DBacks Mock Draft Roundup: 6/22

MLB Draft just 3 weeks away!

We are officially in Draft season! NBA Draft Wednesday, NHL Friday and now just 3 weeks away, the MLB Draft starts on 7/14. A couple weeks ago I wrote the original Mock Draft Roundup which can be found here.

As a reminder, the Arizona Diamondbacks first pick isn’t until 29, but they also pick 31 (via Corbin Carroll winning ROY) and pick 35 (via Competitive Balance A random selection). The Diamondbacks having 3 1st round picks is a big deal due to the MLB Draft format. Since your entire draft pool shares a total $$$ amount, the Diamondbacks will have extra flexibility in the draft to take players with a higher asking price. For example, despite the Diamondbacks going to the World Series and picking 29th, they actually have the 10th biggest spending pool ($12,662,000). In comparison, the Rangers with pick 30 have a $6,997,900 spending pool.

Before I get to the picks, I want to point out what the Mariners (who are very good drafting in the DiPoto era) did in a similar spot last year. With picks 22-29-30, they took 3 high upside (and expensive signs) HS bats in Colt Emerson, Tai Peete & Jonny Farmelo.

Friendly reminder, every year I see people post the “why are we drafting another OF” and “ we need _______ position”. Friendly reminder that in the MLB Draft, no other sport has less players hit. You absolutely should not draft based on any position preference. Look at the Orioles, they draft exclusively LH hitting shortstops and they all find their way to other positions. Justin Upton was a HS SS for example… these kids are studs, of course they all play SS or CF in HS.

Pitchers are extremely risky bets too. Just take a look at how the Angels all pitcher draft went in 2021…

ESPN - Kiley McDaniel (6/19)

1-29 - Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State

1-31 - Griff O'Ferrall, SS, Virginia

1-35 - Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence (Texas) HS

2-64 - Luke Dickerson, SS, Morris Knolls (N.J.) HS

Previous mock on 5/29, top 30 picks only, 1-29 - Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State.

Kiley McDaniel is my favorite MLB Draft expert/analyst. Unlike his first mock that only went to pick 30, the entire 2nd round is included too.

MLB Pipeline has Walter Janek ranked 22nd overall, and C #1. Unlike most 1st round “catchers”, Janek is truly a catcher and will stay there in pro ball. Hitting 30 HR over the last 2 seasons (115 G) and slashing .364/.476/.709 which is good for a 1.185 OPS, Janek’s an intriguing option at 29 for an organization that doesn’t have a ton of C prospect depth outside of Adrian Del Castillo’s breakout 2024.

Mike Hazen loves the University of Virginia college picks (McCarthy, Pavin & Jack Hurley last year just to name a few), next is Griff O’Ferrall, a 6’1 SS #41 on MLB Pipeline’s board. Solid tools across the board, just a great ball player first. I do think the Diamondbacks take 1 college bat and 2 HS players here though.

Sanford is one of the best HS defensive players in all of the draft, but you’d need to sign him away from Texas A&M. Ranked #35 by MLB Pipeline. Kiley notes Dickerson would be an underslot signing. Other names to watch were Culpepper and HS SS/OF Kellon Lindsey and Theo Gillen, who he has gone in the 20’s.

Pitchers Kiley as the Diamondbacks tied to are William Schmidt and/or Ryan Sloan. I’m a huge Ryan Sloan fan.

As for Culpepper, 6 foot 185 ibs SS, MLB Pipeline says he can stay at SS but be an elite defensive 3B, high contact approach, flat swing limits power. Feels like a high floor player to me, has done well in wood bat summer leagues too. Kiley now has him going 22nd to the Orioles after his massive NCAA tourney postseason. Culpepper reminds me of Kevin Newman with more power upside, especially if he avoids the Pirates ruining his swing like what happen to Newman….

MLB Pipeline - Jonathon Mayo, Jim Callis, Brendan Samson (5/30)

1-29 - Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

Previous mock 5/30 (just from Mayo) was 1-29 - Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

I put a lot of stock into this mock as this trio notes this is fresh off the MLB Combine where they spent days watching prospects and talking to teams. It’s very interesting that they have the Diamondbacks picking a catcher at 1-29 too….

Malcolm Moore is ranked 1 spot behind Janek. Unlike Janek, he’s a LHH. Also unlike Janek, Moore is not a lock to stay at catcher. Diamondbacks took Tommy Troy out of Stanford last year so there’s a connection. 31 HR the last 2 seasons and Moore is still just 20. Moore’s younger age gives me a little more hope that he can stay at C, but defense is such a big deal to theDiamondbacks so i think they lean Janek.

Sidenote- MLB Pipeline has really stepped up their draft coverage, player profiles, a lot of good info over there.

Baseball America - Carlos Collazo (6/17)

1-29 - Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State

1-31 - Kellon Lindsey, SS/OF, Hardee HS, Wauchula, Fla

1-35 - Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS, Omaha, Neb.

Last mock 5/30 1-29 - Tommy White, 3B, LSU

Walker Janek again at 1-29! I think this is a really good mock as they take a college catcher, then 2 HS bats.

Tommy White would be a really fun pick for the Diamondbacks as Tommy White has been a college baseball star for years. White has 75 career HR in 3 years at LSU with an insane .720. Unlike future KBO slugger Ivan Melendez and his 35% K rate, White has a small career 14.6% K rate in college that was 12.8% this year.

Super Star Series - Joe Doyle (5/28)

No update since 5/28, but I wanted to still include this mock.

1-29 Ryan Sloan, RHP, HS (IL)

Joe Doyle is another great Twitter follow and prospects/draft analyst. He notes that the Diamondbacks have cast a wide net of targets with 3 picks obviously, but Ryan Sloan is as high as 15 boards, but HS pitchers do fall. Doyle has the Diamondbacks staying aggressive and scooping up high upside HS arms. 6’5, 220, has touched 100, big spin rates. HS pitchers are the riskiest profile, but man this would be an exciting pick.

1-31 Braylon Doughty, RHP, HS (CA)

1-35 Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

Jordan is extremely toolsy with plus speed, power and arm strength, will stay in CF, has hit 17 HR’s this year, but 77 K’s this season scares me a little.

The 4 mock drafts above are the ones I put the most weight into as those are 4 amazing baseball writers who are plugged in. Here are some other mock drafts from writers I just don’t know as well:

Bleacher Report - Joel Reuter (5/30)

Flo Baseball - Joe Harrington (5/28)

1-29 Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

Moore has had a massive 28 HR season and has posted an OPS over 1.000 in all 3 college seasons. Mostly a 2B, he’s played some SS and LF too. Hits the ball hard consistently, I really like Moore and will keep an eye on him during the tourney.

My Mock MLB Draft (5/20)

1-29 - Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

Like Culpepper, a huge NCAA tourney has boosted his stock big time.

Previously 1-29 Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest

I love this website so much. This was the OG Mock Draft website, and they’re still killing it. They have been positing mock drafts since at least 2007, only use old logos, have player profiles from multiple analyst. As for Hartle, he is a big 6’5 LHP which certainty will intrigue Mike Hazen (Henry/Walston mold). Wake Forest has become a pitching factory the last couple years.

As we get closer to draft day, more mocks will pop up. Enjoy watching a weekend of chaotic college baseball everybody!

-Goldy Happens