2022 MLB Draft Picks: Live Team-by-Team Day 1 Grades and Analysis

Mike Letterman

Jul 18, 2022, 2:56 AM
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Joel ReuterJuly 17, 2022

Georgia Tech catcher Kevin Parada (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)

The Bleacher Report has a draft tracker.

For the second year in a row, the draft will be held during All-Star weekend, with this year's event expected to last three days and 20 rounds. The first day will include the first 80 selections over the first and second rounds.

There is a lack of high-end pitching talent due to injuries at the high school and college levels.

A loaded crop of elite high school hitters gives this draft class a chance to be a special group in the future.

As the draft unfolds for scouting reports, grades and pick analysis, keep it locked here.

The last mock draft can be found here.

Photo Credit: Josh Dean Photography

The first round has Jackson Holliday from the high school in the state of Oklahoma.

He showed a more disciplined approach after selling out for power too often last summer. He has room to add strength to his athletic 6'1", 175-pound frame, even though his offensive profile is more hit than power at the moment. He has the potential to be a five-tool player at the position.

A+ is the grade.

He had a legitimate case for being the best prospect in this class after his stock rose. We don't know what Druw Jones will turn into.

There are two balance rounds in the overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two balance rounds, one overall and one balance round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Photo Credit: Kate Adent

The first round was chaired by Druw Jones.

Druw Jones has plenty of projection left in many aspects of his game, most notably his power potential with room to grow into his 180 pound frame. There's a lot to like about him and he makes hard contact. He has an elite glove in center field and is the son of Andruw Jones, who won 10 Gold Gloves. All signs point to a future as an All-Star center fielder, even though he has some things to smooth out with his swing.

There is a grade of A+.

There is a consensus best player in the draft. There is more that needs to be said. The 2012 draft felt a lot like 2012 when the Houston Astros went with Carlos Correa instead of using the top pick on a player. Everyone was happy with that.

There are two balance rounds in the overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File

Kumar Rocker is in the first round.

The Mets agreed to terms on a $6 million signing bonus with Kumar Rocker, the 10th overall pick in the 2021 draft, but then withdrew their offer due to concerns about his elbow and shoulder. He signed with the indy ball Tri-City ValleyCats for what amounted to a five-start showcase after sitting out the 2022 season due to a shoulder injury. It's been a weird process to get to this point, but the power and ace upside are still there.

A grade of C is assigned.

Wow! The Rangers only had one Day 1 pick after they signed Marcus Semien andCorey Seager. Rocker's deal with the Mets fell through due to arm concerns, but his stuff is still electric if he stays healthy. He improved his draft stock by sitting out a year.

Photo Credit: Mays High School

Termarr Johnson is a student at Mays High School in Georgia.

Johnson has the ability to be a great batter. The offensive game of the scout was a combination of Wade Boggs' plate discipline and the bat-to-ball skills of the man. He has power in his generously listed 175 pound frame thanks to his bat speed and elite ability to find the barrel. He would be the No. 1 player in the draft class, but an average arm and limited range would make him switch to second base. He has shown time and again that he can hit, from his performance on the showcase circuit to his play with Team USA.

There was a grade of A.

Johnson can be a cornerstone of the next Pirates team along with Henry Davis and rising star Oneil Cruz. In a few years, this is going to be a great team.

There are balance rounds in the overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

The second round is ranked 44th overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images

The first round had a player from the Florida area.

Green has a rare 70 power and 70 speed profile from Baseball America that might be the highest ceiling of any player in the draft. His ability to catch up to speed in the zone and to recognize breaking stuff are some of the questions about his hit tool. The son of Pro Bowl tight end Eric Green, he has an athletic 6'3",225-pound frame that belies his youth, and one could make a strong case that he has the best power tool in the 2022. He has a lot of risk but he has a lot of potential.

There was a grade of A.

The Nationals hope they have found their next star in Green. It's the perfect risk for a team looking for a long-term identity.

The second round is ranked 45th overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Jacob Berry is from LSU.

He slashed his strikeout rate while facing a tough SEC schedule and showed some of the best raw power in the nation with 15 home runs. His long-term home is not likely to be third base, though scouts are split on where he'll end up defensively. First base, right field and the designated hitter are possible landing spots.

A grade.

The pick makes sense because the team is closer to contention than most teams drafting in the top 10 and they need offense.

The second round is ranked 46th overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Eric Francis/Getty Images

The first round had a pitcher.

While seeing more time at third base than he did on the mound, he sent his stock soaring with a 2.61 earned run average and 49 strikeouts over five playoff starts. His clean, repeatable mechanics make him a two-way contributor, and his combination of two-pitches stacks up to any two- pitch mix in the class. His track record is very limited after missing all of his freshman season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

A grade of C is assigned.

The Cubs' recent track record of developing pitching and Horton's limited collegiate success make this difficult to comprehend. This looks like the same thing the Kansas City Royals did last year when they took Frank Mozzicato in the first round.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

The first round had a Cal Poly player.

Lee slid to the 35th round because he wanted to play for his dad at Cal Poly. His stock has gone up over time. Even with a likely move to second or third base, the switch-hitter has plenty of impact potential even with a potentially elite hit tool.

There is a grade of A+.

The best college bat in the draft was selected by the Twins, who were rumored to be focused on college bats. Lee's offensive game will be put under more pressure eventually, but he's given every reason to believe in it this year. He will be placed ahead of Austin Martin on their organizational rankings.

The second round is ranked 48th overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two balance rounds, one overall and one balance round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The first round has a Virginia Tech baseball player in it.

After hitting 11 home runs in a single season for the first time in his career in the 2021 season, he followed that up with a terrific run with Team USA over the summer, putting him squarely in the first-round conversation. He continued to impress this spring, hitting.328/.411/.660 with 17 home runs, 50 RBI and 12 steals to cement his status as one of the elite college hitters in the 2022 class. While he has played center field at Virginia Tech, he'll likely shift to a corner spot as a pro, and he has the offensive profile and arm strength to be a good fit in right field.

A+ is the grade.

The future of the Royals outfield is a major question mark, and this helps plug a hole in the long-term picture. The type of player the Royals should be targeting at this stage in their rebuild is Cross.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

AP Photo/Jennifer Stewart

Gabriel Hughes is the first round pitcher.

Gabriel Hughes was one of the few top-tier college pitchers who was healthy and productive for the entire of the 2022. The right-handed pitcher has a mid-90s fastball that can reach triple-digits and a wipeout pitch that sits in the low-90s. He threw a dud against Columbia in his last start of the season, but there's a lot to like about his long-term upside as a potential workhorse starter.

There was a grade of A.

I give the Rockies a low grade when they ignore their need for pitching in favor of another corner infielder, so it's only fair to give them the A grade after they finally took an arm. The floor over the ceiling is fine.

Sterlin Thompson of Florida was the compensation round.

One of the best pure hitters in the country, Sterlin Thompson is a polished hitter who is still working to tap into his power potential. The outfielder hit.354/.443/.563 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 51 runs scored this spring. He saw time at second base in college, but the corner outfield spot is his most likely position at the next level.

A grade.

With so many college bats still on the board, the Rockies should have taken two pitchers to start their draft class. A guy most expected to go somewhere in the 20s is getting a good deal here.

There are balance rounds in the overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

AP Photo/Robert Franklin

Georgia Tech's Kevin Parada was the first round winner.

One of the best offensive players in the country, Kevin Parada hit.361/.450/.709 with 26 home runs and 88 runs scored in 60 games as a sophomore at Georgia Tech. He trimmed his strikeout rate and improved his walk rate to give him one of the most well-rounded offensive profiles in the class. He has worked hard to improve his defense, but he will never be a better defender. His future value will be driven by his middle-of- the-order offensive potential.

There is a grade of A+.

The Mets don't have much of a concern about Parada's defense, as he is penciled in as the catcher of the future, and that's much less of a problem. His bat can be quickly moved to the majors with a position change.

Jett Williams is from Rockwall-Heath High school.

Jett Williams was one of the best performers on the showcase circuit last summer and his stock was climbing in the weeks leading up to the draft. He makes consistent hard contact with his bat despite being undersized and has good barrel control. He's an up-the-middle player with a plus hit tool who can impact the game with his speed and athletic ability.

There was a grade of A.

I got it on my mock draft. Williams is an up-the-middle player who can complement Parada. When teams have two first-round picks, I always like the one college player approach.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

The compensation round is the 75th overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Texas Tech's Jace Jung is in the first round.

He is one of the best pure hitters in the class with a 60 hit/60 power offensive profile that should translate well to the next level. His swing can get long at times but he has power to all fields. Most of his value will come from his bat as he profiles as an average defender at second base and third base and doesn't run very well, but he could be a.300 average and 30- homer guy.

A grade.

It's possible that Jung could be in the majors by late 2023 or early 2024, which is in line with what the tigers are building. This is a good value despite his late-season struggles.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

AP Photo/John Amis

The 13th overall is the first round.

The Big South's Player of the Year in both of the next two years,.409 BA, 1.234 OPS, 32 XBH, and.407 BA, 1.283 OPS, 40 XBH, proved himself against tougher competition. He has a lot of moving parts to his setup at the plate, but it hasn't been an issue. He has a strong arm and is a two-way player, so he should be able to stay at short.

A-

It would have been great to see the Angels go with a higher upside play since they had their pick of high school arms. They haven't done the best job of developing pitching recently, so this could be the right move.

Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Dylan Lesko is a pitcher at Buford High School in Georgia.

Dylan Lesko had Tommy John surgery in April after he injured his elbow. He has one of the best changeups at any level of baseball, and he can also throw a decent curve, but it's not always reliable. If he comes back to pre-injury form, he could be the steal of the draft.

There is a grade of A+.

There are two in a row. The Padres took a chance on Cal Quantrill when he was recovering from Tommy John surgery, so they are no strangers to this type of risk. The steal of the draft could be this one.

There are balance rounds in the overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

AP Photo/Mike Caudill

James Madison's Chase DeLauter is in the first round.

Chase DeLauter has a big frame and looks like a middle-of-the-order hitter. His junior season at James Madison was cut short when he broke his foot, but he had 17 extra-base hits and 10 stolen bases in 24 games before the injury. He went 3-for-14 with eight strikeouts against some good Florida State pitching in the season- opening series, raising questions about his ability to hit high-level pitching, but he also had a.986 OPS with nine home runs in the Cape Cod League last summer.

A grade of C is assigned.

I didn't think DeLauter would be the first college outfielder taken after Cross, but it's not surprising the team likes to target loud carrying tools. Is he good at hitting quality pitching?

There are two balance rounds, one overall and one balance round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There is a first round.

The son of a former All-Star, Justin Crawford is one of the best athletes in the class of 2022. While elite speed and solid center field defense are his best present tools, his 6'3", 175 pound frame holds significant offensive upside, and he has been climbing draft boards. He has good bat-to-ball skills and uses his speed well, but he needs to refine his approach if he wants to be more than a slap-and-dash hitter.

There was a grade of A.

I preach over and over again that teams don't draft for need in the MLB draft, but it's nice to see the Phils take a center fielder It's hard to argue with those bloodlines that Crawford's stock was on the rise.

Photo Credit: Chipola College Athletics

The first round had a 3 baseman.

After being one of the top prospects in the 2023 draft class, he reclassified, got his GED, and went to Chipola College, where he hit.333 with 20 extra-base hits and 47 runs scored in 52 games. One of the best hit tools in the class is the son of a former MLB utility man. He should be able to stick at the hot corner because of his arm that delivered low-90s fastballs on the mound. Tim Anderson was the last JUCO hitter to be drafted in the first round.

There is a grade of A+.

I'm a big fan of the value in the back half of the first round, so clearly, I had Collier going No. 4 overall. The payoff could be an All-Star third baseman, even though he will take some time to develop.

There is a compensation round.

With a strong 6'3", 215-pound frame and a long track record of success on the showcase circuit, Sal Stewart is one of the better power bats in the high school crop. He showed an improved hit tool this spring to go along with 60-grade raw power and there is reason to believe he can be a well-rounded offensive player. He has good hands and good feet at third base, which will allow him to start his pro career at the hot corner.

A grade of C is assigned.

In the past, the Reds have bet on power over polished, but that hasn't worked out to their advantage. Maybe this will save them some money in the end.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two balance rounds, one overall and one balance round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Daniel Susac is from Arizona in the first round.

The National Co-Freshman of the Year in 2021, Daniel Susac followed up his stellar collegiate debut with an even better sophomore season, hitting.............. The National Co His all-fields power will play at the next level despite some swing-and-misses. He is a solid defender due to his strong arm and receiving skills. Kevin Parada has an offensive ceiling but he is a morerounded catcher.

There was a grade of A.

The A's were already loaded with young catching talent with the likes of Sean Murphy and Tyler Soderstrom in the big league. This is one of the best value picks of the first round because of the lack of quality backstops.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two balance rounds, one overall and one balance round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Owen Murphy is in the first round.

He has the potential to be a power hitting infielder. There's a bright future for the mound with three quality offspeed pitches and a fast pitch. A terrific run with the USA Baseball 18U National Team last summer proved he can thrive against high-level competition and the only real knock is his 190-pound frame.

A grade.

Murphy was a man among boys in Illinois, and his stock was going up in a big way this spring. The Braves have a great arm.

There are balance rounds in the overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

The compensation round was overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Photo Credit: North Allegheny Athletics

Cole Young is a sophomore at North Allegheny High School in Pennsylvania.

Cole Young does not have the same loud carrying tools as some of the other top high school prospects in the class, but he is a well-rounded infielder with an extremely high floor thanks to his overall polish. His compact left-handed swing and good bat-to-ball skills give him a plus hit tool and he pairs that with above average speed to be a solid defensive shortstop at the next level. His profile holds a lot of future value because he has been compared to Adam Frazier with more extra- base pop.

A+ is the grade.

There is no such thing as too much middle infield talent, and the M's have added another quality infielder from the prep ranks. We've been looking at the college ranks for a long time, are we seeing a new trend?

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two balance rounds in the overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

AP Photo/Amanda Loman

Oregon State's Cooper Hjerpe is in the first round.

Cooper Hjerpe used a deceptive crossfire delivery and a polished three- pitch mix to carve up college hitters this spring, and he went 11-2 with a 2.53 earned run average. His stuff is not overpowering, with a fastball that sits in the low 90's and two offspeed pitches delivered from a low three-quarters arm slot. That limits his overall ceiling to somewhere in the middle of an MLB rotation, but he's a prototypical high floor college lefty with advanced pitchability who should move quickly through the minor leagues.

There was a grade of A.

They have drafted college arms in the first round many times. If Hjerpe is the first pitcher from the 2022 class to make it to the majors, that's a good sign.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Brandon Barriera is from American Heritage High School in Florida.

Brandon Barriera doesn't offer much in the way of projection, but his present stuff makes him one of the top high school arms in a thin class. He backs his fastball with two other pitches that both already rate as above-average pitches with plus potential. He gives himself every chance to be a starter at the highest level by throwing a lot of strikes and going after hitters.

A grade.

Brock Porter, a highly-touted prep pitcher who slid, is a perfect fit for the BlueJays. Barriera is one of the best high school arms in the class because of his present stuff.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

The compensation round was overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

The compensation round was overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There is a first round for the overall.

After struggling early in the spring playing for Orange Lutheran, he rounded into form as the season went on. He has a good approach at the plate with quick hands and a smooth left-handed swing, but he needs to add strength to his frame to be an impact player. He's a good bet to stay at the infield with a strong arm and good range.

A grade of C is assigned.

This still feels like a reach and a low upside play relative to some of the other players on the board, despite the fact that the decision to reach for Nick Yorke has worked out well for them.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

The compensation round is overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

AP Photo/Amanda Loman

The first round was dominated by Spencer Jones.

Spencer Jones was one of the best two-way prospects in the draft, but he missed most of the 2021 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The potential is there for him to be an impact offensive player, even though his swing can get long at times, and he's still learning to tap into his power potential.

A+ is the grade.

A big outfielder is still trying to get his power going. The Yankees know how to get the most out of prospects. Judge only hit 18 home runs in 169 games at the school.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images

The first round was Noah Schultz, LHP.

Noah Shultz missed a significant chunk of his senior season recovering from mononucleosis, and scouts didn't get to see much of him in the cold weather. The potential for more as he grows into his frame is exciting. A rare athlete for his size, he does a great job repeating his mechanics. He is expected to be a difficult sign away from his commitment to the school.

A grade.

The White Sox had a good chance to see him this spring because he played his high school ball about 40 miles from Guaranteed Rate Field. It makes me more confident of a good grade.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

The first round had Eric Brown Jr., of Coastal Carolina.

Eric Brown has a unique batting stance, which is similar to that of Craig Counsell. It seems to work, as he hit.330/.460/.544 with 28 extra-base hits, though it could need some work. Concerns about the level of competition he faced in the Sun Belt Conference were alleviated by the fact that he was an All-Star last summer. The five-foot, 190-pound infielder has a plus hit tool and should be able to stay at his position.

A-

Counsell gets to oversee the development of the man known for his weird batting stance. It's surprising that the Brewers didn't go that route with the high-ceiling arms they still had on the board.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two balance rounds, one overall and one balance round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Drew Gilbert is in the first round.

Drew Gilbert increased his draft stock more than any other college hitter. The 21-year-old improved his batting average by more than 300 points from his sophomore numbers. His frame raises questions about his long term power potential, but he has quick hands and finds the barrel frequently. He is one of the few clean fits in center field in a deep crop of collegiate corner outfielders because of his strong arm and ability to throw the ball.

A grade of C is assigned.

The Astros have a high-floor center fielder on the board. Gilbert was one of the stars of the college season, but I would have liked to see what the Astros could do with the other two players.

There are two rounds in the second round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

The compensation round is the 80th overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

The first round of the first round has been completed.

It's difficult to believe that the North Carolina prep star is only 18. He missed the bulk of his junior season and all of last summer's showcase circuit with a foot injury, but there's a lot to like about his smooth left-handed swing, excellent bat speed and his plus raw power. He needs to hit his way to the big leagues because he is a below average athlete.

A grade

The rest of the league is smart when it comes to talent recognition and development, but this one is a bit odd. The risk of a prep player with a first-base only profile is very high. Maybe they already have something lined up for their second pick since this will save them a lot of money.

The second round is ranked 65th overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two balance rounds, one overall and one balance round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

There are two balance rounds, one overall and one balance round.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.

Reggie Crawford is the first round pick.

While he was a pitcher for Team USA last summer, he only threw eight totalinnings in his two years at Connecticut, making him a huge risk of the dice. With three years of college eligibility remaining, he was able to bet on himself with a return to campus.

There was a grade of A.

Crawford was announced as a two-way player by the Giants, which will be interesting to watch. If he can return to his pre-injury form, the upside is worth the risk, even if he eventually turns his attention to pitching.

The second round is ranked 66th overall.

Is that a thing?

There is a grade of X.