On June 7th, the bashful brother of the big four amateur drafts (the other three being the NFL, NBA, and NHL) is set to begin.
Unlike its kin, the MLB draft occurs in relative anonymity. Aside from the top three or four picks, even the most dedicated, hardcore baseball fan will be hard-pressed to name even a half dozen prospects beyond the top guys.
You won’t find thousands of blogs, chat rooms, and other online communities arguing over who the Cardinals are picking at No. 25 or who the better West Coast prep school outfielder may be.
However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t resources out there to quench your draft thirst.
I’ve culled information from well over two dozen sites and read literally hundreds of scouting reports to bring you this mock draft.
The one consistent element I noticed was that there was no general consensus beyond the first pick. It all seemed so completely arbitrary.
So I’ve attempted to add criteria such as team need and player sign-ability (see Boras, Scott) so the list has some semblance of logic to it.
Of course, I’m probably completely wrong on every pick, but at least you now know who these guys are.
So without further ado, here is your 2010 MLB Mock Draft (picks 1-11).
1. Washington Nationals: C Bryce Harper (pictured) – 6’3″, 205 lbs. – Southern Nevada College
Bryce has been touted as perhaps the best positional (non-pitcher) prospect ever . High praise indeed, but in one game during the JC World Series, he hit for the cycle and then the very next game went 6-6 with four mammoth HRs and a ridiculous 10 RBIs.
He may not end up a catcher in the pros, but I doubt Washington cares.
2. Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP James Taillon – 6’5″, 215 lbs. – The Woodlands HS (TX)
No one consulted had Taillon outside the top four so that tells me about the consensus on this young man’s talent.
I’ve also read that the Pirates may not want a prep school arm. However, Dave Perkin of Baseball America referred to Taillon as “…a near perfect pitching prospect” and drew comparisons to John Lackey and even Stephen Strasburg.
When was the last great Pirate pitcher? I thought so.
3. Baltimore Orioles: SS Manny Machado – 6’2″, 180 lbs. – Brito High School (FL)
Machado is very athletic, but lacks high-end speed so his range at SS is somewhat limited. He should still stick there as a pro since his hands, arm, and instincts are excellent.
Offense will be his ace, however, as he is already a great fastball hitter and projects to have above-average power with great bat speed.
4. Kansas City Royals: LHP Drew Pomeranz – 6’5″, 231 lbs. – U of Mississippi
Drew is the top ranked lefty in this draft and the top overall college arm. He throws a mid-90s fastball with an already deadly 12-6 curve that clocks in at around 80 mph.
He has had a small consistency issue and his high release makes him easy to steal on, but lefties with his stuff are just too good to pass on.
5. Cleveland Indians: 3B Zack Cox – 6’0″, 215 lbs. – U of Arkansas
This is the point in the draft when it becomes anyone’s guess. However, Cox is the most MLB-ready bat in this draft and unlike Matt LaPorta, he has the ability to stay at 3B.
Besides, Jhonny Peralta is not exactly a cornerstone at the hot corner.
6. Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Deck McGuire – 6’6″, 223 lbs. – Georgia Tech
The D-Backs love their college arms and reigning ACC Player of the Year, Deck McGuire, has the tools to be a top pick.
His crisp slider and mid-90s fastball are already pro-worthy and his change-up and curve ball are nearly there. He won’t need too much time in the minors and could be in the show as early as 2012.
7. New York Mets: C Yasmani Grandal – 6’2″, 210 lbs. – Miami
I was tempted to go pitcher here as this is a deep draft for hurlers, but catcher was just too glaring a need for the Mets.
Grandal will play catcher in the pros as his arm is above average and he already calls a smart game. However, it’s his bat that has scouts drooling.
A switch hitter with raw power, he’ll need to work on his mechanics as he progresses. Nevertheless, this kid has massive upside.
8. Houston Astros: 3B Nick Castellanos – 6’4″, 200 lbs. – Archbishop McCarthy HS (FL)
The Astros traded away their last two 3B prospects and are now stuck with retreads like Chris Johnson and Pedro Feliz.
Enter Nick Castellanos.
Nick will need time to develop but he has big-time power as a right handed bat and his frame/defense combo project as a top-flight MLB third baseman.
9. San Diego Padres: LHP Chris Sale – 6’6″, 172 lbs. – Florida Gulf Coast University
It’s tough to predict what a new management team will do, but 6’6″ lefties who remind some of Randy Johnson are tough to pass up.
Keith Law of ESPN feels he could struggle against righties without making an adjustment and has a below average curve. However, he does have an electric mid- to high-90s fastball and tight slider that are MLB-ready.
10. Oakland Athletics: OF Bryce Brentz – 6’0″, 185 lbs. – Middle Tenn State
How perfect is this? A four-year collegiate starter who could contend for a roster spot next year going to Billy Beane’s Athletics.
Its a match made in Moneyball heaven.
It also doesn’t hurt that the kid is a dynamite defender with a cannon for an arm and is already a pro-style hitter.
11. Toronto Blue Jays: RHP Karsten Whitson – 6’4″, 190 lbs. – Chipley HS (FL)
And the Alex Anthopoulos era has begun. Now armed with a full compliment of scouts (predecessor J.P. Ricciardi despised dissenting opinion and purged dozens of scouts during his tenure), AA no longer has to fear high school pitchers.
Karsten is considered by many to be the second-best pitcher in this draft (behind Taillon), but is much more raw.
However, his mechanics and easy arm action allow him to throw a heavy, sinking fastball in the mid-90’s with good command. Also, his low-80s slider bites hard and his change-up is improving.
Karsten has all the potential to be an inning-eating ace, but the Jays will need to be patient.
Picks 12-22 coming later today.
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