Stanford right-handed pitcher Mark Appel. Credit: Matthew Ersted, Stanfordphoto.com.
With the 2013 MLB draft just weeks away, we have compiled our first mock draft of the year. After being drafted eighth overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012, Stanford right-handed pitcher Mark Appel is preparing for his second draft.
Appel was the only player in the first round not to sign. He opted to return to school for another season in order to further develop his arm. Now he is in position to be taken number one overall.
The Houston Astros hold the number one pick in the draft for the second straight season and are reportedly choosing between Appel and Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Jonathan Gray.
As of May 19, Gray has a record of 8-2 in 14 games started and an ERA of 1.69. He is a junior that absolutely dominates the competition. Opposing hitters are batting just .188 against him and he has recorded 115 strikeouts in 101 innings pitched.
Appel, a senior, struggled at times early this season, but has put together a strong campaign overall. He sports a 2.20 ERA and a 9-4 record in 13 starts. He has recorded 121 strikeouts in 98.1 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .208 against Appel as of May 23.
It seems as though these two power arms will be the number one and number two overall picks this year, but as we saw with Houston last year, they could surprise the baseball world and go with a position player. Last year, the Astros chose Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa out of Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School.
Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Jonathan Gray. Credit: Ken Inness/ZumaPress.com.
In our first mock draft of the 2013 season, we have put together the following list of team picks and players.
This is obviously not set in stone, and could change with our second mock draft as the event gets closer.
Let us know your thoughts in our comments section at the bottom of the page.
- Houston Astros: Mark Appel (RHP-Stanford-Senior)
- Chicago Cubs: Jonathan Gray (RHP-Oklahoma-Junior)
- Colorado Rockies: Kohl Stewart (RHP-St. Pius X HS, Texas)
- Minnesota Twins: Sean Manaea (LHP-Indiana State)
- Cleveland Indians: Braden Shipley (RHP-Nevada)
- Miami Marlins: Kris Bryant (3B-San Diego)
- Boston Red Sox: Clint Frazier (OF-Loganville HS, GA)
- Kansas City Royals: Ryne Stanek (RHP-Arkansas)
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Trey Ball (LHP-New Castle Chrysler HS, IN)
- Toronto Blue Jays: Colin Moran (3B-North Carolina)
- New York Mets: DJ Peterson (1B-New Mexico)
- Seattle Mariners: Austin Meadows (OF-Grayson HS, GA)
- San Diego Padres: Reese McGuire (C-Kentwood HS, WA)
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Hunter Renfroe (OF-Mississippi State)
- Arizona Diamondbacks: JP Crawford (SS-Lakewood HS, CA)
- Philadelphia Phillies: Hunter Harvey (RHP-Bandys HS, NC)
- Chicago White Sox: Austin Wilson (OF-Stanford)
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Marco Gonzales (LHP-Gonzaga)
- St. Louis Cardinals: Jonathan Crawford (RHP-Florida)
- Detroit Tigers: Chris Anderson (RHP-Jacksonville)
- Tampa Bay Rays: Jonathan Denney (C-Yukon HS, OK)
- Baltimore Orioles: Aaron Judge (OF-Fresno State)
- Texas Rangers: Devin Williams (RHP-Hazelwood West HS, MO)
- Oakland Athletics: Dominic Smith (1B/OF-Serra HS, CA)
- San Francisco Giants: Matt Krook (LHP-St. Ignatius Prep, CA)
- New York Yankees: Rob Kaminsky (LHP/OF-St. Joseph HS, NJ)
- Cincinnati Reds: Alex Gonzalez (RHP-Oral Roberts)
- St. Louis Cardinals: Nick Ciuffo (C-Lexington HS, SC)
- Tampa Bay Rays: Billy McKinney (OF-Plano West HS, TX)
- Texas Rangers: Phil Bickford (RHP-Oaks Christian HS, CA)
- Atlanta Braves: Eric Jagielo (3B/OF-Notre Dame)
- New York Yankees: Tim Anderson (SS-East Central HS, MS)
- New York Yankees: Kyle Serrano (RHP-Farragut HS, TN)
Draft Compensation Notes:
#9 pick – Pittsburgh acquires pick for failure to sign 2012 selection Mark Appel.
#28 pick – St. Louis acquires pick for losing Kyle Lohse.
#29 pick – Tampa Bay acquires pick for losing BJ Upton.
#30 pick – Texas acquires pick for losing Josh Hamilton.
#31 pick – Atlanta acquires pick for losing Michael Bourn.
#32 pick – NY Yankees acquire pick for losing Nick Swisher.
#33 pick – NY Yankees acquires pick for losing Rafael Soriano.
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Jim is the creator and editor of At the Dish, Cinn City Sports, Life with Tony and Enzo and owner of JAVFreelancing. He coached baseball for five years, three at his former high school (Holy Cross in Delran, NJ) and two at prominent Division III program Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He has worked for the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, NJ; Metro Networks in Bala Cynwyd, PA; and was the play-by-play announcer for the Camden Riversharks of the Independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for two seasons (2007-2008) on Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM, the student-run radio station at Rowan University. Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and minor in Journalism from Rowan University in 2008. While in school he was the Assistant Sports Director at WGLS for two years and the Sports Director for one year. He also covered the football, baseball, softball and both basketball teams for the school newspaper 'The Whit.' Jim lives in New Jersey with his wife Nicole, sons Tony and Enzo and dog Phoebe. He can be reached at jimvassallo@mlbdrafts.com.
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