MLB Mock Draft 1.0: An Exercise in Futility

We’re officially two months away from the MLB Draft. It’s time to introduce our first mock draft of the season.

Tyler, Conor, Peyton, and Jay got together and hashed out scenarios for what draft day could look like on July 11, and it was a difficult journey to reach the final version. After the top four, there was considerable confusion on where to place players based on industry information, recent trades, and draft philosophies.

In short, this mock draft will be wrong come draft day. There’s plenty of time for things to shake out, and we expect that the situations will remain fluid until the White Sox are officially on the clock that evening. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

1. Chicago White Sox – SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA

Slot Value: $11,350,600

Roch Cholowsky is still the clear-cut favorite, though the team is doing its due diligence, as they should.

We’re two months away from the draft, and sifting through their options is a good thing. They’ve cast a decent-sized net over the top prep players, including Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard. They’ve also looked at a few prep players deeper down the board, as it’s worth noting they’ve gone overslot with a prep player with their second pick the past two drafts.

With that said, Cholowsky has done nothing to loosen his grip on the top spot in this class, given the track record on both sides of the ball. It’s worth keeping an open mind if you’re a White Sox fan, though we’ll stick with Cholowsky here. – Tyler

2. Tampa Bay Rays – SS Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian (TX)

Slot Value: $10,507,000

If any player not named Roch Cholowsky has a shot to go first overall, it’s prep shortstop Grady Emerson. The Fort Worth area native has cemented his status as the class’ top overall high school prospect over the past few years and offers the Rays a unique blend of polish and upside.

At the plate, Emerson is rhythmic and loose from the left side and makes a habit of living on the barrel. It’s a gap-to-gap approach at the moment, but perhaps no team is better at squeezing every ounce of pull-side juice from a hitter than Tampa, and Emerson could benefit immensely as a result.

Combine all this with Emerson’s ability to stick at shortstop, and you have the recipe for a top-three selection. For what it’s worth, I do expect the Rays to have some level of interest in Vahn Lackey here. – Conor

3. Minnesota Twins – C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech

Slot Value: $9,740,100

The Minnesota Twins have selected a college player with their last three first-round picks, and this trend looks like it won’t be broken in 2026, as Vahn Lackey makes a ton of sense with the third overall pick.

As one of the quickest risers in this year’s class, Lackey looks to boast defense capable of immediately being Gold Glove-caliber, along with the ability to make his presence known offensively through his power.

The Twins currently sit in an in-between stage, where they aren’t exactly rebuilding or contending, and Lackey could move quickly to help them sooner rather than later. With a higher floor than most, he’s an exciting prospect. If they go another direction, Jackson Flora is another player who could make sense with this pick. – Jay

4. San Francisco Giants – RHP Jackson Flora, UCSB

Slot Value: $8,988,400

This is likely where the draft starts to open up just a bit. The Giants have gone college with their top pick in the past two drafts, and while there are a few bats that make sense here, the Giants do have a lack of high-end pitching talent.

Jackson Flora has been unreal this spring, pitching to a sub-1.00 ERA with an expanded arsenal that includes a newly developed kick-change that has missed bats at a 47% clip this spring. Most expect Flora to go in the middle of the top 10, and while this is potentially on the higher end of the spectrum, it’s hard to pass up this kind of pitching talent.

It’s worth noting that Flora grew up in Pleasanton, located on the other side of the bay. This is likely the ceiling for a few prep bats, including Eric “EJ” Booth. – Tyler

5. Pittsburgh Pirates – 2B Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M

Slot Value: $8,336,500

Although the Pirates walked away from the draft lottery disappointed with their shift down to the number five spot, they’ll still be in a prime position to pick up an exciting college prospect capable of moving quickly through the minor leagues. Chris Hacopian is the perfect option for this, as he boasts an electric blend of power and bat-to-ball skills that few prospects in this class possess.

Hacopian can be a quick mover and start higher up in the system than most other prospects in this position, meaning he could be the perfect bat to supplement the Pirates’ electric pitching staff. Although it’s potentially more unlikely, Vahn Lackey would be a match made in heaven if he’s still on the board here, and Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia could also be a nice fit. – Jay

6. Kansas City Royals – RHP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina

Slot Value: $7,746,100

This will likely come as a shock to many, but even with Cameron Flukey’s stress fracture, it’s hard to assume his draft stock is volatile or in free fall. The back of his baseball card is still flush with impressive numbers, and while he may not reach the 250-inning plateau like Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns did, he’ll come close.

He has begun to incorporate his curveball more, and the polished strike-throwing is still there. It’s hard to believe he’ll fall very far, if at all, and our gut tells us this is a likely scenario if the Royals want to play with their pool and make a splash with their second pick at 30th overall. We are playing this mock based on that feeling. That said, keep an eye on the first prep arm coming off the board here, especially Gio Rojas and Brody Bumila. – Tyler

7. Baltimore Orioles – OF Sawyer Strosnider, Texas Christian

Slot Value: $7,327,200

In terms of pure athleticism and upside, TCU outfielder Sawyer Strosnider is one of the best players in the ’26 class and just feels like the type of college bat Mike Elias would covet with this pick.

Strosnider has seen his walk rate more than double in his sophomore season with the Horned Frogs while still boasting some of the top EV numbers in the entire class. There are some swing-and-miss concerns, but not enough to dampen the excitement of the overall profile in my eyes. The Texas native has manned right field next to fellow top-50 talent Chase Brunson, but deserves every opportunity to man center field at the next level. – Conor

8. The Athletics – OF AJ Gracia, Virginia

Slot Value: $6,982,600

The Athletics haven’t selected a prep prospect since Max Muncy in 2021, and this year will be no different, as they’ll land an electric college bat in AJ Gracia.

With a sweet, left-handed stroke that few in this class can match, Gracia possesses the ability to lift the ball consistently at the next level and potentially be the first piece in the A’s pursuit to build a competitive outfield for their next competitive core. They may be in a position where it makes the most sense to select the best player on the board, and Gracia could be this player if he doesn’t go sooner. If he’s on the board at number eight overall, Coastal Carolina RHP Cameron Flukey could be a nice fit as well. – Jay

9. Atlanta Braves – OF/LHP Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach (CA)

Slot Value: $6,675,300

Ever since Ronit Shah was promoted to director of amateur scouting in 2024, Atlanta has taken a high school player with their first selection. I don’t think they’ll be changing that stance.

A two-way reclass sensation, Jared Grindlinger offers significant intrigue. Serving as the youngest player on the 2025 18U National Team, he displays lively stuff on the mound, primarily with a low-90s four-seam and a mid-80s short action slider, posting absurd whiff rates.

Offensively, he has advanced barrel control with elite swing decisions and intriguing athleticism in the outfield. Other candidates with this pick include prep lefty Gio Rojas and in-state outfielder Drew Burress. – Peyton

10. Colorado Rockies – OF Eric “EJ” Booth, Oak Grove (MS)

Slot Value: $6,393,100

Despite being ineligible to pick higher than 10th following an abysmal ’25 campaign, Colorado would have to be elated with the prospect of adding a dynamic player like OF EJ Booth to their system. The Mississippi native is one of the best (and youngest) athletes in the class, routinely turning in double-plus run times.

A lot is going on with the swing mechanically, but there’s good strike zone judgment, and all of the noise has yet to prevent Booth from making tons of hard contact. The Rockies faithful would no doubt be ecstatic at the prospect of pairing Booth’s loud tools with 2025 first-rounder Ethan Holliday at the top of their farm system. – Conor

11. Washington Nationals – OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech

Slot Value: $6,133,500

Heading into this year’s college season, Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress looked like he could be in the running for one of the first three picks in the draft. However, Burress was going through a slump at the beginning of the season, and he’s likely slated to go somewhere around the 10th overall pick.

The Nationals have flip-flopped between prep prospects and college standouts over the last few years, and Burress could be the next player in this story. They’ve developed hitters similar to him quite well, and they could view his strong defense as something to fall back on in case Burress’ swing concerns bleed into professional baseball more heavily than anticipated. – Jay

12. Los Angeles Angels – C Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas

Slot Value: $5,889,300

Over the past few years, the Angels have been college-heavy with their top pick before reeling in a big fish on the prep scene later on. We believe that will continue in this draft, and while Logan Reddemann and Cameron Flukey make the most sense here, Ryder Helfrick has had a mammoth spring for the Razorbacks.

Helfrick is the best backstop in the draft outside of Vahn Lackey, possessing plus power with improved defense behind the dish. Our gut says he won’t make it past the 15th pick. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Angels take a prep pitcher that falls into their laps, either. – Tyler

13. St. Louis Cardinals – LHP Gio Rojas, Marjory Stoneman Douglas (FL)

Slot Value: $5,661,300

In a loaded high school pitching class, southpaw Gio Rojas has continued to outshine his counterparts, and there’s a good chance he’s the first prep pitcher off the board come July.

The current Miami commit’s 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame offers plenty of projection and an arsenal that features a fastball that has touched 98 with life at the top of the zone and a plus slider. Having seen Rojas last summer, I’m impressed with his mound presence and ability to battle opposing hitters while filling up the strike zone.

The Cardinals’ system has featured a ton of talented left-handed pitching in recent years, and Rojas would be another exciting southpaw addition. – Conor

14. Miami Marlins – SS Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (FL)

Slot Value: $5,444,900

In the past, we’ve stated our reservations about Jacob Lombard’s hit tool. However, the athleticism and tools are too loud to ignore. Lombard will have suitors in the top 10, and it’s very likely he doesn’t make it this far, but in this scenario, Miami stays close to home and takes Lombard.

With that said, the Marlins went all college a year ago. In an alternate scenario, they would love to snatch a falling talent like Justin Lebron at this selection. It’s similar tools to Lombard, even if there are rough edges to iron out at the next level. – Tyler

15. Arizona Diamondbacks – SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky

Slot Value: $5,241,000

The Diamondbacks have recently trended toward the plus athleticism profile with an advanced hit tool, hence Tommy Troy and Kayson Cunningham as examples, so Tyler Bell is a shoo-in here, being still available.

Though injured for a chunk of 2026 with a shoulder injury that will require surgery, Bell’s season has been fantastic with Kentucky. Posting a higher walk rate with lower chase and strikeout rates thus far, he gets on-base a ton from both sides of the dish while providing plus defense at the six. Other candidates with this pick include other shortstops Justin Lebron and Tyler Spangler. – Peyton

16. Texas Rangers – LHP Brody Bumila, Bishop Feenan (MA)

Slot Value: $5,051,900

The Rangers love guys with big extension traits, and Brody Bumila fits the bill. It’s a massive fastball from the left side that’s been up to 101 mph this spring, featuring seven feet of extension and insane spin rates. Simply put, you are not finding a fastball better than this at the amateur level currently.

The secondary offerings do lag behind the fastball quality, but his change-up flashes well, and it’s easier to teach guys to spin the baseball than it was a few years ago. It’s a high-upside pick, and the Rangers would be giddy to have him in their organization. – Tyler

17. Houston Astros – SS Justin Lebron, Alabama

Slot Value: $4,868,600

Justin Lebron falling to this spot was practically inconceivable heading into the spring, but continued struggles against SEC pitching this season have allowed questions about the hit tool to fester.

The swing-and-miss remains the biggest wart on the Bama shortstop’s profile, but there’s no denying that he’s still one of college baseball’s most dynamic talents from a raw tools standpoint. This pick would be an absolute coup for an Astros system currently lacking in up-the-middle infield talent. – Conor

18. Cincinnati Reds – SS Eric Becker, Virginia

Slot Value: $4,695,500

The Reds are known for going after up-the-middle athletes and pitchers with their selections. While we are entering a part of the draft that should have plenty of pitching talent available, it’s hard to ignore some of the college bats in these positions. Derek Curiel and Mason Edwards are two names that we considered heavily here.

However, Eric Becker has trended in the right direction as a defender at a keystone position, and it’s hard to ignore the track record with the bat. We believe that Cincinnati does like the profile quite a bit. – Tyler

19. Cleveland Guardians – LHP Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian (SC)

Slot Value: $4,530,500

The Guardians have done a good job of squeezing the most out of softer-throwing southpaws in recent drafts. However, Carson Bolemon would be the most polished one of the bunch. His track record is phenomenal, the strike-throwing is strong, and while he hasn’t taken the step forward we were expecting, he has a solid fastball with two above-average or better breaking balls. The mold here is insanely good.

Another arm that makes sense at this spot would be Logan Schmidt, a similarly-sized pitcher who plays off of deception and fastball strength. – Tyler

20. Boston Red Sox – LHP Cole Carlon, Arizona State

Slot Value: $4,373,900

The Red Sox are a mess at the big league level right now, but their pitching dev team continues to produce remarkable results from recent draft picks like Anthony Eyanson – and I’m tickled by the idea of them adding Arizona State southpaw Cole Carlon here.

In his first full season as a starter, Carlon has continued where he left off in 2025, armed with a lethal fastball-slider combo that has produced some absolutely absurd whiff rates. He’s already popped triple digits on the radar gun, and the release height makes the ball extremely tough for hitters to pick up. Boston would be as good a fit as you can dream up for the Sun Devil standout. – Conor

21. San Diego Padres – LHP Logan Schmidt, Ganesha (CA)

Slot Value: $4,224,700

If at any point you see us mock a college player to the Padres in the first round, just know that I’m being held hostage. Jokes aside, lefty Logan Schmidt certainly looks the part of a first-rounder with a durable frame, diverse arsenal, and some of the best strike-throwing ability in the class. Having re-classified from 2027, the California native won’t turn 18 until after the class, which should be another selling point for model-driven teams. – Conor

22. Detroit Tigers – SS Tyler Spangler, De La Salle (CA)

Slot Value: $4,082,700

Detroit has taken its fair share of prep hitters with its first-round picks in recent years. Of course, we can’t let it stop here, especially with a good selection of prep bats available at this stage.

Aiden Ruiz and James Clark make sense, but it’s hard to see Detroit passing up Tyler Spangler’s tools if he fell this far. Spangler has a clean swing with a sound approach, but needs refinement in terms of lifting the ball and creating more power. The team has done a good job of developing more power in bats like this over the years. – Tyler

23. Chicago Cubs – 3B/1B Ace Reese, Mississippi State

Slot Value: $3,947,600

Few hitters in this year’s draft possess power on the same level as Mississippi State infielder Ace Reese. His raw juice is so impressive, in fact, that he’s able to seemingly flick his hands at the baseball and still produce 400-foot homers at over 110 mph.

The Chicago Cubs have selected a college player with their last five first-round picks, and they’d be thrilled to add another one in Reese with this pick in the draft. He’s someone who could play quite well in Chicago, as his electric power could get another boost on any day the wind blows out in Wrigley Field. Reese could climb through the minor leagues quickly and become a fun prospect in the near future. – Jay

24. Seattle Mariners – RHP Cade Townsend, Mississippi

Slot Value: $3,818,700

Selecting SEC arms with their first pick in each of the last two drafts, let’s make it three for the Seattle Mariners. Cade Townsend looks every bit the part of a slam-dunk first-round talent, possessing arguably the best overall arsenal in the class. A five-pitch mix with distinct shapes and plus command across the board, Townsend would fit seamlessly into Seattle’s system.

Young for the class, his feel for pitching far exceeds his age, consistently working east-west while manipulating shapes and locations at an advanced level. The idea of the Mariners’ staff with both Kade Anderson and Cade Townsend in the future is quite salivating. Other candidates with this pick include right-handers Liam Peterson and Joseph Contreras. – Peyton

25. Milwaukee Brewers – OF Derek Curiel, Louisiana State

Slot Value: $3,696,000

This is a nice spot in the first round for Derek Curiel, a well-known outfield prospect since his prep days in California, who has emerged as a key contributor for the Tigers over the past two seasons.

It remains to be seen how much power Curiel grows into at the next level, but at the very least, the bat-to-ball skills give him one of the higher floors in the class. Milwaukee would be wise to add an advanced bat to the system that should soon see the emergence of young stars like Jesús Made and Cooper Pratt. – Conor

26. Atlanta Braves – RHP/1B Coleman Borthwick, South Walton (FL)

Slot Value: $3,578,800

Atlanta has never had this high a bonus pool since this MLB slotting system began in 2013. Because of this, it’s hard to think the Braves won’t take advantage and double-dip in the high school crop.

Coleman Borthwick has had quite the recent calendar year, from being named WBSC U-18 World Cup MVP to hitting 100 mph on the mound earlier this spring. It’s a strong, built frame with an imposing mound presence, moving really well down the slope while showing the ability to spin the baseball at a high level.

The South Walton product has been surging up boards as of late, and Atlanta would welcome him with open arms. Other candidates with this pick include right-hander Joseph Contreras and southpaw Hunter Dietz. – Peyton

27. New York Mets – LHP Mason Edwards, Southern California

Slot Value: $3,466,500

The Mets have valued up-the-middle positions in recent drafts under David Stearns, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see that trend continue. However, with how dominant Mason Edwards has been this year, it’s hard to pass him up.

Edwards paces the country in strikeouts, and he’s on pace to shatter Mark Prior’s K/9 single-season record at USC. The angles he generates significantly aid his arsenal, and his secondary offerings have whiff rates north of 60% on the season. It’s May 11. Getting a talent like this would be a big deal, especially given how the Mets have developed pitching in recent years. – Tyler

28. Houston Astros – RHP Logan Reddemann, UCLA

Slot Value: $3,363,600

One of the biggest risers and more complete pitchers in this class, Logan Reddemann’s floor would be in this area of the draft.

The Astros do have quite a bit of draft capital to play with this year, and while they went with Xavier Neyens a year ago, Reddemann offers monetary savings and a quick-rising pitcher who is closer to their ceiling. He has pitched himself into the first round with an uptick in fastball velocity, the emergence of a bullet breaking ball in the upper-80s, and impressive strike-throwing. It’s a high-floor arm that should have a solid career as a starter. – Tyler

29. San Francisco Giants – OF Blake Bowen, JSerra Catholic (CA)

Slot Value: $3,270,200

By sending baseball’s best defensive catcher to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for this pick, the Giants clearly aren’t making the move simply to add another guy to the farm. Instead, San Francisco adds another $3.27 million in bonus pool space, making Blake Bowen an extremely sensible target if he remains on the board (especially given his West Coast ties).

Bowen has undeniable raw power and a plus arm in the outfield while posting some of the highest bat speed velocities in the class. The 6-foot-3 outfielder will absolutely get a shot to start defensively in center, with his arm talent allowing him to slide over to a corner down the road. Other candidates with this pick include preps, Connor Comeau and Archer Horn. – Peyton

30. Kansas City Royals – LHP Sean Duncan, Terry Fox Secondary (BC)

Slot Value: $3,190,500

The Royals landed one of my favorite preps in the 2025 class, infielder Josh Hammond, and added one of my favorite preps at pick 30 of this mock with Canadian lefty Sean Duncan.

Duncan has tons of projection left in his 6-foot-3 frame and has already performed well against premium competition on the summer circuit. He can fill up the strike zone and repeats his delivery well, with arm speed that could point to further velo gains down the line. – Conor

31. Arizona Diamondbacks – RHP Joseph Contreras, Blessed Trinity Catholic (GA)

Slot Value: $3,118,300

Since we are considering draft strategies in this mock draft, the Diamondbacks likely save some money with Tyler Bell. In this case, the team can take a shot at a big prep arm, and we’ve gone with Joseph Contreras in this situation.

There’s big league bloodlines, and Contreras has pitched on the international stage, performing admirably for Team Brazil against a stacked Team USA lineup in March. Contreras has been in the upper-90s for the better part of a year now, and his deathball slider and forkball are devastating offerings. – Tyler

32. St. Louis Cardinals – OF Logan Hughes, Texas Tech

Slot Value: $3,044,600

Logan Hughes is one of the more complete offensive bats in this class, and yet it feels like he’s not talked about enough. He’s slugging the baseball more this spring, plus his walk rate has skyrocketed.

Hughes likely has suitors higher in the first round, and this selection likely signals the floor of his range in this draft. He’s a surefire first-rounder with teams throughout the twenties hoping for his services. – Tyler

33. Tampa Bay Rays – SS Archer Horn, St. Ignatius Prep (CA)

Slot Value: $2,970,200

The Rays love their shortstops. This is likely an outlandish scenario where they double down on prep shortstops, though they do have the second-highest bonus pool in this class at just over $19 million.

Stanford commits are notoriously difficult to sign away from school, but Archer Horn has been a big riser this spring and looks to be a priority for teams. If it’s not Horn here, expect a prep arm to be the likely pick here. – Tyler

34. Pittsburgh Pirates – RHP Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee

Slot Value: $2,897,400

Since Ben Cherington took the helm as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020, the club has selected a starting pitcher with its second pick in the draft just one time. This year, the trend continues with Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns.

With his fastball and curveball both flashing plus potential at the next level, and the fact that he’s finally shown willingness to throw his slider a bit more, Kuhns could quickly become dangerous with the Pirates’ pitching development.

If the Pirates elect to go with a bat, catcher Will Brick, or another big-time prep prospect could make sense due to their savings from taking Chris Hacopian fifth overall. – Jay

35. New York Yankees – RHP Liam Peterson, Florida

Slot Value: $2,826,700

This is likely an unrealistic scenario, but we struggled to find a good fit for Liam Peterson in this mock. Simply put, the stuff is loud, but the command is not. There’s a good likelihood that he falls somewhere in the latter half of the top 20, though when discussing his outlook, we worry that there’s a bit more reliever risk involved.

Enter the Yankees. The team has done an excellent job at developing arms in recent years, especially when you look at Cam Schlittler, Elmer Rodríguez, and others. Unlocking more command would fulfill Peterson’s upside, which is substantial given the pitch shapes and velocity (already up to 101 mph). – Tyler

36. Philadelphia Phillies – LHP Hunter Dietz, Arkansas

Slot Value: $2,758,800

Double-dipping in the Arkansas cheese dip, the Phillies go back and grab an exciting southpaw in Hunter Dietz. He’s been in the race for the top southpaw in this class for a while now, and while the track record isn’t as lengthy as his peers, the angle he creates allows his breaking pitches to be absolutely devastating. The fastball has reached into the upper-90s, too.

If the Phillies opt out of having cheese dip, there’s a good chance they’ll target one of the top prep arms left in the scene. – Tyler

37. Colorado Rockies – OF Aiden Robbins, Texas

Slot Value: $2,696,700

Aiden Robbins has continued to surge up draft boards since the fall, and this fit in a hitter-friendly environment makes a ton of sense. He brings an aggressive offensive approach that has produced against both left- and right-handed pitching, with many evaluators believing the bat will translate well at the professional level. While he’s likely destined for a corner outfield role long term, the offensive upside is difficult to overlook.

The Colorado Rockies have consistently targeted collegiate outfielders early in recent drafts, making Robbins a natural fit at this spot. Other candidates with this pick include fellow college outfielders Zion Rose and Caden Sorrell. – Peyton

38. Colorado Rockies – 3B Bo Lowrance, Christ Church Episcopal (SC)

Slot Value: $2,633,100

Bo Lowrance has put together a monster senior spring in South Carolina, and considering the Rockies’ bonus pool, it would make sense for them to target a powerful left-handed bat that would pepper the grandstands in right field.

The hit tool has been very good, as well. The projection and ability to handle the hot corner add to the upside. It would be a fun fit for Lowrance, though it’s likely that he’ll have suitors much higher than this. – Tyler

39. Toronto Blue Jays – SS Connor Comeau, Anderson (TX)

Slot Value: $2,571,500

One year after the Jays selected a projectable prep infielder in JoJo Parker, they return to the well with another projectable left-handed bat in Texas infielder Connor Comeau.

Comeau has enjoyed a steady rise up boards throughout the spring and shows good bat-to-ball and strike zone awareness, with more power likely on its way. He’s on the younger side for the class, which should entice model-heavy teams if they deem Comeau signable away from his current commitment to Texas A&M.

For what it’s worth, there is a Canadian connection here, too, as Comeau has ties to Montreal through his family. – Conor

40. Los Angeles Dodgers – C Will Brick, Christian Brothers Academy (TN)

Slot Value: $2,504,200

The Dodgers will be picking with the smallest bonus pool in this year’s draft. They have just two Day 1 picks, which will unlock unique pathways to handing out their money this summer. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Dodgers attempt to snag a big fish early, especially since their next pick won’t be until the fourth round, which links them to a prep player.

Sifting through our options led to Will Brick, a reclassified catcher from Memphis, TN. Yes, prep catchers are a risky demographic, but Brick is a surefire backstop with a bazooka behind the dish, and an approach change could help him unlock more power with solid bat-to-ball skills already present. – Tyler