Draft Projection - March 25

This 1st round projection is not based on strictly talent, but past tenancies of the teams, money, and needs. Pretty much just my opinion as of right now. Please feel free to comment.

1) Rays - Aaron Crow, RHP, Missouri - The Rays already have ridiculous pitching but you can never have too much. Alvarez does not make sense because of Longoria...I think Tim Beckham is a possibility but they like Brignac alot.

2) Pirates - Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt - Good fit here in that they want a "now" player and they are getting the best all around bat in the draft.

3) Royals - Brian Matusz, LHP, San Diego - Just feel Crow is more dominating. However, Matusz will be the surest bet from this draft I think. I think Royals could go Tim Beckham here. That scenario is discussed later.

4) Orioles - Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina - Much like the Pirates, the Orioles will be looking for a "now" guy that will not take 4 years to develop. It is not like they are selling themselves short, Smoak is a legit power threat.

5) Giants - Tim Beckham, SS, High School - The top all around tools guy slips to 5?? If the Rays don't pick him, I just see the other 3 teams taking a more polished player. Giants fans are crossing their fingers they don't take another pitcher.

6) Marlins - Yonder Alonso, 1B, Miami - Taking a local boy can't hurt the Marlins. Their current system has a lack of position players with all around hitting skills. Alonso is also a safe bet to hit for average and get on base. Guys like Hosmer, Cole, and Melville will have too high of a price tag right here as well.

7) Reds - Tim Melville, RHP, High School - Best high school pitcher in the draft. Tall projectable frame. Not quite on the level of a Jarrod Parker as of right now.

8) White Sox - Aaron Hicks, CF, High School - Kenny Williams keeps saying he wants athletic position players (and then they took pitchers with their last 2 first rounders). However, if you want an athletic OF, Hicks is your guy.

9) Nationals - Kyle Skipworth, C, High School - Obviously, the Nats could go alot of directions here. However, hitting catchers like this do not come along every year. Offensively, he has more power than Joe Mauer, and can hit enough to play 1B if need be to move him. However, he has silenced some of the fielding questions so far this year.

10) Houston - Christian Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky - This just seems like a typical Astros choice. Inexpensive, and not very flashy. I have read Friedrich's curve dosen't exactly warrant the comparisons to Hill and Zito. And his velo is average. The upside pick here would be Garret Cole or Eric Hosmer if they were not worried about money - but, they will be.

11) Rangers - Lance Lynn, RHP, Ole Miss - I think the Rangers are still wanting to improve their pitching even with their good young arms already in the system (Hurley, Feliz, Main, Beaven). Lynn brings to the table polish, and big game experience. Do not be surprised to see Gerrit Cole here as the Rangers aren't afraid to deal with Boras.

12) Athletics - Gordon Beckham, SS, Georgia - Beckham has probably hit another HR as I type this. He and Lynn are shooting up the boards.

13) Cardinals - Harold Martinez, 3B, High School - Logical choice here really. Martinez could be a bargain if he lasts this long.

14) Twins - Shooter Hunt, RHP, Tualne - Lets face it, the Twins won't go upside with both of their first round picks. However, Hunt is a good pick any way you slice it.

15) Dodgers - Alex Meyer, RHP, High School - Would the Dodgers really take another HS pitcher in the first round? Why not? It has worked so far. Meyer is extremely projectable at 6'7 and there is no signability concerns.

16) Brewers - Buster Posey, C, Florida State - Brewers do not have a legit catcher on the big league team or in the minors. He can hit and stay at catcher.

17) Blue Jays - Tanner Scheppers, RHP, Fresno State - Blue Jays showed last year that they do not mind taking high school kids. However, Scheppers makes sense here as I do not think they will go over slot to sign someone.

18) Mets - Eric Hosmer, 1B, High School - Hosmer has as good of upside as anyone in the draft. Boras is his agent and the Mets are in dire need to upgrade their farm system and they have the money to take the best talent available. In this case, Hosmer.

19) Cubs - Jemile Weeks, 2B, Miami - I will be honest, I don't know what the Cubs will do here (I am not sure they do either!) They are not usually big spenders (see Tyler Colvin) so a toolsy 2B makes sense here. I think the Twins might grab Weeks, in that case look for Brett Hunter.

20) Mariners - Brett Hunter, RHP, Pepperdine - Mariners proved last year that they are willing to make a different pick with Aumont. But, Hunter is a good fit for them in that they like to move their guys quickly and he is a quick mover.

21) Tigers - Issac Galloway, OF, High School - The Tigers traded away their toolsy OFs in Maybin and Gorkys Hernandez. They get one back with this pick.

22) Mets - Dennis Raben, OF, Miami - I do not think they will go over slot with both picks. I do not see them signing Hosmer AND Cole..that is a little too crazy. They may decide to go 1 hitter and 1 pitcher though. Sonny Gray is a possible arm.

23) Padres - Jacob Thompson, RHP, Virginia - Cheap, polished, and proven = Padres.

24) Phillies - Gerrit Cole, RHP, High School - Best velo in this years high school crop..maybe of the whole thing will drop due to signability. Phillies have the money and the need to improve their system.

25) Rockies - Brett Wallace, 1B, Arizona State - Great college player that won't cost a ton of money makes sense for the Rockies. Wallace is polished and could easily take over for Helton.

26) Diamondbacks - Sonny Gray, RHP, High School - The Diamondbacks have taken pitching with their last 2 first round picks - and I think they do so again.

27) Twins - Xavier Avery, OF, High School - I'm calling this surprise. Twins love their fast outfielders - however, this is not Ben Revere..Avery projects for more power.

28) Yankess - Cody Satterwhite, RHP, Ole Miss- I do not think the Yankees go crazy in the draft this year. I think they are going to want to free up as much money as possible to sign some combination of KROD, Texeira, and Sabathia.

29) Indians - Kyle Lobstein, LHP, High School - Indians love taking their college kids. But, there is not one here that fits.

30) Red Sox - Brett DeVall, LHP, High School - Best fastball among prep lefties

** Ok, the top four college players will all want ML deals - so, Tim Beckham could actually cost less. KC could take him at 3. If that happens Orioles take Matusz, SF takes Melville, FLA takes Smoak, and Alonso drops to maybe Houston. I do not see SF taking Smoak when they have Villalona.

** What if Texas take Gerrit Cole? Then Lynn slips down to the A's, Cardinals still take Martinez, but the Twins would grab Beckham causing Hunt to drop.