For pick-by-pick analysis of the 2010 MLB draft’s first round, click here.
With up to 50 rounds adding up to 1,600 picks, most of which either don’t sign or won’t be seen for three to four years, the MLB Draft doesn’t hold the same attention grabbing star power as its NFL and NBA counter parts.
But that doesn’t mean MLB Mock Drafts aren’t still fun to discuss and debate, especially with the draft only a few weeks away.
For picks 17-32 of the 2010 mock first round, click here.
For the updated MLB mock draft 2.0, click here.
By Jake McCormick
Mock ups of the 2010 draft can be filled in through a number of ways, including a team’s current minor league strengths, their draft history, or a prospect’s signability and measurements as Best Player Available.
Since most teams operate under these similar principles when they’re on the clock, it’s only fair to incorporate each into these predictions:
Part one: Picks 1 through 16 (* indicates compensation pick)
1. Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, C, College of Southern Nevada
Donovan McNabb, John Wall, and Stephen Strasburg have electroshocked the D.C. sports scene back to life with promises of a better tomorrow. Getting the consensus No. 1 prospect in the draft is just gravy at this point.
2. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jameson Taillon, RHP, The Woodlands HS (Texas)
Taillon is widely considered the top pitching prospect available, and Pittsburgh’s best current and future starters are Paul Maholm and Zack Duke. Taillon is a 6’7” power arm complete with three plus pitches (fastball, slider, curveball).
3. Baltimore Orioles: Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss
The top college prospect in most MLB circles hasn’t done a lot to help his stock in the latter half of the NCAA season, but no one has stepped up to usurp him at the top of the heap. Even so, Pomeranz’s stuff and upside are too good for the Orioles to pass up.
4. Kansas City Royals: Manny Muchado, SS, Miami Brito HS (Florida)
Nothing about Muchado’s game stands out as spectacular; rather, he’s very good at everything. The second best position player in the draft has a very similar skill set to the 2007-08 versions of JJ Hardy.
5. Cleveland Indians: AJ Cole, RHP, Oviedo HS (Florida)
Cole is a 6’5” 190 lb twig, but what 18 year old isn’t? His fastball sits in the low 90s, but has reached 96 occasionally over the spring season. A few more pounds and years of development could turn that occasional upper-90s fastball into a consistent threat.
6. Arizona Diamondbacks: Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech
Another college prospect stuck in draft stock limbo, the 2009 ACC Pitcher of the Year won’t get past a team in dire need of pitching prospects after dealing Dan Schlereth and Max Scherzer and losing Jarrod Parker to Tommy John surgery.
7. New York Mets: Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley HS (Florida)
If genes are any indication of MLB longevity, Whitson will be playing at the highest level (father Ed played 15 years in the Bigs). His off-speed secondary pitches are a work in progress, but his delivery and sinking fastball give Whitson enough qualifications for a top 10 selection.
8. Houston Astros: Zack Cox, 3B, Arkansas
This left handed underclassman can mash and Cox would fit nicely in an organization that has featured infield power (Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman) for many years. His fielding isn’t the best, but that’s what developmental years are for.
9. San Diego Padres: Dylan Covey, RHP, Maranatha HS (California)
Covey’s curveball could be the best in this draft, and he’s a So Cal type of guy that prefers a smaller market. Is there really any better option for both parties? I think not.
10. Oakland A’s: Chris Sale, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast
The A’s are overstocked with position players in their minor league system, and with many of their hurlers at or close to the Bigs, it’s about time for Billy Beane to start restocking the pitching shelves. Sale has an above average repertoire and consistently throws strikes.
11. Toronto Blue Jays: Christian Colon, SS, Cal State Fullerton
See comments about Manny Muchado for a full description of Colon, who is a ballplayer in every clichéd sense of the word. He does have a better throwing arm and experience against college level hitting.
12. Cincinnati Reds: Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, LSU
Of all the unimpressive first round college pitching prospects in this year’s draft, Ranaudo has probably done the most to hurt his stock. He’s good enough to go top five, but will most likely fall to within a spot of the Reds.
13. Chicago White Sox: Kaleb Cowart, IF-RHP, Cook County HS (Georgia)
Cowart’s probably the best hitting/pitching combo available, and is talented enough to be a justified draft pick as a pure pitcher or pure infielder. Given the way the White Sox’s farm system looks now, either one will help.
14. Milwaukee Brewers: Josh Sale, Bishop-Blanchett HS (Washington)
The Brewers have swayed more towards pitching prospects in the last few years, so naturally they’ll pull a George Costanza and go the complete opposite of conventional thinking by selecting the power hitting lefty Sale.
15. *Texas Rangers: Stetson Allie, 3B-RHP, St. Edwards HS (Ohio)
Allie could be an above average masher/defender at third or close games with his Joba Chamberlain-like upper-90s on the mound. He’s definitely a high-risk, high-reward pick, but the potential return far outweighs the potential failures for half these teams.
16. Chicago Cubs: Brandon Workman, RHP, Texas
Not ones to pass up a collegiate fireballer that comes with some assembly required, the Cubs will take the Texas Longhorn sophomore that has a similar makeup to Jeff Samardzjia. Thankfully for them, Workman has spent more time on the mound than the gridiron.
Stay tuned for picks 17-32…