MLB Draft 2022: Winners and losers from Round 1

MLB Draft 2022: Winners and Losers

#1 – The Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies really lucked out by having Justin Crawford, son of longtime MLB speedster Carl Crawford, drop all the way down to the 17th pick, where nobody thought he would end up.

Crawford, 18, received a glowing scouting report from FanGraphs pre-draft.

"Crawford has among the most extreme variance of players in this class. He played much less than his peers during the summer showcase circuit season and showed a couple of swing changes throughout the 2021 calendar year, making it harder to get a real grip on his swing. Things were more mechanically typical late in 2021 and in ‘22, and there’s now increased confidence in Crawford’s bat. He tracks pitches well, he can move the barrel around, he’ll occasionally flash plus rotational explosiveness when he takes a max-effort swing, and his overall athleticism and physical projection make this contact/speed/present gap power package very exciting once you start anticipating that more strength will come. Though he didn’t have quite the same showcase track record, Crawford’s report reads a lot like a more-projectable Corbin Carroll’s at the same stage."

Many experts in the industry had Crawford going higher than this but the Phillies have to be thrilled to be the lucky ones to end up with his services. With the situation in center field for the 2022 Phillies, a new face down the line in center will be much needed and most welcomed.

#2 – The Cincinnati Reds

The Reds also lucked out big time by having Cam Collier fall all the way down to the 18th pick. Collier is set to turn 18 years old in a few days and is a highly-gifted bat with a beautiful left-handed swing.

CBS Sports had the following to say about Collier:

"According to CBS Sports, “Collier reclassified from the 2023 class and played junior college ball at Chipola before a brief stint in the Cape Cod League. Collier hit .333/.419/.537 with eight home runs, a 15.3 K% and an 11.6 BB% in 52 games for Chipola and logged a .379 OBP in nine games on the Cape. His advanced approach is what really stands out, given his youth, and at 6-foot-1, 219 pounds, he figures to grow into substantial game power. A lefty-hitting third baseman, he has all the tools to stick there as long as he doesn’t outgrow the position, which is a possibility.”"

Another solid scouting report for a player who fell further down in the draft than many thought he would.

#3 – Kumar Rocker and the Texas Rangers

Not only would ‘Kumar Rocker and the Texas Rangers’ make one hell of a band name, but it is also going to represent one of the best matches made in this year’s MLB Draft.

Rocker comes with a well-known pedigree. He was drafted in the first round by the Mets last year before injuries nixed the deal and he went unsigned, just to resort to Indy Ball where he actually did nothing but raise his stock.

The 22-year-old starting pitcher is probably the closest piece to the major leagues in this year’s class and he will be at the top of the Rangers rotation alongside Jack Leiter in no time.