Fansided

Colorado Rockies: Rounding up the latest mock draft results

By Ben Macaluso |
DENVER, CO - JULY 27: A young fan holds a baseball hoping to get an autograph as the Milwaukee Brewers face the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 27, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 27: A young fan holds a baseball hoping to get an autograph as the Milwaukee Brewers face the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 27, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
2 of 2
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 19: Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 19, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 19: Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 19, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

In this past decade, the Colorado Rockies have drafted nine pitchers in the first round of the MLB Draft. Seven of those pitchers are righties with Kyle Freeland and last year’s selection Ryan Rolison of Ole Miss being the exceptions. With the team being competitive in the later part of the decade, primarily on the backs of young home-grown pitching, there can never be enough arms in this organization. Don’t be surprised if the Rockies stick with their trend of the last decade, but there are big organizational needs including truly finding a home-grown and long-term solution in replacing Todd Helton at first base.

Let’s get the basics out of the way before we go to the experts with the mock drafts. The Colorado Rockies have the 23rd pick in the 2019 MLB Draft starting June 3. Say the draft were to be picked according to MLB’s 2019 top prospects, the Rockies would select RHP Daniel Espino. From ranks 18-24, five of those players are right-handed pitchers. Even if Espino doesn’t fall to the Rockies, the position where the club is drafting would give them plenty of options to select a righty. The other two players in that range are shortstops and Trevor Story and Brendan Rodgers have that more than covered for now and the foreseeable future. A new right-handed pitcher doesn’t seem like an extraordinary prediction. Even more reason to see what the experts think.

More from Rox Pile

Jim Callis (@JimCallisMLB) MLB.com

Callis of MLB.com summarizes this draft as a deep reserve of hitters that will lack standout arms. He goes further to predict that this draft would break the record of most position players taken in the first round. The Orioles have the first pick in the draft and the assumption is that they will pick Adley Rutschman, catcher out of Oregon State. He won the College World Series with the Beavers with his switch-hitting and glove behind the plate. Think of him as the best catching prospect since Buster Posey. Just be thankful Rutschman will be out of the NL West this time.

As for the Rockies, Callis predicts they will pick 1B/OF Michael Busch out of North Carolina. This would be a great pick for the Rockies and hopefully can dedicate him full-time to first base as the team consistently has splendid outfield depth. Ryan McMahon arguably has had the most home-grown success as a first baseman since the retirement of Helton but is currently playing more in a utility capacity. Maybe that changes when Daniel Murphy’s contract is up but this club needs to get in a better habit of developing a position more than they have this decade.

The problem here is that Callis is predicting that many bats will go early. Busch would almost certainly have to fall to the Rockies for this to happen. That happens if teams are just looking at his ability at the plate and not versatility in the field. The chances of that seem slim.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 26: A baseball sits on the mound before the game pitting the Minnesota Twins against the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field on April 26, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 26: A baseball sits on the mound before the game pitting the Minnesota Twins against the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field on April 26, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

Keith Law (@keithlaw) ESPN

In Law’s first mock draft, he had Busch going to the Chicago Cubs at 27th. The analysis here is that he could go as high as a mid-round pick but many look at him as a big hitter locked in at first base. That wouldn’t be a detriment to the Rockies. In Law’s second mock draft he slots Busch to the Rockies just as Callis did. The biggest distinguishing factor between both mocks is that Law reports that the Rockies organization was at the ACC tournament, including Jeff Bridich. If the Rockies are to draft a position player, put money on Busch in the UNC powder blues.

Nick Groke (@nickgroke) The Athletic

Saving the best prediction for last with the local perspective, Groke is choosing J.J. Goss, RHP, out of Cypress Ranch High School in Texas. Goss is projected as the 24th prospect in MLB’s Prospect Watch. He is still in high school but that hasn’t deterred the Rockies previously as they picked Riley Pint and Mike Nikorak in 2016 and 2015 respectively. Groke rates his slider as the best in the draft from a prep prospect. He also notes his fortitude for throwing strikes with a perfect game in 71 pitches.

Efficient and effective are indicative of Goss. But Goss isn’t even the most highly touted prospect on his high school team. That distinction goes to right-hander Matthew Thompson who is committed to Texas A&M. The same is to be said for Goss, so the Rockies have some luring to do with this pick. Goss throws his fastball in the low-90s but should reach the mid-90s once he develops more. Goss outperformed Thompson the last two seasons and with a balanced changeup, he looks like a promising late round signing.

A couple of other options

As for Daniel Espino, the prep prospect from Panama throws gas with his fastball reaching the upper 90s consistently. He needs to work on his secondary pitches and is currently committed to LSU.

Brennan Malone is another prep right-hander who has a compliment of pitches including an above average slider and a fastball that consistently hits 96 mph. He threw a complete-game shutout at the USA Baseball National High School Invitational which has boosted his stock to the first round. Consistency is an issue though and may benefit from development in college.

Next. Three names to watch for the Colorado Rockies bullpen of the future. dark

If the Rockies don’t draft a position player (likely 1B Michael Busch) then don’t be surprised if the Rockies pick from a plethora of prep right-handers available in the middle of the 2019 MLB Draft.

Next
Home / Colorado Rockies News

Schedule