MLB Mock Draft

There are plenty of rumors floating around that the Orioles are exploring other options, and that includes Bobby Witt Jr., Andrew Vaughn and JJ Bleday—with most buzz on the two college bats—but at this point we still think it's noise. The Tigers had similar rumors a year ago before they took the consensus top talent in the class with the first pick and we're still expecting Rutschman to be the first name called.

Witt still sounds like a lock to the Royals with their second pick and we've heard nothing to sway us from that selection here. It would be fascinating to see what the Royals would do if Witt did in fact get picked first, but in that situation taking Rutschman seems like a no-brainer.

We quickly get to a pick that doesn't seem locked in and we're only three deep. Vaughn and Abrams are the two most frequently named players for this spot and we think it'll be one of the two based on the information we have now. Vaughn would be a pick more in line with Chicago's recent tendencies and line up more with the White Sox minor league talent, while Abrams would be a sign of a different philosophy in the first round.

Regardless of who goes No. 3, Bleday remains the favorite for the Marlins. As we've mentioned previously, scouting director D.J. Svihlik previously coached at Vanderbilt, which could give him more insight into Bleday than others. Louisiana State shortstop Josh Smith and Pac-12 Pitcher of the year Ryan Garcia (UCLA) could be options for Miami's second pick at 35.

If the White Sox go with Abrams with their third pick, Vaughn could go off the board here, but if he doesn't make it the Tigers remain the favorite for the best prep hitter in the class.

The top six players haven't changed at all since our last mock draft, and in this scenario San Diego would grab Abrams, though some sources think that San Diego might prefer a quicker-moving college player who could impact their major league team sooner than the speedy prep shortstop. Arizona State outfielder Hunter Bishop would be the best college player on the board here, but he doesn't scream "fast mover."

We're still hearing that Texas Christian lefthander Nick Lodolo is at the top of the Reds' board, but if he's somehow not available with this pick then we expect Cincinnati to take whichever one of the hitters falls, or West Virginia righthander Alek Manoah.

Here's another spot that could shake up the draft. We're still hearing rumors that the Rangers want to save money here, but Texas Tech third baseman Josh Jung and Bishop are being tied to Texas more lately. Brett Baty and Jackson Rutledge could be underslot candidates, while we can't count out Manoah or Shea Langeliers either. This also sounds like the highest spot for Tulane third baseman Kody Hoese. It sounds like Hunter Bishop and Corbin Carroll are less likely for Texas at this point.

The Braves are intrigued by Rutledge and Manoah, though they are also connected to all of the names mentioned with Texas, including Carroll and Bishop. Lately the buzz has been college pitcher.

The Giants are in on Manoah, but they have also been tied to bats like Bishop and Nevada-Las Vegas shortstop Bryson Stott.

There's a chance Manoah is gone by this spot, and if that's the case, Stott could make sense here, but we keep hearing the Blue Jays tied with arms and in this scenario, with Lodolo and Rutledge off the board we feel like Manoah is the most likely option.

Similar to the Blue Jays, we constantly hear the Mets tied with college pitching, and in this scenario they can decide between Thompson and Elon righthander George Kirby.

Langeliers has some late helium, and went off over the weekend with the bat in the NCAA Tournament. He's a legitimate option as high as No. 8 and with many teams from there until this pick. Given Langeliers' talent behind the dish and his offensive resurgence this spring it feels like he's more likely to go in the top half of the first round than the bottom. The Twins are tied with bats more frequently than arms.

It sounds like the Phillies are interested in a number of shortstops, including Clemson's Logan Davidson and Alabama prep Gunnar Henderson. In this scenario, we have them taking perhaps the best college shortstop in the class in Stott, who's also in play as high as No. 10.

It doesn't sound like the Angels aren't in on Kirby, so that would give them their choice of the prep arms and they've been in on Allan as much as anyone. They could also try and land a high-upside prep like Keoni Cavaco and we wouldn't be shocked if they went further off the board for a money saver. This might be Bishop's floor if he slides to here.

We're sticking with Carroll here, and this would be a strong first pick to kick off Arizona's deep 2019 pool of picks. Carroll is a polished center fielder with few holes to speak of in his game. Carroll might have the best plate discipline of any player in the high school class.

If Baty doesn't go No. 8 to the Rangers, there's no obvious spot for him and mixed thoughts from sources on where his talent fits best. Still, he's got the most usable power of the prep class and if it weren't for his age it's unlikely he would even last this long.

The Pirates have been linked with shortstops and Davidson has a good shot to stick there defensively along with high-upside tools including power from both sides of the plate. Henderson is another name that gets mentioned at this spot, as does Greg Jones, and we can't rule out a prep arm like Quinn Priester if he's still on the board.

We'll stick with Hoese in this scenario, and if sounds like if he slides passed St. Louis he won't fall much further than Tampa Bay at No. 22.

Seattle is another team who might take Hoese if he falls. They've been linked to Kirby and he makes some sense here, as does an up-the-middle player like Henderson, Greg Jones or Anthony Volpe. Keoni Cavaco could be in play as well.

Priester is a name who's been mentioned with Atlanta, though we'll continue to say that one of the college position players who are about to go off the board behind them could be in play here.

Busch has looked good at the plate late this season, and we've heard that the Rays are targeting college performers and Busch certainly checks those boxes. His lefthanded splits might be a concern for Tampa, but his exit velocities are consistently elite.

If Busch is on the board here, we believe the Rockies would snag him. With him off the board, we've heard that Colorado is another team who is excited about Jones. The Rockies also like Georgia third baseman Aaron Schunk, but that could be for a later pick.

Wilson fits Cleveland's M.O. as a hitter with a terrific track record. If they are too skeptical about his defense at shortstop or his strikeout rates, a prep pitcher like Brennan Malone, Daniel Espino or JJ Goss might make sense.

Given how frequently Henderson's name has been mentioned prior to this pick, it might be a surprise if he gets here, though we think the Dodgers like his upside and toolset.