The 2023 Major League Baseball amateur draft is scheduled to start on Sunday night at 7 p.m. EDT in Seattle, Washington, to kick off a week of All-Star Game festivities. This summer, a pair of former Florida Gators are expected to be selected in the first round of the draft — with a possibility of a couple more joining them in the compensations rounds.
The main focus has been on outfielder [autotag]Wyatt Langford[/autotag], who helped power the Orange and Blue to a College World Series finals appearance despite an injury that slowed him down midseason. According to both Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo in their final mock draft for MLB.com before the fireworks begin, the standout from Trenton, Florida, is expected to be taken in the top spot by the Pittsburgh Pirates — which would make him the first Gator ever to achieve the feat.
Here is what Callis had to offer.
It looks like one of the three Southeastern Conference superstars for the Pirates, and probably one of the hitters. Money aside, most teams would take Louisiana State outfielder Dylan Crews, but clubs can’t just put money aside in the bonus pool era, and he’s going to command more than Langford. How much more? Probably $500,000 and maybe closer to $1 million. Personally, I’d take Louisiana State right-hander Paul Skenes because of the rarity of his talent, and it wouldn’t shock me if Pittsburgh opted for him.
As for Mayo, here is how he feels.
Here’s how I ended up with this, with the disclaimer that the Pirates will continue to work through all possibilities involving the top five players: There’s a growing sense that the Pirates are leaning toward a bat over an arm (Paul Skenes), and despite the buzz, I think Dylan Crews is still in play. That said, the chatter that he wasn’t their guy was hard to ignore. So if he’s off the table, that likely leaves Langford and Max Clark, and it could come down to whatever combination of agreement on talent and cost. There were scouts who felt Langford was just as good as Crews — or at least close — and would sign for less. And he’d be the “get to the big leagues faster” option over Clark.
The other former Florida product expected to go on the opening night is starting pitcher [autotag]Hurston Waldrep[/autotag], who Callis has going at No. 12 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After being tied to Houck for a while, the D-backs apparently prefer collegians. Lowder, Teel and Dollander would be in play if still available. If not, Waldrep would be the top pitching option and several college shortstops (Maryland’s Matt Shaw, Stanford’s Tommy Troy, Wilson) could be attractive.
Mayo also agreed that the right-hander is a first-round talent, he picked him to be taken by the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 18 overall.
Sticking with the Brewers breaking their college hitter streak by taking Waldrep, the last of the college arms that seems certain to go in the opening round. But if they can’t kick the habit, they could look at Schanuel or Davis.
Also mentioned was starting pitcher [autotag]Brandon Sproat[/autotag], who Callis believes will be taken at no. 39 overall by the Oakland Athletics.
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