This will conclude my three-part series looking at last year’s MLB Draft. Prior to Thursday’s 2016 MLB Draft, I will be writing up a preview along with a basic mock draft. Unlike football where fans and pundits alike spend months analyzing where players may go, baseball’s yearly draft is much hard to gauge. Nevertheless, it should be an informative article that gets you ready for Thursday’s draft!

MLB 2015 DRAFT REVIEW PART I

PART II

Round 1, Pick 21: Ashe Russell, RHP, Kansas City Royals

Age: 19

2015 Stats (Rookie League): 4.21 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 5.9K/9

Russell made 11 starts for Burlington in the Appalachian League with mixed results. He went three scoreless innings in his first start, but had a couple of clunkers along the way. The Royals clearly made an effort to monitor his innings as he pitched under five innings in all but one of his starts last season. His 5.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 aren’t great numbers, but Russell has a relatively high ceiling and plenty of time to grow. If you noticed that he’s posted zero stats so far this season, it’s because he’ll likely begin at Rookie League Idaho Falls. If he does well, he could see a late season promotion to Single-A.

Round 1, Pick 22: Beau Burrows, RHP, Detroit Tigers

Age: 19

2015 Stats (Rookie League): 1.61 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 10.6K/9

2016 Stats (Single-A): 2.01 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 6.0 K/9

The Tigers drafted Burrows at No. 22 overall last season and couldn’t be happier with the results so far. He’s a flamethrower that has shown the ability to reach the high-90s on the radar gun. The question is whether his secondary pitches will catch up to his above average fastball. His strikeouts are down this season, but so are his walks. Baseball America ranked Burrows the Tigers’ No. 2 overall prospect prior to the 2016 and could take the top spot now that Michael Fulmer is in the majors. Burrows is a lesser known name at this point that could pan out in a big way in a couple of years.

Round 1, Pick 23: Nick Plummer, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

Age: 19

2015 Stats (Rookie League): .228/.379/.344, 1 HR, 22 RBIs, 8 SB

Let’s go ahead and throw Plummer’s .228 average out the window for a minute and look at some of the positives in his numbers from last season. In his first professional season, Plummer walked at a 17.1 percent clip, which is exactly what he was supposed to do based on many scouting reports. He has a keen eye at the plate and has advanced patience in his approach. He also crossed the plate 43 times in 228 plate appearances and that can be tied directly to his on-base abilities. The power will come. If he’s a 10 homer guy, the Cardinals will be happy, but there is upside for more. St. Louis views Plummer as a potential top-of-the-order guy that they absolutely will not rush to the big leagues. It seems likely that Plummer will begin the season at Short-Season A State College.

Round 1, Pick 24: Walker Buehler, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 21

NO STATS ACCUMULATED

Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2015 and will not pitch this season.

Round 1, Pick 25: D.J. Stewart, OF, Baltimore Orioles

Age: 22

2015 Stats (Short-Season A): .218/.288/.345, 6 HR, 24 RBIs, 4 SB

2016 Stats (Single-A): .232/.378/.357, 4 HR, 21 RBIs, 13 SB

Stewart is a big boy that has plenty of pop in his bat. He weighs over 230 lbs. and it is remarkable that he’s been able to swipe 13 bags this year. Another number that pops out for Stewart this season is his .378 OBP. He’s drawn 35 walks to 46 strikeouts and has the early makings of power-walk-strikeout hitter. Stewart made adjustments to his batting stance prior to the 2016 season and while it’s translated well for his walk rate, his still having trouble making contact. He’ll be an interesting prospect to watch over the next calendar year.

Round 1, Pick 26: Taylor Ward, C, Los Angeles Angels

Age: 22

2015 Stats (Rookie League & Single-A): .348/.457/.438, 3 HR, 31 RBIs, 6 SB

2016 Stats (High-A): .229/.288/.266, 1 HR, 18 RBIs

Ward lit it up last season, posting gaudy numbers at two minor league stops. He’s hit somewhat of a brick wall this season after walking at a 20.6 percent clip last season while striking out just 5.7 percent of the time at Rookie League Orem. His BABIP is .277 this year; it was .360 at Rookie League and .406 at Single-A, respectively. Even if last season proves to be a minor league outlier, Ward is exceptional behind the plate and that alone will allow him to ascend through the minors. He has a chance to be the Angels’ full-time catcher by 2018.

Round 1, Pick 27:  Mike Nikorak, RHP, Colorado Rockies

Age: 19

2015 Stats (Rookie League): 11.72 ERA, 3.28 WHIP, 16.3 BB/9, 7.1 K/9

Brutal. That is the only word you can use to describe Nikorak’s first stint in professional baseball. His numbers were awful, but the good news is that he’s young enough to brush it off and start fresh this season. Nikorak chose to stay in Arizona over the winter to get extra work and is hoping that 2016 will bring better results. He will likely begin the season at Short-Season A Boise.

Round 1, Pick 28:  Michael Soroka, RHP, Atlanta Braves

Age: 18

2015 Stats (Rookie League): 3.18 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 9.8K/9

2016 Stats (Single-A): 3.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 8.3 K/9

The Braves drafted Soroka out of Canada, something you rarely see. He’s done well at all three levels since signing with Atlanta and has been able to post a steady strikeout rate of about a batter per inning (8.8 K/9). Along with his strikeout rate, Soroka has done an impressive job keeping the walks down, average just 1.9 free passes per nine innings over his first 11 games (10 starts). Soroka will likely receive a promotion in the second-half of the season and finish the year at High-A Carolina.

Round 1, Pick 29:  Jon Harris, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 22

2015 Stats (Short-Season A): 6.75 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, 8.0 K/9

2016 Stats (Single-A): 2.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 8.4 K/9

Harris has shown growth so far in 2016. After struggling with walks last year, he’s been able to cut his walk rate from 5.25 to 3.64. Harris has been very good this season, even pitching a stretch of six scoreless games.  He was drafted twice by Toronto, first in 2012 and then again in 2015. Given his success to date, he should rise quickly through the minor leagues and could reach the majors some time next season.

Round 1, Pick 30:  Kyle Holder, SS, New York Yankees

Age: 22

2015 Stats (Short-Season A): .213/.273/.253, 23 Runs, 12 RBIS, 6 SB

2016 Stats (Single-A): .288/.320/.349, 18 Runs, 4 SB

The Yankees grabbed Holder as a compensatory pick late in the first round. He’s known more for his defense, but many scouts think he could hit for a high average when he settles in at the major league level. He’s yet to hit his first professional home run, but clearly, he’s not known for his power. New York is hoping that Holder can be their shortstop of the future.

Round 1, Pick 31:  Chris Shaw, 1B, San Francisco Giants

Age: 22

2015 Stats (Short-Season A): .287/.360/.551, 12 HR, 30 RBIs, 22 Runs

2016 Stats (High-A): .292/.364/.559, 12 HR, 41 RBIs, 37 Runs

These are exactly the type of numbers you want from a first baseman. Shaw is making it look easy in the minor leagues and could see himself in Double-A by the time the season concludes. The power-hitting left-hander has posted an OPS over .900 in both of his minor league stops and could be a fixture in San Francisco’s lineup as soon at late-2017.

Round 1, Pick 32:  Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age: 19

2015 Stats (Rookie League & Short-Season A):.308/.408/.346, 32 Runs, 20 RBIs, 8 SB

2016 Stats (Single-A): .282/.332/.412, 5 HR, 29 RBIs, 4 SB

There is a lot to like about Hayes and the Pirates are certainly excited at his prospects. Hayes wasn’t viewed as a big-time power guy coming out of the draft, so his six home runs at West Virginia so far this season are quite impressive. He’s still a few years away, but could be Pittsburgh’s answer at third base in the future.

Round 1, Pick 33:  Nolan Watson, RHP, Kansas City Royals

Age: 19

2015 Stats (Rookie League): 4.91 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 4.9K/9

2016 Stats (Single-A): 8.72 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 6.6 K/9

It’s been a struggle so far for Watson as he’s allowed 12.0 hits per nine innings over his first 71.2 innings. His lack of strikeouts isn’t helping matters either. He will probably spend the entire season at Single-A in hope of getting things straightened out.

Round 1, Pick 34:  Christin Stewart, OF, Detroit Tigers

Age: 22

2015 Stats (Rookie League, Short-Season A, Single-A):.285/.372/.508, 10 HR, 44 RBIs, 5 SB

2016 Stats (High-A): .255/.395/.561, 16 HR, 38 RBIs

Two things we know about Stewart are that he has serious power and he’s on the fast track to the majors. He will likely never be a high average guy, but his exceptional power can offset that. Even if he does strikeout a lot, he’s going to draw his fair share of walks. Over his first 544 plate appearances, Stewart has 67 walks compared to 124 strikeouts. It won’t be long before he’s promoted to Double-A Erie.

Round 1, Pick 35:  Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

PLAYER DID NOT SIGN

Round 1, Pick 36:  Ryan Mountcastle, SS, BaltimoreOrioles

Age: 19

2015 Stats (Rookie League & Short-Season A): .296/.325/.393, 4 HR, 19 RBIs, 10 SB

2015 Stats (Single-A): .261/.341/.379, 2 HR, 12 RBIs

The Orioles grabbed Mountcastle with the last pick in the first round strictly as a hitter. He’s had issues on the field that Baltimore is hoping he can improve on, but they felt as though his bat was too good to pass up. He has a lanky frame and the Orioles expect him to fill it out and develop more power. Where he ends up on the field is an intriguing question, but if his bat pans out, the Orioles will find a spot for him.