The 2021 MLB Draft will begin on Sunday, July 11. Here is the first projection from Audacy Sports on how the top 10 picks will play out.
1. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jack Leiter - RHP, Vanderbilt University
Jack Leiter has had a tremendous collegiate career.
(George Walker IV / T/USA Today)
Leiter's starts for Vanderbilt have become must-watch; or at least forced you to turn on notifications for @PitchingNinja. A no-hitter highlights what has been a tremendous 2020 season for the electric righty, who has gone 7-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 11 starts. The Pirates have arguably the worst roster at the Major League level, but it's realistic to think that Leiter could join a young nucleus that could include Ke'Bryan Hayes and Nick Gonzales relatively soon.
2. Texas Rangers: Jordan Lawlar - SS, Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas (Texas)
Jon Daniels and the Rangers are trying to rebuild the franchise.
(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
There's a ton to like about Lawlar, an 18-year-old shortstop out of Dallas. He has a tremendous release on an arm that he seems very confident in. At the plate, he's going to run into some home runs, but he appears to be very aware that making consistent contact is what will butter his bread. It can be a lot of pressure to be drafted this high by a team in your home state, but Lawlar seems capable of handling such expectations and developing into a potential All-Star.
3. Detroit Tigers: Kumar Rocker - RHP, Vanderbilt University
Kumar Rocker has had a tremendous college career at Vanderbilt.
(George Walker IV / T/USA Today)
Rocker was a 38th-round pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2018, but he's going to parlay a three-year career at Vanderbilt into being a top-five pick this time around. In 188 2/3 career innings at the collegiate level, Rocker has a 2.77 ERA, having struck out 110 or more batters in his freshman and junior seasons. The Tigers have had a lean half decade, but they've turned that into employing five of MLB Pipeline's top 25 prospects. Rocker could join a team that appears primed to return to contention in the coming years, with Casey Mize and Matt Manning among the starters already in the organization.
4. Boston Red Sox: Marcelo Mayer - SS, East Lake High School (California)
Chaim Bloom is aiming to rebuild the Red Sox.
(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The last time that the Red Sox had a top-five pick was in 1967, when they selected right-hander Mike Gorman, who had relatively forgettable nine-year career spent primarily as a reliever. Given that they've jumped out to a hot start in 2021, the Red Sox probably won't be picking this high again anytime soon, which makes it that much more important for Chaim Bloom and company to nail this pick. Mayer is a left-handed hitter, but Prospects Live noted the similarities in his stance and mannerisms at the plate to four-time All-Star Manny Machado, which we haven't been able to unsee since. If whoever drafts him is able to tap into his power in a way like Machado, he'll be one of the best shortstops in the league.
5. Baltimore Orioles: Brady House - SS, Winder-Barrow High School (Georgia)
Mike Elias is the Orioles general manager.
(Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The Orioles have an OK history with drafting shortstops that can also play third base, and House could be the next in a line that already includes Cal Ripken Jr. and Manny Machado. MLB Pipeline says that House is likely to eventually move from shortstop to third base, but does praise his arm. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, House looks like a men among boys physically while playing at the high school level, and at age 18, probably isn't finished growing. Jake Tillinghast of Prospects Worldwide acknowledged some of the areas that House needs to improve at offensively, but still comped him to former World Series MVP Troy Glaus.
6. Arizona Diamondbacks: Henry Davis - C, Louisville University
Henry Davis is the top catching prospect in the 2021 class.
(Michael Clevenger/Co/USA Today)
In 41 games this season, Davis has hit .389 with 11 home runs, 43 RBIs and 29 walks. This comes after he hit .372 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Joe E. Doyle of Lookout Landing adds that Davis has "a cannon," suggesting that he believes that the 21-year-old will develop into a strong defensive catcher at the Major League level. In a sport with so few top-tier catchers, Davis has the potential to develop into one.
7. Kansas City Royals: Ty Madden - RHP, University of Texas
Dayton Moore and the Royals are hoping to return to contention.
(Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
While the Royals made some notable external additions last offseason - Carlos Santana, Andrew Benintendi, Michael A. Taylor - they built their 2015 World Series team through the farm, and that's still what allows them to sink or swim. The dominance that Madden flashed before COVID-19 ended the 2020 season prematurely has carried over into his junior season, as he has a 2.21 ERA in 69 1/3 innings, with opponents hitting just .190 off of him. We think he'd be a great addition to a crop of young arms that includes Asa Lacy, Daniel Lynch and Jackson Kowar.
8. Colorado Rockies: Sal Frelick - Center Fielder, Boston College
Coors Field is home of the Rockies.
(Garrett W. Ellwood/Getty Images)
The Rockies are essentially a blank slate right now. General manager Jeff Bridich resigned in late April, shortly after trading Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals. Whether it comes in a trade this summer or free agency after the season, Trevor Story's time in Colorado is probably waning as well. This is a team that's probably the favorite to have the No. 1 pick next year, and perhaps for a few years in a row. As the organization looks to reload, we've projected that they'll take Frelick, with MLB Pipeline noting that any team that uses a pick this on on the 5-foot-9 outfielder will be doing so with the expectation that he's going to be their long-term center fielder.
9. Los Angeles Angels - Sam Bachman - RHP, Miami University of Ohio
The Los Angeles Angels have the ninth pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
(Kirby Lee/USA Today)
This probably would have been Ole Miss righty Gunnar Hoglund before we learned that he needed Tommy John surgery. Instead, it opens the door for a late arriver in the form of Bachman, who has impressed scouts with a relatively noticeable improvement in his pitch repertoire. This would mark the second consecutive year that the Angels used their top pick on a starting pitcher, having selected lefty Reid Detmers out of Louisville last year.
10. New York Mets - Colton Cowser: Outfielder, Sam Houston State University
Sandy Alderson and the Mets own the 10th pick in the MLB Draft.
(Kirby Lee/USA Today)
The Mets have used three consecutive first-round picks on high school players, but we think they'll go the college route here, and select Cowser, a 6-foot-3, 195 outfielder that hits from the left side. Cowser has homered 13 times and driven in 39 runs in his junior season, and could be the eventual successor in center field if Brandon Nimmo isn't re-signed after the 2022 season.
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