PL Contributor: Ben
This year, owning the top overall selection in a first-year player draft can be a blessing and a curse. Unlike the regular draft in June when Adley was the clear top prospect, his position behind the plate does put up at least a bit of hesitation. However, with the potential upside of a productive offense and quality defense catcher that should stick behind the plate and potentially get time at DH due to the quality of his bat tilted the scales enough for me here.

PL Contributor: Anthony
Dominguez versus Andrew Vaughn was a tough call, as I have no doubt Vaughn’s going to mash. Yet Dominguez’s secondary skills are too much to ignore. He’s the consensus top prospect in this year’s international class. He’s well-built, athletic, with a fluid swing and plus-plus bat speed that generates substantial raw power. Unlike Vaughn, who’s first base only, Dominguez is a plus runner who doesn’t project to get too big as to lose his potentially game-changing speed.

PL Contributor: Diego
Vaughn was the safest pick in this entire draft in my opinion. His 60-grade hit/power combo and an advanced recognition of the strike zone gives him a relatively high ceiling with a fairly safe floor as well. I fully expect Vaughn to be the first of this draft class to reach the majors with the 2020 season being a real possibility for his debut.

PL Contributor: Eddy
No one from the MLB 2019 draft had a more stat stuffing professional debut than Abrams who hit .401 in 156 PA in the AZL with a fantastic 14/10 K/BB. He has the upside of a .300 AVG, 15/40 player if everything breaks right and so far it is. Just note there’s a strong chance he debuts as an outfielder.

PL Contributor: Matt
Getting the best prep hitter in the draft at pick five is a win for me. Greene has elite feel for the barrel and will move quicker than most prep bats. The plus hit tool combined with above-average power point to him hitting in the middle of the lineup right away.

PL Contributor: Brenden
When first notified I was going to pick sixth in this draft I knew it was going to be the easiest pick I’d make. I was hoping for Riley Greene to fall but Witt Jr. is a real nice consolation prize. At one point expected to be the clear cut number one overall player drafted (and probably would have been in other years) his rare power-speed combination is simply hard to find. A great player to start my draft.

PL Contributor: Tony
Bishop’s rapid ascent during his three college seasons parlayed nicely into his professional debut. Bishop’s steady increase in plate discipline in college allowed him to showcase his power/speed combo. If the plate discipline sticks, Bishop could project into a 30/30 player with big on-base potential.

PL Contributor: Alex
Picking eighth in a non snake, I wanted superstar upside. Pauson is raw at the plate and just 16 years old. But has the frame and upside of a switch hitting Tatis Jr with more speed if it all comes together. Potential for 60 power, speed and glove at SS.

PL Contributor: Ralph
One of the best combinations of power and hit from the 2019 class, Bleday broke out over the summer of 2018 and led Vanderbilt to a national championship. Don’t read too much into the pedestrian numbers in high-A out of the draft.

PL Contributor: Jason K
JJ Bleday almost fell to me here but I am fine with Jung as I like the combination of ceiling and floor and feel he is one of the safer players left on the board. He should develop into a 30-home run player with upside for much more and he will chip in plenty in batting average, OBP, and RBIs. The potential for him to gain multi-position eligibility makes him all the more attractive

PL Contributor: Ben
Plenty of table talk on Carroll before this pick, but in all seriousness, he was my second choice all the way until Jason took Jung one pick ahead of me. Carroll came out gangbusters in his pro debut and has an extremely high ceiling. Where he takes his development will be interesting to track, as he could be an athletic power guy with some swing adjustment or a guy with Carl Crawford upside with his current build and swing.

PL Contributor: Anthony
Much was made of Baty’s age pre-draft, as he’ll turn 20 in a month despite being a high school draftee. That is a yellow flag, since we know there’s generally an advantage to being young for your demographic on draft day. At some point, though, you still bet on talent, so I’m happy to grab the 8th-ranked player on PL’s 2019 draft board 12th in this mock. Baty is a sculpted 6’3″, 220 with easy all-fields power and some feel to hit. For fantasy purposes, he doesn’t need to be a good defensive third baseman, just adequate enough to stay at the position, which seems reasonable given his hands and arm strength.

PL Contributor: Diego
Langeliers would’ve been a first-round pick in this past draft with his glove alone. He’s already an above-average defensive catcher with the potential to be an elite backstop at the next level. His hit tool isn’t anything crazy, but there’s some pop in his swing and it wouldn’t surprise me if he hit 20+ home runs each season. I project him to be an Austin Hedges-like catcher with a much better bat.

PL Contributor: Eddy
Speed has long been dead in the majors and whenever I can nab a player who has plus-plus or better wheels while contributing in other departments, I’m all over that considering the fantasy boost. Like my Abrams pick, Jones is in a tremendous development organization which makes his high risk nature more palpable. A switch-hitting power/speed outfielder, his ceiling is pretty damn high.

PL Contributor: Matt
An impressive junior year at Tulane pushed Hoese into the first round. He nearly led the nation in homers and his power and command of the strike zone make him an offensive force. Hoese battled a shoulder injury after getting drafted, but was the talk of one of the post-draft amateur showcase events. Several scouts wished it was their team that pulled the trigger on Hoese.

PL Contributor: Brenden
After taking Witt in the first round, I double dipped in the high school shortstop market for a less toolsy but still impressive young player. I love the shortstop crop from the HS ranks and Henderson is near the top of the list. I wish I could say my personal biases didn’t have any factor on this pick but the former recruiting jewel of the Auburn baseball program had to be a part of my squad here.

PL Contributor: Tony
After Toglia passed on Colorado as a 35th round choice in the 2016 draft, the Rockies didn’t want to risk missing out and drafted him in the 1st round this time (with good reason). Toglia’s raw power developed nicely in his 3-year college stint as well as his brief debut (9 HR in 145 AB). Toglia has the profile of a pure power hitter that also mashes plenty of line drives. If those turn into fly balls and his strikeout rate improves as he progresses, watch out.

PL Contributor: Alex
The top college arm on my board, I think Manoah has an extremely high floor, with a true SP2 ceiling. The Jays have done with similar size and arsenal in recent years and I love what their pitching dev is doing. He also has a clean bill of health while demonstrating he can handle a starters workload.

PL Contributor: Ralph
”Sushi Raw” is how Jason Pennini describes him at first look. One of the top names in this J2 class, you’re dreaming on a corner outfield power bat. Lots of moving parts in the swing but bat speed and raw power are plus.

PL Contributor: Jason K
Espino has long been a darling of the PL staff and with good reason as he has the highest fantasy upside of any pitcher in this class. Armed with a fastball that touches 99, I have visions of 250 strikeout seasons dancing around my head. I know for some it is taboo to invest in pitching (especially early) but after getting sniped by Ralph for the second round in a row, I wanted to get my guy.

PL Contributor: Ben
One of the elite talents in the 2019 draft, Misner had a disappointing collegiate season. Misner has 30/30 type of upside with his raw power and plus speed, but what is most impressive is that even in a frustrating 2019 collegiate season, he did not strike out at a high rate. His pro debut followed that trend as well, which should allow Misner to move quickly as he gets his feet under him with his raw power and speed.

PL Contributor: Anthony
Rodriguez doesn’t have the flashiest tools in this year’s international class, but he’s a promising offensive player. He’s tall and lanky with some present pull-side power and a ton of room to add weight as he ages. If he does so, he’ll probably end up a fringe runner and won’t steal many bases, but he should develop enough raw power to hit balls out to all fields, regardless of whether the baseball is as lively five years from now as it was this season. He’s not a lumbering slugger only, though, as there’s some bat control here, too, making an eventual above-average hit, plus power combination within the realm of possibility.

PL Contributor: Diego
Arguably the top pitcher in this draft, Lodolo has a fairly safe floor with high projectability as he continues to mature. His fastball plays at 92-94 mph and can touch 96 mph, but there’s room for that to improve as he adds muscle to that lean frame. A tight slider and a solid changeup give him three 55-grade offerings. There’s not real ace potential with Lodolo, but he’s a safe bet to be a No. 3 or 4 in his prime.

PL Contributor: Eddy
Rutledge has already drawn some Nate Pearson comps thanks to his size and his arsenal. While his heater isn’t as good as Pearson’s, it still sits 95-96 with a wipeout slider and a burgeoning curveball. Pitching isn’t very deep this year but if you take it, you want to gamble on the high upside arms and Rutledge qualifies.

PL Contributor: Matt
A pop-up prospect that went from not being invited to amateur showcase events to getting picked 13th overall, Cavaco struggled in his pro debut but is one of the youngest in the draft class. An above-average athlete, Cavaco is a potential five-tool player but the hit tool is the weakest tool right now. I’m betting on the athlete here.

PL Contributor: Brenden
The pitching crop this year is thin and I honestly considered fading them entirely until later but grabbing potentially the top college arm from this class in the third round seemed like too good of value to pass up. Give me a pitcher with his college performance, four-pitch mix, and advanced feel any day of the week.

PL Contributor: Tony
With no disrespect to Mr. Small, he was my consolation prize here as George Kirby went the pick right before mine. That said, Small’s return from Tommy John Surgery in 2017 – with decreased velocity – has been nothing short of spectacular (290 K to 62 BB in 203 IP in final 2 years at Mississippi State). As long as the arm holds up, this is one that should be fun to watch develop into a big league pitcher.

PL Contributor: Alex
I wanted safety after two riskier picks and Stott is arguably the safest player in the whole class. Stott has the tools to stick at short, with advanced hit tools, above average speed, a plus frame and burgeoning power that showed improvement post draft. It’s crazy to me a possible current top 100 was available at pick 28.

PL Contributor: Ralph
Went back to the college class with a 2018 CCBL favorite in the UNC infielder. Capable of playing first, second, and left field Busch provides the versatility the Dodgers organization covets. Good hit, excellent approach, and plus raw power in the bat make him one of my favorite value picks.

PL Contributor: Jason K
Since Lora is just 16, this is a projection pick but at 6’4 and 200 pounds he has potentially double plus power skills to dream on. Lora is also considered an above average runner so if he can keep the wheels there is an outside shot at him chipping in 10+ steals as well.

PL Contributor: Ben
When the Cardinals selected Thompson, it was the sort of selection that made analysts shake their heads and say, “Of course!” Thompson, when healthy, was the most impressive college lefty available in the draft this year. He’ll need to establish health, but this could be a guy to move quickly as a mid-rotation or better arm.

PL Contributor: Anthony
I’ve only seen Davidson at his best, watching him victimize ACC pitching this March. Those who saw him struggle last season on the Cape may be a bit more skeptical on the hit tool. Yet Davidson checks most of the boxes; he’s a plus runner who might stick at shortstop (even if center field could be a more natural fit down the road), with plus raw power and a strong approach. He’s going to strike out and his right-handed swing needs work, but even if he’s only a .245 hitter, that’s more than enough with the secondary skills he brings to the table, especially in OBP leagues.

PL Contributor: Diego
The Padres have a rich history under A.J. Preller in terms of third-round draft picks and Head is no different. A toolsy prep outfielder from Texas, Head has real five-tool potential and likely would’ve been a first-round pick in a few years had he gone to Oklahoma. His ridiculous bat speed, above-average athleticism, and raw power make him an intriguing must-know prospect moving forward.

PL Contributor: Eddy
Maybe my least favorite pick, I was gunning for Hudson Head who got taken right before me. But Shewmake’s appeal is obvious. He’s a 21-year-old who made it to Double-A in his first year in an organization that’s very aggressive with their prospects. His timeline is going to be quite accelerated. I’m worried about his power output and if it doesn’t manifest, he’s an uninspiring fantasy player.

PL Contributor: Matt
Speaking of betting on the athlete, based on tools alone Fletcher should’ve been a first round pick. The Vanderbilt commit slid to the Cardinals at pick 58 because he was in the Northeast and he re-classified late from a 2020 draft prospect to a 2019 one. Plus speed and plus raw power make him a player to gamble on.

PL Contributor: Brenden
Give me all the shortstops! In the fourth I decided to grab another talented prep shortstop in Lugo. I love this kid’s swing and thought he was a steal by Boston for their second round pick. I have no problem dipping into one position in these types of drafts because the odds of these kids sticking at the position they’re drafted at aren’t that high. They’ll move around and most likely move to other fantasy needy positions like 3B, 2B or at worst be an OF. It’ll all work out, just targeting the best player available with no worries of position.

PL Contributor: Tony
Reach alert! Since the Rockies caught criticism for taking Mr. Division 2 all-star in the fourth round, I thought it was fitting for me to do the same here. I absolutely love this kid’s upside as a top of the order run creator and producer. It doesn’t hurt that he has had a chip on his shoulder since opting for Division 2 college ball and continues his quest of proving his doubters wrong.

PL Contributor: Alex
As bad as the track record of first round prep RHP is, the track record of top prep lefties taken is decent. Walston offers a truly ideal frame (6-5 175 with huge growth potential) and athleticism, with upside since this will be his first year focusing on baseball over football. The now skills include a low to mid 90s fastball, a decent slider/change combo and curveball that was arguably the best in the class and a dominant debut.

PL Contributor: Ralph
Wilson is a bag of 50 tools who fits the sum-of-his-parts profile that works in pro ball. I was impressed by the quality of Wilson’s at bats this spring with NC State and I’d go as far as to put his future hit at a 60. If he can put the ball in the air with greater frequency, and not at the expense of his approach, he’ll blossom into a good everyday middle infielder.

PL Contributor: Jason K
Another high school arm but one that comes with a fastball he can run up to 96 and a plus slider to go with it. Malone also throws a curveball and changeup that he already has a feel for even early in his development. He is an athletic kid who I can pair with Espino to give me two potential frontline starters.

PL Contributor: Ben
Wallner was originally viewed as a two-way prospect this spring, but his hitting took off to the point of being in consideration in the first round. The Minnesotan went to his home state team in the draft, and while the fit in the outfield with the deep outfield system the Twins have put together may not be clear, Wallner’s power certainly is.

PL Contributor: Anthony
I’m not the biggest fan of high school pitching as a demographic, but most of the top young arms just continued to fall in this mock. As with Baty, at some point, you just take the demographic risk when the player’s talent becomes too valuable. PL’s Matt Thompson saw Priester this spring and says he worked in the mid-high 90s and flashed a plus 12-6 curveball. I’ll take a shot on that kind of stuff, even if the Pirates’ pitching development program seems a bit up in the air right now.

PL Contributor: Diego
Volpe was the Yankees’ first-round pick in this year’s draft. He’s a contact first, power second type hitter that gets on base at a high clip. Defensively, Volpe isn’t a crazy good athlete in the field, but he makes all the plays and has the natural actions to stick at shortstop moving forward.

PL Contributor: Eddy
Another high risk high reward pick, and these are the kind you should be making at this stage of the draft. Hinds has 35+ home run power in his bat, but there are serious questions about his ability to develop the hit tool enough to get there.

PL Contributor: Matt
Lorenzo is a switch-hitting shortstop out of the Dominican Republic that signed for $1.8 million with the Astros. The 16-year-old has above-average bat speed and projects to hit for average and power. He’s also an above-average runner. He may not stick at short but there’s enough offensive upside to play anywhere.

PL Contributor: Brenden
After stocking up on some talented young shortstops, I went with Tyler Callihan, the powerful prep bat from Jacksonville. His approach at the plate needs some work but it’s hard not to get excited about a young kid hitting six home runs in his first 50 or so at bats in professional ball. Hard to know where he’ll land defensively at the moment but if the bat to ball skills improve and he can make the most of the powerful bat, he’s going to be a fun one to watch.

PL Contributor: Tony
Smith is the epitome of an all-around solid middle infielder that could turn into a nice find for the Yankees. I’d like to see the small sample of his pro debut plate discipline stick as he progresses up the food chain. However, even if they retreat back somewhat, Smith projects as a nice MI fantasy asset with high average mixed with moderate power and speed.

PL Contributor: Alex
Like Pauson, Vera is a switch hitting SS with electric tools, a frame similar to Tatis Jr at 16 and an even more raw swing. Vera has many moving parts to his swing but shows advanced pitch recognition with potential to hit for power, run well and stick at shortstop. Another high risk but very high upside Angels expensive signing.

PL Contributor: Ralph
The younger brother of 2018 Cincinnati 4th rounder Michael Siani, Sammy went to the Pirates in the comp round this season. He’s a better hitter than his brother but he’s not quite as toolsy. That’s not to say he doesn’t bring above-average running ability and defensive prowess to the table, because he does. A beautiful lefty swing with some projection in the body make Siani one of my favorite lotto tickets in 2019 FYPD.

PL Contributor: Jason K
I am bullish on Paris who, although he was the one of the youngest players in the draft (he won’t be 18 until November), has plenty of speed and an underrated hit tool. He is slight of build and probably won’t ever hit 20 home runs but where others see a smallish project, I see the potential for physical growth and a player whose numbers improved significantly his last two years of high school.

PL Contributor: Ben
My first international signing was not a traditional 16-year-old July 2 guy, but instead is a guy in his early 20s with elite defensive skills and plus speed that should move quickly to Chicago. In a game with little speed available, a player on a rebuilding team with potentially available speed is of definite interest.

PL Contributor: Anthony
Allan fell through the cracks for us pre-draft, as no one at Prospects Live got eyes on him in-person. That’s probably some of the reason he fell as far as he did in our mock despite what appears to be a pretty typical high-school right-hander profile. Allan fell to the Mets at 89th overall this June, but that’s the misleading result of a high price tag most teams didn’t feel they could match. Only Priester got a higher bonus among high school pitchers, reflecting Allan’s reputation as one of the top arms in the class.

PL Contributor: Diego
A.J. Preller dominates the international signing period and the signing of Preciado is no different. A 6-foot-4, 180 pound 16-year-old kid from Panama, Preciado has a Fernando Tatis Jr.-like build that scouts drool over. He’s a switch hitter with strong feel from the left side and consistently finds the barrel. He’s an above-average defender for his age with smooth actions. The upside with this kid, given his age, is ridiculous.

PL Contributor: Eddy
The crop of J2 guys are interesting in the later rounds and I’m excited about Mena, partly because he’s in a good org that should develop him well. He’s explosive out of the box with double-plus speed and in 2019 instructs has shown the ability to spray the ball to all fields. His frame, like many J2 guys, is ripe for growth which means more power. There’s some underlying power/speed combo potential here to excite owners. but I’ll bet more on the speed than the power

PL Contributor: Matt
The Justin Turner look-a-like lacks the plus power traditionally associated with third baseman, but every other offensive tool is above-average. Wendzel is athletic enough to potentially move around the diamond, and I like betting on players that have the barrel control and strike zone command that he possesses.

PL Contributor: Brenden
Prep pitchers are always risky, especially ones from colder weather states like Pennsylvania. Also the Angels always worry me with pitchers with the seemingly high rate of pitchers who have arm troubles when they reach the majors. Kochanowicz is one to take a flyer on though. With a good fastball that reportedly hits low-mid 90s and a 6’6″ frame, it’s safe to assume that could tick up a few more over the next couple years. On top of that he shows a real nice curve. Pitchers are always risky, especially a high school one, but Kochanowicz is one I’m willing to take a lottery ticket for.

PL Contributor: Tony
Mears represents my first “dart throw” pick of the draft. At the ripe age of 18 years old and so much projection left, Mears’ biggest feat will be to improve upon high strikeout rate which could limit his otherwise huge power and speed upside. It will be fun to watch how Mears progresses against higher-level pitching.

PL Contributor: Alex
Schunk is a potential gold glove defender at third base with a frame nearly identical to Nolan Arenado. Schunk was probably the best hitter I saw in the extremely pitcher friendly NWL last year slashing .306/.370/.503 and has one of the best approaches in the class at the plate. He’ll benefit greatly from the Colorado minors and majors friendly confines as well as the juiced ball and should move quickly.

PL Contributor: Ralph
Another hit tool first player from the college class. Strumpf was one of my favorite bats on a talented UCLA squad. Classic Cubs pick, an advanced college bat that should move fast but lacks massive upside. Happy to get him after 50.

PL Contributor: Jason K
Quite possibly my favorite pick of the draft so far, Song has a ton of talent with a plus slider and a fastball that reaches 98. There are some questions as to whether or not he remains a starter but high leverage relievers have proven to have a lot of value in fantasy formats as well. Song had a terrific debut this year with 15 strikeouts and just two walks over 11 IP.

PL Contributor: Ben
For the second time in three picks, Ralph grabbed my top guy with just one more pick between us, nabbing Strumpf at the back end of the sixth round after grabbing Will Wilson at the end of the fourth. Nunez is a personal favorite due to his combination of speed, on-field intensity, and bat speed that suggests that he could be a guy to hit for surprising power at his size and should stick defensively up the middle, most likely on the dirt.

PL Contributor: Anthony
Watson might be a bit of an overdraft here, but he’s among my favorite sleepers in the class, and I wanted to make sure I got him. He’s got elite speed and center field defense, so there’s some rare stolen base potential for fantasy owners if he can hit enough to play every day. Watson’s an LSU product, where he put up strong numbers against SEC pitching. More interestingly, he twice exceeded 107 MPH of exit velocity this season, two of the Tigers’ hardest-hit balls of the season. Does that alone mean Watson’s college production will translate to pro ball? No, but it’s surprising juice for a speedster listed at 6’0″, 160. The combination of athleticism and bat speed make him an interesting flyer.

PL Contributor: Diego
An imposing figure on the mound, Kelly regularly touches 97-98 mph with his fastball and a fairly loose arm action suggests he could hit triple digits in the near future with no problem. He’s fairly raw from an actual pitching standpoint, as both his secondary offerings grade below average. If the Brewers can further develop both his slider and changeup to at least average offerings, they’re looking at a high-quality pitcher. Right now, however, Kelly projects as a reliever.

PL Contributor: Eddy
A strong makeup kid with unique Native American bloodlines, Brewer is a power/speed threat after he learned to elevate the ball in Michigan. His plus speeds are evident on the base paths and on the field. I’m also encouraged that he’s in the Houston Astros organization. An excellent flier this late in the draft with a chance of strong returns.

PL Contributor: Matt
A disappointing senior season pushed Thompson from top 10 consideration to the second round where the White Sox pounced at pick 45. When healthy, Thompson has a 92-96 mph heater with a two-plane slider and a curveball. At 6-foot-2, 184 pounds, the frame has some projection. The Texas A&M commit has natural breaking ball feel and above-average athleticism.

PL Contributor: Brenden
This time last year, Holland was expected to be a mid-1st round pick out of Auburn then he had a rough junior year. I watched a lot of Holland and I think a major reason why he struggled is because he was working on working deeper counts and drawing more walks which was a strike against him going into that year. He started to perk up at the end of the year and into the postseason leading Auburn to the CWS for the first time since the late 1990’s. Holland is still a raw product for a college shortstop but he’s a rare blend of power and speed that can play potential well-above average defense. Call me a homer of my alma mater all you want, but I’ve watched this kid since he was a freshman and think there’s something here.

PL Contributor: Tony
I took a shot at Kahle here as an offensive-minded catcher with plus on-base ability and power potential. He will need to shore up some aspects of his defensive-game, and if he does, seems like one that could move quickly.

PL Contributor: Alex
McConnell, a draft eligible sophomore who was arguably the best SEC hitter the last month of the season, landed in the worst spot possible for his skillset. He struggles with swing and miss/approach issues and KC is the worst at fixing that in the game, which is the only reason he wasn’t a top 20 pick in this draft. McConnell has potential to be a 60 power, 60 plus speed SS or CF with untapped upside and could wind up a Trevor Story type player if developed correctly (or he could become a total bust) high upside, high risk again.

PL Contributor: Ralph
Some of the hardest hit balls in the 2018 CCBL were off the bat of Burdick. After completing his impressive collegiate career Burdick absolutely raked coming out of the draft. After just five games in short season Burdick spent the rest of his season in the Midwest League putting up 172 wRC+ over 63 games. Somewhere between the biggest sleeper in this class or a post draft mirage.

PL Contributor: Jason K
I’m a sucker for a good-looking left-handed swing and Rodriguez has exactly that. Signed out of the Dominican by the Twins for $2.5 million, he has been compared to Eddie Rosario. There is some risk as Rodriguez will take some time to be fantasy relevant but he could be a steal once he is.

PL Contributor: Ben
Cannon may be still figuring out where his future defensive home is as a professional, but the Red Sox made a smart, if safe, pick to grab Cannon with their first selection of the 2019 draft. Likely the type of guy that fills a fantasy starting roster and is more “doesn’t hurt you” than a standout, once he’s defensively set, he should move fairly quickly.

PL Contributor: Anthony
Williamson flashed solid secondary stuff his only year at TCU, but a 90-92 mph fastball and some strike-throwing issues pushed him into the second round of the draft. Working in short stints post-draft to keep his innings in check, Williamson showed significantly improved velocity, per Alex Jensen, who saw him in the Northwest League. There’s risk the improved stuff doesn’t hold as he extends back to longer outings, but there’s a starter kit in here for an SP4.

PL Contributor: Diego
Mendoza is built like an Ox, standing at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds of primarily muscle. He does damage to the baseball and has real raw power. There’s some clear swing-and-miss in his game, but he also walks at a fairly high clip. The Nationals moved him over to first base after he was drafted, where they think he’ll be an average defender moving forward.

PL Contributor: Eddy
The Marlins’ most expensive J2 signee at $2.8 million, I love the upside of the athletic 16-year-old and how he effectively rotates his body to get to his power with a compact stroke. But he also possesses strong contact skills and similarly impressive plate recognition. Yet another power/speed combo, Salas is an excellent flier and one of the more overlooked international players this year. Wouldn’t surprise me if he outperformed my last four picks.

PL Contributor: Matt
I saw Driscoll hit two homers in a game during the AFL so that had something to do with this pick. Driscoll looked smooth behind the plate and has the physical frame to catch. The switch-hitter had more walks than strikeouts this year at George Mason. The second-round pick is one of the more polished players in the draft.

PL Contributor: Brenden
I’m going to be honest here. Before this FYP draft, I hadn’t really given the J2 class too much in-depth looks outside of the top 5 or 6 guys. This kid caught my eye though. Originally was expected to sign with the Yankees but with the high profile signing of the Greek God Jasson Dominguez they didn’t have the bonus pool to sign him so the Rays picked him up. This kid doesn’t have the flashy tools many of these young international guys have but he looks real refined in his swing and just overall baseball ability. I’m a sucker for 16-17 year old kids who show advanced baseball skills. Keep a close eye on this kid in the later stages of FYP drafts or down the line in shallower leagues to see how he does.

PL Contributor: Tony
Switch-hitting Thomas Dillard has tantalizing raw power along with impressive (and significantly improved) strikeout to walk numbers and a hefty fly-ball rate to help add to his home run column. His biggest question mark comes on defense, but if he continues to hit at the level he is capable, that is likely a trade-off any team would gladly take.

PL Contributor: Alex
When the Astros are way higher on a guy than anyone else, I pay attention. Lee slashed .337/.416/.619 last year at Cal and had a 122 wRC+ in the pitcher friendly NYPL in his first year as a catcher. Lee has some swing and miss issues, but an approach that improved late season, plus athleticism, decent speed, double plus raw power and solid defense with the ability to play 3B, 2B and OF. He reminds me of Daulton Varsho with less contact and more power.

PL Contributor: Ralph
When I caught Stinson over the summer of 2018 he was the best arm I saw in the CCBL. He was working 95+ with nasty late life on the fastball and a wipeout slider. He was every bit as nasty as Manoah at his best. An injury robbed him of his junior season but if any organization can get Stinson back to where he was it’s Tampa.

PL Contributor: Jason K
Sticking with the international theme, I nabbed the Venezuelan Medina who has plus power potential and could contribute across four categories. Like Lora and Rodriguez before him, it will take time before he becomes viable but if he develops, the upside is sky high.

PL Contributor: Ben
Looking to grab one more prep outfielder, Harris was atop the list, especially after an extremely strong pro debut. Viewed as a pitcher by many out of high school, Harris jumped all the way to full-season ball, rare enough for a prep player, but in spite of a rough batting average at the level, he still showed exceptional plate discipline for context and showed off both power and speed.

PL Contributor: Anthony
Johnson’s a projection play. He hadn’t pitched full-time until last fall, when he began popping mid-90’s for Campbell University. He’s touched 98 and has a shortstop background, suggestive of his athleticism, so there’s promising raw material. He wasn’t especially good as a junior (statistically, he was probably the Camels’ third-best starter), but that’s to be expected for someone so new to pitching. He’s exceptionally raw, but the Rays have a strong track record of pitching development and there’s a bunch of different ways a player like this can go.

PL Contributor: Diego
A jack-of-all trades type of player, Steer is a solid athlete with strong bat-to-ball skills. There’s not much power to his game, but he’ll spray the ball to all fields and find ways to get on base. His versatility alone gives him intriguing value.

PL Contributor: Eddy
At this stage of a FYPD I’m starting to do a little box score scouting because talent is thin. A big 6-foot-6 lefty that the Braves popped in the 24th round, Ball had a 1.086 OPS in the Appy League with a 12 BB% and 17 K% and then got the bump to the Sally League where he slashed .337/.367/.547 in a small 21-game sample (with worse BB/K numbers). I’m willing to gamble this late in anticipation the Braves might have stumbled onto something, but just be aware the bat needs to keep producing at a high level given his position.

PL Contributor: Matt
Grissom was taken in the 11th round by the Braves and signed for $350K. The 18-year-old showed a strong plate approach in the GCL, and I believe there’s some untapped power in the 6-foot-3 frame.

PL Contributor: Brenden
I took Packard to round out my higher upside draft that features a lot of risky prep players. Packard is more of the “professional hitter” bloodlines. He just shows that knack for hitting but doesn’t have excess power to boom it with. Best case scenario for him is to be a slightly above-average league hitter (think .270ish) approaching 20 bombs over the course of a full season. Unfortunately he won’t be playing any important position and will be relegated to a corner or first base but luckily that doesn’t matter too much for fantasy purposes.

PL Contributor: Tony
Gray started to tap into his power during his final college season which then translated into his professional debut. There are plenty of questions to be answered on Gray’s long-term outlook, but I took a flyer on the power and strong defensive prowess that should help propel him through the minors.

PL Contributor: Alex
Entering the year, Miller was viewed as a likely early first round pick, before he lost some velo and command took a step back. Stanford is known for coaching rough mechanics and post draft Miller was back up touching 96-97 as a lefty, with a 60 slider, plus changeup and a decent curveball while having a 1.50 era with a 13.0 k/9 in 36 IP. Miller has a prototype starters frame with elite stuff, so it will be up to his command advancement whether he’s a high strikeout upside starter or late inning RP getting SV/HLD. Not bad for pick 88.

PL Contributor: Ralph
A fourth rounder that the Astros signed for $1 million, nearly $600,000 above slot. A compact and powerful lefty swing, plus speed, and athleticism Barber is a potential steal in FYPD’s near pick 100.

PL Contributor: Jason K
Wyatt might be a bit of a reach even at this point but the former Louisville star has a sturdy frame (6’4, 230) that will hopefully unlock more power as he advances. I think Eric Hosmer is a good comp, though Wyatt should produce significantly more in the OBP category. If he does find his power stroke this pick will look really good.

PL Contributor: Ben
After watching my pitching targets for this pick go off the board one-by-one over the last few rounds, I went with a personal predraft favorite in Sanford. Sanford’s showing with Western Kentucky was as impressive a power display as I saw in college in 2019. He struggled with contact in his pro debut, but he has legit big-time power.

PL Contributor: Anthony
I didn’t plan on targeting high-risk, high-reward pitching in the second half of the draft so much as different arms continued to feel like good value. Given the way things went for me, it’s only fitting I end with a 6’6″ high school righty. Lewis has prototype size, shows mid-90s velocity and has some strike-throwing ability. It’s solid raw material for the Dodgers, who are perhaps baseball’s gold standard in player development.

PL Contributor: Diego
Another international signing from the Padres finds their way on my team in Medina. A 17-year-old consistently throwing 93-95 mph and occasionally touching 97 mph certainly intrigues me. There’s a ton of room for him to fill out his 6-foot-2 build and add more velocity. He’ll continue to develop his slider and changeup as he grows. Medina does throw with some effort and there are some evaluators who believe he projects as a reliever long term.

PL Contributor: Eddy
Amador, signed by the Rockies for $1.5 million, is a strong defensive shortstop that’ll rely on the progression of his hit tool to grow into fantasy relevancy. I’m projecting him as a mid teens home run and steals contributor.

PL Contributor: Matt
Gutierrez signed with the Padres for $1 million out of Venezuela. The lefty has a simple, repeatable delivery and enough physical projection to grab towards the end of your drafts. He currently sits 88-90 with the heater with a curveball and a change. His command is plus for his age, and this has the ingredients of a big league impact starter, but patience is required

PL Contributor: Brenden
To close out my draft I went with the Fresno State product (and I’m certain the more talented secret relative of my colleague and friend Alex Juicy Jensen). Jensen is another college arm to take who has a great fastball that hits upper 90s with a good breaking ball. There’s a good amount of reliever risk with him but with stuff like that I’ll take the risk because even if he gets relegated to the pen he could have a back-end role that still has a lot of fantasy value.

PL Contributor: Tony
Strahm declined multiple offers to play college football and had a very productive three years of baseball at San Jose State. Strahm’s calling card has always been his speed and athleticism, and then he also tapped into a bit of power last year. Hopefully that will stick around, and if not, Strahm still has high OBP and top of the order burner potential.

PL Contributor: Alex
The most underrated prospect in the 2019 J2 class, Heredia has “Now” tools on a 5-11 180 frame at just 16 years old. Heredia has excellent transfer, footwork, average speed and a solid arm defensively that should let him play across the infield, but the calling card is loud now power. He uses natural loft and a slight hanging leg kick with insane wrist speed to generate big power and is an easy comp to Maikol Escotto of the Yankees.

PL Contributor: Ralph
An off the charts athlete with 80 speed, Brown is raw at the plate but there’s projection in the body. At this point I’m dreaming on upside.

PL Contributor: Jason K
Fletcher is known more for his defense but in his first taste of professional ball he hit .318 with five homeruns. The strikeout to walk ratio will need to improve but he uses all fields and he wasn’t at all overwhelmed this year despite going straight to Kane County out of the draft. Fletcher could be a fantasy sleeper.