Baseball Tribune's 2025 MLB Mock Draft

Mock 1.0: The Start of the 2025 Mock Cycle.

For those that have followed my work at IvyFutures (a moniker that stuck) and North Side Bound, you know how passionate I am about the MLB Draft. It's an area that I've followed to an almost obsessive degree for well two decades. That passion has led to incredible opportunities evaluating players and interacting with members of the scouting community. Learning and listening to those in the game and refining my process is a constant goal of mine. Expect to see a lot of MLB Draft content here. Thank you for checking out The Baseball Tribune.

In this mock I explore what the draft may look like this July, not necessarily where things stand right now. It features players that I’ve identified as possible risers so there will be players mocked to teams below who are currently ranked in the 30-100 range by respected outlets. While that might differ from other mocks, I believe it’s a fun way to evaluate players this early in the draft cycle. You’ll also find verbiage about how each team prioritized previous first round selections. These are broad generalizations and we don’t want to take any to the bank, but they can be interesting as we look at how organizational tendencies can impact future selections. So with that said, let’s get to the mock.

Mock Draft 1.0

1. Washington Nationals – Aiva Arquette – SS - Oregon State

   Previous 1st round selections: Brady House (3B), Elijah Green (OF), Dylan Crews (OF), Seaver King -(IF)
   Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Nationals draft: Not afraid to go for upside despite risk. Ultimate ceiling appears to drive decision-making.

Mock 1.0: Nats will gamble on tools. They are not afraid to take a hitter who has questions in their batted-ball profile, provided there’s upside and loud tools to back it up. Arquette shows real power. He has questions from a defensive perspective, but there are scouts and evaluators who believe he can stick at shortstop in pro ball.

Other considerations: Ethan Holliday will be a popular 1.1 pick in mocks and it fits, but there are at least some more questions raised last summer about the hitting profile that Holliday will need to go out and answer this spring. The first overall selection this year is wide open and while it usually is this time anyway, it’s less coalesced than prior years in my opinion. Last season Bazzana was my 1.1 wire-to-wire, but I still had about 4-5 players that I felt the choice would come down to in July. In 2023, similarly it was about five. I could probably make a compelling case for ten different players so far this year. That’s not saying that this is a stacked class, just that the talent at the top is on a similar level right now.

2. Los Angeles Angels – Tyler Bremner – RHP - UC Santa Barbara

Previous 1st round selections: Sam Bachman (RHP), Zach Neto (SS), Nolan Schanuel (1B), Christian Moore (2B)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Angels draft: Fast moving college performers and pitchers are the primary first-round targets by the Angels.

Mock 1.0: Bremner began the college season slowed initially, but he has continued to feature an arsenal led by a killer changeup and a very good slider. Bremner may appeal to the Angels specifically being very pro-ready. Could the Angles turn to a player from the middle of the country? They drafted extensively from Texas and also had prominent picks from Tennessee last year. It’s hard to place too much stock into those decisions, but organizations may place a greater sense of trust in certain scouts or crosschecker’s opinions. They may also trust development at certain schools. It’s something to watch with players like Texas A&M’s Jace LaViolette and Tennessee’s Dean Curley, Gavin Kilen, and Liam Doyle all possible first rounders.

3. Seattle Mariners – Jamie Arnold - LHP - Florida State

Previous 1st round selections: Harry Ford (C), Cole Young (SS), Colt Emerson (SS), Jonny Farmelo (OF), Tai Peete (SS), Jurrangelo Cijntje (SHP)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Mariners draft: The past few seasons, Seattle has focused on high school talent and 2023 was a perfect encapsulation of that. But in 2024 they took an upward trending arm in Jurrangelo Cijntje. The ability to draft high in this draft via the lottery opens up a different bucket of players.

Mock 1.0: Arnold is an incredible fit in Seattle from a pitching perspective. His unique angle and pro-ready arsenal is a dream come true in this scenario. Mariners have leaned heavily into prep demographic in recent seasons, but picking 1.3 opens up access to a completely different set of players. They could dive deeper into the prep SS demographic, but I’ll stick with Arnold who could offer a different look to the Mariner’s rotation as early as 2026.

4. Colorado Rockies - Jace LaViolette – OF – Texas A&M

   Previous 1st round selections: Benny Montgomery (OF), Gabriel Hughes (RHP), Chase Dollander (RHP), Charlie Condon (3B)
   Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Rockies draft: It’s hard to track any sort of discernible traits the Rockies prioritize early. They’ve targeted multiple bats in the first and raw toosly outfielders. The past two drafts they targeted arms, but with very different profiles. I’d look at loud tools at this spot, especially power and velocity.

Mock 1.0: It’s a power heavy approach. LaViolette shows off otherworld talents, but strikeouts and whiffs will be critical to watch. For as much ceiling as Jace LaViolette shows on the diamond, teams are wary about strikeouts and contact at the top of the draft. The track record for college hitters with a greater than 25% strikeout range is very poor. Jace LaViolette’s is at 21.2% as of March 13th - before SEC conference play. Recent examples of higher strikeouts from college centerfielders in the first round discussion include Baltimore Orioles Vance Honeycutt (27.4% in 2024, 22nd to Baltimore) and Jud Fabian (29.3% in 2021 - didn’t sign 40th overall, 22.3% in 2024 - 67th overall). The strikeouts aren’t at that threshold, but it’s an area to monitor.

5. St. Louis Cardinals – Ethan Holliday - SS- Stillwater HS (OK)

Previous 1st round selections: Michael McGreevy (RHP), Cooper Hjerpe (LHP), Chase Davis (OF), JJ Weatherholt (IF)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Cardinals draft: Not mentioned above, but the Cardinals have identified two-way players and developed them well. They aren’t afraid to take risky selections either. The Cardinals place a premium on height early in the draft. Every single pitcher (eight out of eight) drafted in the first five rounds in 2021, 2022, and 2023 was 6’2” or taller.

Mock 1.0: Cardinals are in a decent spot to capitalize if a player higher on their board “falls”. Like his brother, Jackson, Ethan Holliday is committed to Oklahoma State. Jackson was viewed to have a very strong commitment. All that is to say that Ethan and his family can be picky about which teams he would sign with. The Cardinals have a long history with Ethan and Jackson’s father, Matt Holliday. He has an understanding of how the franchise operates and that familiarity could help Saint Louis.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates - Dean Curley – SS – Tennessee

Previous 1st round selections: Henry Davis (C), Termarr Johnson (2B), Paul Skenes (RHP), Konnor Griffin (SS)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Pirates draft: Pittsburgh had leaned towards safe future projections, but in the past two years the organization really leaned in to upside with Skenes and Griffin. Might they be leaning into upside physical traits within their team model?

Mock 1.0: I believe Curley could be a name called even earlier and I’ll be digging in throughout the this season on him. Opinions on Curley differ for whether teams think he sticks at shortstop long term, but he has the profile to move over to third if needed.

7. Miami Marlins – Billy Carlson - SS - Corona HS (CA)

Previous 1st round selections: Khalil Watson (SS), Jacob Berry (3B), Noble Meyer (RHP), PJ Morlando (1B)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Marlins draft: It’s a new regime in Miami so I’m borrowing shades of both the Marlins and Rays (since Bendix came from Tampa Bay). Morlando was a player that had certain scouts pounding the table for and it’s interesting that Miami made him their first selection.

Mock 1.0: Carlson has been excellent so far this season showing off a premier hit tool. The Rays under Peter Bendix don’t have an extensive track record to glean from, but they did bring in a lot of infielders last year. Likely will be opportunistic this draft, but several intriguing prep shortstops could be available.

8. Toronto Blue Jays – Seth Hernandez - RHP - Corona HS (CA)

Previous 1st round selections: Gunnar Hoglund (RHP), Brandon Barriera (LHP), Arjun Nimmala (SS), Trey Yesavage (RHP)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Blue Jays draft: You have to respect the Blue Jays for just taking the guys that fall to them. They’ve been one of the few organizations willing to take an arm who had Tommy John surgery and didn’t come back yet.

Mock 1.0: There are some in the scouting community who view Hernandez as a player who could go in the top three couple selections similar to Jackson Jobe in 2021. However historically prep right handers get selected later in the first round:

• 2023 Noble Meyer - 10th

• 2022 Lesko (injured) - 15th

• 2022 Murphy - 20th

• 2021 Jobe - 3rd

• 2021 Painter -13th

• 2021 Petty - 26th

So let’s split the difference for Seth Hernandez and say he lands 8th to an organization that has taken chances on prep arms and players that “fall” on draft boards.

9. Cincinnati Reds – Kyson Witherspoon - RHP - Oklahoma

Previous 1st round selections: Matt McLain (SS), Cam Collier (3B), Rhett Lowder (RHP), Chase Burns (RHP)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Reds draft: It’s a mixed bag for Cincinnati, but they’ve been an organization that’s been willing to pay up for talents that fall.

Mock 1.0: The reports out of Oklahoma from scouts on Witherspoon has been strong. He has a legitimate pitch mix. Cincinnati jumped on pitchers the last two drafts and could easily slide Witherspoon into the mix.

10. Chicago White Sox – Liam Doyle - LHP - Tennessee

    Previous 1st round selections: Colson Montgomery (SS), Noah Schultz (LHP), Jacob Gonzalez (SS), Hagen Smith (LHP)
    Bonus slot: TBD

How the White Sox draft: White Sox have been willing to bet on upside despite risk. It’s paid off with Montgomery and Schultz is one of my favorite 2022 selections. They went back to the lefty well with Hagen Smith last season. They also have a new regime, though Mike Shirley continues in his current role as Amateur Scouting Director.

Mock 1.0: Doyle fits the White Sox profile very well in my opinion. If he’s on the board, Mike Shirley could add him to a strong group of lefthanded prospects on the rise. The White Sox haven’t been shy about taking pitchers who need an expanded arsenal and developing that in professional ball. Doyle’s fastball is lethal and he’ll show off the slider and splitter primarily, but both could benefit from pro development.

11. Sacramento Athletics - Luke Stevenson – C - North Carolina

    Previous 1st round selections: Maxwell Muncy (SS), Daniel Susac (C), Jacob Wilson (IF), Nick Kurtz (1B)
    Bonus Slot: TBD

How the A’s draft: Up the middle contributors. They’ve balanced between prep and college talents. The organization has made some win-now moves with the imminent move to Sacramento followed by Las Vegas in mind. It’s worth monitoring to see if that philosophy trickles down to

Mock 1.0: The Athletics could go any number of ways in this mock and they feel like one of the hardest to pin down. But they are an organization that has taken a catcher high, have prioritized defense reports, and they’ve taken players that scouts will pound the table for, especially Jacob Wilson. Even if not Stevenson, there could be catchers to watch in this spot. Ike Irish and Caden Bodine are other day 1 catching prospects, but with Irish there are questions surrounding whether he remains at catcher.

12. Texas Rangers - Marek Houston - SS - Wake Forest

Previous 1st round selections: Jack Leiter (RHP), Kumar Rocker (RHP), Wyatt Langford (OF), Malcolm Moore (C)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Rangers draft: Target college performers and ones from large conferences (mostly SEC). Established performers. Last year was the first time the Rangers are drafting this late in the draft with the current regime and they took Moore, a C. This season they are back in the top half of the draft.

Mock 1.0: Houston checks all the boxes to what the Rangers look for, but the biggest question in this mock is whether he’s on the board at 12. Come July, Houston, who is having an incredible beginning of the season for power house Wake Forest, it might be laughable to think he’d make it out of the first handful of selections.

13. San Francisco Giants – Kruz Schoolcraft - LHP/1B - Sunset HS (OR)

Previous 1st round selections: Patrick Bailey (C), Will Bednar (RHP), Reggie Crawford (LHP), Bryce Eldridge (OF/RHP), James Tibbs III (OF)
Bonus slot: TBD

How the Giants draft: Loud tools and not afraid to tackle development challenges. Back-to-back two way players in the first round with Crawford and Eldridge.

Mock 1.0: Giants have targeted upside and two-way players in the past. James Tibbs III represented a solid floor addition there, but it wouldn’t surprise to the San Francisco go back to the well. Schoolcraft combines both, but unlike Eldridge his future is likely on the mound. While I will not conjecture too far into signability right now, Schoolcraft is committed to Tennessee and there’s a better chance of him signing if he is taken higher in the draft.

14. Tampa Bay Rays – Xavier Neyens - SS/3B - Mount Vernon HS (WA)

Previous 1st round selections: Carson Williams (SS), Xavier Isaac (1B), Brayden Taylor (3B), Theo Gillen (OF)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Rays draft: Can we say to the beat of their own drum? Nick Bitsko (2020) Williams, and Isaac were gambles that not every team was comfortable with (though Bitsko was a hot name in 2020). Look, you doubt the Rays at your own risk, but it’ll be fascinating to see what they do in 2025.

Mock 1.0: Neyens didn’t have a great summer last year, but the qualities that he shows in the batters box, namely a supreme ability to lay off chase pitches, along with his infield profile fits the Rays in my opinion. His season just began in the Pacific North West so it bears watching. His performance in the spring could go a long way to determining how he’s view by scouts and evaluators this summer.

15. Boston Red Sox - Gavin Fien - SS/3B - Great Oak HS (CA)

Previous 1st round selections: Marcelo Meyer (SS), Mikey Romero (SS), Kyle Teel (C), Braden Montgomery (OF)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Red Sox draft: Athletic up-the-middle players, especially on the infield. It’s a great demographic to pull from.

Mock 1.0: The Red Sox have targeted a lot of prep infielders with early selections and there have been a number from California. It’s a spot to watch for one of the excellent prep SS from the West Coast. Similar to the writeup of the Angels selection, a geographic cluster of players might demonstrate how “organizations may place a greater sense of trust in certain scouts or crosschecker’s opinions”. Fien had a loud summer showcase circuit and if he continues to show strong spring results he could be in for a great spot this July

16. Minnesota Twins – Brendan Summerhill - OF - Arizona

Previous 1st round selections: Chase Petty (RHP), Brooks Lee (SS), Walker Jenkins (OF), Kaelen Culpepper (SS)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Twins draft: The Twins balance prep and college, but players fall into safer demographics. Chase Petty is the exception, but they traded him before the end of the year.

Mock 1.0: Summerhill shows average or better tools across the board, but hasn’t shown a lot of power or a plus skill as of yet. That may knock him down boards, but I liken him to 2022 Twins draftee Brooks Lee, who also was more above-average tools across the board.

17. Chicago Cubs – Patrick Forbes - RHP - Louisville
    Previous 1st round selections: Jordan Wicks (LHP), Cade Horton (RHP), Matt Shaw (SS), Cam Smith (3B)
    Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Cubs draft: we saw the Cubs prioritize players who the organization viewed as falling to them in Howard and Wicks, but unless something really crazy happened in 2022, they were very into the profile of Horton. This is an organization that has been willing to target upside with their top few selections over the past few years. In 2023 and 2024, the Cubs effectively sat back and waited for a top talent to fall. It’s an excellent strategy that many of the best organizations employ. Those plans resulted in Matt Shaw and Cam Smith, who both looked like impact players in their debuts. For position players, wood bat performance appears to carry significant weight.

Over the past two drafts, the Cubs have drafted 18 pitchers. Only 1 has been 6’0” or shorter. This is something to watch regarding pitching targets, but it also doesn’t imply the Cubs would rule out a shorter arm early in the draft. I’d strongly believe the Cubs had Jurrangelo Cijntje (listed at 5’11”) in the first round mix last year.

Mock 1.0: Patrick Forbes (6’3”, 220 lbs) is an excellent fit for the Chicago Cubs. While it may appear lofty with how he’s viewed now, he gives off Cade Horton 2022 vibes. Like Horton, Forbes was a two-way guy coming back from injuries and showing off impressive stuff. He throws from a lower angle and still gets good sweep on his slider. I’ll wait to see more robust data, but it’s an expanding arsenal and gives off a similar vibe to the targets the Cubs have been bringing in with pitchers who have a feel for being able to get to the side of the ball. Some in the game refer to this as a supination bias in pitching, but I don’t want to assume too much biomechanically from numbers. Regardless, Forbes appears to be able to get movement up and to the side. Durability this season will be critical to watch, but Patrick Forbes could be squarely in the Cubs line of sight come July.

What if it wasn’t Forbes? Ethan Conrad is an excellent option. He had a strong Cape Cod League performance last summer, which appears to be immensely important in the Cubs draft model. Alabama’s Riley Quick is another pitcher to watch as a powerful righthander coming back from injury. Other arms like LSU’s lefty ace Kade Anderson and Stanford’s righty Matt Scott could be on their radar. The Cubs haven’t gone with a high schooler since 2020 and while that hasn’t worked out, the organization would be in a drastically different spot now than at the very beginning of the lost COVID season and its impact on scouting and development. So a prep could be in the mix. On the prep hitter side, JoJo Parker, Slater de Brun, and Gavin Fien all had strong seasons on the showcase circuit.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks – Kayson Cunningham - SS - Johnson HS (TX)

Previous 1st round selections: Jordan Lawler (SS), Druw Jones (CF), Tommy Troy (2B), Slade Caldwell (OF)
Bonus: TBD

How the Diamondbacks draft: We’ve seen the Diamondbacks target higher ceiling prep talent early, but Troy was a pivot to loud college baseball hitter impact. They went back to the prep well with two out of three Top 35 selections last year.

Mock 1.0: Prep hitters is the demographic to watch with the Diamondbacks, but it’s likely a preference rather than a rule, of course. Cunningham is very well-regarded around the industry. His height may knock him down for some organizations, but he’s an excellent player and may not even be available at this selection. The Dbacks have targeted a lot of high school infielders and come armed with an additional selection at pick 29 if they want to try to float down a player to this spot. Arizona also invested in Slade Caldwell who is much shorter than Cunningham.

19. Baltimore Orioles – Ethan Conrad - OF - Wake Forest

Previous 1st round selections: Colton Cowser (OF), Jackson Holliday (SS), Enrique Bradfield Jr (OF), Vance Honeycutt (OF)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Orioles draft: Upper-tier batted ball numbers and hitters early. They aren’t afraid of whiffs and are an organization that appears to improve swing and miss from hitters during development, if need be. But they’ve also gravitated towards loud batted ball data.

Mock 1.0: Conrad was a player seriously considered in this mock at 17 and the way he’s taken to playing for Wake Forest, that (and ultimately here at 19) may feel way too low very quickly. But Conrad likely is a COF profile and that positioning tends to knock a player down a notch in projection. Conrad is a player to watch with a number of teams above for his strong wood bat performance on the Cape and his work with a premiere program in Wake Forest.

20. Milwaukee Brewers – Gavin Kilen - 2B - Tennessee

Previous 1st round selections: Sal Frelick (OF), Eric Brown Jr. (SS), Brock Wilken (3B), Braylon Payne (OF)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Brewers draft: The Brewers have put an emphasis on contact skills early. All of Mitchell, Frelick, and Brown Jr. boasted strong bat-to-ball skills. They’ve been the beneficiaries of players who have fallen in the first round several times. Brock Wilken is a different profile, but stood out for his power and low chase rates.

Mock 1.0: Kilen’s contact and power profile fits a Brewers organization that trends towards college batted-ball standouts. The Louisville transfer is on another level this season, but the biggest assessment of how compelling the projection is will depend on how Kilen performs once SEC conference play begins.

21. Houston Astros – Devin Taylor - OF - Indiana

Previous 1st round selections: (No 1st round picks in 2020 and 2021 because of cheating scandal punishments), Drew Gilbert (CF), Brice Matthews (SS), Walker Janek (C)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Astros draft: The Astros have leaned very model-heavy with an emphasis on batted-ball and pitching metrics.

Mock 1.0: Taylor does a lot of things well. He has a discerning eye at the plate, makes good contact, and shows all-field approach. The big question will be how much power does he get to long-term? He’s likely a leftfielder in professional ball already, but the Astros saw the benefit of having Michael Brantley in leftfield with a similar profile. Max Belyeu didn’t make it into this iteration of the draft but he certainly could have. He would fit a similar profile here.

22. Atlanta Braves - Cameron Appenzeller – LHP - Glenwood HS (IL)

Previous 1st round selections: Ryan Cusick (RHP), Owen Murphy (RHP), Hurston Waldrep (RHP), Cam Caminiti (LHP)
Bonus: TBD

How the Braves draft: mix of college and prep and while they’ve leaned heavily pitchers the last several years I’m not sure that’s an organizational mandate.

Mock 1.0: Appenzeller likely will pop off for teams based on metrics, but here it’s a team fit based on pitching profile and area of the draft. Appenzeller could be the first prep lefty off the board with a strong spring in Illinois. The Tennessee recruit is going to bring a lot of scouts into Glenwood.

23. Kansas City Royals – Cam Cannarella - OF - Clemson

Previous 1st round selections: Frank Mozzicato (LHP), Gavin Cross (OF), Blake Mitchell (C), Jac Caglianone (1B)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Royals draft: The Royals trust their scouts and there’s not much of a discernable trend at this stage.

Mock 1.0: Cannarella came into the season with top 5 potential and he could get there, but it’s a tricky profile to project right now. He played through a labrum tear last year showing contact and defense in centerfield, had the tear surgically repaired after the season, and entered this year “85% recovered”. He’s been okay out there, far from bad, but he’s not showing juice. There’s a real reason for that, but it’s still dicey for whether he’ll have enough runway to show teams that he can drive the ball with authority to merit a high pick. College centerfielders with that defense, contact, below average power profile tend to be selected around this range.

24. Detroit Tigers - JoJo Parker - SS- Purvis HS (MS)

Previous 1st round selections: Jackson Jobe (RHP), Jace Jung (2B), Max Clark (OF), Bryce Rainer (SS)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Tigers draft: The Tigers employed a new scouting director, Mark Conner in 2023. After a decade with the Padres, Conner took the reins of drafts in Detroit. They went after preps early in 2023 (not a surprise based on Padres prior drafting). The Tigers brought in Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle in 23 and Bryce Rainer in 24. It’s not

Mock 1.0: Parker combines the strong contact, but needing to add juice at the dish profile that the Tigers have targeted with recent first rounders. The feedback on Parker is strong and he had a good showing last summer on the showcase circuit. This is a player that appears to have a lot of helium in how the industry views him.

25. San Diego Padres – Tate Southisene - SS - Basic HS (NV)

Previous 1st round selections: Jackson Merrill (SS), Dylan Lesko (RHP), Dillon Head (OF), Kash Mayfield (LHP)
Bonus: TBD

How the Padres draft: The Padres are a club that puts a premium on batted ball data, prep upside, and are not afraid of late-rising players

Mock 1.0: It’s early to make any claim on late-risers, but we’ll focus on premium batted-ball data. Southisene is a member of a strong baseball family with multiple brothers playing college and professional baseball. Tate showcases the most power respectively at their respective high school levels. He’s already generated strong exit velocities at events and the bat speed is impressive at the eye test.

26. Philadelphia Phillies - Sean Gamble - SS/OF - IMG Academy (FL)

Previous 1st round selections: Andrew Painter (RHP), Justin Crawford (CF), Aidan Miller (3B), Dante Nori (OF)
Bonus Slot: TBD

How the Phillies draft: The Phillies put a heavy focus on prep talent from risky demographics (prep pitchers and center fielders waiting on projection).

Mock 1.0: Phillies were in on a lot of prep players last spring before ultimately taking Dante Nori. It wouldn’t surprise to see them continue the trend. Gamble was well known in the Midwest before transferring to IMG Academy where he has gotten far more reps this season than he would have had in Iowa. It’s unclear where Gamble will end up defensively, but the overall package is intriguing. This is a player that has an “up arrow” next to his name.

27. Cleveland Guardians - AJ Russell - RHP - Tennessee

Previous 1st round selections: Gavin Williams (RHP), Chase DeLauter (OF), Ralphy Velazquez (C), Travis Bazzana (2B)
Bonus slot: TBD

How the Guardians draft: “Cleveland is a model-driven club- they look for specific traits in hitting and pitching prospects. Age, athleticism, ‘famous’ (PG, Team USA, Cape Cod League, etc) game exposure, and cold weather/underdeveloped talent are traits that crossover both demographics. In hitters, the club targets middle-of-the-diamond talent with above-average or better speed, clean hitting mechanics, advanced contact skills, and advanced zone awareness. With pitchers, it is a similar approach: advanced pitch-ability; pitch sequencing, command, ease of delivery/clean mechanics, multiple pitches (more is better), high spin rates, above-average extension, and unique release points.”
-The excellent draft and prospects writer, Willie Hood.

Mock 1.0: AJ Russell has barely pitched as of this publication. He’s coming back form Tommy John surgery and in his extremely brief outing he looked nasty. But now is being held back from pitching in games (not shutdown or injured according to his coach, Tony Vitello) to begin a new throwing program to build him back up to being a starter to finish the season. But this mock is about what could happen in July not what would happen if the draft was held on Saint Patrick’s Day. And if Russell shows that he’s able to handle a starter’s workload, show off even slightly improved stuff from his work prior to the season, it’s a great fit with Cleveland’s tendencies. Russell looks like a solid candidate to add velocity. The Guardians tend to take individuals with lower walk rates (which Russell showed in his fully healthy 2023 season) and those with unique arm/pitch angles. Top off some bonus points for those who can add velocity. Russell could check all those boxes.

How could you forget that guy?

In a March mock draft there are going to be players that look like locks for the first round that aren’t included. Some of that is by design. The draft is rarely “chalk”, meaning that there are always surprises. Another factor here is that the draft above only includes 27 selections and with a prospect promotion incentive selection at 28 to the Royals and four free agent compensation selections from 29-32, there could be significant effort to “buy down” certain free agents. The interplay those selections may have will be significantly explored in version 2.0.