The Brewers have selected UCLA OF Garrett Mitchell with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: MLB Draft Tracker on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Mitchell is an elite defender and is a 70-grade runner. He stole 23 bases on 28 attempts and averaged .350 the last two seasons. Mitchell could develop power, but has plenty of fantasy upside due to his elite speed and defense.
The New York Mets have selected Harvard-Westlake (Calif.) HS OF Pete Crow-Armstrong with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Tim Healey on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Crow-Armstrong is seen as the best defensive outfielder in the 2020 class and should be able to patrol centerfield throughout his prime. Offensively, he doesn't yet have much power but makes up for it with great bat speed. The defensive profile gives him a floor that makes him safer than most prep players. This is the third straight draft in which the Mets have taken a high school position player with their first pick.
Wed, Jun 10th, 2020 9:00pm EDT
By Carmen Maiorano
The Arizona Diamondbacks have selected Duke RHP Bryce Jarvis with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Jarvis had an incredible transformation, seeing a spike in fastball velocity of ten miles per hour from last year. He rounds out his arsenal with solid slider and changeup offerings, plus a curveball that is a work in progress. It remains to be seen how that newfound velocity holds up over the long term, but he projects as a back-end starter with good control.
The Chicago Cubs have selected Mount Carmel (Ill.) HS SS Ed Howard with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Russell Dorsey on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Howard is one of the only top players in this class who is viewed as a sure thing to remain at shortstop upon getting to the big leagues. That gives him a lot of "real life" value playing a premium position. His bat will determine whether or not he becomes a star. The good news is Howard has superb bat speed and enough swing rotation to project some power in the future. If everything breaks right we could see a .280 hitter who hits 20 homers and steals 30 bases at his best.
The Texas Rangers have selected Mississippi State 2B Justin Foscue with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: MLB Draft Tracker on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Foscue is an above average hitter who hit .321 in 16 games this spring for Mississippi State. Nothing stands out in his game, but he has the ability to hit it all over the field. Foscue has some power potential and will most likely be called up to play 2B or 3B for the Rangers in the near future.
The Philadelphia Phillies have selected Jesuit (Ore.) HS RHP Mick Abel with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Abel is the first high school pitcher taken in the draft, and rightly so. The tall righty sports a low-to-mid 90's fastball with a changeup and curveball. It may take several years for the high schooler to reach the majors, but rumor has it that he has taken a liking to analytics, meaning that he could unlock even more of his skillset and progress quickly.
The Chicago White Sox have selected Tennessee LHP Garrett Crochet with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Chicago White Sox on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Crochet is 6-foot-6, 218 pounds and has a fastball that tops triple-digits. He owned a 4.64 ERA and a 8.3 percent walk rate across 36 appearances for the Volunteers over 132 innings. Crochet has a great extension on his fastball, but it remains to be seen what type of role he will play out of the White Sox's rotation. The 21-year-old has battled shoulder soreness in the past, but has the upside to contribute either as a starter or closer in the near future.
Wed, Jun 10th, 2020 8:28pm EDT
By Brendan Tuma
The San Francisco Giants have selected NC State C Patrick Bailey with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Alex Pavlovic on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: This is an interesting pick as the Giants took top prospect Joey Bart just two drafts ago. However, Bailey is viewed as a bat-first catcher whose defense is "good enough". A switch-hitter who doesn't strike out often but also walks a lot, it certainly isn't a lot that Bailey stick at catcher throughout his minor league career.
The Cincinnati Reds have selected West Allegheny (Pa.) HS OF Austin Hendrick with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Hendrick has a ton of power to bring to Great American Ballpark. While he didn't get a chance to play this year, he played well enough last year to earn this spot in the draft. There is a chance that he still goes to Mississippi State, and his hit tool may always be lacking, but he should be a power bat in the middle of the order for the Reds in a few years if he signs.
The Los Angeles Angels have selected Louisville LHP Reid Detmers with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Fabian Ardaya on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Detmers is not known for lighting up the radar gun but is considered one of the most polished pitchers in this draft class. The 20-year-old southpaw has a smooth, repeatable delivery with elite command. His fastball is merely average but the control combined with a true three-pitch mix give him a nice floor as a starter. Brendan McKay is a popular comparison for Detmers.
The Colorado Rockies have selected Spruce Creek (Fla.) HS OF Zac Veen with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Veen's power is perfect for the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field. The lefty's swing looks just like Cody Bellinger's. While he may never hit for average, his frame, power, and speed could make him Bellinger-lite in a few years. Frankly, this may be the pick with the biggest fantasy impact, given his skillset and the park he'll play in.
The San Diego Padres have selected Independence (Tenn.) HS OF Robert Hassell with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: MLB Network Radio on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Hassell was deemed the top hitting prep hitter in the 2020 MLB Draft Class. He can hit for average and left-handed swing should unlock some power. Hassell is a project, but has above average speed. The 18-year-old has the skill set to be a .300 hitter with 15/15 potential.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have selected New Mexico State 2B Nick Gonzales with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Robert Murray on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Gonzales was announced as a shortstop, though most scouts think he'll wind up at second base. The bat is going to play either way. Gonzales hit a ridiculous .448 with a .610 OBP and 12 homers in 16 games before the college season was shut down. A career .399 hitter, it's fair to wonder how much of Gonzales' offensive success was due to his comfortable hitting environment at New Mexico State. The good news is he also impressed in the pitching-dominant Cape Cod League in 2019. A common comparison for Gonzales is Brewers second baseman Keston Hiura.
The Seattle Mariners have selected University of Georgia RHP Emerson Hancock with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Fantasy Impact: Hancock sits in the mid-90's with his fastball, and owns a plus changeup and slider. He dealt with a lat injury and arm soreness throughout 2019, and looked a bit rocky in a couple starts before the shutdown. Nonetheless, his starter's build, solid control, and velocity project him to be major-league ready relatively quickly as a starting pitcher.
The Blue Jays have selected Vanderbilt 3B/ OF Austin Martin with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: MLB Network Radio on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Projected to go as high as second overall, Martin falls to the Blue Jays at five. He has great plate discipline and is considered one of the top players in the draft in contact skill. Martin crushed 13 home runs in 81 games over the last two seasons at Vanderbilt. The 21-year-old could be a five-category star player and will be on the fantasy radar in the next couple of years.
The Kansas City Royals have selected Texas A&M LHP Asa Lacy with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Alec Lewis on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Lacy is the second pitcher drafted in 2020, one selection after the Marlins took Max Meyer off the board. The 21-year-old out of Texas A&M was off to a roaring start this season, striking out 46 batters in 24 innings before the shutdown. Had the coronavirus pandemic not interfered his stock likely would've just kept rising. Lacy has the build of a starting pitcher. The only downside to his profile is inconsistent command and control, which could ultimately make him a reliever. Still, the Royals will likely give him every chance to become a frontline starter for their rotation.
The Miami Marlins have selected University of Minnesota RHP Max Meyer with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Joe Frisaro of MLB.com)
Fantasy Impact: Meyer does not have the prototypical height you'd expect from an ace, but he has a blistering fastball that nearly touches triple digits, plus a low-90s wipeout slider. Meyer just might be the most big-league ready pitcher in the draft, so expect him to ascend quickly through the minors. At worst, he will end up being a high-end reliever with his two-pitch mix. Meyer has already signed a deal with the Marlins, pending a physical.
The Balitimore Orioles have selected Arkansas OF Heston Kjerstad with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Jon Morosi on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Kjerstad was a surprise number two pick by the Orioles. He slashed .343/.421/.590 with 37 home runs across 150 games for Arkansas. Kjerstad doesn't have speed, but the 6-foot-3, 200 pound lefty has power and on-base skills to be fantasy force in the next few years.
The Detroit Tigers have selected Arizona State 1B Spencer Torkelson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Source: Bob Nightengale on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: This has been the expectation for a while now. Torkelson is the third first baseman to ever be selected with the number-one pick. However, he is the first of this trio to be right-handed. First basemen rarely go this early in the draft and it’s a testament to how special Torkelson’s bat is. The 21-year-old out of Arizona State hit 54 homers in 129 career NCAA games. His biggest collegiate achievement might have been breaking the school record for homers by a freshman. The previous record holder? Some guy named Barry Bonds. Torkelson combines a plus hit tool with plus-plus power and should arrive in Detroit within a couple of years if everything breaks right.
Justin Turner was held out of workouts Wednesday after receiving his annual spring knee lubrication injection. He is set to return to action Thursday. (Ken Gurnick)
Fantasy Impact: Turner had another injury shortened season last year for the Dodgers with a broken left wrist on a HBP last spring and a groin strain in July. He slashed .312/.406/.518 in 365 at bats with 14 homers, and continued to show elite level plate discipline. Turner has averaged 410 at bats per year over his last five years so draft accordingly, but his numbers show no sign of deteriorating this year if he can avoid a long DL stint.
