Just 12 hours removed from the 2022 standings sorting themselves out, now feels like an awfully good time to aimlessly write our first mock draft for the 2022 MLB Draft. Now granted, it’s still foolishly early and the picks represented inside this mock come with absolutely zero knowledge. Teams have hardly started looking forward toward next years draft, so to think teams has any one player circled on their board would be silly. That said, let’s give it the ol’ Vegas whirl.
The 2022 MLB Draft looks awfully flush with college hitters and high school pitching. There’s a few standout prep bats and a smattering of college arms that could ascend as their stuff ticks up this fall. With that, here we go.
1. Baltimore Orioles
Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan Academy
This may come as a surprise to some, but in terms of process and evaluation, it makes a whole lot of sense. We believe Jones is not only one of the most exciting talents in this class, but his profile also fits the Mike Elias Standard Operating Procedure™.
Jones has every tool in the bag. The kid can hit, he’s an elite runner, there’s juice in the bat and he’s got a hose in the outfield. He’s every bit the athlete his father was and maybe more. Now, sure, it all clicked for his dad and that remains to be seen here, but Jones has all the building blocks necessary to be a star.
By the time the draft rolls around, maybe Jones is the presumptive 1.1 anyways, so the narrative here won’t fit. But if draft day arrives and Elias can save a chunk of change selecting Jones over other names at the top of this class, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen it. Maybe Jones is Elias’s Baltimore reboot of Carlos Correa.
James Madison outfielder Chase DeLauter might end up making some sense here too. That’d make it three straight years of college outfielders for the Elias regime. In this scenario, we see the Orioles GM jumping for upside and potential stardom.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy
There may not be a more talented player in the 2022 draft class than Green. A powder-keg, linebacker package with tools galore, Green checks just about every box. Given the Diamondbacks current status in the NL West, and their recent habit of going for prep upside, Green may be a perfect fit.
It’s all there for Green. His scouting reports is filled with 7s and 8s. If the hit tool becomes what many scouts believe it’s capable of, Green could become one of the five best players in the game during his prime. This may be Arizona’s sequel to Justin Upton in 2005.
A sleeper to watch for here could by right-handed pitcher Dylan Lesko.
3. Texas Rangers
Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
There may not be a more talented college bat in the 2022 class than Lee. He’s performed at every single stop, recently putting up gaudy numbers in the 2021 Cape Cod Summer League.
Lee is a big-bodied shortstop who moves remarkably well for his muscled-up frame. As well as he fills up a stat sheet, he lights up Trackman devices too, generating massive exit velocity and optimizing his launch angle distribution. There’s certainly a chance he’ll need to move to third base if he slows, but to this point, there’s really no reason to believe he can’t handle shortstop at the highest level.
The Rangers have quite a few needs right now. They went with Jack Leiter in 2021, and they could go any number of directions in the upcoming draft.
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford HS
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Ben Cherington still have a ways to go in their rebuild, but they’ve infused a massive amount of talent into their system in the last twelve months and are certainly on their way back. The system is still starved of high-upside pitching, and that’s certainly what you’re buying in Lesko.
Polish, polish, polish. This kid is about as advanced a high school arm as you’ll ever find. The operation and mechanics are smooth and fluid. He really looks the part. The fastball has been up to 97. There’s two distinct breaking balls here and a changeup the he uses to fool lefty bats. Lesko has exceptional command for a prep arm and has the look of a potential future no. 1.
A future rotation consisting of Lesko, Roansy Contreras, Quinn Priester, Anthony Solometo and Bubba Chandler is enough to get anyone excited.
5. Washington Nationals
Jace Jung, 2B/3B, Texas Tech
As tantalizing as it may be for the Nationals to grab Peyton Pallette here, the system desperately needs bats. The rebuild is in full-effect and GM Mike Rizzo is the only one who has an idea of when their next competitive window will open. A lot of different players make sense here.
Jung is a pro hitter who draws high grades for his bat-to-ball skills, his approach, as well as his raw power. He figures to hit for average at the next level and could be featured as a middle-of-the-order banger. The jury is still out whether he has the arm or quickness to handle third base at the highest level. That said, most believe he’s plenty athletic enough to avoid first base, potentially ending up at second base.
6. Miami Marlins
Daniel Susac, C, Arizona
The Marlins were in the market for a catcher in the 2021 MLB Draft and we believe could be in the market for one in 2022 as well. Arizona catcher Daniel Susac compares favorably to 2021 no. 1 overall pick Henry Davis and could be a steal here at no. 6, especially if the Marlins believe he could stay behind the plate and move quick.
Susac has massive raw power and a hit tool that is among the best in the country. His batted-ball data is just as good, if not better than that of Davis. If the Marlins believe this kid could lead a staff in 2025 and beyond, with his hit tool and power, he could represent some of the best surplus values available in the draft.
Switch-hitting catchers that can stick behind the plate are hard to come by. Susac receives comparisons to Matt Wieters in that regard. If he ends up in Miami, leading that young staff of arms in the future, the Marlins could have some killer battery-mates.
7. Chicago Cubs
Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison
The Cubs may be on the precipice of a lengthy rebuild having shipped off all of their pillars this summer. That said, the cupboard isn’t bare. DeLauter has some of the best star potential in this class and could move quickly through a Cubs system lacking high-minors prospects.
DeLauter has a physically imposing body with the accompanying raw power and long, athletic strides in the field. He’s a centerfielder now, though some believe he’ll end up in a corner. It shouldn’t matter however, as the tools play anywhere on the diamond. A lefty stick, DeLauter has a chance to be a 35+ homer guy at the next level.
DeLauter will be a popular pick among data analysts in the 2022 draft. His batted-ball data is massive, his swing and chase rates are sublime and he only projects to get better as he matures. The only notion he’ll have to dispel this season are the small conference concerns. His utter dominance on the Cape should help in that regard.
8. Minnesota Twins
Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays HS
The Twins are no stranger to going after explosive prep bats in the draft and Johnson may be one of the best prep bats we’ve seen in recent memory. Some evaluators believe Johnson has a chance to become a truly special hitter at the pro level thanks to exceptional bat-to-ball skills and prolific hands at the plate.
Johnson will end up at second base, but he’s a good enough athlete to handle shortstop for the time being. He’s got an average arm, but a great first step and a relentless motor on the field. But the bat is the calling card. Some have likened the ceiling to the 2021 version of Cedric Mullins. Johnson isn’t an easy profile to find precedence. He’s a 5-foot-7-inch second baseman with more power than guys twice his size.
It’s not hard to make the argument Johnson is the best bat in this class.
9. Kansas City Royals
Peyton Pallette, RHP, Arkansas
The Kansas City Royals are approaching another competitive window thanks to a glut of talent knocking on the door of the big leagues. Dayton Moore & Co.™ have enjoyed successes in drafting college pitching in the past and we believe they go that route once again in 2022 with Pallette.
Moore will have a ton of opportunities to watch Pallette throw next season. His son, Robert, another big draft prospect, is the second baseman for the Razorbacks.
Pallette showed huge stuff in 2021, touching 97 with a super-vertical fastball and impressive pitch metrics. He’s got a tight slider with good downer break and a changeup that flashed real promise. There’s also a ton of intrinsic qualities about his delivery that make for a player development department’s dream.
10. Colorado Rockies
Carter Young, SS, Vanderbilt
With former Scouting Director Bill Schmidt taking over as the new General Manager, he’s very familiar with the draft process and the Rockies direction. They’ve had some premier talent fall into their laps of late with Zac Veen and Benny Montgomery, but we believe they fill a need with their shortstop of the future in Vandy Boy™ Carter Young.
Success starts up the middle of the diamond and Young is a stabilizing force for the Rockies moving forward. He’s a plus defender for the position with a plus throwing arm. Young’s numbers dipped a bit toward the end of 2021 due to some bumps and bruises, but we firmly believe he’ll be one of the better hitters in the SEC in 2022.
The Rockies currently lack dynamic athletes up the middle on the dirt. Young not only fills the void but provides some fantastic upside at the plate. He could very well be the next Dansby Swanson.