2011 MLB Draft Prospects: Comparing Each 1st-Round Pick to a MLB Player

Traditionally, the first round of the MLB draft is very pitcher heavy and the 2011 edition will be no different.  Unlike the NFL, MLB draft picks are usually determined by the best-player-available logic and this year, the arms have it in spades.  In fact, only three of Baseball America's top 10 prospects are position players. 

MLB fans everywhere will follow this draft with bated breath hoping their clubs will land the next Tim Lincecum, Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds. 

Follow along as I catalog and analyze each pick of the first round, complete with a comparison to your favorite current or former major leaguers.  

1. Gerritt Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates as Justin Verlander

It was leaked over the weekend that the Pittsburgh Pirates would take UCLA righty Gerrit Cole, and this is no big surprise.

Cole is as close to a “sure thing” as this draft offers, but he still comes with a fair amount of baggage.  Look no further than the kid’s sometimes triple-figures fastball to assess his raw talent and high upside; but as history has often proved, the ability to bring the heat is, by itself, no guarantee of future success.

Fortunately for Cole, he has a power slider and a decent changeup to complement his overpowering fastball.  These pitches don’t quite match the secondary arsenal of fellow No. 1-overall pick Stephen Strasburg, but the Nats’ franchise pitcher still provides a fair point of comparison.

If Strasburg’s injury history is too much for supporters of Gerrit Cole to stomach, the Tigers Justin Verlander, with his own high-90s heater and nasty slider, represents another similar talent Cole could turn into.  

2. Danny Hultzen, Seattle Mariners as Mike Minor

In a surprise move, the Seattle Mariners shied away from injury-prone third baseman Anthony Rendon and chose stud UVA lefty Danny Hultzen with the second pick of the first round. 

Hultzen looks to be a quick-to-the-bigs prospect who showed steady improvement over his time in Charlottesville.  He features a mid-90s fastball, a filthy changeup and a big slurve ball.  Hultzen will depart UVA on a high note as he earned ACC Pitcher of the Year honors in 2010 thanks to his 11-3 record and 1.75 ERA.  

He compares favorably to former Vanderbilt standout and Braves prospect Mike Minor.  

3. Trevor Bauer, Arizona Diamondbacks as Tim Lincecum

The Arizona Diamondbacks picked Trevor Bauer with the third overall pick, making him the second UCLA Bruin taken in the first three selections.  

Although the vast majority of draft boards rated him below his teammate Gerrit Cole, Bauer's unique talents and well-rounded game prevented him from being overshadowed.  Indeed, if anything, Bauer's draft stock has risen as his slight frame, nasty stuff and oddball delivery have elicited comparisons with two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum.

All signs point to UCLA's No. 2 turning into ace material.  His fastball is not equal to Cole's, but he can still hump it up to 95 when the situation calls for it.  

But Bauer's biggest selling point is his secondary stuff, highlighted by a filthy 12-to-6 curveball not too dissimilar from the one Lincecum himself featured early in his career.  His durability has been cited as a concern, but if Lincecum's heretofore injury-free career is any indication, Trevor Bauer seems ticketed for a fruitful career in the desert.  

4. Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles as Roy Oswalt

The Baltimore Orioles’ dreams were answered when the Diamondbacks took Trevor Bauer allowing them to snag the top high-school pitcher available, Dylan Bundy.

Bundy could prove tough to sign as he is a strong commit to perennial baseball powerhouse, Texas.  However, the Orioles have an ace in the hole as Bundy’s older brother, Bobby, is already in their farm system.  

Bundy compares favorably with Phillies hurler Roy Oswalt, as he features a low-90s fastball and an above-average curveball. 

5. Bubba Starling, Kansas City Royals as Hunter Pence

The Kansas City Royals just improved their baseball-best farm system.  Maybe.

A high school prospect touted as a freak athlete, Bubba Starling is, if not the best overall offensive player in this year's draft, easily the most exciting.  

The question now remains whether or not the Royals can sign him, since his talents may instead take him to Nebraska to play football.  The prevailing opinion among scouts is that Starling is a five-tool player.  His athleticism has drawn most of this high praise, but his hitting skills decidedly lack finish.  

He combines a pull-hitter's power stroke with a free-swinging mentality, hitting many more balls in the air than on the ground.  With a little more polish, one can easily see him evolving into a Hunter Pence-type player.

6. Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals as Scott Rolen

Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect fell all the way to the six spot probably due to the fact that he has suffered pretty much every imaginable injury in the past few months.  

The fact that Rendon’s agent, the notorious Scott Boras, refused to release his medical records only raised suspicion amongst potential suitors. 

His injury-plagued 2010 season aside, Rendon has shown good pop and a great ability to hit for power.  He could develop into a Scott Rolen-like stalwart at the hot corner for the Mariners.

7. Archie Bradley, Arizona Diamondbacks as Ubaldo Jimenez

Another pick, another dual-sport athlete.

The Arizona Diamondbacks went the pitcher route again with their second first-round pick, complementing the Bauer selection with a much rawer talent, high-school pitcher Archie Bradley from Oklahoma.

Throughout his high-school career, Bradley compiled strikeouts at a jaw-dropping rate while keeping his ERA so miniscule that scouts could barely see it.  His athleticism appears to be his biggest asset, but he's more than a mere thrower, as he can bring the heat with two types of fastball.

With a four-seam fastball that tops out at 98 miles per hour, a 93-to-95 two-seamer, and a wicked curve in the 83-to-85 range, his talents are very reminiscent of Ubaldo Jimenez.

8. Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians as Erick Aybar

The Indians took middle infielder, Francisco Lindor with the eighth pick.  He has the raw talent to mature into a solid second or third-place hitter, but he will take some time to develop as a hitter. 

The good news for the Indians is that, even if his bat doesn’t develop, he will be able to make the majors as defensive specialist.  

Lindor compares favorably to the Angels’ Erick Aybar. 

9. Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs as Hanley Ramirez

With the ninth overall pick in the draft, the Cubs selected high-school shortstop prospect Javier Baez from Florida.  

His bat speed has been lauded as the best in the draft, and his hitting abilities exceed those of a mere masher.  As he takes time to develop his skills in the minors, expect the Cubs to try him out at other positions—last time I checked, Chicago has a pretty good player manning the fort at SS in the major leagues.  

Baez does, however, have something of a short fuse, which the Cubs hope won't retard the development of his seemingly ceilingless talents.  

All in all, Baez has the potential to become a player of Hanley Ramirez-like caliber.  Let's just hope his temperament doesn't bode a future as a prima donna.  

10. Cory Spangenberg, San Diego Padres as Freddy Sanchez

While Spangenberg lacks major-league home-run power, his line-drive swing is tailor made for spacious PETCO Park.  He is a solid fielder who will likely end up at second base in the majors. 

His speed and baserunning IQ will make him a viable weapon on the base paths.  

He compares to Freddy Sanchez.

11. George Springer to the Houston Astros as Jeff Francoeur

Reserve your 2014 seats in the Crawford Boxes now—UConn's OF George Springer is coming to Houston.  

Springer brings an explosive bat to the Astros' organization, but his other hitting skills leave something to be desired.  To his credit, Springer has evolved in some respects since starting at UConn, but he will need to continue to depend on minor-league coaches to help him reduce his uppercut and pull-happy tendencies.

The most generous of Springer projections peg him as a mediocre hitter; nevertheless, he likely has enough pop to find a starting job in Houston, making a career out of peppering that short porch in left field at Minute Maid Park.

Forgive me, Astros fans, but Springer's talents simply scream "Jeff Francoeur" to me.

12. Taylor Jungmann, Milwaukee Brewers as Roger Clemens

At 6’6’’ Jungmann is an intimidating presence on the mound. 

He is a classic power pitcher with an electric fastball which tops out in the high 90s.  In order to be successful in the bigs, he will have to develop his off-speed stuff.  If he can find an effective change-of-pace pitch, Jungmann will be on the fast track to the majors.

His power game and formidable presence add to a power-pitching style that resembles that of fellow Longhorn, Roger Clemens

13. Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets as Colby Rasmus

With the 13th overall pick, the Mets added a wild card to their organization of trainwrecks.

As a high-school OF prospect without a high school, Brandon Nimmo is a unique specimen that sounds more like the answer to a recondite trivia question than an actual first-rounder.

Scouts say his swing looks pretty, but because his Wyoming school didn't have a baseball team, he wasn't able to accumulate many reps against quality opponents.  Nimmo has measurably solid speed and the type of swing that looks poised for power, but again, nobody will know how good he actually is until he reports to rookie ball for the Mets and faces some real pitching. 

Nevertheless, he has the appearance of a five-tool player, and could someday play in Major League Baseball center field to the tune of a Colby Rasmus-type player. 

14. Jose Fernandez, Florida Marlins as Francisco Cordero

The Marlins grabbed hefty high-school righty Jose Fernandez earlier than many analysts projected.  Fernandez is a definite project, as he features a solid low-90s fastball and little else.  

The good news for the Marlins is that Fernandez has the body to throw in the upper 90s.  Best case scenario is that he develops into a solid closer.

He compares to Francisco Cordero 

15. Jed Bradley, Milwaukee Brewers as Cole Hamels

The Brewers took a safe route with the 15th-overall pick, opting to select polished Georgia Tech lefty Jed Bradley rather than a more risky power arm.  

He doesn't have the type of stuff that will blow you away, but he already has the pitching know-how to mix pitch speed and types with the savvy of a veteran Major League Baseball player. 

With an arsenal that consists of a 91-to-94 mph fastball, a good change-up, and an average slider, he reminds me of a young Cole Hamels.  

16. Chris Reed, Los Angeles Dodgers as Ryan Franklin

On the surface it may seem as though the Dodgers drastically overrated Reed, as Baseball America had him ranked as the 60th best pitcher available.  However, fans should see Reed as a classic slot pick for the financially-strapped Dodgers who could not afford to sign any higher-rated players.  

He compares to Ryan Franklin. 

17. C.J. Cron, Anaheim Angels as Paul Konerko

You have to wonder whether or not the Angels' loss of Kendrys Morales to injury had anything to do with this selection.

C.J. Cron, a right-handed 1B/C out of Utah, is a bulky power hitter who, nevertheless, has the brain to match his brawn.

With great coverage of the strike zone and the ability to hit to all fields, Cron projects as a dynamic threat and should be able to compile high home-run totals while still hitting for a respectable average.

If Cron reaches his potential, he could one day end up reminding us of Paul Konerko.

18. Sonny Gray Oakland A’s as David Price

Sonny Gray is likely to be up in the majors pitching alongside Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez sooner rather than later. 

He features two fastballs and can reach 100 mph with his four-seamer.  While his cutter has significant movement, he relies on a nasty back-foot slider as his out pitch. 

He compares favorably to fellow Tampa Bay Rays ace and fellow Vanderbilt Commodore David Price.  

19. Matt Barnes, Red Sox as Chris Carpenter

Theo Epstein looked to add to his impressive draft track record by picking right-hander Matt Barnes with the 19th overall pick.  

Touted as a "classic power pitcher," Barnes adds a decent curve and a changeup to a fastball that tops out at 97.  

But as good as his potent arsenal appears to be, his greatest asset is a frontline mentality that makes him geared for pressure-packed situations.

This rare combination of strong stuff and incredible poise puts him in the class of a guy like Chris Carpenter.

20. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies as Ted Lilly

Anderson is the first Oregon player to be taken in the first round since the program was reinstated in 2009. He was originally drafted by the Twins in 2008.  

Anderson does not have overwhelming stuff as his fastball tops out around 94 mph, but his deceptive delivery makes him difficult to hit. 

He compares to Ted Lilly. 

21. Tyler Beede, Blue Jays as Mike Pelfrey

Making a bit of a risky pick with the 21st overall selection, the Toronto Blue Jays took Tyler Beede, a right-handed high-school power arm from Auburn, Mass.

Beede has already committed to attend school at Vanderbilt, but assuming the Blue Jays can work out a deal, they will have signed a player who boasts two exceptional secondary pitches and a fastball that ranges between 86 to 93 mph.  

He has a decent changeup, but his best pitch is a quality hook with severe bite that is accentuated in the eye of hitters by the high release point of a 6'4" frame. 

Although he stands a little lower to the earth, Beede's repertoire calls to mind the Mets' Mike Pelfrey. 

22. Kolten Wong St. Louis Cardinals as Dustin Pedroia

Wong is a great contact hitter with some power.  

He will be a valuable member of the Cardinals bench sooner rather than later as he has the ability to play multiple positions.

At 5’8" 190 lbs,  Wong will be compared to every undersized middle infielder ever, but his surprising power makes comparisons to the Red Sox Dustin Pedroia particularly appropriate. 

23. Alex Meyer, Washington Nationals as Josh Johnson

The Nationals may have snagged the steal of the first round with the 23rd overall pick, drafting 6'9" fireballer Alex Meyer out of the University of Kentucky.

With a fastball that tops out at 97 and a high-80s hard slider, Meyer has the ability and the polish to make a quick ascent through the minors, perhaps starting out in the bullpen as the Nationals slowly groove him for a spot in the rotation.  

If this turns out to be the case, could a same-year debut a la Chris Sale be in the cards?

Putting the question of his ceiling aside, one can't help but compare his talents to Marlins' ace Josh Johnson.

24. Taylor Guerrieri, Tampa Bay Rays as Dontrelle Willis

Guerrieri has a major-league arm, but will require a lot of development to find success in the bigs. 

As of now, Guerrieri is a thrower, not a pitcher and his questionable mechanics cause scouts to doubt his ability to hold up to professional-length seasons.   

He compares to Dontrelle Willis.

25. Joe Ross, San Diego Padres as Huston Street

On paper, the Padres made good use of the 25th overall pick in the draft, choosing a California high school right-hander who, along with a big-league pedigree, ranks among the best pitching prospects in the state.

His older brother Tyson currently plays for the Oakland Athletics, but if his own exceptional skills and powerful delivery are any indication, Joe Ross will establish an identity separate from big bro.  The better part of his arsenal is composed of an explosive low-to-mid 90s fastball and a power curve, both of which he can command on both sides of the plate.

The teenager will only get stronger as he ages, and there's no telling how good the kid can be.  For now, I see him becoming a talent on the order of a guy like Huston Street. 

26. Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox as Buster Posey

Swihart has nearly infinite potential as he is a catcher who displays great power from both sides of the plate. 

He needs to develop defensive chops to become an elite major leaguer.  It would benefit him greatly to get into the minors now rather than matriculate to the University Texas in the fall.

Reminds me of an unpolished Buster Posey.

27. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds as Joba Chamberlain

The Reds went sexy with the 27th pick, drafting Robert Stephenson (insert "Treasure Island" reference here), a hard-throwing high schooler out of Martinez, California. 

The 18-year-old Stephenson is still a work in progress, but his 97 mph fastball, strong build, and reputation for hard work seem to point to a promising future in the Reds' organization.  Oh yeah, did I mention that he threw back-to-back no-hitters? 

His pitching delivery appears labored at times, which causes him to lose control. But from the perspective of raw talent, Stephenson shares a lot of similarities with the Yankees' Joba Chamberlain. 

28. Sean Gilmartin, Atlanta Braves as Tom Glavine

Crafty lefty Sean Gilmartin will remind Braves fans of Tom Glavine. 

He won’t blow anybody away with the fastball, which tops out around 91 mph, but his control is impeccable and he is a proven winner: 12-1, 1.83 ERA for the Florida State Seminoles in 2011. 

29. Joe Panik, San Francisco Giants as Jose Reyes

With the 27th overall pick in the 2011 draft, the Giants made a bit of a head-scratching selection.  

St. John's shortstop Joe Panik didn't sit atop many draft boards, although he does come equipped with a rare set of skills for a middle infielder.  

The left-hander hits with power and can steal his fair share of bases, which makes the pensive fan wonder whether the Giants' first-round flier was motivated by a desire to shore up their much-maligned shortstop position long-term.

Earlier this year, the Giants were rumored to have interest in Mets' shortstop Jose Reyes.  In Panik, they may have found a comparable skill set—even though his natural talent and upside don't quite match up.  

30. Levi Michael, Minnesota Twins as Jed Lowrie

Levi Michael’s professional success will be dependent on his ability to hit for average.  Michael is your prototypical light-hitting middle infielder, but the fact that he is only 19 will give the Twins brass hope that he can develop into a solid leadoff or No. 2 hitter.  

Compares to Boston’s Jed Lowrie.

31. Mikie Mahtook, Tampa Bay Rays as Carl Crawford

The Tampa Bay Rays stuck to the organizational philosophy with the 31st-overall pick, drafting speedy and versatile CF Mikie Mahtook out of LSU.  

Mahtook is an exciting, five-tool player whose hard-nosed play makes him a highlight-reel machine.  In his last season with the Tigers, he batted .396, hit 14 jacks and recorded 56 RBI and 29 steals.

An offensive and defensive stalwart with the stats to back it up, Mahtook calls to mind a pre-Red Sox Carl Crawford. 

32. Jake Hager, Texas Rangers as Cliff Pennington

This was likely a reach for the Rays as Hager wasn’t ranked in Baseball America’s top 100 prospects.

Hager is a solid defensive middle infielder with good speed, however, most scouts think he is a long way away from the bigs.  He is currently committed to Arizona State, but could probably be swayed to turn pro if offered good money. 

Compares to Cliff Pennington. 

33. Kevin Matthews, Texas Rangers as Billy Wagner

The Texas Rangers ended the first round in intriguing fashion Monday night, drafting LHP Kevin Matthews, a 5'10" high-schooler from Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Don't let Matthews' small stature fool you: the guy pitches big.  

He's a strong, athletic pitcher with a chip on his shoulder and a Napoleon Complex, having the ability to hit 94 mph on the gun in a pinch.  

He uses a plus slider and a developing changeup to offset his sneaky heater, and his nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic ensures that his specialty stuff will only improve with time.

He is small, left-handed, and filthy. Hmm, I'm going to go with Billy Wagner.