MLB Mock Draft 2011 3.0: The Final Pre-Draft First Round Mock

The 2011 MLB First Year Player Draft is just a day away, and the excitement is reaching a boiling point. For months upon end we've scoured scouting reports, researched some of the top college athletes and reviewed mock drafts in anticipation of Monday, June 6, 2011, and now that it is nearly upon us—what's changed?

If you thought that the draft would be coming into perspective entering the final weekend prior to the big day, then think again. Aside from maybe six to eight picks in the first round, the "Rule Four" draft is as much of a crap-chute as ever, and nearly impossible to predict the outcome of in it's entirety.

Like most drafts, all it takes is one team to go against the grain and do something unexpected to throw off the rest of the round.

But that's the fun part of the draft, right? It's that feeling of anticipation, anxiety and an element of surprise that keep us glued to our television sets, computers or smart phones awaiting our favorite team's selections.

Is your general manager and his team of scouts selecting a former Hall of Fame player, or a bust that will forever live in infamy?

In honor of that sense of unpredictability, I'll be making a few interesting selections in this mock. Looking over the first round draft order, not a single pick, from one to 33, is a surefire selection, and for that reason alone, it'd be foolish to suggest that this list is perfect. Instead, let's just hope that it is relatively close.

So let's get to it. Without further ado, here is the final pre-draft mock of the first round.

1. Pittsburgh Pirates—Gerrit Cole

With the first overall pick in the draft, there isn't a team with more control than the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even with that control, there is still no guarantee as to which direction they were leaning.

General manager Neal Huntington has said little in recent weeks regarding an approach to the draft, and while I personally believe it makes the most sense for them to add the top pitcher in this year's draft, they could also add a high school arm, high school outfielder, or another college pitcher all together.

That said, most people project the Pirates to take Gerrit Cole, and for good reason. The righty that once turned down an offer from the New York Yankees out of high school stands at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and pitches extremely well out of that frame, logging consistent innings, when healthy, throughout his college career.

He boasts a live fastball that consistently sits in the mid to high 90's, and has what scouts are calling the best secondary pitch in college baseball—a nasty, late-breaking slider that has hitters whiffing with great regularity. As if those two pitches weren't enough, he's also throwing a changeup that, with some work, could also develop into an above-average out pitch.

In my opinion, it would be foolish of the Pirates not to take Cole, who without the tutelage of a professional instructor, boasts three great pitches. He'll join a number of talented prospects in the Bucs' system, including draft picks from last year's draft—Jameson Taillon and Stetson Allie—in what could be an extremely formidable rotation in the near future.

2. Seattle Mariners—Anthony Rendon

As I said in the opening, the Pirates are still undecided as to which direction they'll head on draft day, and if they decide that this guy's bat is simply too good to pass up on, then the Seattle Mariners will only be on the clock for a few moments before selecting Gerrit Cole.

Can you imagine a rotation with a front three of Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda and Cole?

That said, I doubt the Pirates pass on Cole, and the Mariners could use some legitimate offense in their system anyway, and one thing that Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon brings to the table is offense. He has some of the quickest wrists in the draft and should provide what has been one of the weakest offensive franchises in baseball over the last few years with offensive hope.

Rendon is an athletic third baseman with a body that should allow him to play at the hot corner for the long term. With the Mariners rumored to be interested in a bat with their second selection, Rendon makes the most sense if he is still on the board.

The biggest worries about Rendon to date have been injuries, especially when the third baseman sustained a shoulder injury earlier in the season and he and agent Scott Boras refused to release his medical records. That could ward off some teams, but I doubt it, even with the M's rumored to have interest in high school outfielder Bubba Starling.

This guy is a legitimate, middle of the order offensive threat, and won't last longer than this pick.

3. Arizona Diamondbacks—Danny Hultzen

Over the last couple of months, Danny Hultzen's value and poise seem to have skyrocketed, and the Arizona Diamondbacks have scouted him to the fullest possible extent during that maturation, making this seem like one of the safest bets in the first round.

Hultzen's increase in value is driven from a rise on the velocity of his fastball. After sitting in the high 80's to low 90's range for most of his collegiate career, over the last couple of months he's used his lower body to generate more arm speed. He's been sitting comfortably in the low to mid 90's in recent outings, with the ability to touch 95 mph late in games.

The rise in velocity has helped him become a strikeout machine, but his offspeed pitches also play a large role in that. He has one of the best college changeups in the draft, as well as a slider that is Major League ready. He'll toss in a slurve-like curveball every now and then, and with a little development, could turn that into an out pitch as well.

His biggest selling point is the level of control he's shown. He is a polished college pitcher with a quick track to the Major Leagues, something that the D'backs are highly interested in. He also has his concerns as well, however, the biggest of which is his 3/4 arm angle in his delivery that could lead to a lack in deception.

4. Baltimore Orioles—Dylan Bundy

The Baltimore Orioles would love to get their hands on Danny Hultzen, but as far as I can tell, with the number of D'backs scouts (including GM Kevin Towers) that have been following Hultzen over the last couple of months, the O's won't get that chance. That said, they'll happily settle for the top high school starter in the draft—righthander Dylan Bundy out of Owasso High School.

He isn't the tallest of pitchers, standing at 6-foot-1, but has an explosive fastball. He sits comfortably in the low 90's and his fastball has nice movement to it. Off that he'll throw a pair of offspeed pitches, the better of which is his curveball. It has great over-the-top rotation to it and will be a plus pitch. He'll also mix in a change-up, though that needs some work.

For a guy that hasn't played a year of college ball, there isn't much more to say about Bundy, other than he's going to be a very good pitcher and if the Orioles take him, more than likely, they won't be disappointed with the selection.

The thing is, he isn't going to come cheap. He is committed to the University of Texas and if the O's want to nab him, they're going to have to pay for him.

5. Kansas City Royals—Matt Barnes

Here's where things get interesting. A lot of mock drafts suggest that the Kansas City Royals will go with high school outfielder Bubba Starling with the fifth selection, but my gut just tells me they won't do it. Firstly, I've seen numerous reports over the last couple of weeks that suggest the Royals aren't overly interested in Starling, despite the fact that he comes from Kansas.

Looking at the depth of the Royals' system, it's obvious that they'd be interested in an outfielder, and the potential that Starling brings to the table is certainly tempting. However, the outfielder is no sure thing. I expect the Royals to stockpile talent, and I'm going to go against the grain here and predict they take UConn pitcher Matt Barnes.

Admittedly, the fifth pick may be a bit of a reach for Barnes, but the Royals like his "stuff" and don't pick again for a long while, so this may be the only chance to get the guy they really want. His best pitch is his fastball, which has nice movement and sits comfortably in the low 90's. He has an above average change-up and a curveball that is a work in progress.

All in all, I don't think that the Royals take Starling here, and there are legitimate concerns about the outfielder (which I'll explain in his slide.) I think Barnes is a nice fit for the Royals here, who are looking for a "quick to the big leagues" starter with their pick.

6. Washington Nationals—Trevor Bauer

With the draft and its rumors ever-evolving, I've recently heard the D'backs would consider taking Trevor Bauer with their number three selection, and the group of he, Danny Hultzen and Dylan Bundy filling in the three through five picks. That said, if Hultzen isn't available for the Royals at five, I don't see them taking a project with their pick, and concerns about his delivery could push Bauer down to the Washington Nationals.

It isn't his delivery that is moving him up draft boards, but Bauer's delivery is certainly getting him lots of attention as teams search for the next Tim Lincecum. Irony at it's best, it could be said delivery that scares teams away from Bauer, who has a very "violent" approach to the plate. While I'm not sure I agree with that, I can see his odd delivery warding some teams off.

He throws two different kinds of fastballs—a two and a four-seamer—and both are very, very good. He favors the two-seam fastball, which sits in the low 90's and has plenty of sinking and tailing movement. He can kick his four-seam fastball into the mid to upper 90's, and has good control over it. He throws two different off-speed pitches as well. One is a slider with great movement, and frankly, I'm not sure what to call the other. I've heard it described as a curveball, but it has more of a screwball-like movement, if you ask me.

This guy is the real deal, and in my own personal opinion, he has the tools to go first overall, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go anywhere in the top five. I think his delivery makes him a bit unique, and the organizations going before him can't afford to take a risk with the options that are available.

I doubt the Nationals would pass up the chance to pair Bauer at the top of their rotation with Stephen Strasburg though.

7. Arizona Diamondbacks—Francisco Lindor

The D'backs wouldn't be so coy to tell you that they were happy with not signing their first round pick from last year's draft, Barrett Loux, because that wasn't the intention. As it turns out though, by not being able to sign Loux, the D'backs secured themselves a second pick in the first round of this year's draft, which is one of the deepest in recent memory.

I'm more than sure that they'll take a pitcher with the third overall pick, so it makes sense to grab a bat here, and why not take the best middle infielder in the draft? As if holding a private workout for the D'backs wasn't enough to make this prediction, Francisco Lindor makes sense for the D'backs anyway.

Some scouts aren't very high on his skill set, but he has a nice swing. He's a very good defensive infielder with the ability to play shortstop and second base, and he could translate to a middle of the order bat, though I don't see that being likely. He does have the raw power and makes contact with a slight uppercut in his swing. A worthwhile investment for the D'backs with the seventh pick.

8. Cleveland Indians—Sonny Gray

With all of the high-profile names in this draft, Sonny Gray out of Vanderbilt University is easily one of the best pitchers no one is talking about. With the focus centered around where Gerrit Cole will land and Trevor Bauer's mechanics, the Cleveland Indians could steal Gray with the eighth pick.

I've seen some reports that the Indians could take Jed Bradley with their first pick over Gray, but in my opinion, Gray is the better pitcher right now and has plenty of room for surging potential. He has a high 3/4 arm slot, unlike Bauer, but features a similar skill set.

He has two plus fastballs—a two and four-seam. His two-seam fastball has a ton of movement and sits comfortably in the low to mid 90's. His four-seam fastball is a pitch that can blow hitters away, as he's been shown to approach the 100 mph mark with it, sitting comfortably in the upper 90's. His out pitch is a nasty slider that has a lot of late, downward-breaking movement to it. He'll also throw a changeup, but it's nothing special.

Stuff wise, he has the potential to be a top of the rotation arm, and could join Drew Pomeranz in a formidable duo for the future in Cleveland.

9. Chicago Cubs—Bubba Starling

Baseball is supposedly Bubba Starling's "first love," but I'm concerned with his signability. First, he is a two-sport athlete with a commitment to play quarterback at the University of Nebraska, and is one of the top young quarterbacks in the country. Any team that drafts him is going to have to spend some money on him. 

Another concern is that some scouts don't believe in all of the hype surrounding the young outfielder. He has the raw power, but there are some concerns in his swing, which begs the question of whether or not he'll be able to hit in the Major Leagues. Frankly, I'm not sold on him as a top-ten pick, but with all of the positive praise hovering with his name, I'm sure the Chicago Cubs would jump at the chance to draft him with the ninth pick.

Rumor has it they're looking for an outfielder, and they may be better served drafting someone else. Personally, I think Starling is going to Nebraska, unless the Cubs, or any team that drafts him, are willing to pay over slot. He'll go in the first round somewhere, and wherever he goes, he'll be overpaid.

10. San Diego Padres—Taylor Jungmann

I think that first and foremost, the San Diego Padres want to make sure that they're able to sign their first round pick. They've had more busts than successes in recent memory, and didn't get the chance to go either way with last year's first round pick after failing to sign Karsten Whitson. For that reason alone, it seems like they'll go with a collegiate player.

Rumor has it they're also looking to take pitching, and if they want a player on the fast track to the big leagues, they'll look long and hard at Taylor Jungmann out of the University of Texas. He's a big, 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher with an electric fastball, sitting in the mid to upper 90's. The rest of his arsenal could use some development. He has a good slider that could become an above-average Major League pitch, and he's made strides with his changeup.

Could be a good pick for the Padres at number 10.

11. Houston Astros—Archie Bradley

I'm a big fan of Archie Bradley, and I think that whoever drafts him is going to get one of the best arms to come out of this draft. Whether or not the Houston Astros go that route, well, that's another debate that we'll find out the answer to on Monday.

A lot of scouts think that the Astros will go with a college arm, but I don't think that's a necessity. If we're being honest here, even with a new ownership group, the Astros aren't going to compete in the NL Central any time soon, and they can afford to take on a young high school pitcher. If that is the case, Bradley is a top priority, and one of the best high school arms in the draft.

He isn't going to be able to jump right on a path to the Major Leagues, but it shouldn't take him more than a couple of years to get there. He has a great fastball that sits comfortably in the lower to mid 90's, and one of the best curveballs in the draft. His changeup is a work in progress, but could become a Major League quality pitch.

He has leadership qualities and is a very workable prospect.

*A late-breaking rumor on Saturday afternoon has the Astros trying to reach an over-slot agreement with Chris Reed. Needless to say, if the Astros reach for a more signable pick here, it changes the entire landscape of the picks that follow.

This is why the draft is so much fun (and hard to predict.)

12. Milwaukee Brewers—Alex Meyer

Word has it that regardless of who is on the board, the Milwaukee Brewers are going to go with a tall pitcher they feel fits into their system. Obviously, I can't tell you whether or not Alex Meyer fits into the Brewers' system, but I can tell you that he is a tall, right handed starting pitcher that, although he has some issues, could be worked into a top of the rotation arm.

He boasts a standard repertoire—fastball, curveball, changeup—and doesn't have great control of any of them. His fastball has good life and sits in the mid to low 90's. His curveball is probably his best pitch, and has a good, tight spin to it. His changeup, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired.

The majority of his concerns revolve around fixable problems, including an inconsistent delivery and landing spot. If the Brewers drafted him here because they thought he was "signable," it wouldn't be a wasted pick. 

13. New York Mets—Jed Bradley

A college arm is going to be the safest choice for the New York Mets in this year's draft. They are stricken with financial limitations and have a new general manager, Sandy Alderson, calling the shots. They'll go with a college arm since they'll be able to sign him, and Jed Bradley has enough upside to make it worthwhile. In fact, he may not be around by the time the Mets pick.

One of Bradley's selling points is a smooth, effortless delivery, and he throws all three of his pitches very well with good control of all of them. He features a fastball that sits consistently in the low 90's, but has good command over it and mixes speeds well. It doesn't hurt that his best pitch and out pitch is the changeup, which has a lot of sink to it. He also has a slider that is devastating at times, but needs some development.

Some people are calling Bradley a "safe pick," but anyone who drafts him is getting, at the very least, a middle of the rotation starter.

14. Florida Marlins—George Springer III

There seems to be a consensus that the Florida Marlins will take a collegiate position player, but watching them play with some regularity, I don't think they're the type of system that will take the best player available, though, I do think they'll limit themselves to a position player.

If the Cubs don't take George Springer III with their pick, the Marlins will take him here.

When I look at Springer, I just see the type of player the Marlins would love to have. He has all of the tools to be a good defensive, Major League center fielder, and a bat that could play well in the middle of an order. Springer has excellent pull power and is a good runner.

The real question is whether or not he's still here for the Marlins to pick at 14, and I'm guessing he won't be.

15. Milwaukee Brewers—Robert Stephenson

Frankly, I'm not sure what the Brewers are going to do with this pick. They gave up so much talent in the Zack Greinke deal with the Royals that I think it would be best for them to take the best player available. However, a lot of reports out of Brewers' camp say that they'll stick with their plan to draft tall pitchers, and if that's the case, they may go with Robert Stephenson here.

He has a nice repertoire, anchored by the fastball, which sits comfortably around 93 mph. He'll throw a number of offspeed pitches, the best of which is the curveball. It has strong downward movement and is of Major League quality. He'll also throw a slider and a changeup, but both need work to be good, Major League-level pitches.

All in all, he'll go in the first round and whoever takes him will be happy. He has a consistent, easy delivery for a tall guy and because he's young, still has room to grow into his frame.

16. Los Angeles Dodgers—Javier Baez

The Los Angeles Dodgers taking Javier Baez in the first round is one of the few consensus picks in this draft, and frankly, I don't have enough information to disagree.

The Dodgers, who are limited financially, are going to have to offer below-slot money, and Baez isn't going to command much coming out of high school. Obviously, a team like the Mets or Marlins could be a fit here too for those same reasons,  but the Dodgers are most likely to land him.

He was a shortstop in high school but many scouts believe that whoever drafts him will have to move him to third base, but that shouldn't deter any potential teams. He has the tools to be a successful third baseman. Offensively, he's known to use all of the field and defensively, he's about as good as it gets in the first round of this draft.

Even if the Dodgers consider him a "cheap" option, he'll still be a good pick.

17. Los Angeles Angels—Austin Hedges

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim could go a couple of different directions with their first round pick, and one thing that most scribes concur on is that they'll pick a local player. After that, it's a free-for-all. I can't really put a player next to the Angels' name with any level of certainty, so I'll go with them drafting a player at a position they've excelled in developing in year's past—catcher—and the player, Austin Hedges.

The real knock against taking Hedges in this spot doesn't revolve around his baseball skill, but his signability. He'll be the most expensive of the "local" kids, but the Angels haven't been cheap in years past, and I don't see why that would change now.

He's been compared to Bryce Harper by a few scouts, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with those comparisons. He does have a good, level swing though, and is just an all-around good hitter. He has power, and from a defensive perspective, the potential to stay behind the plate.

With a commitment to UCLA, he may cost a pretty penny, but he'll be worth it.

18. Oakland Athletics—CJ Cron

CJ Cron is a guy the Colorado Rockies would love to have a couple of picks from now. As it turns out though, the Oakland A's are rumored to be interested in taking a college bat, and no one fits that bill better than Cron. Luckily for the A's—they pick first.

This isn't a guy that is a liability in the field, but if you ask me, this guy is a perfect fit for an American League team looking for a guy to split time between first base and DH. He's an average fielder at first base, and though he was a catcher throughout his college career, he spent little time behind the plate at Utah.

Regardless of what position he plays on the diamond, this guy is going to make his money offensively. Just looking at the size of this guy in the photo, it isn't hard to envision him in the middle of an order. A lot of scouts say that Cron is a pure hitter, but his power is off the charts. An all-around good hitter with plate discipline. Yes, please.

Because the pitching already in their system is so deep, you have to imagine that if a guy like Cron is still on the board when the A's pick, they'll take him.

19. Boston Red Sox—Blake Swihart

Blake Swihart is one of my favorite players in this draft, mainly because he has so many tools that a team will find useful. For the Boston Red Sox in particular, this is somewhat of an ideal fit. For a system that lacks depth at the catching position, what sounds better than "switch hitting catcher of the future?" Not much.

This is a guy that can flat-out hit from both sides of the plate. He has good power, be it right handed or left handed, and can develop into a very rare talent from that perspective. For a team that hasn't had an above-average catcher for a full season since the glory days of Jason Varitek, I'm sure it's something the Sox would be interested in.

Defensively, he's not going to win a Gold Glove at this point in time, but he's certainly a work in progress and an above-average defender. He should be able to stay behind the plate without much of a problem, as he has a live arm and makes strong throws through the bag.

20. Colorado Rockies—Kolten Wong

As I wrote earlier in the slide show, the guy that the Rockies really want is CJ Cron, and a lot of experts think they'll get him. I'm no expert, but I'm still going to disagree. He's just too good of a hitter to get by a number of teams looking for an offensive pick. So after I tabbed Cron for the A's, I was left with a void here and decided that it would make sense for the Rockies to go with the next best offensive option, Kolten Wong.

Because of his size, this guy is going to surprise some people, but he is a serious offensive threat from the left side of the plate. He makes consistently good contact, has plus power, and can run. In a draft limited in high-potential second baseman, I think Wong is going to be a good pick wherever he lands, and if the Rockies do land him, he'll be with an organization who can develop middle infielders.

21. Toronto Blue Jays—Brandon Nimmo

The Toronto Blue Jays have become a team rooted in player development, so a lot of people think they'll go with a guy they can fully develop to their liking. One interesting name I've heard tossed around is Josh Bell, and I'm not sure he'll even go in the first round with his rumored asking price (a lot of people believe he'll go to college regardless of who drafts him.) So one guy I think will sign (despite a rumored $3 million asking price) is Brandon Nimmo, and he fits what the Jays want to do.

It's an unconventional pick because he's risen up a lot of draft boards recently, but this is a guy that can develop into a five-tool outfielder, and while I'm not sure just how willing the Rays are going to be to spend in the first couple of rounds in this draft, they'll definitely throw some money around, and Nimmo is a guy worth taking a shot on.

Offensively, I love this guy's swing. He has very quick hands through the zone, makes good contact and for a lanky guy, has great power. He's also shown the ability to run the bases well, and defensively, is a good outfielder. Personally, I like him better than Bubba Starling.

22. St. Louis Cardinals—Daniel Norris

I'm always surprised by the St. Louis Cardinals' system. It seems like, in recent years, they've always had a limited number of "blue-chip" prospects, and yet, they always seem to be able to draft players that will help in some way, shape or form at the Major League-level. Since this seems to be the perfect draft to grab some pitching with upside, I think the Cards will go in that direction, but they could easily draft an offensive position player as well.

Daniel Norris is a left handed pitcher out of high school, but if I had to guess, he signs after this draft. He does everything right on the mound and will be one of those young guys that can pitch well right through the Minor Leagues, if healthy. He has a very smooth delivery, easy arm angle and good life to his pitches.

His fastball sits in the low 90's with good life, but his best weapon is his changeup, which has a lot of movement. He'll mix in a slider that with some time and effort, could become an above-average Major League pitch.

23. Washington Nationals—Taylor Guerrieri

Rumor has it that the Brewers could be in on Guerrieri with one of their first-round picks, and that could very well be the case. He has the size profile in terms of what the Brew Crew are looking for, but they may be better served with drafting Robert Stephenson. That said, if the Brewers do go with Guerrieri with the 15th pick, it isn't illogical to see Stephenson fall here.

Overall, Guerrieri is a very good pitcher, but he is a high school arm that needs a bit of work, which is why I think he's a better fit for the Nationals than the Brewers. His best pitch is the fastball which he began throwing consistently in the mid 90's (with the ability to reach the upper 90's) only this season. He'll throw a straight fastball and a two-seam fastball with more movement that comes in at about 92-93 mph.

I've seen reports that indicate he throws a changeup, but he certainly doesn't use it much and it can't really be considered a weapon at this point. His offspeed pitch, right now, is a slider that will sit in the mid to upper 80's with good, late break.

He'll need some professional coaching in the Minor League. He has an inconsistent delivery and some question whether or not he'll be able to keep the velocity on his fastball with a more rigorous schedule and routine. He has top of the rotation potential, but there are concerns about his mental makeup and things of the sort, which could limit that potential.

24. Tampa Bay Rays—Jose Fernandez

A lot of mock drafts have the Rays going with Jose Fernandez with this pick, and like I said earlier in the slide show, I'm not sure there is enough relevant information to suggest that they'll go in another direction. They have so many draft picks in the first round that they could take a pitcher here, an outfielder and a catcher and get away with it.

Fernandez seems to be their guy with this pick though. He isn't the ideal pitcher for this slot, and he'll need a lot of work before he's Major League ready, but he could still be a very good pitcher. Fernandez has a live arm with a fastball that sits comfortably in the low 90's, but with development, could very well rest comfortably in the mid to upper 90's.

The real problem is, as of this point in time, he doesn't throw much more than that. He's draw comparisons to guys like Francisco Cordero and Jose Valverde, as he's a big-body guy that can't throw many innings, but with a power fastball and the development of an offspeed pitch, he should be a very good reliever.

25. San Diego Padres—Cory Spangenberg

Cory Spangenberg seems to be the perfect fit for the San Diego Padres with the 25th pick, and I passed up on several higher resolution photos to give you an example of why—he's even wearing something akin to the Padres' camouflage uniforms here!

All joking aside, all signs have pointed towards the Padres taking the third baseman here, and if he's still on the board, the Friars won't waste much time scooping him up. He's projected to make a move to second base in the Minor Leagues, and would become one of the best offensive middle infielders of this draft.

He's about as much of a "five-tool" player as they come. He makes solid contact with the ball when he swings, and though he may not have much home run potential at the Major League level, he does have excellent gap power. Spangenberg has show to be a proficient baserunner, and as a good defensive third baseman, shouldn't have much of a problem with a transition to second base.

26. Boston Red Sox—Mikie Mahtook

There are some mock drafts that have Mikie Mahtook going as high as 14th, and potential-wise, that could certainly be the case. In fact, the more I write about some players in this draft, the less surprised I would be to see Mahtook go that high. I have him so low because of major concerns about his strikeout rate, and I think there are few teams early in this draft, that has so much talent, that can afford a bust. The Red Sox are one of those rare teams that can afford to take a chance on a guy like Mahtook and get away with it. For draft savvy teams like the Marlins, I think it's too much of a risk.

One thing you get out of watching video on Mahtook is that he is a really intense guy, and he should be one of those players that provides a jolt of energy to a roster. I'm just very concerned with his swing. He seems like he could be one of those "feast or famine" type hitters, a la Pat Burrell, (but to a much lesser extent) that is going to hit for power but strikeout a lot.

He is a big-body guy who isn't going to be an above-average defender at the Major League level, but it could be a good pick for an American League team like the Sox, who can afford to not only give him time to mature in the Minor League, but use him as a DH if he bottoms out in the field and still get production.

27. Cincinnati Reds—Josh Osich

Josh Osich is definitely one of the most interesting prospects in this draft, at least, in my book. He was once considered a guy that could potentially go in the top-five of the draft, but his lengthy injury history, which includes a Tommy John surgery, pushed him way back into the first round. Whoever drafts him this late in the round though will have a pleasant surprise.

After all, this guy threw a no-hitter this year.

Will he throw one at the Major League level? Probably not, but you never know. Osich is one of the few "power lefties" in this draft, and while he may not be considered a future staff anchor any more, but he'll still be a nice top of the rotation arm or possibly, a shutdown reliever.

His fastball sits in the low 90's now after Tommy John surgery, with occasional giddy-up, but most importantly, he's able to cut the fastball in on the hands of right-handed hitters, which is what today's prominent left handed starters like Cole Hamels have learned to do to be successful. His second-best pitch is a changeup that he throws in a variety of manners, most frequently either a straight changeup for the simple change in speeds or a sinking changeup that is an out pitch.

If the Reds could grab him here, I don't see why they wouldn't.

28. Atlanta Braves—Henry Owens

The Atlanta Braves are usually a team that scouts their own backyard very well and drafts regionally, but this time around, despite high levels of talent throughout the draft, there isn't much first-round material coming out of Georgia, especially by this pick. I think they'll go with what they do best here, and take a young pitcher they can mold as they please.

You could take your pick here with any number of good, young arms, but Henry Owens should be on the top of a lot of teams' lists that are this far down in the round. He should be a signable pick out of high school, and with a good, live fastball, sharp curveball and unusually consistent windup (for a slow one), he'll be a project-able talent in a system that is already stacked, if the Braves manage to land him.

29. San Francisco Giants—Travis Harrison

Often times, you wonder how a team that just won the World Series can get better, and even more often, the answer lies within stockpiling talent in their Minor League system and preparing to make another run at a title. That's what the San Francisco Giants will do on Monday.

Looking at their roster, it may come as a surprise to some to see the Giants interested in an outfielder, but that's why you take the best player available and don't draft for needs. Long after Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff and Aaron Rowand are out of the lineup, the Giants will hope to have a guy like Travis Harrison.

The pundits seem to have the Giants targeting an offensive outfielder with their pick, and while not many agree on Harrison, I like what he brings to the table. He is easily one of the most polished high school outfielders in the draft, and he won't spend too much time in the Minor Leagues.

He has very good balance at the plate and quick hands through the zone, which helps him to generate big-time power. He played third base in high school, but he projects as a corner outfielder who can field his position well and provide the power in the middle of an order.

30. Minnesota Twins—Sean Gilmartin

Looking at what the Minnesota Twins have done over the last decade or so in the draft, I think it's safe to say that Sean Gilmartin is the perfect kinds of pitcher for them. As a team that likes to spend in the draft and drafts well, they could go in a different direction, but Gilmartin is a pretty safe bet.

He's the kind of guy that they can draft and put on the fast track to the Major Leagues because of how well he fits into their system. He definitely isn't going to blow anyone away with his fastball, but he is one of the best control pitchers in the first round and mixes speeds well.

Not much more to say about him. Good mechanics. Good stuff. Safe pick. Even if he turns out to be a middle to bottom of the rotation arm, he'll be solid.

31. Tampa Bay Rays—Andrew Susac

The next couple of picks are going to be interesting, mainly because they're both owned by the Rays, who have done a pretty nice job keeping their draft strategy under wraps. The other franchises are going to have fits trying to project, because the Rays could go with all pitchers, all position players or some mix of the two and make out like bandits.

I think one thing they'll definitely try and do is grab a catcher, and if Andrew Susac isn't gone by this point (his name has been coming out of Red Sox' camp quite frequently), then the Rays may scoop him up here.

Susac is a very good defensive catcher with the ability to stay behind the plate, something a lot of teams will be looking for. More importantly though, he plays well on both sides of the ball. Aside from a little hitch in his swing that may ward off some teams, Susac makes good contact and has power to the gaps. Not a bad pick late in the first round.

32. Tampa Bay Rays—Andrew Chafin

The Rays may take a bat here, but they could really benefit from pitching in their system and if there was ever a time to find pitching in a draft, it's in the first round of this one. If they're willing to take a little bit of a chance on a guy that has had some injuries in the past (including Tommy John surgery), they may be rewarded with one of the more underrated arms in the draft, (and another Andrew), Andrew Chafin.

Pretty standard report on Chafin because he is a pretty standard power pitcher, but a good one. Having recovered from his injuries, Chafin is throwing in the mid 90's with regularity, something that is key for him because it sets up his offspeed pitches, which have made him a strikeout machine in recent weeks.

At the very least, he's a dominant bullpen arm, but he has the potential to be a nice starter in the Major League.

33. Texas Rangers—Larry Greene

Even with the last pick in the first round, the Texas Rangers will still have an opportunity to select a very talented player. That just goes to show how deep this draft is. A lot of baseball pundits have agreed that the Rangers will take an offensive outfielder with their pick, and I expect them to give Larry Greene a look, should he make it past the Braves (Greene is from Georgia.)

He's an interesting prospect. There aren't many people talking about him, but he has the power to be a legitimate threat in a corner outfield position. He is a big body hitter that generates nice bat speed and keeps a lot of balance in his approach.

He isn't a guy that is going to be on the fast track to the Major Leagues because his game in it's entirety needs some work. That said, he has major potential and one of the better raw skill sets for an offensive based outfielder in the first round.

Two of the more popular names for this pick—Brandon Nimmo and Travis Harrison—won't be available if my hunch is right, and Greene could be the next best thing.