2011 Mock Draft V. 1.0

1. Pittsburgh Pirates – Gerrit Cole, RHP (UCLA)

Why: Cole has the highest upside of any pitcher of the draft and the Pirates don’t seem to thrilled about Rendon, the only position player worthy of this spot. Cole will look great with Taillon, Allie, and Heredia.

2. Seattle Mariners – Anthony Rendon, 3B (Rice)

Why: The Mariners now have two legit aces in their starting rotation with King Felix and Pineda, but their offense is abysmal. After taking Ackley last year, Rendon gives them another bat to put with Smoak and create a very good infield.

3. Arizona Diamondbacks – Danny Hultzen, LHP (Virginia)

Why: The Diamondbacks have been linked to Hulzten for a while and with two top 10 picks he gives them a very good player who should sign for slot and give them some flexibility with their other pick.

4. Baltimore Orioles – Dylan Bundy, RHP (OwassoHS,OK)

Why: Dylan and Bobby. Not quiet the same as Jack and Bobby, but the Orioles I am sure would be happy with their brother combo. Orioles have not been a team to shy away from high demands (see Weiters, Matt and Machado, Manny)

5. Kansas City Royals – Trevor Bauer, RHP (UCLA)

Why: The Royals reportedly want a college pitcher and Bauer is the best one on the board. There is every chance they go for Jed Bradley or go for the upside in Bubba Starling, but this makes the most sense to me.

6. Washington Nationals – Alex Meyer, RHP (Kentucky)

Why: This seems to be the popular choice for the Nationals and why I do not know. Meyer has talent, but has not been productive in the slightest in college. He made small improvements this year, but not know for a top 10 selection for me.

7. Arizona Diamondbacks – Francisco Lindor, SS (HS, FL)

Why: After taking the college lefty the DBacks select the best middle infield prep bat in the draft. Lindor gives the DBacks a nice balance in their picks and a very high upside player who will stick at shortstop.

8. Cleveland Indians – Sonny Gray, RHP (Vanderbilt)

Why: The most underrated of all the top college arms. Draws the Roy Oswalt comps for good reasons with his combination of size and stuff. Will create a great left/right combo with Drew Pomeranz.

9. Chicago Cubs – Bubba Starling, OF (Gardner, KS)

Why: The Cubs get a steal here talent wise with Bubba. When it is all said and done he can be the best position player from this draft the question just is how much will he cost?

10. San Diego Padres – Jed Bradley, LHP (Georgia Tech)

Why: With two first round picks and this one being unprotected the Padres need to draft a sure sign. They Padres still get good value with Bradley.

11. Houston Astros – Taylor Jungmann, RHP (Texas)

Why: A match made in heaven. The Astros get a big talented starter who should get to the big leagues quickly and happens to be a homegrown player.

12. Milwaukee Brewers – Taylor Guerrieri, RHP (HS, SC)

Why: The Brewers killed their system with trades this off-season and have a big chance to rebuild it. This pick reminds me of the Brewers’s 2008 draft pick Jake Odorizzi that has worked out quiet well.

13. New York Mets – Matt Barnes, RHP (UConn)

Why: It is still unseen if the new management will chance the philosophy and be big spenders. The Mets have also run into some financial trouble and Barnes creates a happy middle ground.

14. Florida Marlins – Blake Swihart, C (HS, NM)

Why: The Marlins love prep players and while the last high school catcher they took in the first round hasn’t worked out (Kyle Skipworth) Swihart has a completely different skill set. Wouldn’t rule out Archie Bradley.

15. Milwaukee Brewers – Archie Bradley, RHP (HS, KS)

Why: The Brewers make a huge splash with their second pick by getting two of the top three prep right-handers in the entire draft. Hefty cost, but worth the price.

16. Los Angeles Dodgers – Tyler Anderson, LHP (Oregon)

Why: They spent big last year in the first round, but the financial issues are much worse and there are no notable two sport starts that will enable them to spread out the money if Bradely and Starling are gone. Anderson is a polished lefty who will sign for slot.

17. Los Angeles Angels – George Springer, OF (UConn)

Why: The Angels love tools and Springer is the toolsiest player left despite being a college player. A great talent to pick up in the middle of the first round.

18. Oakland Athletics – Daniel Norris, LHP (HS, TN)

Why: Not the traditional Athletics draft pick. They haven’t taken a high school player since 2001 (Jeremy Bonderman) so why not celebrate the 10 year anniversary right. This one is a gut feeling.

19. Boston Red Sox – Andrew Susac, C (Oregon State)

Why: The Red Sox could use a catcher and Susac is the surest one in the draft. If they don’t pick him here the Sox will be sure to grab him at No. 26 should he fall.

20. Colorado Rockies – Kolten Wong, 2B (Hawaii)

Why: The Rockies love college bats and have a need for a second baseman. Wong is an all-around solid player who should find his way to the big leagues without a problem.

21. Toronto Blue Jays – Javier Baez, SS/3B (HS, FL)

Why: The Blue Jays have done big things in the draft lately and Baez goes along with the high ceiling players they have been drafting. They went pitching heavy in 2010 so taking a talented batter will create a good balance.

22. St. Louis Cardinals – Josh Bell, OF (HS, TX)

Why: The Cardinals love toolsy players that fall a bit and are never afraid of a high price tag. Bell has the potential to develop into a top notch bat for the Cards.

23. Washington Nationals – Jose Fernandez,RHP (HS,FL)

Why: A power armed righty with a terrific fastball/slider combo. The Nationals need pitching at the big league level and this draft will help stack their farm system.

24. Tampa Bay Rays – Brain Goodwin, OF (Miami Dade JC)

Why: The first of many picks for the Rays. The Rays are great at developing players, which makes picking the toolsy outfielder a smart move for them.

25. San Diego Padres – Mikie Mahtook, OF (LSU)

Why: An organization that loves production gets another productive college player who fell a bit in the draft.

26. Boston Red Sox - Matt Purke, LHP (TCU)

Why: I don’t see him falling completely out of the first round and whichever team picks him will screw up everybody’s mock drafts, but the Sox are the most logical choice after taking Ranaudo last year.

27. Cincinnati Reds – Anthony Meo,RHP (Coastal Carolina)

Why: The Reds could use some pitching and while Meo doesn’t have much projectability left he is already talented enough to make an impact. Has the stuff to play in Great American Ball Park.

28. Atlanta Braves – Brandon Nimmo, OF (HS, WY)

Why: The Braves are one of the toughest teams to predict, but Nimmo has that feel of a payer they draft and turn into a stud.

29. San Francisco Giants – Henry Owens, LHP (HS, CA)

Why: The Giants have had success with first round high school pitchers in the past (see Cain, Matt and Bumgarner, Madison) so why not take the hometown guy with a TON of projectability.

30. Minnesota Twins – Cory Spangenberg, 2B (Indian River State)

Why: The Twins have no problem making somewhat controversial selections and Spangenberg has a similar hit tool to that of Ben Revere. Just seems like a “Twins guy”.

31. Tampa Bay Rays – Levi Michael, SS (UNC)

Why: Sure the Rays love upside, but with so many picks they will have plenty of chances to go over slot and taking some talented college players doesn’t hurt.

32. Tampa Bay Rays – Robert Stephenson, RHP (HS, CA)

Why: A power right-handed pitcher that the Rays appear to covet. Has some very high upside and shouldn’t be terribly hard to sign.

33. Texas Rangers – Travis Harrison, 3B/OF (HS, KS)

Why: Harrison has an enormous power bat with the only question mark being his defense. By being drafted to an American League team the DH position is always a possibility.