There were 1,216 selections in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft therefore unless you hold a front office position or are not gainfully employed full-time, don’t even pretend to know scouting reports on 1/8 of the 2014 prospects.
The draft could not be less commercially appealing and the selections are typically irrelevant until 3-4 years later, if ever. Instead of further complicating your lives with endless prospect profiles, fluffy mock drafts and baseless predictions, we have kindly condensed this nonsense to a few pieces of simple, yet relevant, crap for Thursday’s first round.
2: There are two elite prep pitchers that should not fall out of the top 3 on Thursday evening. LHP Brady Aiken (Cathedral Catholic High School – San Diego, CA) is the odds-on favorite to be selected No. 1 overall by the Houston Astros, giving them two No. 1 overall pitcher selections in as many years (Mark Appel, 2013). Aiken would become the first high school pitcher ever selected first.
The other youngster is a righthander with the physique of a future WWE superstar: Tyler Kolek. Unlike the lanky 6’5″ Aiken, Kolek is a cement-filled 6’5″, 250-pound hoss that might run over your remote control car with his Ford F150. There have been rumors the White Sox have Kolek No. 1 on their big board.
Touki Touissant (Coral Spring Christian Academy – Coral Spring, FL) is the only other prep pitcher deserving of a top 20 selection.
Michael Conforto: After seeing three college position players selected in the top 15 last year, we’ll be lucky to see one in 2014. Michael Conforto, an outfielder for CWS contender Oregon State lacks ideal CF speed and arm strength but has unbelievable plate discipline and awareness.
Does he warrant a top 15 pick? No, but neither did Hunter Renfroe (Mississippi State) in 2013, a player with polar opposite strengths and weaknesses but similar long-term concerns.
2015 No. 1: Alex Jackson (Rancho Bernardo High School, CA) would be a No. 1 overall pick…in 2015. Think Bryce Harper without the glitter.
There is less than a 1 percent chance the high school catcher will decline a top 10 pick’s salary and ride up the coast to Eugene. While Jackson still holds a chance to hear his name called first on Thursday, he likely will take a back seat to pitching and become an immediate blue-chip high profile prospect for Marlins, Cubs, or Mariners.
Aaron Nola: LSU pitcher Aaron Nola has the best chance since Cincinnati Reds RHP Mike Leake to hop immediately into the big leagues. Nola is the epitome of high risk-high reward and may ultimately never reach the show, but he has a tremendous chance.
