Major League Baseball teams are built on having a great farm system. We have seen what happens when you try to build a team through free agency. The draft is imperative to the success of a franchise, and some teams need to hit big this year.
That is not to say that there are teams who can just punt their pick, but we all know that some farm systems are in need of a lot of talent right now.
Here is our latest MLB mock draft, with a special emphasis on the teams who need to hit their pick out of the park.
1. Houston Astros: Byron Buxton, OF, High School (GA)
The best raw talent in this draft, Buxton has all the makings of a five-tool superstar at his peak. He is by no means a slam dunk, displaying an awkward all-upper body swing that doesn't allow him to hit for power right now.
With the Astros seriously lacking any high-ceiling talent in their system right now, they have to take risks in order to open their window to contention sooner rather than later.
The risk is great for Buxton, but the reward could be even bigger. He has electric speed, a tremendous throwing arm and great hitting potential when he starts working with professional coaches.
2. Minnesota Twins: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
Appel has the best stuff of any pitcher in the draft; he just has to fix his delivery so that he gets on top of his pitches and hide the ball from hitters.
3. Seattle Mariners: Mike Zunino, C, Florida
There might not be a team in baseball with a better crop of top-tier pitching prospects than the Mariners. The problem, though, is that they have had serious problems developing hitters.
Zunino is the best all-around catcher in the draft. He has an odd hitch in his swing that could limit his power potential, but he has good bat speed and an advanced approach at the plate to hit for average.
Behind the plate, Zunino has a strong throwing arm and easy receiving skills. It will not take long before he is catching in the Emerald City.
4. Baltimore Orioles: Albert Almora, OF, High School (FL)
Almora could end up being the best high school player taken in this draft. He doesn't have the upside of Buxton, but he has a better approach and swing than the Georgia high school star right now, with the ability to play center field thanks to a strong throwing arm and great range.
5. Kansas City Royals: Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU
The Royals believe their window is opening right now, so they are going to want an arm that is close to big-league ready. It helps that Gausman throws a mid-90s fastball with a good changeup and a curveball that still needs work but has potential to be at least an average weapon.
6. Chicago Cubs: Carlos Correa, SS, PR Baseball Academy
Correa's stock has been soaring lately thanks to his athleticism and better-than-expected power potential. ESPN's Keith Law wrote that Correa is like Francisco Lindor with more offensive upside.
For the Cubs to get him with the No. 6 pick, that would be a steal. This franchise is in full-blown rebuild mode right now, and they need as many high-ceiling players as they can get.
7. San Diego Padres: Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco
As long as Zimmer's fastball velocity, which has been down in recent starts, comes back to the 93-97 range that it usually is, he will be gone when the Padres pick.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates: Richie Shaffer, 3B, Clemson
Shaffer is another big mover in this draft. He is an underrated defender at third, with a strong arm and good instincts to handle the hot corner in the big leagues.
The calling card for Shaffer is his big power. He has tremendous bat speed and shows the raw power that teams are craving with home run numbers down throughout the sport.
9. Miami Marlins: Max Fried, LHP, High School (CA)
For the Marlins, who used to be so good at drafting and developing pitchers, Fried is the most logical name on the board for them.
He already has a plus-fastball that sits in the low-90s and one of the best curveballs in this draft class. He still has to get a feel for a changeup, which is not unusual for a high school pitcher.
10. Colorado Rockies: Matt Smoral, LHP, High School (OH)
A stress fracture in his foot could derail Smoral's first-round chances, but the low-90s fastball and potential for his slider make him look like a top-10 pick.
11. Oakland Athletics: Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford
The A's reloaded their system with a series of moves this offseason. Piscotty has more risk than a typical college player because of the way Stanford teaches hitters to do things, but there is a lot to like with his combination of bat speed and power.
12. New York Mets: Lucas Giolito, RHP, High School (CA)
For the Mets, they could be getting the steal of the draft with Giolito. Once thought to be the top pitcher, an elbow injury has left his status uncertain.
If Giolito comes back healthy before the end of the high school season, or he throws for teams before the draft and shows the mid-90s fastball he had before the injury, he won't be around when the Mets pick.
This franchise has been rebuilding its pitching staff through the draft and trades the last two years. Adding a potential No. 1 starter to the mix would lift the darkness surrounding the Mets.
13. Chicago White Sox: Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State
One of the best defensive shortstops in the draft, Marrero's stock has dropped due to a poor approach at the plate this season.
The White Sox don't normally go after high-ceiling players in the draft, which is why their farm system is easily the worst in baseball. They have to start taking chances in order to get younger and more athletic in the minors.
14. Cincinnati Reds: Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M
There is not much projection left in Wacha's arm, so what you see in terms of stuff is what you are going to get. For a Reds team that believes its window to contention is open right now, I believe they will go after a fast-moving pitcher rather than the best player available.
15. Cleveland Indians: Zach Elfin, RHP, High School (FL)
After last year's surprise change in draft philosophy—the Indians have long gone after low-risk college pitchers early—look for them to grab another high-ceiling high school pitcher with top-of-the-rotation potential.
Elfin will give them a good fastball, fading changeup that he already has a good feel for and a clean delivery that he repeats well.
16. Washington Nationals: Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State
Heaney is not going to need a lot of development time. He already has good feel for all of his pitches and a smooth left-handed delivery that allows him to carry his velocity deep into games.
17. Toronto Blue Jays: Gavin Cecchini, SS, High School (LA)
The Blue Jays are as aggressive in the draft as any team, and the results look incredibly promising thus far.
Cecchini is a natural shortstop with the ability to stick at the position thanks to soft hands and a strong arm. He doesn't have a lot of home run power in his bat, but his approach is so good that he should be an average hitter with doubles power.
18. Los Angeles Dodgers: Courtney Hawkins, OF, High School (TX)
Almost all projections right now, Hawkins is a good power hitting prospect with the arm strength to play right field in the pros.
19. *St. Louis Cardinals: Addison Russell, SS, High School (FL)
Russell may not stick at shortstop since he is already 6'1", 210 pounds, but rave reviews about his offensive potential make him a first-round pick.
20. San Francisco Giants: Joey Gallo, 1B, High School (NV)
Pitching might be the name of the game in San Francisco, but Bruce Bochy's insistence on not playing Brandon Belt has helped keep the offense stagnant.
Gallo has the arm to play third base in professional baseball, though his size and lack of range will put him at first base.
Fortunately, Gallo has the bat to profile at the position, with big raw power that can carry him to the big leagues if he makes enough consistent contact.
21. Atlanta Braves: Martin Agosta, RHP, Saint Mary's
The Braves have a habit of going after low-ceiling, fast-moving college arms in the first round. Agosta has the ceiling of a No. 3 starter in the big leagues with just average stuff across the board.
22. **Toronto Blue Jays: Hunter Virant, LHP, High School (CA)
Another projection lefty, Virant doesn't have dominant stuff right now, but he has the potential to add velocity as his 17-year-old frame matures.
23. St. Louis Cardinals: Lucas Sims, RHP, High School (GA)
The Cardinals already have two of the most exciting pitching prospects in the game with Shelby Miller and Carlos Martinez.
Sims may not have their upside, but he is a No. 2 starter waiting to happen with a smooth delivery and low-90s fastball.
24. Boston Red Sox: Carson Kelly, 3B, High School (OR)
I could be selling low on Kelly, who Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider wrote looks like a top-20 prospect with "power, solid present hit tool, good feet and a plus arm..."
25. Tampa Bay Rays: Stryker Trahan, C, High School (LA)
Young, athletic high school catchers with a chance to hit for average and power are rare to find, especially at this spot.
26. Arizona Diamondbacks: Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke
The pitching-rich Diamondbacks get one of the most intriguing arms in the draft. Stroman has a great arm with a mid-90s fastball and sharp breaking curveball.
His biggest "problem" is that he stands at 5'9", which means he doesn't get much downward movement on his fastball. That could lead to him being a reliever, but his arsenal and delivery indicate he should at least be given the chance to start.
27. ***Milwaukee Brewers: Brian Johnson, LHP, Florida
For the second straight year, the Brewers have two picks in the first round. Johnson is a low-risk, easy sign college arm that will get to the big leagues quickly. He doesn't have dominant stuff, but he has a solid arsenal of stuff and an easy delivery.
28. Milwaukee Brewers: Chris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi State
Stratton has a bit more upside for the Brewers than Johnson, but he is also further off in his development. His best pitch is a hard-breaking slider that should miss bats in the big leagues as long as his command comes along.
29. Texas Rangers: Ty Buttrey, RHP, High School (NC)
One of the deepest farm systems will get one of the most underrated pitchers in the draft. Buttrey brings a lot of projectability to the table to go along with a mid-90s fastball.
30. New York Yankees: Tyler Naquin, OF, Texas A&M
The Yankees have a knack for finding these toolsy outfielders and watching them develop into stud prospects. Naquin's hitting is a big question mark right now, particularly his power, but his defense and athleticism could turn him into an above-average right fielder.
31. ****Boston Red Sox: Jeff Gelalich, OF, UCLA
Gelalich's skills have yet to translate into performance at college, but the Red Sox have a farm system stacked with toolsy athletes who are starting to tap into their potential. It might take Gelalich longer than a typical college hitter to develop, so patience is going to be a virtue.
*From Los Angeles Angels For Signing Albert Pujols
**Compensation For Failing To Sign Tyler Beede Last Year
***From Detroit Tigers For Signing Prince Fielder
****From Philadelphia Phillies For Signing Jonathan Papelbon
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