MLB Draft 2018: Round 1 picks include a few surprises

Andrew Lawrence

MLB Draft 2018: Round 1 picks include a few surprises image

While there were certainly a few selections in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft that most pundits predicted weeks in advance — most notably Auburn right-hander Casey Mize and Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart going Nos. 1 and 2, respectively — the opening round was filled with surprises. Some highly ranked prospects slid down the draft board, or out of the first round completely, and lesser-known names jumped up and were taken sooner than most expected. 

Let’s take a look at the five biggest surprise storylines from the first round.

MLB DRAFT: Running tally of picks in Rounds 1, 2, 3 and beyond

Alec Bohm rockets up to Phillies at No. 3  

Though considered to be one of the best power hitters in the draft, the third baseman from Wichita State was seen by many experts as a mid-first-round selection, primarily because it’s widely believed that Bohm will have to move to a corner outfield position at the professional level because of his relative lack of range at the hot corner. But his stock rose exponentially in the weeks leading up to the draft, as college bats are always in high demand, prompting Philadelphia to take him third overall. The Phillies’ front office must believe that Bohm’s bat far outweighs his likely position change, making them comfortable paying the de facto left or right fielder a signing bonus of nearly $7 million, as the third overall selection is slotted just below that figure.

Ryan Weathers jumps into top 10

Much like Bohm, Weathers is a highly regarded prospect who most outlets predicted to go anywhere from No. 12 to No. 20, but instead wound up in the top 10 as the Padres took the high school senior from Tennessee with the seventh overall selection. There’s a lot to like about Weathers, from his size to his advanced breaking ball to the fact that his father played 19 seasons in the big leagues. But his selection at No. 7 is a bit puzzling considering higher-rated pitchers, such as right-handers Brady Singer and Carter Stewart, were still available. Even if the Padres were locked on taking a left-handed pitcher in the first round, Matthew Liberatore, the highest-rated lefty in the draft, was on the board as well.  Whatever its reasoning, San Diego must see something it likes in Weathers to take him with their top pick in 2018.

Liberatore, Singer fall out of top half of Round 1

Coming into Monday night, there were few things that a majority of mock drafts had in common. One of those was the notion that both Matthew Liberatore, the highest-ranked left-handed pitcher in the class, and Brady Singer, the second highest-rated righty, would both be off the board early in Round 1.  That did not happen, as Liberatore had to wait until the Rays scooped him up at No. 16 and Singer went to the Royals at No. 18. It’s difficult to comprehend how both of these talents dropped so low in the first round. Even if they were both asking for over-slot signing bonuses, their track records and upsides were expected to carry them over that obstacle with most clubs. Regardless, Tampa Bay and Kansas City appear to be two of the biggest winners of the first round, taking home the most polished high school arm in recent years and one of the most accomplished SEC pitchers this decade, respectively.

MORE: Every MLB team's worst draft mistake

Big arms left out of first round

While the slides of Liberatore and Singer were more notable, the first round came and went with a quartet of highly rated and highly projected pitchers still on the board. Shane McClanahan, Jackson Kowar, Ethan Hankins and Kumar Rocker all dropped out of the first round, even though nearly every outlet covering the draft had all four being selected in the top 30 picks, with McClanahan and Hankins being considered top-10 talents. At this point, it’s unclear what caused all 30 clubs to pass on the group with their top selections, but their collective slide makes the situation all the more interesting for Hankins and Rocker, as both are committed to Vanderbilt University and could opt to attend school rather than turn pro now that a first-round signing bonus is off the table.  

Two-sport star Kyler Murray goes earlier than expected

Perhaps the biggest eye-opener of the first round was the selection of Kyler Murray at No. 9 by the Oakland A’s. An incredible athlete, Murray not only patrols the outfield for the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team, but also plays quarterback for the football team and is expected to be under center this fall in Norman. Because of that dynamic, most mock drafts not only didn’t have Murray being taken in the top 10, but most did not have him being a first-round selection at all, as teams were expected to shy away from the uncertainty that surrounds his future — not to mention the risk of injury — with their top overall selection. Oakland, however, must believe baseball is his future and, as it is already being reported that he’ll play football this fall, feel confident that splitting time between the two sports early in his career will not inhibit his development. But many were left scratching their heads after this pick.

*****

Complete list of Round 1 picks

1. Detroit Tigers – Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn

2. San Francisco Giants – Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech

3. Philadelphia Phillies – Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State

4. Chicago White Sox – Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State

5. Cincinnati Reds – Jonathan India, 3B, Florida

6. New York Mets – Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha West (Wi.) HS

7. San Diego Padres – Ryan Weathers, LHP, Loretto (Tenn.) HS

8. Atlanta Braves – Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie (Fla.) HS

9. Oakland A’s – Kyler Murray, OF, Oklahoma

10. Pittsburgh Pirates – Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama

11. Baltimore Orioles – Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Central Heights (Tex.) HS

12. Toronto Blue Jays – Jordan Groshans, SS, Magnolia (Tex.) HS

13. Miami Marlins – Connor Scott, OF, Plant (Fla.) HS

14. Seattle Mariners – Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson

15. Texas Rangers – Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran (Calif.) HS

16.Tampa Bay Rays – Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge (Fla.) HS

17. Los Angeles Angels – Jordyn Adams, OF, Green Hope (N.C.) HS

18. Kansas City Royals – Brady Singer, RHP, Florida

19. St. Louis Cardinals – Nolan Gorman, 3B, Sandra Day O’Conner (Ariz.) HS

20. Minnesota Twins – Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State

21. Milwaukee Brewers – Brice Turang, SS, Santiago (Calif.) HS

22. Colorado Rockies – Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss

23. New York Yankees – Anthony Seigler, C, Cartersville (Ga.) HS

24. Chicago Cubs – Niko Hoerner, SS, Stanford

25. Arizona Diamondbacks – Matt McClain, SS, Beckman (Calif.) HS

26. Boston Red Sox – Triston Casas, 3B, American Heritage (Fla.) HS

27. Washington Nationals – Mason Denaburg, RHP, Merrit Island (Fla.) HS

28. Houston Astros – Seth Beer, OF, Clemson

29. Cleveland Indians – Noah Naylor, C, St. Joan of Arc (Ont.) HS

30. Los Angeles Dodgers – J.T. Ginn, RHP, Brandon (Miss.) HS

Andrew Lawrence