Kian Davies' Earlier-than-the-Draft-Order Mock Draft (#1) (First 10 picks)

09/17/2018

I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs. The offseason is long, but the pre-offseason is longer. Alas, here I am without even a draft order to wet my whistle. There are so many prospects frolicking through the field without any way to mock [draft] them!

Until I though, perhaps I could make my own draft order! In this way-too-early mock draft, not only will I predict the prospects, but I will also predict the teams that will take them! This will only encompass the first round. 

The way I predict the draft order to happen is with expansion teams first. I think the order will be random, using some kind of program online. This order is mostly meaningless.

1. New York Yankees - Jordon Canning, pitcher

I truly believe the Yankees will be one of at least two unnamed franchises. There are too many Yankees fans lurking in this community, and I think it would bring some much-needed evil to this league. To add insult to injury, I entirely believe they would win the lottery for expansion teams, getting first overall. 

Jordon Canning has been overshadowed by Seik Golden for most of the last 48 hours, but perhaps that will start to change. Two hitless innings and a home run later, and Canning has exploded onto the scene. He deserves to be high in this draft, and the more he pitches the more this will be seen. He is simply the best prospect out there now.

2. New York Mets - Seik Golden, pitcher

If one New York team gets the first pick, it's only fitting the other gets the second pick. The Indians have been dreaming of trading up for Golden, but I think it's close to impossible. Cleveland has been losing a lot of players to retirement, and Golden's draft stock is too high for their choosing team to lose out on the pick for more than an arm and a leg. 

Golden was impressive in his first exhibition start, drawing him loads of attention. If he doesn't go first overall, I think the Mets could lap him up easily. And they definitely should. 

3. Kansas City Royals - Reimer Gonzalez, shortstop

The second of the likely 4 expansion teams will likely be the Royals, mainly due to a certain GM prospect that I think deserves the spot greatly. Though Preller has written them off as a possibility in the past, I think the adoption of the Mets means the Royals have to be allowed (since both were teams relocated in or after season 1). 

Amongst the early prospects, Reimer Gonzalez stands out as someone without much controversy. He's come up well in conversations on Discord, and he has set his ambitions high. I think he has the makings of a good clubhouse captain. We'll have to see how he fairs in his Nippon League exhibition game, in which he is next to bat.

4. Chicago Cubs - Dart Ragusa, first baseman

Dart Ragusa is likely the most vocal and active of the draft prospects. Most GMs already know his name, or haven't been active recently to see it. Ragusa's main issue lies in allegations of his hotheadedness, which surfaced after an alleged fight was reported. Whether this affects his clubhouse stock, it is unsure, but he is still an elite prospect. 

5. Anaheim Angels - Charles Magnus, pitcher

With the first selection of a pre-existing team, what better way is there to pick than with a pre-existing player. Charles Magnus has been confirmed to be entering the draft, as is one of the most active of the players available. With Pancakes having vanished, the newly-branded Angels will look for a replacement. Here, they will look no further.

#6 - Los Angeles Dodgers - Michael Ikenberry, catcher

This pick meant so much to the struggling Seattle Mariners, but they oddly gave it up to trade for veteran pieces in a season already lost. The pick belongs to the Dodgers now, and there is a position they need more than all others: catcher. They only have Maxo Calouw, and could use depth going into the next season.

 They couldn't pick anyone better than Ikenberry, who has shown both activity and the ability to hit the ball. Ikenberry drove in the second run in the Nippon League exhibition game, putting himself on the map. With two picks in the first round, the Dodgers will be looking to capitalize, and this could really help them. 

#6 - Oakland Athletics - Harry Peritestes, third baseman

Oakland cannot catch a break. Upon a masterful rebuild by JP Panik, they once again find themselves stripped by end-of-season retirements. They need to fill spaces, and Peritestes offers a perfect solution to their biggest need: third base. With Peritestes in their lineup, they can know that the team they have is fieldable, and can go from there addressing secondary needs. He may have the type of name suited for Colorado, but Oakland would be wise to snatch him up.

#7 - Detroit Tigers - Oscar Vinegrette, pitcher

Vinegrette hasn't pitched an inning yet, but he's a big name in the league already. Many think he is a druggie, while some see that as a ploy to explain some unseen skills on the field. Either way, he is a top name in pitching for this draft, and the Tigers definitely need it. Dick Woolridge alone cannot get this team into the playoffs, and Penny Lane is allegedly considering entering the draft. Vinegrette is a tantalizing name, and will only move up if he experiences success in his Nippon exhibition.

#8 - San Diego Padres - Valeria Lisova, pitcher

The Padres took a heavy blow to their activity with the loss of Caleb Athen. Good for them, they still have Forehead Jones in Athen's position, so they can pursue other ventures. Valeria Lisova comes to mind as the next-most-active and promising pitcher in this rather stacked draft class. Lisova still needs to show what they can do, but no doubt the commissioner AJ Preller will be looking at all the aspiring first-round pitchers in this draft class.

#9 - Los Angeles Dodgers, Vigolashi Dongelini, shortstop

The Dodgers have a plethora of players, and a lot of decent ones at that. They could surprise in 2018-19. Dongelini will cover another one of their least-covered positions, shortstop, and will provide some activity to a weary clubhouse. The Dodgers could also covet a pitcher, but if they are cleaned out by the time their pick arrives, it would be smart to go for a position player such as Dongelini. 

#10 - Houston Astros - Boof Boog, second baseman

Though Boog is a primary second baseman, his main value to the Astros hides in his secondary position: third baseman. Boog, while being active, also acts as a perfect replacement for Bear Thomas. He is perfectly inverted, replacing what Houston lost and hopefully proving his worth in Discord activity. Boog is tailor-made for Houston, and would be a smart pick if he falls this far.


Not picked? It's no problem, these were only the first ten picks in a stupidly early mock draft. The first round should have well over twenty, and as the days pass, I should know all of you much better. :) 


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