Checking in with the experts before tonight
We are mere hours away from knowing who the Guardians will draft with their first, first overall pick.
Let’s check in with what the prominent draft experts are saying as the moment closes in:
Keith Law of the Athletic has Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana at #1, but describes several reasons why it could be JJ Wetherholt.
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN had Cleveland taking West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt. But has switched to Bazzana is his just released mock.
MLB Pipeline has switched Wetherholt into their guess as Cleveland’s eventual selection after steadily choosing Travis Bazzana up to this point.
Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs has another mock draft coming later today but in his version released last week he had Bazzana headed to Cleveland.
Baseball America’s team has Wetherholt going to Cleveland.
Joe Doyle of Future Stars Series has Wetherholt getting picked first overall.
Most prospect evaluators say the race appears to be very close between Bazzana and Wetherholt with some holding out reservation that Cleveland may simply be moving in silence on an attempt to draft Georgia third baseman/outfielder Charlie Condon. Rumors regarding the Guardians choosing Mississippi prep shortstop Konnor Griffin or Wake Forest right-hander Chase Burns seem to have mostly subsided. If there is a suprise pick outside of Wetherholt, Bazzana or Condon, it feels most likely that it would be Florida first baseman/pitcher Jac Caglianone, interestingly enough, given his well-documented chase issues.
As we sit here today, I still believe Cleveland will end up taking Bazzana but it is hard to ignore the fact that the most well-informed members of the media who cover the draft are overwhelmingly choosing Wetherholt as their pick for Cleveland’s most likely selection. However, everyone notes how tight-lipped Cleveland’s front office is and some say the final selection will not be made until perhaps moments before 7pm. This is why I continue to look at Bazzana’s Cleveland traits (lots of contact, great plate discipline, elite makeup, pulled fly-ball ability and an up-the-middle defensive profile) and assume that he will find his way into a Guardians’ hat shortly after 7pm EST.
