Any time a draft of any kind gets closer, the rumblings of what teams are going to do at the top are going to start to get louder. And this year's MLB draft will certainly produce plenty of rumblings about the top of the class.
The Pirates are going to have a big decision to make with the first overall selection. They could go with the best player in the class, LSU outfielder Dylan Crews, who offers the highest floor. They could take the higher-upside college bat of Florida's Wyatt Langford. They could go with the best pitching prospect in years in LSU's Paul Skenes. They could take either of the top high school outfielders in Max Clark or Walker Jenkins and hope to save some bonus pool money for later in the draft. Or they could go completely out of left field and take someone not considered a top-five prospect in this class.
Until MLB commissioner Rob Manfred walks up to the podium in Seattle to make the official selection, there will be plenty of speculation about Pittsburgh's direction. But we likely won't know for sure in which direction the Pirates are headed until Manfred makes his announcement.
MORE: LSU baseball coach opens up about projected top picks Dylan Crews, Paul Skenes
And the intrigue certainly won't stop at No. 1. This year's class is certain to produce a fascinating draft, with a wave of prep shortstops and some college performers who will make for some interesting decisions for teams.
Sporting News is looking ahead to the 2023 MLB Draft, and trying to make our best guess at how the first three rounds of the draft — including all competitive balance rounds, incentive picks and compensation picks — will play out. Here's a look at how we see the first 101 picks of the draft shaking out.
MLB Mock Draft 2023
Round 1
1. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU
There have been reports that Crews is trying to price out the Pirates over concerns with their player development system. Though that could just be posturing, it's worth considering the angle from the Pirates' point of view as well. Crews would be a more expensive sign at 1-1, and the Pirates could save some money by drafting Skenes first overall, allowing them to try and price another, younger first-round talent to their next pick at No. 42, which we have them doing with Kevin McGonigle, who is rumored to have a high asking price to avoid fulfilling his commitment to Auburn. The Pirates have developed prep pitchers well in recent years, and should excel with the best college pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg in 2009.
MORE: Paul Skenes MLB Draft scouting report
2. Washington Nationals
- Dylan Crews, OF, LSU
The only certainty about this draft is that an LSU player will go second overall. While it's possible the Pirates sign a prep outfielder to save money, there's no doubt Washington will go with either Crews or Skenes, depending on the availability. Here, Washington gets to take the top player in the class and lands Crews. Even going second, Crews could still wind up setting a record for the largest signing bonus in draft history, topping Spencer Torkelson's bonus of $8,416,300 with the Tigers in 2020.
MORE: Why Dylan Crews opted out of the 2020 MLB Draft
3. Detroit Tigers
- Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
The Tigers are believed to be looking for a college bat, and in this mock, they land a player that in just about any other year could be a favorite to go first overall. There's a chance Langford won't be available at this point in the draft if the Pirates opt to take him over Skenes and Crews, but he's available here, and the Tigers opt to jump on him. He might have the most upside of any bat in the class, even if he doesn't come with the same lofty floor as Crews.
MORE: Wyatt Langford MLB Draft scouting report
4. Texas Rangers
- Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick High (N.C.)
Following the three college bats, this would appear to be certain to be one of the top two high school outfielders. Max Clark has gotten a lot of buzz in this spot, but we're going with Walker Jenkins in the choice between the two bats. He's got a bit more offensive upside than Clark, though he'll likely have to move off center at some point in the pros.
5. Minnesota Twins
- Max Clark, OF, Franklin High (Ind.)
If any team in the first five picks passes on a top-five talent, it seems likely to be the Twins. If Clark isn't here, Minnesota could look at some other college bats like Kyle Teel or Jacob Gonzalez. In this mock, Clark is around, and the Twins opt to pick him up. Minnesota has gone high school with seven of its past 12 first-round selections, and with Clark available, they'll land a clear top-five talent with plenty of upside.
6. Oakland Athletics
- Kyle Teel, C, Virginia
Oakland has been connected with plenty of college bats, and even if either Jenkins or Clark slips through, it's unlikely the Athletics would be the team to stop their slide. Virginia's Kyle Teel has a case to be the best college bat after Crews and Langford, and it comes with the added benefit of playing a premium position like catcher. Oakland helped develop college catcher Sean Murphy into an MVP candidate, and could hope to do the same with Teel.
MORE: Kyle Teel MLB Draft scouting report
7. Cincinnati Reds
- Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
This would likely be the lowest Clark or Jenkins could slide, but if they're off the table, the Reds might be headed back to the college ranks, where they've had success in recent years with players like Jonathan India, Nick Lodolo and Matt McLain. Lodolo was an advanced hurler with a high floor and low ceiling, and he reached the big leagues in short time. Given the Reds' current timeline, they might hope to have the same quick turnaround with another advanced arm in Rhett Lowder, who has a high floor and who might already be close to the majors given his work in Wake Forest's advanced pitching lab.
MORE: Rhett Lowder MLB Draft scouting report
8. Kansas City Royals
- Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest (Fla.)
There might not be a bigger riser on draft day than Arjun Nimmala, who could find himself in the top 10. It's unlikely he goes before No. 8 or to the Rockies at nine, but the Royals could make some sense for him. They're believed to be looking at bats, and Nimmala has upside few others offer given his age (17), his ability to stick at short and some impressive power at the plate.
9. Colorado Rockies
- Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
Bats have been the focus of past drafts for Colorado given the difficulties for pitchers to succeed in Coors Field. But that has left the farm system barren of future quality arms, and has put an emphasis on the need to improve that in 2023. Chase Dollander, at his peak, could be exactly the type of arm to succeed in Denver: a high-velo hurler with a wicked slider that will be impacted less by the altitude than a curveball. Getting him back to his sophomore year form (10-0, 2.39 ERA) will be the goal with this pick.
MORE: Chase Dollander MLB Draft scouting report
10. Miami Marlins
- Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi
There's a chance Gonzalez won't be around at this spot, with talk he could be an option for Minnesota at No. 5 or the Royals at No. 8. But if he slides, the Marlins might opt to take the Ole Miss shortstop off the board. Gonzalez is an advanced bat and should have no problem staying at short, and could help turn their recent fortunes in drafting batters over the past six years.
MLB DRAFT: SN's top 100 prospects in the 2023 class
11. Los Angeles Angels
- Brayden Taylor, 3B, TCU
Brayden Taylor slid down draft boards when he got off to a cold start to the 2023 season, but he's risen back up thanks to finishing strong. The Angels have looked at players who move quickly through the minors in recent years, and Taylor's advanced approach and slick glove at third could help him reach the big leagues earlier than other collegiate bats.
12. Arizona Diamondbacks
- Colin Houck, SS, Parkview High (Ga.)
This connection has come up repeatedly throughout the draft process, and there's certainly reason to buy into it. The Diamondbacks have found success looking at high-upside prep bats in recent years like Corbin Carroll, Jordan Lawlar and Druw Jones, and appear likely to look favorably at high school hitters again. Houck has been paired with the Diamondbacks extensively, and his high-upside bat with the ability to stay up the middle helps make him one of the more coveted prep players in the class.
13. Chicago Cubs
- Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland
The Cubs would probably be delighted if a prep shortstop were available here, but with Nimmala and Houck off the board, they might be forced to look toward the college ranks. Matt Shaw is unlikely to stick at shortstop, but he also offers as much offensive upside of any collegiate infielder with his combination of power and speed. And he might be a quick mover through the minors if he's moved over to second.
14. Boston Red Sox
- Tommy Troy, 3B, Stanford
It's been a number of bats mentioned in connection with the Red Sox, and one of the best on the table at this point is Stanford's Tommy Troy. He's bounced around a bit defensively, but he should be able to stick at third base, where he has more than enough bat to profile. If Boston doesn't go with him, it's possible it looks at some prep hitters still around.
15. Chicago White Sox
- Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
This is possibly the earliest spot Yohandy Morales could be taken off the board, with the White Sox having been mentioned as a possible landing spot for the Miami third baseman. Chicago has been talked about in connection mostly with hitters, and Morales' improved 2023 season combined with his top-tier power would make him an enticing pick in the middle of the first round.
16. San Francisco Giants
- Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
There's a chance a team might be enticed to take Jacob Wilson much earlier than No. 16 given his advanced hit tool, but there's a chance his lack of power drops him to the middle or later-end of the draft. San Francisco has taken a college player in each of the past five first rounds, including three bats. A player as polished as Wilson could make sense for a team that has targeted collegiate players in the past.
17. Baltimore Orioles
- Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida
The Orioles have not drafted a pitcher in the first round since Grayson Rodriguez in 2018, but this could be the year that run snaps. Though there are mostly bats being named at this point in the draft, Hurston Waldrep's name continues to come up — and with good reason. He has first-round talent even if his command has led to an inconsistent season. Baltimore's last two first-round pitchers — Rodriguez and DL Hall — have each developed well, and Waldrep could be worth a look.
MORE: Hurston Waldrep MLB Draft scouting report
18. Milwaukee Brewers
- Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Vanderbilt
Milwaukee has taken a college player with its first pick in six of the past seven drafts, two of them speedy outfielders. There's a chance Enrique Bradfield Jr. is off the table at this point, but if he's still around, he could be a steal at this point, and someone who would look appealing to the Brewers, who have found success with contact-oriented, up-the-middle type players.
19. Tampa Bay Rays
- Noble Meyer, RHP Jesuit High (Ore.)
Prep pitchers are a risky demographic, which is why we have the best one in the class falling to No. 19 on the draft board. But the Rays have been among the best at developing young arms and haven't shied away from taking prep hurlers in the past. Noble Meyer has a wicked arsenal for a prep pitcher and is advanced for his age. In the right system, the upside is tremendous.
20. Toronto Blue Jays
- Dillon Head, OF, Homewood-Flossmoor High (Ill.)
Toronto has been connected with several high school bats, and a few college names. We've got them picking up one of the names that comes up the most with the Blue Jays, which is dynamic outfielder Dillon Head. He's right up there with Bradfield as the fastest players in the draft, with his speed helping him on the bases and in center. He's a hit over power player, but there could be some pop to develop in his frame.
21. St. Louis Cardinals
- Aidan Miller, 3B, Mitchell High (Fla.)
There's a strong chance this winds up being Florida Atlantic's Nolan Schanuel, who has come up as a possible pick for the Cardinals. However, St. Louis has found plenty of success drafting first-round prep bats like Dylan Carlson, Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker in recent years, which might lead them to trying that demographic again. Aidan Miller's got a ton of power, which he'll need to fit the profile of a corner infielder, and could follow a similar development path to Walker.
22. Seattle Mariners
- Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
The Mariners have three picks before the second round, which will mean trying to maximize the bonus pool. That might start with trying to get a safe college bat in the first round before targeting prep players with comp picks. Brock Wilken would be an exciting college hitter to add to Seattle's farm system, with the Wake Forest third baseman possessing about as much raw power as any college hitter in this year's class. He'd be a likely first rounder even if he needed to move to first.
23. Cleveland Guardians
- Nolan Schanuel, 1B/OF, Florida Atlantic
The best fit for a team that prioritizes contact over power would be to take a prospect that does the same thing. Cleveland is linked to plenty of college bats, and Schanuel would make plenty of sense if he fell this far. He's got an advanced approach at the plate and he showed more power in his junior year with the Owls. Don't expect him to be on the board much later than this pick, even if he is likely limited to first or a corner outfield spot.
24. Atlanta Braves
- Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton High (Texas)
Atlanta has not drafted a high school hitter in the first round since 2007, when it took Jason Heyward. But it decides to go that route in this mock draft to stop the slide of Blake Mitchell. The Texas prep catcher could go much higher given his high-upside bat and his solid defense behind the plate, but here, he falls to the Braves, who put a premium on up-the-middle positions in the draft.
25. San Diego Padres
- Roch Cholowsky, SS, Hamilton High (Ariz.)
A.J. Preller loves going for the big swings, and Cholowsky would be a big swing. He's committed to UCLA as a quarterback and shortstop, and it could be a big ask to pry him away from his two-sport commitment. But if a team believes in his baseball talents enough to go over slot for him, he's a high-upside player with a slick glove at short and plenty of upside in his bat.
26. New York Yankees
- Samuel Stafura, SS, Panas High (N.Y.)
This connection will repeatedly come up, which is why he's mocked here for the second straight mock draft. Samuel Stafura is a New York City-area shortstop with a profile nearly identical to Anthony Volpe, the last prep bat New York took in the first round back in 2019. His hit tool is not as polished as Volpe's coming out of high school, but Stafura has more power than the draft prospect version of New York's current shortstop.
27. Philadelphia Phillies
- Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (Mass.)
Most teams find mixed results drafting high school pitchers in the first round. The Phillies, however, have seen both Mick Abel (15th overall, 2020) and Andrew Painter (13th overall, 2013) rise to the top of prospect lists and develop extremely well. Philadelphia, therefore, makes sense to take the best prep lefty on the board in Thomas White, who hits the upper-90s with his fastball and busts out a sharp curve and offers a promising changeup.
28. Houston Astros
- Bryce Eldridge, 1B/RHP, Madison High (Va.)
In this mock draft, Bryce Eldridge happens to fall down to No. 28 and the Astros rejoice and stop his slide. It seems increasingly likely a team will take him higher than this given the high upside in his bat. Houston has been linked largely with college hitters, but it found success with the past two prep bats it drafted in the first round (Kyle Tucker and Carlos Correa), and should be thrilled to have a chance to take Eldridge.
Prospect promotion incentive picks
29. Seattle Mariners
- Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian Academy (Fla.)
This is where the Mariners start to get a bit creative. Their plethora of early picks means they can start to shoot for some high-upside guys with the two comp picks, particularly if they've already drafted a safer, college player first. Charlee Soto's stuff rivals Meyer's, and his age (17) and size (6-5) have helped him vault up boards. For a team that has developed pitchers well lately, he would make a lot of sense to try and take a flier on the upside.
Competitive Balance Round A
30. Seattle Mariners
- Colt Emerson, SS, Glenn High (Ohio)
There's no such thing as a "safe" high school pick, but Colt Emerson comes close to fitting that bill while still bringing some upside. His bat is advanced for his age, and he has a chance to stick at shortstop or, at worst, move to either second or third. There's room for some power growth in his 6-1, 195-pound frame. This would be back-to-back 17-year-old picks for Seattle, which would give them a pair of very high upside players to start the comp picks.
31. Tampa Bay Rays
- George Lombard Jr., SS, Gulliver Prep (Fla.)
The Rays already went high upside with drafting Meyer. Next, they're going to do the same with a hitter. Tampa Bay has found success with picks like Carson Williams and Xavier Isaac over the past two years, and should see some upside in the bat of Lombard, who has tons of raw power, albeit at the cost of consistent contact.
32. New York Mets
- Tanner Witt, RHP, Texas
New York doesn't get a first-round selection until 32, and it might look to take a big swing with that pick. Taking Tanner Witt will seem like a reach to some — he missed most of 2022 and 2023 with Tommy John surgery — but the stuff, when healthy, is electrifying. He hits the upper 90s and has three above-average secondary offerings. Before the injury, he looked like a clear first-round talent. This could be a steal if everything works for Witt.
33. Milwaukee Brewers
- Adrian Santana, SS, Doral Academy (Fla.)
After taking a speedy college bat in the first round, the Brewers take a speedy high school bat in the comp round. Santana is a switch-hitter who will be polarizing in the class due to the lack of polish in his bat and lack of clear power. But the 5-11, 155-pound shortstop has upside if he can add some strength, especially since there are no questions about his glove and arm. Milwaukee drafted his older brother in 2017, though Christian Santana wound up going to Florida International instead, so there's certainly some family familiarity between the Santanas and the Brewers.
34. Minnesota Twins
- Alexander Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken (R.I.)
The Twins tend to be very model-heavy in their evaluation of players, and those models often favor the players who are younger than 18 on draft day. Clemmey is not only young for his class at 17, but he's got big size (6-6, 205 pounds) and already hits the upper-90s from the left side. He could be a riser on draft day due to all that upside.
35. Miami Marlins
- Chase Davis, OF, Arizona
Miami went with a safer first-round pick in taking Gonzalez 10th overall. This one's an upside play more similar to batters like Jacob Berry, JJ Bleday and Kameron Misner. Davis has one of the best power/speed combinations in the college ranks, and showed marked improvements in his approach as a junior at Arizona. If he continues to cut down on the strikeouts as a pro, he's got serious upside in the pros.
36. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Blake Wolters, RHP, Mahomet-Seymour High (Ill.)
There aren't many teams that can come close to rivaling the Dodgers' pitching development in recent years. And if they got their hands on a pitcher like Wolters, a 6-4, 210-pound right-hander, they could have another standout in the system. Wolters has plenty of velocity on his fastball with movement, and a solid slider that already looks like an above-average offering. With the Dodgers not having a first-round pick, this feels like it will be a spot to take a high-upside, projectable prospect who would work in Los Angeles' system.
37. Detroit Tigers
- Ty Floyd, RHP, LSU
The Tigers have found success with college pitchers lately in getting both Alex Faedo and Casey Mize to the big leagues, and with Ty Madden still working his way to the majors. A bit of a late bloomer, Ty Floyd's College World Series performances have helped him make some moves up boards. With his velo and well-rounded repertoire, he's a worthy gamble at this stage, even if he had some inconsistent performances throughout the year.
38. Cincinnati Reds
- Colton Ledbetter, OF, Mississippi State
Lowder will give the Reds a safer college arm to develop. Next comes a safe college bat. Colton Ledbetter fits Cincinnati's recent run of successful early hitter picks in having a hit-over-power profile (Nick Senzel, India, McLain), and his left-handed power would play well in a hitter-friendly stadium like Great American Ball Park. He might not have as much upside as other players at this spot, especially given his future defensive home likely being left, but he'd fit in well with Cincinnati's system.
39. Oakland Athletics
- Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
Might as well make it a family reunion. Zack Gelof has rapidly moved up the ranks in Oakland's system, and finds himself on the fringes of reaching the big leagues since he was drafted out of UVA in the 2021 second round. His younger brother Jake offers a similar profile, except he plays third rather than second. Jake Gelof has plenty of power, and he has drastically improved his plate discipline in recent seasons.
Round 2
40. Washington Nationals
- Joe Whitman, LHP, Kent State
41. Oakland Athletics
- Brandon Sproat, RHP, Florida
MORE: Why Brandon Sproat didn't sign with Mets after 2022 MLB Draft
42. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner High (Pa.)
43. Cincinnati Reds
- Ralphy Velazquez, C, Huntington Beach High (Calif.)
44. Kansas City Royals
- Walker Martin, SS, Eaton High (Colo.)
45. Detroit Tigers
- Jack Hurley, OF, Virginia Tech
46. Colorado Rockies
- Cooper Pratt, SS, Magnolia Heights High (Miss.)
47. Miami Marlins
- Cameron Johnson, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.)
48. Arizona Diamondbacks
- Mitch Jebb, SS, Michigan State
49. Minnesota Twins
- Eric Bitonti, SS, Aquinas High (Calif.)
50. Boston Red Sox
- Jonny Farmelo, OF, Westfield High (Va.)
51. Chicago White Sox
- Travis Sykora, RHP, Round Rock (Texas)
52. San Francisco Giants
- Juaron Watts-Brown, RHP, Oklahoma State
53. Baltimore Orioles
- Brice Matthews, SS, Nebraska
54. Milwaukee Brewers
- Cade Kuehler, RHP, Campbell
55. Tampa Bay Rays
- Tai Peete, SS, Trinity Christian School (Ga.)
56. New York Mets
- Josh Knoth, RHP, Patchogue-Medford High (N.Y.)
57. Seattle Mariners
- Paul Wilson, LHP, Lakeridge High (Ore.)
58. Cleveland Guardians
- Alonzo Tredwell, RHP, UCLA
59. Atlanta Braves
- Joey Volchko, RHP, Redwood High (Calif.)
60. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Luke Keaschall, 2B, Arizona State
61. Houston Astros
- Mac Horvath, 3B, North Carolina
Competitive Balance Round B
62. Cleveland Guardians
- Myles Naylor, 3B, St. Joan of Arc (Ont.)
63. Baltimore Orioles
- Hunter Owen, LHP, Vanderbilt
64. Arizona Diamondbacks
- Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Florida State
65. Colorado Rockies
- Cole Schoenwetter, RHP, San Marcos High (Calif.)
66. Kansas City Royals
- Cole Carrigg, C/SS/OF, San Diego State
67. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Maui Ahuna, SS, Tennessee
Compensation picks
68. Chicago Cubs
- Trent Caraway, 3B/SS, JSerra Catholic High (Calif.)
69. San Francisco Giants
- Travis Honeyman, OF, Boston College
70. Atlanta Braves
- Zander Mueth, RHP, Belleville East High (Ill.)
Round 3
71. Washington Nationals
- LuJames Groover III, 3B, NC State
72. Oakland Athletics
- Mike Boeve, 3B, Nebraska-Omaha
73. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers
74. Cincinnati Reds
- Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers High (Mo.)
75. Kansas City Royals
- Zane Adams, LHP, Porter High (Texas)
76. Detroit Tigers
- Max Anderson, 2B, Nebraska
77. Colorado Rockies
- Kemp Alderman, OF, Mississippi
78. Miami Marlins
- Antonio Anderson, SS, North Atlanta High (Ga.)
79. Los Angeles Angels
- Hunter Hollan, LHP, Arkansas
80. Arizona Diamondbacks
- Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Aptos High (Calif.)
81. Chicago Cubs
- Will Gasparino, OF, Harvard-Westlake High (Calif.)
82. Minnesota Twins
- Steven Echavarria, RHP, Millburn High (N.J.)
83. Boston Red Sox
- Josh Rivera, SS, Florida
84. Chicago White Sox
- Teddy McGraw, RHP, Wake Forest
85. San Francisco Giants
- Jace Bohrofen, OF, Arkansas
86. Baltimore Orioles
- Alex Mooney, SS, Duke
87. Milwaukee Brewers
- Aidan Smith, OF, Lovejoy High (Texas)
88. Tampa Bay Rays
- Isaiah Coupet, LHP, Ohio State
89. Toronto Blue Jays
- George Wolkow, OF, Downers Grove North High (Ill.)
90. St. Louis Cardinals
- Sean Sullivan, LHP, Wake Forest
91. New York Mets
- Grayson Hitt, LHP, Alabama
92. Seattle Mariners
- Homer Bush Jr., OF, Grand Canyon
93. Cleveland Guardians
- Roman Martin, SS, Servite High (Calif.)
94. Atlanta Braves
- Caden Sorrell, OF, Marcus High (Texas)
95. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Christian Knapczyk, SS, Louisville
96. San Diego Padres
- Nolan McLean, RHP/OF, Oklahoma State
97. New York Yankees
- Levi Wells, RHP, Texas State
98. Philadelphia Phillies
- Grant Gray, OF, Norco High (Calif.).
99. Houston Astros
- Grant Taylor, RHP, LSU
100. Baltimore Orioles
- Spencer Nivens, OF, Missouri State
101. New York Mets
- Luke Shliger, C, Maryland