2022 MLB Mock Draft | FanGraphs Baseball

Here’s a mock draft compiled utilizing a mix of trade rumors, deductive reasoning, and sample recognition of groups’ previous conduct. I am going down to select 40 in order that I get to the touch on each workforce no less than as soon as, however there’s solely verbiage explaining why I’ve mocked a participant to a workforce for the primary spherical. For those who’d wish to study extra concerning the gamers talked about right here, head over to The Board for rankings and scouting experiences. I’ll be chatting dwell throughout the draft this night at 4 PT/7 ET. Within the occasion that I study pertinent data in the course of the day, I’ll have a mock of simply names up shortly earlier than the draft.

1. Baltimore Orioles
Choose: Termarr Johnson, SS, Mays HS (GA)
Baltimore seemingly gained’t know who they’re taking till nearer to draft time, as they nonetheless have a couple of half-dozen names within the combine. It’s doable they, like most, view Druw Jones as one of the best participant within the draft, however common supervisor Mike Elias’ modus operandi has, excluding Adley Rutschman, been to chop an under-slot deal and reallocate the bonus pool house he saves to different picks. This draft is particularly deep, and there’s important alternative to do this. The important thing variable in forecasting this choose is: who among the many handful of gamers Baltimore is contemplating has incentive to chop the friendliest deal for the workforce’s technique? There are different vital elements (extra on that in a minute), however largely as a result of Johnson appears to have touchdown spots just a little later than others within the Orioles’ combine (Jackson Holliday may go No. 2 or 3, Brooks Lee may go No. 2 at a reduce of his personal and keep nearer to the West Coast, and Elijah Inexperienced is within the combine at No. 3), he has extra incentive to chop a deal however nonetheless make more cash than he in any other case would if he falls beneath that group.

The opposite stuff? The names that appear to be within the Orioles’ combine have attributes which are just a little scarier to make use of a 1.1 choose on (Elijah Inexperienced’s hit software and Brooks Lee’s harm historical past, specifically). Johnson’s bat-to-ball expertise make him really feel safer, he’s as seemingly (if no more so) to remain up the center of the sphere than everybody however Jones, and from my perspective, Termarr’s persona is the type that’s suited to cope with the strain and a spotlight that comes with being the primary choose. Not that the others don’t — Johnson simply has a manner about him that I believe is a separator. This choose projection is extra about triangulating one of the best match for this example moderately than something popping out of the Orioles, who, like Pittsburgh final 12 months, haven’t mentioned a factor. Once more, primarily based on how issues are being mentioned proper now, we gained’t make certain who they’re taking till very near draft time.

2. Arizona Diamondbacks
Choose: Druw Jones, CF, Wesleyan HS (GA)
If Jones goes first, then Jackson Holliday is the “finest participant accessible” plan of action for Arizona, and the participant I’d think about almost definitely to go right here. Given how cleanly Termarr Johnson suits into what Arizona has usually focused (compact, lefty-hitting, up-the-middle), I’m stunned how occasionally he’s talked about as an possibility right here. But when honest need had been identified, it’d make it extra seemingly that Jones goes first general moderately than falls right here, as Termarr would have much less incentive to chop a cope with Baltimore. If Arizona desires Jones, they’d be good to have stored curiosity in Johnson off the radar, and possibly we’re underrating the chance that that is true, however for those who informed me Druw goes No. 1, I’d nonetheless mock Holliday right here.

3. Texas Rangers
Choose: Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS (OK)
If Druw Jones goes first, and Jackson Holliday goes second, then the 2 names I’ve heard talked about listed below are IMG HS (FL) middle fielder Elijah Inexperienced and Georgia Tech thumper Kevin Parada.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates
Choose: Zach Neto, SS, Campbell
Baseball people suppose Pittsburgh is both going to chop an under-slot deal right here or draft with relative certainty in thoughts. Neto presents a mix of the 2. Kevin Parada is the safer possibility however most likely indicators for slot, as he’s more likely to go fifth if not right here. Chipola JC third baseman Cam Collier will get talked about with the Pirates lots, and since his subsequent potential touchdown spot appears to be the Cubs at choose No. 7, there can be a couple of $1.3 million distinction between the slot right here and what appears like Collier’s subsequent slot. However that’s additionally true of Neto, who can be subsequent talked about with the Cubs. The Marlins are usually described as being on “faculty bats,” however Neto hasn’t been laid out in conversations. Additionally, Pittsburgh has performed their playing cards extraordinarily near the vest underneath Ben Cherington, and the truth that Collier is freely and confidently talked about for them signifies misdirection to me.

5. Washington Nationals
Choose: Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
Too good to move up on this state of affairs, Parada is the one participant whose title has been talked about with Washington throughout my calls. LSU “third baseman” Jacob Berry has been described as “having houses all around the high 10” and it’s possible for him to go right here, however much less seemingly if Parada continues to be on the board.

6. Miami Marlins
Choose: Jacob Berry, DH, LSU
This has been described to me as Termarr Johnson’s flooring. As I point out within the Pirates blurb, groups are placing Miami on faculty bats, with Jacob Berry talked about particularly. That is additionally the primary place Virginia Tech middle fielder Gavin Cross is recommended as a chance.

7. Chicago Cubs
Choose: Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola JC
I’m undecided who they’d want if each Collier and Neto are right here. Age was a key variable throughout Carter Hawkins’ days in Cleveland and Collier checks that field in daring, maybe greater than any participant within the historical past of the draft (a 17-year-old enjoying on the Cape!?). Connor Prielipp has additionally come up right here, however I’m skeptical of that contemplating his stuff is much less data-friendly than it’s visually explosive, particularly his fastball. The Cubs must speak about Brooks Lee right here, as although they’re not a West Coast workforce, they do practice in Arizona. I’ve to suppose Berry can be a chance right here, simply primarily based on worth/probability, however that’s solely hypothesis on my half.

8. Minnesota Twins
Choose: Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
Lee would most likely be too good to move on right here, and if not, search for the Twins to chop with a school bat. Primarily based on speak later within the spherical, I don’t suppose Jace Jung is a kind of.

9. Kansas Metropolis Royals
Choose: Elijah Inexperienced, CF, IMG Academy (FL)
Bishop Gorman (NV) middle fielder Justin Crawford has additionally been talked about right here on an under-slot deal, however that feels much less seemingly now that the Royals traded a comp choose away, giving them a much less apparent place to reap the advantages from rolling that pool house.

10. Colorado Rockies
Choose: Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma
Horton is rock stable worth right here, although the Rockies had a ton of warmth in to see Michigan highschool right-hander Brock Porter late within the 12 months.

11. New York Mets (Choose for not signing 2021 first-round choose Kumar Rocker)
Choose: Brock Porter, SP, Orchard Lakes St. Mary’s HS (MI)
The Mets have to do no matter they’ll to establish what the Angels and Tigers are doing in between their two picks, to allow them to take the participant extra more likely to get popped in between right here, and let whomever they view as much less more likely to be taken fall. Justin Crawford and Rockwall-Heath HS (TX) SS/CF Jett Williams are talked about as potentialities, although I doubt they’d do each of them, and usually tend to diversify their class. Jace Jung may make sense for that motive, as he’s been talked about with Detroit.

12. Detroit Tigers
Choose: Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech
I believe they’d fortunately take Jacob Berry if he fell right here and so they’ve additionally been talked about as a possible touchdown spot for Alabama left-hander Connor Prielipp.

13. Los Angeles Angels
Choose: Kumar Rocker, SP, Tri-Valley Cats (Indy)
My sources talked about largely highschool pitching right here (Brock Porter, Dylan Lesko, Brandon Barriera, Robby Snelling), however this makes loads of sense. The Angels appear motivated to maneuver faculty pitching via the minors in a short time, and Rocker might solely have so many bullets left. He’s additionally carried out underneath immense strain and a spotlight prior to now — this isn’t somebody who could be overwhelmed by out of the blue becoming a member of an underachieving, star-studded workforce in certainly one of our largest media markets.

14. New York Mets
Choose: Jett Williams, CF, Rockwall-Heath HS (TX)

15. San Diego Padres
Choose: Gavin Cross, CF, Virginia Tech
I’ve additionally heard the Padres on Dylan Lesko and Kumar Rocker, although that could be people in baseball simply assuming the Padres would do the splashiest doable factor.

16. Cleveland Guardians
Choose: Cole Younger, SS, North Allegheny HS (PA)
That is extra about profile than sourced dope, as Younger is a slam dunk up-the-middle defender who carried out from a bat-to-ball standpoint all through his beginner profession. Dylan Lesko and Jett Williams have additionally been talked about right here.

17. Philadelphia Phillies
Choose: Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage HS (FL)
I don’t know if workforce personnel maintain suggesting the Phillies will take a highschool pitcher as a result of they’ve precise intel or as a result of the Phils have performed it within the final two years. Whereas Barriera, Brock Porter, and Robby Snelling in my view are all scarier from a supply standpoint than Andrew Painter and Mick Abel, some would think about them to be sturdy worth right here on upside.

18. Cincinnati Reds
Choose: Daniel Susac, C, Arizona
It appears like Jace Jung can be within the combine if he had been nonetheless round, as is Oklahoma shortstop Peyton Graham (although possibly within the comp spherical). Graham and Susac each have hit software danger. The Reds have comp picks (and so they’re certainly one of a pair groups who’ve referred to as round making an attempt to commerce for one more one — the deadline to amass one is 5 PM), however they haven’t gone out of their technique to transfer pool house round prior to now. It’s doable a workforce is making an attempt to maneuver Cade Horton into the comp spherical however the Reds have the pool house to play ball if that’s the case, and so they’d have to debate him if he had been nonetheless right here.

19. Oakland Athletics
Choose: Justin Crawford, CF, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)
I’ve no particular dope right here — that is me speculating primarily based on Oakland’s previous drafts. Crawford has an opportunity to develop into the kind of participant Oakland couldn’t in any other case purchase, and he’s no much less dangerous than the faculty outfielders who’re usually seen on this vary.

20. Atlanta Braves
Choose: Dylan Lesko, SP, Buford HS (GA)
There may be a lot of buzz that a part of Atlanta’s comp choose acquisition was to assist be sure that they may land Lesko, and that Lesko is motivated to be a Courageous. If their pocket will get picked, then Oklahoma right-hander Cade Horton (a tip-of-the-iceberg man with a two-way historical past, each Braves draft tendencies) and Tennessee right-hander Blade Tidwell are potentialities. Tidwell’s fastball form is rather less Braves-y.

21. Seattle Mariners
Choose: Drew Thorpe, SP, Cal Poly
Athletic, younger, command-oriented, and wielding good secondary stuff, Thorpe (in addition to Gonzaga righty Gabe Hughes, and several other different faculty pitchers) suits this mould. Seattle hasn’t shied from guys with sink/tail fastball form.

22. St. Louis Cardinals
Choose: Dylan Beavers, RF, California
A number of faculty outfielders are rumored to be within the Cardinals’ combine, together with Chase DeLauter and Drew Gilbert. Gabe Hughes or Drew Thorpe are each St. Louis’ latest sort, just like the traits talked about with Seattle.

23. Toronto Blue Jays
Choose: Cooper Hjerpe, SP, Oregon State
Hjerpe provides Toronto the quick-moving faculty arm they misplaced within the Matt Chapman commerce.

24. Boston Pink Sox
Choose: Chase DeLauter, RF, James Madison
I even have Jordan Beck connected to Boston, however with their second choose.

25. New York Yankees
Choose: Tyler Locklear, 1B, VCU
The Yankees don’t shrink back from small convention hitters in the event that they suppose that they’ll hit.

26. Chicago White Sox
Choose: Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama
Prielipp presents extra upside than is usually accessible down right here, and is also a candidate for the Garrett Crochet Therapy.

27. Milwaukee Brewers
Choose: Drew Gilbert, CF, Tennessee
Milwaukee loves contact-oriented up-the-middle gamers and low-release pitchers (Cooper Hjerpe is an excessive model however off the board right here).

28. Houston Astros
Choose: Tucker Toman, 2B, Hammond HS (SC)
That is proper within the space the place Toman can be thought-about signable for slot.

29. Tampa Bay Rays
Choose: Carson Whisenhunt, SP, East Carolina
For causes just like Prielipp and the White Sox.

30. San Francisco Giants
Choose: Sterling Thompson, RF, Florida
Thompson has probably the most steady hit software of the faculty outfielders remaining.

31. Colorado Rockies (Compensation for shedding Trevor Story in free company)
Choose: Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga

32. Cincinatti Reds (Compensation for shedding Nick Castellanos in free company)
Choose: Jud Fabian, CF, Florida

33. Baltimore Orioles
Choose: Owen Murphy, SP, Riverside-Brookfield HS (IL)

34. Arizona Diamondbacks
Choose: Dalton Speeding, C, Louisville

35. Atlanta Braves (Obtained from Royals via trade)
Choose: Cayden Wallace, 3B, Arkansas

36. Pittsburgh Pirates
Choose: Josh Kasevich, 3B, Oregon

37. Cleveland Guardians
Choose: Eric Brown, 2B, Coastal Carolina

38. Colorado Rockies
Choose: Blade Tidwell, SP, Tennessee

39. San Diego Padres
Choose: Peyton Graham, SS, Oklahoma

40. Los Angeles Dodgers (The Dodgers’ first choose dropped 10 spots as a result of exceeding aggressive steadiness tax thresholds)
Choose: Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Crowder Faculty