Only days away from the start of the Draft, it would be great to report that the first round is taking definitive shape, but we're not quite there yet.
:: 2018 Draft coverage ::
Many teams are heading into meetings as they try to line up their boards in advance of the start of the Draft on Monday. But even with uncertainty, there is information out there, and that's reflected in this latest projection of the first round.
Nothing changes in the top two picks, with Auburn's Casey Mize still the favorite to go No. 1 overall, and Georgia Tech's Joey Bart then likely to go second, though nothing is set in stone. The first change comes at No. 3, which leads to a couple of changes to the next few picks.
One change to the class overall came when Boston-area high school right-hander Mike Vasil removed himself from the Draft. We'll look forward to projecting where he goes in our 2021 mock drafts.
1. Tigers: Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn
The Tigers still are doing due diligence on five names, with Mize still the front-runner and most feeling Bart is Plan B. Wichita State third baseman Alec Bohm and Florida's Brady Singer give Detroit an additional college bat and arm to look at, with high schooler Jarred Kelenic the fallback money-saving option.
2. Giants: Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech
If Mize goes 1-1, all signs point to Bart going next. There's been some talk about SoCal high school right-hander Cole Winn going here, but he could be the fallback option.
3. Phillies: Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State
For a while, Bohm was THE name attached to the Phillies. While they haven't moved on from him entirely, there is buzz that it's far from a sure thing, with Madrigal the likely college bat alternative and Singer being a good choice in terms of a college performer on the mound. This is also the first spot where Stetson right-hander Logan Gilbert's name comes up.
4. White Sox: Brady Singer, RHP, Florida
Singer missed a little time with a tweaked hamstring, but nothing that will impact his stock. A strong start in regional play wouldn't hurt, and would remind teams what a tremendous performer he's been throughout his Gators career. That track record could have him off the board in the top three picks. The White Sox were also scouting Indianapolis high school outfielder Nicholas Schnell heavily of late, and he could be a backup plan.
5. Reds: Jonathan India, 3B, Florida
The last time a college program had two players go this high was when UCLA's Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer went No. 1 and 3, respectively. Cincinnati could go the high school pitching route with a right-hander like Carter Stewart in Florida or a lefty like Matthew Liberatore in Arizona. Singer wouldn't get past here.
6. Mets: Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State
Most talk has been about a college player here. With Bohm suddenly available, the Mets could pounce. If they go the high school route, there's a bat (Kelenic) and an arm (Liberatore) potentially in the mix.
7. Padres: Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS (Glendale, Ariz.)
All the buzz with San Diego has been about high schoolers, with Liberatore typically atop the list. Fellow prep lefty Ryan Weathers as well as high school right-handers Stewart, Winn and Ethan Hankins (Georgia) have all been mentioned here. Prep bats like Kelenic and Nolan Gorman (Arizona) could come into play.
8. Braves: Nolan Gorman, 3B, O'Connor HS (Phoenix)
The Braves have long been associated with Gorman on the offensive side, thanks to his tremendous power. Stewart's name comes up here as well.
9. Athletics: Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama
The A's do like some of the high school bats, including Kelenic, but the all-around tools of Swaggerty still make sense here.
10. Pirates: Cole Winn, RHP, Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS
The Pirates are leaning high school, though they'll react accordingly should a college player fall to them or they want to consider someone like Gilbert. While a bat like Kelenic could be in play, it's mostly been arms being mentioned, with Stewart and Weathers possibilities. This is the first spot Texas prep right-hander Grayson Rodriguez comes up.
11. Orioles: Ryan Weathers, LHP, Loretto (Tenn.) HS
It sounds like the Orioles would love for Winn to get here and are also looking at the names above in terms of high school pitching. Gilbert, on the college side, also could come into play.
12. Blue Jays: Jarred Kelenic, Waukesha (Wisc.) West HS
The tendency is to stick a college arm with Toronto as they haven't shied away from that in recent drafts. But Kelenic's pure hitting skills sure would be tough to pass up.
13. Marlins: Connor Scott, OF, Plant HS (Tampa)
It continues to sound like hitters here, especially high school ones. As of right now, Scott, who comes from the same high school Astros prospect Kyle Tucker played at, gets the nod over Triston Casas (also from Florida).
14. Mariners: Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State
Let's make it three years in a row the Mariners take a college bat. After getting Evan White and Kyle Lewis the last two years, they can stay in their own backyard to get Larnach, who's shown more power this spring to raise his profile.
15. Rangers: Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS (Melbourne, Fla.)
Stewart's name pops up all over the top half of the first round and it's extremely possible he and his outstanding curve are gone by now. The Rangers could consider other upside arms like Hankins if that's the case.
16. Rays: Triston Casas, 3B/1B, American Heritage School (Plantation, Fla.)
The Rays have five picks on the first day of the Draft, so they can be aggressive and go after high school talent. Casas has as much raw power as any bat in the class.
17. Angels: Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson
After a sluggish start to his spring, Gilbert's stuff has been steadily ticking upward and has more closely resembled the guy who dominated in the Cape last summer. The Angels were at his Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament start, and he pitched well.
18. Royals: Jordyn Adams, OF, Green Hope HS (Cary, NC)
The Royals have the largest bonus pool in the Draft this year, thanks to the five picks they have on Day 1. So they could go after Adams, the two-sport star who could go on to play football and baseball at North Carolina.
19. Cardinals: Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida
A little mini-run on college arms could get started with Gilbert and continue, after a brief interruption, with Kowar, who might get overshadowed by Singer at Florida, but has excellent stuff and some projection.
20. Twins: Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida
And thus ends the wave of second-tier college arms. McClanahan was once thought to be a top-10 caliber pick, with command issues impacting him a bit, though he still is a left-hander who can throw 100-mph heat. The Twins also might have interest in some high school bats still on the board, like Schnell, SoCal shortstop Brice Turang or Canadian catcher Noah Naylor.
21. Brewers: Ethan Hankins, RHP, Forsyth Central HS (Cumming, Ga.)
Were it not for a minor shoulder issue earlier in the spring, Hankins' name would be all over the top 10. He returned to the mound and his velocity came back, so Milwaukee could get a top-of-the-Draft talent here at No. 21.
22. Rockies: Grayson Rodriguez, Central Heights HS (Nacogdoches, Texas)
Other high school arms in this neck of the woods could be Georgia right-handers Kumar Rocker or Cole Wilcox. A prep bat like Anthony Seigler could come into play, as could Parker Meadows, Austin's younger brother.
23. Yankees: Brice Turang, SS, Santiago HS, Corona, Calif.
Bats, particularly high school ones, get mentioned the most here, and if the Yankees wanted a different prep shortstop, they could go with Xavier Edwards from Florida and this could be the high mark for New Hampshire high schooler Grant Lavigne. If they wanted to switch gears, Mississippi lefty Ryan Rolison provides a college pitching option they may not have thought would be available.
24. Cubs: Anthony Seigler, C, Cartersville (Ga.) HS
Another team typically associated with hitters, with the athletic high school backstop Seigler being mentioned. Schnell provides another high school bat possibility.
25. Diamondbacks: Jordan Groshans, 3B, Magnolia (Texas) HS
While there a lot of college hitters mentioned in this spot, the D-backs do like Groshans, one of the better all-around high school hitters in the class. Oklahoma's Steele Walker remains a solid college performer option.
26. Red Sox: Ryan Rolison, LHP, Mississippi
Rolison's rebound start in the SEC Tournament has many thinking he'll climb back up toward that group of second-tier college arms. The Red Sox also could look at college bats like Walker or Clemson's Seth Beer in this spot.
27. Nationals: Mason Denaburg, RHP, Merritt Island (Fla.) HS
Perhaps it's too easy of a match, putting a pitcher with an injury issue with the Nationals, given their history. But Denaburg's biceps issue early in the spring clouded his status some, though he did return with a very strong start a week ago, then competed well again on Wednesday, albeit with below-average command. Many saw him as a top-half-of-the-first-round talent before he was on the shelf.
28. Astros: Noah Naylor, C, St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS (Mississauga, Ont.)
This has been another high school bat-heavy spot and Naylor's a good one with a ton of power. Teams that think he can catch have him in play above here.
29. Indians: Jameson Hannah, OF, Dallas Baptist
The Indians have a pair of picks late in the first round and the buzz continues to be about hitting, with some prep arms coming into play if they're around. Hannah is a college hitter, but one with tools, who could go here or right below here to the Dodgers
30. Dodgers: Steele Walker, OF, Oklahoma
With Hannah off the board, the Dodgers could go with Walker, who has performed very well for Oklahoma this spring. High school hitters like Meadows come here as well.
31. Rays: Nick Schnell, OF, Roncalli HS (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Teams were running in to see Schnell late in the spring as he, and the weather in Indiana, heated up. It seems like he's a backup plan for a bunch of teams higher than this.
32. Rays: Parker Meadows, OF, Grayson (Ga.) HS
The Rays make it 3-for-3 in prep bats as they continue to reload their system. Meadows' name pops up as early as the middle of the first round.
33. Royals: Alek Thomas, OF, Mt. Carmel HS (Chicago)
That makes five outfielders in a row, three from the high school ranks. Thomas has a feel to hit and excellent athleticism, with his name being mentioned in various spots in the back end of the first round.
34. Royals: Cole Wilcox, RHP, Heritage HS, Ringgold, Ga.
The Royals continue to use their extra picks for upside, this time heading to the mound, with not much separating Wilcox from some of the high school arms taken above.
35. Indians: Xavier Edwards, SS, North Broward Prep, Coconut Creek, Fla.
Edwards has close to top of the scale speed and has proven this spring he can stay up the middle on the infield. That combination could have him off the board by the time the Indians make their second first-round pick.