Draft Day 1: LIVE pick-by-pick rundown, analysis

The 2023 MLB Draft is right here. Day 1 contains the primary 70 choices, masking Rounds 1 and a pair of, Aggressive Steadiness Rounds A and B, a Prospect Promotion Incentive decide, plus three compensation picks.

Spherical 1 is underway now, dwell on MLB Network, MLB.com and ESPN. Days 2 (Rounds 3-10) and three (Rounds 11-20) start at 2 p.m. ET on Monday and Tuesday and can stream dwell completely on MLB.com.

Comply with alongside right here all evening for a rundown of each decide with evaluation by MLB Pipeline and MLB Community consultants.

1) Pirates: Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State
After it sounded just like the Pirates had been trying extra at this class’ offensive choices, they opted to go along with one of the best participant on MLB Pipeline’s Draft Prime 250. Thought of by many to be a generational kind of expertise, Skenes was one of the best faculty pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg, in accordance with evaluators. In his solely yr with LSU after transferring from Air Drive, the previous two-way participant (He was a catcher!) put up online game numbers in serving to the Tigers win the School World Collection, ending with a 1.69 ERA, 15.3 Ok/9 and simply 1.5 BB/9. His 80-grade fastball sat 98 mph and repeatedly hit triple digits, his slider is unhittable and his energy changeup has the prospect to be excellent as effectively. Skenes isn’t anticipated to wish an excessive amount of time to get to the massive leagues; some scouts assume he may get Main League hitters out along with his stuff proper now. More >

2) Nationals: Dylan Crews, OF, Louisiana State
Based mostly on pre-Draft buzz, the one factor which may have saved the Nationals from taking Paul Skenes with their decide was if the Pirates chosen him, and that’s precisely what occurred. Most felt that if this occurred, the Nats would go along with Skenes’ teammate, Crews, who was the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Winner and sat atop many Draft boards. The middle fielder has a monitor report of success within the SEC and saved one of the best for final, hitting .426/.567/.713 in 2023. He can play middle subject and hit for common and energy due to a sophisticated strategy on the plate, one which helped him stroll extra instances than he struck out in his LSU profession. Like Skenes, it shouldn’t take Crews lengthy to be huge league prepared; he’s the form of faculty hitter who may deal with an aggressive task and make a beeline to Washington. More >

3) Tigers: Max Clark, OF, Franklin (Ind.) HS
Whereas this isn’t an enormous shock, as Clark was within the combine at No. 1 and all through the highest 5, projections had been sometimes faculty hitters on this spot, so it’s somewhat stunning to not see Wyatt Langford go right here. That mentioned, Clark might need as excessive of an upside as anybody on this class. He has one of the best all-around set of instruments within the class and has the prospect to have all 5 at his disposal. He’s a no-doubt middle fielder who can actually run and has a plus arm from the outfield. He makes constantly laborious contact, and whereas energy was the one device seemingly behind the others, he’d made strides in including power throughout his senior yr. Clark performs with a ton of power and keenness always. More >

4) Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
Langford didn’t have to attend lengthy to listen to his title known as. Some scouts felt he belonged in the identical dialog as Dylan Crews, a minimum of by way of his offensive potential. After not taking part in a lot throughout his freshman yr at Florida, Langford burst onto the scene in 2022, hitting 26 homers and ending with a 1.166 OPS. He someway upped his recreation this previous season with a 1.282 OPS, strolling extra instances than he struck out whereas hitting 21 homers. The one factor he hasn’t achieved a lot of, in comparison with Crews, is play middle subject, although some really feel the right-handed hitter has the athleticism to take action, so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the Rangers give him an opportunity to a minimum of begin his professional profession there. The Rangers have now chosen a school participant within the first spherical for a fifth straight yr. More >

5) Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS, Southport, N.C.
Whereas we didn’t predict them within the right order, the highest 5 skills within the class left the board within the prime 5. There was a variety of discuss that the Twins may find yourself going with a school hitter right here, as they’re a group that always lean on their mannequin to tell picks. The left-handed hitter has a ton of energy, each now and sooner or later, and actually helped his profile by exhibiting he can play middle subject and demonstrating extra athleticism than he had previously. More >

6) Athletics: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
The son of former huge leaguer Jack Wilson, Jacob performs the identical place as his dad and can be ready to take action for a really very long time. He additionally has a really robust monitor report of hitting, with a .977 OPS in his GCU profession. He hit .412/.461/.635 as a junior and continued to be maybe one of the best contact hitter in faculty baseball, hanging out in simply 2.3 % of his plate appearances as a junior. More >

7) Reds: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
After Paul Skenes, Lowder was one of the best, and most constant, faculty pitcher within the class. And whereas the Reds had been plenty of hitters obtainable, they couldn’t move up his mixture of stuff, command and competitiveness. He has sufficient fastball velocity, as much as 97 mph at instances with good sink, however it’s his plus changeup that’s a separator, and his slider flashes plus. Lowder throws strikes with all three, and it’s simple to dream of him attending to Cincinnati in a rush. More >

8) Royals: Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS
The Royals are not any stranger to taking a excessive schooler this excessive, having taken their No. 5 prospect, Frank MozzicatoNo. 7 total in 2021. Like in that situation, it appears to be like just like the Royals have gotten an excellent expertise who may even be a cash saver, so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how they use their bonus pool cash shifting ahead, with an additional decide at No. 66 total offering an even bigger pool. Highschool catching could be a dangerous demographic, however Mitchell has the prospect to hit, and with energy, and he’s bought all of the instruments to stay behind the plate. More >

9) Rockies: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
All indicators pointed to the Rockies focusing on pitching, and with Rhett Lowder off the board, Dollander was the next-best possibility amongst faculty arms. Stuff-wise, he belongs up this excessive, with a plus fastball and slider to associate with an excellent changeup and curve. His outcomes this yr didn’t match the stuff, along with his command struggling at instances. Some consider Dollander’s points may be fastened with professional instruction, one thing the Rockies are banking on. More >

10) Marlins: Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS, Portland, Ore.
Meyer was thought-about one of the best highschool arm within the class, providing an attractive mixture of stuff, really feel for pitching and projection. Coming from the identical highschool program as Phillies prospect (and 2023 Futures Recreation starter) Mick Abel, Meyer has a fastball that flirts with triple digits and a slider that needs to be plus in time. He additionally has higher really feel for a changeup than many prepsters and usually is across the strike zone, with frontline starter potential. More >

11) Angels: Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
This has lengthy been thought-about a touchdown spot for a school bat; it was a matter of which one. The Angels like taking superior gamers who can get to the massive leagues rapidly, and after their success with Zach Neto final yr, Schanuel suits what the Halos are attempting to do. He was arguably one of the best performer within the faculty recreation in 2023, hitting .447 with a 1.483 OPS and a ridiculous 14/71 Ok/BB ratio. He is likely to be athletic sufficient to deal with an outfield nook, however it’s the bat that can carry him.

12) D-backs: Tommy Troy, SS, Stanford
Troy hit effectively in his sophomore yr at Stanford, then saved it going with a robust Cape Cod League final summer season to place himself extra firmly on the first-round map. He turned it up a notch as a junior, hitting near .400 with 17 homers and 17 steals. He’s athletic and runs effectively, and he has proven the flexibility to play three infield positions.

13) Cubs: Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland
One of many higher pure faculty hitters within the class, Shaw earned Cape Cod League MVP honors final summer season, then posted a 1.142 OPS with 24 homers and 18 steals for the Terrapins in 2023. He performed largely shortstop in faculty however moved round a bit early and whereas taking part in on the Cape, with most considering second base is one of the best dwelling for him long-term if he stays on the grime.

14) Purple Sox: Kyle Teel, C, Virginia