Although not as glitzy as the NFL Draft, nor as potentially game-changing as the NBA Draft, the MLB Draft is still an incredibly important date for all 30 teams. From June 5 to 7, general managers will be betting on these college and high school kids to live up to their potential in the next few years in hope of making it to “The Show.”
[sc:MLB240banner ]For the third year in a row, the Houston Astros will be the first team on the clock in this year’s draft. It’s almost certain that the Astros select a flame-throwing lefthander with the no. 1 overall pick, but it remains a mystery which top prospect they will select between North Carolina State’s Carlos Rodon and high schooler Brady Aiken.
Rodon had been the consensus no. 1 in most people’s mock drafts at the start of the season, but an inconsisaretent junior year has hurt his chances of being to top overall pick. Swooping in to take his place could be Aiken, whose stuff and build equally as impressive as Rodon’s, only four years younger.
Prediction: Aiken’s youth and upside will sway the Astros to take the high school southpaw at no. 1
How many pitchers will be taken in Round 1?
Aiken and Rondon are just two of the highly-coveted quality arms that are supposedly overflowing in this year’s draft. There are so many good-looking pitching prospects that the record of 20 pitchers selected in the first round in 2001 could be in jeopardy.
One of those stud arms, East Carolina’s Jeff Hoffman, a projected top five pick, already succumbed to Tommy John surgery, but the likes of Tyler Kolek, Aaron Nola and Tyler Beede have the pedigree to warrant being picked in the top 10 or sooner.
Prediction: The projection of 20 pitchers in the first round falls a little short, but there will still be 15-18 arms taken – a lot by any standard.
Where will Alex Jackson land?
In a sea of highly-touted pitching prospects, Alex Jackson is the highest-rated position player in this draft and could still go within the top three picks. The 19-year old played catcher and the outfield in high school (much like another high school phenom, Bryce Harper), but will likely be transitioned to the outfield full-time.
Although Jackson’s nowhere near the can’t-miss prospect Harper was, he still possesses similar tools that the Washington Nationals star has: natural athleticism, serious power in his bat and a plus arm. Most teams would be foolish to pass up on such a talent.
Prediction: Not many teams will pass on Jackson because the Marlins will pick him no. 2 overall.
Will a First Baseman get drafted in Round 1?
College first basemen have been perennially overlooked in the draft. Since 2009, only one such player has been drafted in the first round. But that unfortunate trend figures to be broken this year as not one, but two first basemen could be taken within the first 27 picks.
Wichita State’s Casey Gillaspie offers serious pop in his bat, as well as some well-rounded hitting as a switch-hitter, while Kentucky’s A.J. Reed, the National Player of the Year, led the nation with 23 home runs this season while moonlighting as the team’s no. 1 starter.
Teams looking for some power need not look further than these two slugging first basemen.
Prediction: Gillaspie gets drafted in the mid-first round, while Reed slides down to later rounds.
Which players will be decent value as late-round picks?
The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout may have had the two best seasons to start a major-league career in baseball history, but even he still managed to fall to 25th in the MLB Draft. There may not be another superstar of Trout’s calibre in this year’s draft, but it just goes to show that some talents can slip through the cracks.
The aforementioned Casey Gillaspie could slip into the late-first round pick and may get called up to the big leagues in a few short years. More Trout-like comps like outfielders Derek Hill, a speedster with some pop, and Monte Harrison, a multi-tooled player with a canon arm, will be decent picks.
Prediction: All three get drafted in the first round, with Hill and his speed most likely to make the quickest impact.
