1) Houston- Carlos Correa (A)
Correa represents the perfect mixture of need and best player available.
2) Minnesota- Byron Buxton (A+)
If you would have told the Twins that they would have no problem getting the top overall player with the second pick, they would have told you you were crazy. But they’ll take it.
3) Seattle- Mike Zunino (B+)
We have no problem with the pick, but rather with Zunino’s ceiling. He’s got many above-average tools, but nothing stands out as elite.
4) Baltimore- Kevin Gausman (B)
Gausman is a solid pick, but the O’s could have gone with a higher-ceiling player like Almora or Fried.
5) Kansas City- Kyle Zimmer (B+)
Zimmer is exactly what the Royals have been looking for, a big, physical frontline starting pitcher.
6) Chicago (NL)- Albert Almora (A)
Almora has a higher ceiling, but as a high-schooler also comes with plenty of risk.
7) San Diego- Max Fried (B+)
Fried also comes with plenty of risk, but is one of the few high school pitchers who has number one potential.
8) Pittsburgh- Mark Appel (A)
The Pirates benefit from Appel’s signability concerns that dropped him from number one to almost out of the top ten entirely.
9) Miami- Andrew Heaney (B-)
Heaney is a fine player, and a safe pick, but picking ninth should give you a player with All-Star potential.
10) Colorado- David Dahl (B)
While we expect Dahl to fall short of the Mike Trout comparisons saddled upon him by the MLB draft team, he should be very good.
11) Oakland- Addison Russell (B-)
Another reach. The A’s passed over Cecchini and Marrero in favor of Russell, who in our opinion doesn’t have as high a ceiling.
12) New York (NL)- Gavin Cecchini (A-)
The Mets couldn’t have predicted how the first 11 picks fell, but they were still able to get the player they coveted.
13) Chicago (AL)- Courtney Hawkins (B+)
The White Sox dreamed on Hawkins, but never figured he would fall past Colorado, Oakland and New York. Score!
14) Cincinnati- Nick Travieso (C)
Travieso is a true power pitcher, but his repertoire doesn’t scream frontline starter to us. More of a Nick Hagadone-type pitcher
15) Cleveland- Tyler Naquin (C)
Naquin’s skills are undeniable, but he offers little power and might not stick in centerfield long-term, limiting his upside.
16) Washington- Lucas Giolito (A)
From the number one pick overall to the 16th. Once again Washington gets a player who was at one time regarded as the top overall player.
17) Toronto- D.J. Davis (B)
No complaints here. Davis is the prototypical Blue Jays pick, offering elite tools.
18) Los Angeles (NL)- Corey Seager (B)
Seager’s bat is powerful and he should be a perfect fit at third base.
19) St. Louis- Michael Wacha (B+)
Few expected Wacha to fall this far, but his loss is the Cardinals gain. They covet college pitchers, and in Wacha they get a true starter.
20) San Francisco- Chris Stratton (B+)
In Stratton the Giants get a polished product who could reach the big-leagues in a year or two.
21) Atlanta- Lucas Sims (B)
As predicted, the Braves end up with another Georgia product, one with a reasonable ceiling as a mid-rotation arm.
22) Toronto- Marcus Stroman (B)
The Jays might be banking on staying in contention this season, making Stroman a win-now selection.
23) St. Louis- James Ramsey (C-)
As good as Ramsey looked this year, he doesn’t offer much projection. The Cards could have done better.
24) Boston- Deven Marrero (B)
The Sox needed a shortstop with more offensive potential than Jose Iglesias, but we fear Marrero doesn’t have it.
25) Tampa Bay- Richie Shaffer (B+)
The Rays have lacked a presence at first base since Carlos Pena left the first time around. Shaffer offers offensive and defensive production.
26) Arizona- Stryker Trahan (B-)
The D-Backs must be sold on Trahan’s ability to catch. Otherwise, it’s a risky pick for a player who has no true position.
27) Milwaukee- Clint Coulter (B-)
It’s hard not to love Coulter and his skills, but one has to worry about his ability to remain behind the plate.
28) Milwaukee- Victor Roache (B+)
If Roache can play even mediocre defense, his bat will make the selection worth it. Nobody offers more power.
29) Texas- Lewis Brinson (B)
Brinson is an incredible athlete, but he has a few holes in his swing. With his power profile he’s a perfect fit in Texas.
30) New York (AL)- Ty Hensley (B)
Didn’t expect Hensley to last this long, but it’s the Yankees gain.
31) Boston- Brian Johnson (C-)
Johnson disappointed in a major way this season, but the Sox have a thing for SEC pitchers who underperform in their draft year (ie Anthony Ranaudo)
