Charlie Campbell was a senior writer at PewterReport.com.
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Bryan Reynolds, OF, Vanderbilt
Reynolds is a talented bat who led a superb Vanderbilt team in hitting last year. New York supposedly wants a college hitter, and Reynolds is a good value.
Pick change; previously Logan Shore, RHP -
Will Craig, 3B/1B, Wake Forest
The Mets could grab a position player and a pitcher with their two first-round picks. There should be more pitching depth, so it makes sense to grab the bat here. Supposedly, the Mets are hoping to land Craig, and he could be a middle of the order bat for them.
Pick change; previously Taylor Trammall, OF -
Jordan Sheffield, RHP, Vanderbilt
The Dodgers used to be more aggressive with raw, tools prep players, but Andrew Friedman is more of the conservative type. Sheffield fits that to a “T.” He has a developed arm with some serious heat and could rise quickly.
Pick change; previously Will Craig, 3B/1B -
Nick Banks, OF, Texas A&M
The Blue Jays have had an inclination to draft prep players over recent years, but Mark Shapiro has been more of a college bat guy. Banks fits his conservative style for a developed college bat. -
Nolan Jones, OF, High School
The Pirates like prep players, and Jones has a lot of upside. He fits with other draft picks from Pittsburgh. -
Matt Manning, RHP, High School
The Cardinals have three first-round picks and supposedly could be willing to dish out a big some for a player like Manning. The flame-thrower could easily go higher, but his contract demands could push him lower than his talent.
Pick change; previously Cal Quantrill, RHP -
Logan Shore, RHP, Florida
The Padres could go with a safe arm if they take Quantrill with their first selection. Shore was Florida’s ace over A.J. Puk and looks like a safe pick.
Pick change; previously Forrest Whitley, RHP - Matt Thaiss, C, Virginia
San Diego is thin at catcher, and Thaiss has a talented bat. Could stay as a backstop as well. -
Gavin Lux, SS, High School
This is a fun pick for me because Lux’s uncle is Augie Schmidt, the head baseball coach at Carthage College where my father was President for 25 years. I grew up watching Augie’s teams dominate on the field and benefited from Augie’s great coaching during high school baseball. Congratulations to the Lux and Schmidt family with another entry into pro baseball.
The White Sox are supposedly hot for Lux, and he’s the second-best shortstop in the 2016 MLB Draft. Some believe Chicago could take him with the 10th pick. Lux has a well-developed bat and also gets high marks for his defense.
Pick change; previously Corey Sedlock, RHP -
Buddy Reed, OF, Florida
The Orioles like dynamic athletes, and Reed has a lot of talent to work with. Reed’s stock has really fallen because of concerns about his bat.
Pick change; previously Blake Rutherford, OF -
Drew Mendoza, 3B, High School
With back-to-back first-round picks, the Nationals can go with a bat and a pitcher. They seem to prefer college talent, but the first-round college bats are off the board, so they go the prep route. Mendoza could easily go higher as well. - Zack Burdi, RHP, Louisville
The Nationals follow their bat with a pitcher. Burdi is a hard-thrower who could climb their farm system quickly. -
Forrest Whitley, RHP, High School
Texas likes high-upside players who are hard-throwers. The Rangers have drafted a lot of pitching recently, and here’s another talented young arm.
Pick change; previously Joe Rizzo, 3B - Alec Hansen, RHP, Oklahoma
After taking a bat, the Mets look for a talented college arm. I probably should have Hansen going earlier because he’s one of the better college pitcher prospects, and there aren’t that many in this draft class.
Pick change; previously Joey Wentz, LHP - Joey Wentz, LHP, High School
After getting a safe pitcher, Andrew Friedman can be more aggressive to land the Dodgers a talented prep arm.
Pick change; previously Alec Hansen, RHP - Will Benson, OF, High School
St. Louis took a pitcher with its first selection, so it would make sense to get a bat here. The Cardinals aren’t against taking high-upside prep players like Benson. - Taylor Trammall, OF, High School
The Cardinals grab another prep bat to develop. Trammall could easily go higher, so landing him and Benson at the end of the first round are great values.
Pick change; previously Kevin Gowdy, RHP
Back to 2016 MLB Mock Draft: Picks 1-17
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