#1) Kansas City Royals - SP Alfonso Predrasa
The Royals are a team that has a few outstanding hitting prospects and it is clear that they should take an SP here. Predrasa is the SP in the draft with the most potential, and even though it may be 2014 before he can pitch, once he arrives, he should be a treat to watch.
#2) San Diego Padres - SP Brian Colley
San Diego is in the same boat as the Royals. They are a rebuilding team with some solid hitting prospects, but lack a strong SP prospect. I actually think that Colley might go first and Pedrasa second, but it all depends on what the GM sees. Colley has more endurance and power, and his fastball should be filthy in a few years, but he lacks a strong secondary pitch, and it will be up to him to pick up an out-pitch in the minor leagues.
#3) Washington Nationals - 3B Tim Perrin
Washington is a rebuilding team but when you take a look at their farm system on paper, they don't seem to have many stand out prospects at all. You wonder what direction this team will go in during the next few years. I think they will take Perrin with the 3 pick however, because he is the best overall position player in the draft, and their SP specs are better than their hitters. Perrin will be a guy who will hit the ball and play the field well. He also has the shortest MLB ETA of any position player in the draft that is on his level.
#4) Los Angeles Angels - SP Donovan Pace
Pace is a perfect fit for the Angels. They already have a pretty good core of hitting prospects, so there is no real need to take a position player with the 4 pick. Pace should be a guy that ends up with great vitals in all three categories, and will form a strong rotation with Saito and Kohn in the future.
#5) Baltimore Orioles - 1B Reid Rourke
The Orioles should go into this draft trying to pick up a 1B or a middle IF. They have solid SP specs, not to mention Matusz and Zambrano, and they also have potential all-star prospects at C, 3B, and OF. Rourke is a good pick here because he is a guy that is going to drive the ball and knock in runs, and the Orioles could always use him as a DH too.
#6) Houston Astros - SP Gustavo Gazivoda
Houston has solid prospects all around, and if I were them, I would go into this draft taking the best value at the 6 pick. Gazivoda is a guy that will be a huge strikeout pitcher, and if he can't work into the future Astros rotation, he can certainly draw a good package in a trade.
#7) Florida Marlins - 1B Ron Reinheart
Reinheart is the best option for Florida here. They have one of the best young rotations in baseball and there is no need to draft pitching. Their lineup already has solid pieces, and for their holes, they have prospects that will be ready soon. The only hole they don't have taken care of is 1B. Reinheart will be a good power hitter and will hit in the 3 or 4 spot to knock in all the contact batters on the Marlins. Also, he could be MLB ready as early as the start of 2012.
#8) Toronto Blue Jays - SS Jeff Wilkinson
Toronto has been in search of a middle infielder all season, and even if they find a short term option, Wilkinson is a good pick here as he could be a long term player for them. They lack a good middle IF prospect, and Wilkinson will be able to play either 2B or SS well and also bring a good bat on top of it.
#9) Pittsburgh Pirates - LF Agustin Verero
With the recent Andrew McCutchen trade, the Pirates picked up three solid SP specs to go along with Alderson, so there is no need to draft pitching here. They lost McCutchen though, who was a solid outfielder. Verero is a good pick here because he looks like he will be an all around outfielder in the future, and also may be the best available player left at this point.
#10) Detroit Tigers - 1B Paul Wood
The Tigers will likely take a hitter with this pick due to the fact that they have great pitching. Paul Wood is one of the best pure hitters in the draft and having him and Lars Anderson together in a few years (one at 1B, other at DH) should make a solid middle of the lineup.
#11) New York Mets - SP Mark White
This starting pitcher is a 16 year old kid that is still years away from the MLB. I think the Mets will take him here though because they already have a ton of prospects that are close to MLB ready and their current MLB team is pretty good. White has a good 3-5 years to throw in the minors, and the Mets are the type of team that can afford to take a chance and see what happens with him and his upside in the future.
#12) Seattle Mariners - SP Edgar Vaio
The Mariners could use a hitting prospect here as their lineup is good, but getting old. What they need even more, however, is pitching depth. Behind Lee and King Felix, it seems that there is virtually no standouts on the pitching staff, and even for the future there are only two guys that have potential to be very effective in the rotation. Edgar Vaio is a good pick because he will be a huge control pitcher and should put up a low ERA, which will win him alot of games, especially with Seattle's strong hitting.
#13) Texas Rangers - SS George Marshland
I definitely think that Texas will go with a hitter here. They have enough good pitching and won't get as good of a value taking a pitcher. Marshland is ideal to replace Michael Young in the next few years as he is already close to being MLB ready. He actually seems to be alot like Young. He will be able to play the whole infield with good defense, and should also develop an above average bat to go along with it.
#14) Arizona Diamondbacks - SS Damien Boettcher
The Diamondbacks have a pretty solid team on both ends, and I see them going with best overall value here. If they don't decide to jump on one of the two solid relievers, they will take a hitter. Boettcher is good for them because with guys like Jackson, Upton, and Cogwill, there is no need for an OF. Boettcher will be able to play good ball in the future in case something happens to Drew or Johnson, who are not as good as Arizona's outfield.
#15) St. Louis Cardinals - SP Brian Quammen
I think that the Cardinals will definitely go with a SP here. Quammen should be the best option for them at this point in the draft. They have very little SP depth, especially in their farm system. Quammen will take a few years in the minors, but he should be ready to go by the time Carpenter is done.
#16) Chicago Cubs - RF Dave Cardigan
Cardigan is the perfect pick here. Both of the Cubs corner outfielders, Fukudome and Matsui, are getting up there in age. The Cubs can get a future replacement for them by drafting Cardigan here as he will be a solid corner outfielder, and at the 16th pick, he will be a great value.
#17) Oakland Athletics - RP Roy Beeman
Oakland has solid young players at virtually every position on their team. There is no need for them to draft for position in this draft. Beeman will likely be available at this point because many GM's don't like to draft RP in the first round, but I think if the Athletics can grab Beeman at 17, they should do it. He has the potential to be a shutdown closer in as little as 3 years.
#18) Chicago White Sox - C Anton Munsky
The White Sox are in need of a Catcher and Munsky could be the perfect option. If he is available at this point, they will most likely pick him. They have other holes, but none are really that bad. The catcher position is the most obvious one on their team and I see them taking either Munsky or the other good catcher Mark Jolley.
#19) Philadelphia Phillies - SP James RoyThe Phillies have plenty of powerful hitting prospects, so I definately think they will take the pitching route here. Roy is a good option for them as they do not need an immediate contributor, and he has plenty of time to get more upside.
#20) Tampa Bay Rays - RP Manny MarioWith plenty of young studs in their farm system, hitting and pitching wise, I think the Rays will grab their future closer with this pick. This kid is only 16 years old, and from the looks of it, he could be an MLB closer before he turns 20. He has a great fastball and will most likely add a third out pitch. He should develop into a great closer or setup man.
#21) Cleveland Indians - 3B Elliott Klousia
This pick is a toss up. The Indians have no holes that they really need filled as they have strong young pitching to go along with a powerful lineup that is dangerous from the first batter to the last. They could draft anyone they wanted at this point. I think they will go with the best hitter available at this point due to their thinness of hitting prospects. Klousia will likely be the best hitter in the draft at the 21st pick and the Indians will likely take him.
#22) Milwaukee Brewers - RP Dave HechtThe Brewers, like the Indians, are a solid team all around and could draft anyone they wanted. I am almost positive they will not draft a hitter, especially with the recent acquisition of Andrew McCutchen in which they lost 3 good SP specs. They have enough other SP specs to afford that deal, however, and an RP at the 22 pick is the best option for them. Hecht is your classic closer. He has a good fastball, a curve, and a change. He should be able to use all 3 pitches well in the future and will help Milwaukee close out games.
#23) San Francisco Giants - CF Denis OtegaThe Giants lack a true center fielder, and Otega is just that. He has speed, good fielding, and an above average bat. He will be ready to play in just a couple years and should do a good job leading off for them. If he isn't available here, there are 2 other good CF options, and I think the Giants will take one of them.
#24) Atlanta Braves - RP Chris Thurston
Atlanta has expressed their need for relief pitching, and they feel if Mario, Beeman, and Hecht are all taken at this point, that Thurston is their best option. He will likely end up with great vitals, and should be a good setup man for Craig Kimbrell in the future. Depending on the situation, however, the Braves have also said they may decide to take a hitter if a good value is on the board.
#25) New York Yankees - 3B Tim ScarlettThis guy will almost definitely get drafted by an American League team. He has a great bat, but has very low range and a weak arm for a third basemen. His ideal situation in the future is becoming a DH, and this is very possible in the future, especially with their aging team.
#26) Colorado Rockies - 1B Jamie BarnwellThe Rockies don't need much. They have a good lineup and a good pitching staff, along with a pretty stacked farm system. However, Tim Helton is getting old, and they lack a true 1B. Barnwell is a good choice here because he provides an above average glove and also a good bat. He should fit in well with the Rockies.
#27) Boston Red Sox - SP Cory Thomas
Boston could use another good SP prospect, and Thomas is a solid guy. He has 4 pitches he uses, and it seems that by the time he peaks out, he will have some great vitals. Thomas might go earlier, but if he is available here, look for Boston to pick him up here.
#28) Los Angeles Dodgers - RP Calogero Nanarro
It only makes sense for the Dodgers to go with a relief pitcher here. Their rotation is full of young guys who are solid pitchers, and their lineup is also very deep. They certainly have no need for a hitter here, so they will either go with a starting pitcher or a reliever, and I would imagine they take the reliever.
#29) Cincinnati Reds - C Mark Jolley
The Reds have recently announced that they are in rebuilding mode. It is not a terrible idea, as they have a good core of young hitters and pitchers to work around. One thing that they are badly missing, however, is a catcher. Jolley should develop into a good catcher with good vitals all around. I think he has potential for more upside, considering he is only 18. He may peak out around 88, and for a catcher, that is not bad at all. Jolley would definitely be a good pick for Cincy at 29.
#30) Minnesota Twins - RP David McGregor
Joe Nathan has declined, badly, and the Twins are in desperate need of a guy that can shut guys down in the 9th such as Nathan did for many years. McGregor may take a few years of work, but he has the skills to be a very good closer, and i wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Twins take him here. I also have a feeling that they could take RP Ivan Cruz with this pick, who has a little less potential, but could be ready much quicker.
Outstanding!!! 2M for this one
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