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On a cold and windy late-April morning, Barnegat High School pitcher Jason Groome made his first start in nearly three weeks. Behind home plate, officials placed orange cones to reserve room for more than 25 major league scouts and executives. Those men held radar guns and took notes.

They had all come to this small New Jersey town near the Atlantic Ocean to watch Groome, a 6’5” left-hander, who today may become only the fourth high school pitcher selected as the top overall pick since the Major League Baseball draft began in 1965.

They were curious to see how Groome would perform after being declared ineligible to play—a controversial decision that received national attention. His name showed up on ESPN’s news ticket and on websites, as well as in newspapers across the country, all for a misunderstanding about his eligibility that most observers thought was unfair.

Groome spent the second semester of his junior year at IMG Academy, a nationally renowned athletic boarding school in Florida. Although he developed his skills there and added 15 pounds of muscle, he missed his family and friends and decided to spend his senior year at home.

Everything was turning out the way he envisioned until New Jersey state high school officials declared on April 14 that Groome had made an illegal transfer back to Barnegat, where he had played as a freshman and sophomore.

The decision was handed down because Groome’s family never changed residences or moved while he was in Florida. According to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, if students who transfer do not have a “bona fide change of residence as defined by NJSIAA rules,” they must sit out 30 days or half of their team’s games.

Barnegat was forced to forfeit the two games in which Groome had pitched, one of which was a no-hitter, and he couldn’t return until the school had played half of its games.

During his time off, Groome threw simulated games against his teammates. On April 30, he finally had a chance to compete again. He wasn’t at his best, but he was still impressive. With Philadelphia Phillies executive Joe Jordan in attendance, Groome threw a complete-game, two-hit shutout, walking three and striking out 13 in a 2-0 Barnegat victory.

In that game, Groome, who doesn’t turn 18 until Aug. 23, showed off his mid-90s fastball, changeup and a curveball that routinely surprises hitters. He also displayed an effortless delivery that reminds a former coach of San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner—a three-time All-Star and 2014 World Series Most Valuable Player.

Afterward, when asked what the past couple of weeks had been like for him, Groome said, “It’s something I’m not really gonna discuss right now. Sorry.”

Groome was polite but made it clear he had moved on from the suspension. When the interviews ended, he spoke with some friends and fans, all of whom were wishing he would end up with the Phillies. The franchise has the top pick in the draft, and Groome’s high school field is just 60 miles from Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies play.

Groome then walked away from the field with his parents and Jeff Randazzo, an agent and former minor league pitcher who is serving as his adviser. He was with the two people who raised him and the man who will help him navigate his professional future.

For the next few weeks, though, Groome hoped he could be just a regular kid enjoying the final days of his high school career—or at least as regular as possible for someone who could soon be a multimillionaire and a building block for a major league franchise’s future.

“I really don’t like to go out and say I’m the No. 1 prospect,” Groome said. “I let it speak for itself. I’m not the type of kid that’ll just go somewhere and be like, ‘Oh, I’m Jason Groome.’ I just let ‘em all find out for themselves.”

People have marveled at Groome’s talent from the first time they saw him pitch. His parents, Jay and Danielle, knew he was dominant. But they had no idea how special he was.

When Groome played for the South Jersey Young Guns travel team as a 12-year-old, coach Pat Fisher met with Jay Groome. The elder Groome had worked with his son since he started playing as a four-year-old in a tee-ball league in nearby Waretown, New Jersey.

After Groome pitched in Little League games, he and his father would go to a local park and spend more time on his delivery and pitches. They didn’t think too far into the future. They simply loved baseball and being together.

“I was just like, ‘I don’t think you realize how good your son is,’” Fisher said. “That was the one thing about Jason. He was very humble…I was just like, ‘You have literally a million-dollar arm.’ It was just amazing to see his hand speed as a pitcher at such a young age. He had whip in his arm. I’m like, ‘This kid is a natural.’”

Fisher remembers Jay Groome pushing his son when necessary, telling him to never be satisfied while making sure he still enjoyed the game. He allowed Fisher and the Young Guns’ other coaches to provide advice and guidance, too.

“He was not one of those dads that you typically hear [about] from time to time that are horror stories,” Fisher said. “Mr. Groome was trusting. And sometimes that’s a lost art these days.”

By summer 2014, Groome wanted to test himself on a national level, so he joined the Tri-State Arsenal, a New Jersey-based program whose alumni include Angels outfielder Mike Trout, A’s pitcher Sean Doolittle and several others with major league experience. Arsenal coach Todd Rizzo, a former professional pitcher, had heard good things about Groome from his colleagues.

Still, Rizzo was skeptical. People were always telling him about some top prospect. Most didn’t live up to the hype. Groome was the exception. He was even better than advertised. Soon, Rizzo received calls from college coaches and professional scouts asking about him.

“I said, ‘He’s the best I’ve ever seen.’” Rizzo said. “They’re like, ‘You mean he’s really good?’ I said, ‘No. He’s the best pitcher I’ve ever seen.’ You almost feel really dumb. And then people would come see him pitch, and they’re like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I told you. You guys know me. I’m a straight shooter.’”

Groome’s national profile rose in August 2014 when he led the Arsenal to a 9-1 victory over a team from Houston to capture the Perfect Game 15-and-under title at the Boston Red Sox’s spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida. It was a special moment for Groome, who grew up a Red Sox fan and idolized Dustin Pedroia, the team’s second baseman.

Around that time, two of Groome’s Arsenal teammates (outfielder Steve Kalayjian and catcher Austin Bates) decided to enroll at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The IMG staff asked Groome if he wanted to come, too. They even offered a full scholarship to the boarding school, which costs more than $60,000 per year.

After saying no a few times, Groome relented. He moved to Florida in January 2015, two months after he verbally committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt. That non-binding commitment was a fallback option in case he didn‘t go as high as anticipated in the major league draft.

Groome roomed with Kalayjian and Bates and soon realized he was a long way from Barnegat. On a typical day, the players ate breakfast around 7 a.m. Classes ran from 7:45 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. They then had lunch and headed to the baseball field by 1:15 p.m. for practice.

From 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., they worked on their strength and conditioning or attended sessions on topics such as leadership, nutrition and how to deal with the media. They ate dinner at 6 p.m. and were required to attend study hall from 7:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.

“It’s not your conventional high school,” said Dan Simonds, the director of IMG Academy’s baseball program and a former minor league catcher and college coach. “It really, really isn’t. It’s your academics [first] and then your baseball and your training are a very close second. These kids definitely have a social life, but it’s just not a normal high school.”

As soon as Groome committed to IMG, Simonds, head coach Chris Sabo and pitching coordinator Steve Frey devised a plan for him. Sabo was the 1988 National League Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star with the Reds, and Frey pitched for parts of eight major league seasons.

They understood the wear and tear baseball can have on the body and wanted to prepare Groome for a professional career. They had him on a strict pitch count, limited the number of times he threw in the bullpen between starts and made sure he didn’t overextend his arm.

IMG played a full schedule against other high schools in Florida. Still, winning wasn’t the only concern. Simonds remembers Groome was taken out of a game when he was throwing a no-hitter because he had already reached his pitch limit. Groome threw 43 innings his junior season, finishing with a 5-0 record, 81 strikeouts, nine walks and a 1.22 ERA.

“He really busted his tail,” Simonds said. “He took advantage of everything that was offered to him here at IMG. As a result, I think he made a pretty significant jump in his development. Listen, he was good to begin with. Don’t get me wrong. But I think that whole part of not just relying on your stuff, but more of how to work hitters, how to change speeds, taking a professional approach to getting a hitter out, I think Jason really benefited with getting that information.”

Although Groome had success on the field and in the classroom, as well as the weight room, Simonds knew he was homesick. Danielle Groome flew to Florida and watched her son pitch a few times. Still, it wasn’t the same for Groome as being back in Barnegat with his parents, two older sisters and three-year-old twin brothers. He called Simonds in late June and told him he wasn’t returning to IMG.

“Me and my dad were talking about it for quite a while,” Groome said. “We just figured it was the best move to come back so I could play with my friends, compete for a state championship and just live it all up for my senior year.”

A standing-room-only crowd of 6,005 fans packed Campbell’s Field in Camden, New Jersey, on May 16 for a matchup of the state’s two best high school pitchers. Even Groome couldn’t believe how many people had come to see him face Gloucester Catholic High School and its ace, Tyler Mondile, a Florida State commit. Groome and Mondile share the same adviser (agent Jeff Randazzo) and train at the facility Randazzo owns in suburban Philadelphia.

On this night, Mondile came out ahead, throwing a three-hit, complete-game shutout and leading Gloucester Catholic to a 1-0 victory. Still, Groome wasn’t to blame for his team’s defeat. He allowed two hits, walked two, gave up an unearned run and struck out 14 batters, including the final eight hitters he faced. Groome, who bounced back after allowing four earned runs in four and two-third innings in his previous start, also had a hit off Mondile.

After shaking hands with the Gloucester Catholic team, Groome headed to the dugout and hugged Stephen Kalayjian—the father of one of his former IMG Academy and Tri-State Arsenal teammates. Kalayjian had driven three-and-a-half hours from New York to watch Groome pitch in person before his high school career ended.

“The thing I’m really proud of him [for] most is how he stayed the course,” Kalayjian said. “He really set his mind to be the best. A lot of kids can go off track. He stayed on course, developed, got stronger, bigger and wanted to fulfill his dreams. That’s the most important thing.”

Despite the loss, Groome remained the center of attention. He could barely move without bumping into someone. Nearly 50 children surrounded Groome as he stared into the television cameras and answered questions from more than a dozen media members. He said it was the biggest crowd of any of his previous games, including last August’s Perfect Game All-American Classic at San Diego’s Petco Park, where the Padres play.

When he finished answering questions, Groome signed autographs for the kids. He also posed for photographs and selfies. The crowd was just happy to be in his presence.

“Can I get a handshake?,” one boy asked.

It was an experience Groome wouldn’t have had if he had stayed at IMG Academy. And even though he again refused to discuss his suspension from earlier in the season, he expressed no regrets about returning home.

“I definitely made the right decision coming back,” Groome said. “I love playing with all my friends I grew up with. I’m just loving it. It’s great.”

After a season-ending loss 10 days later, in which Groome allowed only one unearned run and struck out 12 in six innings, he was set to begin a series of meetings with major league teams, starting with the Cleveland Indians, who have the 14th pick in the draft, followed by the Colorado Rockies (fourth pick) and the San Diego Padres (eighth pick).

Groome said he was keeping his options open in case he wasn’t drafted as high as he would have liked or didn’t receive the signing bonus he wanted.

“I just want to go somewhere where I’m gonna be protected and feel comfortable, but if it doesn’t work out, it’s a win-win,” Groome said. “I get to go to Vanderbilt for three years and hopefully win the College World Series. But overall, I’m just excited for what my future holds.”

But three days before the draft, Groome changed his mind, decommitting from Vanderbilt. If the major league franchise that selects him doesn’t meet Groome’s contract demands, he plans on playing next year at Chipola College, a Florida junior college.

Chipola College coach Jeff Johnson said he received a call on Monday from Groome telling him he wanted to play at the school instead of at Vanderbilt if he chooses to pitch in college. By participating in junior college, Groome can re-enter the draft next June.

“Guys like [Groome] don’t call every day,” Johnson said. “It was a big call for us to have a chance to get someone of his stature in here to pitch for us. We’ll see how everything goes…If somehow he drops [in the draft], I think he’s willing to go to school for a year to see what happens after another year.”

For all of Groome’s accomplishments and potential, his slot in the draft remains uncertain. Recent reports suggest the Phillies are still not sure who they will select with the top pick. History may work against him. None of the three previous high school pitchers selected first overall (David Clyde in 1973, Brien Taylor in 1991 and Brady Aiken in 2014) lived up to expectations.

Clyde made his major league debut in a sold-out stadium less than a month after his final high school game, but he suffered arm injuries, pitched in only 84 games over five seasons and was out of the major leagues before he turned 25 years old.

Taylor, who was projected as the Yankees’ next great starter, suffered a major shoulder injury during a fight in 1993 and never even pitched above Double-A. He was out of the game before he turned 29.

Aiken couldn’t agree to contract terms with the Astros when the franchise selected him two years ago, so he enrolled at IMG Academy, where he pitched last year for the post-graduate team before undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2015. Three months later, he signed with the Indians, who drafted him with the 17th overall pick in last year’s draft. Aiken is now in the Indians’ extended spring training camp and still hasn’t pitched in a professional game.

Groome and his coaches and advisers are well aware of the potential injury concerns that all pitchers face. They are careful to make sure he doesn’t overextend himself, and they remind him to take care of his arm. Rizzo, his former coach with the Tri-State Arsenal, said Groome’s nearly flawless delivery reminds him of Bumgarner, the Giants’ ace. He also understands the reality of pitching.

“Let’s be truthful,” said Rizzo, who pitched in 421 games over nine minor league seasons and 12 major league games with the White Sox in 1998 and 1999. “No matter how good or how bad your mechanics are, pitching is one of the worst things in the world for your body all the way around. It’s just bad for you. Your arm isn’t supposed to go over the top. It’s supposed to come underneath. Even as stress-free as your mechanics are, obviously you’re still putting a lot of stress on your body.”

Still, despite the risk of taking a high school pitcher early in the draft, a few have more than exceeded expectations. Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and one of baseball’s best pitchers, was selected seventh overall in the 2006 draft out of Highland Park High School in Texas. A year later, the Giants chose Bumgarner with the 10th pick in the draft out of South Caldwell High School in North Carolina.

Philadelphia sports fans are dreaming Groome can be their Kershaw or Bumgarner. If the Phillies draft Groome, he would join two other highly touted prospects on the city’s pro teams’ rosters. The Eagles drafted quarterback Carson Wentz with the second overall pick in April’s NFL draft. And later this month, the 76ers have the top pick in the NBA draft. Groome would love to join that select group.

“It would be pretty awesome,” Groome said. “I’m pretty much a hometown kid. I used to go [to Citizens Bank Park] all the time for games. It would just be a dream come true [to be selected first overall]. That would just mean that all the hard work paid off.”

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2016 MLB draft has been without a consensus top prospect throughout the evaluation process, but with the hours dwindling down until things get underway Thursday in Secaucus, New Jersey, the guessing games will soon be over.   

The Philadelphia Phillies control things at the top of the order with their first No. 1 overall pick since 1998, while the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves round out the top three. 

A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida

The Phillies have plenty of young pitching talent in the form of Aaron Nola, Vincent Velasquez, Mark Appel and Jake Thompson, but that shouldn’t stop them from stacking their rotation and selecting A.J. Puk with the top pick in this year’s draft. 

Although he went just 2-3 over the course of 15 starts, per D1Baseball.com, Puk posted a 3.21 ERA, 95 strikeouts and 31 walks during the Florida Gators’ 2016 campaign thanks to a power-packed arsenal of pitches. 

According to MLB.com’s official scouting report, “Puk arguably has the best raw stuff of any arm in the class, with the chance to have three plus pitches. He’s capable of touching 96-97 mph with his fastball regularly.”

If the Phillies do make the 6’7”, 230-pound Puk their man at No. 1 overall, he’ll become the eighth pitcher since 2000 to be selected with the draft’s top pick. That would also give Philadelphia two of the draft’s top picks since 2013 after the team acquired Appel in a deal last winter that centered on closer Ken Giles. 

Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

The Braves need help across the board, and they’d be hard-pressed to find a better outfield option at No. 3 overall than Mercer University’s Kyle Lewis. 

The No. 3 prospect on MLB.com’s 2016 rankings, Lewis shredded opponents throughout 2016 by posting a .395 batting average, .535 on-base percentage and .731 slugging percentage while racking up 72 RBI and 20 home runs over the course of 61 games. 

The Braves could use a bat like that, since they have only three outfielders listed among their top 30 prospects entering the draft, according to MLB.com’s prospect rankings. 

“When you look at him, the bat speed is phenomenal,” Mercer head coach Craig Gibson said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Matt Gelb. “You could put him in any organization, and that bat speed plays immediately. It’s just different.”

It will take Lewis some time to adjust to more aggressive pitching after he played his college ball in the Southern Conference, but he seems to have the skill set to become a lethal hitter.

Delvin Perez, SS, International Baseball Academy

Delvin Perez may only be 17 years old, but he’s already considered one of the game’s brightest young prospects at shortstop.

“His defense is obviously there,” a scout told MLB.com’s Alyson Footer. “It’ll take time to see how much he hits. It’s the hardest thing to project, because it’s the hardest thing to do. But he’s where he needs to be with his speed and defense.”

The Cleveland Indians have Francisco Lindor holding down the fort at short on a team-controlled deal through 2021, but they need to bolster the caliber of players at the position in their pipeline. The Puerto Rican wunderkind offers superstar-caliber upside that the likes of Erik Gonzalez and Yu-Cheng Chang don’t. 

However, Perez carries a red flag teams drafting in the first round will need to consider. According to Jon Heyman on Today’s Knuckleball, Perez failed a drug test during the predraft process, and his stock has started to slide ever since. 

Risk will accompany Perez’s selection wherever he winds up going in the draft, but there’s no denying he has the foundation necessary to one day evolve into a franchise centerpiece. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In an era of instant gratification, the MLB amateur draft takes a hit.

Few, if any, top prospects selected Thursday night will ascend to the majors over the next year. The top high school standouts—some of whom will forgo signing for college—will take years of seasoning before realizing their big league aspirations.

As a result, the MLB draft doesn’t receive the frenzied following of the NFL and NBA drafts. With team needs mattering far less and signability issues swaying decisions, mock drafts rise in difficulty.

Making matters tougher, this year’s class contains no surefire top pick for the Philadelphia Phillies to snag. Let’s take a look at how the opening round will unfold before highlighting some of this year’s top prospects.

A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida

If the Phillies reach for the highest ceiling, they’ll take A.J. Puk to open the draft. Despite the left-handed pitcher’s inconsistencies with the Florida Gators, he has the makings of a potential ace.

The 6’7″, 230-pound junior has registered 95 strikeouts over 70 innings this season, limiting opponents to a .195 batting average. But he has struggled with his command, issuing 31 walks and hitting eight batters. In his latest NCAA tournament start, he relinquished five runs in 4.1 frames.

A towering lefty with a heater in the high 90s, he’s a scout’s dream on the mound. Of course, measurables and stuff don’t always equal production.

If he never matures into a dependable starter, he could transform into a lethal weapon out of the bullpen. That’s not, however, what the Phillies should expect out of their No. 1 selection.

Andrew Miller, another 6’7″ lefty and highly touted prospect, found a second life as a reliever. This happened for his third team six years after he was selected No. 7 by the Detroit Tigers and flipped to the Miami Marlins for Miguel Cabrera. 

Craig Kimbrel, who was always viewed as a reliever, went in the third round. Philadelphia should only take the plunge on Puk if it’s confident of his starting potential. In a draft without any mouth-watering future superstars, his upside as a perennial 200-strikeout workhorse upstages the control concerns.

Nick Senzel, 3B, Tennessee

Investing premium picks on polished position players has worked well in recent years. Both Kyle Schwarber and Michael Conforto were drafted early in 2014 as college juniors, and they made their mark the following season. Among last year’s headliners, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman and Andrew Benintendi have flashed star upside in the minors.

One of this year’s top college hitters, Nick Senzel could be the first 2016 draft pick to reach the big leagues. The third baseman has raked during his junior season in Tennessee, batting .352/.456/.595 with more doubles (25) than strikeouts (21).

One of the draft’s safest picks should secure a top-10 selection, but there’s little consensus on where he’ll fall. MLB.com’s Jim Callis has the Cincinnati Reds grabbing him with pick No. 2. Baseball America‘s John Manuel projects him falling to the Oakland Athletics four spots later.

Although the same was said of Swanson, last year’s No. 1 selection, Senzel lacks the lofty ceiling of such an early choice. He gradually displayed more power with the Volunteers, but he still finished with 13 homers over three years.

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Matt Gelb, Tennessee head coach Dave Serrano believes his player has the tools to provide more than gap power.

“Nick, right now, is more concerned with being a good hitter,” Serrano said. “He drives the ball to right center well. He’s got power to all fields. The power is there.”

Puk fell to Cincinnati in Manuel’s mock, but this simulation has Philadelphia taking the southpaw first. That prompts the Reds to take Senzel, who is a sensible replacement for the recently traded Todd Frazier at the hot corner.

Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

Kyle Lewis murdered baseballs all year for Mercer, batting an incredible .395/.535/.731 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI in 61 games. Those video game numbers (assuming an expert is playing on rookie) earned him Baseball America’s 2016 College Player of the Year award.

The outfielder blended contact and power at elite levels while walking in 21.9 percent of his plate appearances. As he told Baseball America’s Jim Shonerd, he’s not operating like many burgeoning MLB stars: 

I’m not trying to go up there and just slug home runs and swing for the fences. I’m trying to put hard line drives in play consistently. I think that if you try to hit low line drives consistently that you’ll get the elevation and you’ll get some balls out of the park, and I’ve been able to do that. But I think that as an overall hitter, I try to just be a hitter for average.

If the Reds and Phillies pass, Lewis could become the latest Georgian native to stay home. According to FanRag Sports’ Tommy Stokke, the Atlanta Braves are in play to make a hometown selection once again:

The Braves haven’t picked a position player in the first round since 2010, so high school southpaw Jason Groome is also in play. Yet no organization is 100 percent attached to a particular approach, so look for Atlanta to expedite its rebuild by choosing Lewis.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — After digging in the left-handed batter’s box, a teenage Cavan Biggio stared over his shoulder at a familiar face.

Roger Clemens gazed back with his trademarked, surly, uber-competitive look any wannabe baseball player would recognize. But Cavan had a unique relationship with the 354-game winner, who was a teammate of his father, Craig Biggio, with the Houston Astros.

Clemens, by any measure, is one of the best right-handed pitchers of all time. But given that it was only batting practice for an elite travel team, and Rocket had an L-screen in front of him, Cavan, now a star second baseman at Notre Dame, didn’t expect to see Clemens’ best stuff.

Until he saw a nasty off-speed pitch head his way.

“He’s not that fun to hit batting practice off of, honestly. He’s not like my dad where he kind of throws it in there nice and straight. He’s got some run on it. Sometimes he’ll throw the split finger.”

Clemens wasn’t going to make it easy for Cavan. He would have to earn it. In fact, Cavan wasn’t given much of anything throughout his baseball development.

His pedigree came with perks, of course, which included access for him and older brother Conor to the Astros clubhouse, the opportunity to study the game with major leaguers and up-close exposure as to how the game’s best prepare.

“Cavan and Conor had the opportunity to see [them] prepare for a baseball game, and watching them get themselves ready physically and mentally to go compete in a baseball game,” Craig told B/R.

“I think for Cavan and Conor, having the opportunity to be in the clubhouse, be around big league guys, it definitely helped them. It definitely helped them a lot. I think that if you asked my kids, they will tell you the big league guys, they were like their friends.”

But the name on the back of Cavan’s jersey made it harder for him than other prospects. He became a target. The tamest just wanted a shot at beating Craig Biggio’s son.

Others lobbed lofty expectations on the Fighting Irish second baseman. The worst of them heckled Cavan, insinuating that all he has earned—a college scholarship and high praise from MLB scouts heading into June’s draft—was only because of his last name.

He plays the same position as his father. He leads off for Notre Dame as his father did throughout his career with the Astros. He has some of the same goals his dad once had as a hungry, up-and-coming major league talent.

Cavan’s mission, though, has also been to prove he is a different player from his father. And to prove his love of baseball wasn’t something he just inherited.

It’s innate.

“I kind of realized, who cares what people think? I’m not my dad,” Cavan said. “My dad is an incredible baseball player, and if I’m going to be just as good … I’m not going to be anything like the player he was because we’re two different players.”

Along with Conor, a four-year player at Notre Dame, Cavan developed a game when he was a youngster to work on fielding.

The two brothers would stand on opposite sides of a batting cage they had at home, one that pulled out to some 20 feet long. One brother would hit off a tee at the other as hard as he could.

The object: Field balls as cleanly as possible. Whoever got the most out of 20, while committing the fewest errors, would win.

Cavan was so competitive and hooked on baseball that he would play the game anywhere he could. The two brothers even took over the batting cage at Minute Maid Park.

Conor said when they played the game at the Astros’ home field, there was a soft area at the end of the home team’s cage where they could dive around. The bright lights of an MLB stadium made it even more competitive.

This game, without a name, was one of the many quirks in their development that the Biggio boys were tasked with inventing.

“So I guess I could take credit for his Gold Glove,” Conor said of the award his brother won last season, acknowledging him as college baseball’s best-fielding second baseman.

Conor was joking. Cavan doesn’t when he credits his older brother with his development. That far predates their two seasons together at Notre Dame.

Amid his professional baseball career, Craig would make every attempt to attend his sons’ games. Some weekends, he would pull the doubleheader—watch the first five innings of a son’s game, then head to the park to prepare for his own.

The boys would shower and join him later, in time to watch the “Killer B’s,” which included Craig, Derek Bell and Jeff Bagwell—who hit 1-2-3 in the Houston order.

They would often act as de facto “clubbies”—shagging balls in the home batting cage for players readying for a pinch-hit appearance. After games, they would clean cleats.

As much of a help as they were to the players, Cavan acknowledges the incredible influence it had on his success.

Practically speaking, though, it was difficult for Craig to maintain a constant presence in the baseball development of his young sons. The logistics of a professional baseball career were too difficult to juggle with his sons’ games.

Most of the time, they outright conflicted. 

For Cavan, having Conor at his side was critical. Conor, two years his elder, was the trailblazer—facing the bloodline expectations first and helping him adapt.

“Conor set the path for me,” Cavan said. “Obviously we pretty much played the same sport growing up and played on the same teams, and we both ended up being teammates at Notre Dame.

“He’s been a huge help and a huge leader in my life when my dad wasn’t around to be that father in the household.”

On a college visit to the University of Virginia, Cavan fell in love with the facilities. He liked the coaches and players he met. The program is a perennial contender for the national championship.

But something was missing.

“Conor is such a great older brother and such a great leader in his own way that having an opportunity to see how Conor went through things for his first two years being here [at Notre Dame helped Cavan],” Craig said. “The two things is being an athlete and also being a student-athlete. They go hand and hand; you’ve got to do both sides of it. So I think it absolutely helped him out a lot.”

It seems like the Irish land every son of a professional athlete.

Hall of Fame basketball player David Robinson’s son, Corey, is a wide receiver on the football team and student body president. Jerian Grant, son of former NBA player Harvey Grant, starred for the Notre Dame basketball team—leading it to the 2015 Elite Eight as a senior.

Torii Hunter Jr., son of the soon-to-be Hall of Fame center fielder of the same name, is part of that contingent. Hunter Jr. plays wide receiver on the Irish football team and outfield for the baseball team.

He has given Cavan a sounding board anytime the pressures of succeeding their fathers invaded college life.

The two often take a lighthearted approach to discussing the pressures. Both will joke about how, unlike many athletes, they don’t care about what number they wear—provided it isn’t the one their respective dad wore.

“That was the thing that brought us closer together,” Hunter Jr. said. “We had those commonalities.

“People have certain expectations just because of your last name. You just learn to shake those expectations and play the game you know how to play and just not let it affect you.”

Cavan met yet another legacy prospect while playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League—a wood bat league featuring the country’s best college talent. There, he was teammates with Preston Palmeiro, son of Rafael Palmeiro—a 20-year MLB veteran with 569 career home runs.

In August 2005, Rafael was suspended by MLB after testing positive for steroids. He vehemently denied knowingly doing so. According to ESPN.com, Rafael told an arbitration panel the positive test resulted from a tainted B-12 shot, given to him by Miguel Tejada—who was implicated in the Mitchell Report.

“He’s a great player, even better person,” Cavan said of Preston. “He’s gone through the downsides of [the son of] a major league baseball player just because of … what his dad has been accused of. It’s kind of taken a toll on him but he’s handled it so maturely and I think it’s very impressive for him to kind of brush it off.”

Writing his own chapter would take more than off-field counsel from other sons of professional athletes, though.

Cavan still needed to prove he had the skill set of baseball’s elite. Notre Dame and the ACC, the country’s best baseball conference, provided the stage.

But with the Irish, Cavan would fail for the first time in his career.

Cavan grabs a cross, hanging around his neck, out from under his shirt when he talks about his freshman season.

His struggles, in part, were the result of dealing with the death of a close family friend. Cavan found out about it during a doubleheader in which he recalls failing to get a hit.

The adjustment to elite pitching and off-field tragedy caused Cavan to struggle as a freshman. He leaned on Adam Pavkovich, then a coach at Notre Dame who now serves as an assistant at Georgia State.

“When things happen outside of the field out of our control, it affects anybody, but especially him being so young early in his college career,” Pavkovich said. “You just be there, continue to build him up, talk to him and tell him it’s an escape when you finally get to go to the baseball field.”

In 43 games his freshman year, Cavan hit .246/.329/.353.

But it proved to be the best learning experience of his career. Though Cavan hit only .258 his sophomore year, he had an OBP of .406, showing scouts he had great plate discipline.

“Baseball is a game of failure, and when you haven’t really experienced it that much, I don’t think you’re ready for the professional level,” Cavan said. “College level is a great way to figure yourself out as a person and as a baseball player. It kind of hit me hard my freshman year when I was failing a lot when I hadn’t before my whole life. But I think it’s helped me mature as a baseball player and as a person.”

This season, Cavan leads off for the Irish and was hitting .311/.473/.474 with a team-high 43 runs scored and 28 RBI, which ranked second on the team through Tuesday. Though there is no official college stat that tracks pitches seen per at-bat, Notre Dame head coach Mik Aoki surmises he is among the nation’s best at seeing pitches.

His game is indicative of a player exposed to baseball at a high level. The little things come easy to Cavan—knowing when to run on a pitch in the dirt, situational hitting or his positioning in the field.

“His identity is wrapped up in being a baseball player, and I certainly think he wants to carve his own path and be known for the things he has been able to accomplish rather than the things his dad was able to accomplish,” Aoki said.

“He sees the game at a really, really high level.”

In a breakout year for the Irish star, comparisons to his father have lessened. His play stands on its own. But like many college stars on the precipice of a pro career, Cavan is drawing parallels to other MLB stars.

“He reminds me a lot of Jeff Bagwell, in a way. If you walk him, you walk him,” Craig said. “If he gets a chance to hit, he hits. That’s the way he goes about his business.

“My maturity level, how was I at 20 years old, 21 years old? I was nowhere near half as close as what Cavan is right now. He is so wise and mature on the baseball field and a student of the game.”

Cavan is proud of his father and his name. But it finally appears he is first recognized for his own play, not Craig’s.

Scouts from several MLB organizations have flocked to South Bend to watch Cavan, but it’s too early to say what round that may be. As a junior, Cavan will be eligible to be picked in this year’s draft.

“The name can only take you so far,” Cavan said. “It’s going to catch people’s eye. But at the end of the day, if you can play, you can play.”

There are no longer questions about his talent. He will always be honored to be a Biggio, but it’s time for him to make a name for himself as Cavan—last name excluded.

Seth Gruen is a national baseball columnist for Bleacher Report. Talk baseball with Seth by following him on Twitter and liking his Facebook page.

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Mock drafts are tricky business regardless of the sport, but that’s especially true when it comes to the MLB draft.

A staggering 1,216 total players will be taken over the course of the three-day event that begins Thursday, June 9.

When you couple that vast pool of amateur talent with the fact that teams have bonus-pool restrictions to take into account, it’s fair to assume all 30 teams have varying strategies and draft boards.

With that warning of impending inaccuracy out of the way, what follows is our best attempt at mocking the first round of the 2016 MLB draft.

Florida left-hander A.J. Puk, Tennessee infielder Nick Senzel, Mercer outfielder Kyle Lewis and Louisville outfielder Corey Ray headline this year’s college crop.

Meanwhile, New Jersey left-hander Jason Groome, Kansas right-hander Riley Pint and California outfielders Mickey Moniak and Blake Rutherford highlight the high school ranks.

There is no shortage of potential star-level talent behind those marquee guys, though, and every team will be hoping they hit on the next big thing.

Here’s a look at Bleacher Report’s final Round 1 MLB mock draft.

Begin Slideshow

While the Major League Baseball season is in full swing, all 30 teams are also focusing on the future this week with the 2016 MLB draft starting Thursday in Secaucus, New Jersey.  

The Philadelphia Phillies, who are falling back to earth after a strong start this season, own the first pick. This is the second draft for general manager Matt Klentak, who is doing all he can to expedite the franchise’s rebuilding efforts with strong draft classes and shrewd trades to add high-impact young talent. 

This year’s crop of players is not deep, as there are no obvious star talents, but there are always some names who rise to the forefront and make themselves into something greater than their initial scouting reports would suggest. 

A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida

In terms of raw talent, Florida southpaw A.J. Puk isn’t at the top of this class. There have been some erratic moments, as he walked 31 hitters in 65.2 innings before the NCAA tournament began, but left-handers with his combination of size and stuff are always going to be looked on favorably. 

Per Florida’s athletic website, Puk is 6’7″ and 230 pounds. There’s no denying his physical maturity and his readiness to stand on the rubber in professional baseball. Combine that with the fact he’s averaged more than one strikeout per inning while pitching in the SEC, and it’s no wonder he’s in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick. 

Per MLB.com’s scouting report, there may not be any other arm in this class who can match Puk in terms of pure stuff:

Big and strong, Puk arguably has the best raw stuff of any arm in the class, with the chance to have three plus pitches. He’s capable of touching 96-97 mph with his fastball regulary. Ironically, he might have been at his best in the one inning he threw before his back acted up, showing a 96-99 mph fastball and a plus slider at 88-90 mph. He can maintain his velocity deep into starts and while his changeup is his third pitch, it should be Major League average in the future.

The major knock against Puk is how he can lose his release point, as MLB.com’s scouting report only graded him with a below-average 45 in control.

Puk did put on a terrific performance in the SEC tournament opener against LSU, allowing just two runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings, which may have helped seal his spot as the Phillies’ choice at No. 1. 

While Puk‘s size should be an asset, it can be a hindrance. He’s long and lanky, which makes it more difficult for him to repeat his delivery and leads to higher walk totals than a typical top pick should have. If you see him on the right day, though, there’s a No. 2 starter ceiling. 

Jason Groome, LHP, Barnegat High School

Jason Groome is the name draft aficionados have been keeping an eye on all spring. He’s drawing some rave reviews, which also leads to unrealistic comparisons and expectations. 

Any prep left-hander with size, athleticism and a curveball will inevitably lead to at least one person comparing him to Clayton Kershaw. Fans hear that and think of Kershaw right now, who remains the best pitcher on the planet, instead of the teenager who was drafted in 2006. 

Groome did fan the Kershaw flames earlier this year by telling MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo he models his game after the Los Angeles Dodgers ace: “I want to be one of the youngest. In my second year of pro ball, if I sign out of high school this year, I’ll still be 19. I’m looking to climb the leagues and get to the big leagues as quickly as I can.”

ESPN’s Keith Law saw the 6’6″, 220-pound prospect pitch in early April, when unseasonable temperatures made pitching conditions less than optimal, and loved what he saw from the New Jersey native:

Groome wasn’t throwing at full effort while working in 45-degree weather in his second real outing of the year and on a 60-pitch limit, working 89-93 mph, with one 94 in the first inning and an 88 or two in his last inning. The curveball was the standout pitch, however, easily plus, a 65 or 70 grade (on the 20-80 scouting scale) if you’re a generous grader (and I am when the curveball looks like this). He also threw two changeups that were both at worst solid-average, with some downward fade on the harder one at 82 mph. 

Assuming Groome is going to be like Kershaw, it would stand to reason that he’d be the No. 1 overall pick without any hesitation. He’s still a raw high school player who needs to refine his command before finding consistent success in professional baseball. 

The individual pieces are there for Groome to be a true top-of-the-rotation star who could easily end up becoming the best player taken from this draft. He’s not there yet, but his future is as bright as any player in this class. 

Corey Ray, OF, Louisville

This isn’t a great class for bats, but Louisville star Corey Ray is a clear standout. He has shown the ability to hit for average and power in college, setting a career high with 15 home runs in 2016. 

Ray doesn’t stand out in a crowd at 5’11” and 185 pounds, per Louisville’s official athletic website, yet there is nothing he doesn’t do well on a baseball field. He hits well, makes consistent hard contact, has good speed and is a solid defender in center field. 

MLB.com graded Ray out with all five tools—hit, power, run, arm, field—average or better, though he doesn’t possess one elite tool. His best grade is speed (60) with everything else falling in the average (50) or above-average (55) range:

Ray uses the entire field well and has done a better job of managing the strike zone and making consistent contact this spring.

Ray has plus speed and knows how to use it well on the bases. Though he has spent most of his career at Louisville in right field, he runs well enough to play center field. Ray has the offensive production and arm to profile at all three outfield positions, and obviously he’d offer the most value if he can play in the middle.

If Ray’s speed and glove play well enough to let him stay in center field, he will have All-Star upside as a player who is capable of posting solid batting-average, home run and stolen-base totals. 

Ray won’t put up huge offensive stats in his career, but he has no real weaknesses. He could end up as a late-era Brett Gardner type of player who hits .250-.260 with solid on-base totals, 12-16 homers and 15-20 stolen bases.  

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Few events in sports feature as much mystery as the MLB draft, and that won’t change in 2016.

The 2016 class has plenty of quality players from both college and high school, but none of them have separated themselves above the rest of the prospects. This could lead to plenty of surprises throughout the 40 rounds—and especially in the first round on Thursday.

Even when the picks are made, it will be years before we know which teams made the right decision and which ended up with busts.

While this increases the pressure for front offices, the drama should also create plenty of excitement for fans hoping their teams can build toward the future over the next week.

Full draft can be streamed online through MLB.com.

Full order courtesy of MLB.com.

Top Picks

Philadelphia Phillies: A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida Gators

The fact that there is no consensus best player in the draft makes things difficult for the Philadelphia Phillies, but it also keeps their options open. According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the team is considering talent as well as signability with the top pick.

Amateur scouting director Johnny Almaraz explained how he plans to approach the draft, per Zolecki:

If you look back to 2005 and look at the first overall pick and the performers in their class, a lot of the No. 1 picks are eight, nine, 10 as far as performance is based. A lot of guys that were taken between the fifth and 20th pick have outperformed the No. 1. We’re doing our job to take the best player with the best ability. But knowing that, it’s helped me widen the range of prospects as far as we’re concerned at No. 1.

Even with a full list of options, the Phillies appear likely to take Florida lefty A.J. Puk with the first pick.

Puk has all the physical tools you look for in a prospect. The 6’7″, 230-pound lefty has a strong fastball and good enough secondary stuff to be excited about his possibilities. However, he has failed to turn that into the type of production you want from the first overall pick.

The Florida starter had just a 2-3 record in 15 starts during the regular season and struggled with control all year long, with 31 walks in 70 innings. After allowing five runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings in the NCAA tournament regionals, his ERA has jumped to 3.51. 

Although the potential is there for success, he’s still a risk at No. 1.

Cincinnati Reds: Nick Senzel, 3B, Tennessee Volunteers

It’s never easy making the jump from college to professional baseball, but Nick Senzel could have an easier transition than most. The third baseman is one of the most advanced hitters in the draft and should quickly rise through any system.

Senzel has been productive throughout his career, but took a major leap this season by batting .352 with 25 doubles, eight home runs and 59 RBI. The boost in power numbers helped him tally an impressive 1.051 OPS.

Meanwhile, he showed great patience at the plate with 40 walks and only 21 strikeouts all season. This type of production is a reason Baseball America listed Senzel among the best in the class in strike-zone discipline and overall hitting.

Although picking the third baseman at No. 2 remains a bit of a reach, Wes Rucker of 247Sports reported the Cincinnati Reds are still considering the move:

With Senzel‘s relatively high floor and his ability to help the team early in his career, this pick makes a lot of sense.

Atlanta Braves: Jason Groome, LHP, Barnegat HS (N.J.)

There is quite a risk for whichever team takes Jason Groome, but the upside might be worth the high pick.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden listed the left-handed pitcher as the best overall player in the 2016 class. MLB.com feels the same way, putting him on top of its prospect rankings.

Chris Crawford of Baseball Prospectus explained in an interview with Dayn Perry of CBS that he also believes Groome should go No. 1 and would pick him if he were in charge of the Phillies:

Despite some late season struggles and a controversial suspension, he’s the best player on my board as a southpaw who has shown two plus-plus pitches in his fastball and curve, plus an above-average change. There’s more volatility here than I’d like—which is why the Phillies won’t take him—but I have always believed in taking the best player on the board, and that’s Groome.

There is risk in taking any high school player in the draft, but Groome has the type of upside you want, especially for a team like the Atlanta Braves that needs plenty of talent. This makes it hard to expect him to fall too much further in the draft.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round sports analysis.

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There is often a consensus No. 1 overall pick ahead of the MLB draft, but since that isn’t the case entering the 2016 edition, teams near the top of the first round will have difficult and potentially franchise-altering decisions to make.

The Philadelphia Phillies own the top selection and have their pick of the litter in a draft class that seemingly boasts solid depth rather than elite talent. Even so, they have a legitimate chance to nab a perennial All-Star if their scouts can do the tough job of differentiating top available prospects.

With the 2016 MLB draft approaching quickly, here is a full, first-round mock draft along with further analysis regarding some of the top players likely to come off the board early.

A.J. Puk

Teams are constantly searching for aces to top their starting rotations, and Florida Gators lefty A.J. Puk has the tools needed to be precisely that at the MLB level.

Standing nearly 6’7″ and weighing 230 pounds to go along with a fastball that approaches 100 mph, Puk is a potential stud provided he gets the right amount of seasoning in the minors.

His numbers don’t necessarily leap off the page, as he is just 2-3 with a 2.88 ERA this season for the Gators, but he has struck out 90 batters in 65.2 innings.

In addition to Puk‘s ceiling being high, ESPN’s Keith Law expressed his belief on the Baseball Tonight podcast (h/t Andy Hamilton of the Des Moines Register) that Puk‘s floor is fairly high as well:

You’re never going to get fired for taking the 6’6″ college lefty who throws 97. And, really, at worst, what have you got? You’ve probably a great bullpen arm if everybody absolutely goes wrong. As long as he’s healthy, he’s going to pitch in the big leagues and probably be OK. That’s the consensus right now on who the Phillies would take there.

Along with the low-risk nature selecting Puk, ESPN’s Jayson Stark believes he is a safe bet to sign for a reasonable price, per 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia:

It can be argued that there are high school players with more pure talent than Puk, but they tend to be a crapshoot due to the difficulty of projecting how they’ll translate to the next level.

Puk is far from Major League-ready, but he already has big league-caliber stuff, and that should make the bridge to the majors a much shorter one than most of the other prospects in the draft.

Jason Groome

Like Puk, Jason Groome is a big lefty with dynamic stuff, but his status as a high school pitcher creates plenty of uncertainty with regard to how he stacks up to his counterparts.

He blew away the competition at times during his senior season and rang up strikeouts at will, but he wasn’t quite as dominant as one might expect a potential No. 1 overall pick to be, as evidenced by these stats courtesy of Shore Sports Network’s Matt Manley:

Groome could opt to play at Vanderbilt after committing there rather than signing a contract with an MLB team, but since he figures to be a top-10 pick at worst, it is difficult to envision that scenario playing out.

According to Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the New Jersey native is already talking about moving past the collegiate ranks: “I just want to play professional baseball. If I don’t go No. 1 or don’t go No. 5 or go nine or 10, it really doesn’t matter to me. I just want to go somewhere I’m going to feel comfortable and be protected.”

Provided Puk is selected first by the Phillies, the Cincinnati Reds figure to take a long look at Groome with the No. 2 overall pick.

Having lost Johnny Cueto in July 2015 and arguably playing with the worst starting rotation in Major League Baseball, the Reds undoubtedly need to add top pitching talent to the organization.

Groome is several years away from making it through the minors, but if his development reaches his talent level, then he could eventually become the No. 1 starter Cincinnati so desperately needs.

Kyle Lewis

While there is a great deal of interest in pitchers in the 2016 draft class, Mercer Bears outfielder Kyle Lewis may very well be the best hitter available.

There is some skepticism regarding the Georgia native due to the fact that he has played at a small school, but his production has been impressive.

Lewis hit .395 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI in 61 games, and he won Southern Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

The junior has good size at 6’4″ and 210 pounds, and although he is a five-tool performer, his power is what truly stands out, according to David Lee of the Augusta Chronicle:

Lewis can seemingly do it all on the baseball field, and Mercer head coach Craig Gibson believes he was born to play the game, per Matt Gelb of Philly.com: “If God was going to make a baseball player, this is the body and the athleticism.”

The Atlanta Braves hold the No. 3 overall selection, and they would benefit greatly from adding high-level hitters to their prospect pool.

Atlanta has picked up a lot of promising pitchers during its rebuilding process, but there is still plenty of work to be done on the front of acquiring position players.

Lewis is somewhat reminiscent of former Braves outfielder Jason Heyward, due to his ability to excel in all areas, and the Braves figure to jump at the chance to take him if he’s there.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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We will likely remember the 2016 MLB draft more for its depth than its top-end talent. Plenty of promising prospects in the draft are capable of bolstering a farm system, but there are no can’t-miss future stars in the mold of Bryce Harper or Kris Bryant.

In turn, most front offices are probably going to approach the first round with the mindset of addressing an organizational need rather than merely going for the best player available. There isn’t a major difference-maker in Round 1 outside of the top seven or eight picks, so it comes down to filling roster holes.

Let’s check out of a complete mock draft of the opening round, including the compensatory selections. That’s followed by a closer look at the top players on the board before the three-day event gets underway on June 9.

Round 1 Mock Draft

Analyzing Top Prospects

1. A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida

Puk has the stuff to become a top-flight starter in the major leagues. His fastball can reach the upper 90s, and he also has a solid changeup and developing slider that should become a reliable out pitch with a little more seasoning.

The question is whether things will ever click with his command. He’s struggled to contain his walks at Florida, racking up 31 in 65.2 innings across 14 starts before the NCAA tournament. He has to improve in that area in order to become an ace.

Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan is confident the lefty will make the necessary adjustments as he gains more experience, per C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer:

I mean, I’m going to say this again, go back and look what his video looked like out of high school and see the progression he’s made — everybody’s trying to pick him apart. We’re still talking about a kid from Iowa, I see the improvement he’s made over the last three years. Everyone says why is he up-and-down, well, he’s a 6-7 lefty who doesn’t have a lot of innings under his belt. He’s gotten a lot better.

The bottom line is that it’s tough to showcase consistency from start to start when the control isn’t there. A couple of seasons in the minor leagues, where the focus is on development rather than winning, can help him to at least make his command less of a concern.

Furthermore, if the organization isn’t convinced it can count on Puk in the rotation, he could make the shift toward becoming a potentially dominant reliever, a la Aroldis Chapman. That limits the downside of taking him inside the top five and maybe first overall.

2. Jason Groome, LHP, Barnegat (N.J.) H.S.

Groome dominated his senior season in high school. His combination of fastballs and curveballs overwhelmed a majority of the players at that level. In turn, he produced some eye-popping numbers, as relayed by Matt Manley of the Shore Sports Network:

Striking out more than two batters per inning makes quite a statement. That said, the difference between high school hitters and pros, even at the lowest levels of the minor leagues, is enormous. So those numbers are necessary to become a top prospect.

It’s going to take some time for him to learn how to pitch, though. He’s relied on his fastball, which is good but not great in the mid-90s. That means he must polish his curveball and changeup to keep pro hitters off balance.

Nevertheless, Groome has the skill set to lead a rotation one day. All three of his main pitches have shown plus potential, and there’s still time to tinker with a slider if he wants more variety. It’s just going to take a while for everything to come together.

3. Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

If Lewis is still on the board at No. 3, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Atlanta Braves don’t pick him. The power-hitting outfielder is exactly what the rebuilding organization needs after spending the past couple of years stockpiling young pitchers.

The Mercer standout has shown effortless power to all fields. His natural pop could become even more promising as he fills out his frame with more muscle. The Southern Conference provided a little taste of his capabilities:

While the amount of movement in his swing, including a high leg kick and a bat waggle, may concern some teams, his motion has a nice flow to it. Trying to make him more quiet at the plate could take away a portion of his bat speed, and it’s not worth losing the power potential.

The other aspects of Lewis’ game are either average or slightly above at this stage. He’s not a generational five-tool prospect. But for the Braves, who desperately need young power hitters who can take an accelerated trip through the minors, he’s an ideal fit.

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Much like the NBA draft, the Major League Baseball first-year player draft held on June 9 will feature a team from Philadelphia with the first overall selection. 

On Saturday, ESPN Insider Keith Law released his third mock draft just days before the real thing gets going, as he tried to decipher which player goes where:

Notable Picks 

A.J. Puk, RHP, Florida

Projected Destination: No. 1 Philadelphia Phillies

His record this season at Florida might not be impressive at just 2-3, but A.J. Puk has been one tough customer to deal with on the hill. 

In 65.2 innings, he has recorded 90 strikeouts and allowed an opponent’s batting average of just .188. Opposing coaches sang his praises to Philly.com’s Matt Gelb.

“He’s just your prototypical scout’s dream,” Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard said. “The ball just explodes on you. The stuff is just electric.”

Puk has a fastball ranging in the mid-90s, as he’s able to use his 6’7″ frame to garner some big-time momentum going downhill toward the plate. 

His off-speed stuff—a slider and changeup—is at least 10 mph slower, which could be unhittable if he’s able to develop those a bit more and keep a consistent release on all pitches. 

Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

Projected Destination: No. 2 Cincinnati Reds

For any team that is looking for a future player who could be a staple in the middle of the lineup, Kyle Lewis (6’4″) looks to be the most promising option in this year’s draft. 

In 61 games, he’s hit .395 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI to develop into one of the finest offensive weapons and athletes in the nation. 

He has a quick bat and solid pitch recognition and is one of the best his head coach Craig Gibson has ever seen, as he told Cincinnati.com’s C. Trent Rosencrans:

This guy is the total package, now. He’s the real thing. He’s got great parents, a great support system. There’s never any issues. The worry of drafting him high and putting a lot of resources in him, he’s not going to get those resources and go crazy. He comes from a good family. He’s very grounded. He’s—there’s not any black eyes on this guy, he’s the real deal.

Given his potential, the rebuilding Reds could benefit from Lewis as they look to develop into a threat in the NL Central. 

Corey Ray, OF, Louisville

Projected Destination: No. 5 Milwaukee Brewers

Corey Ray (5’11”) is built differently from Lewis since he’s is about five inches shorter, but what he loses in size, he makes up in speed while also bringing some pop. 

Ray stole 42 bases this season while only getting caught eight times. He also bashed 15 home runs. 

With those intangibles, Law had him at the top of his big board back in May:

Right now, if I had the top pick, I think I’d go with Ray, the best all-around college position player who is at worst a solid everyday left fielder with the upside of a Ray Lankford (whose name I’ve heard from a couple of scouts over the past year as a comp for Ray). He can hit; he can run; he has some power. 

He’s an aggressive player who can beat you with the bat and with his legs. Any team that’s looking for a well-rounded offensive spark will covet him. 

Stats courtesy of D1Baseball.com 

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