2016 MLB Amateur Draft picks 1-26

The 2016 MLB Amateur Draft has begun and the first 26 picks of the first round have been completed. In a draft pool particularly rich in high school talent, three of the first four picks of the draft were prep players. The Philadelphia Phillies made Mickey Moniak, an outfielder from La Costa Canyon High School in California, the first overall pick of the draft. With the second overall pick, the Cincinnati Reds selected third baseman Nick Senzel of the University of Tennessee. Ian Anderson, a right-handed pitcher from Shenendehowa High School in New York, went to the Atlanta Braves with the third selection. The Colorado Rockies took right-handed pitcher Riley Pint of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Kansas with the fourth pick of the draft. 

A.J. Puk, the University of Florida left-hander who was in the mix for the first overall pick, dropped to the Oakland Athletics with the sixth overall pick. With the eighth overall pick, the San Diego Padres selected Cal Quantrill, who underwent Tommy John surgery in his sophomore season at Stanford University and has not pitched since. Mercer University outfielder Kyle Lewis, who was expected to go near the top of the draft, lasted until the Seattle Mariners picked him 11th overall. 

The Red Sox came away with one of the more intriguing selections of Day One, grabbing southpaw Jason Groome with their first-round pick. Groome was listed as a top three draft prospect by nearly all publications, but may prove tough for the team to sign. Blake Rutherford represents another talented high schooler who fell out of the top of the draft, going to the New York Yankees with the 18th selection. Delvin Perez, who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug on Wednesday, went to the St. Louis Cardinals with the 23rd pick of the draft. 

Here is a rundown of the picks in the first round of the 2016 draft. 

1. Philadelphia Phillies - Mickey Moniak, OF, La Costa Canyon HS (CA)

2. Cincinnati Reds - Nick Senzel, 3B, University of Tennessee

3. Atlanta Braves - Ian Anderson, RHP, Shenendehowa HS (NY)

4. Colorado Rockies - Riley Pint, RHP, St. Thomas Aquinas HS (KS)

5. Milwaukee Brewers - Corey Ray, OF, University of Louisville

6. Oakland Athletics - A.J. Puk, LHP, University of Florida

7. Miami Marlins - Braxton Garrett, LHP, Florence HS (AL)

8. San Diego Padres - Cal Quantrill, RHP, Stanford University

9. Detroit Tigers - Matt Manning, RHP, Sheldon HS (CA)

10. Chicago White Sox - Zack Collins, C, University of Miami

11. Seattle Mariners - Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer University

12. Boston Red Sox - Jason Groome, LHP, Barnegat HS (NJ)

13. Tampa Bay Rays - Joshua Lowe, 3B, Pope HS (GA)

14. Cleveland Indians - Will Benson, OF, Westminster Schools (GA)

15. Minnesota Twins - Alex Kiriloff, OF, Plum HS (PA)

16. Los Angeles Angels - Matt Thaiss, C, University of Virginia

17. Houston Astros - Forrest Whitley, RHP, Alamo Heights HS (TX)

18. New York Yankees - Blake Rutherford, OF, Chaminade Prep HS (CA)

19. New York Mets - Justin Dunn, RHP, Boston College

20. Los Angeles Dodgers - Gavin Lux, SS, Indian Trail HS (WI)

21. Toronto Blue Jays - T.J. Zeuch, RHP, University of Pittsburgh

22. Pittsburgh Pirates - Will Craig, 3B, Wake Forest University

23. St. Louis Cardinals - Delvin Perez, SS, International Baseball Academy (PR)

24. San Diego Padres - Hudson Sanchez, SS, Carroll HS (TX)

25. San Diego Padres - Eric Lauer, LHP, Kent State University

26. Chicago White Sox - Zack Burdi, RHP, University of Louisville

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