2022 MLB Mock Draft: Breaking Down Top Prospects and Predictions
Long-time Major League Baseball fans may feel a bit old when they look at the top prospects for the 2022 MLB draft.
Druw Jones and Jackson Holliday, the sons of Andruw Jones and Matt Holliday, are two of the potential No. 1 picks in Sunday's selection process.
The Baltimore Orioles hold the No. 1 overall selection, and they could go in a handful of directions, including Jones and Holliday.
Jones and Holliday could be the first two selections by the Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks if the right scenario comes about.
The reality with Baltimore's decision is no one will know the team's plans until right before the selection is made.
MLB.com's Jim Callis and ESPN.com's Kiley McDaniel project Jones will be the top pick, but The Athletic's Keith Law has Cal Poly infielder Brooks Lee in the top spot.
The Orioles' decision will decide how Arizona and the other top-five teams approach their selection process, which is a bit different than other American professional sports drafts because teams have an allotted amount of money to use to sign picks.
2022 MLB Mock Draft
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1. Baltimore Orioles: Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS (Georgia)
2. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS (Oklahoma)
3. Texas Rangers: Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: TerMarr Johnson, 2B, Mays HS (Georgia)
5. Washington Nationals: Jacob Berry, OF, LSU
6. Miami Marlins: Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
7. Chicago Cubs: Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola JC (Florida)
8. Minnesota Twins: Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech
9. Kansas City Royals: Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy (Florida)
10. Colorado Rockies: Justin Crawford, Bishop Gorman HS (Nevada)
11. New York Mets: Jordan Beck, OF, Tennessee
12. Detroit Tigers: Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech
13. Los Angeles Angels: Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary's Prep HS (Michigan)
14. New York Mets: Daniel Susac, C, Arizona
15. San Diego Padres: Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama
16. Cleveland Guardians: Zach Neto, SS, Campbell
17. Philadelphia Phillies: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Tri-City Valley Cats
18. Cincinnati Reds: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford HS (Georgia)
19. Oakland Athletics: Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga
20. Atlanta Braves: Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State
21. Seattle Mariners: Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny HS (Pennsylvania)
22. St. Louis Cardinals: Dylan Beavers, OF, California
23. Toronto Blue Jays: Tucker Toman, 3B, Hammond HS (South Carolina)
24. Boston Red Sox: Drew Gilbert, OF, Tennessee
25. New York Yankees: Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt
26. Chicago White Sox: Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison
27. Milwaukee Brewers: Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma
28. Houston Astros: Sterlin Thompson, OF, Florida
29. Tampa Bay Rays: Peyton Graham, SS, Oklahoma
30. San Francisco Giants: Brock Jones, OF, Stanford
Druw Jones, OF, Weslyan HS (GA)
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Druw Jones has been one of the best high school bats in the 2022 draft class for quite some time.
The son of long-time Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones is committed to Vanderbilt, and he could be the Baltimore Orioles' top selection on Sunday.
Jones and the other potential No. 1 picks will not know their status until the final minutes before Sunday's draft because of the secrecy that Baltimore general manager Mike Elias is known for.
ESPN.com's Kiley McDaniel broke down the similarities between the 2013 and 2022 drafts in which Elias was a key figure in both.
"This is extremely similar to the situation that landed the Astros SS Carlos Correa as the top overall pick in the 2012 draft when current Orioles GM Mike Elias was Houston's scouting director. Correa signed for $2.4 million under slot, and Houston used the savings to sign Lance McCullers as the No. 41 pick," McDaniel said.
If Baltimore drafts on pure talent over a lower-cost option, Jones should be the selection. He boasts a strong and tremendous defense, like his father was known for.
Jones will not be on the draft board for long if he does not land at No. 1. Arizona should swoop up the prep outfielder at No. 2, which is where his draft floor likely is.
Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS (Oklahoma)
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Jackson Holliday will be the second of two sons of former MLB All-Stars to be selected on Sunday.
Holliday could go as high as No. 2 to Arizona, but there is more room for him to drop because there is a handful of shortstop prospects at the top of the draft board.
Cal Poly infielder Brooks Lee and Georgia prep prospect TerMarr Johnson both could be considered by the Diamondbacks at No. 2 or the Orioles at No. 1.
Holliday has a strong plate presence, much like his father, and his stock has been on the rise over the last couple months, as The Athletic's Keith Law pointed out:
"Iโm not sure anyone has helped himself more than Holliday has this spring, notably during his teamโs spring break trip to Arizona in March, where Holliday showed incredibly well in front of a lot of decision-makers in town for spring training."
Holliday possesses a ton of potential, and the team that drafts him has to love his MLB pedigree. That could be one of the difference-makers in the decision-making process.
As is the case with all high-school prospects. Holliday will not appear in the majors for a few years, but he could develop into a star, which is what teams are banking on with him and Jones.
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