The 2019 MLB draft is only a few days away. The first round is starting to take shape, especially the top 10 picks. There is a lack of high-end pitching in this year’s draft with no pitchers likely going in the first five picks.
There will be plenty of movement until the draft begins Monday, especially with signability concerns. I also will continue to release feature stories on top prospects as the draft approaches. Here’s a glimpse of how the first round, compensation picks and the first competitive balance picks may play out:
1. Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State
Well-rounded switch-hitting catcher and best prospect in this year’s MLB draft class.
2. Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Colleyville Heritage HS (Texas)
Witt has five-tool potential and comes from strong bloodlines. Read a feature story on Witt here.
3. Chicago White Sox: C.J. Abrams, SS, Blessed Trinity HS (Ga.)
Abrams and California first baseman Andrew Vaughn are the likeliest options. Abrams has a huge ceiling and plays a premium positon. Read more about Abrams here.
4. Miami Marlins: J.J. Bleday, OF, Vanderbilt
Bleday profiles as a corner outfielder in the professional ranks but consistently has hit at Vanderbilt. Many of the Marlins’ decision makers saw Bleday dominate in the SEC Tournament.
5. Detroit Tigers: Andrew Vaughn, 1B, California
He’s an elite hitter and will move through the minor leagues quickly. Read more about the Cal first baseman here.
6. San Diego Padres: Riley Greene, OF, Hagerty HS (Fla.)
Greene is a left-handed hitter with a smooth swing that generates power. He hits for average and has impressive plate discipline for a prep batter. He’s the best prep hitting prospect in this year’s draft class.
7. Cincinnati Reds: Nick Lodolo, LHP, TCU
I’ve had Lodolo to the Reds since March. Sticking with that, as he seems to be a lock to go at No. 7. Read more about the left-handed pitcher here.
8. Texas Rangers: Brett Baty, 3B, Lake Travis HS (Texas)
The Rangers are leaning towards an underslot deal. Baty has some of the best raw power in this year’s draft class. Tulane third baseman Kody Hoesealso is an option.They brought Hoese in for a predraft workout, but that’s a common part of the process. Read more about Baty here.
9. Atlanta Braves: Hunter Bishop, OF, Arizona State
The Braves want a bat and would be thrilled if Bishop is available. Bishop has made a significant jump up draft boards this spring. He has displayed power and better plate discipline this spring. He has five-tool potential.
10. San Francisco Giants: Jackson Rutledge, RHP, San Jacinto Junior College
Jackson Rutledge has the highest celling of any college arm. Read about Rutledge here.
11. Toronto Blue Jays: Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia
Manoah has been a reliable No. 1 starter for West Virginia this spring. He has a big frame and throws a high-90s fastball. Read more about Manoah here.
12. New York Mets: Zack Thompson, LHP, Kentucky
Thompson has a solid four-pitch mix and generates a lot of strikeouts. Read more about the lefty here.
13. Minnesota Twins: Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor
Twins are tied to college players. Langeliers was a potential top-five pick entering this spring. A broken hamate caused him to miss significant time. Read about the elite catching prospect here.
14. Philadelphia Phillies: Kody Hoese, 3B, Tulane
Hoese has been one of the top risers in this year’s draft class. After two average seasons, Hoese has exploded at the plate, featuring impressive power. Read more on Hoese here.
15. Los Angeles Angels: Keoni Cavaco, 3B, Eastlake HS (Calif.)
Cavaco popped up this spring as a draft prospect. He didn’t even start receiving interest from scouts until last fall. He has intriguing tools that will make a team grab him early in the draft. Read more about Cavaco here.
16. Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll, OF, Lakeside HS (Wash.)
An advanced high school hitter who hits for average and has above-average speed. He also is a solid defensive center fielder.
17. Washington Nationals: Matthew Allan, RHP, Seminole HS (Fla.)
Allan is the top prep pitcher in this year’s draft and throws a mid-90s fastball and mixes in a solid 12-to-6 curveball. He’s represented by the Boras Corporation.
18. Pittsburgh Pirates: Gunnar Henderson, SS, Morgan Academy (Ala.)
The Pirates have been interested in Henderson all spring and were hoping to select him with their compensation pick at No. 37, according to sources. He’s improved his draft stock with a strong spring and likely will be a first-round pick.
Since he probably won’t make it to No. 37, the Pirates could draft Henderson to a below-slot deal and save bonus pool money for their compensation selection. Read more on the prep shortstop here.
19. St. Louis Cardinals: Bryson Stott, SS, UNLV
Stott gives the Cardinals an impact college bat. He could go as high as 10th to the Giants. Read more about Stott here.
20. Seattle Mariners: Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech
Jung hasn’t displayed his power this spring, but his track record as a power-hitting third baseman will help his draft stock. He’s a high-floor player who will move quickly through a minor-league system.
21. Atlanta Braves: Quinn Priester, RHP, Cary-Grove HS (Ill.)
Priester, a 6-3, 190-pound righty, has a low-effort delivery. He’s made notable strides over the last year and is mostly self-taught, never having a personal pitching coach. Read more on Priester here.
22. Tampa Bay Rays: Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson
Davidson has the talent to be the first college shortstop drafted. The consistency hasn’t always been there this spring, though. He’s an athletic and solid defensive shortstop. Read more about Davidson here.
23. Colorado Rockies: George Kirby, RHP, Elon
Kirby is another college player who’s had a strong spring. He has a quality three-pitch mix and leans on his fastball and curveball. Read more about Kirby here.
24. Cleveland Indians: Kameron Misner, OF, Missouri
Misner is an intriguing college bat. He has struggled to hit against SEC this spring but has the talent, especially his above-average raw power, to produce in the pro ranks.
25. Los Angeles Dodgers: Will Wilson, SS, North Carolina State
Wilson’s top trait is his hitting ability. He’s struggled at times defensively through his college career but has displayed glimpses of improvement this season. Read more about Wilson here.
26. Arizona Diamondbacks: Brennan Malone, RHP, IMG Academy (Fla.)
Malone, a 6-3, 220-pound right-handed pitcher, has a low-effort, repeatable delivery and throws from a slight three-quarter arm slot. Read more about Malone here.
27. Chicago Cubs: Michael Busch, 1B/OF, North Carolina
Busch is a solid college hitter with question marks surrounding his future defensive position. He was a shortstop in high school before moving to first base in college. He played second base in the Cape Cod League during the summer and left field in fall baseball. Read more about Busch here.
28. Milwaukee Brewers: Tyler Callihan, 3B, Providence HS (Fla.)
Callihan is one of the better prep hitters in this year’s draft class. The biggest question mark is where he profiles defensively. Some believe he could be an offensive-minded catcher. Read more about Callihan here.
29. Oakland Athletics: Greg Jones, SS, UNCW
Greg Jones won’t get past the Athletics. He has intriguing tools and is a draft-eligible sophomore. Read more about him here.
30. New York Yankees: Braden Shewmake, SS, Texas A&M
Shewmake has produced throughout his college career. Scouts wonder if he can stick at shortstop in pro ball, but Shewmake believes his work in the offseason and attributes make him ideal for the position. Read more about Shewmake here.
31. Los Angeles Dodgers: Daniel Espino, RHP, Georgia Premier Academy
Espino possess an advanced four-pitch repertoire. He overpowers hitters with his fastball, which occasionally reaches triple digits. Read more about the right-handed pitcher here.
32. Houston Astros: J.J. Goss, RHP, Cypress Ranch HS (Texas)
Goss might be the top prep pitcher from the state of Texas in this year’s MLB draft class. The 6-3, 185-pound right-hander throws an intriguing three-pitch mix with his slider being one of best in the prep class. Read more about the right-hander here.
Compensation Picks
33. Arizona Diamondbacks: Seth Johnson, RHP, Campbell
He was struggling as a shortstop at the junior college level the last two years but received an opportunity to pitch at Campbell. Read about his transformation into a top draft prospect here.
34. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kyren Paris, SS, Freedom HS (Calif.)
Paris has moved up draft boards this spring. He’s one of the best prep shortstops with a chance to develop into a four-tool player, as he doesn’t profile as a power hitter in the pro ranks. He also is one of the youngest players in this year’s draft. Read more on Paris here.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for four years. He’s interviewed 133 of the top draft prospects in that period, including three No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today and The Arizona Republic, have quoted his work, while he’s appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
