MLB Mock Draft 2023: Early Predictions for Every 1st-Round Selection
The first official 2023 MLB draft is announced. The draft class has already taken shape based on the 2022 performances of high school and college players. There are 39 projected picks in total. The analysis of each of the first-round picks is available.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Dylan Crews is the consensus top talent in the 2023 draft class. Washington Nationals' Chase Dollander is considered the best college pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg and Gerrit Cole. Detroit Tigers' Max Clark is a center fielder with a full toolbox. He hit .577/.717/1.126 as a junior last spring.
Jacob Gonzalez, Ole Miss, won National Freshman of the Year and helped OleMiss win a national championship in 2021. Wyatt Langford, Florida, hit .356/.447/.719 with 26 home runs and 63 RBI in 66 games last spring. Paul Skenes, LSU, went 10-3 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 85.2 innings at Air Force last season.
Cincinnati Reds are interested in Walker Jenkins, an OF from South Brunswick High School. Jacob Wilson, the son of former MLB player Jack Wilson is a shortstop prospect. Hurston Waldrep, a pitcher, is interested by the Colorado Rockies. He will play for Florida. in the SEC. The team needs pitching. It is looking for a player with good hit tools.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. is an elite speed threat and Vanderbilt's top prospect. Rhett Lowder won ACC Pitcher of the Year last spring. Blake Mitchell is a two-way player with a plus fastball and plus curveball. Arizona Diamondbacks have shown a willingness to get creative with their players. Micah Owings played both ways for the D-backs.
Brayden Taylor, a college hitter, is a good physical projection for a young player. Aidan Miller, the high school baseball player, profiles as one of the best in the 2023 class. Will Sanders, an armory pitcher, has room to add more muscle to his frame. He had a 3.43 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 89.1 innings as a sophomore, but his walk rate climbed from 1.9 to 3 per nine innings.
Yohandy Morales, Miami, hit .329/.411/.650 as a sophomore. Kevin McGonigle, Monsignor Bonner, is a Pennsylvania prep standout who hit. 457/.582/.975 with 11 home runs and just two strikeouts in 110 plate appearances during his junior season. Baltimore Orioles are the first high school pitcher off the board.
Tampa Bay Rays' Matt Shaw is a second-round prospect. Thomas White is an 18-year-old high school pitcher from Massachusetts. Travis Honeyman is expected to be drafted in the back of the first round. He played second base, shortstop, third base and outfield during his college career. He is also an outfielder.
Seattle Mariners are interested in Stanford IF Tommy Troy. Cleveland Guardians are developing a pitching prospect in Travis Sykora. Maui Ahuna is transferring to Tennessee this spring. Atlanta Braves are also interested. Ahuna will be draft eligible as a sophomore if he honors his commitment to Texas. He will play for the Braves in 2022. His draft stock could rise if his game improves.
RHP Cade Kuehler from Campbell impressed scouts last spring. 3B Brock Wilken from Wake Forest is one of the best power hitters in the country. C Kyle Teel from Virginia is the most athletic college catcher in a thin class. He's athletic enough to play in outfield or second base and third base. He struggled over the summer in Cape Cod League and as the starting catcher for Team USA. The Philadelphia Phillies are interested in Mick Abel (No. 15 in 2020) and Andrew Painter ( No. 13 in 2021).
Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics and Texas A&M are the players predicted to be drafted in the 2023 MLB Mock Draft. All stats are from MLB.com and scouting information comes from Baseball America.
