The 2022 MLB Draft is here. Day 1 is underway right now with the first 80 selections, covering Rounds 1 and 2, plus eight compensation picks and Competitive Balance Rounds A and B. Watch live right now on ESPN and MLB Network.
Follow along here all night for a rundown of every pick with analysis by MLB Pipeline experts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo.
1) Orioles: Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater (Okla.) HS
Despite all the chatter that the Orioles might do a discount deal and select a player who would sign for a bonus below the recommended allotment, they went for talent at No. 1 overall. Holliday is the best combination of hitting ability and ceiling in this Draft, and a great fit for a strong Orioles farm system. He's a legitimate five-tool shortstop, who improved in all phases of his game this spring. MLB Network's Harold Reynolds compared him to Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. on the broadcast and I like that comp. – Callis More >
2) D-backs: Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS, Peachtree Corners, Ga.
Everybody knew the D-backs coveted Jones and they pounced on the top-rated player on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250. It’s an easy comparison, but he reminds so many evaluators of his father, Andruw Jones, at the same age. He has the same Gold Glove potential in center field and he has one of the best power-speed combinations in this Draft. I know everybody focuses on the tools first, and rightfully so, but he has an advanced approach and feel for his swing as well. This is the first time the top two overall picks in the Draft were the sons of former Major Leaguers. – Callis More >
3) Rangers: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Tri-City ValleyCats (Frontier League)
Well we knew this Draft was going to be unpredictable, but we didn’t know it was going to turn like this so quickly. Rocker, of course, was a contender to go No. 1 overall in the ‘21 Draft and went No. 10 to the Mets, who decided not to offer him any signing bonus because of concerns about his medicals. That meant he had to come back to the Draft this year. He pitched well in Independent ball this summer, though it was revealed recently that he had shoulder surgery last fall. The Rangers obviously felt comfortable enough to take him very high, and they don't pick again until the fourth round after forfeiting a series of picks to sign premium free agents (such as Marcus Semien and Corey Seager) this past winter. Rocker gets to reunite with his Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter, who represented the Rangers in the Futures Game in L.A. on Saturday. – Mayo More >
4) Pirates: Termarr Johnson, INF, Mays HS, Ga.
The Pirates have to be happy here because it seems like they locked on Johnson late if he didn’t go No. 1 to the Orioles. He’s the best pure hitter in the Draft, and many scouts say he’s the best pure high school hitter they’ve ever seen. Yes, he’s probably a second baseman as a pro despite being listed as a shortstop now, but if he produces along the lines of Robinson Canó -- and he’s capable -- that works out great for Pittsburgh. – Callis More >
5) Nationals: Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
The Nationals went upside here with Green, who might have the highest ceiling of any player in the Draft. The son of former NFL Pro Bowl tight end Eric Green, Elijah has incredible tools. There were some concerns with swing and miss in his offensive game last summer, but he answered them enough this summer at IMG Academy to land in the top five. Green's selection ensured that this is the first Draft since 1971 that no college players were selected within the top five picks. – Mayo More >
6) Marlins: Jacob Berry, 3B/OF, Louisiana State
The Marlins got the best combination of hitting ability, power and plate discipline in college baseball with Berry. A comp I heard that I like is that he’s a switch-hitting version of White Sox outfielder Andrew Vaughn, who went No. 3 overall in 2019 out of Cal. There are some questions about his defensive home, but to his credit, he wants to work to stay at third base. Even if he winds up in the outfield or first base or even as a designated hitter, that bat will play. – Callis More >
7) Cubs: Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma
There was a lot of late buzz that Horton might sneak into the top 10 picks after his stellar postseason run and the Cubs made the move here at seven. While he missed all of the 2021 season after Tommy John surgery and didn’t really catch fire until his final five starts this year, he showed enough that in my mind he was the best college pitcher available. He’s a quality athlete with a fastball that reaches 98 mph and a wipeout slider that touches 90. A two-way player at Oklahoma, he could really take off now that he’s healthy and will focus only on pitching. – Callis More >
8) Twins: Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
Lee was a solid high school prospect, but wanted to play for his dad at Cal Poly. After coming back from a gruesome hamstring and knee injury, he’s proven to be perhaps the best college hitter in this Draft class. He has an extremely advanced approach at the plate and almost never strikes out. There’s plenty of power to tap into, which should serve him well since he probably profiles best at third base at the next level. – Mayo More >
9) Royals: Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech
After a huge summer as the best hitter for Team USA, Cross headed into the spring as one of the best all-around college hitters in this class. He did nothing to dampen the excitement by showing off five average or better tools across the board. He has a chance to hit and with plenty of power. The Royals can send him out as a center fielder because he has the speed right now to play there. Even if he eventually slides to a corner, he has the offensive profile to fit there as well. – Mayo More >
10) Rockies: Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga
Hughes is the first fully healthy pitcher to come off the board as he took the ball every Friday for Gonzaga this year. He got tired near the end of the season as he surpassed his career-high innings total, but he’s a rare college arm with some ceiling and a potential three-pitch mix to go along with a prototypical starting pitcher build. – Mayo
11) Mets: Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
With the surprises in the top 10 picks, Parada wound up lasting longer than expected. The latest blue chip catching prospect to come out of Georgia Tech following Jason Varitek, Matt Wieters and Joey Bart, he’s an offensive-minded backstop. He set a school record with 26 homers this spring and has good feel for the barrel using the whole field, while letting his power come naturally. He catches well enough to remain behind the plate, but he’ll need to improve his throwing. – Callis More >
12) Tigers: Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech
The Tigers really wanted a college bat at 12 and have to be pleased that Jung got down to them. A potential top-five pick coming into the season, he was a little banged up physically at Texas Tech this spring but continued to rake and controlled the strike zone like he always has. He’s a similar hitter to his older brother Josh, whom the Rangers took eighth overall in 2019. There’s some question as to whether Jung can stay at second base, but his bat should profile at a variety of positions. – Callis
13) Angels: Zach Neto, SS, Campbell
The shocker here is that virtually anybody who did a mock draft had the Angels -- who famously took pitchers with all 20 of their picks a year ago -- taking a pitcher. Instead, they wound up with one of the best hitters in college baseball and the first first-rounder in Campbell history. He has an unconventional setup with a huge leg kick and an uphill swing, but he’s a career .403 hitter thanks to his exceptional hand-eye coordination. He has a strong arm at shortstop and his instincts may allow him to remain in the position, though he could wind up as an offensive second baseman. – Callis
14) Mets: Jett Williams, SS, Rockwall-Heath (Texas) HS
He’s the smallest player on our Draft Top 250, but Jett Williams (listed at 5-foot-8, 175 pounds) is also a personal favorite of an awful lot of scouts. He’s one of the best hitters in the high school class with a quick right-handed stroke and a nice feel for the barrel. He’s a plus runner with some sneaky pop and while there’s some question of him staying at shortstop, he should be able to play second base, and at worst he’s a center fielder. – Callis
15) Padres: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford HS, Ga.
Before Lesko had Tommy John surgery in April, he was the overwhelming favorite to be the first pitcher selected. An ultra-polished high school arm, he has a 92-97 mph fastball and one of the best high school changeups in years. He also has an improving curveball and advanced control. Even though he had his elbow reconstructed, he should move quickly once he comes back. – Callis
16) Guardians: Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison
Wherever DeLauter has been, he’s hit, whether it’s at James Madison or in the Cape Cod League (a summer wood bat league for top college prospects). Not every scout loves his mechanics at the plate, but he’s shown an ability to hit and with power, with one of the most advanced approaches of any hitting prospect in the Draft. – Mayo
17) Phillies: Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas
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July 18, 2022 at 07:05AM
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