though Toronto announced him as a shortstop, he never could win that job at Vanderbilt and throwing issues prompted a move from third base to center field a week into the shortened 2020 season. He could be a solid defender in center and several evaluators think he'll wind up at second base. "
Pick #4 - Toronto Blue Jays
OF Heston Kjerstad
MLB Team - Baltimore
MLB Draft Slot - 2
"Kjerstad's strength and bat speed give him well-above-average raw power to all fields. He has a complicated swing that features a big hand circle in his load, so he has to be precise with his timing to make it work -- but he has done so in college and was the top performer in the U.S. collegiate team's lineup last summer. He's an aggressive hitter who always will accumulate strikeouts as a tradeoff for his pop.
Though Kjerstad records below-average running times out of the batter's box, he displays average speed once he gets going. He's not a threat on the bases but plays a capable right field. His huge power and solid arm strength fit the profile for the position."
Pick #5 - St. Louis Cardinals
SP Asa Lacy
MLB Team - Kansas City
MLB Draft Slot - 84
"Lacy has boosted his fastball from 87-91 mph in high school to 92-97 mph these days and uses his 6-foot-4 frame to create downhill plane, leaving hitters often looking helpless against it. He uses two distinct breaking balls, with his harder slider surpassing his downer curveball during his junior season and becoming a true plus pitch. His changeup features fade and sink, grading as a consistent plus offering and well-above-average at its best.
While there are no questions about the quality of Lacy's pitches, he'll need to improve his command and control to realize his ceiling as a frontline starter. There's some effort in his three-quarters delivery and he can't always harness his overpowering stuff. Even without precise location, he's a left-hander who can elicit swings and misses with four different offerings."
Pick #6 - Houston Astros
OF Robert Hassell
MLB Team - San Diego
MLB Draft Slot - 8
"The best pure hitter in the 2020 high school class, Hassell has a pretty left-handed swing and the hand-eye coordination to repeatedly barrel balls. He's at his best when he focuses on lashing line drives to all fields, but his stroke got too uphill when he made a concerted effort to hunt homers during the middle of the showcase circuit last summer. Scouts debate how much power he'll ultimately produce -- some project solid raw pop and believe he'll tap into most of it, while others see him as more lean than projectable and envision him as a 15-homer guy.
There's also debate about Hassell's profile, with his proponents viewing him as a plus defender who can stick in center field. Other evaluators think his bat and arm are his only above-average attributes and see him landing on an outfield corner. Clocked up to 93 mph on the mound and a legitimate prospect as a pitcher, he definitely has enough arm to play right field."
Pick #7 - Boston Red Sox
SS Nick Gonzales
MLB Team - Pittsburgh
MLB Draft Slot - 7
"The 5-foot-10 middle infielder has as much pure hitting ability as just about any bat in the 2020 class. He does it with a short and compact swing and a ton of bat speed, controlling the bat head extremely well through the strike zone. There's strength in his compact frame, but he might be more of a doubles hitter even though he did homer seven times on the Cape in 154 at-bats with wood. Gonzales has decent speed and is a solid baserunner, and while he played shortstop this spring and was announced at that position, some evaluators don't think he has the arm or range to play shortstop long-term. That does limit him to second base, but he's at least average there defensively.
Gonzales fits the profile well as an offensive-minded second baseman, reminding some of the Brewers' Keston Hiura. There are fewer questions about Gonzales' defense and he might be more athletic than Hiura when all is said and done."
Pick #8 - Arizona Diamondbacks
RHP Emerson Hancock
MLB Team - Seattle
MLB Draft Slot - 6
"Hancock shares a lot in common with Casey Mize, whom Detroit took with the top pick in 2018. They both were Southeastern Conference right-handers with similar builds who pound the strike zone with a deep repertoire and missed some time during their sophomore seasons. His best offering is a fastball that sits at 94-97 mph and peaks at 99 with riding life, and all three of his secondary pitches grade as at least plus at their best.
His go-to breaking ball is a mid-80s slider with which he manipulates the break exceptionally well, and Hancock also has a hard curveball that he relied on more in high school. He hasn't had to use his changeup much but he fades and locates it well, earning some plus-plus grades at times. A quality athlete with good body control, he commands his entire arsenal and should be a frontline starter if he stays healthy."
Pick #9 - Atlanta Braves
LHP Reid Detmers
MLB Team - Los Angeles Angels
MLB Draft Slot - 10
"Detmers is similar to former Louisville star and current Rays standout Brendan McKay, with an almost identical build and slightly less stuff. His fastball usually ranges from 90-94 mph but plays better than its average velocity because hitters don't seem to see it and he commands it so well. His 72-76 mph curveball has good shape and can be a plus pitch at its best, while his sinking changeup is effective as well.
Detmers has a strong, durable frame that helps him repeat his delivery with ease, allowing him to pound the strike zone. His ability to locate his pitches permits him to succeed even when his fastball dips into the upper 80s. His outstanding pitchability and mound presence should allow him to move through the Angels system and reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation type starter quickly."
Pick #10 - Pittsburgh Pirates
OF Zac Veen
MLB Team - Colorado
MLB Draft Slot - 9
"Veen has the kind of left-handed swing that scouts can dream on, all coming from a projectable 6-foot-4 frame that can definitely add strength. He's more hit over power in games with excellent bat speed, especially because he utilizes a spread out stance, but he'll show off big-time power in batting practice when he stands more upright and creates leverage, showing the ability to loft the ball consistently. He's reminded some of Cody Bellinger offensively and has drawn some Kyle Tucker comps as well, though he's not quite as athletic.
A solid average runner underway, Veen played center field in high school, but is probably better suited for a corner spot. He has enough arm to play right, with the power potential to profile there as well."
Pick #11 - Seattle Mariners
OF Austin Hendrick
MLB Team - Cincinnati
MLB Draft Slot - 12
"No one questions Hendrick’s raw pop and he’s tapped into it at times on big stages over the past two summers. He has incredibly quick hands and bat speed, along with leverage and loft, to generate that power from the left side of the plate, but he tinkered with his setup this past summer and there was some concern with the uptick in swing and miss to his game. A very good athlete, Hendrick runs well enough to play center field, but he might profile best in right field, and has the arm strength to fit there as well.
There might always be some swing-and-miss risk with Hendrick, but he has tremendous offensive upside. The Reds have done well in developing hitters, and they could have a middle-of-the-lineup run producer down the road."
Pick #12 - Chicago White Sox
LHP Garrett Crochet
MLB Team - ChiSox
MLB Draft Slot - 11
"After working with a 91-95 mph fastball and topping out at 97 as a sophomore, Crochet boosted his heater to 96-101 mph as a junior and averaged 100.1 mph as a big league reliever. His 82-85 mph slider also features plenty of spin and his long arms create difficult angle on his breaking ball. He shows flashes of a well above-average changeup, throwing it around 90 mph with deceptive arm speed.
The 6-foot-6 Crochet does a nice job of keeping his long levers in sync and providing strikes. His delivery and arm action are conducive to starting, though he'll need to refine his command to work at the front of a rotation. The White Sox rushed him to the big leagues in September to use him out of the bullpen down the stretch like they did with Chris Sale a decade ago, making him the first player to go straight to the big leagues from the Draft since Mike Leake of the Reds in 2010."
Pick #13 - Oakland Athletics
OF Garrett Mitchell
MLB Team - Milwaukee
MLB Draft Slot - 20
"Mitchell has made real strides with his left-handed swing, one of the concerns when he was coming out of high school. He hit consistently for the first time in 2019 and he was doing it again during his junior season. He showed plus power in BP and his ability to transfer that to games helped him to become one of the top prospects in the country. Big and strong, Mitchell is an easily plus runner who can steal bases and cover a ton of ground in center field, a premium position he'll be able to play long term with the chance to develop into at least an above-average defender in time.
Mitchell has been playing with Type 1 diabetes since being diagnosed in third grade and has shown he can be a premium athlete while dealing with the disease. He featured perhaps the best collection of tools in the entire 2020 Draft class, and the Brewers believe he will be able to use those tools consistently in games at the pro level."
Pick #14 - San Francisco Giants
RHP Mick Abel
MLB Team - Philadelphia
MLB Draft Slot - 15
"The 6-foot-5 right-hander shows flashes of three plus pitches, starting with a fastball that was regularly in the 93-95 mph range last summer, though he tired a bit near the end of his run. He throws it downhill with good life at the bottom of the zone and then can come back with a four-seamer up in the zone with riding action. His 82-86 mph slider is a very effective pitch, and he also has feel for a curveball with more over the top rotation to it. The two morph into each other at times, but there's enough differentiation to believe he could throw both in the future, along with a future plus changeup that he sells with good arm speed and features sink and dip at the end.
Abel generally throws strikes and he gets as high marks for his maturity and makeup as he does his stuff. He's only going to get stronger and throw harder as he physically matures, a big reason why he was the first prep arm in the 2020 class to come off the board."
Pick #15 - Los Angeles Dodgers
SS Ed Howard
MLB Team - ChiCubs
MLB Draft Slot - 16
"There's no doubt that Howard will be able to remain at shortstop. He's a smooth defender with athletic actions, quick hands and a strong arm capable of making throws from a variety of angles. He has a high baseball IQ and the ability to slow the game down on both sides of the ball.
Though Howard had some ups and downs as a hitter on the showcase circuit, he has a simple right-handed swing and calm approach that should allow him to make consistent contact. With impressive bat speed and a 6-foot-2 frame that has room to add more strength, he could dev"
Pick #16 - Tampa Bay Rays
RHP Cade Cavalli
MLB Team - Washington
MLB Draft Slot - 22
"Cavalli produced some of the easiest velocity in his Draft class, working at 92-96 mph and topping out at 98 with riding action while expending barely more effort than he would playing catch. He also can make hitters look bad with a low-80s spike curveball with power and depth, and he has developed an upper-80s slider/cutter that is catching up to his curve. He shows the potential for an average changeup once he starts using the pitch more often.
While Cavalli has the upside of a frontline starter, he comes with concerns. Though he has a strong 6-foot-4 frame and clean mechanics, he doesn't have much track record of staying healthy -- he was bothered by a back issue as a high school senior and also missed three weeks with a stress reaction in his arm as an Oklahoma sophomore -- or throwing strikes, and his lack of command and deception also means that his premium stuff gets hit harder than it should. But the Nationals have done well developing big physical pitchers with good stuff in the past and believe Cavalli, whom the organization scouted extensively, has all the ingredients needed to become an impactful big league starter. "
Pick #17 - Detroit Tigers
RP Brayan Abreu
MLB Team - Houston
MLB Draft Slot - 2013 IFA
"After signing for $40,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, Abreu spent four years in Rookie ball trying to find the strike zone. While that's still an issue, his electric stuff allowed him to rise from Class A Advanced to Houston last season. He pitched in the American League Championship Series, giving up a homer to Gio Urshela in his lone appearance before Chris Devenski replaced him on the World Series roster.
Abreu relies heavily on his plus-plus curveball, an absolute hammer with exceptional power, high spin rates and tremendous depth. He also flashes a wipeout slider with similar mid-80s velocity, albeit with less consistency, and sets up both of his breaking balls with a four-seam fastball that ranges from 92-97 mph with riding action. He'll try to throw a changeup when he starts but hasn't had much success with it.
Though the Astros still entertain the idea of continuing to develop Abreu as a starter, he's ready to help now as a reliever and may be destined for the bullpen regardless. He still struggles to command his fastball and his curveball breaks so much that it can be difficult to land in the strike zone. If he can do a better job of locating his pitches, he'll profile as a closer."
Pick #18 - Washington Nationals
C Patrick Bailey
MLB Team - San Francisco
MLB Draft Slot - 13
"A switch-hitter whose strength gives him solid raw power from both sides of the plate, Bailey went deep as a lefty and righty in the same game twice during his college career. While his pop stands out more than his hitting ability, he makes consistent contact and draws a healthy amount of walks. Though he wasn't productive with wood bats last summer with Team USA, scouts believe he'll produce enough offense to play regularly in the big leagues.
Even if he doesn't hit, Bailey is a quality defender who should at least serve as a backup. He's more athletic and moves better than most catchers, and he displayed solid receiving skills on a more consistent basis during the shortened 2020 season. He also has the arm strength to keep basestealers in check."
Pick #19 - Kansas City Royals
C Austin Wells
MLB Team - NY Yankees
MLB Draft Slot - 28
"Wells has all of the ingredients to make an offensive impact, starting with a quality approach. He possesses a controlled yet quick left-handed swing, uses the entire field and recognizes pitches and manages the strike zone well. He lets his plus raw power come naturally and had no problems driving the ball with wood bats on the Cape.
While there's little doubt that Wells will hit, there's much more uncertainty about where he'll find a defensive home. His receiving skills are shaky and he has a below-average arm, not to mention elbow problems that began in high school. He runs well enough to play left field and also could wind up at first base, with some scouts seeing him as a Kyle Schwarber type who would maximize his offensive production if he didn't have to deal with the demands of catching."
Pick #20 - Cincinnati Reds
C Tyler Soderstrom
MLB Team - Oakland
MLB Draft Slot - 26
"Soderstrom is an athletic, left-handed-hitting catcher whose bat is ahead of his defense. At the plate, he's really polished with a solid overall approach and makes the kind of loud contact that makes people sit up and take notice when he's taking batting practice. He's a hitter first, but he will get to his power. He might be a tick above average as a runner, especially for a catcher, and has shown he has the athleticism to play third and even the outfield.
Soderstrom's hands work and he has a very strong arm, but he is raw in terms of blocking and game management. If the A’s want him to stick behind the plate, they might need to be patient, with an offensive-minded big league regular backstop his ceiling, knowing his bat will likely profile well at any of a number of positions if needed."
Pick #21 - Baltimore Orioles
C Drew Romo
MLB Team - Colorado Rockies
MLB Draft Slot - 21
"Romo's prowess behind the plate allowed him to lock down the starting job on the U.S. 18-and-under national team for two years in a row. A potential Gold Glover, he possesses soft hands, advanced receiving skills and a strong arm with a quick release. He also garners praise for his leadership ability, work ethic and baseball IQ.
Scouts have fewer questions about Romo's bat after he performed well against quality pitching on the summer showcase circuit, though he didn't get off to a great start in 2020 before his senior season ended prematurely. A switch-hitter, he has a better swing from the left side but has improved from the right. He’s more contact and on-base than power, but he can become a .260 hitter with 12-15 homers per year while running the bases better than most catchers."
Pick #22 - New York Mets
OF Pete Crow-Armstrong
MLB Team - NY Mets
MLB Draft Slot - 19
"Crow-Armstrong stood out early on in his high school career because of his ability to hit and run. Some swings and misses over the summer had some evaluators concerned, but he does have a track record of making a lot of loud contact from the left side of the plate. Though he profiles as a hit-over-power offensive player, he’s also stronger than some people think and could surpass his early power projections. Some of that strength and power was starting to show up before his senior season was shut down.
A plus runner, Crow-Armstrong can really play center and was viewed by scouts as perhaps the best defensive outfielder in his class. He’s a dynamic athlete who goes hard at all times and seemingly gets to everything hit in the air with his outstanding first-step quickness and preternatural feel for reading the ball off the bat. That defensive prowess gives Crow-Armstrong a higher floor than the typical high school pick, though his ultimate ceiling will be determined by his development at the plate. "
Pick #23 - Philadelphia Phillies
2B Justin Foscue
MLB Team - Texas
MLB Draft Slot - 14
"The U.S. collegiate national team's starter at second base in 2019, Foscue has a game somewhat reminiscent of Jeff Kent's. He's an offensive-minded player whose strength, bat speed and pull-heavy approach produce plenty of power from the right side of the plate. Despite his aggressive mentality, he makes consistent contact and projects as a 20-homer threat without piling up strikeouts.
While Foscue records below-average run times out of the batter's box, he displays closer to average speed once he gets going. He has good hands and turns the double-play well, though his arm and range are ordinary at second base. He might be able to handle third base but shortstop would be a stretch, limiting his potential utility value."
Pick #24 - Miami Marlins
RHP Nick Bitsko
MLB Team - Tampa
MLB Draft Slot - 24
"Bitsko is 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, with plenty of projection and now stuff. He stood out particularly at the East Coast Pro Showcase over the summer, but he has shown consistent ability at every stop. Bitsko was up to 96-97 mph at East Coast Pro, with all fastballs in the 92- to 96-mph range. He combines it with a hard breaking ball that shows plus shape, thrown in the 78- to 82-mph range to get a lot of swings and misses. While he doesn't throw his changeup as much, he does have a solid feel for it. Bitsko isn't pure power, either, showing the ability to throw all three pitches for strikes with a chance for future plus command.
Bitsko is exactly the type of young pitcher that the Rays love to develop, and the organization has had plenty of success doing so in the past with high school Draft picks. He will need considerable time to develop in the Minors, especially in an organization that seldom rushes its young arms, but it can already be argued that the teenager has one of the higher ceilings in Tampa Bay’s loaded system."
Pick #25 - Texas Rangers
RHP Cole Henry
MLB Team - Washington
MLB Draft Slot - 55
"Henry has the potential for three solid to plus pitches. His fastball usually sits at 90-94 mph and tops out at 96 with riding or sinking action, and he could add some more velocity once he gets stronger. His mid-70s downer curveball gives him a second plus pitch when it's on, while his mid-80s changeup has some depth and continues to get better, projecting as at least an average third pitch.
Henry's delivery featured a lot of effort and some head whack as a prep, but he has improved his mechanics and had no trouble throwing strikes at LSU. He has the look of a durable mid-rotation starter, one with relatively little mileage on his arm, perhaps even more if the secondary pitches continue to improve.
Henry has the potential for three solid to plus pitches. His fastball usually sits at 90-94 mph and tops out at 96 with riding or sinking action, and he could add some more velocity once he gets stronger. His mid-70s downer curveball gives him a second plus pitch when it's on, while his mid-80s changeup has some depth and continues to get better, projecting as at least an average third pitch.
Henry's delivery featured a lot of effort and some head whack as a prep, but he has improved his mechanics and had no trouble throwing strikes at LSU. He has the look of a durable mid-rotation starter, one with relatively little mileage on his arm, perhaps even more if the secondary pitches continue to improve. "
Pick #26 - Cleveland Indians
RHP Eddie Yean
MLB Team - Pittsburgh
MLB Draft Slot - 2017 IFA
"Yean’s improved velocity can be attributed to his recent physical gains, as he’s quickly grown into his projectable frame without it detracting from his athleticism and clean delivery. His explosive fastball touches 97 mph regularly and parks in the low- to mid-90s with late life and angle, setting up an a slider up to 88 mph with depth that projects as at least an above-average pitch. A promising changeup gives Yean another potential weapon, and club officials are pleased with his progress in developing the pitch.
Pick #27 - San Diego Padres
3B Jordan Walker
MLB Team - St. Louis
MLB Draft Slot - 21
"Walker offered some of the best power potential in the 2020 Draft, the product of easy bat speed from the right side of the plate and tremendous leverage and projectable strength in his 6-foot-5 frame. Because his size creates a naturally long stroke and he sometimes struggles to recognize breaking balls, there are some mixed opinions on his hitting ability. He does display some feel for hitting and the ability to make adjustments, however, so he should make enough contact to tap into his pop.
More athletic than most big men, Walker can produce some solid run times but may lose a step once he matures physically. He should be able to stick at third base for a while, though if he slows down some he'll probably wind up on an outfield corner. He possesses solid arm strength and has shown a low-90s fastball on the mound, so he'll profile well in right field if he does move. "
Pick #28 - Milwaukee Brewers
RHP Bryce Jarvis
MLB Team - Arizona
MLB Draft Slot - 18
"After working with an 88-93 mph fastball at the beginning of 2019 and dipping to 86-91 by season's end, Jarvis added 20 pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame and operated at 92-96 with effective downhill plane last fall and this spring. His breaking ball used to be average at best, and now he flashes a plus curveball in the upper 70s that he can manipulate into a distinct and equally effective slider in the mid-80s. His fading changeup remains his best secondary offering, grading as well above average at its best.
Jarvis has improved his control along with his stuff, posting a 40-2 K-BB ratio in 27 innings this season while showing the ability to move his pitches around the strike zone. He repeats his delivery well and long has drawn praise for his competitiveness. He does have a narrow frame and lack of track record, but the D-backs clearly believe the 2020 version of Jarvis is for real."