1. White Sox-Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA (B+)

I personally think Cholowsky is hugely overrated. I don't think his power at the college level with translate well to the majors. He'll be a solid contact hitter and his glove will shine, but he won't quite live up to the 5-tool player the fans in the south side of Chicago expect him to be. It's also not a very good positional fit. They already have Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth patrolling the middle infield at the major league level and Caleb Bonemer and Billy Carlson soon to come. While Cholowsky is very talented and seemed to be the obvious first overall pick, but there are more talented players available in this draft class.

2. Rays-Grady Emerson, SS, High School (A-)

MLB had Emerson rated as the #1 prospect, ahead of Cholowsky in their rankings. I like Emerson, but of course as always with the high school guys it's so hard to tell. Emerson has all the tools to succeed very early in Single-A and then of course in the MLB four or so years out. The Rays have a very solid team right now, but have a lot to build for towards the future, led by Junior Caminero. I think it certainly is a good idea to take a high school guy here, they're very good right now but don't have the pieces yet to compete for a World Series. By the time Emerson comes up and they draft some college players in the next couple drafts, and improve the pitching staff, the Rays can compete very soon.

3. Twins- Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech (A-)

I don't understand why Lackey has been hyped up so much more than Daniel Jackson going into this draft. Sure, I'm biased as a huge Georgia fan, but Jackson has better hitting and speed tools. But let's take this away from Jackson, and actually focus on Vahn Lackey. I think Lackey is incredible behind the plate, he can throw anybody out and even just his presence can discourage teams from trying to run on him. While there is certainly some work to be done on his bat, it has the potential to be one of the best in the league.

4. Giants-Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (B)

Flora and his elite fastball join a list of 2 other UCSB pitchers drafted in the top 4 since 2015, alongside Dillon Tate and and Tyler Bremner. 6 foot 5 and throwing 97 MPH fastballs, he looks to be a superstar. I always heavily prefer taking a pitcher out of college rather than high school, and with the way Logan Webb has performed below his career standards this season, I think it's a great pick. The Giants have been one of if not the worst teams in the MLB this season, and that's mainly due to their hitting. I think it would've been better for them to take a hitter in this spot, but with the MLB draft and these guys still having a couple years before they come to the MLB, it really is about taking the best guy available, and in this spot, I do think it was Flora.

5. Pirates-Derek Curiel, OF, LSU (A-)

Last time the Pirates took a guy from LSU in the first round, it worked out pretty well. Paul Skenes, despite the struggles this season, is looking like one of the best pitchers in baseball. While I don't love Curiel's power, that's certainly something that can be taught more easily by MLB coaches rather than pure hitting ability, which Curiel definitely has. At worst, I think Curiel ends up being an everyday .275 hitter, but he could become a .315 guy with good pop.

 

6. Royals-Zion Rose, OF, Louisville (C)

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuge reach by Kansas City here. Rose is ranked as the #30 prospect on mlb.com, and while I do think that's a bit low for them, there's at least 10 guys here that would've been better picks than Rose. While his bat has looked very good in both Cape Cod and even better in college, hitting .417 in only 36 games this past year, I don't think his bat will translate well to facing the better breaking stuff in MLB. I think Rose will be a solid everyday player, but not the type of guy you draft with the 6th overall pick.

7. Orioles-Eric Booth Jr, OF, High School (B-)

Booth has a ton of speed and a great glove, but the bat really does worry me. While he has the speed to swipe 60 bags a year, I question if he has the ability to get on base that much. While I think he's a solid player, I don't think the bat will end up being something you like to see out of a 7th overall pick.

8. Athletics-Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech (B+)

I truly am torn on this pick. One the one hand, Burress hit 60 home runs in 3 seasons at GT, but on the other hand, he's no taller than 5 foot 8, and a big lack of height can often be a lack of power in MLB. Burress has a ton of skill, but he needs to continue to work on that bat and find a way to adapt it into MLB to make up for his very short frame.

9. Braves-AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia (A-)

Was this a bit of a reach? Yes. But in my opinion, it was an amazing reach. I don't love Gracia's glove, but man that lefty bat is incredible. I do think Gracia ends up being a DH as he progresses in his MLB career, but he is a great cleanup hitter. The power in that Braves lineup is incredible, but with guys like Olson and Riley starting to get older, Gracia can be the guy to bring that new power into the lineup.

10. Rockies-Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky (D)

I am astonished by this pick. Jacob Lombard and Justin Lebron sitting right there for the taking and you go with Tyler Bell instead? Taking a shortstop there is an amazing pick but Bell is not the guy! He has at best an average bat, maybe a .260 hitter with 15 home runs in the majors. And it's not like he has the incredible glove to go along with it. Just a bad pick by the Rockies.

11. Nationals-Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M (C-)

Hancopian just doesn't have much in his game. He's a solid contact bat, but lacks power, speed, and fielding. I just unfortunately don't see a ton of potential in him. I would've willed the Nationals to go with a college outfielder at this pick, or a catcher. Daniel Jackson still on the board!!!

12. Angels-Jared Grindilinger, LHP/OF, High School (B-)

These two-way players always worry me, especially coming out of high school. The main example I'll look back on is Brendan McKay. He was supposed to be a superstar two-way player, and instead played only 18 games in the MLB. I think it would be better for Grindilinger to choose one and commit to it, that would give him the best chance to succeed. And I think he should go for pitcher. He's got a very good fastball and changeup, and while the slider needs work, he can get it to be a great pitch as well. I think he has much more potential as a pitcher than a hitter.

 

13. Cardinals-Trevor Condon, OF, High School (B+)

If Trevor's power is anything like his older brother Charlie's, he is in a great position. While Charlie Condon hasn't quite yet graduated to the majors, I think he is going to be one of the best power hitters in the league. However, for Trevor (hey nice rhyme), his game is much more focused around contact and speed. He's got one of the best running grades in this draft class and I think that will translate well to MLB. He could be the next Willie McGee or Vince Coleman in St. Louis.

14. Marlins-Jacob Lombard, SS, High School (A-)

The 5th rated prospect in this draft on mlb.com, and I really am confused to how he fell this far. He has an incredible combination of speed, power, and contact, and his glove isn't a liability. He's a very good player all around, the Marlins are very lucky he fell to 14th.

I don't know all of the rest of the players from this first round, so I'll only be grading the players I know.

 

 

18. Reds-Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama (C+)

Going into last season, and even this season, Lebron seemed like a guy with first overall pick potential, and he just didn't live up to it. I really just don't love his bat, especially in the contact aspect, and I don't think he is going to pan out as anything more than a solid everyday bat in MLB.

 

20. Red Sox-Jake Schaffner, SS, North Carolina (D)

Why? Why Craig? WHY IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TAKING THE 75TH RATED PLAYER AT THE 20TH OVERALL PICK? WHY ARE YOU TAKING A THIRD ROUND SHORTSTOP WHEN ACE REESE IS STILL ON THE BOARD? This dude has no power, average contact, average speed, and an average glove. Literally nothing about him stands out. I really am trying to see what the Red Sox see in him and I can't.

24. Mariners-Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State (A)

Ace Reese is an absolute beast. I watched that bat in the College World Series against Georgia. This dude is going to absolutely rake in MLB. Him, Cal Raleigh, and Julio Rodriguez in the same lineup is going to be scary. This is who the Red Sox passed up on and it's going to come back to bite them.

35. Yankees-Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas (B-)

A big left hander with great breaking stuff. The fastball and changeup need work and so does the control. He's a huge project, and for a Yankees team that should be drafting players that can be stars as soon as possible, I don't think he was the pick for them.

37. Rockies-Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia (A+)

The best pick of this draft by far. Jackson has an incredible mix of power, contact and speed that is nearly unheard of in a catcher. If he can improve his fielding, he can become one of the only true 5-tool catchers in MLB history. He showed what he can do this year, winning the Golden Spikes, and so much more is to come from him. This also gives them an opportunity to trade away Hunter Goodman and get a ton of value for him. Just an incredible pick all around for Colorado.

77. White Sox-Joey Volchko, RHP, Georgia (A-)

Volchko showed an ability to step up in big games. In this past College World Series, he pitched a complete game shutout with 15 strikeouts. While he can often be very inconsistent, and has some bad starts quite often, he is a great pitcher and if he can limit those bad starts he will be very effective in MLB.

87. Marlins-Cam Kozeal, SS, Arkansas (B+)

Kozeal is a very solid player, not the best pick there with Bumila still on the board. mlb.com has him graded very low, with 45s and 50s across the board, but I think he will be a very solid contact hitter for the Marlins. Unfortunately for them, they are in dire need of power hitters. they have guys like Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez that can get on base, but no true home run threat.

89. Rangers-Brody Bumila, LHP, High School (A+)

Brody Bumila is 6 foot 9 and throws 101 miles per hour. Usually I am against drafting high school pitchers early but how do you pass up on a talent like this. Bumila's slider isn't great, but if you get it better, then this kid can seriously be the next Randy Johnson. Insane steal by the Rangers in the 3rd round, I'm absolutely shocked he fell this far. Incredible pick by Texas.

90. Giants-Peyton Bonds, OF, Rutgers (B)

Yes, this is Barry Bonds' nephew. The Giants have an outfielder named Bonds. Just that alone scares anyone. Is he even good? Who knows! But it's a Giants outfielder named Bonds and everyone should be scared.

 

 

 

Well, that's it for my draft recap. I'm excited to learn about the rest of these prospects. let me know if there's any future stars I didn't talk about here!