And with the next pick in the 2022 MLB Draft . . .
The latest edition of the draft is here. The next wave of baseball talent is joining the professional ranks.
Each year, evaluating teams' selections can be a challenge for their fan bases. Unlike in the NFL and NBA, the players selected will not reach the majors for several years in most cases, and while some players might have been in the collegiate spotlight, others might be from high school or smaller college programs that haven't attracted the same attention.
That's why, during the 2022 MLB Draft, The Sporting News will be grading each pick in the first round to see how teams are doing.
MORE: Watch the 2022 MLB Draft live with fuboTV in U.S. (free trial)
Follow below for complete results and grades for each selection.
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MLB draft grades 2022: Live picks, analysis for Round 1
1. Orioles — Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater High (Stillwater, Okla.)
There isn't much Holliday can't do on the field. He has one of the best hit tools in the draft to go with plus power and plus speed. On top of a well-rounded bat, Holliday is expected to stick at shortstop with a steady glove and strong arm. High-school shortstops with five tools tend to go high in the draft, particularly if they have a well-developed hit tool, as Holliday does. The Orioles come away with a player who has both one of the highest floors and highest ceilings in the draft.
2. Diamondbacks — Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan High (Norcross, Ga.)
Some expected Jones to go first overall. Most prospect lists had him as the top pick in the class. While his hit tool isn't as refined as Holliday's, the rest of the package in center field is more explosive. He has plenty of raw power and his speed is among the best in the high-school class. His defense is already nearly MLB-ready, and his tools often receive future Gold Glove grades. A true five-tool talent for the Diamondbacks.
MORE: Humble Druw Jones looking more and more like father Andruw
3. Rangers — Kumar Rocker, RHP
Already the surprise of the draft. Rocker is joining former Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter with the Rangers. After not signing with the Mets last year, Rocker had to wait until the 2022 MLB Draft to be selected again. The upside is there; Rocker was considered a top-10 prospect a year ago. But there is more risk than other players who were available given past injury concerns and occasional waning velocity. He has just 20 innings on the mound since he pitched at Vanderbilt, and while he looked electric in them, there's a lot of uncertainty. That said, Rocker is already likely ready to pitch in a big league bullpen. If he can live up to his past hype, the Rangers will have a dynamic 1-2 starting punch with Rocker and Leiter.
MORE: Why Kumar Rocker didn't sign with the Mets
4. Pirates — Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays High (Atlanta)
The Pirates were long linked to Johnson leading up to the draft, and sure enough, he's selected by Pittsburgh. It is rare for high school players to have his type of hit tool, with some scouts giving it the highest possible grade. Johnson has the highest ceiling in the high school class, and that includes raw power that could translate to games. A shortstop in high school, Johnson is likely to play second in the pros, but this is a stellar pick for the Pirates.
5. Nationals — Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Washington is banking on the upside. Green has some of the best raw tools in the high-school class, with plus power and plus speed to go with the ability to patrol center field. The question is the hit tool, which is not up to the level of players like Holliday, Jones and Johnson. While there were more refined college bats on the board like Brooks Lee and Kevin Parada, the Nationals made the right move in choosing upside. In an organization that could be headed for a lengthy rebuild, especially considering the Juan Soto news, it needs to go for the home run pick at No. 5.
6. Marlins — Jacob Berry, 3B, LSU
The good: the bat. The bad: the glove. Starting with the good, the Marlins are taking a switch hitter with a plus hit tool and some of the most power in the college ranks. He is likely to quickly mash his way through the minors. The problem is the defense. He might not have a position at the next level, or it could be at first base or right field. The National League has the DH now so he has that to fall back on, but his bat will have extra pressure to live up to the hype of a sixth overall pick.
7. Cubs — Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma
Horton struggled mightily through the first half of the Oklahoma season, but he picked it up late and was as dynamic as anyone during the Sooners' College World Series final run. His fastball reaches the upper 90s and his slider is a filthy out-pitch. He also offers a solid curveball and a serviceable changeup. The Cubs are thinking that what he did in the College World Series is the type of pitching prospect he'll be in the system. More risk than most college arms taken this early, but plenty of upside.
8. Twins — Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
Lee was talked about as a contender to go first overall or in the top five picks. He slid all the way down to No. 8, and the Twins reaped the benefit. The switch-hitting shortstop might have to shift to second or third base, but the bat is a carrying tool. He has perhaps the most refined bat in the college class with more extra-base hits than strikeouts in his last season at Cal Poly, and he could develop plus power. This is an early contender for steal of the draft.
9. Royals — Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech
This is about where many expected Cross would land, and indeed, Kansas City, here he comes. Cross has a well-rounded profile with above-average tools across the board and a skill set that could allow him to move quickly through the minors. The Royals have a lot of their top prospects in the upper minors or already making an impact in the majors, and Cross shouldn't take long to join them.
10. Rockies — Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga
There is a lot to like about Hughes. He has a mid- to upper-90s fastball and a wicked slider that serves as his top out pitch. He commands the strike zone well. The biggest concern with this pick is the destination. Colorado is not a pitcher-friendly place, and past pitchers haven't developed well (Riley Pint, Robert Tyler and Mike Nikorak have all struggled). The Rockies always need pitching and Hughes is the best college arm here, but with several polished bats still on the board, they should have leaned toward the organization's strength more.
11. Mets — Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
The Mets just pulled off the perfect display of drafting the best available player rather than for system need. Francisco Alvarez is one of the best catching prospects in the sport, but the Mets decided to take the best player left on the board in Parada, the latest stud Georgia Tech catcher. He has plus hit and power tools, and he should be able to stick at the position. If the Mets keep Alvarez, Parada could assist at catcher and play at first or DH. But this could also open the door for the Mets to listen on trades involving Alvarez.
MORE: Could the Mets be a partner with Nationals for Juan Soto?
12. Tigers — Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech
Another team benefitting from a top player sliding down the board, the Tigers likely didn't expect Jung to still be on the board at No. 12 after he had long been discussed as a top-10 pick. He has one of the most disciplined approaches in the class and he has no problem making consistent, hard contact. Jung doesn't have as much power as his brother, Rangers prospect Josh Jung, but he could tap into more raw pop. The defense is the biggest question mark, but he could stay at second base, which gives him plenty of value at the 12th pick.
13. Angels — Zach Neto, SS, Campbell
The Angels make it clear early they weren't going to take pitchers with every pick the way they did in 2021 by selecting Neto. He has a refined hit tool and could stick at shortstop, though a move to second base could be necessary down the road given his range. His tools aren't loud, but he has a relatively low-risk profile. Los Angeles passed on some players with higher upside, but he's still a strong addition to the farm system.
14. Mets — Jett Williams, SS, Rockwall Heath High (Heath, Texas)
Williams lands about where many expected him to go in the draft. He has an advanced hit tool for a high schooler and has plenty of speed for the position. The arm strength is a question, which has prompted some to wonder if he might need to move off the position. There's not a lot of power at the moment, but some project he could hit double-digit home run totals. One of the rare high schoolers who is more of a high-floor pick than a high-ceiling one.
15. Padres — Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford High (Buford, Ga.)
Not too long ago, Lesko would have been seen as a sure-fire top-10 pick. But he had Tommy John surgery during the high school season, which lowered his value. Pitchers tend to recover well from the procedure these days, however, and if he can return to form, the Padres are getting a pitcher with one of the highest ceilings in the draft. He has a plus fastball and perhaps the best changeup in the class. He also showed advanced command for his age and an above-average curveball.
16. Guardians — Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison
This is a high-risk, high-reward pick. DeLauter flashed five-tool capabilities and posted gaudy numbers across the board at James Madison, but in an early-season series against Florida State, he struggled mightily against advanced pitching. DeLauter is an analytical darling, and Cleveland has found success with those types of prospects in the past. But there's a lot of risk in the profile.
17. Phillies — Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman High (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Crawford's profile is nearly identical to that of his father, Carl Crawford. He has blazing speed and a plus hit tool with some raw power upside that could eventually make him a five-tool outfielder. There is a lot of development left in his frame, which will ultimately determine his impact in the system. Philadelphia has recently bet on high-upside arms in the past like Mick Abel and Andrew Painter. Now they're adding a high-upside bat to the system.
18. Reds — Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola Junior College (Florida)
At this point, no matter where Collier landed, the team that took him would be receiving an A. That happens to be the Reds. Collier, 17, is the youngest player in the draft, but he showed an advanced hit tool against older competition after taking the Bryce Harper route and going to junior college early. He has raw power in his frame and a powerful arm at the hot corner. The son of former big leaguer Lou Collier has MLB bloodlines, proven success against advanced pitching and tons of upside. Big win for Cincinnati at 18.
19. Athletics — Daniel Susac, C, Arizona
The Mets took Parada despite having Alvarez because he was the best player on the board. The Athletics are deploying a similar strategy in taking Susac despite having Shea Langeliers at Triple-A and Sean Murphy at the big-league level. Susac is the second-best catching prospect in the class behind Parada with a well-rounded bat that should hit for average and power. It's a great value pick, but if he moves off the position, Susac's value will go down. The catching depth in Oakland makes that more likely.
20. Braves — Owen Murphy, RHP, Riverside-Brookfield High (Riverside, Ill.)
The selection of Murphy this early feels like a money-saving pick by the Braves. Murphy has more polish than most high-school arms, but his arsenal doesn't hold up against other younger arms still on the board. His fastball is a potential plus pitch, but the secondary stuff lags behind, and with a 6-0 frame, the ceiling is relatively low. The Braves have a track record of developing pitchers, but several prep arms still on the board have higher upsides.
21. Mariners — Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny High (Wexford, Pa.)
The Mariners strike with a great value pick at 21. Young has surged up draft boards thanks in large part to a hit tool that has begun to stand out as one of the best at the high school level along with Johnson, Holliday and Williams. He has the range to stick at short and the arm to make the long throws. Teams don't often find polished high-school players with his skill set still around in the 20s.
22. Cardinals — Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State
The Cardinals have been connected with several college names, so it wasn't surprising to see them land on Hjerpe at No. 22. The Oregon State southpaw is a safe arm; he boasts advanced command and control and a well-rounded repertoire that features average to above-average stuff. He tops out in the low to mid-90s. He's a low-risk pick, though there is some concern about him as a reliever.
23. Blue Jays — Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage High (Plantation, Fla.)
From a low-upside, college southpaw to a high-upside, high-school lefty. The Blue Jays had to have been surprised to see Barriera fall all the way to No. 23. Everything he shows on the mound is already above-average: a fastball that can reach the mid-90s, a slider that is among the best from the left side in the draft, and a changeup that is advanced for a high school pitcher. He also controls his arsenal well and has no issue throwing strikes. High-school lefties can be risky, but taking the top southpaw in the class at No. 23 is excellent value.
24. Red Sox — Mikey Romero, SS, Orange Lutheran High (Orange, Calif.)
This feels like the Nick Yorke selection all over again. Yorke was a reach in the 2020 MLB Draft when the Sox took him 17th overall; Romero looks to be slightly less of one. Romero was projected to be selected somewhere in the late second to early third round. He has an above-average hit tool and has the defense to stick at shortstop, but he lacks power and has just average speed. The LSU commit has a higher floor compared to most prep players, but probably not the upside one would expect in the first round.
25. Yankees — Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt
The Aaron Judge comparisons are going to be inevitable. Jones is 6-7 and 225 pounds with a power-over-hit profile. Jones has shown he can hit the ball to all fields with power, but there are questions about his hit tool. He's an average defender and doesn't have much speed, though his strides can help him cover ground and should keep him in the outfield. It's a risky profile to bank on in the first round, even if Judge worked out for New York.
26. White Sox — Noah Schultz, LHP, Oswego East High (Oswego, Ill.)
If you thought Jones was tall, you haven't seen Schultz. The Vanderbilt commit stands 6-9, which gives him a unique presentation to batters. He can hit the mid-90s and has one of the best left-handed sliders in the prep class. There's plenty of risk in the projection because there aren't many 6-9 pitchers who stick in a rotation, but with his frame and age, there is some upside.
27. Brewers — Eric Brown Jr., SS, Coastal Carolina
The Brewers have their style of hitter and Brown fits in with past picks like Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick. Brown has a well-rounded profile and should continue to stay at shortstop at the next level. Though none of his tools are loud, there could be some raw power in his swing. His approach helps give him a high floor, though several players with a higher ceiling would have been better first-round options.
28. Astros — Drew Gilbert, OF, Tennessee
Houston found great value late in the first round. Gilbert is the more polished of the two Tennessee outfielders expected to be first-rounders, with a plus hit tool, plus speed and defense to stick in center field. There's also some untapped power in his swing that could eventually transform a player considered to be a really good prospect into a great prospect.
29. Rays — Xavier Isaac, 1B, East Forysth High (Kernersville, N.C.)
It feels dangerous to give the Rays an F, but this pick is a head-scratcher. High school first basemen are rarely selected in the first round, and it's usually because they look like the complete package. Think Nick Pratto or Triston Casas. That's not Xavier Isaac. Sure, the bat is explosive. He has a ton of power in his 6-4, 240-pound frame. But he is slow and is a poor defender at first, and he missed the showcases due to a foot injury, so there's not much of a track record against national competition.
30. Giants — Reggie Crawford, 1B/LHP, UConn
Crawford is one of the hardest-throwing lefties in the draft with a fastball that can hit triple digits and a slider that hits the mid-80s. Crawford had Tommy John surgery that kept him out for all of the 2022 season, and he has just eight innings pitched in his three-year UConn career. There is a ton of risk here as he really only has a two-pitch mix, which looks like a reliever profile, and he is largely unknown given his lack of time on the mound. Maybe he has two-way upside as a powerful left-handed hitter, but the Giants are banking a lot on him being able to reach that.
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MLB Draft grades 2022: Complete results & analysis for every pick in Round 1 - Sporting News
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