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We are just a day a away from learning who the White Sox will make the overall No. 1 pick. But we couldn’t let that happen without tapping the esteemed Reacts voting bloc weigh in. And among the trio of Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson and Vahn Lackey there was a clear favorite … position, that is:

What’s interesting is that although White Sox scouts are said to favor Emerson and the front office prefers Lackey, Cholowsky as the presumptive No. 1 has remained so in the majority of mock drafts. Thus our voting base is going with the favorite, and as the most “known” quantity of the three Cholowsky could very well be the pick.

For the record, Brett’s vote went to Vahn Lackey.

Otherwise, the national survey questions involved a sort of mid-year awards preview. At least one name — Shohei Ohtani — was expected. But there are no White Sox bandied about in the mix (heck, if there was a Rookie of the Year poll Munetaka Murakami might have even slipped out of consideration given his missing the past six weeks), so let’s just flop all the surveys at you in sequence:

At least there’s a former White Sox in the mix, however impossible his chances.

Did you miss out on this round of questions? No worry, sign up here to participate in our weekly emailed surveys, and have your White Sox voice be heard!

This week’s Reacts is brought to you by FanDuel.

Day One of the MLB Draft is Saturday July 11th (1pm ET; 12pm CT) on NBC, Peacock, and MLB Network, and will be rounds 1 through 4. Day Two (rounds 5-20) is on MLB.com at 11:30am ET; 10:30am CT. Don’t expect to hear any of these names on Day One, but here are the current players I expect to get drafted at some point before round 20 wraps up.

*Note: Coverage of this years draft will be, in a word, weird. Best to just paste in this nonsense here:

Saturday, July 11: Rounds 1-4

• 1:00-2:30 p.m. – Picks 1-10 (NBC and Peacock)

• 2:30-4:30 p.m. – Picks 11-40 (MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+)

• 4:30-7:45 p.m. – Picks 41-135 (MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+)

Sunday, July 12: Rounds 5-20

• 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+)

Anyway… onto the draft preview:

*Note: Like the past two years, there are no current Diamond Dores players either I or any draftnik project to be first rounders. This is a problem, but I would be pretty shocked if Brodie Johnston isn’t a first rounder next year.

Current Players Who May Hear Their Names Called on Day One (Rounds 1-4):

Very likely none, though I could see Holcomb in round 4 as a possibility.

Current Players Who May Hear Their Names Called on Day Two (Rounds 5-20):

#26 Jr. OF Braden “The Hulk” Holcomb

2026 Stats: .352/.434/.621 with 19 2B, 403B, 14 HR, 54 RBI and 6-8 steals.

Here’s his MLB.com scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Though Holcomb was an all-state tight end at Foundation Academy (Winter Garden, Fla.), he preferred to use his physicality on the diamond. He spurned interest from pro teams out of high school to attend Vanderbilt, and he was the Commodores’ best hitter (.352/.434/.621) this spring. There aren’t many college players who can match his size (6-foot-5, 245 pounds) or history of playing five different positions.

Holcomb’s strength gives him well-above-average raw power, and he can drive the ball out of the park to all fields from the right side of the plate. But he doesn’t maximize his pop because he’s way too aggressive, chasing all types of pitches, struggling to make contact on offerings on and off the plate and not catching up to quality velocity. He has 30-homer ceiling but has slugged just .388 with wood bats in two seasons in the Cape Cod League and might not make enough contact to do damage in the Majors.

Holcomb has sneaky athleticism with average speed, and he’ll flash solid run times and steal bases on occasion. He covers enough ground to get the job done on the outfield corners and played a surprisingly adequate center field when he saw action there this spring. He has the solid arm strength for third base but is a stiff defender there, while first base is a viable option.

Range: Rounds 5-10.

MLB.com Top 250 Ranking: 226.

ESPN Top 250 Ranking: 189.

Prediction: To be honest, a guy with The Hulk’s physical tools and 2026 numbers should be a top 100 prospect chosen in the first three rounds of any draft. In fact, those 2026 numbers scream first round pick, don’t they? I suspect his swing and miss concerns from 2024 and 2025, as well as his defensive position (corner OF or IF, basically) are the reason he’s not ranked as highly, but, frankly, that’s pretty dumb. He’s not some plodding big man with the cement feet of a first baseman/DH. That boy can move, and has a RF arm. Again, I think MLB teams are grossly undervaluing his skillset. That said, I expect Holcomb to still be drafted somewhere around round 5 on Day Two as long as a team matches his signing bonus demands. With NIL money as an option, I’d hazard a guess that if MLB teams don’t offer Holcomb at least 5th round slot value (basically $400k-$550K), Vanderbilt will find a way to keep his power bat in the lineup. In the pre-NIL days, I’d list Holcomb as a 99.999% likely to sign, but now, there is at least a chance he returns.

Chance He Signs With an MLB Team: 90%.

*Note: Braden Holcomb is the only current player ranked in either the MLB top 250 or ESPN top 250, and this has never before happened in the Tim Corbin era. Oof. 2026 truly was a cursed season.

#39 Jr. RHP Connor “The Spice” Fennell

2026 Stats: 4-2; 4.96 ERA; 10.76 K/9

Range: Rounds 11-20.

MLB.com Top 250 Ranking: N/A.

ESPN Top 250 Ranking: N/A.

Prediction: Frankly, I’ve expected Connor Fennell to be wearing a Vanderbilt uniform as a senior since he first took the mound in 2025. He’s the classic “college senior starter,” as he can flat out pitch, and is a whale of a competitor, but doesn’t light up the radar guns. If anything, MLB teams have focused even more on velocity in recent years, and poor man’s Aaron Nola types (movement and precision pitchers who struggle to reach 90 mph) aren’t even in most systems any more. I’d bet The Spice is still our Friday Ace in 2027, and spends all offseason trying to get 1-2 more mph out of his arm in the pitching lab to give him a shot at being a senior draftee next year. If things go right, he could have a senior year like Cal State Fullerton’s Thomas Eshelman in 2015 or any number of senior South Cackalacky soft-tossers in 2010 or 2011.

Chance He Signs With an MLB Team: 20%.

#44 Jr. C/DH Colin “Bar Rescue” Barczi

2026 Stats: .263/.341/.576 with 4 2B, 403B, 11 HR, and 28 RBI.

Range: Rounds 11-UDFA.

MLB.com Top 250 Ranking: N/A.

ESPN Top 250 Ranking: N/A.

Prediction: Barczi demonstrated light tower power, but injuries kept him from catching for most of 2026. Recent reports are that Bar Rescue just underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum. This means he will not be catching in 2027, but he should be able to hit. As such, it’s probably better for him to have an MLB team pay for his rehab, but if they don’t want to, I’m sure he’ll be welcomed back to DH for the Diamond Dores. Don’t expect him to be able to do any more than that, though.

Chance He Signs With an MLB Team: 50%.

#77 Jr. RHP Alex “The Kranz” Kranzler

2026 Stats: 3-3; 6.18 ERA; 11.13 K/9

Range: Rounds 11-UDFA.

MLB.com Top 250 Ranking: N/A.

ESPN Top 250 Ranking: N/A.

Prediction: The Kranz would probably have preferred to be draft eligible last year, as 2026 was a rough one. Partially because we were short on starting pitching candidates and partially because Corbs tries to give obvious reliever-only pitchers the chance to start in their junior years (see Nick Maldonado et al) so as to, in theory, bump up their draft stock. He’s a reliever and will always be a reliever, despite being able to throw a grab-bag full of different pitches. Luckily for The Kranz, relief pitching is starting to be valued a bit more highly by MLB teams, and further, he has an MLB reliever arm. While he’s not going to be selected Saturday, I’ll stake my claim that whether or not he’s a late round pick on Sunday, he will pitch in a major league bullpen by 2031. If he’s undrafted and/or teams just don’t hit his number, we will gladly welcome him back to the back of our pen in ‘27.

Chance He Signs With an MLB Team: 70%.

Players With No Eligibility Remaining Who May Hear Their Names Called on Day Two (Rounds 5-20) or Sign as an UDFA:

Mike Mancini and Logan Johnstone.

*Note: You can listen to The Tennesseean beat writer Aria Gerson’s thoughts on the draft and the transfer portal additions here if you want.

The MLB draft stage is set in Philadelphia, and the Chicago White Sox are soon on the clock.

Te 2026 MLB Draft gets underway at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 11 with rounds 1 through 4. Then, on the eve of the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby, rounds 5 through 20 will take place, with the first pick of round five starting at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 12.

There remain several questions heading into Saturday's first round, including who the White Sox take with the No. 1 overall pick.Will it be UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, or will it be Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey or will it be Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson? Or could the White Sox, who have kept their cards close to their chest in the process, go with someone else?

MLB mock draft 2026: Will White Sox Roch steady at No. 1 with star shortstop?

The other is: How does the MLB draft work? In short, it's once again a 20-round draft with the pool of prospects including draft-eligible high schoolers and mostly juniors and seniors at the college level. But there is a greater sense of complexity to it than that. It is a slot draft, meaning it sees MLB executives use different strategies to select and sign their picks over the first 10 rounds. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Here's what to know about the MLB draft, why it is a slot draft and the money pool that teams will have at their disposal:

As the Carolina baseball team embarked on a run to the College World Series finals last month, Scott Forbes and his staff were also building a strong class of transfers.

A total of 10 players have committed to join the Tar Heels out of the portal, most of whom did so in June. Since you (understandably) might have been too locked in on the action in Chapel Hill and Omaha to pay attention to recruiting, here’s a quick primer on each of them.

RHP Jake Moss (Penn)

Moss announced he’d be using his final season of eligibility at Carolina back in October (the Ivy League doesn’t allow athletes to compete for more than four years). He stepped into a starting role for the first time this spring, getting the nod for seven games and coming out of the bullpen in four others. He posted a 6.08 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 25 walks in 47.1 innings, and opponents hit .295 against him. He was named to the Ivy League all-tournament team as a junior in 2025.

OF CJ Egrie (Holy Cross)

Egrie was another early pickup, committing to UNC for his final season in November (Holy Cross doesn’t offer graduate degrees). He comes to Chapel Hill after winning back-to-back Patriot League Player of the Year honors and helping Holy Cross reach back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. This season, he put up a conference-best .325 batting average with three home runs and 22 RBI, drew 38 walks, and finished second in Division I with 46 stolen bases. He was caught stealing just twice.

SS Davis Baker (Penn)

Baker announced his commitment on April 8. He was a four-year starter at shortstop for Penn but suffered a season-ending injury just seven games into the 2026 campaign. He was an All-Ivy League selection in each of his first three seasons, earning second team honors as a junior after hitting .277 with eight home runs and 39 RBI. He carries a career fielding percentage of .943.

LHP Joey Ruller (Queens) 

Ruller, who will have one year of eligibility, announced his commitment on May 28. He was Queens’ ace this season, starting 14 games and recording a 4.47 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 25 walks in 90.2 innings. Opponents hit .263 against him, a massive improvement from the .342 mark he allowed in 2025. 

C Devin Russell (Maryland)

Russell, who will have one year of eligibility, announced his commitment on June 3. He initially split games behind the plate for Maryland this season but became the primary starter late in the campaign. He hit .250 with nine home runs and 26 RBI in 26 games and was named Big Ten Player of the Week after hitting a walk-off grand slam against Indiana on April 12.

SS Jamie Laskofski (William & Mary)

Laskofski announced his commitment on June 6 after a banner sophomore season that saw him named CAA Player of Year. He hit .355 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI, drew 41 walks, and stole 36 bases, including a program-record five in one game (March 22 vs NC A&T). He carries a career fielding percentage of .922.

RHP James Voorhies (Cal State Northridge)

Voorhies (who goes by Jimmy on his social media pages) announced his commitment on June 18. He stepped into the closer role for CSUN as a true freshman this season and earned honorable mention All-Big West recognition after logging five saves with a 3.16 ERA, 46 strikeouts (tied for the team lead), and 14 walks in 42.2 innings. Opponents hit .180 against him. 

OF Blaize Johnson (UNC Asheville) 

Johnson, who will enter UNC as a junior, announced his commitment on June 24. He was a starter in the outfield in both of his seasons in Asheville and earned first team All-Big South honors as a sophomore, hitting .346 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI and drawing 40 walks.

RHP Preston Crowl (Virginia Tech)

Crowl, who’s entering his fourth year of college, announced his commitment on June 25. He was a major piece of Virginia Tech’s bullpen this season, pitching 47.1 innings across 24 games and leading the team with five saves. He made a brief appearance against Carolina in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, facing three batters in the eighth inning (Macon Winslow took him deep for a two-run home run). He finished the year with a 7.61 ERA, 48 strikeouts, and 26 walks. Opponents hit .279 against him.

RHP Scott Doran (Coastal Carolina) 

Doran, who will enter UNC as a junior, announced his commitment on June 26. He was primarily a bullpen arm in both of his seasons at Coastal Carolina, although he did get two starts this year–including a six-inning outing against Ole Miss on March 1 in which he allowed two earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He ended the season with a 4.76 ERA, 39 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 28.1 innings. He was credited with two saves, and opponents hit .196 against him.

The group over at Overslot Baseball has come out with an interesting and fun new tool ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft, giving us a mock draft simulator to play with, just like there is for the NFL and NBA drafts. I would recommend giving it a try for yourself if you have a few minutes.

This will be the second official mock draft of the season, and likely the final Braves specific one as the players involved are going to remain similar for the next week. I am planning on a full first round mock draft to come ahead of the draft as well based on the information that I am hearing.

The mock draft lasts 10 rounds, and the bonuses listed are their best estimates at what bonuses could look like for some of these prospects. While not perfect, they are mostly pretty reasonable. I will note ahead of time that the player database is not quite the full list of players you will find eligible for the actual draft, and senior signs aren’t going to be as cheap as they will come for the Braves – but this should give you some idea.

In case you missed the first one it can be found here.

Pick 1.9 – Gio Rojas, LHP, Florida HS

This took about 3-4 restarts to get this right. As in guys like Grady Emerson, Jackson Flora, and Eric Booth Jr. fell to this pick. I don’t see that actually happening in the draft, so I didn’t want to pick someone who there is a sub 5% chance the Braves actually select – even if it would be fun to draft one of them.

This draft started out Grady Emerson, Roch Cholowsky, Drew Burress, Jacob Lombard, Jackson Flora, Eric Booth Jr., Vahn Lackey, and Ryder Helfrick as the first eight picks. That gave me a whole list of guys that have been linked to the Braves, namely Chris Hacopian, Tyler Bell, and Gio Rojas. With Burress and Helfrick gone this becomes an easy choice to go underslot to grab Rojas for $5.5M – compared to $6M for both Hacopian and Bell. In reality I would expect Rojas about $500k to $1M cheaper, but that still saves $1.2M on the $6.7M slot. I also like the upside of Rojas more than the other two, so to me this is a win.

Pick 1.26 – Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas

This pick has a $3.6M slot value. The best players on the board are Jared Grindlinger ($5.5M), Cole Carlon, Hunter Dietz, Cade Townsend, and Brody Bumila as pitchers and Ace Reese, Bo Lowrance, and Taj Marchand as the hitters. That’s the group I’m considering here. Dietz is the pick here, even if his $3.8M is $200k over, as he is the best player available – I had him 15th on my board. I had Grindlinger higher, 10th overall – but going $1.7M over would hurt the ability to spend throughout this draft.

Pick 2.48 – Caden Bogenpohl, OF, Missouri State

This pick has a $2.1M slot value. Bumila is there, but his $3.5M asking price is too high. Same for Tyler Spangler and his $4M price tag. That leaves Caden Bogenpohl, Caden Sorrell, Tyson LeBlanc, and more affordable overslot preps like Blake Bowen, Cole Prosek, and James Clark as my best options. Bogenpohl in the choice as a big, athletic, toolsy outfielder with massive power in the tank. I wanted to get him all along and I didn’t think he would be there for the next pick, so taking him now at $1.6M saves $500k. I have saved a total of $1.5M through three picks, as Rojas and Bogenpohl saved $1.7M and Dietz was $200k over.

Pick 3.84 – Jason DeCaro, RHP, North Carolina

This pick has a $974k slot value. Crossing off all of the preps over $2.5M and focusing on Will Adams ($2.2M), Martin Shelar, Andruw Giles, Tyler Putnam, and Ethan Bass ($2M each), and college players like Peyton Bonds and pitchers Jake McCoy, Tommy LaPour, and Jason DeCaro. I really like Adams, but with his price tag I have decided to try to float him down, and grab Carolina’s DeCaro as an arm that I believe might have a little more to gain. He costs just $443k, meaning I am $2M underslot.

Pick 4.112 – Deiten Lachance, C, Oklahoma

This pick has a slot value of $698k. Adams is still there, but the way the draft board looks now looks like there is about to be a run on catchers and I believe the Braves are likely to draft one in this draft. I don’t even consider the options here and right to College World Series star Deiten Lachance, a player who I rank the highest of the group and came away impressed with how he adjusted to the SEC after coming from JUCO this year. Best of all he costs $396k, so we are now $2.3M underslot.

Pick 5.144 – Ryne Barker, 3B, Arizona HS

Slot here is $511k. It’s time to start spending money and I’m targeting an infielder that I like a good amount in projectable Arizona prep shortstop Ryne Barker. I consider him more of a third baseman, and he’s only $1.2M. That means we still have $1.6M to work with.

Pick 6.173 – Will Adams, OF, Alabama HS

Slot here is $390k. I finally grab Adams and end his slide. His price was $2.2M, putting us $200k overslot. However his bat has a chance to be special with the ability to hit for both average and power, just that there are some defensive questions.

Pick 7.202 – Josh McDevitt, RHP, Missouri

Slot is $307k. McDevitt has risen this spring and is a guy I wanted to grab. Getting him for $204k helps, and we are now just $100k overslot.

Pick 8.232 – Connor Shouse, 3B, Texas Tech

Slot is $245k. Shouse is a guy with some upside and at $197k will save about half of that overage.

Pick 9.262 – Lorenzo Carrier, OF, Pitt

Slot is $212k. Carrier is a senior but will cost more than a true senior sign, though his $160k bonus puts us back under. I’ve always been a huge fan of his tool set, it’s just that he struggled to hit. However the strides he has made this spring with the hit tool give some hope that maybe he has some chance – and at this point, with this money, that is all you can ask for. Without true $5k senior signs, this was the best I was able to do with this pick.

Pick 10.292 – Blake Morningstar, RHP, Wake Forest

Slot is $198k. Morningstar is a $150k signing and a relief arm that I like. Without cheap senior signs I wanted ti target a guy the Braves could potentially target in rounds 11-20. Morningstar is that type of pitcher.

Money situation

If this wasn’t a machine where I didn’t have full control, the final 3-4 picks would not have happened. Those are guys I do like, but if I was able to draft four senior signs for $5k each, $20k would have been cheaper than $660k. That’s a savings of $640k when you take that $660k and subtract the $20k to sign the senior signs, so instead of that $11k, the Braves would have $651k for the “Day 3” picks in rounds 11-15.

I do like those players, but pushing them into rounds 11-20 would only cost $60k over the pool limits, so I would potentially be able to get those same players and still have $591k to play with.

Overall Thoughts

This is about as solid of a draft as the Braves could hope for, short of a Booth, Flora, or Lombard sliding to the ninth pick. With no clear cut Top 10 guy available, taking the savings and spreading it around in order to draft seven strong pieces seems like a no brainer to me. Especially when there is potentially more money to work with in the final 10 rounds.

The Braves help restock their pitching with my #11 (Rojas) and #15 (Dietz) players in this draft, and also end up with my #61 (Bogenpohl), #69 (Adams), #93 (Lachance), #103 (DeCaro), and #174 (Barker) ranked players in this draft. If you want to count the other guys, McDevitt was #187, Carrier #261, Morningstar #274, and Shouse #310.

The pitching got a boost, but prep pitcher wasn’t a spot that was hit on, so it would be a target in the final 10 rounds. The catcher spot got a powerful catcher who is arguably the best catcher down on the farm. There is a talented pair of outfielders, a prep shortstop who is likely going to move to third base, and some other pieces with value if you count the rounds 7-10 picks.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

As we saw in Thursday’s 3-2 Cubs loss to the Orioles, the team desperately needs help in the bullpen as well as in the starting rotation.

Perhaps they will get some help when injured relievers return, but even that is probably not enough. So earlier this week, I asked you to answer this SB Nation Reacts survey question: Which of a provided list of relievers would you like the Cubs to go after? Or perhaps there’s someone else you have in mind.

Here are the survey results:

By a significant margin, you chose a reunion with 2016 World Series champion Aroldis Chapman. Chapman, who is now 38, is having a pretty good year for the Red Sox. He’s pitched in 29 games covering 27.2 innings and has a 2.28 ERA and 1.229 WHIP. His walk rate is up a bit from last year, but he’s kept the ball in the yard — just one home run allowed to 117 batters faced. He has 19 saves in 21 opportunities — the 19 saves is one more than the entire Cubs pitching staff has this year.

Chapman is making $13 million this year. The Cubs could probably afford to take on a bit less than half of that, and not have to give up a top prospect. (There’s a $13 million mutual option that vests if Chapman throws at least 40 innings this year and passes a post-season physical, so that’s a potential concern.)

Incidentally, you see Chapman wearing No. 44 for the Red Sox, after having worn No. 54 or No. 45 his entire career. Lucas Giolito wore No. 54 for Boston last year and Sonny Gray has it this year. No one has No. 54 for the Cubs this year; the last player to wear it was Ryan Brasier (remember him?) last year. So Chapman could wear the same number he wore for the 2016 World Series champions.

One last note about Chapman that I feel I should address. You likely remember the domestic violence allegations made against him more than a decade ago. Chapman did address those when the Cubs acquired him and, at least as far as I know, nothing like that has happened again. Here’s what I wrote about this issue at the time Chapman was acquired by the Cubs in 2016.

On to the rest of the survey results: You didn’t much like the other choices I had, because second place went to “someone else.” There were a number of choices listed in the comments to the survey article, so feel free to add those here as well.

Here are the results of the four national questions asked this week, which had to do with postseason awards.

This will be an interesting vote if Pete Crow-Armstrong keeps playing the way he is now. Obviously Shohei Ohtani will be a favorite to win, but it’s possible PCA gets enough support to sneak in an MVP award.

This vote was a little closer, and might depend on whether Yordan Alvarez can help lead the Astros to a postseason spot. Otherwise I’d give my vote to Junior Caminero.

You’ll note that Ohtani didn’t appear on this ballot. What sort of vote total would he have received if he had been on the ballot?

As long as things continue the way they have been, I’d think Cam Schlittler might be a unanimous choice.

This edition of SB Nation Reacts is sponsored by FanDuel.

The Major League Baseball Amateur draft is rapidly approaching with the Yankees holding the 35th overall selection for their first pick. After swinging widely at the top of the draft for years in the early 2000’s the team has performed better in the scouting, evaluations and development departments over the last seven drafts. As usual the Yankees are picking later than most teams, and in addition they moved down 10 slots due to the penalties for exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax thresholds. This move also leads them to have the third smallest bonus pool at just over $7.3 million, coming in just ahead of the Mets and Dodgers.

Baseball America recently updated their farm system talent rankings, with the Yankees coming in 21st across baseball. The weakness of the system is currently on the position player side, and this is likely where the Yankees will focus. Both MLB.com and Baseball America have seven pitchers ranked among the organization’s top 10 prospects. Especially light on the prospect side is the catching position where neither BA or MLB.com have any catchers among the Yankees top-30 prospects.

Teams will never draft for an immediate need at the Major League level, but they often will focus on a positional group that could use a boost across their system. If the Yankees choose to target catching, they have several very tempting options that, based on recent pre-draft rankings, could be available in their range.

University of Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson is coming off a tremendous season where he was the Golden Spikes award winner as the best player in college baseball. He won the triple crown in the Southeastern conference, hitting .378/.473/.803, with 32 home runs and 26 stolen bases. He was just the third player and first catcher in Division I baseball history to have a 30/25 season.

Jackson is ranked as the 28th-best draft prospect by MLB.com and 37th best by Baseball America. He has been available to the Yankees in a few mock drafts over the past few months and would be an exciting talent to add if he makes it to the Yankees at the 35th pick.

Another strong candidate is Mississippi high school standout Cole Prosek. Prosek is a polished hitter, with present power who finished second nationally with 18 home runs during his high school season. The left-handed hitter makes a lot of contact and projects to bring a solid contact-power mix as he continues to develop. He is listed as either a third baseman or shortstop depending on the scouting report, but the general feeling is that he will not stick as a shortstop in the pros. He recently has started catching and in limited opportunities the scouts believe that he can stick as a catcher.

Another draft strategy is often to follow up on previous successes. In two of the last three drafts, the Yankees have taken high school shortstops, George Lombard Jr. and Dax Kilby, and watched as they quickly showed the traits to become some of the organization’s top prospects. Shortstop is generally a heavily drafted position as the players often can move off of the position and fill defensive needs across the diamond as they integrate into professional baseball.

If the Yankees pursue a prep shortstop they may have their eye on Taj Marchand from James Island, South Carolina. Marchand is projected to have the athletic ability to stick at shortstop while displaying a very good hit tool, with potential for more power. His ability to hit with high exit velocities through the showcase circuit last summer and another strong high school season has Marchand moving up rankings as the draft approaches. Marchand is young for the draft class and will still be 17 on draft day. The 6-foot-2 University of Mississippi commit is ranked as the 37th-best draft prospect by MLB.com and 66th by Baseball America.

The recent history of the Yankees has them leaning more towards hitters in the first round, but in 2024 they went in another direction, drafting pitching early and often. While the team has found success in the later rounds of the draft with players like Cam Schlittler and Will Warren, they could still be looking for an early round arm if the right player is available to them.

One name to keep an eye on is Cade Townsend, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Mississippi. Baseball America flagged Townsend as having a “Cam Schlittler starter pack” back in April based on the metrics of his multiple fastballs with an ability to throw them for strikes. While much shorter than Schlittler, the 6-foot-1 Townsend can hit 97 mph while sitting 95-96 mph through an outing. He has shown a knack for spinning the ball, flashing above average curveballs and sliders, another trait the Yankees have gravitated to in previous drafts.

The Yankees have improved their draft strategy over the last seven editions. Gone are the days of top picks disappearing into the minor leagues, seeming to lose all momentum within a year or two. Since 2019, the Yankees have consistently developed their top picks into MLB-caliber players, or at least solid trade candidates. While there are still steps to be taken in the Yankees player development and acquisition strategy, this weekend we will see the newest Yankees join the mix full of optimism and expectations.

San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King was expected to become the rotation’s No. 1 starter. But the 2026 campaign has been rough for him. It was good to see King finish the first half with a solid outing. 

Now, he must come back with that same mindset when the second half begins next Friday. King has an opportunity to bounce back and turn his season around. But the right-hander must show his true competitive nature on the mound. 

Are King’s pitching skills regressing?

We have all heard the talk of his regression, as the Friar Faithful believe King is a “five-and-fly” starting pitcher. The term means a starting pitcher completing five full innings to be eligible for the victory. King only has eight quality starts this season.

The Padres trusted him to put them in a position to win every fifth day. He is a much better pitcher than the first-half results have shown. The second half is the time to silence his critics. 

King is 6-7 with a 3.41 ERA in 19 starts. He has surrendered 82 hits and issued 43 walks in 108.1 innings pitched. 

His struggles have been failing to record outs against elevated competition, especially the Padres’ main division rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers. King has allowed six earned runs over 10.1 innings pitched in two starts against the team up north. He could not limit the damage from the Dodgers’ potent offensive attack. 

What are his in-game troubles?

The problem is the amount of contact given up. King cannot build momentum because he cannot locate his pitches. Too often, he has been victimized by leaving pitches over the plate. 

His four-seamer and sinker have been hit the hardest. Neither pitch is offering enough movement to freeze batters in the box. The one positive is that his changeup is inducing soft contact for outs. This season, it is King’s second-most-thrown pitch in starts. 

Wins have been hard to come by this season for the Friars. Getting King back on track is a significant hurdle to playing better baseball in the second half. Right now, who besides him would you expect to win a game? The list is not very long at this moment. 

The Padres need an innings eater in the worst way. It is time for King to step up and carry the extra load, as the starting rotation is in dire straits.

The unofficial first half of the season wraps up with a three-game series in Detroit. For whatever reason, recent Phillies teams haven’t done well in “getaway” games, so I’m worried that they might just try to coast through what is somewhat of a “getaway” series. I’m especially pessimistic about Sunday’s game when about half the roster will be looking ahead to All-Star festivities while facing one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Opposition research: Matt Vierling

When the Phillies traded Matt Vierling (along with Nick Maton and Donny Sands) to the Tigers in exchange for Gregory Soto and Kody Clemens, it seemed like a sensible trade. Soto was a lefthanded reliever with two All-Star appearances under his belt, and thanks to the 2022 trade for Brandon Marsh, Vierling was mostly limited to a bench role. (As for the others, Maton never amounted to much, while Clemens had his moments.)

However, Soto could never find consistency in Philadelphia, while Vierling established himself as a solid, if unspectacular everyday player for the Tigers. Ironically, the Phillies spent years searching for a righthanded platoon complement for Marsh, and Vierling seemed like he would have been a good fit for that role.

The last two seasons have not been kind to Vierling. He spent most of 2025 on the Injured List with a variety of ailments and was limited to 31 ineffective games. He’s been healthier in 2026, but the on-field results have been bad. He’s batting just .199 with five home runs, and his once solid defense in the outfield has gone downhill.

The Phillies could still use another right-handed hitting outfielder, and Vierling is likely very available for a low price. But based on recent performance, it doesn’t seem like he’d be any sort of upgrade on what they already have.

Based on the reactions of Tigers fans, if Vierling was to be traded, they wouldn’t miss him.

Hating on the Tigers

Since their last World Series win in 1984, the Tigers have made it to the Fall Classic twice, winning a grand total of one game across those series. And it sure doesn’t look like that drought is going to end in 2026.

The Phillies’ roster is top heavy (a few stars are carrying an overall subpar roster), but at least those stars have the team in playoff position. The Tigers have three All-Star position players to go along with one of the better starting rotations in the AL, and they’re still seven games under .500.

This comes after a season when they lost 13 of their 16 final games to blow a 10 game lead in the AL Central. (Yes, they still made the playoffs and even won a series, but who cares? That’s still embarrassing.)

The Tigers are likely to trade ace Tarik Skubal because they don’t think they can retain him when he hits free agency in a year. It seems funny that they’d be stingy with Skubal after handing Miguel Cabrera a lifetime achievement contract over a decade ago. (I’d advise Phillies fans not to look at the last few years of Cabrera’s career if you don’t want to have nightmares about the tail end of the Harper/Turner/Schwarber era.)

On the positive side, their mascot, Paws, is the second best mascot in baseball.

Trivia

Last week’s answer: In game six of the 1980 World Series, Pete Rose had three hits. EbbyCalvinLaLoosh answered correctly.

This week’s question: The first Phillies vs. Tigers game in history was a 7-2 Detroit win at Tiger Stadium. What former first round draft pick took the loss in that game?

Additional thought about the series

Even with Zack Wheeler on the mound, I have almost no hope for the Phillies winning on Sunday. As mentioned, this team often seems to play poorly in the final game of road trips. Add in the fact that this is the final game before the All-Star Game in Philadelphia, and that lowers their chances even more. And finally, they’ll be facing Skubal, which means I’d put their over under on runs scored in the game at one.

Prove me wrong, Phillies. Prove me wrong!

It’s mock draft season and ahead of Sunday’s draft, any Lookout Landing staffer that Kate could beg/bribe/blackmail into taking part in our staff-wide mock draft has made their selections. As far as who chose to fake GM which teams, there were varied interests at play: some of us picked our “second teams” (may someone love you in this life like Isabelle loves the Rockies); some (Max) wielded their insider knowledge of the industry; some of us went with familiar AL West adversaries; others, like Nick, operated out of pure villainy and spite. The result is a very patchwork mock draft that honestly isn’t any more far afield than several of the mocks we’ve seen, because outside of the first three-to-six picks of this draft, there’s really just no consensus. Onwards!

First Round:

1. White Sox – C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech (Isabelle)
   
   Almost every mock draft has one of Roch Cholowsky or Grady Emerson going first overall to the White Sox, but I couldn’t resist the siren song of potential Gold Glove catcher who took his already strong contact-hitting skills and plugged in his power tool this season – without sacrificing said contact skills. Lackey excels at both the big and little pieces that make up an exceptional catcher, and he’s athletic enough to have some positional flexibility. This pick exposes me as a dedicated Kyle Teel nonbeliever, and I’m not that sorry about it. Catcher is the banana stand of positional player draft picks to me; there will always be value in them, especially one as athletic and projectable as Lackey, and I think the White Sox would do well to take advantage here.
   
2. Rays – SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA (John)
   
   I often like to consider myself the Mark Wahlberg of The Iliad, in that if I’d been there it wouldn’t have gone down like that. Kassandra, I hear and believe you, which is crucial because I’ve never met a gift horse I didn’t like. This one clip-clops into Tampa Bay’s hands, especially if, as Isabelle intimates, the White Sox were to take Lackey and potentially save a bit of money to splash on several later picks. Cholowsky seems like the real deal across the board, a powerful middle infielder who rarely chases or whiffs, the type of player that could fill the hole left by the appalling misconduct of Wander Franco and allow the Rays to swiftly accelerate their infield’s construction towards a full constellation of stars.
   
3. Twins – SS Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX) (Jake)
   
   Quick, before Carlos Correa signed his massive free agent deal back in 2022, who is the last shortstop you can name who played for the Twins? You probably can’t because it’s been a black hole of a position for Minnesota for a long time. (Spoiler alert: it’s probably Mariners legend Jorge Polanco who compiled 8.8 fWAR as a shortstop with the Twins.) Grady Emerson has the ceiling to reverse that weakness. He’s drawn Bobby Witt Jr. comps, was named the best high school baseball player in America, and could move through the minors pretty quickly despite his young age. A slam dunk pick for the Twins at number three.
   
4. Giants – OF AJ Gracia, Virginia (Ryan)
   
   I’m the least qualified person on staff to participate in this draft, which makes me perfectly qualified to pick for the Giants. As far as I can tell, taking AJ Gracia at four overall would be a reach. But when I think Giants, I think versatile hitters willing to use the whole field. And Gracia, a centerfielder out of University of Virginia, is lauded for his approach and ability to go the other way consistently.
   
5. Pirates – RHP Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara (Kate)
   
   I’ve seen a lot of mock drafts that have the Pirates taking a high school outfielder here, but my thinking is the Pirates competitive window is open now and they want someone who’s going to be fast-moving and fit that window. Flora is the best college pitcher in the draft, so I’m smashing the you don’t draft for need button here and taking the 6’5” flamethrower. I did debate going college bat here instead, but Flora is just too good to pass up, and the idea of Skenes, Seth Hernandez, and Flora as a three-headed monster should terrify the NL Central. Some folks are calling them Mariners East.
   
6.  Kansas City Royals – SS Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep HS (FL) (Max)
   
   The Royals would likely be thrilled to see both Lombard and Eric Booth Jr. available at their pick, and I think they’ll capitalize on the situation and opt for the immensely talented shortstop out of Florida. He’s arguably got as high of a ceiling as anyone in this draft and could be a transcendent talent if it all clicks, but the concern around his hit tool carries some pretty legitimate weight to it. Things are decidedly Not Good for the Royals after a few solid years, and Lombard could headline a weaker system as a way to kick off a potential rebuild.
   
7. Baltimore Orioles – OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech (Kate)
   
   The Orioles are said to be in on college bats, and Burress, with his picture-perfect swing, is one of the best. He’s a consistently productive power hitter despite a smaller stature and would be able to move quickly to join the Orioles’ young core. He’s a good defender who could stick in center, even though the O’s have Colton Cowser manning things there for the foreseeable future, but Burress has a safer floor than Cowser, who has struggled to hit consistently in the big leagues.
   
8. Athletics – LHP Cole Carlon, Arizona State (John)
   
   Sacramento is poised to pick three times in the top 75 thanks to a competitive balance round B pick after the second round, but they’ll be more limited than in many recent years with numerous excess selections. That’s where I see Carlon as a fit, with massive stuff as a 6’5 southpaw who was a strikeout savant at Arizona State University. He has a fastball-slider combo that is arguably the most potent in the draft, though his remaining repertoire is less advanced. Carlon is a stellar fit organizationally, however, as a player accustomed to thriving in the desert heat. Pitch mixes that elude bats entirely are crucial for a club that will be playing somewhere between Sacramento and Las Vegas in all likelihood by the time he debuts, necessitating massive contact prevention in hitter-happy environments. The A’s took a chance on Jeffrey Springs despite some struggles for getting deep into games, and seem comfortable with a high variance player. Even if things pan out frustratingly for Carlon in the third pitch department, he could swiftly be a triple-digit pumping closer, but the stuff is there for a rotation stalwart.
   
9. Atlanta Braves – OF Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove HS (MS) (Kate)
   
   Here is where the slide for Eric Booth Jr. stops. A Vanderbilt commit, Booth Jr.’s asking price might chill some teams, but he’s arguably the best pure athlete in the draft, and that upside is worth betting on. There’s also something about EBJ that feels very Braves-y of recent vintage, whether it’s the SEC football-playing father or very high Fun Factor in watching him play due to his outstanding athleticism and undeniable swagger.
   
10. Colorado Rockies – INF Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M (Isabelle)
    
    When one Armenian has the chance to draft another Armenian, you have to take it. Blind loyalty aside, Hacopian is regarded as one of the most well-rounded hitters in the draft, with a career strikeout rate of 9.5% and consistent contact regardless of swing adjustments. He lacks speed and his defense is a weakness, making it likely he’ll transition to 2B or potentially into the outfield, but that can work for the Rockies, who have enough young athleticism to afford a little productive lumbering. This was a tough pick between Hacopian and Baby Kyle Freeland, Cameron Flukey, but ultimately I’m of the belief that the most successful Rockies teams will feature young 90s rom-com villain position players swatting the ball all over, alongside a stable of wizened, wily starters. Enjoy Flukey, Nats!
    
11. Washington Nationals – Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina (Ryan)
    
    Everyone needs organizational pitching depth, the Nationals especially. Cameron Flukey is among the best in class, standing 6’6” with a big heater and a big bender to boot. He can access just about every velocity bin between 80-100 mph, though mostly sticks with the fastball and curveball. And he throws them from visually interesting (perhaps deceptive) over-the-top arm action. He missed a couple months with a rib injury, possibly impacting his draft position. It’s not often you find this much projection outside the top 10.
    
12. Los Angeles Angels – LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach HS (CA) (Jake)
    
    The Angels infamously fumbled Shohei Ohtani’s stint on their roster. With a shot at a sliver of redemption, Los Angeles should be ecstatic to pick Jared Grindlinger, this draft class’s best two-way prospect. One of the youngest players in the class, Grindlinger is all raw tools and moldable clay. The Angels have largely focused on drafting MLB-ready college players over the last half decade in an effort to try and quickly supplement their big league roster. When I chose to represent the Angels in this mock draft, I decided upfront to pick the toolsiest high schooler available, just to break that mold. Grindlinger is a long-term project for their development group that could pay big dividends way down the road.
    
13. St. Louis Cardinals – SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky (John)
    
    St. Louis has an enviable position in this draft. While they select just 13th overall, they boast the sixth-biggest draft bonus pool of any club in the league thanks to multiple additional picks accrued through competitive balance awardings and trades (including the Brendan Donovan deal). That’s not the initial draw of Bell, who is a college junior that had a taste of turning down the pros already when he headed to Kentucky for school after being selected in the second round back in 2024 by the Rays. Bell is versatile on both sides of the ball, covering the infield and both sides of the dish with aplomb. St. Louis has turned out many excellent multi-positional performers in recent years, including Donovan, Tommy Edman, and Edmundo Sosa. Bell is a superior shortstop to all of them, while rocking a well-rounded offensive profile that the Redbirds will be eager to cultivate. His selection here will open St. Louis up for several bigger swings in their next few picks.
    
14. Miami Marlins – OF Derek Curiel, Louisiana State (Kate)
    
    The Marlins have prized youth and athleticism, specifically power-speed combos, with recent picks, but I have them pivoting here to take an established college bat in Curiel, a member of LSU’s title-winning team alongside Kade Anderson. Curiel, a draft-eligible sophomore, still fits the Marlins’ mold of picking young players, and provides a safe floor to counteract some of the Marlins’ bigger swings in recent years. I had hoped that Hacopian or Bell would be available here because the Marlins could use infield help, and debated between Curiel and one of the college catchers, who I think also makes sense here.
    
15. Arizona Diamondbacks – OF Trevor Condon, Etowah HS (GA) (John)
    
    Few clubs target players like this the way the Diamondbacks do. A lefty outfielder with elite speed, a funky, line-drive oriented swing, and maximum effort play? This is the archetype from which Corbin Carroll was born, Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas were hoped to mold into, and even what Ketel Marte began his career in Arizona as. Condon’s hack is almost a modern Lenny Dykstra, and the Georgia prep is in a position to be a huge asset for Arizona’s massive outfield while utilizing its spacious gaps to run wild and slash triples. While his name and Georgia ties might indicate a relation to UGA star and Rockies farmhand Charlie Condon, there is no connection.
    
16. Texas Rangers – LHP Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL) (Max)
    
    Rojas is far too good for the Rangers to pass up here, and their second rounder last year (AJ Russell) has a similar low-launch, fastball-oriented style that clearly popped on their model. Most have Rojas as the clear-cut number one high school arm in this class, and Texas’ farm system is in no shape to be passing up on potentially elite talent.
    
17. Houston Astros – SS Justin Lebron, Alabama (Nick)
    
    I do believe that there’s an outside chance that Jim Crane might believe that he’s got a shot at signing LeBron James here, and push this pick through. But the real-life scouts and analysts would be delighted to find him on the board this late. They can teach him to put the bat on the ball. The rest (power, speed, defense, makeup) is already ready to go. 
    
18. Cincinnati Reds – OF Sawyer Strosnider, Texas Christian (John)
    
    This is a great get for Cincy at 18. Strosnider has the makings of an absolute star, in an organization that has been staggeringly bereft of consistency or competency, much less excellence in the outfield. The only four seasons with >2.0 fWAR since 2021 for the Reds have been TJ Freidl twice, who is having an atrocious campaign as he’s frequently been wont to do in between, and 2021 where both Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos had big hitting campaigns. It’s a huge hole, but Strosnider has the goods to overcome it. He’s got plus power and speed, enough to be a center fielder whose skills around the diamond cover every element of the game. He’s only shown some occasional overaggression at the dish, but still draws free passes with aplomb when he’s not slugging bombs.
    
19. Cleveland Guardians – C Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas (Jake)
    
    With Bo Naylor looking like a bust at catcher, the Guardians traded for Patrick Bailey to shore up the position in the big leagues. This pick in the draft poses the question, “what if you could have the next Bailey but add a league average bat to the equation?” Helfrick is the best defensive catcher in this draft class with 60 to 70 grades placed on his work behind the plate. He enjoyed a bit of an offensive breakout this year, blasting 18 home runs for the Razorbacks. He still strikes out a ton, which gives him a bit of a Mike Zunino-esque profile, but the ceiling should be high enough to entice Cleveland to pick him here.
    
20.  Boston Red Sox – 3B Ace Reese, Mississippi State (Kate)
    
    The Red Sox like power and Reese provides plenty of it, having hit 20+ homers in each of his first two collegiate seasons with the Bulldogs. Sure, he’s probably more of a 1B at the next level and he’s already not particularly fast, but no need to hurry around the bases when you’re knocking homers over the Pesky Pole. The whiff rate is a little concerning, which is why this is a pick at 20 instead of a pick at 10, and if it calms down in pro ball after the pressure of the draft is off, the Red Sox will have added an advanced power bat to a system that’s already rich, varied, and deep.
    
21.  San Diego Padres – SS Archer Horn, St. Ignatius Prep (CA) (Max)
    
    Toolsy California prep with tons of helium? Sounds like a Padre.
    
22. Detroit Tigers – RHP Coleman Borthwick, South Walton HS (FL) (John)
    
    Resist the urge to say his name in the cadence of Big man Blastoise as you might, it comes to you in the night. Borthwick is a 6’6, 260 lbs threat of a youth that is a straightforward answer to the question of “why is the United States so underwhelming at men’s soccer?” The athletic righty is a two-way player as a prospect, capable of being a third baseman who can slug, but it’s unlikely we’ll see him afforded the opportunity in the pros. Still, he’s sitting mid-90s with a great heater and multiple solid breaking pitches as an 18 year old, with a compact and tidy delivery he repeats well. While it’s unlikely Seattle goes prep pitcher from our perspective, this would be the guy if he falls to the M’s. As it is, I’ve termed the Tigers to take the polished prep, whose solid system is laughably tilted towards position players.
    
23. Chicago Cubs – RHP Liam Peterson, Florida (Kate)
    
    The Cubs would be thrilled to see Peterson at 23: a 6’5” hurler who leads with his fastball but also possesses a wipeout slider, a hammer curve, and a changeup. With long levers and a whippy delivery, there are shades of Logan Gilbert here, although Peterson pitched against tougher competition in the SEC. Baseball America recently declared him, not Flora, the best pitcher in the class, so it’s bonkers he’s available here at 23 – not even the first college lefty pitcher off our board. That just goes to show you how polarizing this particular draft is outside of the top 5 or 6 picks (although we couldn’t even agree on those. Viva la chaos!)
    
24.  Seattle Mariners – OF Logan Hughes, Texas Tech (Max)
    
    I was lucky enough to pull the M’s in this endeavor and wound up going with a bat I really think could be in the mix for them at 24. It’s not the sexiest pick in the world, but Hughes is easily one of the most well rounded bats in this class and comes with a level of polish that’s hard to find this late into the first round. Being a left field exclusive at this point in your career is tough and definitely brings down the shine of his overall profile, but I went with someone that is both a great player and a realistic candidate to make it to their pick. Louisville outfielder Zion Rose was strongly considered, and though I think there’s a case to be made for him over Hughes, my gut says Hughes is more likely to be available when it all shakes out this weekend, and frankly, I prefer to bet on the bat of Hughes over the speed of Rose. Regardless, they are both talented players that could easily wind up being the Mariners’ guy on Saturday night.
    
25.  Milwaukee Brewers – LHP Hunter Dietz, Arkansas (Jake)
    
    An elbow injury derailed Hunter Dietz’s first two seasons at Arkansas but he returned healthy this year to post a 36.2% strikeout rate in 16 starts. He already possesses a plus cutter and slider and his fastball sits in the mid 90s and can reach 98 mph. His curveball and changeup are works-in-progress, but the fastball-cutter-slider foundation is so good that he should move quickly through the minors once he’s drafted. The Brewers aren’t exactly starved for pitching, but Dietz gives them a potential mid-rotation arm to bolster their big league roster.

Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks

26. Atlanta Braves – RHP Cade Townsend, Ole Miss (Kate)

Speaking truth to power (it’s me I’m power), I don’t know that Townsend makes it past the Mariners – he’s exactly the kind of college pitcher Seattle has had success with, boasting a deep arsenal over pure stuff with a real ability to spin the ball. Atlanta has valued something similar in pitching prospects, though, showing a willingness to look beyond pure stuff and chase long-term upside. The next order of business will be to properly anoint the Ole Miss prospect so he avoids the eldritch curse that hangs over Atlanta’s pitching. UPDATE: The curse that hangs over Atlanta’s pitching is so strong that apparently Townsend already has a shoulder injury which might push him a little further down draft boards.

27. New York Mets – 3B Bo Lowrance, Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC) (Isabelle)

After this pick, the Mets don’t have another until No.92. No pressure! That being said, it’s not my ass in the jackpot, so we’re swingin’ big with Bo Lowrance. BoLow is a Virginia commit and expected to be a tough sign, but you know who’s great at throwing money around? Your New York Mets.

28. Houston Astros – 1B Myles Bailey, Florida State (Nick)

Myles Bailey is the perfect pick for the Astros here. He’s a hulking lad with light tower power. That’s it. 

Competitive Balance Round A

29. San Francisco Giants – LHP Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian HS (SC) (Ryan)

Carson Bolemon. The ‘D’ is silent in America. It’s ‘Bo De Le Monde,’ or Bole The Isle of Man, in France, or Boledman in Greece, or finally the vulgar Bolemon in South Carolina, so actually, we don’t know where he’ll be drafted until we hear his last name pronounced.

30. Kansas City Royals – LHP Mason Edwards, Southern California (Max)

No qualified collegian struck out opponents at a higher rate than the 6’2 southpaw. There’s an element of Reid Detmers here for a pitching-savvy club to cultivate further, with a heater on the lower end in the low-90s, but bat-missing ride and VAA. His breaking ball tunnels brilliantly with the pitch, as a breaking ball that utterly baffled Big Ten opponents. There’s always some risk for pitchers who dominate with curveballs in the lower levels, as the big leagues seem to be better attuned to them compared to firmer sliders, but Edwards has one that could beat the odds.

31. Arizona Diamondbacks – RHP Tegan Kuhns, University of Tennessee (John)

Anywhere from the teens onward could be a landing spot for Kuhns, who has the type of stuff Seattle has often targeted as well. Instead, the Diamondbacks will get a chance to push the lean righty up their organizational ladder at a potentially rapid pace. Kuhns is a strike-thrower with a heater in the 94-99 range that he uses predominantly, ahead of any of his secondaries although they show promise. This is the second straight year the Volunteers of Tennessee have one of the top pitchers in the class with a profile arguably only carried by a single elite fastball. Kuhns lacks quite the hype of Liam Doyle, but he’s worthy of first round billing.

32. St. Louis Cardinals – RHP Joseph Contreras, Blessed Trinity Catholic HS (GA) (John)

This is a spot for a prep pitcher if I’ve ever seen one. I’ve given the Cardinals the leeway to make such a swing by snagging the stellar-but-signable Bell in round one, allowing them to swing that big bonus pool around a bit in Comp Round A. Contreras is familiar with big swings, and is presumably the only eligible draftee who can boast having jammed Aaron Judge for a GiDP in a live game. The 18 year old Vanderbilt commit pitched for Brazil in the World Baseball Classic this spring, showcasing major league stuff and high school nerves. His lean frame whips in excellent velocity and, most impressively, an elite forkball like his father. He is the son of Cuban big league stalwart José Contreras, who spent 11 years in the big leagues, debuting at age 31 after a decade starring in his native Cuba. The All-Star had his finest season as part of the Chicago White Sox’ legendary World Series winning 2005 rotation, part of the legacy of connection between the ChiSox and Cuba. His son may also be destined to thrive in the midwest.

33. Tampa Bay Rays – SS Connor Comeau, Anderson HS (TX) (John)

He’s no Perry, but this Comeau can flat out hit. The Rays have prioritized athleticism and contact skills in their hitters, and the 17 year old Comeau is promising in both regards. While the 6’4 youngster might drift to third base, he’s got the goods to stick there comfortably.

34. Pittsburgh Pirates – OF Zion Rose, Louisville (Kate)

The Pirates double up on collegiates in my version of a hard pivot from their past draft tendencies, but Rose is an exciting, toolsy player who was getting draft looks as a high schooler at IMG. He went to Louisville instead where he transitioned off catcher and into the outfield, a testament to his natural athleticism – he’s a double-plus runner, which should help him in the spacious confines of PNC Park. Hit-wise, it’s a contact-oriented profile that’s currently more hit over power, but a strong, athletic frame and quick bat should translate into better power numbers as he matures as a pro.

35. New York Yankees – 1B Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M (Nick)

I picked the best available player with a beard, because the Yankees love to cause emotional pain. 

36. Philadelphia Phillies – SS Aiden Ruiz, Stony Brook HS (NY) (Isabelle)

It’s hard to properly emphasize just how much of an exception Gage Wood was last year for the Phillies draft strategy. They like ‘em preppy and they like ‘em flashy, and Ruiz is one of, if not the best, defensive shortstops in this class. I implore you to watch some of his highlights. Forget Gold Gloves, this is the Golden Ratio of shortstop fielding.

37. Colorado Rockies – RHP Broccoli Rabe, Ole Miss (Isabelle)

Now you get pitching, Rockies. Rabe was an intriguing prep arm out of South Carolina, who underwent Tommy John before his freshman year and was used sparingly up until this season. He’s been a fast riser in recent months, powered by pinpoint control, stellar fastball and a very adult arsenal (a particular point of appeal in making this match, inspired by Antonio Senzatella’s success in throwing the kitchen sink this season). There’s a very real chance he is better than at least three Rockies currently pitching in the bigs. (Ed. note: this young man’s name is Taylor Rabe, despite everything we’d love to have you believe – JT)

WHEW that was a lot. And we swear we only made one of those names up. Here’s the full breakdown:

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The surging Atlanta Braves take on the St. Louis Cardinals this evening at Busch Stadium. 

My Braves vs. Cardinals predictions are eyeing Atlanta's red-hot offense to provide the dominant Chris Sale with run support. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Friday, July 10. 

Who will win Braves vs Cardinals today: Braves -1.5 (+109)

The Atlanta Braves send Chris Sale to the hill tonight. He's compiled a 2.81 FIP over his last four outings while allowing just 0.81 HR/9. Additionally, the lefty has held opponents to a 3.1% barrel rate during that span.

The St. Louis Cardinals counter with Kyle Leahy. He's been impressive lately, compiling a 2.85 xERA across his previous two starts. However, Leahy has allowed a 47.8% hard-hit rate, and he's up against a Braves lineup carrying a .252 ISO and 135 wRC+ over the last seven games.

Leahy's recent results could be difficult to sustain against a lineup producing this much power and overall offense.

I'll play this pick up to -120.

COVERS INTEL: Sale has a 2.54 FIP on the road, compared to a 3.26 mark at home this season. 

Braves vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-126)

We have a solid pitching matchup here, and both bullpens have held their own lately. Atlanta's relief corps owns a 3.88 FIP over the last week while allowing just 0.88 HR/9. The Cardinals aren't exactly thriving at the plate either, carrying a 90 wRC+ over their last eight games.

St. Louis' bullpen has compiled a 3.47 FIP across its last 33.1 innings while holding opponents to a 34% hard-hit rate and 0.54 HR/9.

Atlanta's offense is flourishing, and I expect some production, but Leahy's recent form could prevent a full explosion. Sale often works deep into games, and Atlanta's bullpen has been reliable.

I'll play this pick up to -140.

Braves vs Cardinals weather

Conditions will be warm and humid at Busch Stadium tonight, with temperatures around 87 degrees early before falling to 80 later in the evening. Winds will be very light at 1-3 mph, while rain chances range from 24% to 38%. A brief shower is possible, but weather should have limited impact overall.

Braves vs Cardinals odds

• Moneyline: Braves -150 | Cardinals +144
• Run line: Braves -1.5 (+133) | Cardinals +1.5 (-117)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+117) | Under 8.5 (-122)

Braves vs Cardinals trend

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This magic carpet ride that Luis Garcia Jr. is on just keeps going. His insane June has carried over into July, with the Nats first baseman slugging as much as ever. After he hit 11 homers in June, he already has 4 in July. The 26 year old has 10 homers in his last 15 games and 15 in his last 30.

I have never seen anything like this before, especially from a player whose previous career high in homers was 18. Garcia already has 20 home runs, 15 of which have come since June 5th. In his last 15 games, Garcia has a truly insane 1.567 OPS. You can just keep going with these numbers, but as Mark DeRosa put it, he has had a career year, and we have not even gotten to the All-Star Break.

There have been so many success stories on the offensive side of the ball. Choosing who the best story is changes by the day. Right now, you have to give that title to Garcia. He has always had an exciting combination of hitting ability and power, but has taken it to the next level this year. Garcia is doing that by swinging harder, hitting the ball harder, and not sacrificing any contact ability in the process.

To be more specific, Garcia’s bat speed is up 1.2 MPH, his average exit velocity is up 2 MPH and his whiff rate is actually down 2.7%. His bat speed is in the 67th percentile, the average exit velocity is in the 90th percentile and the whiff rate is in the 80th percentile. 

Spencer Nusbaum of the Athletic wrote a great article about Garcia and the Nats offense, where he also talked about just how rare his contact and power combination is. Garcia is one of six players with a hard hit rate over 45% and a whiff rate under 20%. Usually hitters have contact skills or power, but Garcia has both.

For a long time, most people including myself thought the key to unlocking Garcia was somehow finding a way to lower his chase rates. However, that is not what is happening here. Garcia is actually chasing more than ever, but his strengths have become so strong that it does not really matter. 

One other part of Spencer’s article that I really enjoyed was when he talked about Garcia’s personality. He is a goofy, fun loving guy who keeps things light in the locker room. Even from the outside, it is easy to see that Garcia is quite a bubbly guy. He is the player at the end of the Nats home run line in the dugout, at least when he is not hitting them. Garcia is often the player pouring water on guys in post game interviews or throwing sunflower seeds on them after homers.

Garcia can goof around, but he is also becoming more of a leader as well. He is the longest tenured National now, despite just turning 26. When I am in the locker room, I have noticed that other players gravitate towards him. This is especially true for other Spanish speaking players, but it is not just those guys.

It feels like the Nats new regime is letting Garcia be himself, and it is bringing out the best version of him. This version of Garcia is so much fun to watch. He is hitting homers almost every night and setting career highs in early July.

Despite all of this success, I doubt Garcia is going to start tonight. This has been happening for a couple years now, but Garcia does not play a whole lot against left handed pitching. He just does not perform as well, and the staff wants to put him in a position to succeed. It is frustrating to see a hitter this hot not play every day, but the numbers show this is the right move.

Garcia has always had big platoon splits, and this year is no different. He is hitting .300 with a .927 OPS against righties, but those numbers drop to .229 and .650 against left handers. Andres Chaparro has not proven to be the best platoon partner, but the Nats could have the perfect fit on the way in Yohandy Morales. 

Luis Garcia Jr. has suddenly become one of the most electric players in baseball. Honestly, it is quite surreal to watch. Garcia has always had clear talent as a hitter, but never put it together. Now, at 26 years old, many years into his big league career, that breakout has finally come.