2023 MLB Mock Draft: Meet the top-10, and who’s No. 1?
By Eric Treuden
The first 2023 MLB Mock Draft is out after the Pittsburgh Pirates won the MLB Draft Lottery on Tuesday night.
Now that the inaugural MLB Draft lottery has officially come and gone, the draft order is set in stone.
One thing to keep an eye on in this year’s draft is that there are a ton of college bats and pitchers, the polar opposite of the past two classes that were made up of predominantly high school-level talent.
The Pirates emerged victorious, landing the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft. Here’s how the top-18 picks look after the lottery as well as where the teams ranked in the betting odds before the event.
1. Pirates (T-1)
2. Nationals (T-1)
3. Tigers (6)
4. Rangers (7)
5. Twins (13)
6. Athletics (T-1)
7. Reds (4)
8. Royals (5)
9. Rockies (8)
10. Marlins (9)
11. Angels (10)
12. Diamondbacks (11)
13. Cubs (12)
14. Red Sox (14)
15. White Sox (15)
16. Giants (16)
17. Orioles (17)
18. Brewers (18)
Let’s put together a mock draft now that we know the official drafting order.
MLB Mock Draft No. 10 – Miami Marlins select infielder Brayden Taylor
Brayden Taylor has a unique blend of speed, pop, versatility and patience at the plate to excel regardless of where he ends up.
Over the course of two collegiate seasons with Texas Christian, Taylor drew 104 walks in 117 games while striking out only 86 times. He hit 25 home runs, stole 25 bases and drove in 103 along the way.
On defense, he is said to possess the positional versatility to play anywhere on the diamond. He only played second, third and short in college but he has the speed and agility to play center as well.
No. 9 – Colorado Rockies select outfielder Enrique Bradfield
Bradfield, a Vanderbilt product, will undoubtedly draw comparisons to longtime speedster Juan Pierre, in that he is a speed demon who plays elite defense in the outfield.
Where he will set himself apart from Pierre is the fact that he seems to have discovered some pop in his bat, going from one home run in 2021 to eight in 2022.
Bradfield stole a total of 93 bases in two collegiate seasons, walking more times than striking out and hitting for a combined .327 average. With base stealing becoming easier thanks to the new pitch clock and pickoff rules, the Rockies will be lucky to land him this late in the first round.