By Charlie Campbell.
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Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State
As an NFL writer, I know a lot of NFL scouts, general managers, coaches, and media draft experts who consult my mock draft and my prospect rankings. However, they rarely credit me publicly, but will say nice things to me privately. I want to start this mock by giving some praise to the MLB draft experts.
I have a lot of NFL sources, but zero MLB sources. I follow MLB and college baseball for fun, but I’m not an expert. For that, I recommend you check out the great work done by Baseball America, Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis of MLB Network. They all are tremendous at covering MLB and the MLB draft. Now onto my MLB Mock. Last year, I had six picks correct, and I had six picks correct in my final 2017 MLB Mock Draft.
Rutschman is the top college player in the draft, as he is a complete hitter who produces power, average, and more walks than strikeouts. The switch hitter was phenomenal in 2018 and has stayed consistent as a junior. On top of his great bat, Rutschman is a talented backstop who has a good arm. It would be shock if he isn’t the first player drafted. -
Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr., SS, High School
Like the NFL Draft this year, the first picks appear to be locked in, with Witt being the lock to the Royals. Witt is a five-tool shortstop who has an advanced approach at the plate. Along with power, Witt has speed and shows good skill as a defensive shortstop. -
Chicago White Sox: Andrew Vaughn, 1B, California
Over the past few drafts, the White Sox have been targeting college hitters who hit for a high average, have some power, and critically have more of walks than strikeouts. You can see that trend with catcher Zach Collins, third baseman Jake Burger, and second baseman Nick Madrigal. There’s lots of hype though about the White Sox taking prep shortstop C.J. Abrams, but I think they will stick with their approach that led to the those three picks. Vaughn fits that trend with power, average, and more walks than strikeouts. I could also see J.J. Bleday being in the mix for Chicago. -
Miami Marlins: C.J. Abrams, SS, High School
The Marlins have been scouting Vanderbilt outfielder J.J. Bleday hard with Derek Jeter going to watch Bleday in the final weeks before the draft. Reportedly, however, there is a split with the scouts wanting Bleday but Jeter and the top of the organization wanting Abrams. The talented athlete Abrams has five-tool potential with the ability to play middle infield or outfield. I see Miami taking who Jeter wants over who the scouts prefer. -
Detroit Tigers: Riley Greene, OF, High School
Supposedly, the Tigers are all over Greene, although J.J. Bleday is also said to be a top candidate for Detroit. Greene is said to be the best high school hitter in this year’s draft, so that is quality value for Detroit to close out the top five. -
San Diego Padres: J.J. Bleday, OF, Vanderbilt
The Padres add another power bat who could go great between Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Bleday has some serious power and has been on fire this spring. Bleday can stay in right field as a pro, and I think he could end up being one of the best players to come out of this draft class. -
Cincinnati Reds: Zach Thompson, LHP, Kentucky
This is pretty crazy to think that the Reds could land the best pitcher in the draft with the seventh-overall pick, but that looks likely given the top six teams and the players in this draft. Cincinnati could look at players like Thompson, Nick Lodolo from TCU or Alek Manoah from West Virginia. I give the edge to Lodolo or Thompson because they’re left-handed and having a dominant lefty is needed in the NL Central. I think Cincinnati could go just down the road for Thompson. -
Texas Rangers: Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia
Supposedly, the Rangers are in on Arizona State outfield Hunter Bishop or another power arm who always seems to appeal to Texas. I have the Rangers going with the latter as Manoah. He has been on fire this spring mowing down hitters with ease. I can see him in a Rangers uniform before too long. -
Atlanta Braves: Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor
The Braves are a tough team to figure out, as they could go many directions with this pick. However, Langeliers could easily go higher in the top 10, so he’s a good value. Langeliers is said to be one of the best defensive catcher prospects in the last decade, plus he’s making strides as a hitter. That could make him tough to pass on for Atlanta. -
San Francisco Giants: Nick Lodolo, LHP, TCU
The Giants’ new regime is interested in college players, and that makes sense as they provide less risk. Lodolo could go higher because he has three developed pitches, with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s. However, he does not have an eliminating pitch that is utterly dominant. Hence, I think he could slide a little lower than expected. -
Toronto Blue Jays: Hunter Bishop, OF, Arizona State
Bishop could go in the top five, so this could be a nice value for Toronto just outside of the first 10. This spring, no player has elevated himself as much as Bishop has with his explosion in power and OPS. I could see the Blue Jays feeling that Bishop is too good to pass up. -
New York Mets: Bryson Stott, SS, UNLV
The Mets are reportedly zeroing in on Stott, which makes sense because he looks like a safer selection. He has been a consistent hitter in college while showing the defensive skills to stay at shortstop. The other players I gave consideration to were JUCO power pitcher Jackson Rutledge and Texas Tech third baseman Josh Jung. I could see any of that trio being with the Mets next week. -
Minnesota Twins: Jackson Rutledge, RHP, Junior College
The Twins are mashing the hell out of the ball this season, putting up an insane amount of home runs. Clearly, Minnesota has an offense ready to compete with the elite of the American League. However, the Twins could use more pitching, and Rutledge could be a fast mover through the system. He has overpowering stuff, with ridiculous numbers this season to back that up. Rutledge could be the dream pick for Minnesota. -
Philadelphia Phillies: Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech
The Phillies get a good value in Jung, who has been a steady hitter throughout his collegiate career. He also has the defensive skill to stay at the hot corner, and before long, he could be pushing to move through the Phillies’ system quickly. -
Los Angeles Angels: Brennan Malone, RHP, High School
Malone has one of the best pitch combinations in the draft with his fastball and slider. Los Angeles does not shy away from high school players, so Malone should be a top candidate for the Angels. -
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll, OF, High School
The Diamondbacks have three first-round picks and a ton of money to sign them, so this draft could be historic for the Diamondbacks if they get it right. Carroll is a fast outfield and developed hitter. He could stand to to get thicker as he ages, but that issue shouldn’t cause him to slide lower than the middle portion of the first round. -
Washington Nationals: Matthew Allan, RHP, High School
Prep right-handed pitchers are viewed as the riskiest direction to go, but the Nationals could take a chance on Allan, who has the ability to go higher. He has a power arm and could be the best prep arm in this draft class.
Go to 2019 MLB Mock Draft: Picks 18-34
Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.
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