Guardians Baseball Insider

This mock was started pasted midnight my time and finished close to 2:30 AM. I hope you enjoy and don’t judge my exhausted writing too harshly. One more mock will come out before the draft in list format. 

1 Detroit Tigers – Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State

Sleeper Asa Lacy, LHP, TAMU

This one is practically signed, sealed, and delivered. Putting the sleeper for consistency more than anything else. 

2 Baltimore Orioles – Austin Martin, OF, Vanderbilt  

Sleeper Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State

Flipping these two, for now, the O’s seem to be content to take the best player. They played the same game a year ago and went with the more expensive but higher-rated talent.

3 Miami Marlins – Asa Lacy, LHP, TAMU

Sleeper Austin Martin, OF, Vanderbilt 

If Martin is there, he is the pick, if he is not, then it is Lacy. This is the second easiest pick in terms of what is known and what is likely. 

4 Kansas City – Zac Veen, OF, Spruce Creek HS (FL), Committed Florida

Sleeper Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State

Veen seems to have settled in as their guy. I still think Moore might be tempted by Gonzales, who has the intangibles and character for days. Much like Witt a year ago, Veen has tools for days and could be a potential five-tool player. 

5 Toronto Blue Jays – Max Meyer, RHP, Minnesota 

Sleeper – Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State

Still a bit crazy that I am not going with bloodlines, but Meyer has the best present stuff in this class. Front office there has no fear when it comes to height, and if Meyer was 6’5”, he would be going no worse than two in this draft. 

6 Seattle Mariners – Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State

Sleeper  Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia

Mariners have gone with college pitchers the last two years in round one, both from small schools. I don’t think they will fear that Gonzales comes from New Mexico. Both Logan Gilbert and George Kirby excelled at missing bats, which Hancock did not do in college until this season.    

7 Pittsburgh Pirates – Heston Kjerstad, OF, Arkansas 

Sleeper Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (OR), Committed Oregon State

The connection between the Pirates and college bats has been there throughout the process. There has been more prep talk of late, but is that just smoke? Kjerstad is the last of the current tier of college bats. 

8 San Diego Padres – Robert Hassell, OF, Independence HS (TN), Committed Vanderbilt

Sleeper Tyler Soderstrom, C/OF, Turlock HS (CA) Committed to UCLA 

They have been tied to Veen or Hassell throughout the process. Some prefer Hassell. If both were off the board, I think Soderstrom is the next bat that they would consider here. 

9 Colorado Rockies – Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia

Sleeper Dillon Dingler, C, Ohio State

Hancock was a potential first overall pick, and being there at nine and throwing a sinker makes this a logically pick for the Rockies. The Rockies have been tied to several pitchers in the Comp A round and could go for one of the college catchers here. 

10 Los Angeles Angels –  Ed Howard, SS, Mount Carmel HS (IL) Committed Oklahoma State `

Sleeper Drew Bowser, 3B, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA) Committed Stanford

I started to go with Detmers here, but when you look at the data the last four years, the Angels have taken one pitcher in the top two rounds and none in the first. Howard fits what we have seen them do, and give them another dynamic up the middle talent. The other rumor is the Angels taking Bowser knowing he intends to go to Stanford in order to punt the pick this year and get a compensation pick in 2021. 

11 Chicago White Sox – Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville 

Sleeper Dillon Dingler, C, Ohio State

If Detmers is there, he is the pick. If they go with a college bat, I think Dingler fits the profile better than Bailey. If Crochet is the pick that shows me, Williams made the final call on the pick. 

12 Cincinnati Reds – Cade Cavalli, RHP, Oklahoma

Sleeper Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA) Committed Vanderbilt

After all the prep arm talk, we swing back to a college arm. Cavalli is in play with the last three teams. If they do go with a prep outfielder, then I think PCA fits what the Reds look for more than Hendrick. 

13 San Francisco Giants – Aaron Sabato, 1B, UNC 

Sleeper Tyler Soderstrom, C/OF, Turlock HS (CA) Committed to UCLA  

They have drafted and signed on prep pitcher the last two years. What they have done is taken safer players with big college production regardless of position. Sabato under slot here with a prep talent in round two makes a lot of sense. Soderstrom is the name most often tied to the Giants right now.

14 Texas Rangers – Patrick Baily, C, NC State

Sleeper Justin Foscue, 2B, Mississippi State

The Rangers went very conservative a year ago and are rumored to do the same this year. Bailey is the top bat college bat to most people. Foscue does have a lot of fans and could be in play as well. 

15 Philadelphia Phillies –  Justin Foscue, 2B, Mississippi State

Sleeper Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA

Phillies are about as conservative as a team gets. After some earlier rumors about them and prep talent, mos have them on college hitters. Foscue is the safer of the two due to his college production, which the Phillies have targeted.

Read Jeff Ellis’ full mock draft here