I’m pumped to announce the launch of the Mock Draft Machine here on Prospects Live! A project that has been in the works for months and is finally ready for launch.
Inspired by the multitude of NFL Mock Draft Simulators on the web, I sought out to find a MLB equivalent. Without much luck, the next best solution was to create my own. And so, I did. As I’ll detail below, the machine includes multiple functions, visuals, and ways to draft. Make every selection over the full 5 rounds, draft the top 5 and simulate the rest, draft as your favorite team and simulate the others, anything your heart desires. This is truly a one-of-a-kind tool that is essentially a playground for us MLB Draft followers. Let’s get into how it works.
Mock Draft Basics
Upon loading into the Mock Draft room you’ll see multiple features. First, a running marker of the round, pick, and team on the clock. While also taking note of the next three picks to be made. Then, an input box from which to select a player. Along with two buttons that draft that player or the simulate button, which I’ll dive more into next, that simulates a selection for that given pick. Finally, a rolling big board appears from which to dissect players to aid in selections.
When a player is selected that player is removed from the big board below to update available players. While also iterating to the next pick and team on the clock. A clean, simplistic, yet functional approach to making selections. This is the crown jewel of the machine.
Simulations and Probabilities
Using the simulate pick button relies on a typical simulation format, using probabilities for each given pick. The probabilities for picks are based on industry chatter, team need(s), past draft history, and the Prospects Live Draft Team. It’s rare for the draft to follow all “chalk” and oftentimes chaos ensues. It’s fair to expect the unexpected. So these probabilities, while created in good faith, are simply simulations mixed in with some predictive factors. With so many factors at play including bonus pools, signability and more; we’d be foolish to expect our simulations to be perfect. We take in all the information we have and put our best foot forward.
With that said, we feel the simulation aspect provides an incredibly useful element to the machine that makes it fun to use, day after day after day. The machine is meant to be a tool to play without throughout the whole draft season. The probabilities and board will be updated multiple times as the draft season rolls along. The machine will only get better and more accurate as time goes on.
Draft Results Visualizer
Every good mock draft needs a way to visualize the selections. Within our machine, you’ll see a “Draft Results” tab that updates after each pick. Going all the way to the final pick of 163 if needed. Again, more simple & clean functionality. Beyond just the visual, you’ll see two filter boxes at the top of the page that allow the user to filter for any team they want or any round they want. After a full 5 rounds, the user can come to the results screen and filter for any given team and see everyone one of their picks.
Here’s an example.
Beyond the filters you can clear the draft and restart with the “Clear & Refresh” button. And after the user drafts they can hit the “Download Draft Results” button and pull a CSV right to their own device. Or even take a screen grab and share it on socials or friends. There’s more to come in the future for this page.
What’s Next?
Play with the tool. This process has been months in the making and I'm excited to sit back and let others use this tool and have the same fun I’ve had with it. There will be work to be done regarding updating boards and getting probabilities updated as time rolls on. For now, I’m juiced to get this in the hands of the public and see the service it provides.
You’ll see more content coming from me and others on the draft team using the machine involving the readers and users. Maybe even a little mock draft competition!?!
Have at it drafters.