Sean Morrison, ESPN.com (6/9/17)
The Ultimate MLB Draft: The Best Pick Ever at Every Spot from 1-30
7. Clayton Kershaw
The Dodgers chose the man who may well be remembered as the best left-handed starter of all-time at No. 7 in 2006, out of Highland Park High School in Texas.
The Royals passed on him at No. 1 for Luke Hochevar. The Rockies did the same at No. 2, for Greg Reynolds. Longoria and Andrew Miller were picked before Kershaw, but so were Brad Lincoln and Brandon Morrow.
Honorable Mention: Frank Thomas, Troy Tulowitzki, Prince Fielder.
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18. Corey Seager
Scouts knew about Seager from a young age, thanks to his older brother, Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager. Even if they hadn't, Seager would have emerged as one of the top prospects in what's looking now like a loaded 2012 Draft.
Honorable Mention: Willie Wilson, R.A. Dickey.
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21. Rick Sutcliffe
It might've been possible to make the case for Varitek here, but the catcher didn't sign after the Twins selected him No. 21 in 1993. Instead the honor falls to Sutcliffe, who was drafted by the Dodgers in 1974 and won National League Rookie of the Year honors five years later.
Honorable Mention: Todd Worrell.
Gasparino said the Dodgers have about 10 scenarios set up for this draft, and mentioned college baseball batting champion and UC Irvine standout Keston Hiura as a possible option if he falls to the Dodgers.
Hirua's smaller frame was also not a concern for Gasparino and his staff, he said. They see it as an advantage.
"We actually like his body type a lot," Gasparino said. "Especially in terms of ingredients to hit. We think his short, kind of stronger compact build gives him an advantage over some other hitters. We're really comfortable with his athleticism and body type."
The night before the Draft is a time when rumors of deals can run rampant. This year appears no different, with the Rays at 4 and the Braves at 5 the teams subject to the most speculation right now. In both cases, the deal would include signing a player for well below pick value in order to use the savings to aggressively go after talent with later picks.
Tampa is being mentioned with just one name: Bubba Thompson. Thompson, a two-sport star from the Alabama high school ranks, is No. 26 on our Top 200 Draft prospects list and will be in attendance at MLB Network on Monday night. The Rays have the third-highest Draft bonus pool at just over $12.5 million. They have a Competitive Balance Round A pick at No. 31, then their second-round selection at No. 40. There is still a very good chance they'll take the best player available, someone like Royce Lewis, but they do like Thompson's tools, and the money saved could come in handy with those next two picks.
23. Dodgers
Mayo: Tanner Houck, RHP, Missouri - Thompson's name has been mentioned here a ton, and he could be the choice if they went the toolsy high school route. But they have taken a fair share of college arms, particularly later in the first round, in recent years.
Callis: Bubba Thompson, OF, McGill-Toolen HS (Mobile, Ala.) - Warmoth and Thompson are the names bandied about the most with Los Angeles. Given how well 2015 first-rounder Walker Buehler has bounced back from Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers could go for another SEC right-hander who just had his elbow reconstructed in South Carolina's Clarke Schmidt.
According to my sources, the Dodgers will draft David Peterson if he's available at 23. This source also believes he won't make it past SF at 19. This is the same person who broke the trades to me, but obviously the Draft is a way more fluid situation than a trade. Take it for what it's worth.
Quake Griffin wrote:We're getting to the high teens here.
Relevant IMO because a reach Thats within reason could snatch one of our targets off the board.
Were you shocked to see Adell come off the board that early?
Quake Griffin wrote:Hmmm..,
Did the Bubba Thompson rumors convince everybody to back away?
Lets see what the Blue Jays do.