Guess who’s back, back again!… We are LIVE from THE NatsGM Studios to Live Blog and analyze Day 2 of the MLB Draft.  Today the 30 MLB teams will complete Rounds 3-10, before finishing the draft tomorrow afternoon.

I highly encourage you to join me this afternoon with your comments, questions, romance advice, beer recommendations or perhaps even something baseball-related, in the Comment’s Section, on Facebook NatsGM or on Twitter @NatsGMdotcom.

Before we get started, these are my OFFICIAL Predictions for the Nationals Picks on Day 2:  Round 3 #103 Brandon Koch RHP Dallas Baptist University , Round 4 #134 Kevin Duchene LHP University of Illinois , Round 5 #164 Austin Bossart Catcher Penn State , Round 6 #194 John Aiello 3B PA HS , Round 7 #224 Bubba Derby RHP San Diego State ,  Round 8 #254 Justin Garza RHP Cal State Fullerton  , Round 9 #284 Bobby Poyner LHP University of Florida  , Round 10 #314 – Blaise Saiter Catcher Michigan State

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Today on Day 2, I will not comment on every pick made, for obvious reasons, but I will write-up each pick the Nationals make and will highlight other picks I find particularly interesting.

12:54pm – 4th cup of coffee is brewed and I have a box of Triscuits next to me, so I am ready to start drafting – Let’s do this!

Arizona Selects @ 3-76 Taylor Clarke RHP College of Charleston

The 1st pick of Day 2, Arizona selects a local product from Northern Virginia Taylor Clark, who originally went to Towson before transferring.  He has some injury issues but has a great arm and size –  Interesting pick to begin Day 2.

Texas Rangers Select @ 3-78 Michael Matuella RHP Duke University

And this is where Matuella falls and he is an excellent gamble here on Day 2 of the Draft.  Great pick on a risk vs reward basis for Texas!  Also, big CONGRATS to fellow Georgetown Prep alumnus for being selected in the MLB Draft!

1:13pm – Very surprised Louisiana-Lafayette SS/2B Blake Trahan is still available – He would look great in an Orioles or Nationals uniform.

1:17pm – Bummer, Cincinnati just swiped Trahan here in Round 3… Another terrific pick and I like what the Reds have done thus far in the draft.

Tampa Bay Rays Select @ 3-87 Brandon Lowe 2B University of Maryland

My personal favorite player in this draft class was just picked by Tampa Bay!  I have written him up extensively this spring, but I believe in his bat and think he will hit his way to the major leagues.  Great pick by Tampa and the 1st Terps player is off the board!

1:35pm – Some intriguing college players sliding down the board, especially UVA’s Joe McCarthy and San Diego’s David Hill.

1:39pm – Shocking to see hard-throwing Dallas Baptist RHP Drew Smith going to the Tigers here in Round 3.  They typically avoid hard-throwing pitchers, not at all.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS 3rd Round Pick #103 Overall -> Rhett Wiseman OF Vanderbilt

Terrific pick, as I thought there was a good chance he was in consideration for their picks in Round 2.  Wiseman does not have a standout tool, but he has a good chance to develop into a average hitting, average power corner outfielder who could move swiftly through the minor league system.  There is excellent depth this year in the outfield, especially in Rounds 2-6 and Washington is wisely capitalizing on the many quality names.

1:50pm – Already received a text from a baseball guy saying Wiseman was a steal for Washington.  In addition, it seems like GM Mike Rizzo liked what he saw Saturday from Wiseman against the University of Illinois.

1:55pm – Nice selection by Boston early in Round 4, taking Missouri State’s OF Tate Matheny, the son of Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.  He can flat out play and I think he reaches the big leagues.

2:03pm – One of my sleepers just went off the board, as San Diego just took Florida Tech catcher Austin Allen in Round 4.  Not sure he is a catcher long-term, though I give him a chance, but he has a sweet left-handed swing and is a good value here.

2:15pm – Maryland’s LHP Alex Robinson might be a nice value here in late Round 4 or in Round 5.

2:18pm – Oakland just took former Nationals draft pick and North Carolina OF Skye Bolt – He has excellent athleticism and speed, but he has been woefully inconsistent at UNC.  I like the gamble here but he has plenty of boom-or-bust.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS Round 4 Pick #134 Select –> Mariano Rivera Jr. RHP Iona College

Yes, he is the son of legendary New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, his son has seen his velocity spike this season into the mid-90s and he shows a lightning-fast arm.  He profiles as a pure relief pitcher, but this is a good arm to acquire in Round 4.

2:33pm – The Minnesota Twins just nabbed Maryland LHP Alex Robinson early in the 5th round.  He can throw it 95-97mph from the left side and while he’s a pure reliever, he has a chance to be an effective reliever in the pros if he can throw more strikes.  Excellent value here in Round 5-

2:44pm – The slide ends for UVA OF Joe McCarthy, who is finally snatched up by Tampa Bay in the middle of Round 5.  He has been injury-plagued all year and could be a difficult player to sign, but this is a tremendous gamble at this point in the draft and is my pick for Best Pick of Round 5.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS Round 5 Pick #164 Select –> Taylor Hearn LHP Oklahoma Baptist

A player I am not too acquainted with, but Hearn is a large left-handed pitcher who has bounced around to a few schools during his college career.  Supposedly he throws in the mid-90s and can “spin a breaking ball”, making this an intriguing arm here in Round 5.

After more of a Google search, apparently Hearn is listed as 6-5 190lbs and was a three sport athlete in high school, before attending Clemson, San Jacinto JC and finally Oklahoma Baptist.  He has been drafted now 4 times and is only 20-years-old, so it looks like this might be when he finally signs a pro contract.

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3:36pm – Tampa Bay just selected UNC RHP Benton Moss in Round 6 – A terrific Senior sign who shows three average pitches and could pitch at the back-end of a rotation.  He is a nice value pick and could save the Rays some money against slot.  Nice pick!

3:49pm – I like San Francisco’s 6th round pick Clemson OF Steven Duggar… Nice blend of tools and underachievement which makes him a good value here in the 6th.

3:50pm – Former Bethesda Big Train pitcher and San Diego State RHP Bubba Derby is selected by Oakland in Round 6.  I was hoping he would slide to the Nationals later on Day 2, but he could move quickly as a reliever.  He also follows me on Twitter, so Congrats to Bubba on being picked in the MLB Draft!

WASHINGTON NATIONALS Round 6 Pick #194 Select –> Matt Crownover LHP Clemson University

A 4th-year Junior, Crownover has a 3-pitch mix featuring an 88-90mph fastball in addition to an above-average changeup and fringy curveball.  He projects more as a starter than a reliever due to the lack of elite velocity and/or a massive curveball, but Crownover has excellent control and pitchability to allow him to be a starter.  He should sign for less than slot and could be an interesting depth organizational arm in a couple years.

4:09pm – The White Sox just made a terrific value selection in Round 7, grabbing University of Iowa RHP Blake Hickman.  He is a former reliever but he has a big fastball and a sharp slider and could be developed into a solid, 7th inning reliever.

4:16pm – Tampa Bay makes another terrific pick on Day 2, taking University of Michigan SS/RHP Jacob Cronenworth.  I expected him to be drafted as a reliever because he has a big, mid-90s fastball, but the Rays announced him as a shortstop.  Either way, this is a strong pick in Round 7.

4:28pm – Nova Southeastern 1B and personal sleeper Justin Garcia is still available, somewhat surprisingly, now in the middle of Round 7 – Some team is going to get an outstanding value on him.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS Round 7 Pick #224 Select –> Grant Borne LHP Nichols State

Borne is a large left-handed pitcher who shows good command of three pitches, specifically a fastball, curveball and changeup.  At 6-4 195lbs Borne still has some projection remaining in his frame and he could develop into a back-end starting pitcher down the road.  This is a solid pick at the end of the 7th round.

4:43pm – Interesting that the Nationals have taken 4 consecutive college pitchers, including 3 straight left-handed pitchers, after taking outfielders with their first 3 picks.  At some point they are going to need to grab some infielders so they can field their low minor league affiliates this summer.

5pm – Happy Hour time everyone, cheers!

5:03pm – Cleveland just selected Cal State Fullerton RHP Justin Garza, a terrific value pick in Round 8.  Cleveland has done extremely well thus far in the draft.

5:08pm – Oakland continues to crush it these days, as they select Nick Collins, the Georgetown catcher in Round 8.  Collins is a quality left-handed hitter who the Georgetown pitchers liked throwing to behind the dish.  He has legit power in the bat, but I worry if he cannot catch, he might struggle to profile at another position.  That said, if he’s signable, I love this gamble late on Day 2.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS Round 8 Pick #254 Select –> Koda Glover RHP Oklahoma State

Very large pitcher’s frame at 6-5 205lbs, Glover has a massive fastball that can reach the mid-90s and as a senior, could represent an interesting arm at a below-slot price.  He has an excellent name and a big fastball, which qualifies as a good pick by me in Round 8.

5:25pm – Lamonte Wade from the University of Maryland was just deftly taken early in Round 9 by the Minnesota Twins.  Wade has excellent speed, a strong arm and some pop in his bat, making him an extremely toolsy player to be available in Round 9.  Outstanding pick for Minnesota-

5:50pm – Feels like senior catcher time for the Nationals, though NC State’s Logan Ratledge would be a nice pick and a senior to boot!

WASHINGTON NATIONALS Round 9 Pick #284 Select –> David Kerian 1B University of Illinois

An athletic, switch-hitting first baseman who was a major contributor on Illinois impressive 2015 team, making it all the way to the super-regional.  Kerian slugged 14 home runs this season for the Illini, and has some positional flexibility which could allow him to move up the organizational ladder.  As a senior, he should sign quickly and will likely begin his career at short season Auburn.

6:11pm – Excellent pick in Round 10 by the Phillies with position flexible switch-hitter from the University of Florida Josh Tobias.  A senior sign with position flexibility, he could develop into a backup player in a few seasons.

6:20pm – Milwaukee makes a nice pick in the middle of Round 10 picking LHP Jake Drossner from the University of Maryland.  He struggled with injuries and control this season, but he has a big arm for a lefty and could develop into a lefty reliever.  Nice gamble in Round 10-

6:32pm – Kep Brown, my pick for Washington in Round 2, was just taken by St. Louis in Round 10.  He has monster power but injured his achilles this spring, which caused his stock to tumble.  He is more likely to go to the University of Miami unless St. Louis does something miraculous, but excellent gamble and the Cardinals should be commended for taking the risk.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS Round 10 Pick #314 Select –> Taylor Guilbeau LHP University of Alabama

A senior lefty who served as Alabama’s Friday night starter, Guilbeau has a 88-90mph fastball with some movement, along with a breaking ball and a changeup.  He has a large frame and could develop into a useful lefty specialist in relief in a few seasons.  Again, another senior who should sign quickly and cheaply, but also has pro potential as well.

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And that’s a wrap, Day 2 of the MLB Draft is complete.  Washington surprisingly took OF Rhett Wiseman with their 1st selection on Day 2, after taking two outfielders on Day 1, then proceeded to select 5 college pitchers with their next 6 selections.  I am a little surprised the team did not gamble on a high school player today, but overall, I think the Nationals did a nice job of grabbing a talented player in Wiseman, a projectable reliever in Rivera III, and additional college arms with potential.

* I will be back tomorrow at Noon to analyze and Live Blog the Final Day of the 2015 MLB Draft.  Thanks for joining me today, and please come back tomorrow! *