Mock Draft 1.0
With less than 2 months until the MLB Draft, might be a good time to drop some names to follow. This is a deep draft due to the shortened 2020 one, basically has the talent of 2.5 classes. Some (rich) teams might even consider blowing past their draft budgets, but I don't think this will ultimately happen, but might.
Here's my CLE 1.0 mock for discussion with some of my early targets:
23 CF Will Taylor (HS): multi sport talent, 70 speed, good contact, celebral and athletic type with lots of upside left
58: SS Edwin Arroyo (HS): very young/class, switch hitter, good defense, speed, plus arm, contact, unlocked power, a bit of everything. Oh and high effort "dynamo" type = CLE pick.
Taylor/Arroyo combo could be switched, depending on signing bonus demands. Expect below slot at 23 and over in rd 2.
69: LHP Andrew Abbott (Virginia): RP/SP tweener with good FB/CB combo, could move quickly as a reliever like Sandlin or developed as SP. Under slot here to get the HS picks signed.
95: SS Noah Miller (HS): Owen's bro, switch hitter, contact heavy profile like his bro with better chance to stick at SS
125 RHP Landon Marceaux (LSU): probably already off the board here, could be the CLE pick at 95 with Miller here. Command over stuff, undersized, but mechanically strong, good balanced arsenal with excellent performance track record in best conference. Your CLE college SP pick.
5th CF/2B Tyler McDonough (NC St): Always draft a college CF in rd 5 and he's the one I want. Another switch hitter, balanced profile, strong OBP profile with improved power.
6th C Charlie Saum (HS): over slot HS pick here, could be switched with N. Miller. Strong D and arm, lock to remain a C with chance for avg bat. Very very young/class too. Alternatively C Shane Mcguire (San Diego), if there's not enough budget to pull off those 4 HS picks.
7th RHP Trenton Denholm (UC Irvine): Would be a massive steal here, but combination of deep class and down season could flush him. Alternatively: RHP Zach Pettway, UCLA. Command over stuff with strong track record in major conference.
8th 1B Thomas Francisco (East Carolina): CLE will never draft a college 1B for some strange reason, despite the best HS 1B talents always going to college. Just draft Francisco please, he's got the contact to make the power work. I screamed for Nat Lowe for rounds, Francisco has similar profile. Wouldn't mind drafting him from 4th rd on.
9th RHP Tanner Bibee (UCSB): Gotta draft a Gaucho arm. Track record, arsenal, nothing flashy, but gets outs.
10th OF Blake Dunn (Western Michigan): injury discount on mid rd talent.