BF.net Mock Draft - 2014 MLB Draft 1st Round - COMPLETED

[IndyCrew]

#19--Cincinnati Reds--Michael Conforto--Oregon State

 

Although more bats are getting picked than expected, I'm surprised he's still on the board.

[TheCrew07]

Selection #20 Tampa Bay Rays

Luis Ortiz RHP

 

No team has done a better job of cycling talent than the Rays. However, they've never been all that great at precisely identifying impact talent like San Francisco, they've gotten by on volume, especially under the old system. The Rays have had only 1 first round pick just once in the recent past picking Richie Shaffer 3B from Clemson in 2012. They had 2 picks in 2013 (21,29), 10 picks in 2011 (24,31,32,38,41,42,52,56,59,60), and 3 picks in 2010 (17,31,41). They usually alternate some safer college picks with high upside HS picks to spread the risk in the first round. I think they would have been all over Conforto but as he just came off the board they'll go back to upside. They could also go after some of the HS bats remaining here like Gatewood, Harrison, and Hill if they were interested in grabbing a potential impact bat before they are gone. The safer pick here would have Sean Reid-Foley who's profiling like more of a mid rotation guy (and from FL) but TB has proven that they will jump on impact talent other teams have passed on for various reasons like the character concerns with Taylor Guerrieri in 2011 so the injury issue won't scare them away from Ortiz.

[Kelbysdaddy]

Selection #21- Cleveland Indians

 

Jacob Gatewood- SS

Huge power but his swing is a bit long. I really doubt he stays at ss (especially with lindor in the tribes infield for years to come) but his bat and range would play well at third. exciting player.

[hyerbro1]

Selection #22- Los Angeles Dodgers

 

Casey Gillaspie - 1B Wichita State

[TheCrew07]

Selection #23 - Detroit Tigers

Sean Reid-Foley - RHP - Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville

 

Detroit is one of the few teams that will truly go BPA without a HS or College preference, though they have drafted a plethora of 1st round pitchers going back to 2003. Reid-Foley doesn't have the highest ceiling but the Tigers have used 1st round picks on players like Corey Knebel and Chance Ruffin both college closers in the recent past, he's the BPA here.

 

Just a note that jjkoestler asked me to make his pick for him.

[TheCrew07]

Selection #24 - Pittsburgh Pirates

Monte Harrison - OF - Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West HS

 

The Pirates always go upside and aren't afraid to deviate from the industry consensus about a player if they have a different opinion of the young man. Harrison is considered to be the best athlete in the class and one of the bigger projects as a 3 sport athlete, he's a very good basketball player though he's an even better at football with a scholarship to Nebraska as a WR waiting for him. He has the speed to stay in CF and has a plus/plus arm hitting 97 MPH from the OF. He's shown decent power in batting practice but has more of a live drive swing in games, he's one of the tougher players to project in this class. However the combination of physical tools are too much for the Pirates to pass up on even with the signability questions.

[narwhalattack]

Selection #23 - Detroit Tigers

Grant Holmes - RHP Conway (S.C.) HS

 

Detroit is one of the few teams that will truly go BPA without a HS or College preference, though they have drafted a plethora of 1st round pitchers going back to 2003. Holmes is clearly the best player left on the board at this time, there is a fairly solid consensus that he should be the 3rd or 4th HS arm to come off the board and is great value here.

 

Just a note that jjkoestler asked me to make his pick for him.

 

The Blue Jays selected Grant Holmes for the 9th pick.

[TheCrew07]

Selection #23 - Detroit Tigers

Grant Holmes - RHP Conway (S.C.) HS

 

Detroit is one of the few teams that will truly go BPA without a HS or College preference, though they have drafted a plethora of 1st round pitchers going back to 2003. Holmes is clearly the best player left on the board at this time, there is a fairly solid consensus that he should be the 3rd or 4th HS arm to come off the board and is great value here.

 

Just a note that jjkoestler asked me to make his pick for him.

 

The Blue Jays selected Grant Holmes for the 9th pick.

 

Gah! He wasn't crossed off my list! Let me revisit and edit the original.

[BallFour]

Oakland Atheltics #25

 

OF-Marcus Wilson Junipero Serra, CA

 

A's have done away with low upside college players the last couple years and have made a switch to high upside high schoolers. Wilson fits this profile perfectly. Wilson a toolsy outfielder is just what the A's want in the system.

[Eye Black]

Selection #26 - Boston Red Sox

Foster Griffin, LHP, First Academy HS (Florida)

 

A 6'5" southpaw with a low 90's fastball that has touched 95. Also reportedly a decent change-up and a developing slider. A little risky as a first rounder, but the Red Sox system is strong and they can afford to take a chance on a high ceiling lefty with this pick.

 

Other interesting selections here are Derek Hill, Nick Burdi, or the injured Erick Fedde.

[And That]

Selection #27: St. Louis Cardinals

Kodi Meideros, LHP, Waiakea HS (HI)

 

He looks classy, has a real bright opportunity to play the game the right way, and I'm pretty sure he can recite all of the unwritten rules. Also, I've never seen him without his shirt tucked in. Also, gives journalists an easy story due to the Hawaiian tie-in with Kolten Wong. Also, because he's the first guy that popped into my head.

[Eye Black]

Thanks to those who participated in the mock draft! Hope to do it again in future years, although we may try to consolidate the mock into a shorter period of time next year. The final results are listed below.

 

Brewerfan.net Mock Draft (2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft 1st Round)

 

1. Houston Astros - Eye Black

Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State

 

2. Miami Marlins - nate82

Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina

 

3. Chicago White Sox - jjkoestler

Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (San Diego, CA)

 

4. Chicago Cubs - reillymcshane

Tyler Kolek, RHP, Shepherd HS (Texas)

 

5. Minnesota Twins - And That

Alex Jackson, C/OF, Rancho Bernardo HS (San Diego, CA)

 

6. Seattle Mariners - IndyCrew

Aaron Nola, RHP, Louisiana State

 

7. Philadelphia Phillies - Kelbysdaddy

Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

8. Colorado Rockies - BallFour

Kyle Freeland, LHP, Evansville

 

9. Toronto Blue Jays - Hyerbro1

Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (South Carolina)

 

10. New York Mets - Eye Black

Nick Gordon, SS, Olympia HS (Florida)

 

11. Toronto Blue Jays - sheetskout

Trea Turner, SS, North Carolina State

 

12. Milwaukee Brewers - narwhalattack

Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Christian HS (Florida)

 

13. San Diego Padres - sheetskout

Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU

 

14. San Francisco Giants - brewcrewdue80

Bradley Zimmer, OF, San Francisco

 

15. Los Angeles Angels - reillymcshane

Sean Newcomb, LHP, Hartford

 

16. Arizona Diamondbacks - nate82

Michael Chavis, 3B, Sprayberry HS (Georgia)

 

17. Kansas City Royals - brewcrewdue80

Kyle Schwarber, 1B, Indiana

 

18. Washington Nationals - narwhalattack

Max Pentecost, C, Kennesaw State

 

19. Cincinnati Reds - IndyCrew

Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State

 

20. Tampa Bay Rays - TheCrew07

Luis Ortiz, RHP, Sanger HS (California)

 

21. Cleveland Indians - Kelbysdaddy

Jacob Gatewood, SS-3B, Clovis HS (California)

 

22. Los Angeles Dodgers - Hyerbro1

Casey Gillaspie, 1B, Wichita State

 

23. Detroit Tigers - jjkoestler

Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Sandalwood HS (Florida)

 

24. Pittsburgh Pirates - TheCrew07

Monte Harrison, OF, Lee's Summit West HS (Missouri)

 

25. Oakland Athletics - BallFour

Marcus Wilson, OF, Junipero Serra HS (California)

 

26. Boston Red Sox - Eye Black

Foster Griffin, LHP, First Academy HS (Florida)

 

27. St. Louis Cardinals - And That

Kodi Medeiros, LHP, Waiakea HS (Hawaii)

[reillymcshane]

Eye Black, thanks for running things. It was fun. It made me look at the amateur players a lot closer than in past years. I enjoyed it. Please do again next year.