MLB Draft: Who will be the first player taken?

by Matt Kellett

Will Mark Appel by #1 at MLB Draft?

On June 6, the annual MLB draft will take place in New Jersey. For the second straight year the Houston Astros possess the number one pick, how will they use the most valuable pick in the draft?


Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

Stanford pitcher Mark Appel was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in last year's draft, but as he couldn't agree to a deal, the 6'5" right-hander returned to school for his senior year.

A good fastball that can reach 97mph, along with a hard slider and a solid changeup gives Appel a strong core of pitches that should ensure that he doesn't fall out of the top two of this draft. His off-speed stuff is particularly impressive.

He possesses great balance and an outstanding follow through. It's easy to visualize him becoming an innings-eater capable of anchoring a rotation.

Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma

The 6'4" right-hander out of Oklahoma has all the tools you want to see in a top of the rotation pitcher.

His fastball is extremely impressive, usually sitting in the 95-97mph range, at times it's speed has even been measured at triple digits. An above average slider and changeup will have MLB teams drooling over Gray's potential.

Luckily for whoever drafts him his path to the big leagues will not be a long one. While he still needs a little work, he's a polished product in many areas, so if he's developed right in the minor leagues he could be up by mid-2014.

Could they go in another direction?

Unlikely. The only reason I can think of for the Astros to not pick Appel or Gray is because they want to save allotment pick money as they did last year when they passed on Mark Appel and drafted SS Carlos Correa. In Keith Law's latest mock draft (Subscription required) he has the Astros taking 3B Colin Moran from North Carolina, which could definitely happen if the Astros want to save money for later prospects.

I'm not sold on Keith Law's pick though, Jonathan Gray seems like the likeliest option for an Astros organisation that is short on good pitchers. Appel would likely want more money than Gray, so they're saving money as well as still getting the pitching they so desperately need.