2017 ODC Draft Rankings

[Yankees GM (Justin)]

#T6 Cincinnati Reds (5)

Sam Carlson, RHP
Brendon Little, LHP
Matt Sauer, RHP
Jacob Pearson, OF
Wil Crowe, RHP

The Reds' class is in a dead heat with the next one. Carlson and Sauer are two of the highest upside arms past the first few picks and both could develop into top of the rotation threats. Little is another solid piece; safer than the prep arms but also having a bit of a ceiling. Pearson was just traded to the Twins as a young OF prospect. He can hit and might move more quickly than other prep bats.

[Yankees GM (Justin)]

#T6 Houston Astros (8)

MacKenzie Gore, LHP
Brent Rooker, OF
Jake Thompson, RHP
Bryce Bonnin, RHP
Peter Solomon, RHP
Jayson Rose, RHP
Jordan Spicer, RHP
Baron Radcliff, OF

Tied with the Reds above, the Astros' draft is different because it's almost entirely rooted in the success of the first two picks, Gore and Rooker. Gore - one of my personal favorites just from watching him wipe out HS kids in-person - has the chance to take off with a mid 90s FB and a promising host of secondaries. He commands it all to both sides of the plate as well. Rooker arguably improved his prospect stock the most of any pick after being drafted by destroying the FSL. He might be up in Minnesota in September if he keeps up the pace, but there are questions on his defensive ability and plate discipline that will need to be silenced in the upper minors. I liked Thompson coming out of Oregon State more than his rotation mate because his FB is more consistently in the mid 90s. 

[Yankees GM (Justin)]

#5 Chicago Cubs (19)

Michael Mercado, RHP
Ryan Vilade, 3B
Kevin Merrill, SS
Reynaldo Rivera, OF
Cory Abbott, RHP
Jhordany Mezquita, LHP
Ricardo De La Torre, SS
Cody Bolton, RHP
Dane Myers, RHP
Max Roberts, LHP
Jake Adams, 1B
Asa Lacy, LHP
Wilberto Rivera, RHP
Brewer Hicklen, OF
Daniel Ritcheson, RHP
Jason Pineda, 1B
Matt Turner, LHP
Luis Campusano, C
Freddy Tarnok, RHP

The Cubs lack any sort of top-of-the-draft stars but went deep on HS upside instead. Mercado is über projectable - I wouldn't be surprised to see him tossing mid 90s in two years. Vilade will have competition for the Rockies 3B job but he brings the requisite power and hitting ability to match most. Merrill was one of the fastest players in this year's draft and could be the next Jose Peraza. I'm a fan of Dane Myers, a little further down, for his all-around pitching ability and untapped potential after playing as a two-way guy at Rice. Tarnok and Campusano are two more high upside picks with exciting potential. "Cake" Adams wasn't worth drafting, and I think Chicago tried to go a little too sleeper-heavy when there are better and more obvious picks, but overall, this is a good class.

[Yankees GM (Justin)]

#4 New York Yankees (27)

Shane Baz, RHP
Hans Crouse, RHP
Mason House, OF
Matt Tabor, RHP
James Marinan, RHP
Luis Gonzalez, OF
Connor Wong, C
Canaan Smith, OF
Cash Case, 2B
Tommy Mace, RHP
Brendan Murphy, LHP
Riley Mahan, 2B
Jake Holmes, SS
Steven Williams, C
Sam Keating, RHP
Jimmy Herron, OF
Mason Martin, OF
Cullen Large, 2B
Nelson Velazquez, OF
Brian Shaffer, RHP
David Banuelos, C
Emerson Hancock, RHP
Ryan Lillie, RHP
Jonny DeLuca, OF
Jonathan Teaney, RHP
Jordan Butler, LHP
Ryan Noda, 1B

My draft was mostly limited to later-round picks because I can get the most marginal value out of them, but I do love my first two selections already. Baz and Crouse have frontline potential, with the abilities to reach the upper 90s and back it up with plus secondaries. House, Holmes, and Velazquez are tooled-up prep bats with power and speed, just needing the reps to gain a hitting acumen. Marinan and Tabor are two more promising righties, both of who can control their arsenals and have projection remaining. Smith and Gonzalez aren't as athletic as the other players here but know how to work the plate and should hit their way up the ladder. Butler is one of my favorite picks as a sidearming southpaw who already works in the low 90s and pairs it with a 55 breaking pitch - he could turn over upper minors lineups right now and should emerge from Florida MLB-ready.

[Yankees GM (Justin)]

#3 Kansas City Royals (16)

Jordon Adell, OF
Nick Pratto, 1B
Drew Waters, OF
Trevor Rogers, LHP
Caden Lemons, RHP
Quinten Holmes, OF
Calvin Mitchell, OF
Nick Allen, SS
Tanner Burns, RHP
Will Toffey, 3B
Andrew Bechtold, 3B
Tyler Freeman, 2B
Terriez Fuller, OF
Jack Conlon, RHP
Kier Meredith, OF
Gavin Williams, RHP

KC is clearly all about upside, as just two players here are college picks. Adell and Waters have tools to dream on - up there with the best in the class - and each face hitting questions. However, I believe both will realize most of their potentials. Pratto is a fine 1B with an able swing and power to tap into. Rogers and Lemons are two of the most projectable pitchers in the class, with a chance to develop mid 90s velocity in short order. Allen is a defensive wizard, though most question the ultimate impact with the stick. Holmes can fly on the bases, but he did slow down a tick last year after coming into the year as an unquestionable first rounder. Bechtold isn't above average anywhere but doesn't really have a weakness either.

[Yankees GM (Justin)]

#2 Los Angeles Angels (4)

Hunter Greene, RHP
Kyle Wright, RHP
Keston Hiura, 2B
Adam Haseley, OF

Taking three of the top selections is always a ticket to the top, and LAA did not let their short supply of picks stop them. Greene has an easy delivery - capable of reeling off upper 90s and into the triple digits. The secondary pieces aren't there yet, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Greene sail through the lower minors. Wright was my best player in this class, as he's able to put on a full display of FB/BB/CH to nail down opponents. Both him and Greene are future top of the rotation candidates and dare I say - aces. Hiura faces defensive questions to answer, but he can sure hit. It's a future 70 bat with above average raw power, not unlike the current incarnation of Daniel Murphy. I'm not a fan of Haseley and neither are people I've spoken with since the draft. Many cite his lack of foot speed and power potential and now see the Phillies pick as more of a 4th OF.

[Yankees GM (Justin)]

#1 Boston Red Sox (22)

Royce Lewis, SS
Alex Faedo, RHP
DL Hall, LHP
Logan Warmoth, SS
Evan White, 1B
Heliot Ramos, OF
Bubba Thompson, OF
Blayne Enlow, RHP
Steven Jennings, RHP
Clarke Schmidt, RHP
Tristen Lutz, OF
Jeter Downs, SS
Mark Vientos, 3B
Blaine Knight, RHP
Alex Scherff, RHP
Kyle Hurt, RHP
Morgan Cooper, RHP
Kyle Jacobsen, OF
Jake Mangum, OF
Seth Lonsway, LHP
Glen Otto, RHP
Santis Sanchez, C

A bunch of first rounders will net you a bunch of first round talent, and that's what happened here. Lewis is a special talent with no below average tool and already looks more polished than expected. Faedo and White are probably going to be solid regulars for a long time coming and possibly before we realize. Ramos and Thompson were two of the most toolsy players in the draft, with power, speed, and athleticism to spare.