Tonight is the MLB draft. Rounds 1 and 2 and competitive balance picks are this evening. Rounds 3-10 tomorrow and remainder of the draft is Wednesday.
Boston has the number 24 pick.
MLB.com mock picks:
Mayo: Bubba Thompson, OF, McGill-Toolen HS (Mobile, Ala.) - There was a lot of college talk here, but most of the college bats are off the board. Thompson's tools could be gone, too, but the Red Sox would have to be interested if he was still on the board.
Callis: Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State - Burger, who has the most usable power in the Draft, would be a nice get for Boston. The Red Sox seem destined to wind up with a hitter and could be hoping White, Hiura and Ramos might fall to No. 24.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235886620/mock-draft-for-first-round-of-2017-mlb-draft/?topicid=151437456
Sox prospects mentions other possible picks.
Keston Hiura, 2B/OF, UC-Irvine – Hiura is a college junior with possibly the best hit tool in the draft. In addition to making plus contact and leading the NCAA in average and on-base percentage, he has above-average to plus power, excellent plate discipline, smooth mechanics, and fringe-average speed. He has played second base, left field, and center field in college, showing a below-average arm. An elbow injury has left his future projection on defense up in the air – he will likely require surgery. Interest in Hiura has been rumored to caught helium in recent days, so there's a strong possibility he may not be available when Boston's turn comes up.
Tanner Houck, RHP, Missouri – Houck has a strong pitcher’s frame at 6’5”, 220, allowing him to work as Mizzou’s Friday night starter and as a two-year starter for Team USA. His arsenal includes a plus 90-94 mph sinker, an average slider, and a work-in-progress changeup, all thrown with above-average control and command. He’ll need to improve his secondary pitches to reach his potential as a top-end starter. Even if he doesn’t, he has a reasonable floor of a backend starter or high leverage reliever due to his combination of control and movement.
Evan White, 1B/OF, Kentucky – White is an excellent athlete and plus defensive player at first base, with potential to also play right field as a pro. He shows above-average speed, fluidity, and glovework, paired with a plus arm. He makes above-average contact at the plate but his present power is fringy, especially for his position, but he has the frame to add some strength. Overall, he projects as a player that could hit over .300 on a consistent basis while providing some defensive versatility.
David Peterson, LHP, Oregon – The Red Sox selected Peterson in the 28th round in 2014 but didn’t have the cap space to sign him. The 6’6” left-hander is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the draft, demonstrated by the fact the he stuck out 20 batters in a complete game shutout against Arizona State in late April. His fastball sits in the low 90s but has topped out in the mid-90s. He also throws a plus slider and mixes in an average changeup and an occasional curveball. To take it to the next level, he’ll need to work on maintaining more consistent command, and he’ll eventually be required to mix in his changeup more.
There’s some chance that all of the above players are off the board by the time the Red Sox pick at #24. Other players who the Red Sox have been linked to in the first round include Houston LHP Seth Romero, Dana Hills High School RHP Hans Crouse, LSU RHP Alex Lange, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School OF Bubba Thompson, and Central Florida JC RHP Nate Pearson.
http://news.soxprospects.com/2017/06/2017redsoxdraftpreview.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+SoxprospectsNews+(SoxProspects+News)&m=1
Boston has the number 24 pick.
MLB.com mock picks:
Mayo: Bubba Thompson, OF, McGill-Toolen HS (Mobile, Ala.) - There was a lot of college talk here, but most of the college bats are off the board. Thompson's tools could be gone, too, but the Red Sox would have to be interested if he was still on the board.
Callis: Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State - Burger, who has the most usable power in the Draft, would be a nice get for Boston. The Red Sox seem destined to wind up with a hitter and could be hoping White, Hiura and Ramos might fall to No. 24.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235886620/mock-draft-for-first-round-of-2017-mlb-draft/?topicid=151437456
Sox prospects mentions other possible picks.
Keston Hiura, 2B/OF, UC-Irvine – Hiura is a college junior with possibly the best hit tool in the draft. In addition to making plus contact and leading the NCAA in average and on-base percentage, he has above-average to plus power, excellent plate discipline, smooth mechanics, and fringe-average speed. He has played second base, left field, and center field in college, showing a below-average arm. An elbow injury has left his future projection on defense up in the air – he will likely require surgery. Interest in Hiura has been rumored to caught helium in recent days, so there's a strong possibility he may not be available when Boston's turn comes up.
Tanner Houck, RHP, Missouri – Houck has a strong pitcher’s frame at 6’5”, 220, allowing him to work as Mizzou’s Friday night starter and as a two-year starter for Team USA. His arsenal includes a plus 90-94 mph sinker, an average slider, and a work-in-progress changeup, all thrown with above-average control and command. He’ll need to improve his secondary pitches to reach his potential as a top-end starter. Even if he doesn’t, he has a reasonable floor of a backend starter or high leverage reliever due to his combination of control and movement.
Evan White, 1B/OF, Kentucky – White is an excellent athlete and plus defensive player at first base, with potential to also play right field as a pro. He shows above-average speed, fluidity, and glovework, paired with a plus arm. He makes above-average contact at the plate but his present power is fringy, especially for his position, but he has the frame to add some strength. Overall, he projects as a player that could hit over .300 on a consistent basis while providing some defensive versatility.
David Peterson, LHP, Oregon – The Red Sox selected Peterson in the 28th round in 2014 but didn’t have the cap space to sign him. The 6’6” left-hander is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the draft, demonstrated by the fact the he stuck out 20 batters in a complete game shutout against Arizona State in late April. His fastball sits in the low 90s but has topped out in the mid-90s. He also throws a plus slider and mixes in an average changeup and an occasional curveball. To take it to the next level, he’ll need to work on maintaining more consistent command, and he’ll eventually be required to mix in his changeup more.
There’s some chance that all of the above players are off the board by the time the Red Sox pick at #24. Other players who the Red Sox have been linked to in the first round include Houston LHP Seth Romero, Dana Hills High School RHP Hans Crouse, LSU RHP Alex Lange, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School OF Bubba Thompson, and Central Florida JC RHP Nate Pearson.
http://news.soxprospects.com/2017/06/2017redsoxdraftpreview.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+SoxprospectsNews+(SoxProspects+News)&m=1
