Sun, Jul 11th, 2021 7:40pm EDT
By Andersen Pickard
The Orioles have selected outfielder Colton Cowser with the fifth pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Cowser, who hails from Sam Houston, is a safe pick for the Orioles given his clear long-term projection in center field. He took a big step forward in his profile this past season, demonstrating a powerful bat, impressive speed, and great instincts defensively.
Sun, Jul 11th, 2021 7:35pm EDT
By Andersen Pickard
The Red Sox have drafted prep shortstop Marcelo Mayer with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Boston didn't go with an unconventional pick this time around, instead landing the talented Eastlake High School product. Mayer has an incredible blend of tools across the board. He is a talented hitter and fielder with an advanced approach at the plate and in the field. The 18-year-old was viewed by many as the top prospect in the entire draft.
Sun, Jul 11th, 2021 7:31pm EDT
By Andersen Pickard
The Tigers have selected Jackson Jobe, a right-handed pitcher out of Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma.
Fantasy Impact: Jobe has elite stuff, including the best slider in the entire draft. His fastball also sits in the mid-to-upper 90s. It is rare that you find a pitcher who is very polished and poised coming out of high school, but Jobe is that guy. His entire repertoire is truly bizarre.
Sun, Jul 11th, 2021 7:26pm EDT
By Andersen Pickard
The Rangers have selected Vanderbilt right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter with the second overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Leiter's talents were on display at Vandy this past season. He is a strikeout machine whose fastball tops out in the upper-90s. He also possesses a lethal 12-6 curveball and can throw a solid changeup and slider, too. Texas has a bright future with Leiter joining its farm system.
Sun, Jul 11th, 2021 7:10pm EDT
By Andersen Pickard
The Pirates kicked off the 2021 MLB Draft by selecting Louisville catching product Henry Davis.
Fantasy Impact: Davis is widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the draft, though there is some surprise that Pittsburgh did not go with one of the prep shortstops. He has a talented bat and incredible pitch recognition as well as a strong arm behind the plate. Concerns about Davis's projectability behind the plate long-term clearly aren't an issue for the Pirates.
The Cleveland Indians have selected Auburn RHP Tanner Burns with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Burns runs his fastball up to 97 MPH, and rounds out his pitch mix with solid slider and changeup offerings. While he doesn't have a typical starter's frame, he has plus control and projects to be a mid-rotation starter.
The Tampa Bay Rays have selected Arizona State SS Alika Williams with the No. 37 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Marc Topkin on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Williams, a college teammate of number-one pick Spencer Torkelson, is seen as one of the only true shortstops to be drafted tonight. A contact hitter who doesn't strike out, Williams doesn't have much power in his swing. His value on the diamond will likely come entirely from defense.
The San Diego Padres have selected Llano (Texas) HS RHP Justin Lange with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: MLB Draft on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Lange is a prep arm who is viewed as having big upside. The 18-year-old doesn't have a breaking ball just yet but works in a cutter and a changeup in addition to his 100 mph fastball. The Padres have never been afraid to gamble on the ceiling of their prospects.
Wed, Jun 10th, 2020 10:12pm EDT
By Carmen Maiorano
The Arizona Diamondbacks have selected Miami RHP Slade Cecconi with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Cecconi has above-average velocity and a nice slider, but struggles with command and has yet to develop a third pitch. If he fizzles as a starter, there's a good chance he will provide value at the back end of a bullpen. There is a lot of boom-or-bust potential here.
The Kansas City Royals have selected Baylor SS Nick Loftin with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: MLB Draft Tracker on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Loftin is seen as true shortstop who rarely strikes out. He doesn't have really any power but has been able to make solid contact throughout his amateur career. Loftin is viewed as a high-floor player who doesn't possess overwhelming upside.
Wed, Jun 10th, 2020 10:07pm EDT
By Carmen Maiorano
The Pittsburgh Pirates have selected South Carolina RHP Carmen Mlodzinski with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Mlodzinski showed both a plus fastball and slider in the Cape Cod league last summer. He has above-average velocity on the fastball, and is working on a changeup as his third pitch. His inconsistent delivery may lead to bouts with command, but otherwise he figures to find himself in a rotation down the road.
The Baltimore Orioles have selected Mississippi State SS Jordan Westburg with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Roch Kubatko on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The Orioles announced Westburg as a shortstop but many scouts think he'll wind up as a third baseman. He strikes out a lot but makes hard contact when he is able to get the bat on the ball. After taking Heston Kjerstad in the first round, Baltimore continues building this draft class via college position players.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have selected Louisville RHP Bobby Miller with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Ken Gurnick on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Miller has a violent delivery and mainly relies on two pitches, a fastball and a slider, so many think that he'll wind up as a reliever. Developing a changeup as his third pitch will determine whether or not he can make it as a starter. His calling card is the velocity of his four-seam fastball.
The Twins have selected North Carolina 1B Aaron Sabato with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: MLB Draft Tracker on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Sabato has 70-grade power and smashed 18 homers for the Tar Heels in 2019. He also owned a 16.6 percent walk rate during that span. His defense is limited and will most likely play 1B/DH in the majors. Sabato has 30-homer upside and should provide above-average run-production once he gets called up to the big leagues.
The New York Yankees have selected Arizona C Austin Wells with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Wells is definitely a bat-first catcher, and will most likely move off of the position a la Kyle Schwarber. He raked in both college and the Cape Cod league, sporting a slugging percentage north of .500. If he is able to stick at catcher, he could be a top-five fantasy catcher with his power.
The Oakland Athletics have selected Turlock (Calif.) HS C Tyler Soderstrom with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: MLB Draft on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Soderstrom is yet another "bat-first" catcher to come out of this draft. Many think he'll eventually have to move to third base or a corner outfield spot, but the bat is certainly considered advanced for a prep player.
The Indians have selected Pointe (AZ) HS SS Carson Tucker with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: MLB Draft Tracker on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Tucker is projected to be an above average hitter who could develop power. He is the younger brother of Pirates' SS Cole Tucker. The 18-year-old projects to be a better offensive player than his brother. Tucker has the ability to hit all over the field and is a 50-grade runner. He will likely play SS or OF once he gets called up the majors.
The Tampa Bay Rays have selected Central Bucks East (Pa.) HS RHP Nick Bitsko with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Bitsko has tremendous upside as a young high school pitcher, and is a logical pick for the player development-driven Rays. While he is committed to the University of Virginia, the opportunity to develop in the Rays' farm system will likely prove to be the deciding factor. The tall righty features a mid-90's heater with a plus curveball. He could develop into a top 30 starting pitcher down the road if he develops an average third pitch.
The Washington Nationals have selected Oklahoma RHP Cade Cavalli with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Washington Nationals on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The World Series champs continue to bolster their pitching pipeline. Cavalli was a two-way player at Oklahoma before this year but the switch to pitching full time has worked well for him. The 21-year-old possesses a deceptive delivery but also has some injury concerns.
Wed, Jun 10th, 2020 9:18pm EDT
By Carmen Maiorano
The St. Louis Cardinals have selected Decatur (Ga.) HS 3B Jordan Walker with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Walker possesses a bunch of above-average tools, including speed, power, and his arm. Being 6-foot-5, he figures to find his forever home in a corner outfield spot. His hit tool is a major concern, and is the only thing holding him back from being a fantasy asset.
