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2023 Mock MLB Draft Final: The Pirates control the cards

By Roger Castillo

Florida's utility Wyatt Langford (36) with a double against UNF, Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Condron Family Baseball Park in Gainesville, Florida.
Florida's utility Wyatt Langford (36) with a double against UNF, Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Condron Family Baseball Park in Gainesville, Florida. /
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With the MLB Draft coming up, it’s time for the final Mock Draft for the first ten picks of the draft. The number of rumors on who will be number one for the Pittsburgh Pirates seems to change by the second.

Earlier in the week, it was speculated that Pittsburgh could take LSU right-hander Paul Skenes, but sportsbookis have University of Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford with the best odds to land at number one. Even Keith Law of the Athletic has Langford going to Pittsburgh (subscription required).

Both Pittsburgh and Detroit have the largest bonus pool money and the Pirates slotted value for the pick is $9,721,000. They could revisit their strategy in 2021 when they took catcher Henry Davis at number one, well under the slotted value, then used the extra cash to sign in the second-round high school pitcher Anthony Solometo at the over-slot deal of $2.8 million dollars.

Whichever route Pittsburgh takes, it will set up a domino effect for the rest of the first round. This is one of the deeper drafts in recent memory. Several picks in different seasons could make the case to be the number one pick, with names rising on the various boards, such as third baseman Braden Taylor of TCU and first baseman/outfielder Nolan Schanuel. There has been even rumors of prep right-hander Noble Meyer impressing a few teams like the Kansas City Royals, who have the eighth pick.

The risers in the draft always change how these mock drafts go, and it will be no different with this one. So let’s get started with picks 10-7.

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