Sports Info Solutions 2019 MLB Mock Draft

The Sports Info Solutions video scouts recently conducted a two-round mock draft in conjunction with SIS’ college draft prospects series, which featured scouting reports on each of the top 50 draft-eligible Division I players. Below is the first round of picks, along with a brief explanation on why each pick makes sense for that team. While expected draft position is taken into account, picks are more so based on each team’s recent draft strategy, farm system composition and overall competitive outlook over the next few years.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

Round 1

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
1	Orioles	$8,415,300	Adley Rutschman	C	Oregon State

The Orioles are currently undergoing a long and complicated rebuild, and Rutschman is the best overall player. He is an extremely rare plus-hitting, plus-fielding catcher.

Selected by Joe Hirsch

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
2	Royals	$7,789,900	Andrew Vaughn	1B	California

A safe pick for a franchise that is trying to expedite their rebuild. Vaughn should move quickly through the minors and complement the college pitchers the Royals took in the first five rounds last year.

Selected by Dominic Asta

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
3	White Sox	$7,221,200	Bobby Witt Jr	SS	Colleyville Heritage HS

Bobby Witt Jr. is widely considered to have the highest upside of any prospect in this draft. He is projected to be a five-tool player, making him the ideal choice for a White Sox team looking for the future face of their franchise.

Selected by Thomas Maguire

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
4	Marlins	$6,664,000	JJ Bleday	OF	Vanderbilt

Bleday is coming off a fantastic season in which he led Division I with 25 regular season home runs . He is arguably the best hitter available at this point in the draft, and makes sense for a rebuilding Marlins team.

Selected by Kory Reinsfelder

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
5	Tigers	$6,180,700	Josh Jung	3B	Texas Tech

The Tigers are in dire need of an offensive presence in the system, so they jump on the most proven college bat on the board. Jung could even be an under-slot candidate.

Selected by Shawn Larner

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
6	Padres	$5,742,900	Hunter Bishop	OF	Arizona State

With JJ Bleday gone, the Padres should go with the other elite left-handed-hitting college bat in Hunter Bishop. He is a high-upside player who could move fast and complement San Diego’s plethora of right-handed bats.

Selected by Quinn Ireland

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
7	Reds	$5,432,400	Nick Lodolo	LHP	TCU

Lodolo is arguably the most major league-ready arm in the draft, and he projects to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. The Reds also lack left-handed pitching depth within their farm system.

Selected by Brandon Phillips

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
8	Rangers	$5,176,900	CJ Abrams	SS	Blessed Trinity HS

The super-athletic shortstop gives Texas a future building block and eventual replacement for Elvis Andrus. Texas has taken prep players with their last four first-round picks.

Selected by Grant VanLiew

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
9	Braves	$4,949,100	Jackson Rutledge	RHP	San Jacinto JC

If neither Bleday nor Bishop fall, the Braves should look to add to their pitching depth. With some of the best all-around stuff in the draft, Rutledge has front-of-the-rotation upside.

Selected by Brandon Tew

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
10	Giants	$4,739,900	Bryson Stott	SS	UNLV

With Brandon Crawford in his age-32 season, the Giants should be looking for his replacement. Stott’s advanced approach at the plate should allow him to rocket through the Giants’ system.

Selected by Bryan Guo

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
11	Blue Jays	$4,547,500	Riley Greene	OF	Hagerty HS

The Blue Jays have been connected to several college arms, but can’t pass on Greene’s upside if he falls to 11. He has arguably the most advanced bat in this year’s high school crop.

Selected by Sam Danes

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
12	Mets	$4,366,400	Alek Manoah	RHP	West Virginia

By trading away last year’s first-round pick for big league veterans, Brodie Van Wagenen proved that he is going with a win-now approach. Manoah has a bright future as either a mid-rotation starter or a late-inning reliever.

Selected by Harris Yudin

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
13	Twins	$4,197,300	Zack Thompson	LHP	Kentucky

Even with an elbow injury in his past, Thompson’s command and polished repertoire should be appealing to a Twins team that lacks talented left-handed pitching in both the majors and minors.

Selected by Oscar Kwon

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
14	Phillies	$4,036,800	Corbin Carroll	OF	Lakeside HS

Carroll is one of the top-rated players left on the board. The Phillies could give him time to develop while they are pretty set at the big league level for the next few years.

Selected by Matt Noskow

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
15	Angels	$3,885,800	Brett Baty	3B	Lake Travis HS

Billy Eppler has chosen a promising, young bat with his first pick in each year he’s been with the Angels, and that trend could continue this year if Baty, who has an advanced bat for his age, is available at 15.

Selected by David Mandelberg

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
16	Diamondbacks	$3,745,500	Will Wilson	SS	NC State

Offensive-minded college shortstop provides an immediate boost to a struggling farm system. The Diamondbacks have the largest bonus pool in the draft, and this allows them to go over slot on their next pick at No. 26.

Selected by Glen Mueller

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
17	Nationals	$3,609,700	George Kirby	RHP	Elon

The Nationals have mostly gone college in the first round this decade. Washington’s top three starters will all be older than 30 by this August, and the front office should look to shore up that rotation with a potentially quick-mover like Kirby.

Selected by Corey Eiferman

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
18	Pirates	$3,481,300	Shea Langeliers	C	Baylor

An elite defensive catcher, Langeliers is a low-risk selection with the 18th pick. With Francisco Cervelli nearing free agency and Elias Diaz proven to be a shaky defender, the Baylor backstop is a great fit for the Pirates.

Selected by Logan Boling

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
19	Cardinals	$3,359,000	Kameron Misner	OF	Missouri

Local kid with immense potential and tools. Cardinals have the player development staff to help Misner reach his potential.

Selected by Justin Stine

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
20	Mariners	$3,242,900	Jack Leiter	RHP	Delbarton HS

One of the best prep arms in the draft, Leiter is a very high-risk, high-reward pick. He could be tough to sign away from Vanderbilt, but he would bolster a farm system that lacks starting pitching depth.

Selected by Kerby Callison

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
21	Braves	$3,132,300	Quinn Priester	RHP	Cary-Grove HS

Priester is a cold-weather arm with lots of potential and upside. The TCU commit has fewer signability concerns than some of the other high school arms in this draft.

Selected by Brandon Tew

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
22	Rays	$3,027,000	Brennan Malone	RHP	IMG Academy

High-upside pitcher who fits the mold of what the Rays like to develop. IMG is close to Tampa, so they are definitely very familiar with him. They also have enough bonus money to sign him away from his commitment to North Carolina.

Selected by Noah Gatsik

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
23	Rockies	$2,926,800	Matt Wallner	OF	Southern Miss

Rockies need to find replacements at the corner outfield positions in the next couple of years. Wallner is a big, powerful college bat who would thrive at Coors Field.

Selected by Chris Glahn

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
24	Indians	$2,831,300	Gunnar Henderson	SS	Morgan Academy HS

The Indians have shown a recent tendency to draft high school players early. Cleveland has a great track record developing infielders, and Henderson has the arm and athleticism to move all around the infield.

Selected by Max Glasser

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
25	Dodgers	$2,740,300	Kody Hoese	3B	Tulane

Dodgers take their third college bat in the first round in the last four years. Hoese adds an impact power bat to a farm system devoid of bats at the upper levels.

Selected by James McIntyre

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
26	Diamondbacks	$2,653,400	Matthew Allan	RHP	Seminole HS

While the Diamondbacks have not taken a prep pitcher in the first round since 2014, it is hard to pass on a pitcher of Allan’s caliber this late in the 1st round.

Selected by Daniel Sarna

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
27	Cubs	$2,570,100	Braden Shewmake	SS	Texas A&M

Cubs continue their trend with a college bat. Shewmake may not stick at short, but he has the versatility and hit tool that the Cubs love.

Selected by Mitch Glessner

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
28	Brewers	$2,493,900	Seth Johnson	RHP	Campbell

Johnson adds a much needed arm to a farm system that has been depleted of starters in recent years. He is new to pitching and has a surprising amount of upside for a college arm.

Selected by Kyle Saathoff

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
29	Athletics	$2,424,600	Greg Jones	SS	UNC Wilmington

A’s take another college shortstop early in the draft. Jones has some of the best speed in the draft and should start at SS long-term.

Selected by David Salway

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
30	Yankees	$2,365,600	Michael Busch	OF/1B	North Carolina

The Yankees seem to be using the best available approach over the past few years. Busch is reliable, consistent and versatile, and his power would play up in the small confines of Yankee Stadium.

Selected by Stephen Marciello

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
31	Dodgers	$2,312,000	Josh Wolf	RHP	St. Thomas HS

A strong spring has pushed Wolf into round 1 consideration. Tough sign for the Dodgers, but an over-slot deal is certainly possible here.

Selected by James McIntyre

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
32	Astros	$2,257,300	Daniel Espino	RHP	Georgia Premier Academy

Power arm with a plus breaking ball and potential average-above average changeup, all of which can all benefit greatly from from Houston’s proven ability to develop pitchers.

Selected by Sales Pinckney

COMPENSATION ROUND

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
33	Diamondbacks	$2,202,200	J.J. Goss	RHP	Cypress Ranch HS

Selected by Glen Mueller

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
34	Diamondbacks	$2,148,100	Rece Hinds	3B	IMG Academy

Selected by Daniel Sarna

COMPETITIVE BALANCE ROUND A

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
35	Marlins	$2,095,800	Jimmy Lewis	RHP	Lake Travis HS

Selected by Kory Reinsfelder

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
36	Rays	$2,045,400	Keoni Cavaco	3B	Eastlake HS

Selected by Noah Gatsik

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
37	Pirates	$1,999,300	Graeme Stinson	LHP	Duke

Selected by Mark Lyman

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
38	Yankees	$1,952,300	Logan Davidson	SS	Clemson

Selected by Stephen Marciello

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
39	Twins	$1,906,800	Ethan Small	LHP	Mississippi State

Selected by Oscar Kwon

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
40	Rays	$1,856,700	Chase Strumpf	2B	UCLA

Selected by Noah Gatsik

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
41	Rangers	$1,813,500	Evan Fitterer	RHP	Aliso Niguel HS

Selected by Grant VanLiew