With the draft approaching on June 10th and 11th, it is mock draft central around the baseball world. At Pitcher List, we wanted to throw our hat in the ring. Here’s how we did it, each participant picked a few teams and made the picks for that team, including the blurb of that pick.
Here’s the list of who did the picking/writing for each team:
Trevor Hooth – DET, SD, CHC, STL
Andy Patton – BAL, SEA, MIL
Hunter Denson – MIA, BOS, ATL, HOU
Alex Isherwood – KC, SF, CLE, NYY
Shelly Verougstraete – TOR, CIN, WAS
Jamie Sayer – PIT, COL
Travis Sherer – LAA, CWS, TB
Adam Garland – TEX, ARI, OAK, LAD
Nicklaus Gaut – PHI, NYM, MIN
So, without any further adieu, here is the 2020 Pitcher List Mock Draft for picks 1-72!
Round 1
1) Tigers: 1B Spencer Torkelson
There are many mock drafts that have Detroit going this route. They need a middle of the order bat, and Tork is potentially the most talented bat in this class.
2) Orioles: SS Austin Martin
The first two picks are almost certainly going to be Torkelson and Martin, and the Orioles would be thrilled to get their five-tool shortstop of the future in this draft.
3) Marlins: LHP Asa Lacy
Welcome to Miami Asa Lacy! Landing the best pitcher in the draft is always a good thing and Lacy has the chance to be a game-changer for the Marlins. His lethal arsenal fits right in with fellow Miami farmhands Sixto Sanchez and Edward Cabrera, giving the Marlins a potential rotation to dream on in the coming seasons.
4) Royals: 2B Nick Gonzales
Gonzales lacks the athleticism of other top middle infield prospects, but his pure hitting ability stands up with the best of them. He was one of the most productive hitters in the country, putting up ridiculous numbers at every stop over the course of his college career.
5) Blue Jays: RHP Emerson Hancock
The Blue Jays have some interesting young pitching talent in their system but adding Hancock and his steady production makes him one of the “safest” pitching prospects they will have in their system.
6) Mariners: OF Zac Veen
The Mariners have a plethora of young pitching talent, and should be willing to gamble on the ridiculous upside of Veen, who could be a Christian Yelich type if it all clicks at the next level.
7) Pirates: LHP Reid Detmers
Detmers is one of the safer college arms but don’t let that fool you. Detmers features a nasty 12-6 curveball that might be the best in the class and the Pirates will take a pitcher they believe can be a mid-rotation guy.
8) Padres: OF Robert Hassell III
Hassell is a good lefty bat and will likely wind up in a corner outfield spot. The biggest thing that connects these two is that San Diego really loves prep players.
9) Rockies: OF Heston Kjerstad
A dream scenario, Kjerstad going to the Rockies would be a ton of fun. He could hit absolute missiles in Coors Field if he can overcome his potential strikeout issues and could become a fantasy monster.
10) Angels: RHP Max Meyer
To put it politely, the Angels’ pitching is terrible. I’m generally against an organization drafting to fill a need but if Billy Eppler does not pick a pitcher in the first round, it better be because Torkelson dropped 10 spots. Not only do the Angels need pitching, but they need it fast. That means they need a college arm. Enter Max Meyer. He has the best fastball/slider combo in the draft. The only question is whether the changeup gets better. Hopefully it will, and it will be fast they ever want Trout get another sniff at the playoffs.
11) White Sox: RHP Mick Abel
Itialian beef is all over the floor in the offices of Guarantee Rate Field after the White Sox saw Mick Abel fall out of the top 10. Prep pitchers don’t come along this advanced very often. He already has two plus pitches (fastball/curve) and the potential for a plus changeup. He sits mid 90s with better control than most 18-year-olds. For a team that is on the cusp of competing, Abel represents a “pick the best player” mantra.
12) Reds: LHP Garrett Crochet
The Reds said “Hook me up” when they selected Garrett Crochet. He might have some of the best stuff in the entire draft class but lacks the track record that some of the earlier selected pitchers have.
13) Giants: OF Garrett Mitchell
Mitchell has some of the best tools in the draft class and answered concerns about his contact ability by slashing his K% over the course of his college career. While he hasn’t tapped into his raw power much in games yet, Mitchell’s speed and defense give him a strong foundation even without a swing change.
14) Rangers: RHP Cade Cavalli
Cavalli’s combination of power fastball/curve along with clean mechanics are too much to turn down for an organization starved for quality pitching. Having started his college career as a 1st baseman, he’s relatively new to pitching as his main focus and he was finally figuring things out before the season shut down. He posted impressive marks of a 14.07 K/9 against a 1.90 BB/9 this past season, highlighting an upside that few in the college pitching class can match.
15) Phillies: C Patrick Bailey
The Phillies may have the best catcher in baseball but J.T. Realmuto will be a free agent in 2021 and it’s unlikely that Philadelphia will break the bank to sign the 30-year-old to a long-term deal. With little else at catcher in the system, Patrick Bailey seems tailor-made for Philadelphia’s long-term plans. The top catcher in this year’s class, Bailey may struggle with contact at times but is a switch-hitter with elite defensive skills. That gives him the really high floor you want if selecting a catcher in the first round.
16) Cubs: RHP Jared Kelley
The Cubs need an influx of talent and if a prep arm with the talent of Kelley, it’s going to be hard to pass up. The easy upper 90’s velocity and a nice changeup make him a very good option for Chicago here.
17) Red Sox: OF Austin Hendrick
Pitching was the priority heading into this draft, but the Red Sox pivoted to select Mississippi State commit Austin Hendrick once their preferred arms went off the board. Hendrick has incredible power and the chance to develop into an impact bat. He has some strikeout worries that need to be ironed out but few have the offensive potential he possesses.
18) Diamondbacks: RHP Nick Bitsko
In recent years, the D-backs have been trending towards higher upside selections in the early rounds, OFer Corbin Carroll and LHP Blake Walston being examples. The 6 foot 4, 225 lbs 17 year-old high-school RHP Nick Bitsko fits that upside criteria. He features a power 3 pitch mix along with advanced feel and command, all suggesting that this could be a great value pick for the D-backs.
19) Mets: RHP Cole Wilcox
The Metropolitans farm system is currently well-stocked with position players but the pitching pond has little in the way of a big catch, instead offering a school of backend starters and future relievers. Given the health, age, and general mediocrity of their non-deGrom big league rotation, New York needs new pitching blood, and fast. Wilcox was a likely first-rounder two year ago before committing to Georgia and was dominant in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The six-foot-five right-hander struck out 32 batters and walked only two in 23.2 innings, posting a 1.57 ERA and going 3-0 in his four starts. Wilcox sits 93-97 mph but can dial it up to 100 mph and features an above-average changeup and power slider, both of which could be plus pitches.
20) Brewers: RHP C.J. Van Eyk
The Brewers have not had a ton of luck developing pitching talent in recent years, but I like them to take a gamble on C.J. Van Eyk, who possesses an explosive arsenal that could make him a frontline starter with more durability, or at least a lights out reliever with his fastball/curveball combo that resembles another Florida product, Lance McCullers.
21) Cardinals: OF Pete Crow-Armstrong
This Cardinals regime has a history of taking the best available player. In this case, Crow-Armstrong is the one that fell to them, so that is who they wind up with in this mock. PCA is an athletic prep bat who had a lot of traction, but has slipped recently.
22) Nationals: SS Ed Howard
The Nationals shocked the world by not selecting a pitcher with their first pick of the draft. Howard might be the best prep shortstop in the draft and adds a depleted Nationals farm system.
23) Indians: C Tyler Soderstrom
With plus raw power and bat to ball skills, Soderstrom makes for one of the most exciting prep bats available. Moving off catcher early could allow him to progress much faster through the minor leagues.
24) Rays: C Dillon Dingler
The Rays love to draft looking for unique tool sets. Dillon Dingler can hit and he can field all over the diamond. If they get Dingler, they could be hoping for the 2nd coming of Ben Zobrist — who can also play catcher — who can also steal bases.
25) Braves: 3B Jordan Walker
Walker, a Georgia native, will not have to travel far to begin his professional career with the Braves. The 6′ 5″ third baseman has immense power potential and generated exit velocities in the 98th percentile per Perfect Game. He also hit 93 on the mound and should have no trouble making throws from the hot corner.
26) Athletics: RHP Bryce Jarvis
Jarvis seems like an ideal fit for the A’s organization, offering a quality 4 pitch mix and advanced control that should allow him to move quickly through the system. With the organization’s emphasis on quality changeups from their pitchers (think Jesus Luzardo and Daulton Jefferies), Jarvis certainly fits the bill with well above-average grades on the pitch. Jarvis’ short track record should help him get to the A’s selection here.
27) Twins: RHP Slade Cecconi
Minnesota is loaded on offense at both the big league and minor league level, with Royce Lewis, Alex Kiriloff, and Trevor Larnach highlighting an impressive farm system. There are solid arms like Jhoan Duran and Jordan Balzovic but the farms got a little thinner with the trade of Brusdar Graterol to Los Angeles this past offseason in a trade for Kenta Maeda. The sophomore-eligible Cecconi would be a solid addition, working up in the zone with a fastball that sits easy in the mid-90s. He has also features a slider and cutter but the pitches can bleed together in their movement and Cecconi will need to make them more distinct in order to take the next step.
28) Yankees: RHP Clayton Beeter
Beeter possesses the sort of arsenal that could make him an impact reliever almost immediately, though that’s not necessarily his future role. His high-90’s fastball and elite spin breaking ball should play somewhere in a major league pitching staff.
29) Dodgers: 2B Justin Foscue
The Dodgers are an organization that really values the hit tool, and with the changes to the draft format this year and the push that college performers are expected to recieve up draft boards, Foscue should be considered a value selection at this point. He’s proven to be a standout in the SEC with a .338/.402/.582 batting line last year with 14 HRs. Before the season was cut short this year, he had put up a .302/449/.491 battling line with a cool 15:3 walk to strikeout ratio highlighting his plus contact skills and ability to command the strikezone.
Competitive Balance A
30) Orioles: RHP Carson Montgomery
The Orioles rebuild doesn’t appear to be in a major hurry, so they can afford to take the 17-year-old right-hander Carson Montgomery and let him develop at his own pace. He’s got the size, velocity and “stuff” to be a mid-rotation arm pretty easily, and with plenty of time to develop, he could even end up as a front of the line guy.
31) Pirates: SS Casey Martin
The Pirates have had success taking a MI in the early rounds recently and won’t buck the trend taking arguably the toolsiest shortstop in the draft in Martin. He comes with a lot of risk, as he more than likely moves off short and has seen his power numbers decline through college but he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t. Pirates gamble on the upside here.
32) Royals: C Austin Wells
Wells is one of the top college bats regardless of position, though catcher is unlikely to be his long term home. His combination of power, plate discipline, and contact ability give him a solid chance of being a productive major league hitter.
33) Diamondbacks: OF Isaiah Greene
Continuing in the line of upside plays for the D-backs organization, Isaiah Greene arrives offering a dynamic mix of elite speed and above-average contact skills that give him a shot to play an everyday CF. While still raw, Greene’s hand-eye coordination and feel for the barrel is impressive, and if he can learn to elevate the ball more frequently and hit for a bit of power, he could be an easy top 100 prospect.
34) Padres: RHP Jared Jones
The Padres take another prep player in the CBA. He works with an upper 90’s fastball with a slider. He’s got athleticism, but some command issues. Still, he’s got a ton of upside at this spot.
35) Rockies: RHP Carmen Mlodzinski
A pitcher that could work better in Coors than most, Mlodzinski features sink on his fastball that will help keep the ball on the ground. Deception in his delivery will help against lefties and as long as his slider and changeup progress, he could be a mid rotation guy.
36) Indians: OF Daniel Cabrera
To pair with the high risk, high reward selection of Soderstrom in the first round, Cabrera is a high probability major league contributor with less athleticism. His bat to ball skills are among the best in the draft class, and there’s at least average power with some upside here.
37) Rays: 1B Aaron Sabato
I think Sabato ends up going earlier than this because front offices (or at least teams who haven’t furloughed their front offices) realize that the time of a universal DH is here. Guys like Aaron Sabato have more value than they did pre-Coronavirus. The UNC sophomore can rake. He has the bat to eventually justify a spot in the Rays lineup, or whichever NL team who needs a DH they trade him to.
Round 2
38) Tigers: SS Nick Loftin
39) Orioles: 3B Yohandy Morales
40) Marlins: SS Jordan Westburg
41) Royals: RHP Bobby Miller
42) Blue Jays: LHP Jared Shuster
43) Mariners: SS Carson Tucker
44) Pirates: LHP Dax Fulton
45) Padres: C Kevin Parada
46) Rockies: SS Alika Williams
47) White Sox: LHP Logan Allen
48) Reds: 3B Gage Workman
49) Giants: RHP/SS Masyn Winn
50) Rangers: OF Chase Davis
51) Cubs: C Drew Romo
52) Mets: RHP J.T. Ginn
53) Brewers: OF Parker Chavers
54) Cardinals: SS Freddy Zamora
55) Nationals: OF Enrique Bradford
56) Indians: RHP Chris McMahon
57) Rays: INF Zavier Warren
58) Athletics: OF Alerick Soularie
59) Twins: 1B Blaze Jordan
60) Dodgers: RHP Cole Henry
Competitive Balance B
61) Marlins: LHP Nick Swiney
62) Tigers: LHP Luke Little
63) Cardinals: LHP Ian Seymour
64) Mariners: RHP Tanner Burns
65) Reds: RHP Nick Garcia
66) Dodgers: OF Jace Bohrofen
Compensation Picks
67) Giants: RHP Justin Lange
68) Giants: OF Zach DeLoach
69) Mets: OF Petey Halpin
70) Cardinals: SS Harold Coll
71) Nationals: OF David Calabrese
72) Astros: RHP Christian Roa
Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Michael Packard (@designsbypack on Twitter & IG)