As we hold out hope that there will be an MLB season this year, the baseball world was given a great distraction this week with the two-day showing of the five rounds of the MLB draft. We previewed this event tremendously with a big board and team-by-team breakdown, but now, it’s time to analyze each team’s draft class. Sure, we already graded each of the 37 first-round picks, but certain teams used the second day of the draft to stand out, especially as they tried to make the most of their bonus pools. Additionally, I’ve gathered some new information on a few of the prospects taken early in this draft, which could lead to a new perspective on a team’s haul in general. So, without further adieu, let’s deeply examine each team’s complete draft performance! We’ll go in order of where the teams made their first pick, from the Tigers (#1) to the Astros (#72).

Detroit Tigers

1/1: 1B Spencer Torkelson, Arizona State

2/38: C Dillon Dingler, Ohio State

2/62: COF Daniel Cabrera, LSU

3/73: SS Trei Cruz, Rice

4/102: 3B Gage Workman, Arizona State

5/132: 3B Cole Keith, HS

DAY 1 GRADE: A-

If I were the Tigers, I may have opted to take Zac Veen, or even Austin Martin, as they’re sorely lacking in young up-the-middle talent. However, Spencer Torkelson’s elite plate discipline and power make me confident he’ll be an offensive force, and he’s a much safer player than Veen or Martin. Obviously, there is less room for error and upside when you take a first baseman with the #1 overall pick, but over time, the selection of Torkelson has definitely grown on me.

DAY 2 GRADE: B+

Detroit stuck to their theme of taking college hitters on the second day of the draft, using four of their five remaining picks on that prototype. Both Dillon Dingler and Daniel Cabrera project as potential everyday players with solid on-base skills, and were strong value picks based on where they were selected. After that, Trei Cruz appears to be a reach at the top of the third round, and Gage Workman’s poor approach made me lower on him than most, but at least they were able to take a shot on Cole Keith’s power potential in the final round.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

The Tigers have a deep collection of pitching talent, so it’s clear they made it a priority to do whatever it took to complement them with some position player talent. Not only did they add three potential everyday players with the ability to get on base, but Torkelson, Cabrera, and Dingler are all safer players who could move quickly through their system, which is key for them- their top young pitchers will all be in the MLB soon. It wasn’t a superb performance, considering how much draft capital they had, but it’s safe to say that they improved their farm system.

Baltimore Orioles

1/2: COF Heston Kjerstad, Arkansas

1/30: SS Jordan Westburg, Mississippi State

2/39: CF Hudson Haskin, Tulane

3/74: SS Anthony Servideo, Ole Miss

4/103: 3B Coby Mayo, HS

5/133: RHP Carter Baulmer, HS

DAY 1 GRADE: F

With two picks in the top 30, the Orioles appeared destined to add major talent to their farm system, especially in such a talented draft. Instead, they walked out of the first day of the draft with Heston Kjerstad and Jordan Westburg? Both of these players are bat-first players with approach issues, which is a major problem considering both are college players who should be polished products. Even if Kjerstad reaches his potential, it’s unlikely that he, as a limited corner outfielder, is a more valuable player than Austin Martin, Zac Veen, or any of the pitchers that were available, so I don’t really care about how much money the saved. That may have changed if they were able to draft Nick Bitsko or a high-upside prep arm with the 30th overall pick, but Bitsko went off the board to the divison-rival Rays, and it seemed like they panicked by taking Westburg.

DAY 2 GRADE: C

With the money that they saved, the Orioles were able to add two interesting prep players in Coby Mayo, who has a lot of raw power, and pitcher Carter Baulmer. Yet, those two prospects aren’t worth reaching for Kjerstad at pick #2. As for the college players they took, I really thought they got nice value in Anthony Servideo, who has above-average plate discipline and defense at shortstop, but Hudson Haskin went about a round too early, and I’m not sure what Baltimore sees in him.

OVERALL GRADE: D-

Where do I start? With three picks in the top 39, the Orioles could’ve come away with a major haul, but instead, they landed three unpolished college players, and bypassed on significantly superior prospects. Servideo is what keeps this from being an “F”, and the prep players are intriguing, but this is a very disappointing performance by general manager Mike Elias. He really needed to inject some extra high-end talent in the farm system alongside Adley Rutschman, but instead blew a major opportunity to greatly enhance Baltimore’s collection of young talent.

Miami Marlins

1/3: RHP Max Meyer, Minnesota

2/40: LHP Dax Fulton, HS

2/61: RHP Kyle Nicolas, Ball State

3/75: RHP Zach McCambley, Coastal Carolina

4/104: LHP Jake Elder, Vanderbilt

5/134: RHP Kyle Hunt, USC

DAY 1 GRADE: A+

Many were surprised that the Marlins chose to draft Max Meyer with the third pick in the draft, but, in my opinion, they simply drafted the best player in the draft. The Minnesota product’s fastball-slider combination is absolutely incredible, and I’m very confident that he’ll establish himself as a premier power pitcher. Sure, he’s only 6’0″ tall, but his lower-body extension and athleticism mitigate any durability concerns. Austin Martin probably tempted them as a safer player to complement their group of boom-or-bust prospects, yet they made the right move by taking the definite best player on the board.

DAY 2 GRADE: A-

Apparently, the Marlins really wanted to add young pitching depth to their farm system, as they didn’t take one position player in this draft. Dax Fulton just underwent Tommy John Surgery, but he was first-round ability based on a projectable frame and filthy breaking ball, so he could be an absolute steal. Kyle Nicolas, meanwhile, is another pitcher with some heavy reliever risk, yet that’s more due to his command than it is poor mechanics. Meanwhile, Jake Eder and Kyle Hurt have flashed some intriguing potential at times, and Zach McCambley has the makings of a high-end, multi-inning reliever.

OVERALL GRADE: A

The Marlins definitely didn’t play it safe in this draft, as every pitcher they took comes with some potential red flag, particularly the players they selected in the second round. However, not enough teams take a shot on pitchers’ pure “stuff”, and if Meyer continues to develop and just a couple of the day-two pitchers make good on their potential, then this could be a game-changing haul for Miami. All of a sudden, they arguably have one of if, if not the deepest collection of young pitchers in the entire MLB.

Kansas City Royals

1/1: LHP Asa Lacy, Texas A&M

1/32: SS Nick Loftin, Baylor

2/41: RHP Ben Hernandez, HS

3/76: COF Tyler Gentry, Alabama

4/105: LHP Christian Chamberlain, Oregon

5/135: RHP Will Klein, Eastern Illinois

DAY 1 GRADE: B

Due to the shakeup at the top of the draft, the Royals unpredictably had the chance to draft Asa Lacy or Austin Martin, and in the end, they decided to continue to bolster their pitching depth with Lacy. The Texas A&M lefty’s pure power arsenal gives Kansas City the high-upside pitcher they didn’t have, and overall, he’s worth a top-five pick. Ironically, though, the team may have been best off had the first three picks gone as planned, since they were linked to prep outfielder Zac Veen, who was my highest rated position player in this draft. The Royals stuck with college performers by selecting Nick Loftin with the 32nd overall pick, and although he has a high floor as a utility player with no glaring weakness, I’m not sure he’ll ever be more than that. In the second or third round, that’s fine, but they definitely could’ve strived for greater pastures with that pick.

DAY 2 GRADE: C+

Ben Hernandez was the only prep player the Royals selected in this draft, as the team, like many, was enamored by his elite changeup. If he can refine his breaking ball, he’ll profile as a #4 starting pitcher, though there were other prep pitchers that probably had more intriguing arsenals. As for their other picks, Tyler Gentry is a corner outfielder with approach issues, and Chamberlain and Klein profile as middle relief options.

OVERALL GRADE: B-

As mentioned, I don’t buy into the narrative that the Royals lucked into Lacy, especially since Veen and Martin would have definitely been superior selections. Meanwhile, their other picks don’t really excite me, as they continued to target low-upside college players in the middle rounds. Lacy immediate challenges Bobby Witt Jr. as their best prospect, and gives them the potential future ace they were lacking, but the depth of this class isn’t great considering that they had three top-41 picks to work with.

Toronto Blue Jays

1/5: CF/3B/2B Austin Martin, Vanderbilt

2/42: RHP CJ Van Eyk, Florida State

3/77: RHP Trent Palmer, Jacksonville

4/106: RHP Nick Frasso, Loyola Marymount

5/136: CF Zach Britton, Louisville

DAY 1 GRADE: A

The Blue Jays were linked to Zac Veen and Max Meyer, so they, like the Royals, would have been well-off had the top of the draft gone as planned. However, unlike Kansas City, they moved quickly to draft Austin Martin, and he fits the organization’s direction tremendously. It’s easy to dream on a top of the lineup led by Cavan Biggio, Martin, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as each of them are selective hitters, and that’s before mentioning Bo Bichette and others. Martin should move quickly through the system as a polished hitter with a lot of defensive versatility, so just as Toronto is on the brink of contention, he’ll be able to contribute for them. He won’t come at a cheap cost, but he is certainly worth it.

DAY 2 GRADE: C+

If we needed any indication that agent Scott Boras wouldn’t be cutting any sort of deal with the Blue Jays for Martin, the team’s day-two reliance on college players demonstrated that. If CJ Van Eyk can become more consistent, then he can be a middle-of-the-rotation starter with three plus pitches, but he’s far from a refined product. Additionally, Trent Palmer and Nick Frasso profile more as relief pitchers, and Zach Britton hasn’t much of a well-regarded player despite playing at Louisville.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

In an ideal world, the Blue Jays could’ve added more talent on the second day of the draft, but Van Eyk is an intriguing player, while Palmer and Frasso were solid value picks. At the end of the day, though, this draft is all about Martin, and it’s rare to be able to land a player of his caliber with the 5th overall pick. Unlike other teams, they didn’t get cute at the top of the draft, and I expect them to be rewarded with a valuable, versatile player who’ll slot in nicely at the top of their lineup.

Seattle Mariners

1/6: RHP Emerson Hancock, Georgia

2/43: CF Zach DeLoach, Texas A&M

2/64: RHP Connor Phillips, McLennan CC (TX)

3/78: 2B Caden Polcovich, Oregon State

4/107: 3B Tyler Keenan, Ole Miss

5/137: RHP Taylor Dollard, Cal Poly

DAY 1 GRADE: A+

Had the entire season played out, or had this been any other draft, Emerson Hancock would not have fallen outside the top 5. It’s rare to find a pitcher who has arguably three 60-grade pitches and excellent command with a traditional starter’s build where the Mariners were picking, but they somehow were able to. If they can work with him to utilize his pitches better, including de-emphasizing his two-seam fastball and using his changeup more, then they may very well be getting an ace, or at least a high-end #2 starter. Zac Veen obviously may have tempting, but I actually think Hancock was the perfect pick for them.

DAY 2 GRADE: B-

The Mariners didn’t make any flashy picks on the second day of the draft, but they still added some talented players. Zach DeLoach may have been a first-round pick had the season not been postponed, as he has excellent plate discipline and has a lot of similar traits to Brandon Nimmo of the Mets. Meanwhile, Connor Phillips is only 19-years-old and has a filthy pitching arsenal, and Seattle has done a nice job developing pitchers recently. As far as their other picks, Tyler Keenan is very limited defensively but has the offensive skillset to be worth a flyer in the fourth round, and Taylor Dollard has some intriguing traits if he can improve his velocity; the Mariners have had success improving pitchers’ velocity.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1/7: 2B Nick Gonzales, New Mexico State

1/31: RHP Carmen Mlodzinski, South Carolina

2/44: RHP Jared Jones, HS

3/79: RHP Nick Garcia, Chapman

4/108: RHP Jack Hartman, Appalachian State

5/138: LHP Logan Hoffman, Northwestern State

DAY 1 GRADE: A-

I was really hoping that the Pirates would draft Zac Veen, as would immediately be their undisputed best prospect and would give them a player with superstar upside- something they don’t have. Instead, general manager Ben Cherrington played it safe, selecting second baseman Nick Gonzales. Gonzales’ pure-hitting ability, plate discipline, and exit velocity numbers make me very confident he’ll be a tremendous offensive producer, especially for a second baseman. His defensive limitations make me wish they would’ve gone for Veen, but he was picked right around where he should have. As for Carmen Mlodzinski, the South Carolina pitcher never produced at a high level in college, but he dominated at the Cape Cod League and has the traits to be a workhorse middle-of-the-rotation starter.

DAY 2 GRADE: A-

After playing it safe on the first day, Pittsburgh came back on the second day of the draft with riskier picks, which makes sense. Jared Jones currently has no idea where the ball is going when he pitches, but he has very intriguing traits with his fastball and breaking ball, and he is super athletic. It’ll take a lot of development, but it’s easy to dream on his upside. The same goes for Nick Garcia, who has a tremendous fastball, and at the very least could be an option in the bullpen down the line. Jack Hartman and Logan Hoffman are more of money-savers to allow them to afford Jones, yet I’m definitely on board with the Pirates’ approach.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

Should the Pirates have taken Veen? Definitely, but when assessing their draft haul as a whole, there is a lot to be intrigued about. They added a lot of pitching depth, and if they develop Jones properly, he could be a massive steal; the same goes for Mlodzinski, who simply needs to prove his performance at the Cape Cod League wasn’t a fluke. Furthermore, Gonzales is a safe player who will move quickly through their farm system, and with Ke’Bryan Hayes, Mitch Keller, and a lot of the team’s prospects nearing their MLB debut, it’s clear that they’ll be able to avoid a long-term rebuild. I’m very encouraged with how Ben Cherrington has started his tenure as the team’s general manager.

San Diego Padres

1/8: CF Robert Hassell, HS

1/34: RHP Justin Lange, HS

2/45: OF Owen Caissie, HS

3/80: RHP Cole Wilcox, Georgia

4/109: RHP Levi Thomas, Troy

5/139: LHP Jagger Haynes, HS

DAY 1 GRADE: B

With Zac Veen on the board, I thought there was no way the Padres would pass on him. However, their rumored love for Robert Hassell turned out to be true, and it’s easy to see what they like about him. The Tennessee prep outfielder is an advanced hitter who may be able to tap into slightly more power and stick in center, but he has a lower upside for a prep player. The gap between him and Veen is substantial, though, unlike the Orioles, they made good use of the money they saved by drafting Hassell. Justin Lange, for instance, will likely sign an overslot deal, and with a 100 MPH fastball and a breaking ball that flashes as an above-average pitch, he has so much untapped “upside”.

DAY 2 GRADE: A+

San Diego continued to shoot for the moon on the second day of the draft, making me wonder how much they’re saving with Hassell. Owen Caissie wasn’t on my draft board, but I do like his power and athleticism, and he fits their mold as a high-upside prep player that they like to target in the second round. However, their major addition on day two was easily Cole Wilcox. Projected to be a first-round pick, he fell to the third round, as he was expected to return to the University of Georgia, but the Padres somehow were able to come up with the funds to sign him. He’ll need to prove his durability and make some slight tweaks to his pitch mix, but he is definitely a first-round-caliber pitcher.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

Ultimately, how you feel about the Padres’ draft comes down to how much you weigh the funds they saved from Hassell- are Wilcox and Lange worth the difference between Hassell and Veen? It’s a close call for me, but San Diego did draft three first-round-caliber players in this draft, which is extremely impressive. They already had one of the deepest farm systems in the MLB, but this may have put them over the top- now, it’s time for them to develop their young players properly and hopefully be a sustainable contender.

Colorado Rockies

1/9: CF Zac Veen, HS

1/32: C Drew Romo, HS

2/46: RHP Chris McMahon, Miami

3/81: LHP Sam Weatherly, Clemson

4/110: RHP Chase Williams, HS

5/140: SS Jack Blomgren, Michigan

DAY 1 GRADE: A

If had the #1 pick in this year’s draft, I probably would have selected Zac Veen. Therefore, the fact that the Rockies were able to draft him with the 9th overall pick is just absurd, and a major coup for them. His power, athleticism, and advanced plate discipline give him five-tool superstar potential; the Rockies go from a team who arguably didn’t have a worthy top-100 prospect to a team with a future star to build around. Sticking with prep players, Drew Romo’s ability to get on base is in question, but he is an excellent defender with raw power, so he profiles as a future everyday catcher. Considering that Colorado may be heading towards a long-term rebuild, getting two young prospects is a great start, though picking Veen was simply them drafting an elite prospect.

DAY 2 GRADE: B+

The Rockies are going to have a difficult time develop pitchers, as their breaking balls don’t spin as well in the altitude. In that sense, Chris McMahon would appear to be an ideal fit for them, as he generally relies on his fastball and changeup. At the same time, though, he has yet to prove he can consistently miss bats, and the Rockies have struggled with “pitchability” prospects in the past. On the contrary, Sam Weatherly is practically the opposite of McMahon, as he can’t throw strikes but at least has the arsenal to be a back-end bullpen piece; Jack Blomgren also has on-base skills that make him worth a fifth-round pick.

OVERALL GRADE: A

Although they didn’t “wow” me with any of their other selections, this draft is all about Veen for the Rockies. Their system is filled with corner players, so Veen fills an organization need as an up-the-middle player with clear athletic tools, and getting the best position player in the draft is rare with the 9th overall pick. The future still doesn’t look bright in Colorado, as they’ll likely need to tear it down soon, but this is a great start.

Los Angeles Angels

1/10: LHP Reid Detmers, Louisville

3/82: CF Daniel Calabrese, HS

4/111: SS Werner Blakely, HS

5/142: LHP Adam Seminaris, Long Beach State

DAY 1 GRADE: A

For whatever reason, the Angels have not only been unable to develop pitching, but they also have gone away from drafting them recently. However, they finally moved off that strategy this season, selecting a player that is a perfect fit for them. Reid Detmers likely won’t be an ace, but he is extremely polished with his command, high-spin curveball, and elite strikeout numbers in college, and there is a chance that he will be in the team’s major-league rotation next season. Plus, he has a prototypical starter’s build with no injury concerns, making this an even more logical pick for them.

DAY 2 GRADE: B+

General manager Billy Eppler didn’t take a superb athlete in the first round, as he usually does, but he landed a player in the third round to compensate for that. Just 17-years-old and from Canada, Daniel Calabrese is certainly a model-friendly player, and he should be able to grow offensively- he profiles similarly to Jordyn Adams, who has developed adequately for them. Meanwhile, Werner Blakely has a lot of supporters, and Adam Semaniris is a lower-ceiling lefty that will allow them to afford all of their other picks.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

The Angels lost a second-round pick due to them signing Anthony Rendon, but, regardless Calabrese may have been their choice with that pick. There a few better player-team fits from this draft than Detmers, as he is the exact type of pitcher that a team with their poor track record of developing pitching should be targeting, and also represented strong value with the 10th overall pick. Considering that there were rumors that owner Arte Moreno would have the team punt on their first pick to save money, Angels fans should be very pleased with how this draft turned out.

Chicago White Sox

1/11: LHP Garrett Crochet, Tennessee

2/47: RHP Jared Kelley, HS

3/83: LHP Adisyn Coffey, Wabash Valley College

4/112: Kade Mechals, Grand Canyon

5/142: LHP Brady Horn, Auburn

DAY 1 GRADE: A

Ten years ago, the White Sox drafted a power lefty pitcher with a nasty pitching arsenal, albeit with concerns about durability and a weird arm slot. That pitcher was Chris Sale, who has become one of the premier aces in the majors, and Chicago is certainly hoping that Garrett Crochet can follow a similar trajectory. The Tennessee product has some reliever risk, but he should be able to be a long-term starting pitcher. Most importantly, though, his fastball and breaking ball generate above-average spin rates, and even has some untapped potential if he can refine his mechanics.

DAY 2 GRADE: A-

Addison Coffey, Kade Mechals, and Brady Horn are all likely players that will allow them to save money, so the White Sox essentially sacrificed the rest of their draft to bring in Jared Kelley. After falling out of the first round, Kelley appeared to be a good bet to go to college, but Chicago was able to come up with the money to sign him. I had him rated right there with the other top prep pitchers in this draft, as although his breaking ball lags behinds his other two pitches, his fastball-changeup combination is elite and reminiscent of Chris Paddack. Interestingly, I’m not sure there is much of a gap, if at all, between him and Crochet.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

Although the White Sox brought in Kelley, one could argue it wasn’t the best strategy, since they essentially used up all their money on their top two picks. However, in a five-round draft, I’m actually on board with the idea of prioritizing quality over quantity, and Chicago is adding two premier pitching prospects to their organization. Hopefully, their player development has improved enough for these players to actually progress properly, but as far as the draft is concerned, there is a lot to like about this draft class.

Cincinnati Reds

1/12: COF Austin Hendrick, HS

2/48: RHP Christian Roa, Texas A&M

2/65: C Jackson Miller, HS

3/84: RHP Bryce Bonnin, Texas Tech

4/113: OF Mac Wainwright, HS

5/143: RHP Joe Boyle, Michigan

DAY 1 GRADE: D+

The Reds have never been afraid to draft high-school players that were old for their class, so it shouldn’t be shocking that they were the team that felt comfortable drafting Austin Hendrick. It’s easy to fall in love with Hendrick’s raw power, but he is already an average athlete, which will force him into a corner outfield spot. That’ll put even more pressure on his offense, and although he has tons of raw power, he has an unrefined approach, which is concerning since he was older than the players he was facing. It’s easy to dream on his power, but if Cincinnati wanted a high-school player, any of the prep pitchers, or a more polished player such as Tyler Soderstrom or Ed Howard would have made much more sense.

DAY 2 GRADE: A

At the very least, the Reds saved themselves on the second day of the draft. Had there been a season, Christian Roa probably would have been drafted in the first round, as he has three plus pitches and above-average command, and simply needed to be more consistent. He and Bryce Bonnin have the exact fastball traits that Cincinnati will be coveted by their pitcher development group, led by Kyle Body, the founder of Driveline Baseball, making them great fits for the organization. Furthermore, Jackson Miller is an intriguing prep catcher, as if he can add more strength and hit for more power, he could develop into an everyday catcher, and Joe Boyle may not know where his pitches are going, but he has some upside.

OVERALL GRADE: C+

The Reds’ draft class is very deep, which is encouraging- it’s more than likely that they get at least 1-2 contributors from this draft. At the same time, though, I can’t help but wonder how much more they could’ve revamped their farm system by maximizing on the 12th overall pick. There is definitely a world in which Hendrick develops into a powerful corner outfielder, but he has some clear limitations, and I’m not sure he is worth the massive risk. They dominated the second day of the draft, but since their first-round pick left so much to be desired, a “C+” is the best grade they can receive.

San Francisco Giants

1/13: C Patrick Bailey, NC State

2/49: 3B Casey Schmitt, San Diego State 

2/67: LHP Nick Swiney, NC State

2/68: 2B Jimmy Glowenke, Dallas Baptist

3/85: LHP Kyle Harrison, HS

4/114: RHP RJ Dabovich, Arizona State

5/144: RHP Ryan Murphy, Le Moyne College

DAY 1 GRADE: B+

Many were confused as to why the Giants drafted another catcher, but it’s important to never draft for need, and in their eyes, Patrick Bailey was that player. I’d argue that a high-school player like Mick Abel, Nick Bitsko, or Tyler Soderstrom were better fits for the organization, but they’re in a position where they can’t afford to take risks with their first-round picks, and Bailey was the best college player available. His advanced plate discipline, launch angle-oriented swing, exit velocity numbers, and decent defense make me believe he’ll be a starting catcher, which is well-worth the #13 overall pick. As for them already having a catching prospect in Joey Bart, the universal designated hitter makes it possible for a team to have two catchers split time between catching and being the designated hitter; this allows for more effective catcher production, which is very useful. Regardless of their strategy, however, catcher prospects are hard to find, and San Francisco has two of them.

DAY 2 GRADE: C+

With an abundance of picks on the second day of the draft, I expected the Giants to take advantage of the deep pitching class. For the most part, they did. The vertical movement on Nick Swiney’s fastball is elite, and he definitely has room to add velocity- he’ll be an effective middle-of-the-rotation starter. Additionally, Kyle Harrison is a high-floor prep pitcher with his unique arm slot, nasty slurve, and advanced feel for pitching, and if he can velocity over time, he definitely will be an effective big-league pitcher. Speaking of pitchers who should have a role in the majors, RJ Dabovich appears to be strictly a reliever, but he was much better than some of the other relievers taken before him, as he has an over-the-top-release and nice fastball-breaking ball combination. However, San Francisco’s other couple picks were questionable, to say the least. Casey Schmitt is a former two-way player who has untapped raw power and solid defense at third base, but he was a consensus reach with the 49th overall pick, and Jimmy Glowenke profiles as a bench player at best.

OVERALL GRADE: B

You could argue that the Giants were too conservative in this draft, but they need to add as much depth to their mediocre farm system as possible, and they accomplished that in this draft. Bailey was a high-value pick and gives them a good problem to have, while they did bolster their pitching depth with a pair of intriguing lefties. At the same time, though, they had a lot of draft ammunition, and I would’ve liked them not play it so safe on the second day of the draft. President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi isn’t afraid of injury risks, yet he passed on two intriguing pitchers in Clayton Beeter and JT Ginn, and also passed on other high-upside prep players that their new player development staff would be able to get the most out of. In the end, it was a fine draft by Zaidi, but one that left a little to be desired.

Texas Rangers

1/14: 2B Justin Foscue, Mississippi State

2/50: OF Evan Carter, HS

3/86: RHP Tekoah Roby, HS

4/115: LHP Ryan McLean, HS

5/145: SS Thomas Saggesse, HS

DAY 1 GRADE: C

As a versatile middle infielder who was young for his class, and posted solid exit velocity numbers and walk rates, Justin Foscue is a model-friendly player that was destined to go in the middle of the first round. However, he was still a clear reach. He projects to be an average player in terms of power and defense, and although some are high on his hit tool, he is a very limited player. They saved money by drafting him here, but there were so many better players on the board, and they missed on an opportunity to further bolster a very strong farm system.

DAY 2 GRADE: D

With the funds they saved by drafting Foscue, the Rangers were expected to make a major splash on the second day of the draft. Instead, they started by drafting a player (Evan Carter) that was completely off the radar, while Tekoah Roby and Ryan McLean are projectable, yet not worth the difference between Foscue and whomever else they could’ve drafted.

OVERALL GRADE: D+

The Rangers’ draft has already been discussed heavily by those in the industry, according to multiple outlets, as it’s unclear what their plan was. They clearly were looking to save money by drafting a low-floor player in Foscue, yet didn’t allocate those funds well at all, and really didn’t gain anything from this draft. I was really high on the team’s future coming into this week, yet some of that optimism was definitely squandered.

Philadelphia Phillies

1/15: RHP Mick Abel, HS

3/87: SS Casey Martin, Arkansas

4/116: RHP Carson Ragsdale, South Florida

5/146: OF Baron Radcliff, Georgia Tech

DAY 1 GRADE: A+

This truncated draft process made teams scared to draft high-school players, but most of the teams who took that risk were rewarded with very talented players. The team that definitely sticks out is the Phillies, as they landed an elite pitching prospect in Mick Abel. With a smooth three-pitch mix and above-average command, the Oregon native is quite polished for a player of his age, and there is a lot of untapped potential Philadelphia will look to get into; he is 6’5″ and 180 pounds, and could thrive by transforming his raw spin numbers into better spin efficiency. In other words, there is a definite chance that the Phillies just got a future ace with the 15th overall pick in the draft.

DAY 2 GRADE: B

The Phillies surrendered their second-round pick by signing Zack Wheeler, so they were very limited with their draft capital. Still, they were able to land a couple of intriguing players. Casey Martin had some first-round buzz with his 80-grade speed and above-average raw power, and although his approach issues as a college player are concerning, he is worth a flyer in the third round. Additionally, Carson Ragsdale profiles as a potential relief piece with his arm strength, and Baron Radcliff has some raw power and has demonstrated strong plate discipline.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

Philadelphia didn’t have a lot to work with, but they definitely added some high-upside players. I don’t see Martin as a major steal, and the other two day-two players are shots in the dark, but the selection of Abel was fantastic. It demonstrates a shift in organizational strategy after they constantly targeted lower-ceiling college players, though, most of all, they were able to draft a player that had no business being available for them.

Chicago Cubs

1/16: SS Ed Howard, HS

2/51: LHP Burl Carraway, Dallas Baptist

3/88: OF Jordan Nwogu, Michigan

4/117: LHP Luke Little, San Jacinto College North (TX)

5/147: RHP Koen Moreno, Panther Creek HS

DAY 1 GRADE: A

Heading into the draft, I recommended that the Cubs go for a high-upside prep player at a valuable position, as they could be tasked with a deep rebuild once their core of players gets too expensive- they don’t have enough long talent, nor the financial flexibility to keep all of them. Well, Chicago did exactly that, drafting shortstop Ed Howard with their first-round pick. Howard’s offensive upside has been questioned by some, but he demonstrates above-average raw power and solid contact ability, and most important, is a lock to be a plus defender at shortstop. The upside here is for him to emerge like Gavin Lux did, but even if he doesn’t, it’s hard for me to see him to not being worthy of this selection, and he immediately becomes one of the team’s top prospects.

DAY 2 GRADE: B

In Jordan Nwogu, the Cubs are getting an unpolished outfielder out of Michigan, but he has proven the ability to walk a lot, making him a solid third-round pick. Additionally, Koen Moreno has a lot of fans with what they believe is a lot of untapped projection, so he made sense in the fifth round. The theme of Chicago’s second day, however, was them targeting relievers. If a season were to happen in 2020, Burl Carraway may very well be in their big-league bullpen, as he is an extremely lethal and projects tremendously as a powerful lefty reliever. At the same time, though, his command is an issue, and taking a pure reliever in the second round is too early for my liking. The fourth round isn’t however, so although I don’t expect Luke Little to be a starter, he is a 6’8″ lefty who touches 100 MPH with his fastball, which is obviously very intriguing.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

In a perfect world, the Cubs wouldn’t have spent a second-round pick on a full-time reliever, but given their need for bullpen help and their limited financial resources, I understand why they drafted Carraway. In the end, though, they had a very successful draft, as Howard was a great pick, while their last three picks all offer some level of intrigue. Hopefully the selection of Howard was a sign of them shifting away from their rigid organizational strategy, as they may be recognizing that they have to adjust in order to rebuild their farm system.

Boston Red Sox

1/17: 2B Nicholas Yorke, HS

3/89: 1B Blaze Jordan, HS

4/118: LHP Jeremy Wu-Yelland, Hawaii

5/148: LHP Shane Drohan, Florida State

DAY 1 GRADE: D+

The Red Sox were heavily connected to Mick Abel before the draft, but it was never clear what their “Plan B” would be- they were expected to go all-in on a high-ceiling prep player. Even with a player like Nick Bitsko on the board, Boston decided to go a different route, saving money while reaching based on consensus rankings. Nick Yorke is cited for being an advanced hitter who may have been more well-regarded had he been able to re-establish his stock (he was injured during his junior year), but he is a defensively-limited player, and it’s conceivable that he could have been drafted in the third round. If it wasn’t for his solid plate discipline and the fact that they didn’t have a second-round pick, I’d be more against this pick, though it’s still questionable regardless of their evaluation of him.

DAY 2 GRADE: C

With the money that they saved by drafting Volpe, Boston splashed by drafting Blaze Jordan in the third round. As a winner of the high-school home run derby and a viral star, Jordan is an extremely popular player that will garner a lot of attention, but I’m not quite on the hype train. He may be only 17-years-old, but he is already physically mature, so draft models may not be accounting for that, and he is already probably just a first baseman. He’s a solid pick in the third round, yet not when their first-round pick was made to preserve funds. Meanwhile, their last two picks appear to be relief pieces.

OVERALL GRADE: C-

I actually think that Yorke is an underrated prospect, as he could very well end up being an on-base machine. However, it’s safe to say that he was a reach in the first round, and Jordan isn’t the “splash” that I was hoping they’d make. I can see the rationale between all these picks by Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom, but I was certainly underwhelmed by his first draft in Boston.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1/18: RHP Bryce Jarvis, Duke

1/33: RHP Slade Cecconi, Miami

3/90: LHP Liam Norris, HS

4/119: 3B AJ Vukovich, HS

5/149: RHP Brandon Pfaaldt, Bellarmine 

DAY 1 GRADE: A-

The Diamondbacks are a very analytically-sound team that loves to target pitchers with vertical fastballs and a breaking pitch to complement it, and they drafted two players who fit that prototype. Bryce Jarvis may be nearing 22-years-old, but he has 60-grade command with an elite changeup, an above-average fastball and changeup, as well as a very open mind to analytics. That last part makes me believe he can vault to their system and emerge as a middle-of-the-rotation starter for them soon, so I love the selection of him with the 18th overall pick. Additionally, although Slade Cecconi comes with some reliever risk, yet his fastball-breaking ball combination is intriguing, and Arizona has had success with those types of pitchers in the past.

DAY 2 GRADE: B

Although they didn’t have a second-round pick due to signing Madison Bumgarner, the Diamondbacks drafted a couple of high-upside prep players. Liam Norris lacks any sort of command, yet is pretty projectable, and AJ Vukovich has a lot of raw power. Both need a lot of development, though they’re definitely going to an organization that knows what they’re doing in that regard. Brandon Pfaaldt, to top it off, is a player that some evaluators endorse as a reliever.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

I would have really liked to see what the Diamondbacks could do if they had a second-round pick, but general manager Mike Hazen did a nice job to add even more pitching depth into the organization. Jarvis is a perfect fit for them, and I appreciate them flexing their player development muscles with the other prospects they drafted. They’re an organization that really understands their strengths, and I applaud them for that.

New York Mets

1/19: CF Pete Crow-Armstrong, HS

2/52: RHP JT Ginn, Mississippi State

2/69: CF Isaiah Greene, HS

3/91: SS Anthony Walters, San Diego State

4/120: C Matthew Dyer, Arizona

5/150: RHP Eric Orze, New Orleans

DAY 1 GRADE: B-

Initially, I was very high on Pete Crow-Armstrong, and thought he was great value for the Mets with the 19th overall pick. However, I’ve slightly soured on him as a prospect recently. I’m not sure he’ll be enough of an impact offensive player even when fully developed, as although he has some encouraging underlying metrics, he struggled against top completion this summer and projects to be an average hitter. Now, he’s an elite defender in center field, but he needs to develop more offensively, and I think the Mets would have been much better off drafting a more polished prep player, such as Tyler Soderstrom or a college player like Garrett Mitchell or any of the available pitchers.

DAY 2 GRADE: A

Ironically, the Mets landed a player that I believe is actually somewhat similar to Crow-Armstrong in Isaiah Greene. A Missouri commit, Greene has a strong feel for hitting and should be able to hit for enough player, and he has the athleticism to thrive in center field. He was one splash that the organization made in the second round, with the other being JT Ginn. The Mississippi State pitcher just underwent Tommy John Surgery and has some reliever risk, yet he is a pure power pitcher worth gambling on, even if it causes them to sign him to an overslot deal.

OVERALL GRADE: B+

Even if Crow-Armstrong doesn’t currently rate as a top prospect for me based on his inconsistent offense, I definitely could see a world in which he becomes an all-around center fielder, so the potential pay-off is probably worth a first-round pick; I don’t love the fit with the Mets, however. Where New York did their damage was on the second day of the draft, though, as Ginn and Greene are two high-upside players who could prove to be steals. General manager Brodie Van Wagenen likes to go all-in on a few players at the top of the draft, and although that isn’t always the best strategy, it works in a truncated draft. If Crow-Armstrong turns out to be more than just a Mickey Moniak, then this is an “A+” draft, but I remain a little skeptical of the organization’s fondness of prep prospects, considering their poor track record developing them.

Milwaukee Brewers

1/20: CF Garrett Mitchell, UCLA

2/53: SS Freddie Zamora, Miami

3/92: Utility Zavier Warren, Central Michigan

4/121: OF Joey Wiemer, Cincinnati

5/151: 2B Hayden Cantrelle, Louisiana Lafayette

DAY 1 GRADE: B+

The Brewers are a very progressive organization capable of maximizing on a certain player’s potential, which is why the fit with them and Garrett Mitchell is one of the strongest in the draft. Mitchell is in desperate need of a swing change to unlock some of his raw power, but Milwaukee should be able to help him in that department, and if that happens, they’ll definitely be getting an everyday center fielder. His plate discipline was average in college and he is a little too stiff, though he is solid value with the 20th overall pick.

DAY 2 GRADE: A+

Sticking with up-the-middle college players, the organization is betting on Freddie Zamora’s talent, as he has some makeup concerns and was set to miss his junior year at Miami with a torn ACL. At the same time, he is a tremendous defender at shortstop with offensive upside, and he was an excellent pick in the second round. Meanwhile, Zavier Warren’s on-base skills and ability to play practically every position is super intriguing, as is Joey Wiemer’s offensive production in college and Hayden Cantrelle’s plate discipline. In total, Milwaukee landed four college performers that could have easily been picked a round before they were taken- they crushed the second day of the draft.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

I’m slightly lower on Mitchell than others, as he is somewhat of a project, though there may be no better organization for him to go than the Brewers. Additionally, the depth of this class is excellent for Milwaukee, as all five players they took could be major leaguers in some capacity, and all of them offer some sort of skill that should’ve made them more coveted by other teams. This was a much-needed injection of talent for a team that came into the draft with arguably the worst farm system in baseball.

St.Louis Cardinals

1/21: 3B Jordan Walker, HS

2/54: RHP/SS Masyn Winn, HS

2/63: RHP Markevian Hence, HS

2/70: 1B Alec Burleson, East Carolina

3/93: LHP Levi Prater, Oklahoma

4/122: RHP Ian Bedell, Missouri

5/152: OF LJ Jones IV, Long Beach State

DAY 1 GRADE: A-

The Cardinals tend to take the best player available no matter what in the draft, so I expected them to draft one of the prep players that fell in the draft, such as Nick Bitsko or Tyler Soderstrom. Instead, they drafted a different high-school player; Jordan Walker was rumored to have a strong commitment to Duke, but St.Louis definitely drafted him enough to get him into that organization. They’re already filled with a lot of concern infielders, yet I can’t help but love this pick by them. Few teams are able to consistently develop prospects like they are, so although Walker is a boom-or-bust type of player, I’m confident he’ll progress adequately in their system. His 70-grade raw power is intriguing, and when you add his solid hit tool, he is a very similar player to Nolan Gorman, who has emerged as one of the better third base prospects in MLB.

DAY 2 GRADE: A+

I’m definitely on board with St.Louis taking chances as high-upside prep prospects, as they really are tailoring to their strengths as an organization. After taking Walker in the first round, they came back in the second round by selecting a pair of intriguing pitchers in Masyn Winn and Markevian “Tink” Hence. Wynn was announced as a two-way player, though I believe his future is on the mound, as he has 80-grade arm speed and is pretty electric. As for Hence, he is young for the class and is also lively, so, overall, they really struck gold on those two. From there, they had to conserve money, yet still landed a couple of potential swingmen in Levi Prater and Ian Bedell, and the latter is someone I believe can definitely grow into a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

OVERALL GRADE: A

On MLB Network’s broadcast of the draft, it was clear how much each of the analysts were enamored by the Cardinals’ draft. I definitely agree with them, as there is a chance that they landed three potential impact players, along with a potential big-league starter in Bedell. St.Louis consistently looks to find value in the draft, though if they were to have a specific organizational strategy, targeting high-school players that they’re able to develop can give them an inside track on some other teams. Nevertheless, President of Baseball Operations John Mozaliak continues to be one of the best-drafting executives in the entire sport.

Washington Nationals

1/22: RHP Cade Cavalli, OKlahoma

2/55: RHP Cole Henry, LSU

2/71: SS Samuel Infante, HS

3/94: RHP Holden Powell, UCLA

4/123: C Brady Lindsly, Oklahoma

5/153: LHP Mitchell Parker, San Jacinto College North (TX)

DAY 1 GRADE: A-

Was there any pick in the first round that was more predictable than the Nationals taking a power pitcher with an injury history? That is essentially the prototype that they draft every year, and they continued that trend by drafting Cade Cavalli. Although I’ve been against them having such a rigid strategy, the Oklahoma pitcher was one of the best players available with a strong fastball-slider combination, and if he can add more deception to his delivery, he could very well end up being a high-end #3 starter.

DAY 2 GRADE: B+

Sticking with the theme of college pitchers with durability concerns, I thought Cole Henry had a case to be drafted in the first round, as he figures to have three plus pitches and has a good chance to be a long-term starting pitcher. However, Washington was able to get him in the second round, and they were able to add a couple of interesting relief pitchers in Holden Powell and Mitchell Parker. Samuel Infante, meanwhile, was a bit of a surprising pick in the second round, and likely will have to move to third base, but he does have some intriguing power potential.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

The Nationals’ consistent reliance on drafting the same types of pitchers can sometimes feel tedious, but in this case, it definitely worked in their favor. This was one of the deepest pitching classes in recent memory, and they landed two intriguing pitchers who should develop into middle-of-the-rotation starters. In total, there isn’t a lot to complain about regarding the team’s draft performance.

Cleveland Indians

1/23: SS Carson Tucker, HS

1/36: RHP Tanner Burns, Auburn

2/56: LHP Logan Allen, FIU

3/95: CF Petey Halpin, HS

4/124: SS Milan Tolentino, HS

5/154: RHP Mason Hickman, Vanderbilt

DAY 1 GRADE: B

The Indians’ have a clear preferred mold of prospects; up-the-middle position players with bat-to-ball skills and pitchers who have advanced command with room to add velocity. Well, with their two first-round picks, they landed two players that fit those prototypes. Carson Tucker was probably a reach with he 23rd overall pick, but he has strong contact skills and above-average raw power, and will stick at shortstop. There is easily a world where he becomes an everyday shortstop, and they also saved money by signing him to an underslot deal. That helped them add more talented prospects, starting with Tanner Burns. Even though he isn’t a super projectable player, Cleveland will look to take his game to another level, as they’ve done with other “low-ceiling arms”; he’ll have to prove his durability, however.

DAY 2 GRADE: A-

Speaking of pitchers who are perceived to not have much in the way of untapped potential, Logan Allen profiled as a back-end starting pitcher for most parts, which was still worth a second-round pick. Now that he is in Cleveland, though, I think he can be more than that, as he has room to add velocity with improved mechanics and has a high floor with his above-average changeup and command. Then, with the money they saved by drafting Tucker, the organization was able to bring in a couple of interesting prep players- Petey Halpin and Milan Tolentino are two athletic up-the-middle players with a good feel for hitting. Heck, even Mason Hickman is a pitcher that they may be able to develop into a back-end starter/swingman.

OVERALL GRADE: B+

The idea that the draft is a complete crapshoot is overblown, as teams have a lot of data and are much better at developing players. However, there is a level of uncertainty with any prospect, which is why certain teams try to add as much depth to their draft haul as possible. That is what Cleveland did, and they did so while bringing in prospects that they should be able to elevate. None of these picks, particularly their first two picks, stand out, but I’d bet on them at least getting a couple of big-league contributors from this class, which is important for a small-market organization.

Tampa Bay Rays

1/24: RHP Nick Bitsko, HS

1/37: SS Alika Williams, Arizona State

2/57: LHP Ian Seymour, Virginia Tech

3/96: RHP Hunter Barnhart, HS

4/125: SS Tanner Murray, UC Irvine

5/155: RHP Jeff Hakanson, Central Florida

DAY 1 GRADE: A

There were plenty of tremendous selections that teams made in this draft, but none was more deserving of an “A+” than the Rays drafting Nick Bitsko with the 24th overall pick. Sure, Bitsko is somewhat of an unknown commodity since he hasn’t been scouted much in games (he reclassified into this draft), yet how many times can you draft a 17-year-old who is 6’4″ and 225 pounds, has two elite pitches per his rapsodo ratings, AND more untapped potential? He had the talent to easily be a top-ten pick, and although it’ll be pricey, I have full confidence that Tampa Bay will develop into a frontline starting pitcher, which is huge for them. I wasn’t as thrilled with their selection of Alika Williams with the last pick of the first round, as I don’t think he’ll produce enough offensively, though I do understand they needed to preserve funds after drafting Bitsko.

DAY 2 GRADE: A

Entering the draft, I was hoping that the Rays would replenish their organizational pitch depth, and even after drafting Bitsko, they continued to take advantage of this deep draft. Ian Seymour wouldn’t be an ideal second-round pick for every team, as his present ability isn’t that intriguing, but Tampa Bay is a perfect landing spot for him. His fastball has elite vertical movement, and he could be a Ryan Yarbrough fastball-changeup lefty, though the Rays have done an admiral job in the past improving pitchers’ ability to spin a breaking ball. Hunter Barnhart, meanwhile, is more of a project, which is fine for this organization. He already flashes a tremendous fastball-curveball combination, and since he is inexperienced to pitching, there is reason to believe that he could progress better than most young pitchers.

OVERALL GRADE: A

In order to remain competitive, the Rays have built their team by trying to have as much pitching depth as possible, while also consistently targeting up-the-middle players. It’s an excellent strategy, and Tampa Bay stuck true to it in this draft. Bitsko is an absolute home-run pick for them, and the depth of this class is also strong. There is a reason why so many teams are trying to poach executives from this organization- their player acquisition process is an absolute marvel.

Atlanta Braves

1/25: LHP Jared Shuster, Wake Forrest

3/97: OF Jesse Franklin, Michigan

4/126: RHP Spencer Strider, Clemson

5/156: RHP Bryce Elder, Texas

DAY 1 GRADE: B-

Under general manager Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves have generally gone with safe, high-floor college players, and that continued in the 2020 draft- they drafted Jared Shuster with the 25th overall pick. The Wake Forrest lefty is deceptive and has an excellent changeup, but he’s probably more of a #4 starter, so there isn’t much “upside” with this selection. It’s a fine pick, but I simply thought there were better college pitchers on the board.

DAY 2 GRADE: B

Atlanta continued targeting college players, as they didn’t draft a single prep player in the entire draft. Still, all of the three players they drafted on the second day of the draft offer some level of intrigue; Jesse Franklin has solid plate discipline and may stick in center, Spencer is a rebound candidate after undergoing Tommy John Surgery, and Bryce Elder was ranked higher by most than where he was taken.

OVERALL GRADE: B-

Ever since the Braves drafted and couldn’t sign Carter Stewart, they’ve been very conservative under Anthopoulous, and I haven’t really loved his drafts. It felt like they left a lot on the table by taking Shuster some of the other players left on the board, and with only four picks, they may have been better pushing all their chips into getting one high-upside prep prospect- Jared Kelley and Tyler Soderstrom each would have fit that bill. This wasn’t a disastrous draft, though it wasn’t a super exciting one.

Oakland A’s

1/26: C Tyler Soderstrom, HS

2/58: RHP Jeff Criswell, Michigan

3/98: OF Michael Goldberg, Georgia Tech

4/127: RHP Dane Acker, Oklahoma

5/157: RHP Stevie Emmanuels, Washington

DAY 1 GRADE: A+

With the 26th overall pick in the draft, it appeared to be very likely that the A’s would target a college player, simply based on how everything was supposed to play out in front of them. However, that was before Tyler Soderstrom somehow fell to him. With a very polished hitting approach and raw power, the Turlock native has a complete offensive profile, and even if he doesn’t stick at catcher, he has the potential to become a high-end third baseman. You could argue that Oakland landed a top-ten prospect with a back-end pick in the first round, so although he’ll be expensive, pulling the trigger on him was a no-brainer move for them.

DAY 2 GRADE: B

After going overslot for Soderstrom, the A’s had to play it much safer on the second day of the draft, relying on cheaper college options. Yet, they were still able to find value. Jeff Criswell may be a reliever, but he has three above-average pitches, and it’ll just come down to whether he can refine his command or not. Meanwhile, Michael Guldberg walked as much as he struck out in college, Dane Acker showed flashes of potential during a turbulent college career, and Stevie Emmanuels could develop into a middle relief option.

OVERALL GRADE: A

You could argue that the A’s should’ve gone for more depth in this draft, as their farm system is very thin. At the same time, though, it’s rare for them to be in position to land an elite prospect in Soderstrom, and the trade-off between him and the next player available was worth”sacrificing” the rest of their draft. They should try to develop Soderstrom as a catcher, but even if he is a third baseman, he’ll likely be able to develop into the cost-controlled offensive producer that they are constantly in need of.

Minnesota Twins

1/27: 1B Aaron Sabato, North Carolina

2/59: OF Alerick Solarte, Tennessee

4/128: RHP Mason Rya, HS

5/158: OF Kala’i Rosario, HS

DAY 1 GRADE: D+

The Twins aren’t a team that places a high priority on defensive value, and, as a result, their farm system is filled with immobile corner players. They stuck true to their beliefs in this draft, bringing in yet another corner player into the organization in Aaron Sabato. At North Carolina, Sabato demonstrated strong plate discipline and produced high exit velocities. However, that should be expected for a bat-first player, especially one who may not even be able to stick at first base. With so many exciting pitching prospects on the board, Minnesota definitely would have been better off targeting a player who figures to offer more value than one with Sabato’s limitations.

DAY 2 GRADE: B

Speaking of corner bats, Minnesota continued to go all-in on that prototype, adding Alerick Solarte and Kalai’s Rosario to the mix. Solarte’s on-base skills made him a decent second-round pick, while Rosario has a lot of raw power. They definitely were solid value picks, though not absolute steals by any means.

OVERALL GRADE: C-

At some point, the Twins have to tweak their philosophy, right? Their system is redundant with defensively-limited corner players, and they need more prospects at valuable positions. I see no upside with this draft class whatsoever, and based on some of their alternative options, that did not have to be the case.

New York Yankees

1/28: 1B/C Austin Wells, Arizona

3/99: 2B/OF Trevor Hauver, Arizona State

4/129: RHP Beck Way, Northwest Florida State

DAY 1 GRADE: C

If Austin Wells can stick behind the plate, then he’ll turn out to be a steal with the 28th overall pick for the Yankees. However, I have severe doubts that he ends up playing anywhere besides first base, which diminishes with plus discipline and power numbers. Although he is a solid all-around offensive producer, I don’t think he’ll be able to be a very valuable first baseman, where he’d be more of a late second-round pick. In other words, the success of this pick completely hinges on his ability to be a long-term catcher.

DAY 2 GRADE: B+

The Yankees only had two picks on the second day of the draft due to them signing Gerrit Cole, but they did land a couple of interesting player. Trevor Hauver is a decent hitter who could be a utility player with his infield/outfield flexibility, and Beck Way profiles as a potential high-leverage reliever.

OVERALL GRADE: C+

The Yankees were never going to come away with a game-changing draft class, but they still could’ve done a better job maximizing on those picks. Given how deep their farm system is and how strong they are at developing talent, I would’ve liked to see them take a chance on a high-school prospect, or simply take the best player available. They did neither, so although their other two picks were fine, they had a very unsatisfying draft performance.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1/29: RHP Bobby Miller, Louisville

2/60: RHP Landon Knack, East Tennessee State

2/66: RHP Clayton Beeter, Texas Tech

3/100: CF Jake Vogel, HS

4/130: C Carson Taylor, Virginia Tech

5/159: RHP Gavin Stone, Central Arkansas

DAY 1 GRADE: A

There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Dodgers are one of the top pitching development organization. They do such a great job altering pitchers’ pitch usage, improving their mechanics, and coming up with creative roles in order to tailor to each pitcher’s strengths. They’ll do all of this with Bobby Miller, which is why he’ll simply be their latest  success story from the draft. At Louisville, he threw his two-seam fastball too much, but Los Angeles will almost certainly have him ditch that pitch in favor of a fastball at the top of the zone, which could make him a top-notch power pitcher. There is some reliever risk with him due to his high-effort delivery, but in a 120/150 inning role, he’ll thrive.

DAY 2 GRADE: A+

The Dodgers are a team that relies on a lot of pitching depth, which allows them to not need their starting pitchers to be workhorses. Therefore, similarly to Miller, Landon Knack and Clayton Beeter are perfect fits for them. Knack was drafted where he was as a money-saving maneuver (he is almost 23-years-old), but he actually was drafted lower than he ranked on my board,  as his combination of command and stuff is very intriguing. Beeter, on the other hand, was expected to be an easy first-round pick with absolutely insane pitch data, and had they taken him in the first round, the Dodgers would’ve been praised. Yet, they got him at the end of the second round, and still had money to take a shot on an athletic high-school outfielder in Jake Vogel, who is the perfect type of project for this player development staff. Heck, even Carson Taylor, who walked more than he struck out in college, and Gavin Stone, an intriguing relief options, were solid picks.

OVERALL GRADE: A+

The Dodgers could’ve taken any of the top three pitchers they took with their first pick, and it would have made a lot of sense. Instead, though, they were able to land all three of their top targets, and each of them profile tremendously for them as “bulk” pitchers that will move rapidly through their system. Their ability to consistently dominate the draft is incredible, and is a major reason why they’ve become a force to be reckoned with under Andrew Friedman.

Houston Astros

2/72: RHP Alex Santos, HS

3/101: RHP Ty Brown, Vanderbilt

4/131: OF Zach Daniels, Tennessee

5/160: SS Shay Whitcomb, UC San Diego

OVERALL GRADE: B

The Astros were stripped of their next two first-round picks and second-round picks to their sign-stealing scandal, which is a far steeper consequence than many accounted for. Luckily for them, they did have a compensation pick for Gerrit Cole, and they used it on an intriguing prep pitcher in Alex Santos, your prototypical projectable righty- he’s raw, but he should be able to add velocity and develop into a decent starting pitcher. However, that’s about all Houston was able to manage from this draft, as they used most of their funds to sign him; Ty Brown profiles as a reliever and Zach Daniels has some raw power, but this draft is all about Santos. With a bottom-ten farm system and a big-league team that is becoming expensive, the Astros really need to hit on their picks, and that’s practically impossible due to their sign-stealing penalties. They’re an elite team at the moment, but I’m very skeptical about their future.