Adley Rutschman
Oregon State C
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: Rutschman is more cemented into the No. 1 overall prospect slot than Florida righthander Brady Singer was at this time last year. And there’s as much consensus among teams in mid-December with Rutschman being the 1-1 favorite as there was with Auburn righthander Casey Mize at the midway point of the 2018 college season.
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Bobby Witt Jr.
Coleyville (Texas) Heritage High School SS
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: 2019 seems to be a good year to pick No. 2, as the Royals could happily select Witt, who has the tools, pedigree and performance that would make him the No. 1 favorite in other drafts. Last month, Witt led Team USA’s 18U team in hitting as the club won gold in the COPABE Pan-Am Championships in Panama.
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Andrew Vaughn
California 1B
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: The White Sox have drafted college prospects with each of their last six first-round selections. After taking the best college hitter in 2018 in Nick Madrigal, the White Sox could do it again with Vaughn, who has a case as the best combination of both hitting ability and power in the draft class.
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Riley Greene
Hagerty HS, Oviedo, Fla. OF
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: While the White Sox have leaned towards the college ranks, Miami has preferred high school prospects with its last five first-round picks. A bat-first corner outfielder, most of Greene’s value comes from his offensive production, but he hits for average and power and is the best hitter in the 2019 prep class.
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C.J. Abrams
Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, Ga. SS
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: It wouldn’t be shocking to see Abrams off the board before No. 5, given his elite speed, contact ability and defensive potential up the middle. Given the state of Detroit’s rebuild, taking a shot on a high-upside, lefthanded hitter with dynamic leadoff abilities could be smart.
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Corbin Carroll
Lakeside HS, Seattle OF
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: Like the Marlins, the Padres have frequently gone to the high school ranks at the top of the draft. Carroll has a hit tool that challenges Greene’s, with the added bonus of plus speed that should allow him to profile as a center fielder moving forward.
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Shea Langeliers
Baylor C
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: Langeliers could easily be off the board at this point, considering his status as the No. 3 college prospect in the class. The Reds routinely go best player available and Langeliers’ has an all-around skill set and no glaring weaknesses in his game. Outside of position, that sounds a lot like Reds 2018 first-round pick Jonathan India.
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Jerrion Ealy
Jackson (Miss.) Prep HS OF
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: Perhaps the biggest reach on the board to this point, Ealy fits the profile of many Rangers first-round prospects in that sense that he’s overflowing with tools. There is some risk here, as Ealy is a four-star running back committed to play football and baseball at Mississippi, but he has plus speed, plus raw power and plus arm strength. He shares some similarities with 2017 Rangers first-round pick Bubba Thompson (who also played football at a high level) but with a better feel for getting the barrel on the ball.
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Graeme Stinson
Duke LHP
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: No team develops and drafts arms like the Braves, so let's give them the first pitcher off the board. There are a pair of big-time prep righthanders who could make sense in Brennan Malone and Daniel Espino, but it also seems hard for a college lefthander with Stinson’s size and stuff to not go inside the top 10 of this draft. Atlanta’s last five first-round selections have all been pitchers, and going back to 2009 the Braves have had 10 first-round picks—nine of which were pitchers.
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Josh Jung
Texas Tech 3B
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: This could be low for Jung, who has hit .350/.445/.549 with 18 home runs in two seasons with Texas Tech. If he posts another stellar offensive campaign as a junior, it’s easy to see him going off the board earlier than this. But San Francisco might be happy to get a pair of elite college bats in back-to-back drafts among the top-10 picks.
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Will Holland
Auburn SS
Notes:
Why It Makes Sense: The Blue Jays have selected shortstops with their first picks in each of the last two drafts, and that should be a position of strength for the 2019 class. Holland has solid power for his size and plus running ability, and he’s coming off of a strong sophomore season in which he hit .313/.406/.530 with 12 home runs at Auburn. He also had a loud summer in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .341/.431/.432 in 13 games before leaving with a wrist injury.