2023 MLB Mock Draft: A new look at the top-10 ahead of the college baseball season
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Dylan Crews remained in the No.1 overall spot in our previous mock draft, is he still the best pick?
Now that the college baseball season is nearly upon us (February 17th is the first day), we're going to revisit the 2023 MLB Mock Draft and see where the top-10 lies.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be picking first thanks to the MLB draft Lottery, which was used for the very first time this offseason. The Washington Nationals are going to pick second.
Dylan Crews and Chase Dollander are locks to go No. 1 and 2. The only question is, in which order will they be selected?
MLB Mock Draft No. 10 – Miami Marlins select Brayden Taylor
For the third time in a row, Brayden Taylor is projected to land on the Miami Marlins.
Taylor, a product of Texas Christian, is an on-base machine that is projected to play all over the field over the course of his professional career.
In college, he played in 117 games and walked 117 times and struck out only 86 times, showing off an eye that is rarely seen in today's game.
The batter's eye is not the only tool he brings to the table, though. Taylor also slugged 25 home runs and drove in 103 in college, stealing 25 bases along the way as well.
All signs point to him continuing on this trajectory and showing off a very impressive blend of speed and pop.
MLB Mock Draft No. 9 – Colorado Rockies select Aidan Miller
Another player staying put from draft to draft. Miller, landing in the draft pool straight from high school, fits a mold that the Rockies seem to have gravitated towards in recent years (Zac Veen in 2020 and Colson Montgomery in 2021).
Miller is a third baseman by trade and has drawn rave reviews from many for his defense at the hot corner. At the plate, he also has light-tower power and reminds scouts a lot of Nolan Arenado in that he is a defensive whiz with a huge bat.
Miller could easily be an under-the-radar steal for the Rockies in the No. 9 slot. Right now, it seems to be the perfect match.
MLB Mock Draft No. 8 – Kansas City Royals select pitcher Paul Skenes
Skenes, 20, spent time in college with both the Air Force and Louisiana.
A 6-foot-6 monster with an impressive repertoire highlighted by a four-seam fastball that can reach up to 99 mph, Skenes is a power pitcher and reminds many scouts of a Brady Singer-type pitcher, who the Royals are known to love.
Skenes crafted a slider and a powerful changeup to pair nicely with his heater and is said to be one of the more exciting pitchers in the whole draft class. He is a tall, imposing figure on the mound and he uses this to his advantage.
Over the course of two years in college, he made 33 appearances (15 starts) and went 11-4 with a 2.72 ERA in 112 innings. Along the way, he struck out 126 and walked just 39 batters, allowing only seven home runs.
MLB Mock Draft No. 7 – Cincinnati Reds select infielder Jacob Gonzalez
Gonzalez has been tabbed as the best infield prospect available in this year's draft class. So the question will be asked, how does he fall all the way to No. 7? Well, it's simple. The class is absolutely stacked to the brim with outfield talent.
A product of Mississippi, Gonzalez quietly hit 30 home runs and drove in 107 runs across over 130 games in college. He showed off a highly-impressive eye at the plate as well, drawing 88 walks and striking out only 66 times.
If there's a hole in Gonzalez's game to be found, scouts are saying that his defense could use some work. He is currently a shortstop by trade but many are predicting a move to third down the line, where his sometimes questionable range will not be as exposed. The throwing arm is there, though, which could mean he'll be a solid third baseman down the line.
MLB Mock Draft No. 6 – Oakland A's select outfielder Enrique Bradfield
Bradfield does not possess the huge power that many of his other draft candidates have, but he is a highly-exciting player in his own right.
Regularly referred to as a "Juan Pierre clone," Bradfield at least has more pop in his bat than Pierre did, but the similarities are there. He is a huge stolen base threat, as evidenced by his 93 steals in 129 games in college.
Like others before him in this piece, Bradfield has a strong eye at the plate and walked more than he struck out in college while playing well above-average defense in center field.
A center fielder by trade, Bradfield has the arm and the range to stay there long-term but would become one of the best corner outfielders in the game if he ever had to make that switch.
MLB Mock Draft No. 5 – Minnesota Twins select outfielder Walker Jenkins
One of multiple high school-level talents in this year's draft class, Jenkins is another player that has already drawn rave reviews amongst scouts around the league.
He is only 18 years old and is already standing at 6-foot-3 and has a highly-touted left-handed swing that is said to be "quick through the zone" and "built to hit for power".
What makes Jenkins stand out is the fact that he can hit the ball to all fields, and with power. His contact ability isn't quite as strong as his raw power but the potential is there for him to become a true five-tool player.
Jenkins calls center field his home on defense but scouts say that a move to right field would work as well thanks to his above-average throwing arm strength. Putting him alongside Byron Buxton in the Twins outfield would be such a beautiful sight.
MLB Mock Draft No. 4 – Texas Rangers select outfielder Max Clark
Clark is a candidate to go even higher than No. 4 as he possesses one of the most impressive toolsets in this year's class.
While he is already committed to attend Vanderbilt in the upcoming campaign, he could easily pass up that opportunity if he is able to secure a top-five selection in the draft.
Referred to as "the best Indiana prospect since Bryan Bullington in 2002", Clark is already tabbed as the best high schooler of the class.
One of the attributes that puts him above even some of the college players in the class is his ability to hit in the clutch. He played in the 18-and-under World Cup in September and came up in the clutch not once but twice against both Canada and Taiwan.
He has four tools (out of five) that already rate as "plus" amongst scouts, highlighted by his contact ability that is off-the-charts-good.
On defense, Clark will remain in center field long-term and has "double-plus" speed that will translate well both on the bases and in the outfield.
MLB Mock Draft No. 3 – Detroit Tigers select outfielder Wyatt Langford
Langford is a catcher-turned-outfielder thanks to his impressive speed and agility. He could've easily stayed at catcher but wanted to try his hand in the outfield to better showcase his tools, a move that will pay off in the long run.
In just 66 games last year for the Florida Gators, Langford went off with the bat and hit a whopping 26 home runs in just 303 plate appearances, driving in 63 along the way.
His batting average was an utterly ridiculous .356 and his OPS was 1.166. Point blank, the guy can hit the ball.
After moving out from behind the plate, Langford became the Gators' everyday left fielder and later made a move to center, where he is said to have looked really solid. His newfound versatility on defense does nothing but increase his value.
MLB Mock Draft No. 2 – Washington Nationals select pitcher Chase Dollander
I'm still not ready to move Chase Dollander out of this slot in the mock drafts.
Dollander, a product of Tennessee, went 10-0 in 16 appearances (14 starts) for the Volunteers last year, posting a 2.39 ERA and 108 strikeouts in just 79 innings. What's even more impressive is the fact that he allowed just 13 walks and seven home runs.
Dollander's windup is said to remind many around the industry of Jacob deGrom's and has been labeled the "best college pitcher since Cole and Strasburg," which is some seriously high praise.
His fastball routinely reaches 99-100 mph and pairs nicely alongside a dual breaking ball threat in the form of a nasty curveball and slider. What makes his repertoire work is the fact that he is able to use any pitch at any time against any hitter, regardless of whether they're righties or lefties.
All the Nationals needed to hear is that Dollander is similar to Stephen Strasburg, they'll be all over this guy if the Pirates don't grab him first.
MLB Mock Draft No. 1 – Pittsburgh Pirates select outfielder Dylan Crews
This pick really is a toss up. There's no wrong choice between Dollander and Crews.
An above-average defender in center field and right field, Crews will be able to find a long-term home at any spot in the outfield grass and is already projected to be the best thing to happen to Pittsburgh since McCutchen and Marte.
A product of LSU, Crews is another name in the class that is receiving the "five-tool" label, and for good reason.
In 125 collegiate contests, Crews hit 40 home runs with 114 RBI, paired with 17 stolen bases and an impressive .356 batting average.
He is able to pair his prolific power with speed on the bases and in the outfield while also utilizing an above-average (and still improving) eye at the plate.
