2013 MLB Mock Draft: Predicting Where Every 1st-Round Prospect Will Land

They may not make it to the big leagues until a few years down the road, but the top prospects of this year's MLB draft offer franchises and their fans plenty of hope. There are no guarantees that they'll ultimately pan out, yet it's fun to imagine what they can become.

The 2013 draft is somewhat of a crapshoot as there are at least three prospects vying for the No. 1 overall pick and there is plenty of uncertainty throughout the first round. With that said, many of these players appear to have all the tools necessary to be All-Star-caliber performers at the next level.

Here is a full, first-round mock draft including analysis on where every top prospect will land as well as reasoning behind each and every selection. Players with more in-depth analysis are in italics.

1. Houston Astros: RHP Mark Appel, Stanford

There are a number of different directions in which the Houston Astros can go with the No. 1 overall pick, but they have yet to tip their hand. If the Astros are smart, though, they will select the best player in the class regardless of position or potential contract squabbles.

Experts can't seem to agree on who the top overall prospect is, but his track record of success suggests that the title belongs to Stanford pitcher Mark Appel.

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Appel No. 8 overall last year, but he refused to sign and decided to return to Stanford for his senior year instead. It was a risky move, but Appel improved his draft stock by going 10-4 with a 2.12 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 106.1 innings.

Despite that fact, Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle is reporting that Oklahoma pitcher Jonathan Gray may be the team's preferred choice right now.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see Houston take Gray, but Appel has a much longer track record of success and seems to be the more polished prospect. The Astros are so barren in terms of talent that they can't afford to misfire with this pick. Both Appel and Gray have immense potential, but Appel simply seems more likely to reach his ceiling.

2. Chicago Cubs: RHP Jonathan Gray, Oklahoma

The Cubs have had surprising performances from pitchers such as Scott Feldman and Travis Wood this season, but they can't turn down an arm like Gray's.

3. Colorado Rockies: 3B/OF Kris Bryant, San Diego

Bryant is the most explosive power hitter in the draft, and while Coors Field isn't the bandbox it once was, his potential in that ballpark is still scary to think about.

4. Minnesota Twins: 3B Colin Moran, North Carolina

Moran has seemingly moved up draft boards after leading UNC to the best record in college baseball this season, so a team starved for offense like the Twins will pounce on him.

5. Cleveland Indians: RHP Kohl Stewart, St. Pius X HS (Texas)

After four collegiate players are selected, the first high school prospect comes off the board in the form of Stewart as the Indians hope he can form a dominant one-two punch with Trevor Bauer down the line.

6. Miami Marlins: RHP Braden Shipley, Nevada

The Marlins literally have needs at every position, so they can afford to go with the best player available, and that is unquestionably Shipley at this juncture.

7. Boston Red Sox: OF Clint Frazier, Loganville High (Ga.)

It only took the Red Sox one season to get back on track, but they have a high pick to show for it and will use it on a high-upside outfielder in Frazier.

8. Kansas City Royals: LHP/OF Trey Ball, New Castle Chrysler High (Ind.)

The Royals' pitching has been much improved this season with James Shields and Ervin Santana on the hill, and they'll continue to build pitching depth by taking Ball.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates: C Reese McGuire, Kentwood High (Wash.)

Pittsburgh has been without a high-quality catcher since Jason Kendall, so it's time for the Pirates to go out and get a hot prospect at the position such as McGuire. 

10. Toronto Blue Jays: RHP Ryne Stanek, Arkansas

While he hasn't received as much hype as pitchers such as Appel, Gray, Stewart and Shipley, Arkansas right-hander Ryne Stanek is unquestionably one of the best pitching prospects in this draft.

If he is on the board for the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 10, they would be crazy to pass him up as their Achilles' heel right now is pitching. Stanek wouldn't be an instant contributor, but he seems like a good bet to make the big leagues eventually.

Stanek's production speaks for itself as he went 9-2 this season with a microscopic 1.40 ERA. His pure stuff isn't as good as some of the other pitchers in this draft as he only struck out 76 batters in 90 innings, but his control is excellent, and that will be key at the next level.

Stanek was also named All-American Second Team, according to Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, while playing in arguably the nation's toughest conference.

Even if Stanek's ceiling isn't quite as high as guys like Appel and Gray, every pitcher can't be an ace. Stanek definitely has the ability to reach that level if he develops as expected, but it's hard to imagine him being anything less than a reliable, middle-of-the-rotation starter.

11. New York Mets: OF Austin Meadows, Grayson High (Ga.)

The Mets have seemingly been building their farm system for years, and while there haven't been many positive results, Meadows will give fans even more hope for the future.

12. Seattle Mariners: 1B D.J. Peterson, New Mexico

Offensive production has been a major issue for Seattle over the past several years, but perhaps Peterson can be part of the solution a few years down the line.

13. San Diego Padres: SS J.P. Crawford, Lakewood High (Calif.)

The Padres have a solid shortstop in place in the form of Everth Cabrera, but you can never have too much depth at the position, so they'll nab Crawford here.

14. Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Hunter Renfroe, Mississippi State

Andrew McCutchen hasn't had a great season, but he is still the Pirates' cornerstone player, so Pittsburgh ought to select a player who can eventually complement him, such as Renfroe.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks: 1B Dominic Smith, Serra High (Calif.)

After trading Justin Upton to the Atlanta Braves this past offseason, the Diamondbacks need to rebuild their offense. Smith could be a key contributor for them in the coming years.

16. Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Alex Gonzalez, Oral Roberts

The Phillies' pitching hasn't been as advertised this season with Cole Hamels struggling and Roy Halladay injured, so they would be wise to stash a guy like Gonzalez for safe keeping.

17. Chicago White Sox: LHP Ian Clarkin, James Madison High (Calif.)

The White Sox boast a pretty solid all-around team, so they don't have any pressing needs moving forward, but you can never go wrong with a left-handed pitcher like Clarkin.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers: OF Austin Wilson, Stanford

Wilson wasn't quite as good this season as many hoped he would be with a .288 average and five home runs, but he is the type of five-tool player the Dodgers would love to have.

19. St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Chris Anderson, Jacksonville

Perhaps no team in baseball drafts and develops pitchers as well as the Cardinals, so Anderson can only hope that he lands in this situation as he will be on the fast track to success.

20. Detroit Tigers: OF Billy McKinney, Plano West High (Texas)

The Tigers are in a position to win now, so they can afford to draft a guy and wait for him to develop, and that will be the case with McKinney.

21. Tampa Bay Rays: C Nick Ciuffo, Lexington High (S.C.)

Tampa has never really had a great catcher in its entire history, and though Ciuffo isn't guaranteed to pan out, he has the potential to be the best backstop the Rays have ever owned.

22. Baltimore Orioles: OF Aaron Judge, Fresno State

With pitchers like Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman already in the system, the Orioles should go after a potential big bat such as the 6'7" Judge.

23. Texas Rangers: RHP Jonathan Crawford, Florida

Texas' pitching has been surprisingly good this season, but the Rangers don't really have an ace aside from Yu Darvish, so they should draft and develop a guy like Crawford.

24. Oakland Athletics: RHP Phil Bickford, Oaks Christian High (Calif.)

The draft is hugely important for a team like the Athletics as they aren't usually players in free agency, so they need to make sure they hit in the first round, which makes Bickford a solid selection.

25. San Francisco Giants: 3B Eric Jagielo, Notre Dame

Since there are so many question marks about Pablo Sandoval's long-term viability at third base for the Giants, they would be wise to invest in an insurance policy like Jagielo.

26. New York Yankees: LHP Sean Manaea, Indiana State

One of the most interesting prospects in this year's draft is Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea. He entered the 2013 season as one of the best prospects in college baseball, and while he still may hold that distinction, he figures to fall in the draft. The biggest reason for that, according to Lucas Mayer of NBC 2 in Terre Haute, Ind., is the multitude of injuries he has fought through this year.

According to Todd Golden of TribStar.com, Manaea has had plenty of issues this season, including a recent shoulder ailment. That is definitely cause for concern as a pitcher's shoulder is his livelihood, but it's tough to ignore Manaea's production. He went just 5-4 this season, but he had a 1.47 ERA and struck out 93 batters in 73.1 innings while holding opposing batters to a .190 batting average.

Manaea also has ideal size at 6'5" and is left-handed, so he has essentially everything teams look for in an ace. His injury history suggests that he could flame out quickly, but he makes a ton of sense for the Yankees at No. 26.

The Yanks have two compensatory selections in the first round, which means they can afford to roll the dice. The Yankees have never been afraid to take a chance, and they shouldn't be afraid to take Manaea.

27. Cincinnati Reds: LHP Hunter Green, Warren East High (Kent.)

The Reds have one of the most dynamic offenses in the game, but their starting rotation has some holes, which makes Green a nice speculative pick at this juncture.

28. St. Louis Cardinals: OF Phil Ervin, Samford

St. Louis has a great outfield, but the likes of Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday are aging, so they need to bring in a potential future replacement such as Ervin.

29. Tampa Bay Rays: RHP Alex Balog, San Francisco

While the Cardinals are probably best at developing pitching, the Rays aren't far behind. Their system is stocked with quality arms, but it wouldn't hurt to add another in the form of Balog.

30. Texas Rangers: OF Michael Lorenzen, Cal-State Fullerton

The Rangers have been among the best teams in baseball for the past few years, but they have always had a hole in center field, so Lorenzen makes a lot of sense here.

31. Atlanta Braves: LHP Cody Reed, NW Mississippi JC

Atlanta has had a lot of good fortune with Southern prospects over the years, and while Reed appears to be a bit of a project, he is a big lefty who could pay big dividends.

32. New York Yankees: SS Tim Anderson, East Central High (Miss.)

It has become clear this season that shortstop Derek Jeter can't play forever, so the Yankees need to add some positional depth to their system, and Anderson has a lot of upside.

33. New York Yankees: 1B/OF Rob Kaminsky, St. Joseph High (N.J.)

To close out the first round of the 2013 draft, look for the Yankees to nab a local kid in Kaminsky with their second compensatory pick as he has positional versatility and tons of potential.

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