The 2014 Major League Baseball draft is rapidly approaching, and with college baseball conference tournaments going on this week, most teams are beginning to develop their draft boards. With just over two weeks until draft day I figured this would be an opportune time to preview the upcoming draft.
In compiling this list, I talked to a few “baseball people” about the players available, but for the most part these are prospects I have personally watched and where I think they will be selected next month, after factoring in team needs and their past patterns in the draft. Without further ado, here is the 1st NatsGM 2014 MLB Mock Draft.
#1 Houston Astros Carlos Rodon LHP North Carolina St.
Rumors are the Astros are debating between Rodon, power righty Tyler Kolek or California lefty Brady Aiken. While the high school pitchers are tempting, I think Rodon’s huge floor eventually makes him Houston’s pick at 1-1.
#2 Miami Marlins Tyler Kolek RHP Texas HS
The Marlins will have their choice between one of the three top pitchers in this class: the Marlins are known to scout the Midwest area extensively, leading me to place Kolek to Miami.
#3 Chicago White Sox Brady Aiken LHP California HS
The White Sox are in a good position in this draft, essentially having their decision of the top-3 pitchers made for them. Chicago needs pitching, and would be thrilled to add Aiken to their rapidly-improving farm system.
#4 Chicago Cubs Alex Jackson C/OF California HS
If one of Rodon, Kolek, or Aiken slips to #4, I would expect the Cubs to quickly draft one of them. However, if they are all selected before their choice, I would expect Chicago to choose between Jackson and Florida high school shortstop Nick Gordon.
#5 Minnesota Twins Nick Gordon SS Florida HS
While I tend to expect “safer” picks from the Twins’ organization in the draft, I think Minnesota will lean toward the best middle infielder in this year’s draft, Nick Gordon, or another high school bat.
#6 Seattle Mariners Aaron Nola RHP Louisiana State
Perhaps the safest pick in the draft, Nola could be selected as high as #4, but is unlikely to escape the top-10 picks.
#7 Philadelphia Phillies Grant Holmes RHP South Carolina HS
Philadelphia tends to go with high-ceiling high school prospects early in the draft, and I expect them to continue this pattern. If Nick Gordon is available, he would be difficult to pass on. Otherwise, I expect the Phillies to debate between Holmes and a high school hitter such as Jacob Gatewood.
#8 Colorado Rockies Bradley Zimmer OF University of San Francisco
The brother of Kansas City pitching prospect Kyle Zimmer, Bradley is an outstanding athlete with a quality bat and a good chance of staying in center field as a professional. He’s still raw, but Zimmer has as much potential as any collegiate hitter in this draft.
#9 Toronto Blue Jays Jeff Hoffman RHP East Carolina University
A strong contender to be selected 1-1, Hoffman recently underwent Tommy John surgery which should drop him down draft boards but also makes him an electric pitcher with little bargaining leverage. Toronto has two picks in the top-11, and could use their first choice on perhaps the best prospect in this draft, if fully healthy.
#10 New York Mets Sean Newcomb LHP University of Hartford
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#11 Toronto Blue Jays Michael Conforto OF Oregon State
This pick is not protected, as it is a compensation pick for Toronto as they failed to sign 1st round pick Phil Bickford last summer. Because of this and possessing the #9 overall pick, I expect the Blue Jays to draft a college prospect with limited leverage. Conforto, Oregon State’s left fielder, could be the best pure hitter in this draft and should be a quick to the majors selection.
#12 Milwaukee Brewers Tyler Beede RHP Vanderbilt
As talented as any pitcher in this year’s draft class, Beede has suffered from inconsistency throughout his college career. A former 1st round pick three years ago, Beede will be an intriguing value selection anywhere outside the top-5 picks.
#13 San Diego Padres Trea Turner SS North Carolina State
By far the best collegiate middle infield prospect in college baseball, questions exist if Turner will hit as a professional with wood bats. Nevertheless, a plus runner who should stay at shortstop as a professional is tough to pass on here at pick #13.
#14 San Francisco Giants Kyle Freeland LHP University of Evansville
One of the fastest rising prospects in this class, Freeland could go as high as #4 or #5; however he slots well in the back-end of the top-15 and could thrive under San Francisco’s tutelage.
#15 Los Angeles Angels Max Pentecost C Kennesaw State
Pentecost is the most complete catching prospect available this year and could provide a long-term solution to the Angels revolving door at catcher.
#16 Arizona Diamondbacks Touki Toussaint RHP Florida HS
Arizona is one of the most difficult teams to prognosticate about in the draft (or in general) so Toussaint here is a guess. Toussaint, a massive teenager with the potential for three average or better pitches, would be a terrific value in the middle of round 1.
#17 Kansas City Royals Brandon Finnegan LHP Texas Christian University
Finnegan is currently a wild card, as his talent warrants a higher selection than this, but he has been struggling with a shoulder injury in recent weeks. If his shoulder is cleared by doctors, the Royals would be wise to snatch him up and add another talented pitcher to their organization.
#18 WASHINGTON NATIONALS Erick Fedde RHP UNLV
A few weeks ago Fedde was a lock for the top-10, maybe even the top-5, but after undergoing Tommy John surgery recently, Fedde will slide down draft boards this spring. Nevertheless, the Nationals have shown a willingness to gamble on talented, but injured pitchers, making Fedde a real possibility at #18.
#19 Cincinnati Reds Kyle Schwarber C/OF University of Indiana
A quality athlete with a polished left-handed swing and noticeable bat speed, Schwarber is arguably the best collegiate hitter available and could develop into a dangerous corner outfielder in a few seasons.
#20 Tampa Bay Rays Sean Reid-Foley RHP Florida HS
A terrific high school pitcher who has been slightly overlooked in this deep high school class, Reid-Foley pitches in Tampa’s backyard (somewhat) in Jacksonville, and would be a terrific addition to the thinning Rays’ minor league system.
Others Considered: Michael Chavis 3B/OF Georgia HS, Braxton Davidson 1B North Carolina HS, Derek Fisher OF University of Virginia, Jacob Gatewood SS/OF California HS, Kodi Medeiros LHP Hawaii HS, Luis Ortiz RHP California HS