MLB draft live blog: Analyzing every first-round pick

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Welcome to the 2021 MLB Draft.

Whereas this 12 months doesn’t function a once-in-a-lifetime expertise to headline the occasion, there’s nonetheless loads of intrigue across the draft. There’s a trio of thrilling highschool shortstops, a pair of widespread Vanderbilt pitchers and a few highly effective school hitters with loads of upside. This draft can also be the primary since its debut in 1965 it takes place exterior of June.

We’ll present stay updates all through the night time as groups (minus the Houston Astros, of their second and ultimate 12 months of misplaced first- and second-round picks as punishment for signal stealing) make first-round picks. Names and evaluation will likely be up to date as picks are made.

George Walker IV/USA At the moment Community

No. 1 Pittsburgh Pirates: Henry Davis, C, Louisville

Davis is one of the best school bat within the draft, slashing .370/.482/.663 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs in his most up-to-date season with Louisville. A composed and highly effective hitter, Davis has a eager eye for pitches and might make onerous contact or reel it in to attract walks (he had six extra walks than strikeouts all through his school profession). Davis’s offensive strengths make up for a few of his inconsistencies behind the plate, the place he’s often struggled to deal with high quality pitching. He improved in 2021 and may be capable of keep behind the plate throughout the Pirates’s farm system.

Many mock drafts anticipated Pittsburgh would lean towards one of many highschool shortstops—Marcelo Mayer and Jordan Lawlar received loads of buzz—however the Pirates elected for the experience of Davis, a participant who wasn’t drafted out of highschool regardless of being Excellent Sport’s high catcher from the state of New York in 2018.

No. 2 Texas Rangers: Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

Leiter is taken into account by many to be one of the best school pitcher within the draft. He soared to star standing in his ultimate 12 months at Vanderbilt, ending 11-4 with a 2.13 ERA, 0.845 WHIP, 179 strikeouts (tied with Vandy teammate Kumar Rocker for many within the NCAA) and an look within the School World Collection finals. Leiter’s fastball is elite and sits at 90-95 mph with a vertical break that persistently tips hitters. His 6-foot-1 stature might be thought of small for a starter, however he’s constructing power that ought to assist him climb up the minor ranks. He additionally has main league pitching in his blood—his father, Al Leiter, uncle and cousin all pitched within the majors.

Leiter had been linked to the Boston Pink Sox forward of the draft however was picked up by the Rangers. The choice tracks with Texas’s previous three first-round picks—all seasoned school gamers.

No. 3 Detroit Tigers: Jackson Jobe, RHP, Heritage Corridor HS (Okla.)

Jobe is forward of the curve for a highschool pitcher. The 18-year-old Gatorade Oklahoma highschool participant of the 12 months has, maybe, one of the best slider within the draft, a fast arm and marked enchancment in his secondary pitches, upgrading his low-80s changeup and refining his upper-70s curveball. Jobe’s athleticism and maturity on the mound set a stable basis for him to develop additional within the Tigers’ minor league system.

No. 4 Boston Pink Sox: Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS (Calif.)

Mayer, 18, leads the pack of elite highschool shortstops anticipated to go early this 12 months. In his senior 12 months at California’s Eastlake Excessive Faculty, Mayer emerged as one of many draft’s high hitters (batting .392 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs as a senior) and defenders. Mayer’s measurement (6’3″) and energy have drawn comparisons to the Dodgers’ Corey Seager, although Mayer will probably spend just a few years turning into acclimated to high-level pitching within the Pink Sox’s minor league system earlier than he’s prepared for a significant league debut.

No. 5 Baltimore Orioles: Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston

Cowser’s left-handed bat is likely one of the strongest from this 12 months’s school group. He slashed .374/.490/.680 with 75 hits, 16 dwelling runs and 54 RBIs in 2021, rising on a three-year development of enchancment at Sam Houston. The Southland Convention participant of the 12 months demonstrated success throughout his time as a member of the U.S. collegiate nationwide group, when he batted .438 in six video games towards Cuba within the 2019 and earned the MVP title. Uncertainty lingers round his energy potential in addition to his skill taking part in middle discipline, however honing in on his intuition and persevering with to shine his bat ought to assist him climb up with the Orioles.

No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks: Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit School Prep (Tx.)

Lawlar is likely one of the strongest hitters within the draft. One of many 12 months’s standout highschool shortstops, Lawlar brings a mature strategy to the plate, drawing extra walks than he strikes out. Lawlar is fast and clean with the bat (and slashed .425/.552/.713 this season) and speedy alongside the bases, stealing 44 in 44 makes an attempt all through his highschool profession. The 6’2″ Gatorade Texas highschool participant of the 12 months has potential to develop into an influence participant for the Diamondbacks as soon as he provides power and defensive consistency. Lawlar’s .893 fielding share all through highschool will be boiled right down to youth, however he’s already proven enchancment with errors (13 in his sophomore season to simply three as a senior).

No. 7 Kansas Metropolis Royals: Frank Mozzicato, LHP, East Catholic HS (Conn.)

One of many youngest gamers within the draft (he turned 18 final month), Mozzicato has loads of potential to develop throughout the Royals group. His fastball sat across the upper-80s final summer time and rose to a constant 91 mph this spring, however he impresses along with his high-spin curveball. Kansas Metropolis will probably signal Mozzicato, who was the Thirty ninth-best prospect in MLB.com’s rankings, beneath slot worth and can be capable of unfold extra money round within the later rounds of the draft.

No. 8 Colorado Rockies: Benny Montgomery, OF, Pink Land HS (Pa.)

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Montgomery will convey uncooked energy and a number of velocity to the Rockies. As a hitter, he’s comparatively according to contact and confirmed up on the summer time showcase circuit towards high quality pitching. Montgomery can also be a fast outfielder with defensive skill and loads of instruments to convey to Colorado.

No. 9 Los Angeles Angels: Sam Bachman, RHP, Miami (OH)

Bachman spent his three years with Miami (Ohio) getting higher and higher annually. He was named a starter as a freshman in 2019 and used the coronavirus shutdown to enhance. The Angels see the potential for Bachman to proceed constructing power and command of his 94-97 mph fastball and enhancing slider, and with extra enhancements, he has potential to proceed as a starter within the professionals.

No. 10 New York Mets: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt

Rocker has been touted as the most effective pitchers within the draft however fell beneath fellow school pitcher Bachman, a Miami (Ohio) starter who went one spot above him to the Angels.

Rocker’s ceiling is excessive, however struggles with command may maintain him again from surging up with the Mets shortly. He tossed school baseball’s greatest slider with Vanderbilt and his fastball sits at a clean 93-96 mph. Rocker’s 19-strikeout no-hitter towards Duke within the 2019 Tremendous Regionals cemented him within the school baseball historical past books, and he helped Vanderbilt to 2 berths within the School World Collection. Nonetheless, he’ll work to refine his pitches within the minor leagues.

No. 11 Washington Nationals: Brady Home, SS, Winder-Barrow HS (Ga.)

Home has the make-up of a real energy hitter and went into the summer time as probably the most thrilling highschool prospect within the draft. Since then, he has had some points on the plate, however the Nationals selected the potential reward over the danger. He’s 6’4″ with above-average pop and spectacular exit velocity—and increase consistency inside Washington’s farm system ought to assist him proceed to hone in on his strengths. It’s not sure whether or not or not Home will likely be staying at shortstop, as many evaluators really feel he’s higher suited at third base or within the outfield given his arm is an even bigger asset than his velocity.

No. 12 Seattle Mariners: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (Ga.)

Ford’s greatest attribute is his bat, with a few of the greatest bat velocity on this 12 months’s highschool class and the power to make contact towards high quality pitching. Ford is fast (he clocked a 6.42-second time 60-yard sprint on the East Coast Professional showcase) with sufficient uncooked athleticism for the Mariners to have the ability to clear up round any shortcomings behind the plate.

No. 13 Philadelphia Phillies: Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian (Fla.)

Painter is a 6’6″ highschool prospect with sturdy command of his four-pitch arsenal. Painter already is available in with superior abilities throughout his 93-95 mph fastball, 12-to-6 kind curveball and mid-80s slider, however he has room to change into a stronger thrower with the Phillies, which is able to look to capitalize on his uncooked skill and management of their farm system.

No. 14 San Francisco Giants: Will Bednar, RHP, Mississippi State

Bednar probably couldn’t be extra grateful for this 12 months’s School World Collection, the place he earned the Most Excellent Participant honor in Mississippi State’s first nationwide championship and bolted up the draft boards. He’s most constant along with his 93-95 mph fastball and his slider, whereas his different pitches may use extra work, however the Giants should be happy along with his performances within the aggressive SEC.

No. 15 Milwaukee Brewers: Sal Frelick, OF, Boston School

Considered one of Frelick’s high property is skill to learn pitches—he drew 60 walks in comparison with his 50 strikeouts throughout his three years at Boston School—and his bat velocity permits him to persistently make contact when he’s on the plate. Frelick’s profession at Boston School ended with a .345/.435/.521 slash line, 12 dwelling runs and 63 RBIs. He’s stronger than his 5’9″ body would recommend, and his velocity makes him an elusive baserunner and impactful outfielder.

No. 16 Miami Marlins: Kahlil Watson, SS, Wake Forest HS (N.C.)

Watson surged up draft boards this spring with a breakout senior season at North Carolina’s Wake Forest Excessive Faculty, batting .513 with 24 runs in 58 plate appearances. The 18-year-old’s fast instincts and robust arm make up for his 5’9″ stature, as he’s an easy defender with the power to play properly at a number of positions. He got here into the draft as MLB.com’s fourth-best prospect, a steal for the Marlins at No. 16.

No. 17 Cincinnati Reds:

No. 18 St. Louis Cardinals:

No. 19 Toronto Blue Jays:

No. 20 New York Yankees:

No. 21 Chicago Cubs:

No. 22 Chicago White Sox:

No. 23 Cleveland Indians:

No. 24 Atlanta Braves:

No. 25 Oakland Athletics:

No. 26 Minnesota Twins:

No. 27 San Diego Padres:

No. 28 Tampa Bay Rays: