2023 MLB Mock Draft: Final Mock 2 Rounds

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: July 9, 2023.

40. Washington Nationals: Juaron Watts-Brown, P, Oklahoma State
    
    
    The 6-2 180 lb Juaron Watts Brown led the Big 12 with 124 strikeouts and pitched 82.1 innings despite having a 5.03 ERA. Juaron Watts-Brown got invited to the 2023 MLB Draft, so it's possible that he gets picked earlier than the top of the second round.
    
    
    
41. Oakland Athletics: Cade Kuehler, P, Campbell
    
    
    The 6-0 205 lb Cade Kuehler was a Friday Night starter in 2023 with a 2.71 ERA pitching 73 innings in 13 starts. Cade Kuehler could be the number three starter in this Oakland Athletics rotation if you develop him.
    
    
    
    
    
42. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
    
    
    The 6-1 195 lb Jake Gelof had a .377 batting average, 21 home runs, 65 runs, 80 hits, 81 RBI's, 15 doubles, 2 triples, and 162 total bases with the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC in 2022. Jake Gelof had a .321 batting average, 23 home runs, 71 runs, 81 hits, 23 doubles, 3 triples, and a 179 total bases with the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC in 2023.
    
    
    
    Jake Gelof averaged a .937 fielding percentage in three seasons at Virginia. Jake Gelof is the younger brother of Oakland Athletics third baseman prospect Zack Gelof who also played third baseman at Virginia.
    
    
    
43. Cincinnati Reds: Jack Hurley, LF, Virginia Tech
    
    
    The 6-0 185 lb Jack Hurley had a .375 batting average and 14 home runs as a left fielder next to last years top ten pick Gavin Cross who played right fielder on Virginia Tech in 2022. Jack Hurley had a .320 batting average and a career high 17 home runs in 2023.
    
    
    
    
    
44. Kansas City Royals: Colton Ledbetter, CF, Mississippi State
    
    
    The 6-2 205 lb Colton Ledbetter had a .320 batting average, 12 home runs, 52 runs, 52 RBI's, 63 hits, 2 doubles, 17 stolen bases, and a .966 fielding percentage in 2023. Colton Ledbetter is a center fielder that you can pair with 2022 first round pick Gavin Cross in the outfield for the Kansas City Royals down the road.
    
    
    
45. Detroit Tigers: Brandon Sproat, P, Florida
    
    
    The 6-3 215 lb Brandon Sproat was a 2022 third round pick that did not sign. Brandon Sproat should get drafted in the second round as a senior this year, but it's also possible he falls further than this.
    
    
    
    
    
46. Colorado Rockies: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner HS (PA)
    
    
    The 5-11 185 lb Kevin McGonigle has potential to develop into a 20 home run hitter. His instincts stand out, and he's one High School batter with a first round grade on a lot of boards that fell to the second round.
    
    
    
47. Miami Marlins: Cole Schoewetter, P, San Marcos HS (CA)
    
    
    The 6-3 188 lb Cole Schoenwetter went 6-1 with a 0.91 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 61.2 innings in 2023. Cole Schoewetter has a 94 mile per hour fastball, a 79 mile per hour curveball, and a 80 mile per hour changeup. The drawback with Cole Schoenwetter is he fatigues after 50 pitches, but the Marlins can put him in the bullpen.
    
    
    
    
    
48. Arizona Diamondbacks: Will Sanders, P, South Carolina
    
    
    The 6-5 230 lb Will Sanders had a 5.38 ERA in 2023. Will Sanders had a 93 mile per hour fastball along with a 12-6 curveball. Sanders has one of the best 12-6 curveballs in this class despite his shaky ERA.
    
    
    
49. Minnesota Twins: Roch Cholowsky, SS, Hamilton HS (AZ)
    
    
    The 6-2 185 lb Roch Cholowsky is the best player on the board. Minnesota is a team that has the luxury to go with the best player on their board in the 2023 MLB Draft if they address their needs in the first round.
    
    
    
    
    
50. Boston Red Sox: Tanner Witt, P, Texas
    
    
    The 6-5 225 lb Tanner Witt did well out of the bullpen with a 3.16 ERA in 57 innings as a freshman in 2021. He had Tommy John's Surgery shortly after moving to the starting rotation in 2022. Tanner Witt struggled in limited action on the Texas Longhorns starting rotation in 2023. He might work as a bullpen arm for the Boston Red Sox here.
    
    
    
    
    
51. Chicago White Sox: Jackson Baumeister, P, Florida State
    
    
    The 6-4 235 lb Jackson Baumeister did well out of the bullpen with a 3.71 ERA in 2022. Jackson Baumeister had a 4.96 ERA in 69 innings as a starting pitcher in 2023. The Chicago White Sox draft Jackson Baumeister as a bullpen arm here.
    
    
    
52. San Francisco Giants: Max Anderson, 3B, Nebraska
    
    
    The 6-0 200 lb Max Anderson was the top hitter in the Big Ten Conference in 2023. Max Anderson had a .414 batting average, a .771 slugging percentage, 1.232 OPS, 101 hits, 21 home runs, and 20 doubles with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2023. The San Francisco Giants can stash this college batter in their prospect pool.
    
    
    
    
    
53. Baltimore Orioles: Josh Knoth, P, Patchogue-Medford HS (NY)
    
    
    The 6-1 190 lb Josh Knoth had a 19 strikeout perfect game for a High School pitcher. He's got a 98 mile per hour fastball, an 83 mile per hour slider with 3,000 rpm, and a 75 mile per hour power curveball with 3,000 rpm. Baltimore needs starting pitchers, so they gamble on Josh Knoth hoping it pays off in the second round.
    
    
    
54. Milwaukee Brewers: Adrian Santana, SS, Doral Academy HS (FL)
    
    
    The 5-11 160 lb Adrian Santana ran a 6.3 60 yard dash. He's got the speed to get on base and the glove to be an elite defender.
    
    
    
    
    
55. Tampa Bay Rays: Alonzo Tredwell, P, UCLA
    
    
    The 6-7 225 lb Alonzo Tredwell posted a 2.11 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 6 walks in 47 innings out of the bullpen in 2022. Alonzo Treadwell had a 3.57 ERA in 9 starts before back and rib injuries ended his season in 2023.
    
    
    
56. New York Mets: Jonny Farmelo, CF, Westfield HS (VA)
    
    
    New York drafts the best player available. The 6-2 200 lb Jonny Farmelo ran a 6.36 60 yard dash and he's got great speed that can become elite speed if he improves his speed even more.
    
    
    
    
    
57. Seattle Mariners: Blake Wolters, P, Mahomet-Seymour HS (IL)
    
    
    Seattle drafts the best player on the board in the second round. The 6-4 200 lb Blake Wolters has a 94 mile per hour fastball with 2,300 rpm and an 84 mile per hour changeup with 2,700 rpm.
    
    
    
    Blake Wolters also has a changeup that he hardly uses. Seattle already has enough starters, so maybe Blake Wolters develops into a bullpen arm.
    
    
    
58. Cleveland Indians: Homer Bush Jr., CF, Grand Canyon
    
    
    The 6-3 200 lb Homer Bush Jr. is the son of former MLB player Homer Bush. Homer Bush Jr. had a 370 batting average as a freshman in 2021, Homer Bush Jr. had a .478 batting average in 2022. Homer Bush Jr. had a .500 batting average in 2023.
    
    
    
    Homer Bush Jr. only homered twice in 2023, but he cut back his strikeout percentage from 29.9 percent in 2022 to 9.2 percent in 2023. Homer Bush Jr. was also 25/31 in stolen bases.
    
    
    
    Homer Bush Jr. has great plate discipline just like his teammate Jacob Wilson. Cleveland can develop Homer Bush Jr. as an insurance plan in case Chase DeLauter Cleveland's 2022 first round pick doesn't pan out. If Chase DeLauter and Homer Bush Jr. both pan out, then Homer Bush Jr. would probably play right fielder in the future.
    
    
    
    
    
59. Atlanta Braves: Paul Wilson, P, Lakeridge HS (OR)
    
    
    The 6-3 196 lb Paul Wilson is the son of former MLB pitcher Trevor Wilson. Paul Wilson has a 97 mile per hour fastball, a 81 mile per hour slider, a 77 mile per hour curveball, and a 80 mile per hour changeup.
    
    
    
60. Los Angeles Dodgers: Keifer Lord, P, Washington
    
    
    The 6-3 195 lb Kiefer Lord has a 94 mile per hour fastball that can go up to 99 mies per hour if you use him out of the bullpen along with a 75 mile per hour curveball and an 85 mile per hour changeup. He needs to develop more control on his pitches to cut back on his ERA after going from in Division III in 2022 to having a 6.19 ERA in his only season as a starting pitcher at Washington in 2023. Keifer Lord can be used as both a starting pitcher and a reliever out of the bullpen which is the biggest reason I mocked him here.
    
    
    
    
    
61. Houston Astros: Brice Matthews, SS, Nebraska
    
    
    The 6-0 190 lb Brice Matthews can develop while 2022 World Series MVP Jeremy Pena plays out his contract as the replacement to Carlos Correa. Brice Matthews was the first player in Nebraska history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in the same season in 2023 despite posting a meager .900 fielding percentage. Some are suggesting Brice Matthews will either move to another position in the infield or potentially to an outfield role at center fielder if he doesn't improve his fielding percentage.
    
    
    
    
    
62. Cleveland Indians: Tre' Morgan, 1B, LSU
    
    
    The 6-1 215 lb Tre' Morgan split time at both left fielder and first baseman for LSU in 2023. Tre' Morgan had a .332 battng average as a freshman in 2021. Tre' Morgan had a .427 batting average in 2022. Tre' Morgan had a .497 batting average in 2023.
    
    
    
63. Baltimore Orioles: Hunter Owen, P, Vanderbilt
    
    
    The 6-6 261 lb Hunter Owen struggled as a freshman, but dominated with a 2.05 ERA out of the bullpen in 2022. Hunter Owen had a 3.52 ERA in 12 sarts with 64 strikeouts in 2023. Hunter Owen dominated at the 2023 MLB Combine, so it is possible Hunter Owen gets drafted a lot higher than where I'm projecting him. Hunter Owen would be a top three starting pitcher on the Baltimore Orioles once he reaches the MLB.
    
    
    
    
    
64. Arizona Diamondbacks: Cole Carrigg, LF, San Diego State
    
    
    The 6-3 190 lb Cole Carrigg is versatile enough to play shortstop, second base, third base, catcher, left fielder, center fielder, and pitcher. He will mainly be a bat in the MLB since he's the most versatile player in College Baseball, but the big question is where will he play after posting a .348 batting average in 2021, a .419 batting average in 2022, and a .486 batting average in 2023.
    
    
    
65. Colorado Rockies: Sean Sullivan, P, Wake Forest
    
    
    The 6-4 190 lb Sean Sulllivan had a 4.45 ERA in 14 starts at Northeastern in 2022. He transferre to Wake Forest and had a 2.61 ERA and a 33.2 percent strikeout to walk ratio in 2023 which was second to LSU pitcher Paul Skenes.
    
    
    
    
    
66. Kansas City Royals: Spencer Nivens, LF, Missouri State
    
    
    The 5-11 185 lb Spencer Nivens played left fielder in 2022 before moving to center fielder in 2023. Spencer Niven had a .346 batting average, 11 home runs, and 12 doubles in 2022. Spencer Nivens had a .341 batting average and 14 home runs in 2023.
    
    
    
67. Pittsburgh Pirates: Travis Honeyman, RF, Boston College
    
    
    The 6-2 190 lb Travis Honeyman played left fielder at Boston College in 2022 before moving to right fielder at Boston College in 2023. Travis Honeyman had a .329 batting average in 2022 before having a .304 batting average in 2023.
    
    
    
    
    
68. Chicago Cubs: Luke Shigler, C, Maryland
    
    
    The 5-9 180 lb Luke Shigler stood out when watching Maryland shortstop Matt Shaw on film. Luke Shigler had a .336 batting average with 11 home runs and 24 doubles in 2023. Shigler had back-to-back seasons with 10 or more home runs, but he's known more for his ability to control the strike zone than his power hitting making him an intriguing replacement to Wilson Contreras at catcher.
    
    
    
69. San Francisco Giants: Kemp Alderman, LF, Ole Miss
    
    
    The 6-2 250 lb Kemp Alderman had a .376 batting average, 19 home runs, 80 hits, 44 runs, and 14 doubles for Ole Miss in 2023. Kemp Alderman blasted balls at the plate when swinging at the 2023 MLB Combine.
    
    
    
    
    
70. Atlanta Braves: Mac Horvath, RF, North Carolina
    
    
    The 6-1 185 lb Mac Horvath played both third baseman and right fielder at North Carolina. Mac Horvath has the versatility to play third baseman, left fielder, or right fielder in the MLB. Mac Horvath had a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, 21 doubles, and 25 stolen bases in 2023.