Mock Draft Picks 1-10

[allstar1579]

That being said, the Reds address the SS position with Gordon Beckham, hoping to pair him with Encarnacion, Phillips, and Votto for years to come.

[McNulty]

With the 8th pick, the White Sox will select Justin Smoak.

He's simply the best player left on the board for me at this point, and the Sox need to get the best player available in their system with the utter lack of talent they have now.

[furryburres]

No way the Marlins pay enough money to keep Hosmer from going to AZ St.

I have a feeling that they'll pay for Hosmer.

[PeteCanes]

I have a feeling that they'll pay for Hosmer.

Personally, I don't think there's a chance in He@#.

My boy Smoak went pretty low...

In other news, has anyone else noticed that while searching the potential top draft picks that the OH is one of the top 3 results on Google for basically every player?

[Stotle]

With the selection of Floridian phenom, Eric Hosmer, is FLA signalling that they, too, will now be scrapping the slotting system? While FLA has paid slightly over slot in the past, Hosmer will likely take around $4.5-5 million to sign. Either FLA is willing to go that far for the best bat in the draft or they believe they will get a bit of a hometown discount (not likely with Boras in the room).

The worst case scenario would be Hosmer electing to attend ASU, in which case FLA would get pick 6a in the 2009 draft. The Marlins are hoping it doesn't come to that. Hosmer has the potential to be an elite bat and hit in the middle of the order for years once he finally arrives (likely late 2012).

CIN to the clock!

[Stotle]

Cincy grabs the best offensive SS in the draft with Gordan Beckham. G-Bex has staked his claim to the Golden Spikes this year, posting a neat .427/.538/.883, 20 HR, 16 2b, 34 BB and 16 SO through 171 AB (44 games).

Some scouts question whether his bat will ultimately play at the ML-level, but the potential payoff is huge. Becks could be .285/20 HR SS in the mold of Carlos Guillen with a absolute ceiling of a Tejada.

CHA is on the clock!

[markpolis]

With the 9th pick in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, The Washington Nationals select C, Kyle Skipworth, 6-3, 195, L-R, Patriot HS, Riverside, Calif.

Free-wheeling Jim Bowden realized the best way to build the Nationals was not through trades, but instead bolster the system through the draft. Last year the Nats had five picks in the first two rounds and spent $7.9 million on the draft, the fifth-highest figure in baseball. The Nat's are another team willing to spend over slot money, although signing Skipworth shouldn't be an issue.

The first four players they drafted by the Nats in 2007 - lefthanders Ross Detwiler (first round) and Josh Smoker (supplemental first), outfielder Michael Burgess (supplemental first) and righthander Jordan Zimmermann (second)—rank among the top 10 prospects in the system. So does lefthander Jack McGeary—who received a $1.8 million bonus, a record for a sixth-round pick and Jake Smolinski (second round) just missed the Top 10. It's easy to see why most experts will agree the Nationals had the very best draft last year.

Many people (several of this board) gave the Nat's a bunch of grief last year for their pick of Detwiler, but obviously (to this point) the pick has been a very good one. They also got incredible value with Smoker, Burgess, Zimmermann, McGeary and P.J. Dean, and also did well with Smolinski, Norris, Meyers and Alaniz, among others. It was a balanced draft, and the Nats were rewarded for their aggressiveness on guys like Smoker and McGeary.

With Detwiler, Collin Bannister, Josh Smoker and McGeary, one can argue the Nat's have the most talented crop of lefthanded pitching prospects in baseball.

Also, over the past few drafts they have added some tremendous power potential. Their #1 rated prospect, 1B, Eli Marrero (one reason I did not go with Yonder Alonzo with this pick); Michael Burgess, the young talented OF'er from the famed Hillsborough HS in Tampa Bay; and former Maryland Terp OF'er Justin Maxwell are a few of the players the organization has drafted in the past few drafts that could provide power to the big league lineup very soon. Also, players such as Smolinksi, Derek Norris and Steven Souza also improve the position-player depth some.

Taking a closer look at their minor league system it is very clear they are void of any legitimate catching prospect. That is why Skipworth is the perfect pick and fit for the Nationals. He shows the ability to play catcher and hit lefthanded, both premium aspects of baseball AND Skipworth does both very well. He has plus bat speed, good power, soft hands and an above-average arm.

IMO, Kyle Skipworth is the perfect fit for the Nationals.

[Greg Pappas]

With the 9th pick in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, The Washington Nationals select C, Kyle Skipworth, 6-3, 195, L-R, Patriot HS, Riverside, Calif.

Free-wheeling Jim Bowden realized the best way to build the Nationals was not through trades, but instead bolster the system through the draft. Last year the Nats had five picks in the first two rounds and spent $7.9 million on the draft, the fifth-highest figure in baseball. The Nat's are another team willing to spend over slot money, although signing Skipworth shouldn't be an issue.

The first four players they drafted by the Nats in 2007 - lefthanders Ross Detwiler (first round) and Josh Smoker (supplemental first), outfielder Michael Burgess (supplemental first) and righthander Jordan Zimmermann (second)—rank among the top 10 prospects in the system. So does lefthander Jack McGeary—who received a $1.8 million bonus, a record for a sixth-round pick and Jake Smolinski (second round) just missed the Top 10. It's easy to see why most experts will agree the Nationals had the very best draft last year.

Many people (several of this board) gave the Nat's a bunch of grief last year for their pick of Detwiler, but obviously (to this point) the pick has been a very good one. They also got incredible value with Smoker, Burgess, Zimmermann, McGeary and P.J. Dean, and also did well with Smolinski, Norris, Meyers and Alaniz, among others. It was a balanced draft, and the Nats were rewarded for their aggressiveness on guys like Smoker and McGeary.

With Detwiler, Collin Bannister, Josh Smoker and McGeary, one can argue the Nat's have the most talented crop of lefthanded pitching prospects in baseball.

Also, over the past few drafts they have added some tremendous power potential. Their #1 rated prospect, 1B, Eli Marrero (one reason I did not go with Yonder Alonzo with this pick); Michael Burgess, the young talented OF'er from the famed Hillsborough HS in Tampa Bay; and former Maryland Terp OF'er Justin Maxwell are a few of the players the organization has drafted in the past few drafts that could provide power to the big league lineup very soon. Also, players such as Smolinksi, Derek Norris and Steven Souza also improve the position-player depth some.

Taking a closer look at their minor league system it is very clear they are void of any legitimate catching prospect. That is why Skipworth is the perfect pick and fit for the Nationals. He shows the ability to play catcher and hit lefthanded, both premium aspects of baseball AND Skipworth does both very well. He has plus bat speed, good power, soft hands and an above-average arm.

IMO, Kyle Skipworth is the perfect fit for the Nationals.

Great player, great pick.

[furryburres]

Great player, great pick.

The Nats pick this guy, then they probably vault into the top 5 in BA's farm system rankings.

[Greg Pappas]

With the 10th pick, the Houston Astros select Tulane right-hander Shooter Hunt:

Shooter Hunt, College RHSP, Tulane, Age=21, 6' 3 - 200. With a name like Smuc... errr, Shooter, you better be good. This guy is a marketing campaign waiting to happen, but he matches the cool name with even cooler ability.

His sophmore season he went 99.2 IP and posted a 2.62 ERA, holding opponents to a .232 BAA and striking out 104.

The former New Jersey Player of the Year (in high school) has a nearly ideal pitcher's build at 6' 3 200 lbs, and employs a vicious two-pitch arsenal of mid nineties fastball and nasty slider. If Hunt can find a consistent breaking ball and a bit better command, he could eventually be the best pitcher from this draft class. While there are a few 'if's' and 'could's', he is one to watch.

Update... April 27, 2008;

In 10 starts > 63.2 IP... 1.98 ERA, 30 Hits/37 BB's, 90 K's, and a .139 BAA!

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The Astros have arguably one of the weakest systems in baseball, and are in dire need of a talent injection. While the ML team is bereft of pitching talent, the Astros need to take the highest rated player on their board... Shooter Hunt. Hunt should move quickly through the minors and settle into the 'Stros rotation as early as September 2009.

[Stotle]

The ChiSox grab slugging first-baseman Justin Smoak, out of South Carolina. After a slow start (which probably cost Smoak a couple of draft spots and a a couple hundred thousand dollars or so) Smoak bounced back to post a .395/.512/.802, 18 HR, 16 2b line through 172 ABs (in 45 games).

Smoak has tantalizing plus-power, but struggles with Team USA and a slow start to the '08 season cooled scouts who felt there were surer picks on the board 1-7. Smoak could be a great addition to the lackluster CHA system, and will likely start in AA after a tour in Winter Ball.

CHA may have landed what turns out to be the best power bat in the draft. Though not LaPorta, some project Smoak to be a 30 HR bat that could sit in the middle of a big league lineup for years.

WAS is on the clock!

[furryburres]

With the 10th pick, the Houston Astros select Tulane right-hander Shooter Hunt:

Shooter Hunt, College RHSP, Tulane, Age=21, 6' 3 - 200. With a name like Smuc... errr, Shooter, you better be good. This guy is a marketing campaign waiting to happen, but he matches the cool name with even cooler ability.

His sophmore season he went 99.2 IP and posted a 2.62 ERA, holding opponents to a .232 BAA and striking out 104.

The former New Jersey Player of the Year (in high school) has a nearly ideal pitcher's build at 6' 3 200 lbs, and employs a vicious two-pitch arsenal of mid nineties fastball and nasty slider. If Hunt can find a consistent breaking ball and a bit better command, he could eventually be the best pitcher from this draft class. While there are a few 'if's' and 'could's', he is one to watch.

Update... April 27, 2008;

In 10 starts > 63.2 IP... 1.98 ERA, 30 Hits/37 BB's, 90 K's, and a .139 BAA!

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The Astros have arguably one of the weakest systems in baseball, and are in dire need of a talent injection. While the ML team is bereft of pitching talent, the Astros need to take the highest rated player on their board... Shooter Hunt. Hunt should move quickly through the minors and settle into the 'Stros rotation as early as September 2009.

Isn't Aaron Crow or Tim Melville considered a better pick?

[Stotle]

The top catcher in the draft for many, Skipworth brings good receiving skills, a strong arm and plus offensive tools (aside from speed) to a WAS organization that has drafted aggressively, as of late. Skipworth has been the best HS bat of 2008 and has the potential to move quickly (though probably not as quickly as Mauer). His bat is strong enough that, ultimately, WAS will have to decide if keeping him at C is worth the risk of limiting him to 120 or so games a year (obviously, this is several years away).

For now, he will step into the top 4 prospects in the system, and will likely begin at LoA next season.

HOU is on the clock!

[Stotle]

Isn't Aaron Crow or Tim Melville considered a better pick?

Crow went third to KAN. Melville and Hunt would likely be a toss-up, considering signability and the dominant season that Hunt has had, so far.

[markpolis]

Crow went third to KAN. Melville and Hunt would likely be a toss-up, considering signability and the dominant season that Hunt has had, so far.

I would have taken Hunt if Skipworth was not available.