Rem’s First Mock Draft

As we tend to get a little stir crazy after the end of the calendar year for the upcoming CPL Draft, well, Covid has accelerated that timeline just a tad for some of us. Couple that with Ray pushing the draft back a few weeks from normal, and we’re going to exhaust every word that can be written about this draft by the time we’re done.

Anyway, I haven’t done a mock draft of my own, aside from participating in the podcast mock draft with Tom and Jeff, and I’ll probably make 15 of them by the time we’re done, so why not start now? Anything to bring a little Christmas cheer to the CPL as Minnesota continues to wait on our masters to allow us to eat burgers outside of our houses. Without further adeiu:

1. Banacolates: Spencer Torkelson- Yeah, no surprise.
2. Pro Bowlers: Austin Martin- Martin seems to be the consensus #2 in this draft, as a polished college bat, the whole Blue Jays thing is just a bonus.
3. Banacolates: Heston Kjerstad- while he was a surprise on draft day, I think Kjerstad will get more love on the CPL side of things as mashing college outfielder, a type that has traditionally gotten much love here.
4. Danimals: Ha-Saeng Kim- MLB ready? Check.
5. Motley Shue: Nick Gonzales- Deep down, we’re all hit tool whores, and Shue is no exception. This may be as high as Gonzales goes, but I’ve just got a feeling.
6. Banacolates: Garrett Mitchell- Mitchell seems to be this year’s JJ Bleday, and thus may be drooled over as soon as the “top tier” bats are gone.
7. Banacolates: Zac Veen- Veen is a High School kid, which Jeff hates, but one that could end up being a masher, and in Coors, no less, which Jeff loves.
8. Banacolates: Asa Lacy- We had Jeff taking Lacy in the Podcast Mock, and I stand by it. The hitting tier falls sharply here, I feel, and Jeff has to take a pitcher eventually, right?
9. Chris Carroll: Emerson Hancock- The more I read on Hanpenis the more I like him, drawing comps to Casey Mize. Great park for a pitcher too.
10. Baby Seals: Max Meyer- Fred loves him a college arm, and Meyer probably is dinged by being a reach for the Marlins, but he *was* a top ten draft prospect.
11. Kelly’s Heroes: Yoelqui Cespedes- You can’t maximize your investment and cash out on a boring high floor player, and JK lives and breathes this.
12. G.I. Zo’s: Wilman Diaz-Sniped by JK, Zobrack continues to build up his latin upside farm, with a classic toolsy shortstop.
13. Tom Cats: Ed Howard- Howard isn’t a super loud tools guy, but has that sneaky skill that could creep into a very solid player, which I think suits Tom.
14. Fajita Eaters: Nick Bitsko- I trust the Rays to develop this kid, because lord knows, I’ve been burned on high school pitchers in the draft.
15. Banacolates: Justin Foscue- The list of college bats in this year’s first round dries up rather quickly, but a bat first 2B/3B always seem to be something CPLers are willing to give a chance.
16. G.I. Zo’s: Austin Hendrick- While J2 prospects tickled Zobrack’s fancy last season, I think adding a *slightly* less risky HS bat might be the way to go for him with this pick, as there’s actually a few interesting names out there.