MLB Draft 2022: 1st-Round Mock Draft, Breakdown of Top Prospects

A new batch of MLB stars are on the way.

So, too, are serviceable starters, reliable reserves, career minor leaguers and, of course, draft busts.

It's all part of the educated guessing process that is the MLB draft, and it's about to get rolling this weekend.

Before the actual event, which spans from Sunday to Tuesday, we'll take a crack at mocking the first round before spotlighting two of our top prospects.

Mock 1st Round

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BRIGHTON, MA - APRIL 22: Virginia Tech Hokies outfielder Gavin Cross (19) watches a pitch during a college baseball game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Boston College Eagles on April 22, 2022 at the Eddie Pellagrini Diamond in Brighton, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Baltimore Orioles: Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan High School (Ga.)

2. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater High School (Okla.)

3. Texas Rangers: Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays High School (Ga.)

5. Washington Nationals: Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy (Fla.)

6. Miami Marlins: Jacob Berry, 3B/OF, LSU

7. Chicago Cubs: Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech

8. Minnesota Twins: Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola JUCO

9. Kansas City Royals: Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech

10. Colorado Rockies: Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech

11. New York Mets: Jett Williams, SS, Rockwall-Heath High School (Texas)

12. Detroit Tigers: Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman High School (Nev.)

13. Los Angeles Angels: Brock Porter, Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School (Mich.)

14. New York Mets: Daniel Susac, C, Arizona

15. San Diego Padres: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford High School (Ga.)

16. Cleveland Guardians: Zach Neto, SS, Campbell

17. Philadelphia Phillies: Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga

18. Cincinnati Reds: Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage High School (Fla.)

19. Oakland Athletics: Drew Gilbert, OF, Tennessee

20. Atlanta Braves: Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State

21. Seattle Mariners: Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny High School (Pa.)

22. St. Louis Cardinals: Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison

23. Toronto Blue Jays: Tucker Toman, 3B, Hammond High School (S.C.)

24. Boston Red Sox: Sterlin Thompson, OF, Florida

25. New York Yankees: Dylan Beavers, OF, California

26. Chicago White Sox: Robby Snelling, LHP, McQueen High School (Nev.)

27. Milwaukee Brewers: Blade Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee

28. Houston Astros: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Tri-City ValleyCats

29. Tampa Bay Rays: Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma

30. San Francisco Giants: Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama

Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech

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BRADENTON, FL - JUNE 20: Kevin Parada throws down to second base during the PDP League game at the IMG Academy on Thursday, June 20, 2019 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

If Kevin Parada shores up his defense, there's a non-zero chance he emerges as the best player in this draft.

That's high praise, obviously, but it's deserved.

His bat is live. He sprays line drives to all parts of the park, makes a ton of hard contact and is disciplined enough not to chase. This past season, he homered nearly every other game (26 jacks in 60 contests) and almost had more walks (30) than strikeouts (32).

He is a good enough receiver behind the plate (though not a standout), but he needs to improve his arm strength to really control a game. Regardless of where his defense lands, though, he could be a middle-of-the-order bat who hits for good average and pop.

Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech

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PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 5: Jace Jung (2) Texas Tech Infielder smiles as he runs the bases after a home run during a baseball game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Grand Canyon Lopes on April 5, 2022, at GCU Ballpark, AZ. (Photo by Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jace Jung has a funky batting stance with the bat way behind his back shoulder, a brother en route to the big leagues (Texas Rangers prospect Josh Jung) and a bunch of questions about his defensive fit in MLB.

If you wanted to argue Jung as the most interesting prospect in this class, those would be your bullet points.

Jung's biggest asset is his bat, which impresses with both quality contact and out-of-the-park power. In both of his final two seasons at Texas Tech, he hit better than .330 with an on-base percentage north of .460. He also had 35 homers (28 doubles and two triples) over that stretch with more walks (108) than strikeouts (87).

He doesn't have much speed or great arm strength, which limits where he can play and how effective he can be in that spot. Still, whichever organization drafts him will be glad to get his bat and hope its coaching staff can find the right spot to put him on defense.