The Major League Baseball draft is anticipated to select a top player from Louisiana State University’s College World Series-winning team. The question remains as to which player will be chosen first by the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 1, and which will go to the Washington Nationals at No. 2.
In FanGraphs’ mock draft, outfielder Dylan Crews, who received the Golden Spikes award for his impressive combination of patience and power, was the first pick. On the other hand, Keith Law’s mock draft for The Athletic had Paul Skenes, a right-handed starting pitcher with a 1.69 E.R.A. and an average of 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings, as the top choice.
The MLB draft is known for its unpredictability, unlike drafts in other sports. However, Crews and Skenes have the opportunity to make history as the first teammates selected with the top two picks. This achievement would be particularly remarkable considering the abundance of talented college players in this year’s draft. L.S.U.’s right-hander Ty Floyd also has the potential to be a first-round pick.
Scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern on Sunday during M.L.B.’s All-Star weekend, this year’s draft has been shortened to 20 rounds. Apart from Crews and Skenes, there are several other notable names to watch out for during the event.
One non-L.S.U. college player worth observing is Wyatt Langford, an outfielder from Florida. Langford, known for his talent and impressive performance, has the potential to be a top overall pick in most years. With a .364 batting average and 47 home runs in his last two college seasons, Langford’s speed may be underestimated, as he could be much faster than his 16 stolen bases suggest.
For high school prospects, Walker Jenkins from Southport, N.C., is a player to keep an eye on. Once an elite runner, Jenkins has been focusing on building up his 6-foot-3 frame to potentially become a powerful slugger, possibly shifting from center field to right field. If he develops into a 40-homer hitter, his versatility will be valued.
Among the players with notable familial connections is Jacob Wilson from Grand Canyon, the son of former All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson. Jacob has the potential to be a top-10 pick, surpassing his father’s ninth-round selection in 1998. Other noteworthy players include Myles Naylor, a high school third baseman whose brothers play for the Guardians; Homer Bush Jr., a college outfielder with a famous baseball-playing father; and Braden Halladay, a high school pitcher whose father is the renowned Hall of Fame starting pitcher Roy Halladay.
Lastly, Jaden Agassi, a pitcher from U.S.C., may not be selected early in the draft, given the 20-round format. However, Agassi has a famous lineage, with his mother being the 22-time Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf and his father being eight-time Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi. While Agassi’s selection is uncertain, the Athletics, who have plans to relocate to Las Vegas, could take a chance on a player from one of the city’s most accomplished families.
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