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Over the past few weeks, some of our fellow baseball writers here at SB Nation have been working to set up a mock draft with a representative from every team’s respective SBN site. Given a chance to play scouting director/GM for the day, here is how the first round of the 2021 MLB draft played out for the Yankees.
Pick 1: Pirates – Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep HS
Pick 2: Rangers – Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS
Pick 3: Tigers – Jack Leiter, SP, Vanderbilt University
Pick 4: Red Sox – Henry Davis, C, University of Louisville
Pick 5: Orioles – Khalil Watson, SS, Wake Forest HS
Pick 6: Diamondbacks – Kumar Rocker, SP, Vanderbilt University
Pick 7: Royals – Brady House, SS, Winder-Barrow HS
Pick 8: Rockies – Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College
Pick 9: Angels – Jackson Jobe, SP, Heritage Hill HS
Pick 10: Mets – Ty Madden, SP, University of Texas
Pick 11: Nationals – Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston University
Pick 12: Mariners – Jordan Wicks, SP, Kansas State
Pick 13: Phillies – Gunnar Hoglund, SP, University of Mississippi
Pick 14: Giants – Benny Montgomery, CF, Red Land HS
Pick 15: Brewers – Matt McLain, SS, UCLA
Pick 16: Marlins – Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS
Pick 17: Reds – Andrew Painter, SP, Calvary Christian HS
Pick 18: Cardinals – Sam Bachman, SP, University of Miami (Ohio)
Pick 19: Blue Jays – Gavin Williams, SP, East Carolina University
Pick 20: Yankees – Will Bednar, SP, Mississippi State University
Going into this exercise, I focused on pitching, as a look at the system to me shows that there is a need for another big influx of young pitching at the lower levels of the minor leagues. Top arms that have been linked to the Yankees and could’ve been available to the Yankees in some scenarios like Gunnar Hoglund, Andrew Painter, Sam Bachman, and Gavin Williams all came off the board before I had a chance to make a selection. In a way, it felt easier than I had expected, as Bednar, the College World Series, Most Outstanding Player with a strong Southeastern Conference pedigree seems to check all of the boxes that the Yankees are looking for in a high draft pick.
I also considered the Yankees’ recent trend towards middle infielders with strong hit tools. Trey Sweeney, Colson Montgomery, Connor Norby, Peyton Stovall, and Tyler Black were all names I considered heading into the mock draft. Sweeney in particular has been linked to the Yankees, and his future projection as a third baseman would also fit a position of need inside the Yankees organization. Depending on how the draft plays out, one or more of those names could still be in play for the Yankees in the second round when they pick 55th overall.
At the end of the day, Bednar would be an outstanding get for the Yankees with the 20th overall pick if he is there on Sunday night. His stock was climbing throughout the spring and reached another level after his amazing effort on college baseball’s biggest stage.
The remaining picks of the first round were:
Pick 21: Cubs - Michael McGreevy, SP, UC- Santa Barbara
Pick 22: White Sox - Colson Montgomery, SS, Southridge HS
Pick 23: Cleveland – Bubba Chandler, SP/SS, North Oconee HS
Pick 24: Braves – Trey Sweeney, SS, Eastern Illinois
Pick 25: A’s – Will Taylor – CF, Dutch Fork HS
Pick 26: Twins – Judd Fabian, CF, University of Florida
Pick 27: Padres – Izaac Pacheco, 3B, Friendswood HS
As of this moment, the last two picks of the first round did not come through, as there were a few technical and scheduling difficulties throughout the day.