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ThomasTomasz
Guest
By everyone's favorite
Houston Astros
Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
The decision appears to be down to Appel, Byron Buxton, Lucas Giolito, Carlos Correa and Kevin Gausman. The Astros insist they'll take the best player available, but I'm sure that if they can get that player to sign for less than the $7.2 million recommended bonus for this pick, they won't complain.
Minnesota TwinsByron Buxton, OF, Appling County H.S. (Baxley, Ga.)
This selection will be Buxton, Gausman, Correa or Appel. Gausman seems to be rising in the Twins' estimation, and Correa is headed back to Minneapolis for a second pre-draft workout.
Seattle MarinersMike Zunino, C, Florida
There is a rumor that has picked up some steam in the past 48 hours that has the Mariners taking Correa. If they don't take Zunino, he's a possibility to the Royals at No. 5, but he could slide as far as 8 with 12 as a floor. Seattle would take Buxton if he's here.
Baltimore OriolesKevin Gausman, RHP, LSU
The Orioles are still wide-open and apparently haven't settled on a player yet, but there was a lot of chatter on Thursday that they'd narrowed in on Gausman. If Gausman is gone (say, Appel-Gausman-Buxton go 1-2-3), they could pick Kyle Zimmer or Correa.
Kansas City RoyalsKyle Zimmer, RHP, San FranciscoThis pick could be Gausman if he's here or California prep left-hander Max Fried. Florida high school righty Lance McCullers Jr., who had a strong finish to the season, remains a possibility.
Chicago CubsAlbert Almora, CF, Mater Academy Charter (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.)
This is the closest thing we have to a lock in the top 10. Almora is the rare high school player with a strong combination of polish and ceiling.
San Diego PadresCarlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy
The Padres are out on Clemson third baseman Richie Shaffer, as it appears there will be too many better options getting to them. If Seattle or Baltimore takes Correa, the Padres will take Fried, even though I believe they're hoping for a bat here.
Pittsburgh PiratesDeven Marrero, SS, Arizona State
I've had the Pirates on Marrero for a while but understand they are exploring other options. Industry consensus has them on college players even if they don't take Marrero.
Miami MarlinsCourtney Hawkins, OF, Carroll (Texas) H.S.
They're out on Almora, who now doesn't get to them anyway. Oklahoma State lefty Andrew Heaney would be the other option, over Fried.
Colorado RockiesDavid Dahl, CF, Oak Mountain H.S. (Birmingham, Ala.)
They're hoping Hawkins gets to them, but if he doesn't, look for Dahl or prep shortstop Gavin Cecchini here.
Oakland AthleticsJoey Gallo, 3B, Bishop Gorman H.S. (Las Vegas)
Their mix includes prep shortstop Addison Russell, Heaney and McCullers. The A's got compensatory selections in the sandwich and second rounds for their failure to sign Josh Willingham and David DeJesus, and those extra picks allow them to get creative with the signing bonus at this pick. This might be Fried's floor as well.
New York MetsMax Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake H.S. (Studio City, Calif.)
They're also on to Cecchini, Dahl, North Carolina prep third baseman Corey Seager and Texas A&M righty Michael Wacha. Giolito is a dark horse here. This is probably Zunino's floor, and it's definitely Fried's floor.
Chicago White SoxAndrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State
I've heard the White Sox are on college arms as well as injured prep lefty Matt Smoral, who missed most of the season with a stress fracture in his foot.
Cincinnati RedsChris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi State
Stratton will be almost 22 on draft day, making him one of the older top prospects in the draft. He has good stuff, though, putting up excellent strikeout numbers in the SEC. I've also heard the Reds linked to Wacha and possibly Giolito.
Cleveland IndiansRichie Shaffer, 3B, Clemson
Shaffer is falling a bit on draft boards after a poor showing at the ACC tournament. The Indians also are linked to Heaney.
Washington NationalsMichael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M
The dream scenario for the Nats is if Wacha or Heaney falls to here. Wacha's ceiling is limited, but his advanced changeup makes him a likely big leaguer.
Toronto Blue JaysLucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake H.S. (Studio City, Calif.)
They're on everyone -- Smoral, Cecchini, Dahl, prep catcher Stryker Trahan, and even the college arms I have going right ahead of them. There's a strong sentiment that they're one of two or three teams loading up to go over slot recommendations at their first pick for someone like Giolito, Russell or McCullers.
Los Angeles DodgersTy Hensley, RHP, Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe H.S.
I'm suddenly not hearing much else here. Hensley has size, arm strength and projection, but his command is below that of the other top prep arms.
St. Louis CardinalsAddison Russell, SS, Pace (Fla.) H.S.
Russell is one of the best athletes in the draft with a real chance to stick at short. St. Louis is on most of the same names as Toronto, with more emphasis on bats. (This is the compensation pick the Cardinals got from the Angels for Albert Pujols.)
San Francisco GiantsZach Eflin, RHP, Hagerty (Fla.) H.S.
Eflin shot up draft boards this spring after adding velocity. I'm also hearing Florida left-hander Brian Johnson, California prep lefty Shane Watson, and North Carolina high school right-hander Ty Buttrey here.
Atlanta BravesMatt Smoral, LHP, Solon (Ohio) H.S.
California prep shortstop Tanner Rahier is still strongly in this mix, as well as both Johnsons, Brian and Pierce, and Dahl.
Toronto Blue JaysGavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe H.S. (Lake Charles, La.)
He could go as high as No. 12 to the Mets, 17 if Toronto doesn't go over slot or 19. (This is a compensation pick the Blue Jays got for failing to sign first-rounder Tyler Beede a year ago.)
St. Louis CardinalsMarcus Stroman, RHP, Duke
I haven't heard him strongly connected to too many teams, even though everyone raves about his stuff. In addition to the bats from pick No. 19, they're linked to prep lefty Hunter Virant here.
Boston Red SoxStryker Trahan, C, Acadiana H.S. (Lafayette, La.)
Trahan didn't have a great spring, but his tools are promising. I'm still hearing the Red Sox linked to Texas A&M outfielder Tyler Naquin; I could see anything but a prep arm here.
Tampa Bay RaysStephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford
Piscotty has not really been hindered by the mechanical approach to hitting that Stanford preaches. He's the best player available here, high school or college.
Arizona DiamondbacksTy Buttrey, RHP, Providence H.S. (Charlotte, N.C.)
Buttrey is lanky and projectable, although at almost 19 years old, he is one of the oldest prep prospects in the class. I also could see prep righties Lucas Sims or Nick Travieso here.
Milwaukee BrewersClint Coulter, C, Union H.S. (Camas, Wash.)
He may not stay behind the plate, but he'll hit, and he has the arm strength to shut down the running game. This is the most probable first-round selection I've listed here. (This is a compensation pick from the Tigers for Prince Fielder.)
Milwaukee BrewersLewis Brinson, CF, Coral Springs H.S. (Tamarac, Fla.)
Brinson is a fantastic athlete who has as much upside as anyone other than Buxton. Sims and Virant remain options after they take Coulter.
Texas RangersD.J. Davis, OF, Stone County (Miss.) H.S.
I'm hearing mostly prep players here and the willingness to grab any guy who should fall because of bonus demands. Davis is an intriguing athlete who is an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale.
New York YankeesDuane Underwood, RHP, Pope H.S. (Marietta, Ga.)
They're still primarily on prep arms, including Puerto Rico's Jose Berrios and Washington's Mitch Gueller, although it's possible they'd take a major bat if one fell and would sign.
Boston Red SoxTanner Rahier, SS, Palm Desert (Calif.) H.S.
It's unlikely he'll stay at short, but he has a polished bat for a high school kid. I still think we won't see a high school arm for Boston until the sandwich round unless there's a signability guy who falls. (This selection is compensation from the Phillies for Jonathan Papelbon.)
