When it comes to the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, this much we know – Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State will be the first pick of the Washington Nationals.
After that, it gets a little hazy.
The MLB Draft begins with the first round on the MLB Network starting Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. Strasburg, he of the 102 mph fastball, is considered the can’t miss pitching prospect of in the history of the MLB draft, if you listen to some draft pundits. There are fewer can’t miss prospects after the No. 1 pick and a sampling of 12 different mock drafts found 64 different players going among the top 32 picks in the first round.
Although Strasburg is the sure No. 1, the next five to six picks also seem pretty safe bets. It’s just a matter of where. North Carolina first baseman Dustin Ackley was not selected any lower than third in any mock draft while Aaron Crow, a 2008 draft pick who did not sign with the Washington Nationals, has also been slotted anywhere in the top five.
A pair of high school players in the mix include Cartersville outfielder Donovan Tate and Capistrano Valley pitcher Tyler Matzek.
After those top five picks, it’s anybody’s guess how the rest of the draft will play out. With that being said, here’s a look at MaxPreps’ selections for the first round of the MLB Draft.
1. Washington
Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State, Pitcher – He throws 102 miles per hour. What else do you need to know?
2. Seattle
Dustin Ackley, North Carolina, First Base – Leads the Tar Heels with a .412 batting average that includes a whopping 22 home runs and 70 RBI in 63 games played.
3. San Diego
Donovan Tate, Cartersville, Outfielder – One of the nation’s top two-sport stars, Tate has signed a letter of intent to play football at North Carolina, but he is also the top outfield prospect in the country. Helped lead Cartersville to back-to-back state titles.
4. Pittsburgh
Aaron Crow, Fort Worth Cats, Right-handed Pitcher – Drafted in the first round out of Missouri last year by the Washington Nationals, Crow did not sign before August 15 and has had just three starts for the Cats this year. The Cats are an independent minor league team.
5. Baltimore
Tyler Matzek, Capistrano Valley, Left-handed Pitcher – The hard-throwing lefty hit 99 mph on the gun during the Southern Section playoffs while leading Capistrano Valley to the Division 1 championship. Matzek is 13-1 on the year with 104 strikeouts and a 0.78 ERA.
Matt Purke, Klein
Photo by Jim Redman
6. San Francisco
Shelby Miller, Brownwood, Right-handed Pitcher – Miller throws around 95 mph and racked up the strikeouts at a torrid pace this year, averaging nearly two per inning while going 10-2 for Brownwood.
7. Atlanta
Zach Wheeler, East Paulding, Right-handed Pitcher – Wheeler was outstanding in the postseason for East Paulding, striking out 14 on two separate occasions and throwing a no-hitter in another.
8. Cincinnati
Kyle Gibson, Missouri, Right-handed Pitcher – Gibson has posted an 11-3 record for the Tigers with 131 strikeouts and a 3-21 ERA in 106.2 innings pitched.
9. Detroit
Jacob Turner, Westminster Christian Academy, Right-handed Pitcher – Turner dominated batters in Missouri, striking out 118 in just 58.3 innings pitched with a 0.60 ERA. Also walked just 13 while posting four shutouts and a 7-2 overall record.
10. Washington
Matt Purke, Klein, Left-handed Pitcher – One of the hardest prep throwers in the country at nearly 97 mph, Purke struck out 147 batters as a junior and 91 as a senior with a 1.18 ERA in 47.3 innings pitched this year.
11. Colorado
Tanner Scheppers, Fresno State, Left-handed Pitcher – Began his career as a shortstop but has blossomed as a pitcher, striking out 109 batters in 70.2 innings with a 2.93 ERA his junior year.
12. Kansas City
Luke Bailey, Troup County, Catcher – Bailey had Tommy John surgery on his elbow, which could drop him lower in the round; however draft experts don’t expect him to fall out of the first round. Set school records last year with 13 home runs and 61 RBI.
13. Oakland
Grant Green, Southern California, Shortstop – Leads the Trojans in batting at .374 with 19 doubles and 16 stolen bases. He has a .929 fielding average with 18 errors.
14. Texas
Alex White, North Carolina, Right-handed Pitcher – Joins teammate Dustin Ackley as a first-round choice. White is 8-4 on the season with a 4.013 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 98 innings pitched.
Max Stassi, Yuba City
Photo by Anthony Brunsman
15. Cleveland
Tim Wheeler, Sacramento State, Outfielder – A heavy hitter for the Hornets, Wheeler has smacked 18 home runs and driving in 72 runs while batting .385.
16. Arizona
Rex Brothers, Lipscomb, Left-handed Pitcher – Although he sports just a 5-5 record, Brothers has 132 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched with a 3.26 ERA and four complete games.
17. Arizona
Mike Leake, Arizona State, Right-handed Pitcher – Leake has been phenomenal for the Sundevils, posting a 16-1 mark with seven complete games and two shutouts. He has 150 strikeouts and just 21 walks in 132.2 innings pitched.
18. Florida
Chad James, Yukon, Left-handed Pitcher – The player of the year in Oklahoma City, James was 8-2 this year with 100 strikeouts and a 95 mph fastball.
19. St. Louis
James Paxton, Kentucky, Left-handed Pitcher – Big strikeout pitcher for the Wildcats, fanning 115 batters in 78.1 innings while compiling a 5-3 record and a 5.86 ERA.
20. Toronto
Max Stassi, Yuba City, Catcher – Led the Honkers to their third straight Sac-Joaquin Section championship and batted .538 with 11 doubles and 11 home runs.
21. Houston
Matt Davidson, Yucaipa, Third Base – Led the Thunderbirds at the plate with a .553 average that included 45 RBI, 18 doubles and 11 home runs. Also went 4-0 on the mound with 40 strikeouts.
22. Minnesota
Bobby Borchering, Bishop Verot, Third Base – Named the top player in the state of Florida, Borchering batted. .494 this year with 13 home runs.
23. Chicago White Sox
Rich Poythress, Georgia, First Base – Batted .376 with 25 home runs and 86 RBI for the Bulldogs.
24. LA Angels
Tyler Skaggs, Santa Monica, Left-handed Pitcher – Record was only 2-3 this year, but Skaggs struck out 76 batters and walked just 11 in 48 innings with a 1.60 ERA.
25. LA Angels
Jiovanni Mier, Bonita, Shortstop – Showed good power with five home runs and 10 doubles while batting .394.
Matt Hobgood, Norco
Photo by John Downey
26. Milwaukee
Matt Hobgood, Norco, Right-handed Pitcher – A force on the mound and at the plate this year, Hobgood belted 21 home runs and drove in 55 runs while batting .475. Went 11-1 with 101 strikeouts and a 0.92 ERA in 68.1 innings pitched.
27. Seattle
Will Myers, Wesleyan Christian Academy, Catcher – May also be drafted as a third baseman, Myers batted .532 with 14 home runs this year.
28. NY Yankees
Sam Dyson, South Carolina, Right-handed Pitcher – Dyson posted a 9-4 record with 94 strikeouts in 102 innings pitched with a 5.21 ERA.
29. Boston
Mike Trout, Millville, Outfielder – Had a huge year with 17 home runs, .520 batting average and 42 RBI.
30. Tampa Bay
Andrew Oliver, Oklahoma State, Left-handed Pitcher – had a losing record for the Cowboys at 5-6, but struck out 97 batters in 88.1 innings pitched with a 5.30 ERA.
31. Chicago Cubs
Mike Minor, Vanderbilt, Left-handed Pitcher – Minor leads the Commodores with 114 strikeouts in 110.2 innings. He has a 6-6 overall record with a 3.90 ERA.
32. Colorado
Mychael Givens, Plant, Shortstop – Slick fielding infielder batted .374 with nine doubles and four home runs. Also has a gun for an arm, striking out 113 batters in 78 innings with a 1.171 ERA and just 14 walks.
The draft begins at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday with the first round broadcast on the MLB network and rounds two and three on MLB.com/Live. On Wednesday, the draft continues with rounds 4 through 30. Rounds 31-50 will begin on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET
