2010 MLB Mock Draft

The baseball draft by its very nature is different from every other sport's draft.

The only draft that comes close to it is hockey. Hockey, though, is still a draft where you can consider need because of the number of players who do go straight to the pros. In baseball it is considered the exception and not the rule when a player is able to play for your Major League team within a year of drafting.

This year, much has been made of Mike Leake and his skipping the minors. The reason for this is its rarity: only 21 players have skipped the minors and the last was Xavier Nady in 2000. Last year’s top pick for the Indians, Alex White, has torn up the minors but still won’t be in the majors for at least another year.

This is why it’s smart to draft the best player that you can sign regardless of need, depth, or your current roster. This means that even though the top player the Indians have is viewed as Carlos Santana, if you think Yasmin Grandal is a second coming of Victor Martinez with gold glove defense then you draft him and never look back. If you draft an All Star, you can find a place for him or move him for a need. This is why the Indians will take the top talent available instead of just drafting a bat because their system is pitching heavy. On top of that you can never have pitching.

So without further ado, here is my mock draft with an explanation on why each pick will or won't be the pick made for each team:

1 – Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper C Southern Nevada (JuCo)

Why it will: Harper is not quite as hyped as Strasburg, but it’s pretty close. His power and ability as a hitter is very special for his age. He is the best high school bat since A-Rod.

Why it won’t: If the Nationals office is hit with sleeping gas by Pittsburgh’s front office and make the pick instead of the Nationals.

2 – Pittsburgh Pirates: Jameson Taillon RHP HS

Why it will: Taillon (pictured) is a monster talent who is a huge righty who throws hard and has great mechanics. He is one of the major talents in this draft and with the best arm by far. Tallion is the consensus number 2 guy in this draft.

Why it won’t: For now Taillon seems to have leapfrogged Machado for the number 2 pick, but it has been back and forth between them, and Machado could steal the spot back at any point.

3 – Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado SS HS

Why it will: Machado has a 70 arm at short and on top of that has the ability to do everything well on the field. In terms of over all potential, he has the highest ceiling of anyone not named Harper.

Why it won’t: If Pitt goes back to Machado then this pick becomes Taillon. This is one of the more dependent picks in the draft, as it seems that Baltimore will take whoever Pitt doesn’t at this point.

4 – Kansas City Royals: Yasmin Grandal C University of Miami

Why it will: The reports indicate that KC and Grandal’s people are working to make a deal. Grandal wants Buster Posey money. KC has had little problem signing expensive talent over the years, and Grandal’s price tag would not scare them off.

Why it won’t: KC over the years has a habit of taking the top over all talent and trying to develop it. There was a lot of talk before with KC looking at pitchers, and Sale and Pomeranz are both on the board.

5 – Cleveland Indians: Drew Pomeranz LHP University of Mississippi

Why it will: The Indians have almost exclusively taken college talent early, and Pomeranz would be the top college player on the board at this point.

Why it won’t: The Indians have taken risks the last two years in the draft, and they might make a surprise pick here taking a player with the high upside. Sale would also be up for consideration.

6 – Arizona Diamondbacks: Matt Harvey RHP U. of North Carolina

Why it will: Harvey has more helium then any player right now in the draft. He has an excellent arm and when he first went to college, he was talked up to be the player who would go first over all this year.

Why it won’t: Harvey has been a bit of a disappointment in college, and while he has rebounded there are still some questions about if he is a starter or reliever long term. Zona is looking at college arms and could decide to go another direction if Harvey is viewed as a reliever. I know most people would put Sale, but Zona has preferred power arms in the past.

7 – New York Mets: Chris Sale LHP Florida Gulf Coast University

Why it will: Sale would be a big value at this point as he could go as high as 2, and falling to 7 would make this a hard pass for the Mets. Sale would also sign for slot which would be a bonus.

Why it won’t: The Mets have been linked to many players, and it’s hard to say who Minaya might like best. Sale, though, is not one of the players they have been linked to in the process.

8 – Houston Astros: Josh Sale OF HS

Why it will: Sale is in the upper tier of home run hitters in this draft. Among the high school players, he has the best power. With the Astros having so many picks they can’t afford to take a player who would cost a ton to sign.

Why it won’t: By reports they are in love with Delino Deshields Jr., and he might not be there when they pick. If the Astros decide they like DeShields more, then this pick could easily be him.

9 – San Diego Padres: Micheal Choice OF U. of Texas Arlington

Why it will: The Padres have been linked to multiple bats, and all of them are college bats. Choice’s massive power will convince someone to draft him early. On top of that, if he does hit then Choice should be the first bat who makes it to the majors. His power is huge, legit, and already a major league level skill.

Why it won’t: The Padres have been heavily linked to Vitek. If they decide he is worth the 9th pick and could be a power hitting CF, then he could be the pick instead of Choice.

10 – Oakland Athletics: Karsten Whitson RHP HS

Why it will: It has been a weird scouting progress for the A’s, who for the first time in a while seem to be hot on prep arms. Over the years they have drafted college players almost exclusively in the first round. I have heard Whitson’s name talked of here, and he would be a value pick.

Why it won’t: This is an easy one—because Beane never drafts prep players, and so this pick would be a big change of pace.

11 – Toronto Blue Jays: Zach Cox 3B University of Arkansas

Why it will: Cox is the best pure hitter in the draft. He has an excellent swing and has produced. He should be able to stick at 3B, get on base, and show enough power to make him a possible all star at third.

Why it won’t: People question both his power and if he can stick at third base. His bat is a great tool, but there is worry it’s his only tool. The Jays rarely go over slot, though, so Cox seems like a nice fit.

12 – Cincinnati Reds: Mike Kvasnicka C University of Minnesota

Why it will: The Reds have been drafting players who can get to the majors sooner and seem to value polish over potential. Kvasnicka is a player on the rise, and thanks to his time in college he should be a bat who can quickly reach the majors.

Why it won’t: Kvasnicka is not the best or most talented player at this point. He does fit the Reds profile, but they might decide to take a player with higher upside.

13 – Chicago White Sox: Deck McGuire RHP Georgia Tech

Why it will: McGuire has been talked about all year as a possible top ten pick. He is more of a MOR starter and that’s why he is falling, but he is a polished player with minimal chance of busting.

Why it won’t: There are more talented arms out there and McGuire has been sliding, so the White Sox could look for a different pitcher who would take slot.

14 – Milwaukee Brewers: Jesse Biddle LHP HS

Why it will: Reports say that the Brewers are high on Biddle and are locked into him at this spot. He has been rising as of a week ago; he was mostly linked with Philly. The Brewers have taken some risks on talented hard signs before and had success.

Why it won’t: Biddle’s name has been linked with Mil, but you always have to wonder when a player starts jumping if it’s just a rumor or if it’s all just a smoke screen.

15 – Texas Rangers: Brandon Workman RHP Texas

Why it will: It never hurts to take a local kid when you have to spin your pick. With Workman they not only get a local kid, but a player who should be an easy sign. They need an easy sign since this is a compensation pick for failing to sign Purke last year.

Why it won’t: DeShields and O’Connor have both been rising and both guys could be very real choices here.

16 – Chicago Cubs: Asher Wojciechowski RHP The Citadel

Why it will: Wojciechowski is a player who has been reported to have two of the top pitches in this draft. He lacks a third pitch, but having two legit pitches is going to tempt some team early.

Why it won’t: Wojciechowski might have two plus pitches, but he really lacks a third pitch and it might end up causing him to become a reliever. He should be a major leaguer no matter what happens, but if he is seen as a pen guy his stock will take a hit. This is another team that is hot on DeShields, whose name is linked to more teams than anyone else in this draft.

17 – Tampa Bay Rays: Nick Castellanos 3B HS

Why it will: Castellanos is a very talented prep player who can hit for power. He will grow out of SS to 3B, but his ability with a bat should play at 3B. He is a hitter whose upside should make him very tempting to a team like TB that stockpiles young talent.

Why it won't: TB has 2 first rounders and money is always a concern with 2 picks in the first rounder. Castellanos is going to want more than slot and TB might decide that they can't spend half their draft budget on round 1.

18 – Los Angeles Angels: Dylan Covey, RHP, HS

Why it will: Covey is considered by some to be the number prep arm in this class. He is a big talent and a great value at this pick. The Angels have done well drafting late by taking risks on prep players.

Why it won’t: The Angels have three firsts and signing them all might be hard. Covey would be a hard sign and it might cause them to take a lesser talent at this pick.

19 – Houston Astros: Delino DeShields Jr. 2B HS

Why it will: The Astros have been hot on DeShields for months. If he is there then he will be the pick.

Why it won’t: This is an unlikely pick just because I think that DeShields won’t get passed over this much. Teams like the Cubs, Rangers, and a few others have all been linked to him repeatedly in the past weeks.

20 – Boston Red Sox: Anthony Ranaudo RHP Col

Why it will: Ranaudo was projected as the number 2 player in this draft going into the year, but he has had injuries and failed to perform this year. He is unquestionably talented, but the concerns over his injury will cause him to drop.

Why it won’t: If they are scared off by his injury or if they decide that one of the prep athletes is a better option then the Sox will spend as they are never scared off by demands.

21 – Minnesota Twins: Alex Wimmers RHP Ohio State University

Why it will: Wimmers might not have star potential, but he is the odds on favorite to be the first player from this draft to make the majors. He fits the type of pitchers that Minny seems to draft. He has been locked in as the ideal fit for Minny.

Why it won’t: Until last year Minnesota’s picks had tended to be surprise picks, so it’s hard to say that this is the consensus pick for them because Minny avoids the consensus pick.

22 – Texas Rangers: Kaleb Cowart 3B/RHP HS

Why it will: Cowart is this year’s Casey Kelley, but unlike Kelley he might be able to stick at 3B. He is a better pitcher than a hitter, but he might be able to make the majors as either a good hitter or an all star pitcher. Plus, with Texas’s financial woes they might want to roll the dice and if they lose the pick it won’t kill them since they have the extra pick this year.

Why it won’t: If Texas wants to make sure and draft a player they can sign they could take a player who is a much easier sign. Cowart is a top talent at this point, but the money issue could scare off Texas.

23 – Florida Marlins: Aaron Sanchez RHP HS

Why it will: Florida is a team that only seems to draft pitchers in round one. Sanchez is a big time talent who looks like he should have two plus pitches down the road.

Why it won’t: Florida has been linked to more than a few pitchers and they apparently also like a local kid, but at this point Sanchez seems to be a big fit.

24 – San Francisco Giants: Bryce Brentz OF Middle Tennessee State

Why it will: Brentz has been one of the top players in college baseball the past two years. If he had been healthy all year, I have little doubt he would have gone higher. He has good power and speed and is a very polished hitter. He has an excellent arm in the OF and would work well in San Fran’s cavernous OF.

Why it won’t: With a lot of college hitters out there, an argument could be made over which one is the best available at this point in the draft. San Fran, though, seems a likely place for one of those many outfielders to land.

25 – St. Louis Cardinals: Stetson Allie RHP HS

Why it will: Allie is the hardest thrower in this draft; he has hit 100 on multiple occasions. Last year the Cardinals took a hard thrower in Shelby Miller, and Allie is not as good a pitcher, but his velocity is going to make him a first round pick. The fact he has fallen this far might shock some, but anymore people seem to value pitchers more than throwers.

Why it won’t: Allie had some of the worst control in baseball until this year, and even though he has suddenly found it in his senior year there are plenty of questions. The big one is if many scouts think because his control is still shaky that his best bet will be to end up in the pen. His rawness and the fact he might be the player who is farthest from the majors in this draft might really knock him back.

26 – Colorado Rockies: AJ Cole RHP Col

Why it will: Cole is one of the top arms in this entire prep class. Most experts have him ranked 2 or 3 over all. Last year Colorado took the falling top prep arm in Matzek, and it worked out perfectly. At this point they could grab another top talent late.

Why it won’t: They could decide to take the local kid in Gausman or grab one of the falling college bats.

27 – Philadelphia Phillies: Justin O’Connor C HS

Why it will: O’Connor is an athlete who projects at a premier position. This is the MO for the Phillies over the years, as they love to draft athletes and hope they turn into stars. O’Connor’s stock has risen a lot, and he could go much earlier.

Why it won't: Philly loves athletes and the best athlete in this draft is considered by many to be Austin Wilson, while there are some questions about him as a player as an athlete there are few questions. He would be a player that Philly might find too good to pass on.

28 – Los Angeles Dodgers: Christian Colon SS Cal State Fullerton

Why it will: Colon’s defense is the best of any middle infielder in this draft, in spite of being one of the slowest players in the draft. With Colon you get a sure defender, and the importance of defense is on the rise. Plus, with the Dodgers great financial issues, Colon would not be a hard sign.

Why it won’t: In a draft that’s this deep, great players will fall. Colon is one of the many top players who are still on the board thanks to the great depth in this class. The Dodgers could go many different ways at this point.

29 – Los Angeles Angels: Peter Tago RHP HS

Why it will: Tago is a name that has been linked to the Angels, and he fits the mold of a project able arm that the Angels love. He is a very raw arm, who is going to take time to make the majors, but his talent level is great.

Why it won’t: There have been come concerns about Tago, who academically had issues and had to uncommit from UCLA.

30 – Los Angeles Angels: Tony Walters SS HS

Why it will: According to Keith Law, there has been an Angles scout at almost every one of his games. Walters is also one of the players PGcrosschecker rated as the player who should have the best career of any middle infielder in this draft.

Why it won’t: Walters is a guy whose name isn’t in a lot of mocks. He has not been talked up as much, and the Angels might think they can wait to grab him.

31 – Tampa Bay Rays: Kolbrin Vitek, OF Ball State

Why it will: Kolbrin Vitek is a name that has been talked up to go as high as 9th in this draft. At this point Vitek would be an interesting prospect, thanks to his speed and power combo. If he can match his potential then this pick would be a steal today.

Why it won’t: While Vitek is a good prospect this late, it might be tempting for them to take one of the high ceiling at this point in the draft over Vitek.

32 – New York Yankees: Tyrell Jenkins RHP HS

Why it will: Jenkins fits the profile for a Yankees pick: he is a major athlete with a high velocity arm. He is a three star athlete, whose fastball hits 96 and should add speed as his mechanics get refined.

Why it won’t: Jenkins has huge upside, but he is a boom or bust type of pitcher. The Yanks might decide they want an arm that has a bit less potential but a lot less risk to it.

So there we go.  All 32 picks with projections and some rational behind why I am going to be very right or very wrong. The draft should be a fun and exciting time for most Indians fans. By the end of the draft the Indians will be better team, and the future for the Tribe should look a little bit brighter.

Posted in: 2010 Draft