Prospects1500’s 2021 #2EarlyMiLBMock Draft: Part I (Rounds 1-10)

We are proud to present the first of three round-by-round writeups covering the 3rd Annual #2EarlyMiLBMock. The #2EarlyMiLBMock is a Prospects1500 exclusive event where we mock draft a fantasy team solely with prospect-eligible players. We have steadily grown each year since the inaugural draft: 12 teams and 360 prospects in 2018, 16 teams and 480 prospects in 2019, to our current format of 20 teams and 600 prospects here in 2020.

The MiLB Mock format had each of our writers drafting a 30-player roster. We use standard 5×5 fantasy baseball categories with the following positions: 2 C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, CI, MI, 5 OF, 2 UTIL, 10 P and 5 bench players. You can see every pick of the draft through the Google Draft Spreadsheet, which stayed open live during the draft, and will stay open to the public through the offseason and beyond for your reference.

This is Part 1 and covers Rounds 1-10 of this year’s #2EarlyMiLBMock. Below, you’ll hear the words of each manager analyzing their picks. New to this year’s writeup: our managers picked a Can’t Miss, Best Value, and Sleeper prospect from the first 10 rounds.

Make sure to give each of these talented writers a follow on Twitter and find their prospect work on the Prospects1500 website.

Name	Twitter
Ryan James	@RyanJames5
Isaiah Burrows	@Isaiah__Burrows
Kurt Moody	@DET_Guru_Kurt
Nate Eckert	@GQ_82
Michael Kelley	@MKelley_ND
Michael Parnell	@parnellmichael
Daniel Victor	@slydanno70
Tony Bps Spina	@tonybps1
Jake Berry	@berrys_baseball
James Zele	@zbaseball86
Jake Tweedie	@MLBUKAnalysis1
David Gasper	@dgasper24
Jake Wiener	@GatorSosa
Bailey Srebnik	@xwOBAiley
Scott Greene	@Scotty_Ballgame
Ben Wilson	@TBDubbs11
Paul Woodin	@PaulWoodin1
Jared Chapman	@ChappyIsClutch
Charles Tweed	@CharlesTweed
Jacob Swain	@jacob_swain3

 

ROUND 1

Overall	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
1	Wander Franco, TBR	SS	1	1	@RyanJames5
2	Jarred Kelenic, SEA	OF	1	2	@Isaiah__Burrows
3	Jo Adell, LAA	OF	1	3	@DET_Guru_Kurt
4	Julio Rodriguez, SEA	OF	1	4	@GQ__82
5	Spencer Torkelson, DET	1B/3B	1	5	@MKelley_ND
6	Bobby Witt Jr., KCR	SS	1	6	@parnellmichael
7	Andrew Vaughn, CHW	1B	1	7	@slydanno70
8	Sixto Sanchez, MIA	RHP	1	8	@tonybps1
9	MacKenzie Gore, SDP	LHP	1	9	@berrys_baseball
10	Adley Rutschman, BAL	C	1	10	@zbaseball86
11	Marco Luciano, SFG	SS	1	11	@MLBUKAnalysis1
12	Royce Lewis, MIN	SS	1	12	@dgasper24
13	CJ Abrams, SDP	SS	1	13	@GatorSosa
14	Casey Mize, DET	RHP	1	14	@xwOBAiley
15	Dylan Carlson, STL	OF	1	15	@Scotty_Ballgame
16	Austin Martin, TOR	3B/OF	1	16	@TBDubbs11
17	Nate Pearson, TOR	RHP	1	17	@PaulWoodin1
18	Noelvi Marte, SEA	SS	1	18	@ChappyIsClutch
19	Nick Gonzales, PIT	SS	1	19	@CharlesTweed
20	Vidal Brujan, TBR	2B	1	20	@jacob_swain3

Ryan James on Can’t Miss prospect Wander Franco: “Having pick 1.1 makes the can’t miss tag pretty obvious and being able to take a potentially generational talent like Wander Franco fits the description. Still just 19, Franco possess plus to elite talent in every facet of the game and is truly as can’t miss as it gets.”

Isaiah Burrows on Can’t Miss prospect Jarred Kelenic: “Kelenic has as strong an offensive profile and as much raw ability as any prospect in the game. His powerful bat and supreme athleticism will roam Seattle’s outfield as early as next season.”

Kurt Moody on Can’t Miss prospect Jo Adell: “Adell is a complete four-tool outfielder with amazing power and speed. He did not showcase his MLB-ready skills during the 2020 shortened season, but look for him to be the Angels 3rd best hitter in 2021 behind Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon.”

Jacob Swain on Can’t Miss Prospect Ian Anderson: “Atlanta fans have been waiting for the 3rd overall pick from the 2016 draft to break through, and 2020 appeared to be that moment. Anderson pitched well in six regular-season starts, posting a 1.95 ERA over 32 innings. Anderson shined in the playoffs and was nothing short of dominant. Over four playoff starts, he posted a 0.96 ERA and went 2-0. The future looks bright for another young Atlanta starter.”

Charles Tweed on Best Value prospect Jasson Dominguez: “Dominguez, who is affectionately known as “The Martian” because of his ability to do out-of-this-world things with a baseball bat, turned a lot of heads this year when video emerged on social media of the Dominican outfielder looking better suited for a football field than a baseball diamond. The frenzy caused a buying opportunity in my mind as Dominguez’s value slumped. Count me as one of the people who will have a lot of shares of Dominguez in dynasty leagues. A lot of people had Dominguez firmly inside their top 10 dynasty prospects not that long ago and I suspect the Yankees are going to find a diet and training regiment that maximizes Dominguez’s raw talent.”

Jared Chapman on Can’t Miss prospect Matt Manning: “I’m usually wary of taller pitching prospects (Manning is 6′-6″ tall) as sometimes they can have mechanical issues that take time to resolve. That hasn’t been the case thus far for Manning. He’s shown decent control and his plus offerings have led to high strikeout totals throughout his minor league journey. Look for him to make his debut sometime in 2021 and establish himself in the top half of the Tigers rotation.”

Bailey Srebnik on Can’t Miss prospect J.J. Bleday: “J.J. Bleday, my first hitter selected, will be the Marlins’ top prospect once Sixto graduates in early 2021. Bleday’s calling card is his power, as he led all of NCAA in home runs in 2019. To complement his power, he has a nice hit tool, as well as a strong arm in the outfield. Bleday is an excellent prospect whose high floor suggests he will be an MLB regular for years to come.”

Jake Berry on Can’t Miss prospect Cristian Pache: “I know Pache is a divisive prospect in the industry in terms of where he lands on lists, but this kid is the real deal at the dish and has the glove and athletic ability to give him a super high floor. One of the biggest storylines of the 2020 postseason from a prospect perspective was Pache being thrust into service in the NLCS against one of the best pitching staffs in baseball and holding his own on a stage he had never seen before. It is going to be a blast seeing a full season of him in 2021.”

Michael Kelley on Can’t Miss prospect Corbin Carroll: “Corbin Carroll is a blazing fast CF, with developing power, great plate approach and polished defense. He’s a potential 20/30 guy.”

 

ROUND 3

Overall	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
41	Nick Madrigal, CHW	2B	3	1	@RyanJames5
42	Alek Thomas, ARI	OF	3	2	@Isaiah__Burrows
43	Tarik Skubal, DET	LHP	3	3	@DET_Guru_Kurt
44	Nolan Jones, CLE	3B/1B	3	4	@GQ__82
45	Triston Casas, BOS	1B	3	5	@MKelley_ND
46	Jazz Chisholm MIA	SS/2B	3	6	@parnellmichael
47	Garrett Crochet, CHW	LHP	3	7	@slydanno70
48	Spencer Howard, PHI	RHP	3	8	@tonybps1
49	Trevor Larnach, MIN	OF	3	9	@berrys_baseball
50	Asa Lacy, KCR	LHP	3	10	@zbaseball86
51	Clarke Schmidt, NYY	RHP	3	11	@MLBUKAnalysis1
52	Matthew Liberatore, STL	LHP	3	12	@dgasper24
53	Brendan McKay, TBR	LHP/DH	3	13	@GatorSosa
54	Ryan Mountcastle, BAL	1B/OF	3	14	@xwOBAiley
55	Brennen Davis, CHC	OF	3	15	@Scotty_Ballgame
56	Jeter Downs, BOS	SS/2B	3	16	@TBDubbs11
57	Deivi Garcia, NYY	RHP	3	17	@PaulWoodin1
58	Bobby Dalbec, BOS	1B	3	18	@ChappyIsClutch
59	Erick Pena, KCR	OF	3	19	@CharlesTweed
60	Xavier Edwards, TBR	SS	3	20	@jacob_swain3

Nate Eckert on Best Value prospect Nolan Jones: “In an attempt at showing the value of my third-round pick, Nolan Jones, I found an interesting set of statistics. In total, mlb.com found the matchup numbers of nearly 1,300 MiLB players’ stats versus any/all of MLB’s teams’ Top-30 prospects. Nolan Jones finished in the 93rd+ percentile in 6 categories total. PA’s, hits, BB’s, HR’s, OBP, and wOBA.”

Daniel Victor on Can’t Miss prospect Garrett Crochet: “Although drafting Garrett Crochet in the 3rd round with the 47th overall pick might have been a bit of a reach, I still felt as if he represented a slam-dunk prospect. Crochet was the only player from his 2020 draft class to make the big leagues and he dominated professional hitters from the get-go. Crochet authored an impressive line of 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO. He also had the distinction of being the hardest throwing pitcher in the game with an average velocity of 100.4 mph. In spite of the small sample size, Crochet finished second among big league pitchers in throwing triple digit fastballs with 45. He narrowly missed being on top of the leaderboard as Brusdar Graterol threw 47 in 22.1 innings. Not only does Crochet possess an 80 grade heater, but he couples that with a Chris Sale inspired slider that scouts grade as a potential 70. With two elite pitches Crochet is likely to succeed in any role the White Sox decide to assign him to.”

Bailey Srebnik on Can’t Miss prospect Ryan Mountcastle: “Back in January of this year, I made a bold prediction that Ryan Mountcastle would earn 2020 AL Rookie of the Year. If he had been called up a few weeks sooner, he very well might have won it. Mountcastle raked this season, with 5 HR and .492 SLG in 140 PA. The two most promising signs for me were A.) His career high 7.9% walk rate, and B.) his 78th percentile sprint speed. Plate discipline and speed were two of his “weak points” entering 2020, so if he can sustain this success he will be an above-average regular for years to come, and great value at pick #54.”

 

ROUND 4

Overall	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
61	Simeon Woods-Richardson, TOR	RHP	4	1	@jacob_swain3
62	Max Meyer, MIA	RHP	4	2	@CharlesTweed
63	Luis Campusano, SDP	C	4	3	@ChappyIsClutch
64	Estevan Florial, NYY	OF	4	4	@PaulWoodin1
65	Tyler Freeman, CLE	SS	4	5	@TBDubbs11
66	Daulton Varsho, ARI	C/OF	4	6	@Scotty_Ballgame
67	Taylor Trammell, SEA	OF	4	7	@xwOBAiley
68	Francisco Alvarez, NYM	C	4	8	@GatorSosa
69	Nick Lodolo, CIN	LHP	4	9	@dgasper24
70	Josh Jung, TEX	3B	4	10	@MLBUKAnalysis1
71	George Valera, CLE	OF	4	11	@zbaseball86
72	Emerson Hancock, SEA	RHP	4	12	@berrys_baseball
73	Bryce Ball, ATL	1B	4	13	@tonybps1
74	Ronny Mauricio, NYM	SS	4	14	@slydanno70
75	Josiah Gray, LAD	RHP	4	15	@parnellmichael
76	Heliot Ramos, SFG	OF	4	16	@MKelley_ND
77	Josh Lowe, TBR	OF	4	17	@GQ__82
78	Brendan Rodgers, COL	2B/SS	4	18	@DET_Guru_Kurt
79	A.J. Puk, OAK	LHP	4	19	@Isaiah__Burrows
80	DL Hall, BAL	LHP	4	20	@RyanJames5

Scott Greene on Can’t Miss prospect Daulton Varsho: “I look at Varsho as a top 50 or so prospect (I have him #51 on my own personal Top 100), so getting him in the 4th round at 66 overall is a nice bargain for my “Can’t Miss” selection. He’s already debuted in the majors, with some success at the highest level. A catcher by trade with some power and speed, he’s been getting more PT in the outfield and that could be his long term position. Varsho should be a key cog in the Dbacks’ lineup for the immediate future.”

Tony Bps Spina on Best Value prospect Bryce Ball: “Ball was a 24th round pick for the Braves in the 2019 amateur draft and all he has done is hit in college and during his one year in the minors. His slash line was an impressive .329/.395/.628 with 13 home runs over 145 at-bats. Incumbent first baseman, Freddie Freeman is a free agent after 2021 and, as great as he is, he’ll be 32 and may command a bigger contract than Atlanta is willing to give. There’s also the DH that can come permanently to the National League next year or in 2022. Either way, if Ball keeps hitting the way he is, the opportunity will be there for him to star for Atlanta.”

Michael Parnell on Best Value prospect Josiah Gray: “The top pitcher might be my number 4 pick, Josiah Gray, who will likely anchor the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation with Walker Buehler as the decade unfolds.”

 

ROUND 5

Overall	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
81	Hunter Bishop, SFG	OF	5	1	@RyanJames5
82	Geraldo Perdomo, ARI	SS	5	2	@Isaiah__Burrows
83	Jesus Sanchez, MIA	OF	5	3	@DET_Guru_Kurt
84	Hunter Greene, CIN	RHP	5	4	@GQ__82
85	Orelvis Martinez, TOR	SS	5	5	@MKelley_ND
86	Edward Cabrera MIA	RHP	5	6	@parnellmichael
87	Sam Huff, TEX	C	5	7	@slydanno70
88	Lewin Diaz, MIA	1B	5	8	@tonybps1
89	Brayan Rocchio, CLE	SS	5	9	@berrys_baseball
90	Garrett Mitchell, MIL	OF	5	10	@zbaseball86
91	Daniel Lynch, KCR	LHP	5	11	@MLBUKAnalysis1
92	Robert Hassell III, SDP	OF	5	12	@dgasper24
93	Brandon Marsh, LAA	OF	5	13	@GatorSosa
94	Randy Arozarena, TBR	OF	5	14	@xwOBAiley
95	George Kirby, SEA	RHP	5	15	@Scotty_Ballgame
96	Brailyn Marquez, CHC	LHP	5	16	@TBDubbs11
97	Jarren Duran, BOS	OF	5	17	@PaulWoodin1
98	Shane Baz, TBR	RHP	5	18	@ChappyIsClutch
99	Robert Puason, OAK	SS	5	19	@CharlesTweed
100	Greg Jones, TBR	SS	5	20	@jacob_swain3

Nate Eckert on Best Value prospect Hunter Greene: “Your staff ace needs to do it all. Eat innings, throw k’s, get wins, quality starts, and keep the bases empty. I was ecstatic to nab Greene at #84. He’s still just 20 and of course, back from Tommy John surgery. Yet the youngster was still on the table as a viably potential bullpen piece for the Reds in 2020 and he threw over 100 innings this year at the Reds alternate site. His velocity’s back and he is reportedly touching 102 mph at Cincy’s alternate site. His athleticism will make his return to starting pitcher far easier than your average righty. And, for a shot at the same Hunter Greene who blew everybody away just two short years ago at the 2018 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, I’d take him at #84 every time.”

Jake Berry on Sleeper prospect Brayan Rocchio: “It is rare that you see an 89th overall pick called a sleeper, but I believe Rocchio gets overshadowed by other talent in his organization and at the position. The 19 year old is positioned well into my personal top 100 despite finding himself at 105 in the Prospects1500 top 197. I believe in the present hit tool and speed combo from Rocchio and am encouraged by his play up the middle that he will be an everyday MLB player down the road with the potential to develop a little more pop as he develops.

Jake Wiener on Can’t Miss prospect Brandon Marsh: “Picking Brandon Marsh at 93rd overall felt like a no-brainer, considering he was ranked 51st in our updated Top 197 Prospects. He is a complete athlete and pairs a solid plate approach (.368 OBP) with an enticing power-speed combo that should grace the Angels outfield as soon as 2021.”

Bailey Srebnik on Best Value prospect Randy Arozarena: “Last month, Arozerana went from just some guy named Randy to having the greatest MLB Postseason of all time. But this was no anomaly. Arozarena possesses above-average power, as we saw from his 10 Postseason home runs. He is also quick on the basepaths, which gives him legit 30/30 upside, though 30/20 may be more realistic. Overall, Arozarena is firmly a Top 25 prospect for me, so snagging him at #94 is quite the steal.”

Scott Greene on Sleeper prospect George Kirby: “I don’t know how you can consider a 5th round selection a sleeper, but I’m going to slap that designation on Kirby. My first pitcher taken in this mock, I believe he’s firmly entrenched as a Top 100 prospect. Selecting him 95th overall (15th pick in our 5th round) fits right into where I fell he should be slotted. Kirby is a potential 1-2 arm in the Mariners rotation, possibly as early as late 2021, but more likely 2022 now that we missed an entire MiLB season in 2020. His fastball was reaching the upper 90s during some simulated games this past year at the Seattle alternate training site in Arizona.”

 

ROUND 6

Overall	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
101	Luis Matos, SFG	OF	6	1	@jacob_swain3
102	Triston McKenzie, CLE	RHP	6	2	@CharlesTweed
103	Dane Dunning, CHW	RHP	6	3	@ChappyIsClutch
104	Luis Garcia, WAS	2B/SS	6	4	@PaulWoodin1
105	Kody Hoese, LAD	3B	6	5	@TBDubbs11
106	Luisangel Acuña, TEX	SS	6	6	@Scotty_Ballgame
107	Tyler Stephenson, CIN	C	6	7	@xwOBAiley
108	Aaron Bracho, CLE	2B	6	8	@GatorSosa
109	Shane McClanahan, TBR	LHP	6	9	@dgasper24
110	Bayron Lora, TEX	OF	6	10	@MLBUKAnalysis1
111	Daniel Espino, CLE	RHP	6	11	@zbaseball86
112	Jose Garcia, CIN	SS	6	12	@berrys_baseball
113	Sherten Apostel, TEX	3B	6	13	@tonybps1
114	Jackson Rutledge, WAS	RHP	6	14	@slydanno70
115	Heston Kjerstad, BAL	OF	6	15	@parnellmichael
116	Jackson Kowar, KCR	RHP	6	16	@MKelley_ND
117	Austin Hendrick, CIN	OF	6	17	@GQ__82
118	Keibert Ruiz, LAD	C	6	18	@DET_Guru_Kurt
119	Brett Baty, NYM	3B	6	19	@Isaiah__Burrows
120	Oneil Cruz, PIT	SS	6	20	@RyanJames5

Ben Wilson on Can’t Miss Prospect Kody Hoese: “Kody Hoese is among the top third base prospects in baseball with one of the most appealing offensive profiles at the position. Taken as the 8th third baseman in this mock draft, Hoese has one of the best mixes of hit tool, power, and on-base upside. There’s first round pedigree to go along with the Dodger development machine, which packaged together makes Hoese a can’t miss prospect.”

Bailey Srebnik on Best Value prospect Tyler Stephenson: “I am very bullish on Tyler Stephenson. I view him as the third best catching prospect in baseball, so to get him as the 6th catcher off the board was nice. His offensive talent combined with his defensive ability leads me to believe he’ll be an absolute stud for years to come. He has a strong arm behind the plate (check out his caught stealing of Billy Hamilton), and in the batter’s box he has a great hit tool, plus above average power. There is a good chance he earns the starting role in Cincy in spring 2021.”

Jake Wiener on Best Value prospect Aaron Bracho: “Aaron Bracho flies under the radar in many prospect circles because he missed 2018 with a broken arm and only played 38 games in 2019, but the results have been breathtaking. In that limited 38 game sample size, he slashed .281/.402/.570 with 8 HR and 4 SB. If he can continue to produce at a high level, the middle-infielder should continue to see his stock soar.”

David Gasper on Best Value prospect Shane McClanahan: “The Rays have been notoriously good at getting the most out of pitching prospects and even taking guys who no one expected to do anything and turning them into great big league pitchers. The control still needs to be refined a bit more, but there’s a lot of good things to work with. Some may have concerns about McClanahan’s long term role, but with Tampa Bay’s pitching program, I’m confident he’ll end up being successful and getting him in the sixth round is going to be a steal.”

Jake Berry on Best Value prospect Jose Garcia: “I took Garcia around the range I would take him in a normal draft, but I think after his showing in MLB last season many fantasy players may be dropping him down their lists. This opens up a tremendous value opportunity for you. A 24 game sample size shouldn’t lead anyone to rush to judgement, but many players will after his 26 K’s and .206 OBP. Don’t let that distract you from the already solid tools across the board. We have to remember he is just scratching the surface of his potential even though he is 22 years old. The Cuban infielder hadn’t played above High-A prior to his big league debut.”

Ryan James on Best Value prospect Oneil Cruz: “Cruz fell to the 6th round because of a difficult off the field issue he ran into in the Dominican Republic a few months ago. Having recently announced he would be playing this winter though, the 6’7” shortstop is a fantastic value in the 6th round. With plus power that should only continue to improve and enough athleticism to defy the odds and stay at shortstop, Cruz could be an absolute steal here.”

 

ROUND 7

Overall	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
121	Miguel Amaya, CHC	C	7	1	@RyanJames5
122	Mick Abel, PHI	RHP	7	2	@Isaiah__Burrows
123	Seth Beer, ARI	1B/OF	7	3	@DET_Guru_Kurt
124	Ed Howard, CHC	SS	7	4	@GQ__82
125	Hudson Head, SDP	OF	7	5	@MKelley_ND
126	Tyler Soderstrom OAK	C	7	6	@parnellmichael
127	Leody Taveras, TEX	OF	7	7	@slydanno70
128	Michael Toglia, COL	1B	7	8	@tonybps1
129	Kameron Misner, MIA	OF	7	9	@berrys_baseball
130	Bryson Stott, PHI	SS	7	10	@zbaseball86
131	Hedbert Perez, MIL	OF	7	11	@MLBUKAnalysis1
132	Devin Williams, MIL	RHP	7	12	@dgasper24
133	Nick Bitsko, TBR	RHP	7	13	@GatorSosa
134	Pete Crow-Armstrong, NYM	OF	7	14	@xwOBAiley
135	Cade Cavalli, WAS	RHP	7	15	@Scotty_Ballgame
136	Austin Wells, NYY	C	7	16	@TBDubbs11
137	Jonathan India, CIN	3B	7	17	@PaulWoodin1
138	Monte Harrison, MIA	OF	7	18	@ChappyIsClutch
139	Alexander Canario, SFG	OF	7	19	@CharlesTweed
140	Shea Langeliers, ATL	C	7	20	@jacob_swain3

Isaiah Burrows on Best Value prospect Mick Abel: “I had Abel as the top prep pitcher in the 2020 MLB Draft class with his advanced command and two plus-offerings at his age. To select a player of his caliber in the seventh round is a steal.”

Michael Kelley on Best Value prospect Hudson Head: “Ranked 100th overall on our Top 150, I snagged Hudson Head at pick 125. By the end of 2021, I’d expect Head to be firmly in the scouting world top 100, with production to match the loud toolset.”

David Gasper on Best Value prospect Devin Williams: “With his 98 MPH fastball paired with his “Airbender” changeup, Williams was lights out for the Brewers bullpen in 2020 and is poised for another important role in 2021. With Josh Hader potentially on the trade block, Williams could end up getting most of the saves going forward for Milwaukee. But whether he closes or not, one thing is for sure, he can rack up the strikeouts, getting 53 Ks in 27 innings, good for a 17.7K/9, which was best in the league by far.”

Ben Wilson on Best Value prospect Austin Wells: “Without any professional game action for the FYPD crop, Wells is a coup at pick 136. The sweet swinging lefty should mash in Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch. While the defensive home is a question, he’s an athletic slugger who should keep some speed and be especially adept in on-base formats. He had a stellar 2 year collegiate career at Arizona while also impressing in the Cape Cod League in 2019.”

Charles Tweed on Sleeper prospect Alexander Canario: “There is risk with Canario, who has moon-shot power and off-the-charts bat speed, but there is also reward. If his approach continues to evolve and grow then Canario might be one of the steals of the first 10 rounds. Canario put up solid numbers at A- in Salem, but it was the Arizona League where he really shined. Canario hit seven homers and drove in 14 in 10 games while batting .395. If everything lines up for Canario he could be difference maker in the middle of a lineup. I want upside plays in a draft this deep and Canario might have a first-round ceiling.” *Editor note: On 11/14 the Giants reported that Canaro dislocated his left shoulder at Fall Instructionals, and suffered a torn labrum in the process. He underwent surgery to repair the shoulder, and will rehab in Arizona.

 

ROUND 8

Overall	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
141	Tahnaj Thomas, PIT	RHP	8	1	@jacob_swain3
142	Jeremiah Jackson, LAA	2B	8	2	@CharlesTweed
143	Alek Manoah, TOR	RHP	8	3	@ChappyIsClutch
144	Jay Groome, BOS	LHP	8	4	@PaulWoodin1
145	Jordan Balazovic, MIN	RHP	8	5	@TBDubbs11
146	Misael Urbina, MIN	OF	8	6	@Scotty_Ballgame
147	Jhoan Duran, MIN	RHP	8	7	@xwOBAiley
148	Heriberto Hernandez, TEX	1B/C	8	8	@GatorSosa
149	Brice Turang, MIL	SS	8	9	@dgasper24
150	Eddy Yean, WAS	RHP	8	10	@MLBUKAnalysis1
151	Tanner Houck, BOS	RHP	8	11	@zbaseball86
152	Ethan Hankins, CLE	RHP	8	12	@berrys_baseball
153	Bryant Packard, DET	OF	8	13	@tonybps1
154	Maximo Acosta, TEX	SS	8	14	@slydanno70
155	Daulton Jefferies OAK	RHP	8	15	@parnellmichael
156	Jordyn Adams, LAA	OF	8	16	@MKelley_ND
157	Bobby Miller, LAD	RHP	8	17	@GQ__82
158	Brusdar Graterol, LAD	RHP	8	18	@DET_Guru_Kurt
159	Travis Swaggerty, PIT	OF	8	19	@Isaiah__Burrows
160	Reid Detmers, LAA	LHP	8	20	@RyanJames5

Scott Greene on Best Value prospect Misael Urbina: “8th round, 146 overall for one of Minnesota’s young, rising stars. The 18-year-old was one of the top international signings of the 2018 J2 period. Rotowire’s James Anderson and I are really high on Urbina, who’s displayed hitting skills that could lead to him being a leadoff hitter in the majors. Value wise, James ranks Urbina 70 overall and his 24th OF (even ahead of J.J. Bleday!) and I personally have him just outside my personal Top 100. He’s only played in the DSL, so hopefully he gets a taste of some stateside MiLB action in 2021.”

Bailey Srebnik on Sleeper prospect Jhoan Duran: “I was surprised that Duran was available at pick #147, but not complaining either. I ranked him at #56 during our October Top 100 update. Duran possesses an intriguing arsenal of pitches, most notably his 100+ MPH fastball. He has good secondaries too, so I would not be surprised to see him in the middle of Minnesota’s rotation in the near future.”

David Gasper on Sleeper prospect Brice Turang: “A contact hitter, Turang has shown great on-base ability and spending the season at the alternate training site was very productive. He got the chance to see more advanced pitching than what he would’ve seen in High-A. The Brewers have said Turang did very well there and that kind of experience will help him moving forward. The Brewers have an uncertain shortstop future at the big league level and Turang will be knocking on the door soon, where he’ll hit for a high average, get on base, and steal bases.

Tony Bps Spina on Sleeper prospect Bryant Packard: “At this point in the draft, I was looking for another potential impact bat since I went with pitching in the early rounds. I was pleasantly surprised when Packard was available. Detroit took him in the 5th round in the 2019 draft out of East Carolina University. He’s on a team where he often gets forgotten about since they have all those pitching prospects but Packard is a developing bat with a chance to post 30 home run seasons with a .270-ish batting average. Even thought he played outfield in college and during 2019, the team gave him some reps at first base, which gives Packard the versatility to get to the majors sooner rather than later.”

Kurt Moody on Best Value prospect Brusdar Graterol: “Fresh off his World Series title, Graterol is poised to take over the Dodgers closer role sooner rather than later with his power fastball. Expect some awesome late game matchups against the Padres for years to come; complete with hat tosses and glove throws!”

 

ROUND 9

Overall	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
161	Ryan Vilade, COL	3B	9	1	@RyanJames5
162	Blake Walston, ARI	LHP	9	2	@Isaiah__Burrows
163	Brent Honeywell, TBR	RHP	9	3	@DET_Guru_Kurt
164	Matthew Allan, NYM	RHP	9	4	@GQ__82
165	James Karinchak, CLE	RHP	9	5	@MKelley_ND
166	Seth Corry, SFG	LHP	9	6	@parnellmichael
167	Mason Martin, PIT	1B	9	7	@slydanno70
168	William Contreras, ATL	C	9	8	@tonybps1
169	Brent Rooker, MIN	OF	9	9	@berrys_baseball
170	Gilberto Jimenez, BOS	OF	9	10	@zbaseball86
171	Diego Cartaya, LAD	C	9	11	@MLBUKAnalysis1
172	Isaac Paredes, DET	3B	9	12	@dgasper24
173	Joe Ryan, TBR	RHP	9	13	@GatorSosa
174	Liover Peguero, PIT	SS	9	14	@xwOBAiley
175	Luis Rodriguez, LAD	OF	9	15	@Scotty_Ballgame
176	Isaiah Greene, NYM	OF	9	16	@TBDubbs11
177	Braden Shewmake, ATL	SS	9	17	@PaulWoodin1
178	Miguel Vargas, LAD	3B	9	18	@ChappyIsClutch
179	Adam Kloffenstein, TOR	RHP	9	19	@CharlesTweed
180	Peyton Burdick, MIA	OF	9	20	@jacob_swain3

Isaiah Burrows on Sleeper prospect Blake Walston: “Don’t look now, but Walston could easily become a Top-100 prospect by next season. The lanky lefty headlines a deep Diamondbacks farm system full of intriguing arms, and he’s a name to keep an eye on.”

Kurt Moody on Sleeper Prospect Brent Honeywell: “Brent was as high as #12 in MLB Prospect Rankings in 2018, but has had two elbow surgeries the last two years. If Honeywell can return to his former health, he can boast an impressive five-pitch arsenal. In 2021, Honeywell could be a backend starter for the Rays or an injury fill-in. Huge upside, as he’s currently bottomed out.”

Nate Eckert on Sleeper prospect Matthew Allan: “Taken in the 3rd round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Mets, Allan could very possibly be the steal of 2019. Matt Allan is the real-deal. Just weeks ago at the Instructs the 6’3”, 225 pounder put on a clinic. His curve is a hammer (it’s a shame we can’t call it ‘Thor’s Hammer’) as it seemingly falls from the heavens. His FB lives 95+ where he spots it at will. But it’s his third pitch that I believe will truly make him a #1 or #2 starter in The Show. Based upon the Instructs tape, Allan possesses a near-plus changeup that will only improve. I’m confident in his change’s projection because his 4-seam already shows that quintessential armside fade which he’s steadily spotting. My only question regarding Matt Allan after the draft was, “will he grow stronger, with nastier stuff” because his polish and control has always been apparent. After seeing his latest performance I’m more than confident that Allan’s up to the task.”

Michael Kelley on Sleeper prospect James Karinchak: “When you think of sleeper, you don’t think reliever. James Karinchak (9th round, 165th overall) isn’t your average reliever, however. Armed with upper 90’s velocity, Karinchak is a dominant All-star caliber closer that should get a full opportunity to display his arsenal in 2021.”

Ben Wilson on Sleeper prospect Isaiah Greene: “It’s eye opening that the 69th overall pick in the 2020 draft could be considered a potential first round pick in deeper FYPDs, but Isaiah Greene has that type of skillset on the baseball field. Greene has an ideal frame, a precocious hit tool, and the speed to stick in centerfield. There’s a long development road and not a robust track record, but Greene could blossom into a major power-speed producer with an overall fantasy friendly profile.”

Jared Chapman on Sleeper prospect Miguel Vargas: “I like prospects that hit and hit consistently and that’s why I think Vargas will eventually take over one of the corners for the defending champs. There are questions about his defense at third and many rate 2019 1st round pick Kody Hoese higher in the system. He also hasn’t really found his power stroke yet. But to me, if a guy is a hitter and there’s still projection left, there’s a good chance the power will come. Vargas is one of a few players I’ve been quietly buying up in all of my leagues. He’s one to watch over the next couple of seasons.”

Jacob Swain on Sleeper prospect Peyton Burdick: “Burdick was a 3rd round pick in 2019, and I really like his combination of power and speed. Burdick’s age (23 years old) can be used against him in some respects for being a big-time prospect, but the skill set is tough to ignore. Burdick was able to play 63 games in A-ball after being drafted in 2019. There he was able to show off those skills by posting a .408 OBP, a .235 ISO, and stole six bases.”

 

ROUND 10

Overall	Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
181	Quinn Priester, PIT	RHP	10	1	@jacob_swain3
182	Luis Toribio, SFG	3B	10	2	@CharlesTweed
183	Michael Busch, LAD	2B	10	3	@ChappyIsClutch
184	Aaron Sabato, MIN	1B	10	4	@PaulWoodin1
185	Alexfri Planez, CLE	OF	10	5	@TBDubbs11
186	Noah Song, BOS	RHP	10	6	@Scotty_Ballgame
187	Gunnar Henderson, BAL	SS	10	7	@xwOBAiley
188	Jordan Walker, STL	3B	10	8	@GatorSosa
189	Ryan Jeffers, MIN	C	10	9	@dgasper24
190	Andy Pages, LAD	OF	10	10	@MLBUKAnalysis1
191	Ji-Hwan Bae, PIT	2B	10	11	@zbaseball86
192	Mark Vientos, NYM	3B	10	12	@berrys_baseball
193	Ezequiel Duran, NYY	2B	10	13	@tonybps1
194	Luis Medina, NYY	RHP	10	14	@slydanno70
195	Aaron Schunk, COL	3B	10	15	@parnellmichael
196	Khalil Lee, KCR	OF	10	16	@MKelley_ND
197	Jimmy Lewis, LAD	RHP	10	17	@GQ__82
198	Kevin Alcantara, NYY	OF	10	18	@DET_Guru_Kurt
199	Bo Naylor, CLE	C	10	19	@Isaiah__Burrows
200	Corbin Martin, ARI	RHP	10	20	@RyanJames5

Jacob Swain on Best Value prospect Quinn Priester: “A 2018 1st round pick, Priester has the ability to climb up the Pirates prospect list. The 6’3″ righty has a plus fastball that sits mid to upper 90’s combined with a big curveball. The arm talent is there, but development will be key moving forward, having missed an entire season where he would have pitched in low A ball. I was able to draft Priester with the 181st overall pick in the tenth round. Our recent rankings from our Prospects1500 Top 197 Prospect List has Priester ranked #148.”

Bailey Srebnik on Sleeper prospect Gunnar Henderson: “Gunnar Henderson has all the ingredients of a future Top 100 prospect. He possesses above-average power, above-average speed, and a strong arm. He will likely outgrow SS and settle in at 3B, but he is more than capable of handling it. The reports about Henderson this summer from the Orioles’ alternate training site were nothing but positive. Henderson’s well-rounded profile is a perfect match for Camden Yards.”

Jake Wiener on Sleeper prospect Jordan Walker: “Selected as the 21st overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Walker has yet to play a professional game but he has immense upside. The physically imposing 6-5, 18 year old displayed a knack for barreling the ball in high school and should continue to grow into his massive power potential. as he matures with experience in the organization.”

Ryan James on Sleeper prospect Corbin Martin: “I’m not sure that a former top 100 prospect can qualify as a sleeper, but if that’s possible Martin is it. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Martin posses a 4 pitch mix that includes a fastball that touches the high 90s and a potentially plus slider and curveball and should a lot very nicely in the middle of the rotation once he’s healthy again.”

 

Stay tuned for Parts II and III of the #2EarlyMiLBMock recap upcoming at Prospects1500!