By Jordan Gluck Follow @jgluck777

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The only major professional sports league that does their entry draft during the season is major league baseball

 There is plenty of talent available this year especially in the high school ranks.

The draft is the best way to build a franchise and position yourself in a position for long term success. Jim Callis in 2005 got the first 18 picks right … hopefully one day I will do the same.

1. Astros – Brady Aiken LHP HS

The Stros get an elite talent here at a position that they need and a price figure that will likely be less than Rodon. The Astros don’t have any top tier left handed pitchers in their system and it is very rare you see a lefty throwing mid 90s. Look for this kid in future all star games.

2. Marlins – Carlos Rodon LHP North Carolina State

He seemed like the overwhelming favorite to be the number 1 pick at the start of the college season but has not had his best year.

HE is still an incredible talent and will make the Marlins the number one farm system in terms of LHP with Heaney,

Brian Flynn, and Justin Nicolino. Although in the majors their rotation features only right handed pitchers (Randy Wolf doesn’t count). He will pair with Jose Fernandez to give the Fish an elite 1-2 punch as well as a very marketable one in a very hispanic dominated area.

This pick will also allow them to trade a starting pitching prospect to help the Fish make a playoff push if need be.

3. White Sox – Tyler Kolek RHP HS

Probably the biggest lock of the draft. The White Sox might have the worst collection of arms in the minors and not a dominating rotation at the major league level.

Kolek can throw HEAT and is very projectable. Imagine a playoff trio of Him, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana!

4. Cubs – Alex Jackson C HS

The Cubs kind of get screwed here as their biggest need is a top level starting pitching prospect.

Yet they do get a little lucky as in the field the only need they have is at catcher which Alex Jackson currently plays although there has been talk of him in a outfield corner. If Jackson has a fast track to the show then this will be a slam dunk for the Cubs.

They will look for high level starting pitching prospects in a Samardzija (Henry Owens?), Starlin (Syndergaard?), and possibly Hammel (Luke Jackson although he’s a more mid rotation type?) trades this deadline or winter.

The Cubs will also have money to spend with Max Scherzer, James Shields, and Jon Lester available as free agents.

5. Twins – Aaron Nola RHP Louisiana State

This is where the draft gets really fun and anything can happen. Many people say Nick Gordon here but they already have Jorge Polanco and Daniel Santana who could both play shortstop.

They have experienced the last few years that having a depleted pitching staff can shake your entire franchise and is likely part of the reason they signed 4 starting pitchers this offseason (Nolasco, Hughes, Pelfrey, & Correia).

Two of those options are stopgaps and with Alex Meyer and Trevor May arriving this team will get better.

With the arrival of Aaron Nola who thrived in the SEC their rotation of Nolasco, Meyer, Nola, May, and Hughes will be a very competitive rotation especially with an offense headed by Mauer, Buxton, and Sano behind them.

6. Mariners – Touki Toussaint RHP HS

This is a very interesting pick as he went to a rival high school of mine and we actually tried to get him to transfer to our school (Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School).

Not only do i have my scouting knowledge about him but i have my friends who have faced him in the batters box.

He has an electric fastball and a very nice curveball as well but needs to learn to control his pitches better. He can easily get eaten up by patient hitters but with refinement can develop into a top option in the rotation.

This isn’t a player that should be rushed and will likely need 5 years in the minor leagues.

The Mariners with Felix, Iwakuma, Walker, and Paxton won’t need him soon anyway.

The upside in this pick makes sense but it will be the way they develop him that will see if they see the fruits of this pick.

7. Phillies – Sean Newcomb RHP Hartford

A Left hander with 4 pitches and fastball velocity doesn’t come around all to often. The Phillies have needs all over their farm system with the exception of shortstop and 3rd baseman.

This team is very old and young players will be needed all over.

I will not be surprised if Ruben Amaro Jr. is fired after the draft as they look to rebuild. It will be a real shame if they squander the value that Utley, Lee, Ruiz, Byrd, Papelbon, Adams, and Rollins can give them.

This is not an awful team but why give up the assets to acquire a starting pitcher and bullpen health for a team that is unlikely to make the playoffs yet still in the hunt.

Utley with the way he’s playing can help rebuild a bad farm system.

8. Rockies – Kyle Freeland LHP Evansville

The Rockies grab a native and the first elite Coloradan pitcher since Kevin Gausman went 4th to the Orioles in 2010.

Both of their top pitching prospects are right handed (Butler,Gray) and Freeland will give them a balance in that rotation.

This is a team which I really don’t know which way they will go but it is hard to recruit free agent pitchers to come to Coors field.

This team has the potential to be dangerous for years to come.

9. Blue Jays – Nick Gordon SS HS

The Blue Jays see Nick Gordon fall right into their lap and can see a future successor to Jose Reyes. Gordon is a player which I believe to be a bit overhyped coming into the draft do to a lack of power, non elite speed and an overall lack of seasoning. He won’t be in the majors for a while.

10. Mets – Grant Holmes RHP HS

While he already posses two very good pitches I don’t know if he is a starting pitcher long term.

He looks like a closer to me with a fastball with the ability to hit triple digits and a nice curveball.

For me it is way to high to take someone who profiles as a reliever even if he will be an outstanding closer.

11. Blue Jays – Jeff Hoffman RHP East Carolina

This is an outstanding pick and whoever gets Hoffman will be thrilled. Many pitchers in today’s game have Tommy John surgery and the recovery rate is extremely high.

Yes, Hoffman will lose a year of development but I think he will return to his current form and be a frontline major league starter.

12. Brewers – Brandon Finnegan LHP Texas Christian

He may not be the tallest but looks like he can develop into a crafty lefty.

The Brewers don’t have a strong farm system which figures to get worse if they are going to be involved in trading this MLB season.

13. Padres – Tyler Beede RHP Vanderbilt
He was a first round pick before but turned down his signing bonus to go pitch at Vanderbilt whose a rare college program that doesn’t overkill their pitchers.

I think that they will think about Trea Turner here also but there is plenty of value loaded up in Beede.

14. Giants – Bradley Zimmer OF San Francisco

The Giants need hitting for their farm system which is one of the worst in the league.

They also need a potential corner outfielder if they let Morse walk or they can sign him or someone to a bridge contract as Zimmer won’t take long.

15. Angels – Luke Weaver RHP Florida State

One of the most underrated players in this draft who shouldn’t take long in the minor leagues and will help the leagues worst farm system.

The lack of picking in the first round has hampered the Angels ability to get high ceiling players which is part of the reason their farm system is so barren.

16. Diamondbacks – Sean Reid-Foley RHP HS

This season has been a disaster for the Snakes and the biggest lagger has been this teams starting pitching.

This situation is most likely a best pitcher available type scenario to help build depth with Bradley, Blair, and Shipley.

17. Royals – Michael Conforto OF Oregon State

The Royals are having a season below my expectations and the consequences could be coming.

They have already put in place a new hitting coach and Ned Yost could be feeling the pressure.

This is not a big market team and the payroll must be kept in check. Alex Gordon is a free agent after 2016 and it looks like it will be Jorge Bonifacio in a OF corner to replace Aoki next season.

Conforto will have time to develop before making his debut although I really don’t see high upside potential here.

18. Nationals – Nick Howard RHP Virginia

He was a closer this past season yet iI believe that he profiles as a starting pitcher.

He will help bolster a farm headed by Lucas Giolito, Michael Taylor, and AJ Cole. I am starting to wonder how much payroll that Ted Lerner will be able to stomach on top of Doug Fister becoming a free agent a year and a half from now.

19. Reds – Trea Turner SS North Carolina State

When you talk about top end speed you can easily mention Trea Turner.

He came into this year with top 5 potential but struggled a little with the bat on top of not having much power.

If he can develop average power to go along with his speed and above average hit tool potential you are looking at a very good baseball player.

Imagine that top of the lineup speed with Billy Hamilton 1 and Trea Turner 2.

20. Rays- Luis Ortiz RHP HS

The Rays system is not what it used to be specifically in the arms department although Alex Colome and Ryne Stanek are having good years.

The Rays need to develop starting pitching as they can’t afford to spend on the free agent market. Ortiz will take time to develop.

21. Indians – Erick Fedde LHP UNLV
The Indians will have to be patient with him as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The Indians need more pitching in that system to be able to compete with the Tigers on the field.

22. Dodgers – Max Pentecost C Kennesaw State

The Dodgers have some good prospects but they have a big hole at catcher in the minor and the major leagues.

While they still could trade for or sign a catcher they should also develop their own and being able to draft a good catcher will be a big plus for this organization.

Max will definitely able to stay behind the plate.

23. Tigers – Kyle Schwarber C/OF Indiana

This kid can hit and he will be able to hit with power. He won’t take all to long to reach the majors and gives the Tigers a big power bat in their system.

24. Pirates- Casey Gillaspe 1B Wichita State

I would love this pick as i think Gillaspe could be a top 10 pick on his bat alone.

I have really liked the Pirates first round picks in recent years but they are used to drafting much earlier than this.

25. Athletics – Nick Burdi P Louisville

A bullpen type pitcher who could move quickly through the system. He can sit in the upper 90s with that fastball and i think he will become a future closer.

26. Red Sox – Derek Hill OF HS

A speedy outfielder who can roam center field. The Red Sox do have a need in center field if Jackie Bradley Jr. can’t develop properly although Hill won’t be in the majors for a while.

27. Cardinals – Jacob Gatewood SS HS
As big of a ‘boom or bust’ prospect that you can find but there is no place to acquire shortstops with power.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***

A Big thanks goes out to our Free Agent/Trade/Prospects Expert Jordan Gluck preparing today’s feature post.

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