MLB Mock Draft roundup 23 players likely

Front offices acro s baseball are hoping the players they pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft will one day wind up playing in the annual All-Star events, like the Futures Game or the Home Run Derby or the actual All-Star Game.For this years draft picks, at least theyll get their pro careers kickstarted at the All-Star gala. For the first time, MLB has moved its draft from early June to mid-July, and it will be held a few blocks away from where all the on-field action is happening in Denver.Chances are, you might not know a lot of the names of the players who will be picked unle s you follow Pitching Ninja on Twitter; he shows a lot of Vanderbilt pitchers Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker so our goal today is to help you get to know a bit about these players.Using four different respected mock drafts (June 30; Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo), (June 25; Carlos Collazo and others), (July 6; Eric Longenhagen and Kevin Goldstein), (July 9; Edward Sutelan) and (July 9; Keith Law) heres a list of 20-plus players likely to be picked in the first round, along with a note telling you where each player is in each mock draft.RELATED Minnesota Vikings Accessories : Mock spots: MLB: 1, BA: 1, TA: 1, FG: 1, SN: 1Need to know: A lot of the talk in the past few months has been about how there really isnt a clear-cut No. 1 pick in this draft, but all four of our mocks have Mayer in the top spot. Both Jim Callis of MLB.com and The Athletics Keith Law indicate the Pirates are only looking at position players right now, which seems to take Vanderbilts Jack Leiter out of the Janarius Robinson Jersey equation. Hes a shortstop who bats lefty, with outstanding hit and glove tools (obviously, which is why hes here). Mock spots: MLB: 6, BA: 2, TA: 6, FG: 6, SN: 7Need to know: Lawlar is actually tops on Baseball Americas draft prospect rankings. : Because hes coming out of Texas two years after Bobby Witt Jr. (and like Witt hes nearly 19 on draft day), Lawlar draws understandable comparisons. Witt had louder tools almost acro s the board with the exception of the hit tool, but Lawlar has plenty of plus tools himself, with future 60 speed (hell turn in 70 times right now) to go with 60 hit, a 60 glove and an above-average arm and future power. Hes a Vanderbilt commit, which is worth noting. Mock spots: MLB: 2, BA: 4, TA: 3, FG: 2, SN: 2Need to know: Once upon a time, Jack Leiter was mostly known as the son of former big league pitcher and current MLB Network analyst Al Leiter. Then, he earned a reputation as one of the top prep pitching prospects ahead of the 2019 MLB Draft. His commitment to Vandy and bonus demands scared teams away, and he wasnt picked until the Yankees took a flier on him in the 20th round. He didnt sign, obviously. Then with Vandy he quickly earned the reputation as one of the very best pitchers in college baseball; he had a 1.72 ERA in 15 2/3 innings as a freshman before the sport shut down because of the pandemic. In 2021, Leiter finished with a 2.08ERA and171 strikeouts in 104innings. Mock spots: MLB: 3, BA: 3, TA: 11, FG: 9, SN: 3Need to know: Jobe has dynamic stuff, but theres more of a risk taking a prep pitcher with a great arm than a college pitcher with a great arm. Thats part of the reason you see him at No. 3 on two mock drafts, and around 10 on the others. : Jobe arguably has the best single pitch in the draft with a slider that has earned some 80 grades, but comes with all of the usual risks attached to high school arms. He has one of the bigger ranges of outcomes at this time, but its hard to see him falling out of the top 10. Mock spots: MLB: 4, BA: 6, TA: 4, FG: 4, SN: 6Need to know: The draft experts are split on where Davis might land, but theres one thing they agree on: Davis will be the first college Adam Thielen Jersey bat taken in the draft. The fact that hes a catcher? Thats a combo that will certainly keep him in the top 10 picks. Mock spots: MLB: 5, BA: 5, TA: 5, FG: 8, SN: 4Need to know: Have you noticed a common thread so far? Watson is the third prep shortstop weve talked about already, and were not done with that position yet. Great tools, but at 5-9, he doesnt have the size of Mayer (6-3) or Lawlar (6-2). Mock spots: MLB: 7, BA: 7, TA: 2, FG: 7, SN: 9Need to know: Rocker came into this season in the conversation for the 1-1 draft spot, largely because he was a known prospect with his succe s at Vanderbilt, and there was so much unknown about potential draft picks with most of the 2020 Rashod Hill Jersey season lost to the pandemic. Rocker has been very good again in 2021, but hes dropped a few spots and isnt generally considered as a po sible selection in the top three or four picks. Mock spots: MLB: 8, BA: 8, TA: 7, FG: 3, SN: 8Need to know: Yep, heres the fourth prep shortstop likely to go in the first 10 picks. FanGraphs has him highest, : This one feels like the first wild card, but House provides a high school bat who some scouts have put the rare combo of plus bat/plus power on. Davis is in the mix here as well, as would be Mayer or Lawlar if one is still on the board. Mock spots: MLB: 9, BA: 11, TA: 13, FG: 14, SN: 11Need to know: Madden is seen as the best college arm outside of the Vandy duo; along with guys like Sam Bachman of Miami (Ohio) and Will Bednar of Mi si sippi State. Madden struck out 137 in 113 2/3 innings for the Longhorns this year, holding opposing batters to a .188 average and helping Texas get within one win of the College World Series title matchup. Mock spots: MLB: 12, BA: 12, TA: 10, FG: 10, SN: 12Need to know: McClain mi sed Greg Joseph Jersey time with a broken thumb this season, but still managed to impre s scouts with his productive bat. He might not have the upside of the prep shortstops, but hes still a solid potential pick right around the 10 range.Sal Frelick, OF, Boston CollegeMock spots: MLB: 10, BA: 10, TA: 14, FG: 12, SN: 16Colton Cowser, OF, Sam HoustonMock spots: MLB: 15, BA: 15, TA: 12, FG: 5, SN: 14Sam Bachman, RHP, Miami (Ohio)Mock spots: MLB: 17, BA: 20, TA: 10, FG: 11, SN: 17Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land High (Lewisberry, Pa.)Mock spots: MLB: 21, BA: 13, TA: 8, FG: 17, SN: 13Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas StateMock spots: MLB: 16, BA: 16, TA: 28, FG: 15, SN: n/aHarry Ford, C, North Cobb High (Kennesaw, Ga.)Mock spots: MLB: 23, BA: 14, TA: 15, FG: 18, SN: 5Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee High (Bogart, Ga.)Mock spots: MLB: 18, BA: 17, TA: 16, FG: n/a, SN: n/aGunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mi si si