2015 MLB Mock Draft: Bleacher Report's Final Round 1 Picks
Mock drafting is an inexact science, and that's especially true when it comes to the 2015 MLB draft.
Sure, there are big-time prospects like Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman and Dillon Tate right at the top of the board, but there is also no clear-cut No. 1 pick in this year's class.
There's also the consideration that all sorts of factors go into the decision-making process for big league brain trusts. Since it often takes even the brightest of prospects years to make it to make to The Show, a given team's immediate needs are only a small part of the equation.
Far more important considerations include trying to speculate how a college or even high school player's performance will translate to the bigs, weighing whether a prospect is likely to sign and determining just how big of a signing bonus a player is looking for.
While pitchers dominate the list of the 26 projected first-round picks, a few infielders manage to snag spots right at the front of the line.
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 26The Pick: Dansby Swanson, SS, Vanderbilt
It's never a bad thing to have the No. 1 pick. Then again, this certainly isn't the best year to be stationed in that spot either.
ESPN.com's Jim Bowden believes the Arizona Diamondbacks should use their No. 1 pick to select Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson. As Bowden sees it, Swanson has the upside to stick at shortstop and is already so advanced that he could be the first draft pick to crack a major league roster.
"He's the safe pick, and when it's close, you always bet on a good human being, and Swanson is one to bet on," Bowden wrote.
2. Houston Astros
2 of 26The Pick: Alex Bregman, SS, LSU
Even if the Houston Astros already have Carlos Correa lined up as the franchise's shortstop of the future, Alex Bregman is just too good to pass up.
The LSU star impresses in the field and ripped off a .940 OPS and 37 steals in the SEC. The 21-year-old also racked up 34 extra-base hits in 63 games for the Tigers.
3. Colorado Rockies
3 of 26
The Pick: Tyler Jay, LHP, Illinois
Tyler Jay should be one of the first players from this draft class to make it to the majors.
The lefty closer was electric for Illinois in 2015, locking up 14 saves and posting a 0.60 ERA. The way he pitched in the Big Ten this year, Jay could land at Coors Field before the end of the 2015 season if the Colorado Rockies decide to select him at No. 3.
.png?w=256)
4. Texas Rangers
4 of 26The Pick: Brendan Rodgers, SS, Lake Mary (Fla.) HS
Getting Brendan Rodgers at No. 4 would represent a tremendous value for the Texas Rangers.
A shortstop in high school, Rodgers has the potential to be an impact hitter at a premium defensive position. There's a real chance that Rodgers falls to the Rangers in this spot, as a couple of college shortstops will also be garnering plenty of attention on draft day.
5. Houston Astros
5 of 26The Pick: Dillon Tate, RHP, UCSB
With two picks in the top five selections, the Houston Astros are on the verge of cashing in.
If the team grabbed Dillon Tate at the No. 5 spot, the Astros would be acquiring a starter who carved up the Big West in 2015. The righty sported a 2.26 ERA and a 9.7 K/9 ratio for the Gauchos.
6. Minnesota Twins
6 of 26The Pick: Kyle Tucker, OF, Plant (Fla.) HS
According to John Manuel of Baseball America, Kyle Tucker is a strong option at this spot, as the Minnesota Twins are on the lookout for high school outfielders. The 6'4" Tucker made plenty of noise with his bat in 2015, sporting a .407 average and driving in 21 runs in 23 contests for Plant High School in Tampa, Florida.
7. Boston Red Sox
7 of 26The Pick: Daz Cameron, OF, Eagle’s Landing Christian School (Ga.)
The son of former big leaguer Mike Cameron, Daz Cameron knows all about what is required to make it in MLB. As you can see in the video above, the younger Cameron, who hit .455 in his senior season, looks just like his father.
8. Chicago White Sox
8 of 26The pick: Kolby Allard, LHP, San Clemente (Calif.) HS
Lefty Kolby Allard has the talent to earn the distinction of becoming the first high school pitcher selected in 2015. As ESPN.com's Keith Law notes, the starter can already hit 96 mph on the radar gun.
However, there are health concerns surrounding Allard. Per Law, a stress reaction in his back cut his senior season short.
9. Chicago Cubs
9 of 26
The Pick: Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt
Carson Fulmer is without question one of the most talented hurlers in this year's class.
The right-hander always excelled in his time at Vanderbilt, but he put on an absolute clinic in the SEC in 2015. During his junior season, Fulmer was the owner of a 1.82 ERA and a 12.0 K/9 ratio.
10. Philadelphia Phillies
10 of 26The Pick: Tyler Stephenson, C, Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.) HS
It's not easy to find catchers with pop, and that's exactly the kind of potential Tyler Stephenson provides.
In addition to having plenty of power with the bat, the high school backstop also has a cannon of an arm. There's always risk in selecting a high school catcher, but Stephenson has the potential to make this a worthwhile gamble for the Philadelphia Phillies.
11. Cincinnati Reds
11 of 26The Pick: Ian Happ, OF, University of Cincinnati
Ian Happ raised his draft stock in a big way thanks to a monster junior season for the the University of Cincinnati. In 56 ACC contests, the switch-hitter posted a .369 average and a 1.164 OPS. The outfielder was also an extra-base-hitting machine, totaling 18 doubles and 14 bombs in 198 at-bats.
12. Miami Marlins
12 of 26The Pick: Trenton Clark, OF, Richland (Texas) HS
John Sickels of MinorLeagueBall.com believes Trenton Clark would be an ideal selection for a Miami Marlins team that is looking to land a high school bat. Hitting is exactly what Clark did in 2015. During his senior season, the lefty checked in with a .518 average and a .697 OBP.
13. Tampa Bay Rays
13 of 26The Pick: Phil Bickford, RHP, College of Southern Nevada
Phil Bickford has been a first-round selection before. Back in 2013, the Toronto Blue Jays drafted him with the No. 10 pick, but the righty never ended up signing.
After recording a 1.45 ERA in 16 starts this season for the College of Southern Nevada, the starter drew high praise from his coach, Nick Garritano.
“He’s hands-down the best baseball player I’ve ever been around," Garritano said, via Taylor Bern of the Las Vegas Sun. "He was unbelievably dominant.”
14. Atlanta Braves
14 of 26The Pick: Mike Nikorak, RHP, Stroudsburg (Pa.) HS
High school hurler Mike Nikorak is already drawing some noteworthy comparisions.
According to ESPN.com's Keith Law, the righty, who can hit the high 90s on the radar gun and who wields a strong curveball, is similar to Jameson Taillon. MLB.com tabs Taillon as the No. 2 farmhand in the Pittsburgh Pirates' system.
15. Milwaukee Brewers
15 of 26
The Pick: Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Louisville
Don't ask Kyle Funkhouser which team will end up drafting him.
"Honest to God, I could not tell you one thing about the draft," Funkhouser told Mike Helfgot of the Chicago Tribune. "I literally do not have a single clue."
The right-hander's draft stock has taken a minor hit after his ERA jumped from 1.94 in 2014 to 3.20 in 2015. For the Milwaukee Brewers, selecting Funkhouser at No. 15 could prove a shrewd buy-low opportunity.
16. New York Yankees
16 of 26The Pick: Cody Ponce, RHP, Cal Poly Pomona
At 6'5", Cody Ponce already looks like he could be pitching in the big leagues.
John Manuel of Baseball America points to the New York Yankees as a potential landing spot for the Cal Poly Pomona right-hander. While pitching for the DII Broncos in 2015, Ponce posted an impressive 1.44 ERA in 13 appearances. The starter piled up 67 strikeouts while walking 14 batters in 62.1 innings of work.
17. Cleveland Indians
17 of 26The Pick: Andrew Benintendi, OF, University of Arkansas
The Cleveland Indians have snagged outfielders with their top pick in each of the past two drafts. If that pattern continues in 2015, Andrew Benintendi is a name to keep an eye on.
In 2015, the outfielder displayed serious power for the University of Arkansas, racking up 13 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs and a .715 slugging percentage in just 221 at-bats.
18. San Francisco Giants
18 of 26The Pick: Ashe Russell, RHP, Cathedral (Ind.) HS
From Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain to Madison Bumgarner, Brian Sabean, the San Francisco Giants' executive vice president of baseball operations, has a remarkable track record of drafting impact starters.
According to ESPN.com's Keith Law, the Giants are zeroing in on high school arms, and Ashe Russell could be right at the top of the list.
19. Pittsburgh Pirates
19 of 26The Pick: Cornelius Randolph, SS, Griffin (Ga.) HS
A shortstop in high school, Cornelius Randolph's ultimate defensive home is very much up in the air. While his glove remains suspect, the left-handed hitter has shown plenty of power with the bat.
As John Sickels of MinorLeagueBall.com notes, there have been "persistent rumors" connecting Randolph to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
20. Oakland Athletics
20 of 26
The Pick: Walker Buehler, RHP, Vanderbilt
The last time the Oakland Athletics selected a Vanderbilt right-hander in the first round, they landed current staff ace Sonny Gray.
Like Gray, Buehler has enjoyed plenty of success with the Commodores. In 2015, the 20-year-old posted a 2.97 ERA in 14 starts in the SEC.
21. Kansas City Royals
21 of 26The Pick: Chris Betts, C, Wilson (Calif.) HS
Chris Betts has an awfully high ceiling.
According to ESPN.com's Keith Law, the high school backstop might have the best pop of any left-handed bat in the draft class. What's more, Law argues that Betts has the look of a future All-Star.
22. Detroit Tigers
22 of 26The Pick: Kevin Newman, SS, Arizona
Kevin Newman can flat-out rake.
In three seasons at Arizona, he had a .337 batting average and a .421 slugging percentage. The shortstop really broke out in his third campaign, swinging at a .370 clip in 55 games.
23. St. Louis Cardinals
23 of 26The Pick: James Kaprielian, RHP, UCLA
From Michael Wacha to Marco Gonzales, the St. Louis Cardinals have made a habit of snagging collegiate starters with the organization's top pick.
James Kaprielian could be next in line.
The UCLA righty carved up the Pac-12 in his three seasons in Southern California, reeling off a 2.06 ERA and a 9.8 K/9 ratio.
24. Los Angeles Dodgers
24 of 26The Pick: Brady Aiken, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.)
As John Sickels of MinorLeagueBall.com notes, there has been "a frequent and strong rumor" linking Brady Aiken to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Health remains a major concern for the lefty, who was the No. 1 overall selection in 2014. Aiken is currently working his way back from Tommy John surgery after undergoing the procedure in late March.
25. Baltimore Orioles
25 of 26The Pick: DJ Stewart, OF, Florida State
According to John Manuel of Baseball America, the Baltimore Orioles will be aiming for a player who can make a quick march to Camden Yards. DJ Stewart, who cracked 15 bombs in 64 contests for Florida State, fits that bill.
26. Los Angeles Angels
26 of 26
The Pick: Thomas Eshelman, RHP, Cal State Fullerton
With spectacular command, Thomas Eshelman has the look of a college arm who could fly through the minor leagues. In 2015, the Cal State Fullerton righty dished out just seven free passes in 130.1 frames.
All stats courtesy of TheBaseballCube.com, NCAA.org and MaxPreps.com. All videos courtesy of YouTube.com.
If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.
.png?w=480)
