Now that the 2019 MLB draft is in the books, it's time to break down notable picks from this year's class. Here is the American League and click here for the National League.
The Orioles picked first overall and took the No. 1 prospect in Adley Rutschman (1), a no-doubt catcher with plate discipline and power. He could be in the majors by the end of next year, depending on how quickly they want to move him. The Orioles then picked first in the second round and landed prep shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2). He was No. 41 on my board but seen by many teams as worth a pick in the second half of the first round as a power-hitting infielder likely to move to third base, with questions about his bat speed.
Zach Watson (3) was a draft-eligible sophomore last year but wasn't seen as signable, so he returned to LSU for his junior year. He's a plus runner who should be an above-average-or-better defender in center, but he has below-average power and very low walk rates, with some length in the early part of his swing. He'll have to tighten that up and get on base more (or find more power) to profile as a regular. He turns 22 this month. New Mexico State shortstop Joey Ortiz (4) is a plus defender with good bat-to-ball skills, but he is an average runner without power, and his upside is a little limited.
