Most interesting picks from Draft Day 3
Sam Dykstra
@SamDykstraMiLBThe 2021 Draft concluded with rounds 11-20 on Tuesday, with several of MLB Pipeline's Top 250 Draft prospects getting selected throughout the day.
• Draft Central | Tracker | Top 250
The Pirates kicked off Day 3 of the Draft by taking Duke right-hander Jack Carey. Six players ranked in MLB Pipeline's Top 250 were selected in the round:
Pick 316, Red Sox: Niko Kavadas, 1B, Notre Dame (MLB Pipeline rank: 135)
Kavadas ranked third in Division I this spring with 22 homers in 47 games for the Fighting Irish. The left-handed slugger has incredible raw power but is likely limited to first base/DH duties in the pros, despite having some experience at third base.
Pick 321, Angels: Chase Silseth, RHP, Arizona (No. 157)
The 21-year-old right-hander has a starter’s arsenal with four pitches that all grade out as about average. He stands out most for his heater that can touch 96 mph. At only 6-foot, Silseth carries concerns over his durability that could push him to the bullpen, where his velocity and overall stuff could play even higher.
Pick 327, Brewers: Roc Riggio, OF/2B, Thousand Oaks (CA) HS (No. 106)
Riggio shows an above-average hit tool from the left side, thanks to his excellent bat speed, which he’s showed on big stages in the Pan-Am Games in 2017 and against Team USA as a scout player in 2019. With below-average speed and an average arm, the Oklahoma State commit could fit at either second or left field at the next level.
Pick 329, Marlins: Jesse Bergin, RHP, UCLA (No. 183)
Bergin had decent numbers as a Bruins starter, posting a 4.18 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings as a junior, but concerns over a high-effort delivery could push him to the bullpen. His low-80s slider is his best pitch, coming with plenty of hard break.
Pick 332, Blue Jays: Trenton Wallace, LHP, Iowa (No. 237)
The 22-year-old southpaw won Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Year honors after posting a 2.34 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 73 innings. His best pitch is a low-80s slider that works well against both righties and lefties.
Pick 341, Rays: Sean Mullen, RHP, UCLA (No. 227)
Mullen makes it two members of the Bruins pitching staff picked in the 11th. A 35th-round pick of the Rockies in 2018, he thrives mostly on his mid-80s cutter and his 89-93 fastball. He worked in both the rotation and bullpen as a junior this past spring.
Pick 348, D-backs: Davis Diaz, SS, Acalanes (CA) HS (No. 71)
The Northern California native stands out most for his above-average hit tool from the right side. The 5-foot-11 infielder can play shortstop but a lack of plus defensive tools might move him around the dirt in time. He did play some catcher this spring. Diaz is committed to Vanderbilt.
Pick 351, Angels: Mason Albright, LHP, IMG Academy (No. 122)
The 6-foot hurler is a pitchability lefty who sat around 89-91 this spring, though he has touched higher with the fastball in the past. He has a better feel for a change than most high-school hurlers, but his slurvy breaking ball is below average. His command is what should carry him, if he chooses the pros over Virginia Tech.
Pick 381, Angels: Mo Hanley, LHP, Adrian College
Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the 6-foot-2 southpaw was a Division III standout in Michigan, having shown off a mid-90s fastball and high-spin slider. He injured his elbow in April and needed Tommy John surgery as a result.
Pick 383, Nationals: Mack Anglin, RHP, Clemson (No. 217)
Anglin has two of the best breaking pitches in the entire Draft, earning 65 grades for both his curveball and slider on the 20-80 scouting scale. Anglin is a Draft-eligible sophomore and could head back to Clemson after just joining the Tigers’ rotation midseason.
Pick 401, Rays: Bobby Seymour, 1B, Wake Forest
MLB Pipeline ranked the 6-foot-4, left-handed-hitting slugger No. 179 in 2020, but he fell off as a senior. He enjoyed a monster spring in 2021, however, hitting .302/.400/.709 with 21 homers in 47 games for the Demon Deacons.
Pick 403, Pirates: Braylon Bishop, OF, Arkansas (AR) HS (No. 94)
Bishop earns his best reports for his plus speed and above-average defense in center field. Should he need to move over to a corner, his 55-grade arm should help ease that transition. His offense from the left side remains a work in progress after he struggled against good pitching in showcases. Bishop is committed to Arkansas.
Pick 405, Tigers: RJ Petit, RHP, Charleston Southern
Petit does not live up to his name. The right-hander is listed at 6-foot-8, 300 pounds. He posted a 2.79 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 84 innings this spring for the Buccaneers.
Pick 422, Blue Jays: Damiano Palmegiani, 3B/OF, College of Southern Nevada (No. 245)
Palmegiani, who was born in Venezuela but raised in Canada, stands out for his present power and ability to spray the ball well all over the diamond. He could end up anywhere from third base to left field to first base because of defensive deficiencies, putting more pressure on the bat.
Pick 426, Indians: Trenton Denholm, RHP, University of California-Irvine (No. 216)
The 5-foot-11 right-hander took a step back this spring, with a 4.61 ERA in 82 innings. He still shows an above-average changeup that can be effective against lefties, which, paired with a fastball that can touch 93-94, gives him a starting chance in the pros.
Pick 436, Red Sox: Payton Green, SS, Green Hope (NC) HS (No. 147)
Green is an above-average runner who shows a strong arm, though his size at 6-foot-3 could send him away from shortstop. A below-average hitter right now, he was expected to be a tough sign away from his NC State commitment.
Pick 441, Angels: Glenn Albanese Jr., RHP, Louisville (No. 225)
Albanese showed lots of promise with a mid-90s four-seamer, running two-seamer and above-average curveball with the Cardinals. A positive COVID-19 test and elbow surgery kept him to only 17 innings this spring.
Pick 450, Reds: Blake Dunn, OF, Western Michigan
Dunn was a multi-sport star in high school, where he played football, basketball (he scored 51 points in one game) and ran hurdles. A hamate injury limited him to only 20 games this spring, but he showed plus-plus speed, a good arm and solid power.
Pick 476, Giants: Julian Bosnic, LHP, South Carolina (No. 187)
Bosnic completed his third year as a freshman following Tommy John surgery in 2019 and the pandemic in 2020. The 6-foot-3 southpaw generates lots of spin with his upper-70s curveball, and his low-90s fastball plays up because of its verticality.
Pick 479, Marlins: Ivan Melendez, 3B, Texas
A junior-college transfer, Melendez fit right in with the College World Series-bound Longhorns, hitting .319/.438/.603 with 13 homers this spring. He was primarily a DH in Austin and will need to find a defensive spot in the pros.
Pick 480, Reds: Owen Holt, RHP, Alvin (TX) CC
Holt played both baseball and football at Harvard but transferred back to his native Texas with the Ivy League's spring season cancelled. He had a 5.68 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 57 innings this spring for Alvin.
Pick 492, Dodgers: Michael Sirota, SS, The Gunnery School (CT)
The Queens native shows good raw power and has enough speed and arm to play in the outfield. He is committed to Northeastern and perhaps best known as the great-nephew of Yankees legend Whitey Ford.
Pick 498, D-backs: Drake Varnado, SS, IMG Academy (FL) (No. 164)
A quality showcase performer, Varnado will show plus speed and an above-average arm, both of which were on display as he moved from second base to shortstop. The right-handed hitter can show a decent bat, enough to provide value if he can stick up the middle.
Pick 499, Royals: Luca Tresh, C, NC State (No. 101)
Tresh played behind 2020 first-rounder Patrick Bailey at NC State before coming around as a decent receiver with a strong arm starting last fall. He shows plenty of pop as a right-handed hitter and slugged 15 homers in 56 games this spring.
Pick 519, Twins: Dylan Neuse, 2B, Texas Tech
Neuse is the brother of Dodgers infielder Sheldon Neuse. The 5-foot-9 infielder has a career .305/.421/.477 line over his three seasons with the Red Raiders but was limited to only 27 games in 2021.
Pick 530, Rockies: Bryce McGowan, RHP, UNC Charlotte (No. 158)
McGown sports three above-average pitches in his fastball, curve and slider but was inconsistent this spring with the 49ers. His size at 6-foot-1 and his control issues stemming from effort in his delivery could send him to the bullpen on the pro side.
Pick 538, Astros: Will Wagner, 2B, Liberty
Houston kept it in the family by taking the son of Billy Wagner, the franchise’s all-time leader with 225 saves. Will Wagner hit .333/.399/.538 with seven homers and six steals in his fourth season at Liberty this spring.
Pick 539, Marlins: Bennett Hostetler, SS, North Dakota State
Hostetler was named the Summit League Player of the Year after hitting .394/.513/.606 with 10 homers and 19 steals this spring. He was the best prospect out of the state of North Dakota, per MLB Pipeline.
Pick 550, Padres: Gage Jump, LHP, JSerra Catholic (CA) HS (No. 43)
This feels like a pick-and-follow selection from the Padres. Jump is a promising left-hander with two above-average breaking pitches in his curve and slider and showcases 55-grade control already. Being picked this low, he is highly likely to head to UCLA.
Pick 554, Rangers: Will Taylor, OF, Dutch Fork (SC) HS (No. 20)
Another long shot to sign. Taylor was the highest-ranked player on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 heading into Day 3, thanks to his plus-plus speed and ability to make good contact from the right side. He is likely headed to Clemson to play baseball and football.
Pick 558, D-backs: Eric Hammond, RHP, Keller (TX) HS (No. 73)
Hammond has plenty of projection left at 6-foot-4, 175 pounds, making it easier for scouts to dream on him adding velocity to his 89-93 fastball as he matures. His upper-70s curve also earned strong reviews. Despite the pick, he’s likely headed to USC.
Pick 567, Brewers: Carter Holton, LHP, Benedectine Military School (GA) (No. 128)
The 5-foot-11 left-hander has 55 grades all over his scouting report, getting strong reviews for his fastball, slider, curve and changeup. His size remains the only concern about his ability to stick as a starter. Holton is committed to Vanderbilt.
Pick 573, Yankees: Dominic Keegan, C, Vanderbilt (No. 176)
Speaking of the Commodores, Keegan heads to the Yankees after a decent junior spring in which he hit .345/.427/.638. He was previously a catcher and was announced there on Day 3, but he played almost exclusively first base with Vanderbilt in 2021.
Pick 591, Angels: Marcelo Perez, RHP, TCU
That’s 20-for-20. Los Angeles took a pitcher with each of its 20 picks in the 2021 Draft, from Sam Bachman in the first round to Perez here in the 20th. Nineteen of the 20 come from the college ranks as well, giving the Halos yet another theme this July.
No. 593, Nationals: Elie Kligman, C, Cimarron-Memorial (NV) HS
Kligman is the second Orthodox Jewish player taken in this Draft after Jacob Steinmetz went to the D-backs at 77th overall. He moved to catching in January but also has experience at shortstop and on the mound, where he touches 90.
Pick 602, Blue Jays: Luke Holman, RHP, Wilson (PA) HS (No. 172)
Standing at 6-foot-4, Holman throws 90-94 with his heater and gets good spin on both that and his grade-55 curveball. He is more about projectability than pitchability at this stage. The right-hander, who beat anaplastic large cell lymphoma as a kid, is committed to Alabama.
Pick 610, Padres: Chase Burns, RHP, Beech (TN) HS (No. 47)
Burns already throws 92-96 with his fastball and can hit triple digits with the pitch. His curveball and cutter give him two more above-average pitches. The 6-foot-4 hurler is likely headed to Tennessee instead of San Diego.