It’s mock draft season and we here at Talking Chop decided to do something a little different. Instead of a one person mock draft, we have four different guys making the picks of every one of the top 49 picks in the draft- right through the Braves second round pick.
In addition to myself(Matt), Eric, Doc, and Aaron alternated picks for the 47 selections that didn’t belong to the Braves. Each of us has a good knowledge of the draft and will be trying to best select what those teams should/might end up doing with their picks.
The rules for the Braves picks are that each of us makes the pick we feel the Braves should make at selections 8 and 49, and then a little reasoning as to why. Since there is the potential for more than one player taken with the Braves top selection we will count the player ranked highest in the Baseball America Top 500 prospects as the player no longer on the board for future selections.
First Round
1.Detroit: Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn- Eric
2.San Francisco: Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech- Matt
3.Philadelphia: Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State- Doc
4.Chicago White Sox: Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State- Aaron
5.Cincinnati: Brady Singer, RHP, Florida- Eric
6.New York Mets: Jon India, 3B, Florida- Matt
7.San Diego: Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS(AZ)- Doc
8.Braves: Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS(FL)- Highest on BA500 at 9th
The class of 2018 High School Player Rankings were updated today! Watch the curveball that helps make Carter Stewart potentially the first high school player drafted this year #MLBDraft https://t.co/T3C3FSalBl pic.twitter.com/3KZimQWmaq
— Perfect Game USA (@PerfectGameUSA) May 16, 2018
Matt: Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS(FL)
”If you ask me who the most exciting pitching prospect in the draft is, my money is on Carter Stewart. I’d rank him over even Casey Mize for that even though he isn’t quite as far along in his development yet. Stewart has the double plus curve and outside of a short dip in velocity this spring he has shown to have a second plus pitch in his fastball. That fastball has been timed as high as the 98 MPH range this spring and when you factor remaining projection into his 6’6” 200 pound frame it’s easy to buy the second potentially plus plus grade. The change is behind the other pitches as guys with that stuff don’t usually need a third pitch(see Pirates top prospect Mitch Keller), but he’s given flashes that it can be an average third pitch.”
Eric: Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS(FL)
”I wouldn’t hate Kelenic or Larnach here, but Stewart has one of those pitches that makes me feel really good about his upside. It might be the best pitch in the draft and I am bullish on his ability to add a changeup that would turn him into a difference-making prospect”
Doc: Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha West HS(WI)
”Kelenic is the most well-rounded of the prep bats, offering a balanced game and multiple tools which flash above-average. He has a sweet swing from the left side and fantastic defensive instincts.“
'He should be one of the first prep bats drafted this June.'
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 26, 2018
Jarred Kelenic --> https://t.co/BWVLia3Ws1 pic.twitter.com/qETqx919NS
Aaron: Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS(FL)
”I know the Braves seem to like Weathers a lot but Stewart has the build to be an innings eater and the repertoire to be a top of the rotation guy.”
A chance to develop two 70-grade pitches? Carter Stewart is one of the best pitching prospects in the 2018 draft --> https://t.co/2MxYoRtk8f pic.twitter.com/FXQSjzbFqU
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 26, 2018
9.Oakland: Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida- Aaron
10.Pittsburgh: Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama- Eric
11.Baltimore: Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran- Matt
12.Toronto: Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha West HS(WI)- Doc
13.Miami: Connor Scott, OF, Plant HS(FL)- Aaron
14.Seattle: Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State- Eric
15.Texas: Jordyn Adams, OF, Green Hope HS(NC)- Matt
16.Tampa Bay: Brice Turang, SS, Santiago HS(CA)- Doc
17.Los Angeles Angels: Nolan Gorman, 3B, Sandra Day O’Connor HS(AZ)- Aaron
18.Kansas City: Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida- Eric
19.St. Louis: Ryan Weathers, LHP, Lorretto HS(TN)- Matt
20.Minnesota: Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Central Heights HS(TX)- Doc
21.Milwaukee: Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson- Aaron
22.Colorado: Noah Naylor, C/3B, St. Joan of Arc HS(Canada)- Eric
23.New York Yankees: Triston Casas, 3B/1B, American Heritage HS(FL)- Matt
24.Chicago Cubs: Ethan Hankins, RHP, Forsyth Central HS(GA)- Doc
25.Arizona: Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS(GA)- Aaron
26.Boston: Sean Hjelle, RHP, Kentucy-Eric
27.Washington: Mason Denaburg, RHP, Merritt Island HS(FL)- Matt
28.Houston: Alek Thomas, OF, Mount Carmel HS(IL)- Doc
29.Cleveland: Nick Schnell, OF, Roncalli HS(IN)- Aaron
30.Los Angeles Dodgers: Cole Wilcox, RHP, Chickamauga HS(GA)- Eric
31.Tampa Bay: Greyson Jenista, OF/1B, Wichita State- Matt
32.Tampa Bay: Anthony Seigler, C, Cartersville HS(GA)- Doc
33.Kansas City: Xavier Edwards, SS, North Broward HS(FL)- Aaron
34.Kansas City: Steele Walker, OF, Oklahoma- Eric
35.Cleveland: Nander De Sedas, SS, Montverde Academy HS(FL)- Matt
36.Pittsburgh: J.T. Ginn, RHP, Brandon HS(MS)- Doc
37.Baltimore: Adam Kloffenstein, RHP, Magnolia HS(TX)- Aaron
38.San Diego: Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford- Eric
39.Arizona: Seth Beer, 1B, Clemson- Matt
40.Kansas City: Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss- Doc
41.Cleveland: Will Banfield, C, Brookwood HS(GA)- Aaron
42.Colorado: Griffin Conine, OF, Duke- Eric
43.St. Louis: Kris Bubic, LHP, Stanford- Matt
Second Round
44.Detroit: Mike Siani, OF, William Penn Charter HS(PA)- Doc
45.San Francisco: Jeremy Eierman, SS, Missouri State- Aaron
46.Chicago White Sox: Tristan Pompey, OF, Kentucky- Eric
47.Cincinnati: Konnor Pilkington, LHP, Mississippi State- Matt
48.New York Mets: Lenny Torres, RHP, Beacon HS(NY)- Doc
49.Braves: Jake McCarthy, OF, Virginia-Highest on BA500 at 33rd
Matt: Osiris Johnson, SS, Encinal HS(CA)
“I love Osiris Johnson. He’s got it all. Bloodlines(dad was a minor leaguer with Braves among other teams, plus Jimmy Rollins and Tony Tarasco). Quick twitch athlete. Extremely toolsy. He’s also been reported to have shown significantly better than expected power in big league parks during individual team workouts. There’s a reason why Osiris is rising in a huge way late in the process, and grabbing him over prep third basemen Jordan Groshans, Raynel Delgado, and Nick Northcut was a must for me.”
SS @johnson_osiris showed big power potential at #PGNational and will be on the #WestSquad for the @PGAllAmerican Classic! @SkillShow pic.twitter.com/JOZR2v11bx
— Perfect Game USA (@PerfectGameUSA) July 28, 2017
Eric: Jake McCarthy, OF, Virginia
”Firmly believe he would have been a first rounder without his injury, but the Braves get a gift of a college bat with upside in the second round. I would be happy here”
Here's the swing OF Jake McCarthy (UVa) put on the ball that was just foul down the RF line. #mlbdraft pic.twitter.com/C0Bci2ImEr
— Nathan Rode (@NathanRode) May 24, 2018
Doc: Parker Meadows, OF, Grayson HS(GA)
”This pick would be similar in spirit to the 2017 selection of Drew Waters - toolsy local outfielder who is still rough around the edges but has shown undeniable promise. Meadows has big league bloodlines (his brother Austin has been a top prospect the Pirates) and would be a good fit for the system.”
OF Parker Meadows (2018 GA) is showing off the tools late at night. Roped a FB deep to the pull side gap for a triple. 4.29T to show off the speed. #mlbdraft pic.twitter.com/TuyFJiTYnO
— Vinnie Cervino (@vcervinoPG) March 9, 2018
Aaron: Owen White, RHP, Carson HS(NC)
”Potentially four above average pitches. I also want Joe Gray Jr. or Austin Becker.”
Took a NC detour to get eyes on ‘18 RHP Owen White and he has 4 Ks thru 2. Very good athlete w/ a very quick arm; lively 89-92/93 & flashing solid-avg CH 80-82. CB 77-78 w/ sharp break. Projects well w/ that arsenal. #mlbdraft pic.twitter.com/MU59wdZVba
— Vinnie Cervino (@vcervinoPG) March 29, 2018
This mock draft was great fun, and it really allowed us to see what the Braves could be looking at in the top two rounds. It was somewhat of a surprise to see us so similar in the first round, but equally surprising to see us so varied in the second round.
In my version, the Braves land Carter Stewart and Osiris Johnson- a prep arm and prep bat. Getting a premium arm and infielder would be a win for the Braves. I firmly believe the Braves take a hitter in the first two rounds because it would be easier to grab a pitcher with upside in the fourth round than a hitter, based on the talent in this draft class.
In Eric’s version the Carter Stewart pick remains the same and he also grabs a bat- going prep arm and college bat. Jake McCarthy doesn’t have quite the same upside as Osiris Johnson, but he’s a much safer player and does come with upside.
Aaron also took Stewart in the first round, but he doubled down on pitching with Owen White- taking two prep arms. It’s hard to imagine the Braves ignoring bats until at least the fourth round- but if there is an arm that could make the Braves consider it, White would be in that conversation.
Doc went a different route in the first round with Jarred Kelenic, and doubled down on bats with Parker Meadows- taking two prep bats. Adding a pair of toolsy outfielders, and some real power infusion. It’s a possibility that the Braves take a pair of bats in the top two rounds, then grab the highest upside arm they can afford in the fourth round.