The 2020 MLB draft is about eight months away. The high school summer showcase circuit over and college teams are holding fall practices.
With the MLB regular season complete, the draft order is set. For the second time in the last three years, the Detroit Tigers hold the first overall pick after posting a MLB-worst 47-114 record. The 2020 MLB draft class is the deepest it’s been in recent years, especially on the college side.
A lot will change, especially on the high school side, between now and June, but here is a top-10 pick mock draft:
1. Detroit Tigers: Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia
Emerson Hancock is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound righty who has a high-90s fastball, an effective curveball and a changeup that shows above-average potential. He has a quick and clean arm action and displays an advanced feel for pitching and respectable command. He has frontline starter potential.
2. Baltimore Orioles: Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State
Spencer Torkelson has major raw power. The 6-1, 220-pound slugging first baseman has hit .337 with 48 home runs in his first two seasons at Arizona State. He profiles as a first baseman in pro ball but did gain experience playing right field in the Cape Cod League. He has a quick, compact swing from the right side of the plate. His ability at the plate will put him in consideration for the top overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft.
3. Miami Marlins: Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia
Cole Wilcox is a draft-eligible sophomore and has as much potential as any pitcher in the 2020 MLB draft class. He isn’t as polished as Hancock or some of the other top college arms, but he has an intriguing repertoire of pitches that is headlined by a high-90s fastball. The right-hander has a short arm action and mixes in a sharp slider and changeup.
4. Kansas City Royals: Austin Martin, 3B, Vanderbilt
Austin Martin had a notable sophomore season at Vanderbilt, leading the SEC in hitting with a .392 average and on-base percentage with a .486 mark. Martin is versatile defensively and profiles as a third baseman, outfielder and maybe even a shortstop in professional baseball.
If he can prove that he can play shortstop in the spring, it will solidify him as a top-five pick. He possesses elite bat speed and hitting ability from the right side of the plate.
5. Toronto Blue Jays: Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M
Asa Lacy is the top left-handed pitcher in the 2020 MLB draft class. The 6-4, 215-pound lefty throws a mid-90s fastball, a big breaking curveball, slider and deceptive changeup from a low-effort delivery. As a sophomore last season, Lacy ranked third in opponent average (.162) and eighth in strikeouts per nine innings (13.2) among Division I pitchers.
6. Seattle Mariners: Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State
Nick Gonzales had a phenomenal sophomore year at New Mexico State and then in the summer in the Cape Cod League. He led Division I college baseball in batting average with a .432 mark and ranked top five in on-base percentage and slugging.
His production didn’t dip in the prestigious and highly competitive Cape Cod League where he showed off his compact right-handed swing and impressive plate discipline. He is 5-10, 190 pounds but has solid raw power while also possessing above-average speed.
7. Pittsburgh Pirates: Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
Mick Abel is a 6-6, 185-pound righty who has a mid-90s fastball and an above-average curveball. He also throws a slider and changeup. The right-hander has a clean, fluid delivery that offers projection and the potential for him to have three above-average pitches. He’s an Oregon State commit.
8. San Diego Padres: Jared Kelley, RHP, Refugio HS (Texas)
Jared Kelly and Abel are the top two prep hurlers in this year’s class. Kelley, a 6-2, 200-pound right-hander, throws a mid-to-high-90s fastball with ease. He has confidence in his swing-and-miss changeup and displays potential with his slider. He is a Texas commit.
9. Colorado Rockies: Ed Howard, SS, Mount Carmel HS (Ill.)
Ed Howard is a slick-fielding shortstop from Chicago with big-time potential. He makes all the throws from shortstop, as he has great range, clean footwork and a strong and accurate arm.
His hitting ability will determine where he goes in the draft. If he can refine his skills from the right side of the plate, he could be a top-five pick. He has a slightly open stance with a simple load that allows him to be quick to the ball and produce line drives. He has the potential to add more power as he matures. He is an Oklahoma commit.
10. Los Angeles Angels: Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
Garrett Mitchell is an all-around player who profiles as a center fielder in the professional ranks. He is an above-average defensive player, possessing elite speed and solid arm strength. He has the chance to hit for average and power in pro ball with his quick left-handed swing while also using his speed to steal bases.
Mitchell performed extremely well last season after an average freshman campaign and will have to build on that this upcoming season to cement himself as an early first-round pick.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for five years. He’s interviewed 191 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.
