Jim Callis formally ushered in mock draft season a bit of over per week in the past. Now it’s my flip to take the wheel for the primary time this spring.
Whereas we nonetheless have a protracted approach to go and there’s a ton of uncertainty from prime to backside of this primary spherical, there are some themes you’re going to listen to about persistently as we proceed to undertaking what might occur when the Draft commences on July 13.
One is the very deep crop of highschool shortstops/infielders. You’ll see 10 taken within the prime 27 picks beneath.
The opposite is that school pitching is floating to the highest. Typically superior school arms will separate themselves primarily based on how they carry out, however that hasn’t occurred a lot in recent times. There have been simply 4 school pitchers taken within the first spherical over the previous two years. And whereas this 12 months’s total group isn’t super-deep, there may very well be 4 taken within the prime 10 alone, a quantity that hasn’t been equaled since 2020. This mock has three school lefties going within the prime 5, one thing that hasn’t occurred in practically 50 years, since 1976.
1. Nationals: Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater (Okla.) HS (No. 1)
Don’t learn too a lot into the actual fact Holliday is within the prime spot for a second mock in a row. The Nats are nonetheless casting a really extensive internet and doing due diligence on as many as seven or eight gamers. Holliday and Seth Hernandez are nonetheless the most effective ones, however the group is taking a look at each quadrant on this unsure 12 months.
2. Angels: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State (No. 3)
The Angels have taken a school participant within the first spherical previously six Drafts, and there’s no purpose to suppose they’ll stray from that this go-round. That may very well be one of many left-handers (Arnold, Liam Doyle, Kade Anderson) or the highest school bat in Aiva Arquette. This week, the selection is Arnold, who has two years of great success on his resume, although his stuff has fluctuated at occasions this spring.
3. Mariners: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee (No. 10)
The three lefties are seemingly in play right here, as are school righty Kyson Witherspoon, Arquette and Hernandez. Doyle is coming off a begin by which he struck out 12 in seven shutout innings towards Vanderbilt and went into this weekend of motion main all Division I pitchers in strikeouts and Ok/9.
4. Rockies: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State (No. 5)
If the Rockies wish to go school arm, like they did in 2022 and ’23, that may very well be Anderson on this state of affairs. In the event that they wish to go school hitter, like they did with Charlie Condon final 12 months, Arquette can be the selection as a shortstop with 17 homers and an OPS north of 1.100.
5. Cardinals: Kade Anderson, LHP, Louisiana State (No. 9)
It’s sounding like a school arm right here, with Anderson being the most probably possibility if the highest 4 goes this manner. Witherspoon may very well be an possibility if the three lefties go forward of this spot. This is without doubt one of the first spots the place highschool shortstop Eli Willits might come into play.
6. Pirates: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 2)
This may very well be the second 12 months in a row the Pirates nab one of many top-ranked prep gamers within the nation. Final 12 months, Konnor Griffin was the highest-ranked and now Hernandez is behind solely Holliday. He’s the most effective arm within the class, however the right-handed highschool demographic traditionally scares groups off.
7. Marlins: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 6)
Prior to now two Drafts, the Marlins have gone the highschool route, with an arm (Noble Meyer) in 2023 and a bat (PJ Morlando) final 12 months. One other hitter may make extra sense right here and the Marlins can determine from that deep prep infield class, maybe deciding between Carlson, the most effective defender within the group, and Willits. In the event that they wish to go school, like they did in 2022, somebody like Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston might come into play.
8. Blue Jays: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) HS (No. 4)
Reggie’s child reclassified and he’s one of many youngest gamers within the class, which is able to look good in plenty of staff fashions. He additionally has actually good instruments throughout the board and it’s extraordinarily affordable to suppose he’ll go increased than this.
9. Reds: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis (Miss.) HS (No. 14)
Whereas the Reds took a school arm the previous two years (Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns), they may be extra more likely to dig into that deep pool of prep shortstops. This go-round, it’s Parker over Steele Corridor or Kayson Cunningham, and so they might transfer on to take a look at remaining school arms if there isn’t a match.
10. White Sox: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (No. 7)
He’s athletic, the facility is legit (67 profession homers in school and counting), however he’s hitting .274 at this level (.258 in SEC play) with considerations about his hit software making it a bit of tougher to pinpoint the place he may go. He does nonetheless have the thrilling instruments that made him a possible No. 1 choose coming into the season.
11. Athletics: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma (No. 8)
His identify comes up everywhere in the prime 10. The athletic right-hander has a really actual four-pitch combine and he’s taken a giant step ahead along with his command this 12 months. The effectively of school pitching to take up excessive runs dry fairly shortly, so if the A’s need one, Witherspoon is the best choice right here.
12. Rangers: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek (Ga.) HS (No. 18)
Let’s kick off a run of these highschool shortstop sorts, lets? Pierce has some helium, providing a strong assortment of instruments, instincts and baseball savvy.
13. Giants: Steele Corridor, SS, Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) HS (No. 13)
He can actually choose it and he can actually run (some scouts cling an 80 on that software) and the Tennessee commit has each likelihood to stay at shortstop.
14. Rays: Kayson Cunningham, SS/2B, Johnson (Texas) HS (No. 15)
Sure he’s undersized at 5-foot-9, however the left-handed hitter can actually swing it. He was arguably the most effective performer over the summer season and starred for Staff USA in worldwide competitors.
15. Purple Sox: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest (No. 12)
He’s a no-doubt shortstop who some see as a prime 10 choose. He hasn’t hit as effectively in convention play, however for those who imagine within the bat, he may very well be a steal at 15.
16. Twins: Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee (No. 16)
He had a strong 12 months at Louisville in 2024 and he’s performing even higher on a stacked Tennessee staff, now with 14 homers and simply 16 strikeouts whereas posting an OPS near 1.200 heading into the weekend.
17. Cubs: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (No. 17)
He’s now at 5 double-digit strikeout video games in his final six begins. If he retains this up by the top of the Gauchos’ season, it appears most unlikely he’s nonetheless obtainable right here.
18. Diamondbacks: Ike Irish, OF/C, Auburn (No. 20)
The left-handed swinger has a historical past of hitting with a complicated method whereas attending to his energy in school. He reminds a few of Pavin Smith, taken by the D-backs within the first spherical again in 2017.
19. Orioles: Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona (No. 22)
Summerhill broke out of the gate wanting like among the finest school performers within the nation, then broke his hand, forcing him out for a month. He’s gone 8-for-19 in seven video games since his return with eight walks, seven RBIs and no strikeouts.
20. Brewers: Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina (No. 19)
There aren’t a ton of catchers to think about within the first spherical this 12 months. Stevenson is on a brief listing with energy on the plate (30 homers in two years for the Tar Heels) and glorious defensive abilities.
21. Astros: Sean Gamble, 2B/OF, IMG Academy (Fla.) (No. 21)
The left-handed-hitting infielder provides off a Bryson Stott vibe to some and the Astros aren’t afraid to go the prep route. Gamble is a wonderful hitter who might profile very effectively at second base or in heart subject.
22. Braves: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sundown HS (Ore.), (No. 11)
He’s younger, after reclassifying from 2026, he’s large and he’s left-handed. What’s to not like? It’s been an up-and-down spring, however for those who see him proper, it’s straightforward to suppose he might find yourself being the most effective arm within the class.
23. Royals: Gavin Fien, 3B, Nice Oak (Calif.) HS (No. 29)
Over the summer season, Fien was the most effective pure hitter on the showcase circuit. His spring has been a bit extra modest, however there’s nonetheless an opportunity {that a} staff will purchase the bat they noticed final summer season sooner than this.
24. Tigers: Slater de Brun, OF, Summit (Ore.) HS (No. 25)
Do the Tigers like left-handed-hitting excessive schoolers? The final two Drafts say sure (Bryce Rainer final 12 months, Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle in 2023). Though de Brun is undersized, he can actually hit.
25. Padres: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon (Wash.) HS (No. 26)
It’s a run on Pacific Northwest prep bats! There are some swing-and-miss considerations with Neyens, however he’s proven he can get to his immense energy towards superb competitors.
26. Phillies: Mason Neville, OF, Oregon (No. 62)
In 2018, Trevor Larnach was a school outfielder within the Pacific Northwest (Oregon State) who rode an enormous efficiency up boards in a rush to land within the first spherical. This 12 months’s model may very well be Neville at Oregon, he at the moment leads all Division I hitters with 26 homers.
27. Guardians: Andrew Fischer, 1B/3B, Tennessee (No. 35)
This might give the Volunteers three first-rounders, with Fischer displaying off his appreciable left-handed energy this 12 months after transferring from Mississippi.
