2011 MLB Draft [Top 20]

The Southern Bulldog, Sonny Gray figures to go in the Top-10 of this year's draft.

by: Will Stanley

I put my work in early this past winter and gave you my thoughts on the top of the 2011 draft in a nutshell. The main focus of that article was guys I liked more than the rest, specifically Bubba Starling, and then a brief view of the top of the draft.

Bubba Starling has since become a hot name. When noted ESPN draft analyst Keith Law started hyping the kid, all of a sudden he is appearing in blogs and his name is being heard far and wide. The other guys who have made a meteoric rise from where they were before are Francisco Lindor, a high school shortstop in Florida, and Dylan Bundy, a beast of a pitcher out of the Midwest.

From where we were before the season started, Rendon has slipped a bit and Cole likewise has narrowed the gap between the two. This potentially bodes well, as I still want Rendon over Cole, the caveat being that both are healthy for the forseeable future. There lies the problem however, as Rendon has been bothered by injuries consistently enough all year that people are worried about him being “injury prone,” thus explaining his slippage in others’ eyes.

1. Anthony Rendon (3B) - He’s still something like Evan Longoria Lite at worst, and that my friends is more than we currently have at the hot corner. If Rendon slips to #2, then yippee. If he doesn’t, then yippee, because it’ll mean we are going for the next guy on the list who is just as deserving of the #1 overall pick.

2. Gerrit Cole (RHP) – People think he’s makin’ moves, and though it may seem so, it’s hard to pass Rendon in such a small amount of time. I could honestly care less, because at this point it’s a lock that we get an awesome player, be it a pitcher or a third-baseman. Felix-Pineda-Cole does look amazing though.

3. Bubba Starling (CF) – I love me some Bubba, something that I hope to never repeat again, especially in prison. Regardless, Bubba is probably not moving from this spot unless one of the two guys above him gets seriously injured. Starling is the ultimate risk-reward pick in this draft, as he’s probably the best athlete, has 5-tool potential, and has an awesome name that fans would love. In the actual draft he may drop some, but I project him as the third best player when it’s all said and done.

4. Sonny Gray (RHP) – A bulldog to the end, Sonny Gray is a pitcher that anyone could take pride in having on their team. A true competitor, he never lets his stature get the best of him, and I’m sure he will make the team that drafts him come June very lucky indeed. He uses a fastball-curveball mix, and will advance fairly quickly through the minor leagues.

5. Dylan Bundy (RHP) – No relation to Ted, but he might soon be known as New Hoss Radbourn. Another one of those country-strong white boys from the midwest, Bundy has a legitimate three-pitch repertoire that makes the highschoolers heads spin. He’s got the major helium as of late, and could go as high as #3.

6. Francisco Lindor (SS) – This is the guy that’s been rocketing up the draft boards. With no real SS prospects in the minors, and a dearth of them in the upper rounds of this year’s draft, Lindor has risen above the rest.

7. Trevor Bauer (RHP) – The new-Lincecum, he also has bizarre mechanics (doesn’t make them wrong) and throws extremely high pitch counts. You can’t argue with the results though, as he has absolutely baffled hitters this year in the collegiate ranks, with 142 Ks in 91 IP. Dominance. Any teams worried about his arm or mechanics will surely pass him up, probably to their detriment.

8. Matt Barnes (RHP) – Another top collegiate pitcher – see a pattern here? – he plays his ball up at UConn, and he has all the makings of a #2 or #3 starter when he makes it to a big league team.

9. Danny Hultzen (LHP) – Some love him as a top-tier arm capable of being a #1 or #2 starter while others see him ending up in the bullpen. I think he will be a solid if possibly unspectacular pitcher that should go to a team such as Arizona looking for a fast-moving arm that is sure to contribute in some capacity.

10. Jackie Bradley Jr. (CF) – Another favorite of mine from watching the College World Series, Bradley also raised eyebrows with his play early this year. This will seem far too high to some, but I think the guy will be a legitimate bat that can play center field. That is extremely valuable.

11. Taylor Jungmann (RHP) – Another collegiate pitcher, Jungmann has been a workhorse since his freshman year, but inconsistent results have pushed him down draft boards. Even still, he’s 6-6 200 lbs, so he can easily reattain that workhorse label as a starter in the Majors.

12. Jed Bradley (LHP) – For what seems like the 26th time, we have a pitcher from the collegiate ranks. There’s actually quite a few people that easily have him in the top-10, but I’m a bit more skeptical. Though he’s not easy-top-ten IMO, I still like the guy in the top half of the first round.

13. Archie Bradley (RHP) – A top pitcher in the prep class, he’s another Oklahoman wünderkid. I’m not particularly fond of high school pitchers in the 1st round unless they are the cream of the crop, as Bundy is.

14. Taylor Guerrieri (RHP) - One of the better high school arms around, T-Guerr as he will now be called is going to be picked somewhere in the top-20. He’s not an overpowering ace, but he has solid command and feel for his pitches. Won’t be a particularly fast mover, but he certainly has first-round talent.

15. George Springer (RF) – Touted coming into the season as a possible Top-5 pick, Springer has soured some in the minds of some of the more respected analysts. I didn’t like what I saw to begin with, and though he surely could make a fine big leaguer, I don’t see Top-5 pick written on the man.

16. Daniel Norris (LHP) – Another top prep pitcher, Norris throws from the left side, making him all the more rare and valuable. You might wonder why I have him below Archie then? At 6’2″ 180 on a good day, he’s a bit on the light side, and I’m not a huge fan of slight-framed pitchers. I also refuse to trust anyone from a place called — Science Hill HS.

17. Mikie Mahtook (CF) – I liked this guy ever since I saw him play in the College World Series a couple years ago. At the time, everyone had a massive Tebowner for Jared Mitchell, but I really liked what I saw in Mahtook and I think he can play a legitimate center field and hit enough to make the show.

18. Matt Purke (LHP) – I’m completely fine with his demise, as I never particularly loved the guy, always preferring Cole as the top pitcher. You never want a guy to lose it completely, but I’m just glad that’s he’s dropped down far enough throughout the year for the Mariners to forget about him.

19. Alex Meyer (RHP) – One of the top players in the country coming out of high school, his insistence on experiencing college life at Kentucky made him a difficult sign. His body has grown a bit more than his draft stock, but he is still a hulk of a pitcher (6’9″ 220) that has the ability to get it done on the mound with power. Someone will take him in the top-20, it’s too “good” of a risk.

20. Blake Swihart (C) – I think I’m just biased against catchers in the first round ever since Jeff Clement. He’s the best of the bunch though, so good luck to him.

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Tags: Seattle, Mariners, MLB, Northwest Roots, MLB Draft, NW Roots, Bubba Starling, Taylor Jungmann, Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, Jackie Bradley Jr., George Springer, Matt Purke, WC Stanley, NWRooted, Pittsburgh, Mikie Mahtook, MLB Draft 2011, Alex Meyer, Dylan Bundy, Trevor Bauer, Francisco Lindor, Matt Barnes, Danny Hultzen, Taylor Guerrieri, Jed Bradley, Archie Bradley, Daniel Norris, Jason Esposito, Blake Swihart, Yankees, Red Sox, #1 pick, Top 20, Prospects

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