Article: Nygaard Mock Draft v. 2.0

[Jeremy Nygaard]

We are only nine days away from the beginning of the 2023 MLB draft and will finally start to get answers to the many questions that are being asked. Will the Pirates take Crews first overall? Do the "top five" all go in the top five? Which team will make the first big shocking pick? Will any team play the money game and try to push another player to a later pick?

It's been about a month since my first attempt at a mock draft and Jamie Cameron and I also tried a dual mock draft last week. There will be one final mock draft the day before the draft begins.

Without further talk about how much fun mock drafts are to both do and pick apart, here is version 2.0:

1.) Pirates – Dylan Crews , OF, LSU - We’ve legitimately reached a point in time where Paul Skenes is the more popular choice for the Pirates. Sure, Skenes is more than deserving and there are rumors that Scott Boras is doing his best to push Crews to Washington. But when it comes down to it, Crews is the best prospect and the Pirates should take the best prospect.
Previous: no change

2.) Nationals – Paul Skenes , RHP, LSU - While it’s a possibility that Skenes goes first and also possible that the Pirates go with someone different, the Nationals will take Crews if he’s available and Skenes if Crews is gone. In the scenario, Skenes becomes the best Nationals pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg.
Previous: no change

3.) Tigers – Wyatt Langford , OF, Florida -  Wyatt Langford should be a 1-1 candidate, but is overshadowed by Crews. Wyatt Langford is a future all-start and a player Tigers fans will love.  
Previous: Walker Jenkins

4.) Rangers - Walker Jenkins, OF, North Carolina prep - Rumors have it that the Rangers are most focused on Jenkins and Max Clark. We’ll lean toward Jenkins as the Rangers have worked very closely with his agency in the recent past. 
Previous: Wyatt Langford

5.) Twins – Kyle Teel , C, Virginia - Ok, I’ll bite. The Twins don’t seem to believe as strongly in the “this is a five-man draft” as the media seems to. Recent reports suggest that the Twins prefer Max Clark to Jenkins and would take Clark here, but not Jenkins. But earlier reports suggest they aren’t super high on Clark either. Most rumors point towards college hitters over prep hitters. Jacob Gonzalez is a popular name, but Kyle Teel comes from the same tier (not the first) and also provides the organization with their best-catching prospect since Joe Mauer. 
Previous: Max Clark

6.) A’s – Jacob Wilson , SS, Grand Canyon - Too early to take Wilson in my opinion, but this is a connection that’s been made in multiple places. Nothing that the A’s do will surprise me.
Previous: Enrique Bradfield

7.) Reds – Rhett Lowder , RHP, Wake Forest - Cincinnati could definitely end Max Clark’s fall, but the chance to add Lowder to an up-and-coming team wins. Aside from Skenes, Lowder might have the best chance to be the first from this draft class to debut in the big leagues.
Previous: Kyle Teel

8.) Royals - Thomas White, LHP, Massachusetts prep - Looking at previous drafts, the Royals lead the league in making selections that make me raise my eyebrows. And, most recently, it is because they take a left-handed pitcher way too early. This isn’t White’s fault, he’s the best lefty available.
Previous: Rhett Lowder

9.) Rockies – Hurston Waldrep , RHP, Florida - The best chance for the Rockies to add pitching is through the draft, even though I felt like this would be a great place to end Clark’s slide.
Previous: Chase Dollander

10.) Marlins – Max Clark, OF, Indiana prep - The slide had to end somewhere and the Marlins are in a great position to add the best prospect on the board and put a centerfielder in center field.
Previous: Jacob Gonzalez

11.) Angels – Jacob Gonzalez , SS, Mississippi - Gonzalez has been slipping on (media) boards and the preseason Top 5 pick finds himself out of the Top 10.
Previous: Jacob Wilson

12.) Diamondbacks – Chase Dollander , RHP, Tennessee - Who knows where Dollander ends up. He could be the second pitcher off the board. He could be the 6th or 7th if prep pitchers start to go. His stuff is off the charts… he just couldn’t put it all together this season.
Previous: Arjun Nimmala

13.) Cubs – Arjun Nimmala, SS, Florida prep - There are a plethora of infielders who could go here, but the Cubs pass up the college hitters for a prep one.
Previous: Tommy Troy

14.) Red Sox – Matt Shaw , SS, Maryland - There’s going to be a run on infielders in the middle of the first round and it’s going to be heavy with college guys. 
Previous: Colin Houck

15.) White Sox – Tommy Troy , SS, Stanford - Probably would have gone with any of the top four college arms here, but they were all gone. So the infield run continues.
Previous: Hurston Waldrep

16.) Giants– Enrique Bradfield Jr. , OF, Vanderbilt - Bradfield will go to someone who recognizes speed as the new market inefficiency. I’m not sure it’s the Giants, but he can’t slide forever.
Previous: Bryce Eldridge

17.) Orioles – Colin Houck, SS, Georgia prep - I actually really like the idea of the Orioles taking Noble Meyer. But when it comes down to it, the Orioles have had success with upside prep bats and Houck represents that demographic well.
Previous: Noble Meyer

18.) Brewers - Brayden Taylor , 3B, TCU - Taylor is one of many college bats that could be considered here. 
Previous: Matt Shaw

19.) Rays – Noble Meyer, RHP, Oregon prep - Nothing makes more sense than the Rays selecting my favorite prep pitcher.
Previous: Thomas White

20.) Blue Jays – Chase Davis , OF, Arizona  
Previous: Brayden Taylor

21.) Cardinals – Aidan Miller, 3B, Florida prep 
Previous: Kevin McGonigle

22.) Mariners – Nolan Schanuel , 1B, Florida Atlantic
Previous: Blake Mitchell
 
23.) Guardians – Colt Emerson, SS, Ohio prep
Previous: Jack Hurley

24.) Braves – Dillon Head, OF, Illinois prep
Previous: Brock Wilken

25.) Padres - Bryce Eldridge, 1B/RHP, Virginia prep
Previous: Aidan Miller

26.) Yankees – Sammy Stafura, SS, New York prep
Previous: George Lombard Jr.

27.) Phillies – Charlee Soto, RHP, Florida prep
Previous: Colt Emerson

28.) Astros - Jack Hurley , OF, Virginia Tech
Previous: Chase Davis

29.) Mariners – Blake Mitchell, C, Texas prep
Previous: Nolan Schanuel

30.) Mariners – Kevin McGonigle, SS, Pennsylvania prep
Previous: Colton Ledbetter

What do you think? Who goes too high? Who goes too low?

Post your own mock in your blog!

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[Harold Hutchison]

Hard to see the Brewers passing on Schanuel, even if he is a LF/1B type. His bat looks like an amazing fit for American Family Field.

[nate82]

5 minutes ago, clancyphile said:

Hard to see the Brewers passing on Schanuel, even if he is a LF/1B type. His bat looks like an amazing fit for American Family Field.

If the decision is between Taylor and Schanuel it is an easy decision and that is Taylor.  Taylor plays at a premium defensive position and is a really good offensive player.  He made an adjustment this season to try and hit more home runs it didn't go so well earlier in the season for him but as the season went on he made adjustments.  The same type of adjustments he would have to make in the minors.  Teams are going to see that and put a higher value on him over Schanuel. 

I like Schanuel but Taylor is the better prospect in the draft.  There are questions of Schanuel's power and he may have to make the same adjustments that Taylor has made to be more of a power threat.  Taylor has already proven he can make those changes Schanuel has not.

[LouisEly]

Wrong Brayden Taylor page linked above.

It is kind of funny that this article is linked in his B-R.com page.

[BrewerFan]

I like 2 of Meyer, Schaunel and White in our first 3. 

I'm not the least big concerned about our history of Prep arms as that seems like a distance memory by now.

And with all the good College bats, I think Schaunel may fall to our 2nd pick...

[CheeseheadInQC]

I'd have no problem with Taylor, and it's a pick that would fit some of the Brewers' tendencies. That being said, was I the only one who cringed when I saw pick 21? They've had too much success with the upside prep bats recently for me to want to see Miller end up there.

[nate82]

New MLB mock has the Brewers taking Waldrep at 18.

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-pipeline-2023-mock-draft-july-6?

[wiguy94]

29 minutes ago, nate82 said:

New MLB mock has the Brewers taking Waldrep at 18.

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-pipeline-2023-mock-draft-july-6?

Honestly as long as we don't take Jacob Wilson or Bradfield at 18, I could convince myself into liking pretty much anyone. 

[nate82]

16 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Honestly as long as we don't take Jacob Wilson or Bradfield at 18, I could convince myself into liking pretty much anyone. 

The only bad thing about Waldrep is that he could just be a reliever though a very good late inning reliever especially with that violent delivery.  I think the Brewers would try and clean it up a bit and maybe that helps him become more consistent with his pitches.  As a floor he is probably easily a dominant late inning reliever.  

I still prefer Taylor, Schanuel, Davis or Morales at 18 but it is hard to complain too much about Waldrep at 18.  I am not a big Miller fan so as long as the Brewers don't take him, Bradfield or Shaw I would be fine with the pick.  I really think the Brewers go with a college bat again and I think it is between Taylor, Schanuel or Davis at 18.  Davis could be the best player drafted outside of the top 5. 

[wiguy94]

5 minutes ago, nate82 said:

The only bad thing about Waldrep is that he could just be a reliever though a very good late inning reliever especially with that violent delivery.  I think the Brewers would try and clean it up a bit and maybe that helps him become more consistent with his pitches.  As a floor he is probably easily a dominant late inning reliever.  

I still prefer Taylor, Schanuel, Davis or Morales at 18 but it is hard to complain too much about Waldrep at 18.  I am not a big Miller fan so as long as the Brewers don't take him, Bradfield or Shaw I would be fine with the pick.  I really think the Brewers go with a college bat again and I think it is between Taylor, Schanuel or Davis at 18.  Davis could be the best player drafted outside of the top 5. 

Yeah I really hope we can snag Davis. Think he offers the best blend of floor/ceiling with the bat out of the college guys potentially in our range.

[patrickgpe]

Thank you Jeremy for your coverage, it is a great additional to BF.com

I normally follow this guy for draft coverage for those that want a new prospective. I could see Troy going 18, but I want Schanuel. 

[LouisEly]

15 hours ago, nate82 said:

The only bad thing about Waldrep is that he could just be a reliever though a very good late inning reliever especially with that violent delivery.  I think the Brewers would try and clean it up a bit and maybe that helps him become more consistent with his pitches.

The Brewers don't have a strong recent track record of cleaning up the delivery of first round pitchers...

[nate82]

5 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

The Brewers don't have a strong recent track record of cleaning up the delivery of first round pitchers...

It could start with him…..

[Ro Mueller]

Given the relative success we’ve had with JUCO picks the past few years, I wonder if this is a niche area where we think we have an advantage, like nabbing young prospects from Venezuela and Nicaragua:  Jacob Misiorowski, Antoine Kelly, Logan Henderson, Carlos F. Rodriguez, Tyler Woessner, Tayden Hall, Satchell Norman.

I saw a 300-prospect board at ESPN, with just 6 JUCOs listed: RHP Gavin Adams (20.4), SS Kendrey Maduro (19.2), RHP Josh Bostick (21.7), RHP Noah Ruen (20.2), LHP Christian Oppor (19.0), LHP Kyle Carr (21.1).