2018 MLB Mock Draft: Final Mock Draft

Round 1 Picks 1-30

Casey Mize is beginning to separate himself in the eyes of the Tigers. It would be a shock if he didn't go first overall.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: June 4, 2018.

1. Detroit Tigers: Casey Mize, P, Auburn
   
   
   A few weeks ago prior to the 2018 NFL Draft, I talked to a Detroit Free Press sports writer about where the Tigers stand heading into the MLB Draft. They told me personally that it would come as a huge shock if another High School player went first overall. This person also told me that they believe the Tigers are going with a College player at 1 and even added that they are 95 percent certain the pick will be one of the two SEC Southpaw pitchers in Casey Mize or Brady Singer. They added that Nick Madigral out of Oregon State is the other candidate they see in play with lots of teams scouting departments comparing Madigral to Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve.
   
   
   
   Another friend of mine, Chris Robbins who follows Detroit sports told me the same exact thing stating their is a 90 percent chance Detroit goes Mize with Joey Bart being the runner up to Mize on Detroit's big board.
   
   
   
   Jim Callis of MLB spoke with Detroit's GM and said that the Tigers narrowed it down to Casey Mize, Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart, Wichita State third baseman Alec Bohm, Florida pitcher Brady Singer, and High School Pitcher Matthew Liberatore. Two days later on Sunday, Jonathan Mayo of MLB also reported that Detroit narrowed their board for 1 down to three with Mize, Bart, and Singer being the finalists for the top pick with Alec Bohm and Matthew Liberatore no longer being in consideration for the top pick.
   
   
   
   I think Detroit is looking at Casey Mize or Joey Bart. Everyone else is out of play. I liked Brady Singer on tape, but he missed time during the 2018 SEC Tournament. I also liked Nick Madrigal and would take him over Joey Bart, but I don't believe Detroit or San Francisco feels that way.
   
   
   
   Detroit has drafted right handed college pitchers in the past. Justin Verlander was taken second overall out of Old Dominion the last time Detroit picked this early in the draft, and the Tigers also spent a first round pick on Rick Porcello. That's why I feel like the Tigers are locked in on Casey Mize at 1.
   
   
   
   With the 2018 MLB Draft being set to take place today, I feel like Detroit has narrowed their decision down to Casey Mize and Joey Bart. I'm not sure what Detroit will do, but I get the feeling that Casey Mize will be the top pick.
   
   
   
   The 6-3 208 lb Casey Mize led Auburn pitchers with the lowest ERA on Auburn with a 3.52 ERA as a true freshman. Mize went 8-2 with a 2.04 ERA as a sophomore in 2017. Mize is 9-5 with a 3.07 ERA through 15 starts with 3 complete games and 1 complete game shutout in those 13 pppearances.
   
   
   
   Casey Mize has a 95-mile per hour 4-seam fastball, a 93-mile per hour 2-seam fastball, a 84-mile per hour power curveball, a 83-mile per hour slider, and a 75-mile per hour curveball. Works from a low 3/4 arm slot. Casey Mize is a strikeout machine on tape and outpitched Brady Singer in 2017. I said heading into August of 2017, that Mize is someone who deserved to go in the top 10 when many mocks had him in the top 15. He's creeped up the boards and outpitched Singer once again in 2018 despite an improved ERA from Singer.
   
   
   
   One scout compared him to Sandy Koufax, but that is a huge stretch. A friend of mine Brandon compared him to Dallas Keuchel and that's a more realistic comparison when you watch his splitter and everything this guy does on tape for the Auburn Tigers.
   
   
   
   Even if I liked Singer more on tape intially heading into the season, that's irrelevant at this point since he missed time during the 2018 SEC Tournament. Mize has the advantage in velocity, innings pitched, strikeouts, and has even shown the Detroit Tigers organization he can handle a bigger workload with more complete games as he got more strikeouts in the 2018 game versus Brady Singer despite losing. Mize has 140 strikeouts in 2018, 31 more then last season, and Singer still hasn't eclipsed 100 strikeouts in 2018 with only 92 on the season. Mize has 48 more strikeouts then Singer this season which is a pretty big strikeout margain.
   
   
   
   Game, set, and match. Mize goes to Detroit and gets taken by the Detroit Tigers first overall.
   
   
   
   I also have a film session of Casey Mize on my Youtube Channel. I posted three games of Casey Mize tape.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. San Francisco Giants: Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech
   
   
   The Giants will take the best player on their board at 2. There have been a lot of rumors about the Giants being linked to College Batters like Joey Bart the Georgia Tech catcher and Wichita State third baseman Alec Bohm. San Francisco tends to take College players just based on historical data. The biggest reason I think these rumors are a smokescreen is due to the fact that catcher Buster Posey is under contract until 2023 and third baseman Evan Longoria is under contract until 2024.
   
   
   
   I like Madrigal more then Bart and have him as the top ranked player in my 2018 College Batter Rankings which you can read by clicking on the link to Joey Bart. That's irrelevant at this point because sources close to the Giants believe they will select Joey Bart or Casey Mize at 2 whoever the Tigers pass on at 1. There is a strong chance that the 2018 ACC Player of the year goes to San Francisco where he succeeds Buster Posey as the catcher over time.
   
   
   
   If you want the Giants to do the smart thing and take Nick Madrigal at 2 you can go to our 2018 MLB Draft Game and click the link below.
   
   
   
   I also have a film session of Joey Bart on my Youtube Channel. I posted tape of Bart versus Florida State.
   
   
   
   
   
   Previous Pick: Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State
   
   
   
   
3. Philadelphia Phillies: Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State
   
   
   Philadelphia is taking an infielder at 3 according to NBC. Philadelphia has Carlos Santana at first base, Scott Kingery at second base, and J.P. Crawford at shortstop. The lone need on this infield is at third baseman.
   
   
   
   Alec Bohm is the third best College Batter in the class behind Nick Madrigal who is still on the board and Joey Bart. Fangraphs also believes the Phillies are locked in on Alec Bohm at 3 and I believe that. I even linked their mock draft if you scroll past all 30 of our picks along with everything in the comments section. Is this pick a reach yes. Is it going to happen. Probably.
   
   
   
   I also have a film session of Alec Bohm on my Youtube Channel. I posted tape of Bohm versus Omaha.
   
   
   
   
   
   Previous Pick: Brady Singer, P, Florida
   
   
4. Chicago White Sox: Brady Singer, P, Florida
   
   
   Expectations are huge in Chicago. After watching the Chicago Fire ace the 2018 MLS Super Draft and the Chicago Bears do well in the 2018 NFL Draft, now all the pressure is on the Chicago White Sox to match the level of excellence that the Fire and Bears had during the draft to please Chicago Sports fans around the country. The Chicago Cubs were in this position a few years ago and got a game changer in Kyle Schwarber out of Indiana. Now the White Sox need to get a game changer at 4 or the Chicago White Sox will go down as the Sports team with the worst 2018 Draft in Chicago.
   
   
   
   Luckily for the Chicago White Sox my two best overall players not named Casey Mize are both there. Nick Madrigal out of Oregon State and Brady Singer out of Florida. Chicago has a good young core of infielders so I'll give the White Sox the Florida Gators pitcher at 4. Regardless of who they take I expect the Reds to pounce on the player that Chicago passes on at 5.
   
   
   
   Singer is a guy who has a better command, pitching accuracy, and ERA than Mize. Putting Brady Singer with Carson Fulmer and Carlos Rodon makes the White Sox deadly down the road.
   
   
   
   The 6-5 200 lb Brady Singer went 9-5 with a 3.21 ERA in 2016. Can get down 3-0 in the count and still get a strikeout. Singer also had 129 strikeouts in 126 innings pitched. Singer was a #2 starter behind Alex Faedo, but was huge for Florida during their 2017 College World Series Championship team with 21 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched during the 2017 College World Series. Singer has a 94-mile per hour 4-seam fastball, a 93-mile per hour 2-seam fastball, a 92-mile per hour splitter, a 91-mile per hour cutter fastball, a 83-mile per hour slider, a 81-mile per hour curveball, and a 79-mile per hour changeup.
   
   
   
   So far in thirteen starts in 2018, Brady Singer is 10-1 with a 2.25 ERA with 92 strikeouts in those thirteen starts. Singer began the season 5-0 before a rough outing against Arkansas where he gave up 6 runs. Brady Singer hasn't lost since that demoralizing March 23rd contest against the Razorbacks going 7-0 since his horrendous home performance versus Arkansas.
   
   
   
   Singer has improve his command and improved his ERA as the #1 guy in 2018. Those were the two big issues you wanted to see Singer fix on tape.
   
   
   
   A lot of his mistakes on the mound due to him placing his feet on the mound too late before he fires the ball which is more of a mechanics and footwork. He's improved on this in 2018, and I expect him to have this issue corrected by the time he gets to the minors. Right now he's earned the right to be the top pick simply based on how much velocity he brings on his pitches along with how clutch he was during the 2017 College World Series.
   
   
   
   One MLB scout believes Singer could be another Roger Clemens. I think Corey Kluber is a more realistic comparison at the moment though. You can make a case that Singer has better tape then Casey Mize. Mize has outperformed Singer this season, but in any other year you could argue that Singer has the stuff to be a top overall pick. This season, Singer falls to the Phillies and they get another arm who can have an impact in their rotation. Singer won 2018 Baseball America Player of the year too.
   
   
   
   I also have a film session of Brady Singer on my Youtube Channel. I posted tape of Singer versus Louisville.
   
   
   
   
   
   Previous Pick: Matthew Liberatore, P, Mountain Ridge HS (AZ)
   
   
   
   
5. Cincinnati Reds: Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State
   
   
   The Cincinnati Reds have dominated the last two MLB Drafts with as many as 20 future MLB prospects in their farm system including 13 future batters and 7 future pitchers giving them the luxury to bring batters up long-term and reload at pitcher as well. The fact that they are getting another top 5 pick is absolute highway robbery for the Reds since they are loaded with prospects despite a poor record.
   
   
   
   Nick Madrigal is my top ranked College Batter. I think he' the best player in the draft outside of Casey Mize. Keith Law told a White Sox fan he could be ready for the MLB as early as 2019 after the 2019 MLB Trade Deadline. Putting a second baseman of Madrigal's caliber next to Nick Senzel will allow the Reds to build their own core of batters similar to how the Cubs built their infield when they were struggling.
   
   
   
   I also have a film session of Nick Madrigal on my Youtube Channel. I posted tape of Madrigal versus LSU.
   
   
   
   
   
   Previous Pick: Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech
   
   
6. New York Mets: Jonathan India, 3B, Florida
   
   
   New York drafts David Wright's successor here. The Mets take Jonathan India at 6 after the Phillies took Alec Bohm who I originally mocked to the Mets here prior to today. The irony here is the Mets get Jonathan India at 6.
   
   
   
   I also have a film session of Jonathan India on my Youtube Channel. I posted tape of India versus Louisville.
   
   
   
   
   
   Previous Pick: Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State
   
   
   
   
7. San Diego Padres: Matthew Liberatore, P, Mountain Ridge HS (AZ)
   
   
   The Padres take the best player on the board at 7. The Padres scouted Matthew Liberatore extensively last week. I honestly they grab him in a heartbeat at 7 knowing the kind of value he provides.
   
   
   
   Matthew Liberatore is the best pitcher on the board at this point. San Diego is thrilled to get him at 7.
   
   
   
   I also have a film session of Matthew Liberatore on my Youtube Channel. I posted a game of Matthew Liberatore tape.
   
   
   
   
   
   Previous Pick: Steele Walker, CF, Oklahoma
   
   
8. Atlanta Braves: Ethan Hankins, P, Forsyth Central HS (GA)
   
   
   Atlanta gets the best overall player on the board at 8. There are as many as ten High School prospects from the state of Georgia that could go in the top 50 overall. All 10 of those local High School prospects from Georgia are still on the board, so the Braves scouting department recruits from within the state of Georgia taking the top High School player on the board at 8 to stash into their extremely deep farm system.
   
   
   
   Ethan Hankins has the upside to be an MLB All Star down the road. At the same time there are questions with his durability and velocity despite the fact that he's healthy and pitching again.
   
   
   
   Hankins is the guy I would take here. If Atlanta passes on him it will be due to the fact that their team doctors have some concerns about Hankins. Kumar Rocker has an Aroldis Chapman like 4-seam fastball, but that's his only plus pitch, plus I see Rocker as more of a reliever then a starter so I'm going Hankins even though this really does feel like a toss up between Hankins and Rocker at 8.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Oakland Athletics: Shane McClanahan, P, South Florida
   
   
   The Athletics get the best player on their board at 9. That's South Florida pitcher Shane McClanahan who weighs 6-2 188 lbs.
   
   
   
   Shane McClanahan redshirted in 2016 after dominating as a high school pitcher in Florida due to injuries. McClanahan went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 2017 in his first full season as a starting pitcher.
   
   
   
   McClanahan has pitched 34.2 innings with a 3-2 record so far in 2018 with a 1.56 ERA. He also has 1 perfect game which was a complete game shutout in 2018. McClanahan clocked at 100 miles per hour prior to the 2018 season so both his 4-seam fastball and 2-seam fastball can go up to 100 miles per hour. He possesses excellent delivery and command on his fastball.
   
   
   
   Most of the time he throws a 96-mile per hour 4-seam fastball and a 95-mile per hour 2-seam fastball. He's capable of getting both up to 100 miles per hour. He also possesses a nice 85-mile per hour slider and a 75-mile per hour changeup. You want to see him develop his curveball more and improve his command on some pitches, but his delivery and mechanics are incredible. One scout believes his mechanics compare to Greg Maddux.
   
   
   
   Well fast forward two months later McClanahan has an ERA of 8.24 in conference play at South Florida. He's now 2-4 since starting the season 3-2 now with a 5-6 record and a 3.56 ERA after previously having a 1.56 ERA. McClanahan is still a top ten talent, but his sloppy play as of late will cause him to go from being that sure fire top 5 pick to a borderline top 10 selection.
   
   
   
10. Pittsburgh Pirates: Logan Gilbert, P, Stetson
    
    
    The This team has a very good batting lineup, a strong bullpen, and a remarkable manager in Clint Hurdle who is fighting to keep his job and showing he can mold a team into a winner even with a front office as bad as the Pirates have considering the last first round pick they hit on was Gerritt Cole.
    
    
    
    They traded their best pitcher and best batter and were doing well until I jinxed them in my last mock draft because a day after I posted this mock draft they entered a losing streak and got swept by the San Diego Padres at PNC Park.
    
    
    
    Sources close to the Pirates believe a High School pitcher at 10 is in play as well as Stetson's Logan Gilbert. Ryan Weathers is the only High School pitcher I'd consider at 10 if Matthew Liberatore and Ethan Hankins were off the board, but Weathers would be given the choice of going to College at Vanderbilt or playing Pro Ball for the Pirates and I almost feel like he would take Vanderbilt over the Pirates. I wouldn't blame Weathers for that given Vanderbilt has a much better track record for developing talent for the MLB Draft then the Pittsburgh Pirates.
    
    
    
    Carter Stewart who lost a home start to Mason Denaburg, Cole Winn who rounded out my High School pitcher rankings, and Grayson Rodriguez who didn't even make my top 10 HS Pitcher Rankings are all reaches at 10 and yet those are the High School Pitchers the Pirates are scouting heavily. Taking Travis Swaggerty who had a batting average of less than .300 to replace Andrew McCutchen would be a classic Pirates move on Pittsburgh's end and not in a good way.
    
    
    
    Pittsburgh is operating a starting rotation with four arms which is not smart. You need at least five arms in a starting rotation and 6 or 7 if you want substitute starters as well as long relievers, middle relievers, your set up pitcher, and your closer. Pittsburgh is looking at College Pitchers, High School Pitchers, and High School Batters. They are not looking at College Batters even though they are the one team in the top 10 who is dumb enough to draft a batter with a batting average below .300 in the top 10.
    
    
    
    I'd take the best player on the board and grab Florida third baseman Jonathan India who is now a consensus top 7 player according to most mock drafts, but the Pirates are too cheap to draft anyone out of Florida because they passed on Alex Faedo last year and Bob Nutting even tweeted that taking players to save money is more important then taking the best player on the board.
    
    
    
    That's why the Pirates attendance while high right now, will fizzle as soon as this team goes into a slump. Huntington and Hurdle are both doing well enough to keep their jobs, but that doesn't change the fact that Bob Nutting is the cheapest owner in sports which means the Pirates will probably take a player that they know they can sign rather then the best player on the board.
    
    
    
    Gerritt Cole was the last first round pick the Pirates hit on. One player they can take to save money is Stetson's Friday Night Starter Logan Gilbert. This is assuming they do the smart thing and take the best pitcher on the board.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 225 lb pitcher is a Business Systems & Analytics major. Kluber majored in Sport Management at Stetson. I'm not saying Gilbert will be Kluber. I'm pointing out how Logan Gilbert could be the under the radar College pitcher prospect that has an early impact in the MLB when he's young before peaking after 5-7 years. Gilbert reminds me a lot of Tim Lincecum coming out of Washington. I see a guy who could have a lot of early success, the question is will he maintain it as his career progresses.
    
    
    
    Logan Gilbert went 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA as a true freshman in 2016. Gilbert improved on that with a career season in 2017 where he went 10-0 with a 2.02 ERA and 107 strikeouts in his sophomore season joining Corey Kluber in 2007 and Kurt Schluter in 2011 as the ASUN Pitcher of the Year.
    
    
    
    So far in 2018, Gilbert is 9-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 13 starts. Gilbert is showing why he's a potential top 10 pick with his strong start this season.
    
    
    
    Gilbert has the winning track record Kluber had. His 134 strikeouts bested the 117 strikeouts Kluber had at Stetson back in 2007 and he's someone the Pirates do not have to spend all their draft pool money on at 10 and he's someone who can help this franchise out.
    
    
    
    The downside with Gilbert is a majority of his 4-seam fastballs max out at 92-miles per hour and his 2-seam fastball has maxed out at 91-miles per hour. He threw with more velocity during the Summer showing he could go up to 97 and his fastest pitch this year was 94-miles per hour. Gilbert has a changeup as well.
    
    
    
    Gilbert has great delivery and pitching accuracy. He needs to refine his command, improve his velocity, and add a couple of more pitches like a curveball and slider to maximize the arsenal of his pitches.
    
    
    
    There is no question Logan Gilbert has the production of a top 10 pick as well as the analytics. However the Pirates could pass on him if want a pitcher with more velocity or just decide to reach for someone because their the Pirates. Right now this is the one guy they can get without overpaying someone even though drafting Jonathan India would be the smartest thing to do here.
    
    
    
    
    
11. Baltimore Orioles: Nolan Gorman, 3B, O'Connor HS (AZ)
    
    
    The Orioles get the top High School Batter at 11. Nolan Gorman will take longer to develop, but he's the closest thing to a successor for Manny Machado at this point at 11.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Jonathan India, 3B, Florida
    
    
12. Toronto Blue Jays: Steele Walker, CF, Oklahoma
    
    
    Toronto drafts the top College batter on the board. I love Steele Walker's tape as he shows flashes of Mike Trout at times.
    
    
    
    Steele Walker is my favorite name in this draft. Steele Walker sounds like the name of a rival cologne company set to compete with Georgio Armani for colgne sales. In all seriousness, Oklahoma's center fielder is probably the closest thing this draft has to a 5-tool batter and for some crazy reason I get a Mike Trout vibe with him.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 190 lb Steele Walker may not be as big as MLB teams would like him to be, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a top 10 talent on my board, but he falls to Toronto at 12 due to not playing in Oklahoma's 20-10 win over Mississippi State on Friday.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Nolan Gorman, 3B, O'Connor HS (AZ)
    
    
    
    
13. Miami Marlins: Brice Turang, SS, Santiago HS (CA)
    
    
    The Miami Marlins draft a shortstop. Remember Derek Jeter was a shortstop with the Yankees. He spent four years in the minor leagues. Turang has the mental discipline to be another great like Jeter if he spends four years in the minors and waits until 2022 to join Miami in the MLB. Who knows, he could become the son Jeter never had because he plays the same position and has similar mental discipline and plate discipline considering he only struck out once in 108 at bats.
    
    
    
14. Seattle Mariners: Triston Casas, 1B, American Heritage HS (FL)
    
    
    Seattle a first baseman to replace Yonser Alando here. Triston Casas is the best player on the board making him an ideal fit.
    
    
    
    
    
15. Texas Rangers: Ryan Weathers, P, Loretto HS (TN) >
    
    
    Texas drafts a pitcher here. Ryan Weathers went 9-0 with a 0.11 ERA in 2017. He matched that ERA in 2018 and went 11-0 going 20-0 with a 0.11 ERA the last two seasons. He got a no decision in the State Championship which Loretto lost in an effort to repeat, but that's Weathers only game he pitched in the entire season where Loretto lost, and he got a no decision in the contest so the Rangers they draft Weathers at 15 and this is one team that can lure Weathers away from Vanderbilt.
    
    
    
    The son of David Weathers who pitched on the 1996 New York Yankees World Series team has a 94-mile per hour 4-seam fastball, a 91-mile per hour 2-seam fastball, a 87-mile per hour power curveball, a 79-mile per hour curveball, a 80-mile per hour slider, and 77-mile per hour changeup. Weathers also plays basketball and is a two sport athlete.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Mike Vasil, P, Boston College HS (MA)
    
    
    
    
16. Tampa Bay Rays: Mason Denaburg, P, Merritt Island HS (FL)
    
    
    The Tampa Bay Rays need more starting pitchers in their rotation. Mason Denaburg beat Carter Stewart in head to head play plus he plays three sports and his character is off the charts in terms of leadership, attitude, and discipline. I got rankings for High School Batters and High School Pitcher prospects in my 2018 MLB Draft, player rankings.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Carter Stewart, P, EAU Gallie HS (FL)
    
    
17. Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim: Carter Stewart, P, EAU Gallie HS (FL)
    
    
    The Angels get the best pitcher on the board here. I've seen Stewart mocked in the top 5 and top 10. He's a reach at that point, but an incredible value pick here in the middle of the first round.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Ryan Weathers, P, Loretto HS (TN)
    
    
18. Kansas City Royals: Kumar Rocker, P, North Oconee HS (GA)
    
    
    The Royals get an arm to add to their rotation here. Kumar Rocker has a killer 4-seam fastball at 98-miles per hour. I think that fastball would be on par with Aroldis Chapman's if Rocker moved to the bullpen since that's the only pitch he's mastered. Despite this, something tells me a team will take a chance on Rocker in the top 20 due to his upside.
    
    
    
    
    
19. St. Louis Cardinals: Tristan Pompey, RF, Kentucky
    
    
    The 6-4 205 lb Tristan Pompey is batting .347. He's not playing like a home run hitter, with only 7 home runs in 2018, the thing is Pompey has quite the potent power bat on tape. It's hard to see a right fielder with his skill drop out of the top 20 so Pompey is the pick for the Cardinals as they snag the best player on the board here.
    
    
    
20. Minnesota Twins: Cole Wilcox, P, Heritage HS (GA)
    
    
    The Twins get another arm for depth here. Cole Wilcox is the top High School pitcher on the board at this point.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Mason Denaburg, P, Merritt Island HS (FL)
    
    
    
    
21. Milwaukee Brewers: Jarred Kelenic, LF, Waukesha West HS (WI)
    
    
    The Brewers grab a local High School batter to bolster their already stacked outfield. This team really does need a number one starter for this year, but they can wait until 2019 to get that player if a homegrown talent like Kelenic drops to them at 21.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Cole Wilcox, P, Heritage HS (GA)
    
    
22. Colorado Rockies: Jackson Kowar, P, Florida
    
    
    Colorado gets the best pitcher on the board. Jackson Kowar dominated before a horrible outing versus Blaine Knight in the 2018 SEC Tournament. The Rockies may still end up taking him at 22 though considering some have him graded in the top 15 despite being Brady Singer's teammate.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech
    
    
    
    
23. New York Yankees: Sean Hjelle, P, Kentucky
    
    
    The Yankees get the top starter on the board. Sean Hjelle beat out Casey Mize and Brady Singer for SEC Pitcher of the year in 2017 as a sophomore. New York gets him here and obtains a potential steal at 23 if Hjelle develops correctly in the minor leagues.
    
    
    
    The 6-11 215 Sean Hjelle was Kentucky's closer as a true freshman in 2016. He went 11-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 17 starts in 2017. Hjelle won 2017 SEC Pitcher of the year too beating out both Brady Singer and Casey Mize. Hjelle is 7-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 2018 so far in 13 starts.
    
    
    
    Hjelle has a 91-mile per hour 4-seam fastball, a 90-mile per hour 2-seam fastball, and a 81-mile per hour knuckle curveball. He's probably the only pitcher in this class that has mastered the knuckle curveball at such an early age.
    
    
    
    Hjelle can be used in either the starting rotation or the bullpen plus its hard to find a pitcher that tall who has the command Hjelle does. Hjelle also has remarkable coordination for such a tall pitcher. He's improved his velocity too and can now max out at 96-miles per hour with both of his fastballs.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Jackson Kowar, P, Florida
    
    
24. Chicago Cubs: Ryan Rolison, P, Ole Miss
    
    
    Tyler Chatwood seems like a mediocre number five starter. The Cubs can use this pick to upgrade over him long-term. You also have to consider that both Jon Lester and Yu Darvish are in their thirties now so you need to reload your farm system with pitchers so when Chicago's premium batters approach their late twenties and early thirties you got pitchers who can keep this team competitive so things don't fall apart.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 205 lb Ryan Rolison went 9-0 with a 0.12 ERA as a senior in High School before being drafted by the Padres out of high school. Rolison decided to enroll at Ole Miss and went 6-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 2017 in ten starts. He enters his second season as a starter and now has an ERA over 4.00 which is why he dropped from a potential top 5 pick to now a borderline top 25 selection. Rolison will be 21 in July so he is draft eligible for the 2018 MLB Draft despite being a sophomore in College.
    
    
    
    Rolison has a 94-mile per hour 4-seam fastball, a 91-mile per hour 2-seam fastball, an 82-mile per hour slider, an 81-mile per hour power curveball, a 75-mile per hour curveball, and a 75-mile per hour change up. He works from a 3/4 arm slot just like Casey Mize. Since he turns 21 he can leave Ole Miss after his sophomore season. Chicago drafts him strictly based on his upside.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Ryan Rolison, P, Ole Miss
    
    
    
    
25. Arizona Diamondbacks: Adam Kloffenstein, P, Magnolia HS (TX)
    
    
    Arizona drafts for upside. Adam Kloffenstein is the best pitcher on the board at this point at 25 despite being somewhat of a reach here in terms of value.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Ryan Rolison, P, Ole Miss
    
    
26. Boston Red Sox: Connor Scott, CF, Plant HS (FL)
    
    
    I feel like Boston could still use a first baseman to groom behind Moreland, but here they get the top batter on the board in Connor Scott out of Plant High School who played with former top 5 pick Kyle Tucker.
    
    
    
    
    
27. Washington Nationals: Seth Beer, RF, Clemson
    
    
    Washington drafts a right fielder to eventually replace Bryce Harper here. If Harper re-signs you got a very good prospect who will you can ship for a veteran or multiple prospects.
    
    
    
    Seth Beer is versatile enough to play left fielder, right fielder, third baseman, or first baseman. He dominated as a true freshman.
    
    
    
    Beer had a .369 batting average, 57 runs, 18 home runs, 70 RBI's, and a .700 slugging percentage as a true freshman. Those numbers were simply unreal for a true freshman in 2016 which is why Seth Beer became the true freshman in College Baseball History to win the Dick Houser Award which is like the Heisman Trophy in College Baseball.
    
    
    
    Previous Dick Howser Trophy Winners include David Price, Buster Posey, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon, Kris Bryant, and Andrew Benintendi. Brendan McKay won this award in 2017 after Beer failed to repeat as a sophomore. That's pretty good company to be in when you consider recent MLB success with Dick Howser Trophy Winners in the NCAA.
    
    
    
    Beer had a .308 batting average, 51 runs, 17 home runs, 53 RBI's, and a .606 slugging percentage as a true sophomore in 2017. His numbers dropped, but he still has a career batting average of .333 and is a very consistent power hitter. Seth Beer is only batting .283 in 2018 with 16 home runs.
    
    
    
    I also have a film session of Seth Beer on my Youtube Channel. Seth Beer may not have the stats you want, but he plays like a complete 5-tool batter on tape. Beer could provide Aaron Judge type value late in the first round if he fixes his batting average in the minors.
    
    
    
    
    
    
28. Houston Astros: Grayson Jenista, 1B, Wichita State
    
    
    The 6-4 220 lb Grayson Jenista had a .326 batting average in 2016 as a true freshman. Jenista batted .320 in 2017 with 9 home runs, 45 runs, 73 hits, and 41 RBI's. Jenista is batting .313 with 9 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 2018. Jenista is a very consistent batter and seems like the ideal player for the Astros to draft at 28.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Cleveland Indians: Tristan Beck, P, Stanford
    
    
    The Cleveland Indians are the only one of my favorite sports teams that hasn't won a championship in my lifetime. I realize this is the last year the Indians will wear the Wahoo logo on their jerseys and that kind of sucks because I loved their logo growing up as a kid. The thing is that logo carries so much history and tradition and I know a lot of people that aren't really offended by the logo so I'll compromise and agree to put the C up and update this logo by removing Chief Wahoo once the Cleveland Indians break their World Series drought by winning a championship because I don't agree with the MLB's decision on this issue at all, plus I want the C on Cleveland's logo to imply we're the champs for that season.
    
    
    
    With that drama out of the way let's get to Cleveland's pick. I'm gonna keep things simple by giving Cleveland the top relief pitcher on the board at 29. Tristan Beck is a first round talent and the top relief pitcher in the class. The bullpen has been the real weakness for the Cleveland Indians in 2018 so they get Beck here.
    
    
    
    Tristan Beck made the move from reliever to starter in 2018 at Stanford. He's 7-3 with a 2.90 ERA this season. I still think he will be better in the bullpen in the MLB.
    
    
    
30. Los Angeles Dodgers: Travis Swaggerty, CF, South Alabama
    
    
    The Dodgers have the luxury to ignore need and take the best player on the board. Travis Swaggerty's batting average is now below .300 and that is the only reason I have him sliding this low. The Dodgers draft for value here due to the fact that Swaggerty is versatile enough to play left field, center field, or right field.