June 10, 2020 at 12:13 PM
2020 Draft: Mock Draft Round-up
One of the most fun exercises leading up to the MLB First-Year Player Draft each year is keeping up with draft experts' mock drafts, an exercise in guesswork destined to be constantly tweaked and revised right up until draft day itself (and several times that day, by some outlets). And even despite the tweaking (and MLB draft picks not being tradeable, which one might think brings a greater sense of certainty) mocking a draft each year very much an inexact science. Consider that Friend of SoxProspects Jim Callis's correctly predicting the first 18 picks of the 2005 Draft is to this day considered a staggering achievement compared without (too much) exaggeration to Joe DiMaggio's hit streak and Orel Hershiser's scoreless streak.
In the spirit of crowdsourcing the experts' views and providing an archive of what folks were thinking at the time of the draft, we present the following round-up of various experts' mock drafts going back as far as May 11.
This year in particular has presented a challenge to prognosticators. Not only has the absence of amateur games since March meant fewer opportunities to scout potential draftees, but it has also meant fewer opportunities for the rumor mill to turn as scouts talk to each other on the amateur circuit—and then to reporters. And with no games, there are no GM or amateur scouting director sightings at games to link teams with potential first-round picks, no Chaim Bloom or Paul Toboni at a Los Angeles high school game or SEC Tournament weekend to (seemingly) confirm the club's interest in a particular player.
Looking at the list of players mocked to the Sox at the 17th overall pick, a short list of names to watch for emerges, led by Oregon high school right-hander Mick Abel. Also on the list are California high school outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and catcher Tyler Soderstrom, UCLA outfielder Garrett Mitchell, North Carolina State catcher Patrick Bailey, Tennessee high school outfielder Robert Hassell, and Tennessee LHP Garrett Crochet.
We'll update this list as the day continues, so keep it bookmarked! Also, big shout-out to SoxProspects Forum Moderator Michael, aka vermontsox1, for his great working helping to pull these sources together.
Update, 3:45 p.m.: Added final mocks for Fangraphs and Perfect Game.
Update, 4:20 p.m.: Added final Prep Baseball Report mock.
Update, 11:30 p.m.: Added final Callis and Mayo mocks for posterity
Jim Callis, MLB Pipeline
Final Mock: Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia
June 10, a.m.: Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
Carlos Collazo, Baseball America
Final Mock: Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
June 8: Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (Calif.)
June 3: Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
May 27: Crow-Armstrong
May 13: Austin Wells, C, Arizona
Keith Law, The Athletic
Final Mock: Patrick Bailey, C, NC State
June 3: Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (Calif.)
May 28: Bobby Miller, RHP, Louisville
May 13: Chris McMahon, RHP, Miami
Eric Longenhagen, Fangraphs
Final Mock: Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
June 8: Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee
May 27: Robert Hassell, OF, Independence HS (Tenn.)
Jonathan Mayo, MLB Pipeline
Final Mock: Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
June 10, a.m.: Abel
June 3: Abel
May 20: Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
Kiley McDaniel, ESPN
Final Mock: Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
May 26: Abel
May 11: Abel
Perfect Game USA
Final Mock: Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
June 5: Tyler Soderstrom, C, Turlock HS (Calif.)
Prep Baseball Report
Final Mock: Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
June 8: Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (Calif.)
Nathan Rode: Tyler Soderstrom, C, Turlock HS (Calif.)
David Seifert: Robert Hassell, OF, Independence HS (Tenn.)
Shooter Hunt: Patrick Bailey, C, NC State
ProspectsLive
June 9 (Ralph Lifshitz): Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)
June 1 (staff): Abel
Chris Hatfield is Executive Editor of SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @SPChrisHatfield.