Yesterday, our good friend Jim Callis posted his updated Mock Draft on MLB.com. There are good tidbits of information from teams in their thinking if the draft were this upcoming weekend. We still have a month to go, though, and situations are very fluid. College baseball heads into Super Regionals this weekend, and based on performances during Regionals; some players are moving slightly up or down draft boards.
To help myself, I went through the process of creating a second mock draft. The new challenge covering the draft is entering a dead period with many prospects seasons over. Ultimately, I think it’s good to review a prospect’s body of work thoroughly rather than continue watching them play after being drafted. This upcoming month will be more analysis on who I think would be good first-round targets for the Chicago White Sox at Pick 22.
Going through the mock draft process helps me whittle that list down. Below are my picks and thoughts.
MOCK DRAFT 2.0
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Jordan Lawler, SS, Jesuit Prep HS (TX)I believe it's either Jordan Lawler or Marcelo Mayer going #1 in 2021 as Ben Cherington begins his rebuild process.
- Texas Rangers: Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt
- Detroit Tigers: Henry Davis, C, LouisvilleI think the Tigers in this scenario could go with either Mayer or Henry Davis. I went with Davis as he’s the more polished bat and has a better chance of rising through the system to join Spencer Torkelson in what the Tigers hope is a position player wave of talent to go along with their young pitchers.
- Boston Red Sox: Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS (CA)
- Baltimore Orioles: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Kahlil Watson, SS, Wake Forest HS (NC)Kahlil Watson is a name to watch as his stock continues to rise. Some think Watson could be selected second overall by Texas.
- Kansas City Royals: Brady House, SS, Winder-Barrow HS (GA)Brady House becomes the Royals third baseman of the future as it’s pretty clear that Bobby Witt Jr. will handle shortstop duties 2022 and beyond.
- Colorado Rockies: Jackson Jobe, RHP, Heritage Hall (OK)
- Los Angeles Angels: Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee (GA)Bubba Chandler could be a two-way player. He could also be the starting QB for Clemson in a year or two. I’ve been told the Angels are big on Chandler, but it’s unknown how serious he is about playing football at Clemson. Something to monitor.
- New York Mets: Ty Madden, RHP, Texas
- Washington Nationals: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb (GA)There’s speculation that Harry Ford could go as high as fifth overall to Baltimore. Some think we could see the first five picks be prep players. That would significantly impact teams draft plans, especially Arizona who could have Jack Leiter fall into their lap in that scenario.
- Seattle Mariners: Matt McLain, SS, UCLA
- Philadelphia Phillies: Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College
- San Francisco Giants: Sam Bachman, RHP, Miami (OH)Sam Bachman has the velocity to pull off a Garrett Crochet and join a big league club in contention needing help out of the bullpen.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State
- Miami Marlins: Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian HS (FL)
- Cincinnati Reds: Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State
- St. Louis Cardinals: Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss
- Toronto Blue Jays: Ryan Cusick, RHP, Wake Forest
- New York Yankees: Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land HS (PA)
- Chicago Cubs: Will Taylor, OF, Dutch Fork HS (SC)One name to monitor for picks 15 - 21 is prep shortstop Carson Williams. This collection of picks is difficult to sort through. Lots of noise and may be that way on draft day.
- Chicago White SoxLooking at the draft board, I see a few options for the White Sox.A) Adrian Del Castillo, C, Miami: Preseason Top-10 pick, Adrian Del Castillo’s stock dropped as he only hit .275/.380/.395 with just three home runs in 2021. There should be more power in the bat like he displayed his Freshman and Sophomore season. For whatever reason, we didn’t see that in 2021. There are some questions if Del Castillo can stick at catcher, but the White Sox showed patience with Zack Collins as he continues to develop defensively. Good catchers are tough to find, and the White Sox, just like all teams, need more depth at the position. Del Castillo would be the best of the bunch at this pick.B) Jud Fabian, OF, Florida: As I wrote last week about Jud Fabian, the strikeouts are a considerable concern. In Regionals, Fabian went 0-for-8 with three strikeouts as the Gators were embarrassed exiting the postseason early. His power and ability to play CF will make teams dream there’s a high-ish ceiling for Fabian, but I’m skeptical he’ll come close to reaching it if he doesn’t develop a better sense of pitch recognition.C) Colson Montgomery, SS, Southridge HS (IN): By far the most rumored name attached to the White Sox first-round selection. Prep Baseball Report has Montgomery ranked #29 best prep player in this year’s draft and sixth-best prep SS. When speaking to scouts who saw Montgomery during the Summer showcase circuit, they all agree that at 6’4” 180 lbs, Montgomery could add more to his body frame. Perhaps adding 20 lbs would allow him to reach some untapped power in his swing, and it’s enough to stick at third base if needed. Montgomery played on the White Sox Area Code team, so the scouting department knows him well. D) Peyton Stovall, SS/2B, Haughton HS (LA): Just like Montgomery, Peyton Stovall has an impressive swing from the left side. A gap-to-gap approach, Stovall posted exit velocities of 94 mph during the Summer showcases. Most have a projection of Stovall being a second baseman as his throwing arm is not as strong as other prep shortstop’s, but he has an accurate, quick release playing at second base. Stovall is an Arkansas commit, which is something to consider when discussing draft bonuses of what it would take to buy out that commitment.E) Izaac Pacheco, 3B, Friendship HS (TX): I’ve been on the Pacheco bandwagon for a while. I’m mesmerized by his power potential and think Pacheco could be a 25+ home run a year type of hitters in the majors. He won’t stick at shortstop, which is the position he currently plays in high school. Most likely will move over to third base, or a team could give right field a shot to add some position flexibility. Pacheco’s bat is the get here, and the White Sox could use some more power in their system.
22) Chicago White Sox: Colson Montgomery, SS, Southridge HS (IN)
Out of these five players, I think the White Sox would take Colson Montgomery, who is most likely to stick at shortstop compared to Stovall and Pacheco. The college bats available have big holes in their game, and I’m not hearing college pitchers attached to the White Sox in the first round. The farm system needs younger, better talent to develop, and Montgomery would be a good fit.
- Cleveland Indians: Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland HS (NJ)
- Atlanta Braves: Ethan Wilson, OF, South Alabama
- Oakland Athletics: Jud Fabian, OF, Florida
- Minnesota Twins: Will Bednar, RHP, Mississippi State
- San Diego Padres: Anthony Solometo, LHP, Bishop Eustace (NJ)
- Tampa Bay Rays: Josh Hartle, LHP, Reagan HS (NC)
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Izaac Pacheco, 3B, Friendswood HS (TX)
- Cincinnati Reds: Michael McGreevy, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
