We don’t have any actual real sports, anywhere, for the foreseable future, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While playing games again is most likely weeks or in some cases months away, the respective drafts can still go ahead as planned, albeit in a very modified version. And that means mock drafts will go on as planned too!
With that in mind, it’s time to do your homework on all the prospects. To carry out more detailed research on these amateur players you can contact do my paper services.
Also, if mock drafts are your thing, you can view our NBA mock draft can be found here, MLB is below and NHL can be found here. Finally, the 2021 NFL mock draft is at this link.
The 2020 MLB Draft will take place June 10, and it will follow the lead of the NFL Draft, having no central physical location and instead being more virtual in nature. The league ultimately opted to shorten the 2020 draft to just five rounds, in a plan that will allow teams to sign an unlimited amount of undrafted players for $20,000 each.
1) Tigers, Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State
Big time power hitter with fast track to the majors potential written all over him. Torkelson is starting to emerge now as the strong favorite to go first overall. Almost every mock has him in the top spot, and only time will tell how this works out for the Detroit Tigers, if they do indeed draft him.
Maybe he’ll join the class of Ken Griffey Jr., Harold Baines, Chipper Jones and others in the best of the best #1 overall picks. Or…well, since the draft began in 1965, only four number one overall picks failed to reach the Major Leagues.
Most likely, he’ll end up somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.
2) Orioles, Austin Martin, SS, Vanderbilt
A 5-tool prospect that plays shortstop, from Vanderbilt? This just wouldn’t be the baseball draft, and thus a MLB mock draft without these familiar story achetypes.
3) Marlins, Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M
Domineering big lefty with a high velocity fastball and great off-speed stuff to complement it. A pitching prospect who has scouts salivating this year.
4) Royals, Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia
Slow start to the season kept him from being the first overall pick; should still be the first pitcher off the boards though.
5) Blue Jays, Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State
Stellar shortstop who projects as a second baseman at the next level. He’ll hit well no matter where you place him in the middle infield.
6) Mariners, Zac Veen, OF, Spruce Creek HS (FL)
Our first high school player off the boards is a center fielder that has potential at the corners too.
7) Pirates, Jared Kelley, RHP, Refugio HS (TX)
Likely the top prep pitching prospect in this draft, it would be a shock if Kelley falls out of the top ten. Add him with last year’s top pick, Quinn Priester (also a prep pitcher) and the Pirates are truly stockpiling the future pitching.
8) Padres, Garrett Mitchell, CF, UCLA
Mitchell stays put in Southern California, Friars get an elite prospect with franchise potential.
9) Rockies, Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)
Rocky Mountain High Colorado for a potential five tool guy, who is a bit raw at the plate still.
10) Angels, Austin Hendrick, RF, West Allegheny HS (PA)
Put on spectacular displays of his tremendous power during the Under Armour All-America showcases.
11) White Sox, Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville
Rick Hahn and company have built up what is arguably the most talented farm system in the big leagues. Add in the blockbuster off-season they’ve had and 2020 could be special for them, provided we do get a real season this year.
The Sox still need a lot of pitching, and I believe they’ll go that route this June. Detmers could be a middle of the rotation starter, and he’s got what it takes to be fast-tracked to the majors. Meanwhile here is a link to the ten worst and the ten best White Sox draft picks of the last 40 years.
Check out our 2020 White Sox MLB Draft mocksourcing at this link.
12) Reds, Max Meyer, RHP, Minnesota
Ski-U-Mah for this Golden Gopher who has a fastball that can hit a c-note, or higher. Looked good in his first few spring starts before the season shut down.
13) Giants, Ed Howard, SS, Mount Carmel HS (IL)
A sensationally fielding shortstop from The CHI with major potential to develop into a superstar. He just needs to add some power to a bat that’s already pretty dangerous. A prospect with the potential to be a 20-20 hitter in the show who looks up to local favorite and reigning AL batting champion Tim Anderson.
The two young men who live in the south suburbs of Chicago are friends, and Anderson himself has said that Howard is further along, skill set wise, than he was at this point.
Last season, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound shortstop nicknamed “Silk,” due to how smooth he is to watch on the diamond, hit .418 with 42 runs, 13 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 33 RBIs. For much more on Howard go here.
14) Rangers, Robert Hassell, OF, Independence HS (TN)
Sweet swinging lefty who will fit in well at their brand new ballpark.
15) Phillies, Nick Bitsko, RHP, Central Bucks-East HS (PA)
Phils stay in state with a big dude who could be the top prep pitching prospect in this draft.
16) Cubs, Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee
Jed and Theo rebuilt this organization, from the farm system up, once already. Now they’ll have to do it again as the Ricketts family is DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING with their money in the free agent market. If the Cubs are going to get back to the postseason, they’ll need to draft and develop guys again.
Where do they go first? Pitching, and Crochet is a guy with a lot of upside for the 16th pick. He does need to prove his durability, but he’s young and talented.
Meanwhile here is a link to the ten worst and the ten best Cubs draft picks of the last 40 years.
Check out our 2020 Cubs MLB Draft mocksourcing at this link.
17) Red Sox, Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (OR)
High upside pitcher with the potential to have three out pitches at the highest level.
18) D-backs, Heston Kjerstad, OF, Arkansas
Tore up SEC pitching, with numbers that say, well, if he actually lasts this long, then it’s a very very deep draft, especially so for college players.
19) Mets, Justin Foscue, 2B, Mississippi State
One of the least risk averse pick the Dodgers could make as Foscue has conveyed reliability and consistency. Throughout his collegiate career with the Bulldogs, the College World Series and with Team USA, he’s hit well.
20) Brewers, CJ Van Eyk, RHP, Florida State
He brings a solid three pitch portfolio (mid ’90s fastball, slider, change) plus a 12-to-6 curveball with potential. Additionally, he’s shown an upward trajectory of development in Tallahassee.
21) Cardinals, Austin Wells, C, Arizona
Could switch to corner outfield and/or first base in order to make sure the Cards can get his bat into the lineup consistently.
22) Nationals, Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia
Dynamite fast ball and potential to fast track to the majors makes him a sure fire top 25 pick.
23) Indians, Jordan Westburg, SS, Mississippi State
Westburg is considered slightly higher risk/reward than his double play partner.
24) Rays, Dylan Crews, OF, Lake Mary HS (FL)
One of the best pure hitting prospects in what is a very deep draft.
25) Braves, Patrick Bailey, C, North Carolina State
Maybe the top overall pure catching prospect in this draft.
26) A’s, Daniel Cabrera, OF, Louisiana State
Cabrera was selected 26th overall by the San Diego Padres in 2017, but he turned it down and headed to Baton Rouge where he solidified his big bat corner outfielder reputation.
27) Twins, Jordan Walker, 3B, Decatur HS, (GA)
Duke commit whose parents went to MIT and Harvard respectively .
28) Yankees, Chris McMahon, RHP, Miami
It’s a very deep draft, especially so regarding pitchers, and you can see a lot of great pitching prospects at the collegiate level.
29) Dodgers, JT Ginn, RHP, Mississippi State
We did a whole deep dive on this for Sports Illustrated, so check that out at this link.
Yes, he turned down the Dodgers once already in 2018, but we just can’t help it but mock him here. The Mississippi native has developed his command and repertoire to the point that he should now be a top ten talent.
However, the injury bug bit and he’s now shut down for the year; having underwent Tommy John surgery in March. Late first round seems like a natural landing spot for him. Since Andrew Friedman took over as President, seven of L.A.’s nine first round picks came from the college ranks.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly contributes to WGN TV, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Now and SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for Chicago Tribune.com, on Twitter and his cat on Instagram.