With the MLB draft being so hard to predict there have been more than 15 different players connected to the Rangers for these 4 picks. Of course, that means nothing. Last year the Rangers drafted Purke and Scheppers, both surprises to most experts, and the year before they drafted Smoak who wasn't on people's radar for the Rangers. Because of this I hadn't planned on even doing a mock draft, but I think I will just to see how I would do.
1. Nationals- Bryce Harper, C: Easiest pick to make. This is pretty much a lock. Harper is considered a once in a generation type player. (Klaw, Sickels, Seller: Harper)
2. Pirates- Jameson Taillon, P- Best pitcher in the draft from The Woodlands High School in Houston. Considered a better prospect than former Woodlands pitcher Kyle Drabek. Throws 3 plus pitches. Also a possibility: Manny Machado. (Klaw, Sickels: Taillon, Seller: Machado)
3. Orioles- Manny Machado, SS- If Pirates take Taillon, then the Orioles should take Machado. These 2 could flip.(Klaw, Sickels: Machado, Seller: Taillon)
4. Royals- Yasmani Grandal, C- Report came out that Royals have made an agreement with Grandal this week. (Klaw, Sickels: Grandal, Seller: Pomeranz)
5. Indians- Drew Pomeranz, P- The Indians have been linked to Chris Sale all year, but with Grandal going to KC Pomeranz will fall to Cleveland and he is the best player available. (Klaw, Sickels: Pomeranz, Seller:C. Sale)
6. Diamondbacks- Chris Sale, P- The Diamondbacks are expected to take whichever lefty the Indians don't take. Sale therefore is the pick here. (Klaw: Loux, Sickels: Sale, Seller: McGuire)
7. Mets- Justin O'Connor, C- O'Connor has been linked to the Rangers for awhile and probably shouldn't be this high. The Mets however, are notoriously cheap in the draft and won't go over slot. O'Connor fits that price. (Klaw, Seller: Cox Sickels: O'Connor)
8. Astros- Zach Cox, 3B- Cox is maybe the best hitter in all of college baseball and 3B is a need position for the Astros. Josh Sale and Michael Choice are also possibilities here. (Sickels: J Sale, KLaw: Deshields, Sellers: Choice)
9. Padres- Kolbrin Vitek, 2b- Vitek is a speedy 2B from Ball St. who shows good pop. This pick should be Vitek or Choice. I'll take Vitek. (KLaw, Seller: Vitek, Sickels: Choice)
10. Athletics- Michael Choice, OF- Choice becomes the highest ever drafted UTA player here. Colon, MI, is another option but the A's drafted middle infielders in the 1st round the last 2 years. (Klaw: C Sale, Sickels: Colon, Sellers: Covey)
11. Bluejays- Josh Sale, OF- The Bluejays like athletes. They would love to get Austin Wilson, but he has HUGE signability issues. With Choice, Cox, and Vitek off the board here I say they take Sale over Delino Deshields and Whitson. (KLaw: Choice, Sickels:Deshields, Seller: Whitson)
12. Reds- Derek McGuire, P- The Reds are almost certainly going to take a college player. Colon is a possibility, as well as pitchers Workman, Wimmers, and McGuire. (KLaw: McGuire, Sickels: Wimmers, Seller: Grandal)
13. Whitesox- Brandon Workman,P- The Whitesox are also expected to take a college pitcher here. With McGuire gone the possibilities include Workman, Wimmers, Wojciechowski, Harvey, and Loux. I'm leaning towards Texas stud Brandon Workman right now. (KLaw:Wojciechowski, Sickels, Seller: Workman)
14. Brewers- Matt Harvey, P- The Brewers are also in the market for a college pitcher. Harvey has tons of upside, but comes with a good amount of risk as well. A higher risk/reward guy than Wimmers, another possibility. (KLaw, Seller: Harvey, Sickels: Jesse Biddle)
15. Rangers- Karsten Whitson, P- Whitson would be a huge pick here. Whitson is expected to be drafted higher but if the draft works out the way I peg it, then he will fall to here. Don't expect the Rangers to let this sort of talent pass them up. Other options include Wimmers,Wojciechowski, and since gone Harvey, Vitek, and Workman. (KLaw: Workman, Sickels: Vitek, Seller: Wimmers)
16. Cubs- Alex Wimmers, P- The Cubs are expected to go college pitcher. I think Wimmers is the best left. (KLaw, Seller: O'Conner, Sickels: McGuire)
17. Rays- Christian Colon, SS/2B- Colon is a premier player at a position that is thin in the Rays system. He makes sense here to me. (KLaw: Colon, Sickels: Josh Skole, Seller: Josh Sale)
18. Angels- Dylan Covey, P- The Angels are supposed to be looking at high school pitching here. Covey, a tough sign, is the best left. Other possibilities are Stetson Allie and AJ Cole. (KLaw: Covey, Sickels: Allie, Seller: Cole)
19. Astros- Delino DeShields, OF- DeShields is a guy the Astros will think about taking with their first pick. If he's still here they will take him. Sale would be a great pick if he's here. Golden, another athletic OF, could be the pick if DeShields is gone. (KLaw: Josh Sale, Sickels: Reggie Golden, Seller: DeShields)
20. Boston RedSox- Anthony Renaudo, P- Renaudo was a top 5 pick coming into the year but he's missed a large part of the year being hurt, and has been ineffective when he has pitched. Te RedSox are apparently still very high on him though. (KLaw, Seller: Renaudo, Sickels: Cox)
21. Twins- Asher Wojciechowski, P- The Twins are notoriously hard to predict. They are team who does things their own way and aren't swayed by public opinion.Wojciechowski is a guy who has been linked to them over the past few weeks. (KLaw: Wimmers, Sickels:Wojciechowski, Seller: Brentz)
22. Rangers- Kaleb Cowart, P/3B: Cowart is a guy who is expected to demand over $3 Mil, which may make this an impossibility. But, the Rangers are one of the few teams that may let him play 3B which he wants to do. This could make him more signable. This would be a risk for Texas I don't know if they'll take. (KLaw: Whitson, Sickels: Loux, Seller: Cowart)
23. Marlins- Aaron Sanchez, P- Local kid who has been linked strongly to the Marlins. (KLaw: Sanchez, Sickels: Whitson, Seller: Eibner)
24. Giants- Bryce Brentz, OF- If Brentz lasts this long I think the Giants will take him. The Giants are almost certain to take a bat. Brentz is a proven college hitter. Other possibilities include Gyorko and Yordy Cabrera. (KLaw: Gyorko, Sickels: Brentz, Seller: Colon)
25. Cardinals- Sammy Solis, P- Reports say that the Cardinals love Solis and he will not be available at their next pick. (KLaw: Solis, Sickels: AJ Cole, Seller: Allie)
26. Rockies- Jesse Hahn, P- The Rockies loved Hahn before the draft, but wasn't expected to fall. With an injury this spring he is considered more of a supplemental pick. The Rockies would love to get him. (KLaw: Allie, Sickels: Kyle Parker, Seller: Hahn)
27. Phillies- Austin Wilson, OF- The Phillies love drafting athletic kids and I think they take a chance on a kid with this much talent here. (KLaw: Biddle, Sickels: Yelich, Seller: Wilson)
28. Dodgers- Cam Bedrosian, P- The Dodgers may not have much money with the financial situation their. Bedrosian should sign close to slot. (KLaw: Cowart, Sickels: Jenkins, Seller: Sanchez)
29. Angels- Peter Tago, P- The Angels love drafting area kids and go with another SoCal kid here. (KLaw, Sickels: Tago, Seller: Castellanos)
30. Angels- Stetson Allie, P- If this flame-throwing high school kid falls to the Angels they will be very excited. I will not be. (KLaw: Bedrosian, Sickels: Covey, Seller: Blair)
31. Rays- Michael Kvasnicka, C- This pick is unprotected and the Rays are expected to take an easy sign. Kvasnicka would be one. (KLaw: Kvasnicka, Sickels:Eibner, Seller- Wojciechowski)
32. Yankees- Tyrell Jenkins, P- The Yankees are expected to take a risk on one of the two multi-sport athletes from Texas. Jenkins has signed with Baylor to play football and baseball, and Zac Lee has signed with LSU to play QB and baseball. I'm going with Jenkins because I think he's more signable. (KLaw: Jenkins, Sickels: Gyorko, Seller: Lee)
Well the draft is in about an hour. Let's see how I do. Go Rangers!!
I am glad to see that you had Cowart going to the Rangers and Bedrosian going so high. Allie would have been huge for the Angels.
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