Video: Mickey Moniak MLB Draft Watch
La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.) outfielder could be first high school player taken.Google "MLB Mock Draft" and you will return 2.3 million results.
Make that 2.3 million and one.
MaxPreps joins the Major League Baseball Mock Draft fray with its own version of the top 23 picks in the 2016 first year player selection. The draft is set to begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday and run through the 40th round by Saturday afternoon.
Why only 23 selections? Due to free agent signings, not every team will make a pick in the first round of this year's draft. So we've only limited our selections to the first 23 picks. Out of those 23 selections, we've tabbed 10 high school players to go in the first round.
MaxPreps 2016 MLB Mock Draft
1. Phillies - A.J. Puk, Florida, LHP
The former Washington (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) pitcher has risen to the top of the draft ranks after a strong stint in the postseason.
2. Reds - Nick Senzel, Tennessee, 3B
The former Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.) Admiral could be the top position player off the board.
3. Braves - Kyle Lewis, Mercer, OF
The Shiloh (Snellville, Ga.) grad could be the top outfielder chosen ahead of prized high school outfielders Mickey Moniak and Blake Rutherford.
4. Rockies - Mickey Moniak, La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.), OF
Moniak's strong performance this season, especially his improvement in power at the plate, has put him in position to be the top high school player chosen.
5. Brewers - Delvin Perez, International Baseball Academy (Ceiba, P.R.), SS
The majority of mock drafts have the Brewers targeting Perez at this spot.
Photos by Richard Ta and Alyson Boyer Rode
At one time expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Groome falls to the Athletics.
7. Marlins - Riley Pint, Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), RHP
The Marlins would love to get Groome, but will settle for the draft's 100-mph high school pitcher.
8. Padres - Brax Garrett, Florence (Florence, Ala.), LHP
Some mock drafts have Garrett going ahead of Pint, so the Padres will be sure to snatch up Garrett if he's available.
9. Tigers - Dakota Hudson, Mississippi State, RHP
The Sequatchie County (Dunlap, Tenn.) grad ends a run on high school pitchers by going to the Tigers.
10. White Sox - Corey Ray, Louisville, OF
The Simeon (Chicago) grad gets to stay home with the White Sox.
11. Mariners - Blake Rutherford, Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), OF
Another high school player who has dropped slightly, Rutherford will provide a good bat for the Mariners.
12. Red Sox - Zack Collins, Miami, C
There isn't a sensational crop of high school catchers this year, so the American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) grad is the first backstop off the board.
13. Rays - Joshua Lowe, Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 3B
The heavy-hitting third baseman could be the first corner infielder off the board.
14. Indians - Ian Anderson, Shenendehowa (Clifton Park, N.Y.), RHP
Anderson has been targeted all over the place in the mock drafts, going as high as No. 9 and as low as 23. He's overcome injury to have a strong senior season.
15. Twins - Justin Dunn, Boston College, RHP
The Gunnery (Washington, Conn.) grad could go higher to the Red Sox if they decide to go after a college arm.
16. Angels - Alex Kirilloff, Plum (Pittsburgh, Pa.), OF
One of the best pure hitters in the draft, Kirilloff is a first baseman who could end up in the outfield.
17. Astros - Jordan Sheffield, Vanderbilt, RHP
The Tullahoma (Tenn.) grad could go among the first 10 picks or out of the first round altogether.
18. Yankees - Forrest Whitley, Alamo Heights (San Antonio, Texas), RHP
The Yankees like high school arms, so don't be surprised to see them select Whitley, one of the tallest pitchers in the draft at 6-foot-7.
19. Mets - Will Craig, Wake Forest, 3B
If Lowe is already gone, look for the Mets to go with the Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn) grad.
20. Dodgers - Zack Burdi, Louisville, RHP
The Downers Grove South (Downers Grove, Ill.) grad hits 100 mph and could be a reliever for the Dodgers.
21. Blue Jays - Cal Quantrill, Stanford, RHP
A Trinity (Port Hope, Ont.) grad, Quantrill could stay at home with the Blue Jays.
22. Pirates - T.J. Zeuch, Pittsburgh, RHP
If Kirilloff is available, the Pirates might go there, but otherwise look for them to nab this Mason (Ohio) grad.
23. Cardinals - Matthew Manning, Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.), RHP
Some mock drafts have Manning going much higher, so the Cardinals will not let the big righthander slip by.
