The MLB Draft is an annual opportunity for clubs to add talent to their organization. It’s been suggested the draft is the most efficient way to do so, and it’s tough argue against the senitment. Every draft class differs and offers the same chance for teams to gain on rivals, or increase the distance between championship caliber organizations and those attempting to chase them down. The 2023 class is widely thought to be among the best classes over the past decade or so.
Here’s Mock 1.0 as the amateur season approaches the midway point, and the countdown to the Draft looks at 100 days in the rearview mirror.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
1
Dylan Crews
OF
LSU
The Pirates are in a position to land arguably the top college bat in any draft since at least Adley Rutschman in 2019. Dylan Crews presents a ton of upside and floor offensively, as well as the potential of a plus glove in right field if he doesn’t stick in center. He’s the type of pillar an organization can build around for a decade.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
2
Paul Skenes
RHP
LSU
Mike Rizzo and the Nationals have recently developed a reputation for leaning on college pitchers coming out of big conferences, and Paul Skenes would be the best of the group. The fastball will grab triple digits and the slider has the makings of a true wipeout weapon at the next level. He could move quickly through their system.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
3
Wyatt Langford
OF
Florida
Scott Harris and the Tigers will without question take a more analytic lens to this draft and future drafts, but considering they’re picking No. 3 there shouldn’t be much discussion on the pick. Wyatt Langford checks all the boxes, including optimal metrics, and has a shot to stick in centerfield, though that’s a tall ask at Comerica Park. Langford is the type of bat who can provide a high average, high slug, and steal some bases early in his career.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
4
Walker Jenkins
OF
South Brunswick (NC)
The Rangers landed the No. 4 overall pick in part due to some luck from the new lottery system, and it’s affording them the luxury of picking from a litter of fantastic players. While they’ve struggled to develop arms of late, their track record with bats is much stronger. Walker Jenkins might have the most upside of any prep bat in this class and has a shot at hitting for a high average and big-league power at the next level, all while playing an athletic corner outfield.
The Twins are a tough team to predict, but they do like left-handed hitters with solid metrics and Gonzalez checks that box. He’s similar to their first round pick from 2022, Brooks Lee, but that shouldn’t dissuade Minnesota from going down that road again. Gonzalez is a pure hitter with plenty of pull-side power. Max Clark and Kyle Teel make plenty of sense here too.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
6
Max Clark
OF
Franklin Community
The Athletics are in the midst of what appears to be a lengthy rebuild. Max Clark is precisely the type of player you build around. He’s a culture-setter with a gritty attitude and a chip on his shoulder. Injecting his competitive fire into a clubhouse of young players in the next few years would benefit the club. Couple that with his surefire centerfield chops and impressive hit tool and maybe you’ve got Johnny Damon 2.0.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
7
Chase Dollander
RHP
Tennessee
If you would have told the Reds’ brass they’d have a shot at Chase Dollander at pick no. 7 three months ago, they’d probably think you were crazy. Dollander is a nice mix of analytics and in-game dominance. The Reds haven’t been afraid to take on guys with interesting traits and try to maximize what they’re capable of. Landing him here with be quite the turn of events.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
8
Jacob Wilson
SS
Grand Canyon
It’s almost impossible to see Wilson sliding out of the Top 10. The hit tool is just so special and a team is going to gamble on the idea there’s more impact to come. He’s got a lean frame and wiry athleticism, all of which points to more impact at the plate as he matures. This feels like a good fit for the Royals. Wilson has a shot to move up the ladder quickly.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
9
Tommy Troy
2B
Stanford
Bill Schmidt and the Colorado Rockies love power. There’s no denying that. Tommy Troy has a shot at playing a solid average second or third base at the next level and could hit 30+ home runs at his peak. He’d be a fantastic fit for the organization and is well liked within the baseball community.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
10
Aidan Miller
3B
JW Mitchell (FL)
Aidan Miller has been a fixture on the scouting scene for years. He’s hit and hit and hit at every stop, providing thunderous power and solid defense at the hot corner. The Marlins are retooling their scouting process, but this feels like a pick that is not only safe, but also provides tons of upside. It doesn’t hurt that Miller is essentially in their backyard.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
11
Rhett Lowder
RHP
Wake Forest
The Angels continue to need pitching. Their stars aren’t getting any younger and the organization needs pieces that can infuse talent and production into their system sooner rather than later. Lowder might be the most polished pitcher available in this class with the potential for three above averages pitches.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
12
Hurston Waldrep
RHP
Florida
The case can be made that Hurston Waldrep has the best stuff in this class. Metrically, his fastball should be performing better than it currently is. There’s upside there. The splitter and curveball both project plus at the next level, especially if he can get more value out of his fastball. This would be a good fit with the Diamondbacks who have seen their pitching development tick up in recent years.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
13
Arjun Nimmala
SS
Strawberry Crest (FL)
If Arjun Nimmala makes it to pick no. 13 and the Chicago Cubs, General Manager Carter Hawkins should be jumping for joy. Nimmala has the most pure upside of any one player in this class. It’s double-plus raw power and tools on the dirt that suggest he’ll stay at shortstop. There’s questions on just how much he’ll hit, but considering he’s just 17 years old, there’s immense development ahead.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
14
Kyle Teel
C
Virginia
Kyle Teel has really seen his name jump up draft boards this year after some really impressive performances with the bat and improved work behind the plate. He’s got a shot at being a plus hitter who posts high on-base numbers and taps into what some believe is solid average game power. Teel is a fantastic athlete behind the plate and would be an asset defensively.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
15
Enrique Bradfield Jr.
OF
Vanderbilt
The White Sox are in a part of the draft that’s a bit of a wait and see position. Bradfield Jr. might have the highest floor of anyone in this class as a guy who should hit for average and play fantastic defense in centerfield. Considering their warts with injuries and roster versatility, especially in the outfield, this feels like a good fit. Bradfield Jr. is another one of those players who could fly through a system.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
16
Blake Mitchell
C
Sinton (TX)
New General Manager Pete Putila is a bright, rising star in today’s game and he appreciates the analytics and progressive nature of the sport. Combine that with the Giants age old approach of drafting high quality human beings with leadership traits and you have a match made in heaven. Mitchell is one of the most impressive prep catchers to come available in recent yeras and is a perfect fit for the San Francisco Giants and their culture.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
17
Noble Meyer
RHP
Jesuit (OR)
Meyer is almost unanimously considered the top high school arm in the 2023 class. Armed with an upper-90s fastball and a breaking ball exceeding 3000 rpms, he’s got frontline stuff and makeup. The Orioles are picking lower than they usually do at 17, but with a farm already chockfull of talent, they can afford to be a little risky and reach high for upside here.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
18
Brock Wilken
3B
Wake Forest
The Brewers have gone heavy into position player market in recent years and this year may be no different. Wilken might have most raw power in college baseball this season and has the chops to stick at third base for the long-term. He could anchor a Milwaukee lineup for a decade.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
19
Matt Shaw
2B/3B
Maryland
The Rays have are probably the most difficult team to project in any one draft. Shaw checks a ton of boxes. He’s versatile, he’s got huge analytic pillars, there’s history here with a wood bat and he’s a cold weather bat. The Rays have gone for any number of those traits in recent years, so that’s the name we’re going with here.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
20
Dillon Head
OF
Homewood Flossmoor (IL)
The Jays are light on outfield prospects and Dillon Head not only projects into centerfield, but also brings plenty of offensive prowess to the field. There are some college arms that begin to make some sense here as well, but there’s too much high school talented left to go that route just yet.
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TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
21
Nolan Schanuel
IF/OF
Florida Atlantic
This is a sneaky good spot for Nolan Schanuel and it’s about the area I keep hearing his name thrown around. He might be the most complete hitter outside of Dylan Crews in this class, and has enough athleticism in his game to likely stick in left field at the next level. This is a good bat and a sneaky good pick.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
22
Juaron Watts-Brown
RHP
Oklahoma State
The Mariners have three picks in the Top 30, so they can be a little creative. Watts-Brown is probaly the fourth-best college arm available in this class, but his combination of a riding four-seam fastball and high-spin, sweeping slider is a combination Seattle has done well developing over the years. This would be a good landing spot to maximize “JWB”.
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TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
23
Adrian Santana
SS
Doral Academy Charter (FL)
Santana is soaring up draft boards and at time of publish leads all high school hitters in the state of Florida with seven homers. He’s by no means a power hitter, but that added impact, matched with his supreme skills on the dirt, have scouts pushing his name higher and higher up boards. He’s got a shot to go high and this feels like a good fit.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
24
Cade Kuehler
RHP
Campbell
The Braves have gone super-heavy on the 6-foot righty with a big heater with carry in recent drafts and this is a good opportunity to do it again. The Spencer Strider blueprint worked once, and they’re trying to find ways to replicate that success moving forward. Kuehler certainly checks those boxes.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
25
Kevin McGonigle
SS
Monsignor Bonner (PA)
McGonigle is a super-talented high school middle infielder with a sweet left-handed swing and sneaky pop. Some scouts believe there’s a future plus hit tool here with solid average power and the ability to stick up the middle. Kind of like Jake Cronenworth, I suppose. McGonigle is a good value here and AJ Preller is certainly no stranger to the high upside prep early in drafts.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
26
Bryce Eldridge
1B/OF/RHP
James Madison (VA)
Eldridge to the Yankees is just too perfect a fit not to mock. At 6-foot-7, Eldridge is a two-way phenom with massive power and he’s been up into the high-90s on the mound. All of his game screams projection and he’s starting to really showcase it in games this spring. After taking Spencer Jones in 2022, why not double-dip and hedge your bets on that profile again?
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
27
Charlee Soto
RHP
Reborn Christian (FL)
The Phillies farm system, outside of Andrew Painter and Mick Abel, needs arms. Soto is supremely talented with an upper-90s sinker, a put-away changeup and a slider that’s been hell on righties. He’s extremely young for this class and would be a fantastic project for the Phillies to mold.
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TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
28
Walker Martin
SS
Eaton (CO)
Walker Martin has steadily climbed higher and higher up boards over the last calendar year despite playing football and skipping a majority of the showcase circuit last summer. This spring he’s added a ton of physicality to his game and he’s destroying Colorado pitching. He could go much higher than this, but it feels like a good fit.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
29
George Lombard Jr.
SS/3B
Gulliver Prep (FL)
Lombard Jr. is another name who has seen his name climb in recent months. He’s added plenty of muscle this past winter and looks like a legit surefire shortstop or third baseman at the next level with loud tools on the offensive side of the ball. Some have compared Lombard to a lite version of Manny Machado at this same stage. He’ll also be extremely young for this class.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
30
Kendall George
OF
Atascocita (TX)
The Mariners farm system could certainly use a revitalizing jolt of talent in the outfield with the graduations of Julio Rodriguez, Jarred Kelenic and Taylor Trammell is recent years. George is double-plus runner with a strong hit tool and will stay up the middle of the field at the next level.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
31
Cameron Johnson
LHP
IMG Academy (MD)
The Rays do enjoy a unique arm slot and they’d certainly get that with Cam Johnson. It’s a low three-quarter shotput delivery that deceives the hitter and sees upper-90s velocity sneak up on them. It’s a heavy sinker and an upper-80s slider that give the opposition fits. Johnson could fill a number of roles.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
32
Colt Emerson
SS
John Glenn (OH)
The Mets see their first round pick fall ten spots after exceeding the luxury tax, but in a deep year for talent they should still have plenty of exciting players available here. Emerson is one of the more polished prep hitters in the country with a sweet left-handed swing and a big, barrel-chested third base body. He’s a shortstop now, but projects to slide to his left where he could profile into a Neil Walker type.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
33
Thomas White
LHP
Phillips Academy (MA)
Thomas White is the top left-handed prep pitcher in this class and features a mid-90s fastball that he pairs with a polished changeup and a slider that can be nasty when he’s commanding it. The Brewers have taken some chances on unique arms in recent years and this would be a great fit for White’s future development.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
34
Chase Davis
OF
Arizona
The Twins love a good left-handed hitting power corner outfielder and Davis would probably be the most raw power they’ve ever landed in that profile. It’s a majestic left-handed swing seemingly lab-designed from watching Carlos Gonzalez film. Davis also possesses a huge arm in right field and projects your type big power, big arm corner guy.
NO.
TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
35
LuJames Groover III
IF
NC State
LuJames Groover is a polished right-handed hitting corner infielder with a keen eye at the plate and a willingness to use the entire field. He’s still learning to lift and damage the baseball, but the hit tool here is legit and the defensive skills have come a long ways. He could end up in a number of different positions at the next level, but the bat and the athlete will play anywhere.
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TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
36
Colton Ledbetter
OF
Mississippi St.
This is the most Dodgers pick ever. They fall from pick 26 to 36 after exceeding the luxury tax, but land an analytic darling with massive raw power and athletic tools in the field that don’t show up on a baseball card. Ledbetter has a legit shot to stay in centerfield, though he’s likely to shift to left field where his double-plus raw power and sweet left-handed swing project beautifully into an organization famous for maximizing a player’s hit tool.
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TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
37
Jack Hurley
OF
Virginia Tech
Hurley is a super-aggressive table setter with plus run times and big raw power from the left side. He can get exposed a bit against spin, but the upside here offensively is pretty substantial. Pound for pound, he might have the most bat speed of anyone in the country. Couple that with his strong arm and he’s a good bet to play a solid right field for the Tigers.
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TEAM
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
38
Colin Houck
SS
Parkview (GA)
Houck might not make it this far as he’s highly revered in scouting circles in the state of Georgia, but if he does, the Reds get a winner. Houck is a baseball lifer who eats, sleeps and breathes the game. The 6-foot-2-inch Mississippi State commit can really, really hit and has at least a slim shot of playing shortstop at the next level, though third base seems more likely.
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TEAM
PLAYER
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39
Roch Cholowsky
SS
Hamilton (AZ)
The Athletics can afford to go heavy on the high school side as they restock their system with the most upside they can find. Cholowsky is a surefire shortstop at the next level with a sweet glove and an above average arm. The hit tool is coming along, and has certainly made strides this spring. There’s impact coming, too, in a frame that looks like it’s built to do damage.
Joe Doyle is a senior analyst at FSS PLUS, leading coverage efforts in scouting, player development, and the MLB Draft. He previously was Director of Scouting at Prospects Live. Joe is the host of Over-Slot, a podcast centered on scouting and analytics.
