MLB Pipeline's final mock draft predictions!
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The world will find out whom the White Sox will take with the No. 1 overall pick shortly after 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon. And it sounds like they will be using every last minute to decide between two players.
There is certainty about one thing: Chicago will add a shortstop to its organization. The choice is coming down to UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky and Fort Worth (Texas) Christian School’s Grady Emerson. We both project the White Sox will opt for the college shortstop in Cholowsky, the Golden Spikes Award finalist who was No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Draft rankings until late June, when we flipped Emerson into the top spot.
Below is our final projection for the first 40 selections, with both of us offering separate predictions. Detailed scouting reports, grades and videos for all the players mentioned below are included with MLB Pipeline's Draft Top 250.
Round 1
1. White Sox
Mayo: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA (No. 2)
It sounded like there were strong advocates for both Cholowsky and Emerson in the White Sox Draft room, and even teams behind Chicago were split over which way the team would go.
Callis: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA (No. 2)
The scouts may prefer Emerson but the higher-ups may want the more refined player who can reach the big leagues quicker -- it feels like they have an equal chance of becoming the No. 1 overall pick.
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2. Rays
Mayo: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth (Texas) Christian HS (No. 1)
If Cholowsky goes first, then this seems as close to certain as we’re getting at the top. If the White Sox take Emerson, I think the Rays go with Vahn Lackey here and Cholowsky lands with the Twins.
Callis: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth (Texas) Christian HS (No. 1)
Emerson to the Rays, if available, feels like the biggest lock in the top three selections, with Cholowsky versus Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey a closer call if it comes to that.
3. Twins
Mayo: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech (No. 3)
With Cholowsky and Emerson gone, this is the most likely scenario, though the Twins are also considering UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora, Mississippi prep outfielder Eric Booth Jr. and Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress.
Callis: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech (No. 3)
Though the Twins are exploring other options, this decision probably comes down to which one of the consensus top three prospects remains on the board.
4. Giants
Mayo: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (No. 4)
Jacob Lombard has long been the pick here, and that very well could still happen, but there’s sentiment they’ll go college and Flora’s the best arm in the class. Other options are Burress from the college bat ranks and Booth Jr. from the prep hitter group.
Callis: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (No. 4)
The guess here is that the Giants go with a collegian (Flora or Burress) over a high-ceiling prepster (Lombard or Booth).
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5. Pirates
Mayo: Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS, Hattiesburg, Miss. (No. 6)
Flora might be the preference here, but with him gone, it felt like Booth would be the nod over Lombard.
Callis: Derek Curiel, OF, Louisiana State (No. 12)
As with the Giants, there’s a growing sense that the Pirates will go college (Flora or Curiel) over high school (Booth).
6. Royals
Mayo: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla. (No. 8)
This is where things can go off script depending on what happens above. In this scenario, the Royals could go with Rojas, the best prep arm in the class (and top lefty) or California prep two-way sensation Jared Grindlinger, though they might take Booth over those two should he be available.
Callis: Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS, Hattiesburg, Miss. (No. 6)
The Royals hope for a shot at either Flora or Booth, with Plan C looking like an outfielder, possibly Burress.
7. Orioles
Mayo: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep, Miami (No. 5)
If Lombard doesn’t go to the Giants, it sounds like this is his next possible landing spot. Burress leads a group of possible college hitters in play like Derek Curiel, Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick or Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell. Grindlinger’s name did come up here as well.
Callis: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech (No. 7)
The Orioles’ top priorities appear to be Booth and Burress, in that order, though Lombard’s sudden availability might complicate matters.
8. Athletics
Mayo: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech (No. 7)
It’s almost been all college bats in this spot, and in this scenario, Burress could get the edge over Helfrick.
Callis: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas (No. 11)
The A’s would like Flora, Helfrick or Burress -- and at least one of them should be available. If not, they could explore high-ceiling options such as Booth, Lombard and Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron.
9. Braves
Mayo: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas (No. 11)
Rojas could land here next if he doesn’t go to the Royals. If he’s gone, a college hitter like Helfrick, Bell or maybe Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia could be in the mix.
Callis: AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia (No. 19)
If Burress and Helfrick aren’t available, the Braves probably will look to save money here that they can spend later, starting at pick No. 26. Deal-cutting possibiities include Gracia and Rojas.
10. Rockies
Mayo: AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia (No. 19)
I’m going with Gracia over Curiel here, with Bell and Lebron potentially in play.
Callis: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky (No. 10)
Intel starts to become a lot harder to come by in this part of the Draft. The Rockies appear to be tracking more college than high school players, whether they be bats (Helfrick, Bell, Curiel) or arms (Florida right-hander Liam Peterson).
11. Nationals
Mayo: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama (No. 9)
The enigmatic Lebron and his electric tools could fit anywhere in the 10-19 range. This could be a good fit over the other available college hitters.
Callis: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M (No. 14)
The Nationals are linked to several college bats -- Bell, Curiel, Lebron, Louisville outfielder Zion Rose -- but don’t rule out Grindlinger.
12. Angels
Mayo: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State (No. 18)
We have a run on college hitters, with the Angels contemplating Reese, Bell and Curiel.
Callis: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama (No. 9)
Make it six straight college bats, with Bell, Curiel, Lebron, Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reece, Hacopian and Rose all candidates.
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13. Cardinals
Mayo: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky (No. 10)
That’s six straight college hitters, and the Cards could also be in on someone like Hacopian or Texas Christian outfielder Sawyer Strosnider from that pool, or veer to Grindlinger.
Callis: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida (No. 20)
All of the Cardinals’ preferred college bats may be off the board in this scenario, which could leave them deciding between Peterson and Grindlinger.
14. Marlins
Mayo: Derek Curiel, OF, Louisiana State (No. 12)
The Marlins might not think the LSU standout will still be on the board, but if he is, he could get the nod over Hacopian or one of the college arms who come up at this point in the Draft, like Peterson or Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns.
Callis: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep, Miami (No. 5)
This would be a coup for the Marlins, who couldn’t have expected to get Lombard even a few days ago. If this doesn’t come true, Reese, Grindlinger and Georgia prep outfielder Trevor Condon make sense here.
15. D-backs
Mayo: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga. (No. 13)
The college hitter streak is broken, though the D-backs could contemplate Hacopian here.
Callis: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga. (No. 13)
It’s the first selection since the top four that we’ve agreed on, though the Diamondbacks would consider Hacopian and Gracia if they get to No. 15.
16. Rangers
Mayo: Jared Grindlinger, OF/LHP, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS (No. 16)
This has felt like a bat over arm spot, though they could consider a high school lefty like South Carolina's Carson Bolemon here. They like Grindlinger as a hitter first.
Callis: Jared Grindlinger, OF/LHP, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS (No. 16)
This could be the floor for Lebron or the ceiling for California prep shortstop Tyler Spangler, but there are multiple clubs who don’t believe Grindlinger can get past the Rangers. Peterson could be tempting too.
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17. Astros
Mayo: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida (No. 20)
There will be talk here about a college bat, like Strosnider, but they might covet the ones already off the board and turn their sights to the top college arms, like Peterson.
Callis: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State (No. 18)
The Astros are mentioned with Reese and Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson more than most clubs, and also could have interest in Rose and Strosnider.
18. Reds
Mayo: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina (No. 15)
Other college arms the Reds could be considering are Hunter Dietz (Arkansas), Cole Carlon (Arizona State) and Mason Edwards (Southern California).
Callis: Sawyer Strosnider, OF, Texas Christian (No. 22)
Many of the names tied most to the Reds (Bell, Condon, Lebron) may not last until No. 18, so they could pursue other bats (Strosnider, Rose) or arms (Dietz, Flukey).
19. Guardians
Mayo: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M (No. 14)
Strosnider is another strong college bat possibility, but the Guardians have a lot of outfielders and a lot of left-handed hitters in their system, so a right-handed-hitting infielder might win the day.
Callis: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina (No. 15)
The Guardians might pounce on Grindlinger if given the chance and otherwise are associated with several college arms: Flukey, Dietz, Kuhns and Mississippi right-handers Cade Townsend and Taylor Rabe.
20. Red Sox
Mayo: Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee (No. 25)
It sounds like if things play out like this, the Red Sox might choose an arm from the SEC, with Kuhns getting the nod over Dietz.
Callis: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas (No. 17)
While they might be intrigued by prepsters such as Grindlinger and South Carolina third baseman Bo Lowrance, the Red Sox likely will go the college route with bats (Lebron, Reese) or arms (Dietz, Flukey, Carlon).
21. Padres
Mayo: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian HS, Simpsonville, S.C. (No. 24)
Death, taxes and the Padres taking a high schooler in the first round seem to be among the few certainties. California prep lefty Logan Schmidt is another possibility.
Callis: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla. (No. 8)
The Draft’s best left-hander shouldn’t last 21 picks, but the Padres won’t complain if he does. They’ve been exploring all the demographics, including college bats (Rose) and arms (Flukey), and high school hitters (Mississippi third baseman/catcher Cole Prosek).
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22. Tigers
Mayo: Aiden Ruiz, SS, The Stony Brook (N.Y.) School (No. 32)
There are several high school bats being mentioned here (Spangler, California shortstop Archer Horn, Prosek, Lowrance), but I’m giving them the switch-hitting shortstop.
Callis: Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS, Greenville, S.C. (No. 21)
The Tigers could go the lefty-hitting prepster route yet again with Lowrance, Prosek or Illinois infielder Landon Thome but don’t count out college arms, especially Flukey.
23. Cubs
Mayo: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State (No. 26)
The Cubs could be deciding among a group of college arms here like Dietz, Edwards or Townsend.
Callis: Zion Rose, OF, Louisville (No. 30)
The Cubs could be torn between college bats (Rose, Jackson, Strosnider) and arms (Townsend, Flukey, Kuhns).
24. Mariners
Mayo: Cade Townsend, RHP, Mississippi (No. 35)
Another spot for an arm, with Townsend having a slight edge over Dietz or someone like Notre Dame right-hander Jack Radel.
Callis: Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee (No. 25)
The Mariners will consider Condon and Lowrance but it’s more likely they grab a college pitcher from among Flukey, Kuhns or Dietz.
25. Brewers
Mayo: Zion Rose, OF, Louisville (No. 30)
It sounds like a college bat here, with Rose getting the nod over Strosnider.
Callis: Logan Hughes, OF, Texas Tech (No. 42)
The Brewers often bank some savings with their first-round pick to get aggressive deeper in the Draft, and Hughes would allow them to do that. Rose or Strosnider would be more expensive options.
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Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks
26. Braves (Received for Drake Baldwin winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award)
Mayo: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas (No. 17)
Callis: Cade Townsend, RHP, Mississippi (No. 35)
27. Mets (Had their first pick dropped 10 spots for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax)
Mayo: Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS, Greenville, S.C. (No. 21)
Callis: Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA (No. 31)
28. Astros (Received for Hunter Brown for finishing in the top 3 of AL Cy Young voting)
Mayo: Dee Kennedy, SS, Kansas State (No. 79)
Callis: Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia (No. 28)
Competitive Balance Round A
29. Giants (Acquired from the Guardians in the Patrick Bailey trade)
Mayo: Logan Schmidt, LHP, Ganesha HS, Pomona, Calif. (No. 45)
Callis: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian HS, Simpsonville, S.C. (No. 24)
30. Royals
Mayo: Jack Radel, RHP, Notre Dame (No. 44)
Callis: Brody Bumila, LHP, Bishop Feehan HS, Attleboro, Mass. (No. 23)
31. D-backs
Mayo: Taj Marchand, SS, James Island HS, Charleston, S.C. (No. 37)
Callis: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State (No. 26)
32. Cardinals
Mayo: Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA (No. 31)
Callis: Taj Marchand, SS, James Island HS, Charleston, S.C. (No. 37)
33. Rays (Acquired from the Orioles in the Shane Baz trade)
Mayo: Cole Prosek, 3B/C, Magnolia Heights HS, Senatobia, Miss. (No. 27)
Callis: Cole Prosek, 3B/C, Magnolia Heights HS, Senatobia, Miss. (No. 27)
34. White Sox (Acquired from the Pirates in the Jacob Gonzalez/Brandon Eisert trade)
Mayo: Archer Horn, SS, St. Ignatius Prep, San Francisco (No. 54)
Callis: Landon Thome, 2B/3B, Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (No. 34)
35. Yankees (Had their first pick dropped 10 spots for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax)
Mayo: Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia (No. 28)
Callis: Coleman Borthwick, RHP, South Walton HS, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. (No. 43)
36. Phillies (Had their first pick dropped 10 spots for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax)
Mayo: Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS, Concord, Calif. (No. 53)
Callis: Mason Edwards, LHP, Southern California (No. 36)
37. Rockies
Mayo: Chase Brunson, OF, Texas Christian (No. 50)
Callis: Jack Radel, RHP, Notre Dame (No. 44)
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Round 2
38. Rockies
Mayo: Mason Edwards, LHP, Southern California (No. 36)
Callis: Ben Blair, RHP, Liberty (No. 58)
39. Blue Jays (Had their first pick dropped 10 spots for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax)
Mayo: Ty Head, OF, North Carolina (No. 60)
Callis: Taylor Rabe, RHP, Mississippi (No. 40)
40. Dodgers (Had their first pick dropped 10 spots for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax)
Mayo: Taylor Rabe, RHP, Mississippi (No. 40)
Callis: Rocco Maniscalco, SS, Oxford (Ala.) HS (No. 49)