The 2020 MLB Draft has kicked off in a time where baseball’s hope seems pretty bleak. The first day of the draft has begun with the Detroit Tigers being on the clock first. The draft itself has a different look this year, being that it has been broken up and shortened due to COVID-19.
The league has shortened the draft from forty to five rounds for the 2020 season, with both competitive balance rounds still in place as well. After the draft, there will be a chance for players to sign as undrafted free agents for $20,000, which could build up the draft class.
The draft is just a start for the baseball calendar as the owners and Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) continue to work towards an agreement to get a season in. Day one of the draft is just a start for baseball’s return all around.
Day one of the draft was only the first round, and the competitive balance round, day two, will hold the remaining four rounds as well as the other competitive balance round. The first round of the draft played out as follows:
1. Detroit Tigers- 1B/3B Spencer Torkelson
The Detroit Tigers selected Spencer Torkelson with the first overall selection. The right-handed hitter is a tremendous power threat for Arizona State University and will be a phenomenal talent in the big leagues.
The way things are, Torkelson may be able to move up the ladder and get to the big leagues sooner than most would expect. Torkelson is a comparable hitter to New York Mets rising star Pete Alonso. A fantastic selection from the Tigers, and they have announced he will be moving to third base with the organization.
2. Baltimore Orioles- OF Heston Kjerstad
In a bit of a shock, the Baltimore Orioles went rogue and left Austin Martin on the board by taking outfielder Heston Kjerstad from the University of Arkansas. He will bring a power threat to the Orioles lineup, someone who has some pop in his bat and will be an asset for the future.
Keep in mind; the Orioles had the first overall selection in the 2019 MLB Draft, where they selected Adley Rutschman, who is yet another fantastic bat. The Orioles’ front office may have gone off-script, but they still brought in an outfielder who is a fantastic get for the franchise.
Adding some power to the lineup.
Welcome to #Birdland, @hestonkjerstad! pic.twitter.com/myuXDOLiRr
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 10, 2020
3. Miami Marlins- RHP Max Meyer
In another shocking pick, the University of Minnesota starting pitcher Max Meyer makes a jump up to third overall selection. This was surprising for two reasons: 1) he was considered a late first-round pick initially but rose to a mid-first round pick closer to draft time. 2) he was not the top-rated starting pitcher according to most rankings.
The Marlins got a good one with Meyer, a 6-foot, a 185-pound right-handed starting pitcher who punched out 46 hitters over 27.2 innings of work in ONLY four starts in the 2020 season that was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Kansas City Royals- LHP Asa Lacy
The top-ranked arm in the draft class was Asa Lacy, a left-handed starting pitcher who was the product of Texas A&M University. Lacy is a power-arm standing 6-foot-4, 215-pound, and throwing darts for the Aggies. He was electric in the shortened 2020 season, only allowing two runs over 24 innings in four starts.
Having seen him firsthand as a student manager at Miami University, Lacy is legit and has great stuff. He will be a valuable asset to the Royals future, that organization is getting a phenomenal starter from the Texas A&M program.
5. Toronto Blue Jays- SS/UTL Austin Martin
After falling to fifth overall when Austin Martin was a possible first overall selection, the Toronto Blue Jays scooped up a toolsy utility player. Martin is someone who has a lot of potential and the 2020 season robbed him of the chance to prove even more development was there. This may be the reason he has fallen from the top three choices.
Martin has tools that should excite any big organization, but the Blue Jays are bringing in a right-handed hitter who could find a home on the left side of the infield or in the outfield. The versatility will only help on a team that has a cluster of rising stars, whether it is Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, or Vladimir Guerrero Jr., leading their rebuild.
? Austin…Martin…Music… ?@austin_martin99 | #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/VCgvs38hzg
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 11, 2020
6. Seattle Mariners- RHP Emerson Hancock
The Seattle Mariners selected right-handed pitcher Emerson Hancock with the sixth overall selection of the 2020 MLB Draft, who was originally one of the top three prospects in this draft class. Hancock will be a future ace in the big leagues and could be similar to Tigers prospect Casey Mize.
Hancock is a 6-foot-4, 213-pound right-handed starter who is going to be a force to be reckoned with as he goes through the ranks. Hancock did not get off to an excellent start during the 2020 season, but he has the tools on the mound to become a future big league starter.
7. Pittsburgh Pirates- 2B/SS Nick Gonzales
Looking at the 2020 stats alone, Nick Gonzales might be considered for the first overall pick after the unreal statistics he started the cancelled season with. The Pirates selected the 5-foot-10, 190-pound middle infielder who was incredibly good for New Mexico State University.
His videogame type numbers were over sixteen games; he hit .448/.610/.1.155 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI before the season was shut down. Gonzales is an excellent addition for the Pirates who are looking to further their rebuild and new front office member Ben Cherington’s first, first-round draft choice with the organization.
8. San Diego Padres- OF Robert Hassell III
The San Diego Padres selected the first high school talent of the night when they took Robert Hassell III from Independence High School in Tennessee. Hassell is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound outfielder who will grow into his frame and develop into quite the player.
Not to mention, Hassell was committed to playing his college ball at college baseball powerhouse Vanderbilt University who took home the National Championship during the 2019 College World Series. Hassell has a tremendous amount of future value for the Padres.
The moment @robert_hassell3 put on the brown and gold. #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/hF6DFiLQ9r
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 11, 2020
9. Colorado Rockies- OF Zac Veen
Perhaps one of the biggest steals of the early first round is going to be Zac Veen, an outfielder from Port Orange, Florida, who was selected out of high school. The left-handed-hitting outfielder stands 6-foot-4, 195-pounds, and has a swing comparable to Cody Bellinger.
Veen has a beautiful swing that is contributed from his big frame and athletic build. He was projected to be a top-five selection early on, but with the COVID-19 impact, teams have seemed to shy away from taking high-school talent early on. Regardless, Veen is a player who will thrive in the Rockies system as a left-handed hitter with a tremendous swing.
10. Los Angeles Angels- LHP Reid Detmers
Rounding out the top ten draft choices in the 2020 MLB Draft is a product of the University of Louisville, Reid Detmers. The southpaw is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound pitcher who is not as focused on velocity as he is throwing strikes. He focuses on locating his pitches and makes his living on the mound that way.
Detmers thrived for the University of Louisville Cardinals in 2019 and started 2020 on another high note. He would pitch in four games, making four starts where he had 48 strikeouts over 22 innings pitched while posting a 1.23 ERA and 1.00 WHIP on the cancelled season.
11. Chicago White Sox- LHP Garrett Crochet
12. Cincinnati Reds- OF Austin Hendrick
13. San Francisco Giants- C Patrick Bailey
14. Texas Rangers- 2B Justin Foscue
15. Philadelphia Phillies- RHP Mick Abel
16. Chicago Cubs- SS Ed Howard
17. Boston Red Sox- 2B Nick Yorke
18. Arizona Diamondbacks- RHP Bryce Jarvis
19. New York Mets- OF Pete Crow-Armstrong
20. Milwaukee Brewers- OF Garrett Mitchell
21. St. Louis Cardinals- 3B Jordan Walker
22. Washington Nationals- RHP Cade Cavalli
23. Cleveland Indians- SS Carson Tucker
24. Tampa Bay Rays- RHP Nick Bitsko
25. Atlanta Braves- LHP Jared Shuster
26. Oakland Athletics- C Tyler Soderstrom
27.Minnesota Twins- 1B Aaron Sabato
28. New York Yankees- C Austin Wells
29. Los Angeles Dodgers- RHP Bobby Miller
*Houston Astros do not have a first-round pick due to the sign-stealing scandal and punishments from Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred.
Day one is completed, and day two begins tomorrow televised on ESPN2 and MLB Network, where the remaining picks of the draft will take place. After that, it will be time for the teams to start negotiating with any extra undrafted free agents that they would like to.
The first day of the draft has brought some surprises like Nick Yorke being selected eighteenth overall by the Boston Red Sox, who do not have a second-round pick, but the chaos will continue tomorrow. Day two allows for organizations to round out their draft class with players whom they fell the best aide their organizations.
