/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33370399/20120608_pjc_sj4_155.0.jpg)
Last time around, we had the Astros mixing things up at No. 1 by taking prep California lefty Brady Aiken, but the many whispers around the game are collecting to form a consensus that North Carolina State's Carlos Rodon is going to be an Astro. After the first pick however, things are still hazy with Evansville's Kyle Freeland and high school shortstop Nick Gordon pushing their way into consideration as top-five picks.
Tyler Kolek, a right handed prep arm from Texas, could go as high as No. 2 overall, but predictably the rest of his game has yet to catch up with his escape velocity fastball. Cubs president Theo Epstein went to see Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost in person this week. He's climbing draft boards rapidly, topping out at sixth on Kiley McDaniel's board. Grant Holmes is another name that keeps popping up due to triple-digit velocity and glowing reports from MLB.com's Jim Callis and ESPN's Keith Law.
mlb mock 1.0
A few highly touted prospects that could slip due to injury are East Carolina's Jeff Hoffman and UNLV's Erick Fedde. Both pitchers underwent Tommy John surgery this year, so they could slip into the middle of the first round. Teams with multiple picks in the top 50 -- like Kansas City and Cleveland, for example -- could take the risk of drafting inured, but promising prospects and choose to play it safe later in the draft. After all, it seems like every pitcher has to undergo the procedure, and given the improved success rate of the operation, drafting post-Tommy John arms could virtually equate to taking a prep arm in regard to a given player's development arc.
Rumors will certainly continue to circulate, and evaluators will continue to fall in love with different prospects. So, the draft could end up taking a very different form than the one below, but right now,
1. Houston Astros: Carlos Rodon, LHP, NC State
NCAA labor issues aren't just a football/basketball thing. NC State pitcher Carlos Rodon knows all too well: http://t.co/mDtZig2YX3
— SportsonEarth (@SportsonEarth) May 1, 2014
2. Miami Marlins: Brady Aiken, LHP, California HS
Officials from #Marlins will scout prep star Brady Aiken today. @MLBPipeline @JonathanMayoB3 @jimcallisMLB http://t.co/MDM6S7HXU1
— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) May 9, 2014
3. Chicago White Sox: Alex Jackson, C/3B/OF, California HS
alex jackson, big-time power prospect from SD area, moving up draft boards. may join rodon & aiken (sd too) in top 3
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) May 19, 2014
4. Chicago Cubs: Max Pentecost, C, Kennesaw State
Both VPs & the SD in 2 weeks ago. 6th on my board RT @jimcallisMLB Max Pentecost keeps rising; Cubs prez Theo Epstein checked him out today.
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) May 21, 2014
5. Minnesota Twins: Nick Gordon, SS, Florida HS
Harold Reynolds on Nick Gordon on MLB Network just now: "I've been hearing he could go as high as #4 to Minnesota."
— Eric Longenhagen (@longenhagen) May 17, 2014
6. Seattle Mariners: Tyler Kolek, RHP, Texas HS
2014 MLB Draft: Tyler Kolek the popular pick for White Sox http://t.co/y6OgQQ98qr
— South Side Sox (@SouthSideSox) May 16, 2014
7. Philadelphia Phillies: Grant Holmes, RHP, South Carolina HS
Video Of The Day: Grant Holmes http://t.co/OufgrMIbyy
— Matt Grabusky (@MattGrabuskyBLF) May 17, 2014
8. Colorado Rockies: Bradley Zimmer, OF, San Francisco
San Diego's Rancho Bernardo High C Alex Jackson & U of San Francisco CF Brad Zimmer are the non pitchers on Astros short list for 1-1.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) May 8, 2014
9. Toronto Blue Jays: Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU
Aaron Nola. @JerryDurneyPBP: from this upcoming @MLBdraft class, who would be the most likely to make a major league impact the earliest?
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) May 19, 2014
10. New York Mets: Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State
That was a nice barehanded play by Conforto on the bunt. #gobeavs http://t.co/atPiOVsE1W
— Beaver Baseball (@Beaver_Baseball) May 21, 2014
11. Toronto Blue Jays: Touki Toussaint, RHP, Florida HS
Great Article on Touki Toussaint by http://t.co/pmHOD8ZoOo writer Jonathan Mayo...... http://t.co/I3UXUF2c2v
— CSCA Crusaders (@CSCA_Crusaders) May 20, 2014
12. Milwaukee Brewers: Kyle Freeland, RHP, Evansville
.@UEAcesBaseball’s Kyle Freeland: #MVCBaseball Pitcher of the Year. pic.twitter.com/3e6PUxIJ4R
— Missouri Valley (@MVCsports) May 19, 2014
13. San Diego Padres: Tyler Beede, Vanderbilt
VIDEO: Pitcher Tyler Beede Postgame http://t.co/QYS7gJA6iu
— VandyBaseball (@VandyBaseball) May 16, 2014
14. San Francisco Giants: Trea Turner, SS, NC State
Trea Turner hits 3-run HR, begins home run trot by punching the umpire.
— Michael Baumann (@MJ_Baumann) May 20, 2014
15. Los Angeles Angels: Kyle Schwarber, C/1B, Indiana
#B1GBaseball first team C Kyle Schwarber during today's practice in Omaha - http://t.co/wKvHUFGJyz #iubase
— Indiana Baseball (@IUBaseballNews) May 21, 2014
16. Arizona Diamondbacks: Sean Newcomb, LHP, Hartford
.@FPilierePG has this really nice piece on @UHartBaseball LHP Sean Newcomb (@SeanNewk): http://t.co/ii8yD72Ynh #mlbdraft (CBT$)
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogersPG) May 12, 2014
17. Kansas City Royals: Jeff Hoffman, RHP, ECU
heres why rhp jeff hoffman should still go in top 10 picks even after tommy john surgery yesterday http://t.co/TNYWlbapE9
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) May 15, 2014
18. Washington Nationals: Casey Gillaspie, 1B, Wichita State
.@ShockerBaseball’s Casey Gillaspie: Joe Carter #MVCBaseball Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/6xuj0pCa6D
— Missouri Valley (@MVCsports) May 19, 2014
19. Cincinnati Reds: Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU
Congrats to Brandon Finnegan, who has been named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. He is one of 35 players named today.
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) May 15, 2014
20. Tampa Bay Rays: Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Florida HS
One of my favorite pitchers to watch in the 2014 draft, now in slow-motion. RT @SoCalSteve9 Sean Reid-Foley 200 fps: http://t.co/orTwVTrndG
— Driveline Baseball (@drivelinebases) May 14, 2014
21. Cleveland Indians: Erick Fedde, RHP, UNLV
#UNLV announces that RHP Erick Fedde is done for the year. As expected, torn UCL is the official injury. TJ surgery coming. #mlbdraft
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogersPG) May 10, 2014
22. Los Angeles Dodgers: Derek Hill, OF, California HS
New: 2014 MLB Draft profile: OF Derek Hill, Elk Grove HS http://t.co/uPnR1BgjF2 #dodgers by @DustinNosler
— Dodgers Digest (@DodgersDigest) May 20, 2014
23. Detroit Tigers: Braxton Davidson, 1B/OF, North Carolina HS
2014 MLB Draft Profile: Braxton Davidson, 1B/OF, Arden, NC High School by @mattgarrioch #mlbdraft http://t.co/3zKuiNouMJ
— Matt Garrioch (@mattgarrioch) October 26, 2013
24. Pittsburgh Pirates: Monte Harrison, OF, Missouri HS
Hey you should read my piece about who the Royals might take in the June draft. Local athlete Monte Harrison included http://t.co/zR2XRpeMSd
— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) May 1, 2014
25. Oakland Athletics: Michael Chavis, 3B/2B, Georgia HS
2014 MLB Draft Profile- Michael Chavis, 3B/2B, Sprayberry HS (GA) http://t.co/SQxXGD2dUZ
— Mr. Crawfish (@CrawfishBoxes) May 22, 2014
26. Boston Red Sox: Jacob Gatewood, SS, California HS
What to make of Jacob Gatewood (@Jake_Gatewood2) http://t.co/3MXxpGx81W @MLBDraft @MLBPipeline
— Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayoB3) May 19, 2014
27. St. Louis Cardinals: Nick Burdi, RHP, Louisville
If nothing else, check out the video in UTK this week showing Nick Burdi hitting 103. Ridiculous velo and not even likely to go in first rd!
— Will Carroll (@injuryexpert) May 7, 2014