2018 MLB Mock Draft Continued

Last update: Monday, June 4, 2018.
By Charlie Campbell.
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Tampa Bay Rays: Kumar Rocker, RHP, High School
Last year, I nailed the Rays taking Brendan McKay. Two years ago, I correctly had them taking Joshua Lowe, and the year before that, I got right Tampa Bay taking Garrett Whitley. Let’s see if I can make it four years in a row. The Rays like big upside prep players, and Rocker fits that to a “T.” He has great stuff with a live arm. He could end up developing into a top of the rotation starter for Tampa Bay.

Los Angeles Angels: Jordyn Adams, OF, High School
The Angels took a prep bat last year, and they like high upside players. I could also see them stepping up with the kind of money to get Adams to focus on baseball. He’s committed to play football and baseball at North Carolina, where his father is an assistant coach on the football staff.

Kansas City Royals: Jordan Groshans, 3B, High School
The Royals could use some young position player talent and a bat to develop. There are rumors that Kansas City is high on Groshans.

St. Louis Cardinals: Jared Kelenic, OF, High School
Kelenic is getting rave reviews for his balanced skill set, so going in the top 10 is possible. The Cardinals have an established track record of taking college pitchers, but they also have taken high-upside young players. Kelenic would be an excellent value here for St. Louis.

Minnesota Twins: Brice Turang, SS, High School
The Twins took a prep player at No. 1 last year, but they’ve taken college pitchers in recent years, so I’m torn on this pick. Supposedly Minnesota is looking at some of the top shortstops, and Turang would fit that, although Jim Callis reports that the price tag for Turang might be too much for the Twins to swallow. I think they could pony up for him.

Milwaukee Brewers: Seth Beer, 1B, Clemson
The Brewers took a really talented college bat last year with Keston Hiura, and Beer could make it two years in a row. Even though Beer’s average has declined since his electric freshman year, he still has big power and walks a lot. Beer going to the Brewers is just too right.

Colorado Rockies: Anthony Seigler, C, High School
The Rockies grab a bat who could do some major damage in Coors. Seigler has been a late riser, and there’s a chance he doesn’t make it to Colorado’s pick.

New York Yankees: Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson
Scoring runs shouldn’t be an issue for New York for many years to come. Here’s a pitcher who could be a fast riser and put himself in contention to help the Yankees in the near future.

Chicago Cubs: Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida
The Cubs went away from drafting bats high last year when they took some arms. Here, the Cubs grab another polished arm who could rise quickly to help them. Kowar has been a riser this spring, and going in the top 20 seems possible for him. I think he would be a great fit on the North Side.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, High School
The Diamondbacks have a patient approach with their prospects according to MLB’s Jonathan Mayo, and Rodriguez could fit that. Rodriguez pushes triple digits with his fast ball, so Arizona may not need to be as patient. If he doesn’t work out as a starter, going to the bullpen seems like a safe backup plan.

Boston Red Sox: Sean Hjelle, RHP, Kentucky
The Red Sox gave up a lot of talent in the Chris Sale trade, among other deals, and getting more arm talent would make sense given the contract status of Sale and the durability issues of David Price. Hjelle could rise quickly to major league contention.

Washington Nationals: Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State
The Nationals might lose Bryce Harper in free agency. Here’s an outfielder who picked up the slack at the plate when Nick Madrigal was injured. That ability to elevate could appeal to Washington given its predicament with Harper.

Houston Astros: Connor Scott, OF, High School
The Astros have taken prep players and high-upside athletes. Scott would fit that mold as he is a really talented player from a great high school program, Plant High School in Tampa, Florida, which is also the high school that my father went to.

Cleveland Indians: Noah Naylor, C, High School
Here is a high-upside player who could be at the core of another strong Cleveland team. Naylor has a big bat and is a left-handed hitting catcher, which is tough to find and a prize commodity. I could see Cleveland liking his big bat and it playing well at Jacobs Field – I know they call the building something else, but to me it will always be Jacobs Field, just like the White Sox and Comiskey Park, etc.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Kyler Murray, OF, Oklahoma
Murray is in play to be a late first-rounder, and I’m going to take advantage of being able to mock a player in both my MLB mock and likely my NFL mock, although Murray is a year or two away from that. It might be wise for Murray to pursue baseball over football. He is a special outfielder with a ton of upside. That fits what Los Angeles typically drafts and develops. There aren’t many 5-foot-11, 195-pound quarterbacks in the NFL. Baker Mayfield is the exception and not the norm.