Tons of talent taken on Day 2 of the Draft

After a wild first day of the 2022 MLB Draft covering Rounds 1 and 2, eight compensation picks and Competitive Balance Rounds A and B, Day 2, which covered Rounds 3-10, saw plenty of talent go off the board. Below are some of the more notable picks made before the Draft concludes on Tuesday. Day 3 of the Draft will include Rounds 11-20 and starts at 2 p.m. ET, with no delay between selections, all heard on MLB.com.

• Day 1 analysis | Draft Central | Tracker | Pools & pick values | Top 250

ROUND 3

Pick 1 (81st overall), Orioles: Nolan McLean, 3B/RHP, Oklahoma State (Ranked No. 115 on MLB Pipeline's Draft Prospects list): Baltimore went with a legit two-way talent to begin the third round. McLean slugged 19 homers this spring for the Cowboys and also struck out 39 batters over 25 ⅓ innings. He has three above-average pitches, but the power and defensive arm might earn him a look as a position player with the O’s.

Pick 9 (89th overall): Angels, Ben Joyce, RHP, Tennessee (No. 112): 105. That’s what you need to know. Joyce went way beyond triple-digits to touch 105 mph out of the Volunteers' bullpen this season. His mid-80s slider might be a better swing-and-miss pitch, but it’s the velo that’s always going to pop for the 6-foot-5 reliever.

• He throws 105 mph … and the Angels just drafted him

Pick 14 (94th overall): Reds: Bryce Hubbart, LHP, Florida State (No. 72): Hubbart tied for the Cape Cod League in strikeouts last summer, pushing up Draft boards heading into 2022. The Seminoles southpaw throws in the low-90s with high spin rates, and his curveball, slider and changeup should help him compete for a starting place in the Cincinnati system.

Pick 20 (100th overall): Yankees, Trystan Vrieling, RHP, Gonzaga (No. 71): Gabriel Hughes went 10th overall on Day 1, and Vierling gives the Bulldogs' pitching staff another arm in the top three rounds. The 6-foot-4 right-hander moved to the rotation this season with a four-pitch mix, and he’s at his best when he’s commanding his low-90s fastball and deceiving with an above-average changeup.

Pick 21 (101st overall): White Sox, Jonathan Cannon, RHP, Georgia (No. 60): Chicago found an absolute control artist in the third round. The 6-foot-6 right-hander walked only 12 batters in 13 starts this spring. He sports an upper-80s cutter that is his best pitch.

ROUND 4

Pick 3 (109th overall): Rangers, Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary’s Prep (Mich.) HS (No. 11): Texas worked its strategy to perfection. The Rangers shocked many by taking Kumar Rocker at No. 3 overall Sunday, but the organization, which lacked a second- and third-round pick, looks primed to use the bonus-pool savings on MLB Pipeline’s top pitcher in this class. Porter already throws in the mid-90s, touches 100 and shows an above-average slider and plus changeup. He was Gatorade’s National Player of the Year after posting a 0.41 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 58 innings. More >>

Pick 4 (110th overall): Pirates, Michael Kennedy, LHP, Troy (N.Y.) HS (No. 89): Make that five of MLB Pipeline’s Top 90 prospects heading to Pittsburgh. Kennedy will be looking to follow Ian Anderson’s path out of upstate New York, and his advanced feel for a slider and changeup should give him a chance to start in the pros, event at just 6-foot-1.

Pick 7 (113th overall): Cubs, Nazier Mule, RHP/SS, Passaic Tech (N.J.) (No. 94): The Cubs may have taken their third pitcher and their second shortstop of the class in the same selection. Mule showed off power in high-school showcase events last year but looks most likely to stay on the mound. He’s already throwing in the mid-90s and flashes an impressive slider, pitches that could play up if he sticks to pitching full-time.

Pick 12 (118th overall): Angels, Jake Madden, RHP, Northwest Florida State JC (No. 93): This could make two high-velo relievers for the Halos. Madden can touch 98 mph with a heavy fastball that can break bats as well as miss them. He’s already had Tommy John surgery and he's dealt with blister issues, but his combination of stuff and size (6-foot-6) could have him moving quickly, should he rein in command issues.

Pick 27 (133rd overall): Astros, Trey Dombroski III, LHP, Monmouth (No. 111): Houston may have picked up the best control in the entire Draft by taking the Monmouth southpaw. The 6-foot-5 lefty walked only 10 batters in 95 innings, and that strike-throwing ability came with a full bevy of four pitches. The stuff may not match his size, but the command and control could make him a No. 5 starter in time.

ROUND 5

Pick 7 (143rd overall): Cubs, Brandon Birdsell, RHP, Texas Tech (No. 101): It isn’t often you find two plus pitches in the fifth round, but the Cubs seem to have done that here. Birdsell’s mid-90s fastball and good breaking slider helped him win Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honors this spring and could get him moving quickly toward Wrigleyville. The downside: He has a history of elbow and rotator cuff issues, causing this slide.

Pick 10 (146th overall): Rockies, Connor Staine, RHP, Central Florida (No. 88): A transfer from Maryland, Staine didn’t allow an earned run until mid-April this spring and finished with a 1.87 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 43 ⅓ innings in his first season with Central Florida. He has touched the mid-90s in the past and shows the makings of a decent slider and changeup. Staine is the fourth pitcher selected by the Rockies, a club that needs to develop arms for the elevation of Coors Field.

Pick 11 (147th overall): Tigers, Luke Gold, INF, Boston College (No. 87): The Eagles had a solid group of 2021 Draft picks in Sal Frelick (first round) and Cody Morisette (second round), and Gold leads the group this summer. A career .303 hitter with BC, the 21-year-old could be an above-average hitter at the next level with decent power. He does have experience at second base but might have to slide over to third base in deference to first-rounder Jace Jung in the Detroit pipeline.

Pick 23 (159th overall): Red Sox, Noah Dean, LHP, Old Dominion (No. 124): Old Dominion’s most famous pitching alum is Justin Verlander, but expect Dean to try to reach Boston as a reliever. Expect a lot of high fastballs. The 6-foot-2 left-hander throws in the mid-90s with good riding life – a big reason why he throws the heater 80% of the time – and his 2-to-7 breaking ball keeps hitters off balance too.

Pick 29 (165th overall): Dodgers, Sean McLain, SS, Arizona State (No. 161): The name should be familiar to prospect fans. McLain is the brother of 2021 first-rounder and Top 100 prospect Matt McLain, currently plying his trade in the Reds system. This McLain heads to the NL West as an above-average runner who can also make hard contact at the plate. A limited arm probably keeps him at second base in the pros.

ROUND 6

Pick 8 (174th overall): Twins, Jorel Ortega, 2B, Tennessee (No. 222): How does this sound? Ortega, who wasn’t even on the Volunteers' travel team earlier in his NCAA career, had more extra-base hits (42) than strikeouts (40) this spring. His breakout was one of the keys to making Tennessee one of the best regular-season teams in recent college history, and he’s the seventh Vol off the board.

Pick 9 (175th overall): Royals, Hayden Dunhurst, C, Ole Miss (No. 155): Dunhurst won the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove for his defensive work at backstop, and scouts believe he’ll continue to be at least above-average behind the plate in the pros. He’ll need to hit to keep his space as an everyday catcher, but you can bet the Royals don’t mind getting him fresh off a College World Series title with the Rebels.

Pick 15 (181st overall): Guardians, Dylan DeLucia, RHP, Ole Miss: Speaking of Ole Miss stars, DeLucia may never have to pay for a meal in Oxford again after winning College World Series Most Outstanding Player honors this spring. Among his exploits, the 6-foot-1 right-hander tossed a four-hit shutout against Arkansas that sent Ole Miss to the finals, and he heads to a Cleveland system known for developing pitching.

Pick 21 (187th overall): Cardinals, Max Rajcic, RHP, UCLA (No. 172): Four of the Cards’ six picks to this point have been college pitchers. Rajcic fits the St. Louis bill as a hurler who thrives best with his pitchability over pure stuff, and the Cardinals could squeeze more stuff out of him as they’ve done with Gordon Graceffo (among others) in 2022. Rajcic posted a 3.28 ERA with 92 strikeouts and 20 walks in 85 innings this season with the Bruins.

Pick 29 (195th overall): Dodgers, Logan Wagner, 3B, P27 Academy (S.C.) (No. 133): An Illinois native, Wagner transferred to a South Carolina school to face better competition, and the move may have helped him secure a spot in the top six rounds. He has plus raw power as a switch-hitter, thanks to promising strength and bat speed, and could be the next young position player to pop in the Los Angeles pipeline. While he was a shortstop in school, his fringe speed likely leads to a move to second or third with the Dodgers.

ROUND 7

Pick 3 (199th overall): Rangers, Luis Ramirez, RHP, Long Beach State (No. 143): Shoulder issues may have kept Ramirez out of the first five rounds, but when he’s on, he has the three-pitch mix and solid control to belong in that conversation. His best asset might be a low-90s sinking fastball that generated ground balls at a rate around 60%.

Pick 9 (205th overall): Royals, Mack Anglin, RHP, Clemson (No. 179): It’s all spin here for the 6-foot-4 right-hander. Both Anglin’s mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball grade out as plus potential pitches, and that helped him be Clemson’s No. 1 starter each of the past two seasons. His 92-95-mph fastball can be hittable, however, and he may play best as a reliever because of lackluster control.

Pick 17 (213rd overall): Reds, Trey Faltine, SS, Texas (No. 162): The Longhorns shortstop is one of the better college defenders in the class with the hands, range and arm to stick at the six. He could also move around as needed because his bat is well behind the glove. He could be in for a swing overhaul in the Cincy system.

Pick 22 (218th overall): Blue Jays, Peyton Williams, 1B, Iowa: First-base-only types need to show power, and Williams has the easy plus-plus raw pop to fit the profile. The All-Big Ten First Teamer hit .335/.464/.622 with 13 homers and an even 35/35 K/BB ratio this spring for the Hawkeyes.

Pick 30 (226th overall): Giants, Zach Morgan, C, Fresno State (No. 248): Morgan becomes the first Fresno State catcher to go in the top 10 rounds since Taylor Ward was a first-rounder in 2019, and he stays in-state. A finalist for the Buster Posey Award as the nation’s top catcher, the former Bulldog batted .385 over 55 games this spring and struck out only 6.7% of the time. A lack of power could hurt him in the pro game.

ROUND 8

Pick 2 (228th overall): D-backs, Adrian Rodriguez, SS, International Baseball Academy (No. 171): Mariners shortstop Edwin Arroyo went from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy to MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, and the D-backs hope Rodriguez can follow a similar path. Rodriguez is already considered a good runner and has the glove and throwing ability to stay at short. Like Arroyo, Rodriguez will need to add strength at the plate, and he’ll have plenty of time to do that in the Arizona system.

Pick 7 (233rd overall): Cubs, Mason McGwire, RHP, Capistrano Valley (Calif.) HS: Mark’s son stays in the NL Central, albeit on the other side of the rivalry. Should he sign away from his Oklahoma commitment, McGwire brings a fastball in the low-90s and shows a decent mid-70s splitter.

Pick 15 (241st overall): Guardians, Jackson Humphries, LHP, Fuquay-Varina (N.C.) HS (No. 128): Humphries will turn 18 on Wednesday, making him one of the youngest pitchers in this class, and he may have only slipped because his stuff wasn’t quite as sharp in the spring. When he’s on, he showcases a 93-95 mph fastball along with a high-spin slider and curve. It’ll be on Cleveland to sign him away from a Campbell commitment and get his arsenal back on track.

ROUND 9

Pick 8 (264th overall): Twins, Cory Lewis, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (No. 238): Who wants to see a knuckleballer? Lewis does throw the occasional knuckler around 80 mph, and it has a decent enough quality that some scouts believe he may use it more in pro ball. That’s if he doesn’t squeeze a plus pitch out of his fastball, curveball and changeup, and his extension out of a 6-foot-5 frame would play better away from the knuckler. But even the possibility of a knuckleball going to the Twin Cities is a fun proposition at this stage in the Draft.

Pick 10 (266th overall): Rockies, Brad Cumbest, OF, Mississippi State (No. 173): Cumbest, a former three-star tight-end recruit, played both baseball and football in his first three years for the Bulldogs, but he is headed to the pros on the diamond. The 6-foot-6 outfielder has some tools with his power and speed, making him a decent lottery ticket for the ninth round.

Pick 11 (267th overall): Tigers, Andrew Jenkins, 1B, Georgia Tech (No. 174): The Yellow Jackets first baseman shows raw plus power from the right side (as evidenced by his 17 homers and .679 slugging percentage this spring) but can struggle against breaking pitches. A good arm could earn him a place at third base or a corner-outfield spot in the Detroit system.

Pick 20 (276th overall): Mariners, Tyler Gough, RHP, JSerra Catholic (Calif.) HS (No. 211): The Oregon State commit is known for going right after hitters with a 91-94 mph fastball, and he can show two distinct breakers in a slider and a curveball. The latter got him three of his five strikeouts at the Draft Combine in San Diego.

Pick 23 (279th overall): Red Sox, Brooks Brannon, C, Randleman (N.C.) HS (No. 158): Brannon already has the makings of being an elite thrower from behind the plate, and there’s belief that his good work ethic will make him a quality overall defender back there. He pounds the ball from the right side, too, leading to good exit velocities, so this could be a big get for the Red Sox if they can sign Brannon away from UNC.

ROUND 10

Pick 4 (290th overall): Pirates, Tanner Tredaway, OF, Oklahoma
Pick 5 (291st overall): Nationals, Murphy Stehly, 3B, Texas
We’ll group these two together because it’s interesting that the Red River rivals went back to back. Tredaway ranked third in Division I with 105 hits, and Stehly was just behind him in fifth with 103 knocks. Tredaway (24 steals) is the faster of the two, while Stehly (19 homers) is the more powerful. Both are fifth-year senior signs and should provide the Bucs and Nats with bonus pool cover for other areas.

Pick 10 (296th overall): Zach Agnos, RHP, East Carolina: Agnos got a good amount of run as a two-way player with the Pirates this spring. He hit .330/.405/.479 with seven homers as an infielder and posted a 2.31 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings on the bump. He was announced as a pitcher by the Rockies, but he could keep the bat in his back pocket as he enters the pros.

Pick 15 (301st overall): Guardians, Jacob Zibin, RHP, TNXL Academy (Fla.) (No. 131): The Canada native, who doesn’t turn 18 until next January, headed to the Sunshine State to gain a little more exposure, and he could go for well above-slot to Cleveland here. His fastball sits around 93 mph, and there could be more velo as he grows into his 6-foot-3 frame. His changeup is also more advanced than the typical high-schooler’s. He’s committed to South Carolina and will play there if he can’t work out a deal with the Guardians.