1994 Mock Draft

1.       New York Mets Select 1B Paul Konerko

I think the Mets go with a 1B or OF with the first overall pick, because in all honesty they do not really need a middle infielder. Because of this I do not see much reason to pick a shortstop just because they may have more value. If they take an OF I would not be surprised to see it being Carlos Lee, but Konerko is likely more of the type of player they would want and may be able to play LF.

2.       San Diego Padres Select SS Edgar Renteria 

      I think that Padres take Edgar Renteria, because as much as they may have it better if they took someone like OF Carlos Lee to add power to their future, they may be able to use some of their current IF spects to get a piece they need, and Renteria should be quite a good SS in the league.

3.       Florida Marlins Select OF Carlos Lee 

       I think that the Marlins take Carlos Lee because they have a future infield set, and need some power hitting. I think Lee will be quite a stud, and since his hitting is quite good, should be a good fit for a young Marlins team.

4.       Colorado Rockies Select SS Michael Young

 I think Colorado takes Young here, because he could potentially be moved to 3B, and although his eye is a little low, being that the park is in Colorado, his power in the park will be a little higher because of the altitude, which makes him probably a better fit here over some of the pitching that Colorado needs.

5.       Oakland Athletics Select SP Javier Vazquez

I think Javier Vazquez could be the best pitcher in the draft, but there are a few other pitchers that are close. I just see Oakland picking up pitching, because some of their pitching is older right now, and they have some decent young hitting and some future hitters already, that picking the best pitcher in the draft might be their best option.

6.       Milwaukee Brewers Select OF Alfonso Soriano

I am not a big fan of Soriano’s low contact and eye, but he could surprise and be a good pickup. There are really no other players that look super appealing, so I feel Milwaukee may pick him up and then try to trade him with his high peak for a player he likes a little more. That being said I would not write off Soriano, as his power looks really good.

7.       Cincinnati Reds Select OF Randy Winn

I think Bubba would take Randy Winn, even though he does have a lot of young OF already. I just think he is the safest pick, and for a team looking to compete for many years with a high pick a safe pick is sometimes the best pick. He could be a pretty decent leadoff, but not amazing, but there are a few pitchers who might be more risk, and definitely more reward if they become good.

8.       Minnesota Twins Select SP Randy Wolf

In terms of hitting, I do not think the Twins need a ton, but one can never have enough pitching. He is young and has a lot of upside, so he could be quite a good player if things go his way. He might be the second best starter, but even then there is a big difference between him and Vasquez.

9.       Toronto Blue Jays Select 1B Lance Berkman

Knowing how Mike is and how he almost always drafts high risk high reward players, I feel like Berkman fits what Mike wants. There is not a ton of upside, but if he jumps during the season, he could be really good, and one of the best hitters in the draft. If he does not jump then he could be a bust. Time will tell on whether he would be a good fit or not for Toronto.

10.   Pittsburgh Pirates Select SP Tomo Ohka

The Pirates have almost no pitching prospects, and so I really think that with the 10^th pick they take one. Tomo Ohka has similar vitals to Ponson, just lower overall, and I feel like the Pirates GM may take a chance on him over Ponson.

11.   Cleveland Indians Select CA Michael Barrett

Cleveland has no catchers in their farm team that really have a shot at being a starting catcher, and with a couple good catchers available, I do not see how Cleveland could pass on one. I think Barrett has a good equal amount of contact, power and eye, and that might be what Cleveland wants at pick 11.

12.   Boston Red Sox Select CA Toby Hall

Even though Boston has a catcher already in Varitek who could be good, I see nothing wrong with taking the highest peak player at catcher over pitcher at pick 12. Boston may do something else, but in drafts sometimes you pick players as future trade pieces over players you want.

13.   Los Angeles Dodgers Select 3B Troy Glaus

I would not be surprised to see Glaus go here, because in terms of 3B the Dodgers have a player who is a decent 3B with some contact, but no real big power hitter, and in the lineup the Dodgers have, some future power might be what they are looking for.

14.   Seattle Mariners Select CA A.J. Pierzynski

The Seattle Mariners do not have a real good catcher in their system. They do have Ibanez, but I do not think he will be staying as a catcher in their system. No reason to pass on Pierzynski with the 14^th pick in the draft.

15.   Atlanta Braves Select SP Sidney Ponson

At pick 15 I do not think that the Braves would pass on Ponson when he is the highest peak player on the board, and has a chance at being a decent pitcher. He may not be ace material, but with the rotation that the Braves have already, they do not need another ace.

16.   Toronto Blue Jays Select RP Matt Thornton

I think Mike takes Thornton, because he looks to be a very good RP, and if Mike decides to try to make him a SP, I think Thornton has the type of vitals that could make him into a decent future SP as well.

17.   Baltimore Orioles Select OF Dustan Mohr

I think Baltimore might go with a power hitting outfielder in Dustan Mohr, because although Kennedy is possibly the safest hitting spec left at this point, Baltimore does not have much of a future outfield core. Although Mohr does not have the greatest splits either, most of his vitals are above his overall which is usually a good thing when drafting.

18.   Detroit Tigers Select 2B Adam Kennedy

In all honesty if Adam Kennedy dropped to Detroit at pick 18, I think Cadmus would be extremely happy. Whitaker is past his prime, and Detroit does not have much in terms of future at 2B, so I feel like Kennedy is the type of player Cadmus is hoping to get with his 18^th pick in the draft.

19.   Houston Astros Select SP Jeff Weaver

I think with the prospects that Houston has at pitching, they are going to need a pitching prospect, and I find with the draft overall weak in pitching, that Weaver might be the type of player that they want at 19. He may not end up lasting to 19^th, but I feel that if Houston can get pitching at 19 they will be quite happy to get him.

20.   Texas Rangers Select 2B Junior Spivey

I think if GD is able to get a hitting prospect at this pick he will try to get a 2B that he can use soon. Spivey looks decent although not as much upside as some others, but he looks like he could be ready sooner, and although GD has a 2B who is hitting well now, he may want to transition to have a younger one when he can.

21.   St. Louis Cardinals Select SP Carl Pavano

I think Dave would take a pitcher with his pick here, versus some of the hitting, as it does seem easier to get good hitters versus pitchers. His peak is low but his vitals are fairly good for his overall. I think that Dave would be quite happy if he could get Pavano with this pick.

22.   New York Yankees Select SP Chris Fussell

I think the New York Yankees take a pitcher with their 22^nd pick, and although I am not a huge fan of Fussell, of the high peak players left, he looks to be the one with the most promise of pitchers. That being said, I do not think he will be absolutely great, but he could be a good gamble with a late 1^st round pick.

23.   Chicago White Sox Select SP Lance Davis

I feel like the White Sox may take a pitcher at pick 23, and if that is the case they will end up taking Lance Davis. He does not look amazing at all, but he could be solid if he jumps for them, and of the pitchers that are left none really stand out as top of the line starters, so like any of the pitchers that are left, I think they just take one that they think will have the best vitals.

24.   Montreal Expos Select SP Jay Spurgeon

Even though Montreal has a lot of young pitching, I feel that Mad Trapper will end up taking one of the higher peak players left, versus taking a chance on someone lower. I think Spurgeon might be better than Drese just because of the overall difference and vitals, but neither look particularly enticing. This could be a pitcher that maybe the Expos use as a trade piece to improve their team.

25.   Cincinnati Reds Select 1B Travis Lee

With the 25^th pick, I feel like that Bubba would take a 1B over another OF, when they have a couple 1B that are fringe spects and could be good, but may not develop the way they want to. So at this point it might be a good idea for them to get the 1B spec to replace a Hal Morris in the future.

26.   Toronto Blue Jays Select OF Juan Encarnacion

It may not be exactly what Mike is looking for in an OF, but Encarnacion has contact and power both above his overall, and he is decent at fielding too. The issue is he is a RF like Shawn Green, but I assume that he would be the one moving if he does get drafted by Toronto.

27.   Philadelphia Phillies Select OF Pat Burrell

I think if Erick was to get Burrell at this pick he would be ecstatic. Burrell looks like he will have great power and eye, but lower contact and some poor outfield skills may be the reason that he would not be picked until this spot.

28.   Toronto Blue Jays Select SP Ryan Drese

Personally I do not like him much at all, but with the 28^th pick, his high peak might be something that Mike takes a chance on here, to see if he can actually become 2-4 pitcher. Some team may end up taking him ahead, and something better might come Mike’s way, either way, Mike will have to wait and see what is available at this pick.