MLB Mock Draft 2013: Missing Pieces for Each Team in 1st Round

Selecting the best player available isn’t always an option, and such is the case in this 2013 MLB mock draft.

There are certain holes teams must look to fill to secure their future. This future will hang in the balance on June 6 as the first-year player draft commences.

Here is a full first-round mock identifying the missing pieces for every ballclub.

1. Houston Astros: RHP Mark Appel, Stanford

The Pittsburgh Pirates may have drafted Appel eighth overall in 2012, but there’s not a chance the future ace falls that far this year. With four years of college experience under his belt, he doesn’t only boast a high ceiling, but he’s as pro ready as prospects come.

Houston doesn’t possess a pitcher in its farm system who’ll be ready to make a major impact anytime soon. Appel would change that.

2. Chicago Cubs: RHP Jonathan Gray, Oklahoma

Gray’s resume doesn’t stack up to Appel’s, but his ceiling is arguably higher. He’s capable of reaching triple digits with his fastball.

Chicago has several solid arms in its farm system, but none are nearly as talented as Gray.

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

At 6’5”, 215 pounds, Bryant looks like a home run machine, and he hits like one as well. He boasts 31 homers this season. That’s 11 more than anyone else in D1.

Bryant would quickly, if not instantly, become the best bat in the Rockies farm system.

4. Minnesota Twins: RHP Kohl Stewart, St. Pius X (Texas)

Stewart’s arm may be stronger than Johnny Manziel’s, but the Texas A&M QB commit won’t receive playing time under center for the Aggies in the near future.

Minnesota could use a pitcher packing as much heat as Stewart and his 97 mph fastball.

5. Cleveland Indians: OF Clint Frazier, Loganville High (Ga.)

Frazier isn’t a freak athlete. What he lacks in foot speed, though, he makes up for in bat speed.

Cleveland’s farm is lacking in the outfield, so Frazier would fill a need on defense as well.

6. Miami Marlins: 3B Colin Moran, North Carolina

Moran's swinging ability is strong enough to peg him as a building block, which is what the Marlins are looking for.

Miami needs help practically everywhere. Practically everywhere includes third base.

7. Boston Red Sox: RHP Braden Shipley, Nevada

Shipley is another member of the 97 mph club. He isn't a bad consolation prize for a team that missed out on Appel and Gray.

Boston possesses quality at pitcher, but not quantity of that quality. Shipley would bolster its depth.

8. Kansas City Royals: LHP Sean Manaea, Indiana State

Manaea almost struck out twice as many batters, 93, as he allowed hits, 49, this season. Then again, 96 mph fastballs tend to challenge opponents at the collegiate level.

The top pitching talent in Kansas City’s farm system is right handed.

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

There are plenty of solid catcher prospects in the 2013 class, and the well-rounded McGuire is the strongest of them all. 

Pittsburgh is stacked at pitcher, but it needs a top-end prospect for its arms to throw to.

10. Toronto Blue Jays: OF Austin Meadows, Grayson High (Ga.)

Meadows' most impressive numbers are his measurables, rather than his stat line. However, he boasts one of the highest ceilings in the draft.

Toronto is as thin at center field as it is loaded on the mound. And it’s loaded on the mound.

11. New York Mets: 1B Dominic Smith, Serra High (Calif.)

Smith is one of, if not the best pure hitter in the draft class. 

Smith would be a step toward solving the Mets farm’s offensive issues.

12. Seattle Mariners: OF Austin Wilson, Stanford

The 6'5", 245-pound Wilson is a physically gifted athlete. He has the tools to be a dominant defender and more-than-capable hitter.

Nearly all of the Mariners' top prospects are pitchers. They’re desperate for offense.

13. San Diego Padres: OF Hunter Renfroe, Mississippi State

Like Wilson, Renfroe will be coveted for his athleticism more than his bat. His ceiling, though, outweighs the fact that he's still raw. 

San Diego’s farm isn’t as offensively challenged as Seattle's and New York’s, but it too needs a boost in that area.

14. Pittsburgh Pirates: 1B/3B D.J. Peterson, New Mexico

Peterson's .410 batting average is high enough to be ranked No. 3 in the nation. One could say he knows how to make contact.

Pittsburgh must continue to surround its pitching staff with talent.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Ryne Stanek, Arkansas

Stanek is another "potential" prospect. He has a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it fastball, but his delivery is inconsistent.

Arizona’s pitching staff already has a bright future, but Stanek is too talented to pass up at this point in the draft.

16. Philadelphia Phillies: SS J.P. Crawford, Lakewood High (Calif.)

Few infielders in the class are more talented than Crawford, and there aren't any shortstops who are. His bat is a bit inconsistent, but he's a defensive fiend.

Philadelphia’s farm lacks depth nearly everywhere.

17. Chicago White Sox: OF Aaron Judge, Fresno State

At 6'7", 240 pounds, Judge isn't too small to play professional baseball. As one can imagine of a player that size, he packs plenty of power.

The White Sox have plenty of holes to fill. Outfielder isn’t necessarily its largest, but it could always use another.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Alex Gonzalez, Oral Roberts

Gonzalez isn't the most physically gifted pitcher in the class. His strength is the fact that he has one of the best three-pitch combinations of it.

19. St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Devin Williams, Hazelwood West High (Mo.)

The Missouri commit has a fastball that reaches up into the mid-90s. He's a top-notch athlete with a sky-high ceiling.

20. Detroit Tigers: LHP/OF Trey Ball, New Castle High (Ind.)

Ball would be best suited for the National League because he's a legitimate offensive talent as well as pitcher, but he's too versatile for the American League's Tigers to pass on at this point.

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

Ciuffo, like McGuire, is also a balanced catcher, capable of making an impact in the batter's box on top of calling a game. Runners will also be wary to steal second with his arm.

22. Baltimore Orioles: LHP Matt Krook, St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.)

Krook has showed inconsistency throughout his short career. Scouts will look past that for his 6'4" frame and 94 mph fastball, though.

23. Texas Rangers: OF Billy McKinney, Plano West High (Texas)

McKinney won't be Tim Anderson in a footrace, but he'd hold his own in a bat-off. He's one of the best high school hitters in the nation.

24. Oakland Athletics: RHP Hunter Harvey, Bandys High (N.C.)

If steroids weren't illegal, Harvey should use them. He's only 6'2", 168 pounds and will need to add muscle to reach his full potential, but he still has first-round talent.

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

Jagielo is a stronger hitter than he is fielder. At 6'3", 215, he packs power and is also capable of hitting for contact.

26. New York Yankees: OF Josh Hart Parkview High (Ga.)

Hart vs. Anderson in a footrace, on the other hand, would actually be worth watching. The outfielder has range for days and projects as a leadoff hitter due to that speed.

27. Cincinnati Reds: LHP Marco Gonzales, Gonzaga

Gonzales won't wind up and blow pitches by batters. In fact his best pitch is his changeup.

He possesses a well-rounded arsenal that the Reds would welcome.

28. St. Louis Cardinals: SS/OF Tim Anderson, East Central CC (Mississippi)

Wherever Anderson lands—the infield or outfield—he's guaranteed to bring plenty of speed to the position. If he can get on base, he'll steal bases.

29. Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Rob Kaminsky, St. Joseph’s High (N.J.)

At 6'0", 188 pounds, Kaminsky could've afforded to grow another inch or two, but his mid-90s fastball and breaking ball make up for his lack of jaw-dropping physical gifts.

30. Texas Rangers: LHP Ian Clarkin Madison High (Calif.)

Clarkin's fastball isn't as fast as many other first-round prospects and his delivery is inconsistent. Few high school prospects have a three-pitch rotation as impressive as his, though.

31. Atlanta Braves: RHP Chris Anderson, Jacksonville

This Chris Anderson should claim the nickname "Birdman" as well because his pitches fly. His fastball can lick 97 mph and at 6'4", 215 pounds, he's a terror on the mound.

32. New York Yankees: LHP Blake Taylor, Mission Viejo High (Calif.)

Like most high school pitchers, Taylor is raw. Unlike most high school pitchers, however, Taylor boasts a mid-90s fastball. Being 6'3", 220 pounds won't hurt him either.

33. New York Yankees: RHP Phil Bickford, Oaks Christian High (Calif.)

Bickford's fastball is capable of reaching 96 mph. His other pitches aren't as effective, though, and his command needs work too.

David Daniels is a breaking news writer at Bleacher Report and a news editor at Wade-O Radio.

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