Round 1 MLB Mock Draft

The draft is set to start this Sunday, so I decided to kick off festivities with a mock draft for the first 27 picks.

1. Nationals — Ethan Holliday (#1), SS, Stillwater (OK) HS

Ethan Holliday could make history with his brother. If he is drafted 1st overall, him and Jackson Holliday would be the first brothers to be both drafted 1st overall. I did an article about Ethan, but here’s a quick rundown. He’s 6’4, 210 lbs. He plays SS/3B, and he has tremendous power. A 65/80 on the grading scale. His arm is decent, and the fielding is a tick above average. However, hitting for average, and running are his weakest areas. The Nationals could use a boost to their offense soon, and hopefully Ethan would provide that in 1/2/3 years. They also don’t have a permanent 3B.

2. Angels — Kade Anderson (#2), LHP, LSU

Kade Andedrson is probably the best pitcher in the draft, and he’s ranked 2nd. The Angels also need some pitching help. Anderson’s fastball is his best pitch. He sits around 94 MPH, and can touch 98 occasionally. His changeup is his next best pitch, valued at a 60/80 on the grading scale. What’s appealing is he’s a 6’2 lefty, and he would fit perfectly into the Angels rotation in 1+ years. He has had Tommy John Surgery, which might scare some teams off.

3. Mariners — Eli Willitis (#5), RHP, Oregon State

Willitis is a well rounded overall good pick. You may be wondering why not the higher end pitchers for the Mariners, but they already have a lot of pitching talent. Eli’s hit tool is very good, getting a 60/80 on the grading scale. He is also a plus runner, and defender. He’s a switch hitter, and a SS. I could also see him being moved to 2B, if they don’t want him at SS.

4. Rockies — Jamie Arnold (#4), LHP, Tennessee

Jamie is a southpaw with a very good body.. He sits 94-95 MPH, but touches 97 MPH. He fills up the strike zone really well, but occasionally gives up the long ball. He’s 6’1 and weighs 188 pounds. He has a nasty slider, which offers a 42% swing and miss rate. His changeup is a decent 3rd pitch, but he doesn’t use it as much as his other pitches.

5. Cardinals — Seth Hernandez (#3), RHP, Fort Cobb-Broxton (OK) HS

Probably the best right-handed pitcher in the draft, has a dominating fastball. He can touch triple digits, and sits around 97-98 MPH. He’s 6’4, 190 pounds with a pretty good curveball. His curveball is a true 12-6 curveball, sometimes registering RPMs in the 3,000 range. He fits in perfectly to who the Cardinals have drafted in the past.

6. Pirates — Avia Arquette (#6), SS, Corona (CA) HS

Avia is 6’5 220, and will likely be moved from SS, since his arm is very good. His other stats are all above average, except for maybe his running.

7. Marlins — Billy Carlson (#7), 3B/SS, Corona (CA) HS

Billy is a 3B/SS, and has an extremely good arm, getting a 70/80 on the grading scale. Same for his fielding. Both hitting categories get a 50/80, but he has tremendous bat speed.

8. Blue Jays — JoJo Parker (#9), SS, Purvis (MS) HS

JoJo would fit in perfectly to the Blue Jays offense. His hit tool is a 60/80, and his power is a 55/80. His arm is decent, but everything else is average. He has a chance for 30 HR’s.

9. Reds — Ike Irish (#11), C/OF, Auburn

Ike would be the boost to the Reds offense. His hit is a 60/80, and his power is a 55/80. However, his running, and fielding are a 40/80, and 45/80 respectively. He does hit well to all fields.

10. White Sox — Liam Doyle (#8), LHP, Florida State

An underrated pick, who gets a 75/80 on his fastball. His secondary pitches are decent, but not wipeout. He should work on his control, as it’s a 50/80. He can touch 100 with his fastball, and in college has 15.4 SO/9.

11. Athletics — Kyson Witherspoon (#10), RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Kyson has a great fastball, curve, and slider, but struggles with control. He would go with the trend in the Athletics drafting.

12. Rangers — Tyler Bremner (#18), RHP, Oklahoma

Tyler has a good fastball, and a wipeout changeup. He slider is meh, and his control needs to be dialed in a little.

13. Giants — Daniel Pierce (#13), SS, Mill Creek HS, Hoschton (GA)

Pierce has a 60/80 for running, but a 55 for everything else (except for power, which is a 45/80). He’s 6’0, 185.

14. Rays — Steele Hall (#12), SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)

Hall is an underrated draft pick, whose running is a 70/80 on the grading scale. His fielding is also pretty good, getting a 60/80. There is not a lot of power though. 45/80 on the grading scale.

15. Red Sox — Gavin Kilen (#21), 2B, Tennessee

He has a very good hit tool, and can hit to all fields. He gets an overall 55, but most of everything else is 50. His fielding, though, is a 55/80

For the next 15, we will be giving their scouting grades.

16. Twins — Brendan Summerhill (#16), OF, Arizona

Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

17. Cubs — Kruz Schoolcraft (#19), LHP/1B, Portland (OR)

Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

18. Diamondbacks — Marek Houston (#15), SS, Wake Forest

Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55

19. Orioles — Jace LaViolette (#20), OF, Texas A&M

Hit: 45 | Power: 65 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

20. Brewers — Caden Bodine (#32), C, Coastal Carolina

Hit: 60 | Power: 40 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

21. Astros — Xavier Neyens (#25), 3B, Mount Vernon HS, Mount Vernon (WA)

Hit: 50 | Power: 65 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

22. Braves — Gage Wood (#23), RHP, Arkansas

Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

23. Royals — Wehiwa Aloy (#17), SS, Sunset HS, Arkansas

Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run:  | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall

24. Tigers — Kayson Cunningham (#14), SS, Johnson HS, San Antonio (TX)

Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

25. Padres — Slater de Brun (#24), OF, Summit HS, Bend (OR)

Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 50

26. Phillies — Gavin Fien (#22), 3B, Great Oak HS, Temecula (CA)

Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

27. Guardians — Andrew Fischer (#29), 1B/3B, Tennessee 

Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

Thanks for reading my mock draft! I’ll be covering the draft results live tomorrow! We’ll see how I do!