2020 MLB Mock Draft

Last update: Tuesday, June 9, 2020.
By Charlie Campbell.
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Detroit Tigers: Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State
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. In each of the last three years, I had six picks correct in my MLB Mock Draft. I would be surprised if I hit that this year considering the virus has shut down the sport.

The Tigers could go with Torkelson or Austin Martin, but the consensus suggests that Torkelson has a slight lead on Martin. Torkelson could become the engine of Detroit’s offense to go with Casey Mize leading the pitching staff.

Baltimore Orioles: Austin Martin, OF/3B, Vanderbilt
Martin is considered most well-rounded hitter in the 2020 MLB Draft, but some wonder what position he will play. In Camden Yards, that could be less of a concern as the Orioles could stick Martin in left field or even DH him.

Miami Marlins: Asa Lacey, LHP, Texas A&M
The Marlins are said to be interested in Lacey, Torkelson or Martin. They’ll take which ever falls to their pick. In this case, it would be Lacy.

Kansas City Royals: Zac Veen, OF, High School
Veen fits with Bobby Witt Jr. as a high-upside prep player with a lot of tools and a good bat. Kansas City also took three pitchers in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft, so the Royals could continue to build their position player talent with this pick.

Toronto Blue Jays: Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia
I could see the Blue Jays playing it safe with Hancock. There is talk that the strikeout rate could cause a slide for Hancock, but he’s been highly touted for so long that I think a safe pick won’t slide much in this year of uncertainty.

Seattle Mariners: Nick Gonzales, SS/3B, New Mexico State
Gonzales could easily go higher after leading baseball in home runs this spring after leading the nation in batting average last year. I think Seattle would be thrilled to land him outside of the top five.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Patrick Bailey, C, N.C. State
The Pirates land the top back stop in the 2020 MLB Draft. The switch-hitting Bailey is also strong defensively, so I don’t see him sliding too far. Pittsburgh is said to be zeroing in on a college bat, so the team also might target Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad or UCLA outfielder Garrett Mitchell.

San Diego Padres: Max Meyer, RHP, Minnesota
The Padres are said to be targeting a college player, and Meyer’s skill set and stuff could cause him to be a fast riser. San Diego is looking to make a big jump now, so I could see the team wanting a player who will contribute at the major league level soon.

Colorado Rockies: Heston Kjerstad, OF, Arkansas
Colorado is said to want a high-upside bat like Veen or Kjerstad. I have Kjerstad getting to them, and his left-handed power could be fun to watch at Coors.

Los Angeles Angels: Robert Hassell, OF, High School
The Angeles like to take upside athletes and outfielders. Hassell would fit that as he is one of the top upside talents in the 2020 MLB Draft. He could form a talented outfield of the future with Jo Adell and Jordyn Adams

Chicago White Sox: Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville
I’ve had success getting the White Sox’s picks right because they’ve followed a trend. 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, second baseman Nick Madrigal and first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

If Heston Kjerstad made it to this pick, I think he would be their guy, but I don’t have him getting there. With that in mind, I could see them going with a polished pitcher like Detmers, who could rise quickly and compete to fill out their young rotation. If they go the prep route, look at local Chicago high school star Ed Howard.

Cincinnati Reds: Cade Cavalli, RHP, Oklahoma
The Reds are said to be interested in a safe college pitcher or a high-upside prep bat. I think they will lean to latter and grab an arm who could climb their system quickly. Cavalli has an excellent fastball/curveball combination, so even if he doesn’t master a third pitch, he should at least turn into an impactfull arm for their bullpen.

San Francisco Giants: Tyler Soderstrom, C, High School
The Giants are supposedly interested in Soderstrom, and the high school catcher is considered one the most well-rounded high school bats in the 2020 MLB Draft. Some think he could sneak into the top 10, so it isn’t surprising that San Francisco could be targeting him at No. 13.

Texas Rangers: Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee
Crochet has a top-10 arm but questions about his health and inconsistency. Still, someone is going to take a shot on a lefty who has a triple-digit fastball. Thus, I could see Crochet going in the top 15, and Texas like hard throwers with big upside.

Philadelphia Phillies: Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
The Phillies are said to be hoping to land one of the better college bats. Mitchell does not have a lot of power, but he is a solid hitter with defensive upside. Mitchell is one of the best athletes in the 2020 MLB Draft as well.

Go to 2020 MLB Mock Draft: Picks 16-29

Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.