No. 11 pick - Reds - high school catcher Tyler Stephenson
Stephenson was the only catcher expected to have much chance of going in the top half of round one. He was also a legitimate prospect as a pitcher, but everyone was looking at him as a catcher, where his big arm will remain an asset. He offers big-time power potential, but he probably won’t turn into a particularly well-rounded hitter.
No. 12 pick - Marlins - high school first baseman Josh Naylor
The first Canadian taken, Naylor might offer the greatest power potential in the draft. He’s expected to be limited to first base, and he might not be much of an asset there. He could also be a big strikeout guy. The Marlins obviously have dreams of him protecting Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup someday, but it won’t happen anytime soon. He doesn’t even turn 18 for another two weeks.
No. 13 pick - Rays - high school outfielder Garrett Whitley
The Rays badly need this pick to work out after missing on so many first-rounders of late. Of course, this is the earliest they’ve picked since they grabbed Tim Beckham first overall in 2008. Whitley is a strong defensive center fielder with plenty of speed, and his swing should provide him with power in time.
No. 14 pick - Braves - high school left-hander Kolby Allard
The Braves are going with a West Coast guy in the first round for the first time since 1995, when they took, but didn’t sign, future Stanford quarterback Chad Hutchinson. Allard entered the year as a potential top-five pick, but a stress reaction in his back suffered in March damaged his stock. He could be a tough sign as a UCLA commit.
No. 15 pick - Brewers - high school outfielder Trent Clark
A left-handed hitter, Clark should hit for average and show at least doubles power. He could have gone even higher if teams were convinced he’d stay in center field, but it’s possible he’ll end up in left. The Brewers already have Tyrone Taylor and Monte Harrison as center field hopefuls, so it wouldn’t be such a disaster if Clark needs to slide over.
No. 16 pick - Yankees - UCLA right-hander James Kaprielian
Kaprielian is the biggest pitcher drafted so far, standing 6-foot-4. He should be one of the quickest movers among college pitchers, though he probably doesn’t have the ceiling of a Carson Fulmer. He’s just a low-90s guy with his fastball, but he has four pitches and fine command for someone his age.
No. 17 pick - Indians - left-hander Brady Aiken
The first overall pick from the 2014 draft is off the board. Aiken underwent Tommy John surgery in March, so he won’t begin pitching in the minors until next summer. He was viewed by most as the top talent in last year’s draft, and if his stuff comes all of the way back, he could prove to be a steal for the Indians. Obviously, there’s plenty of risk, but it’s a risk worth taking, considering that plenty of “safer” picks in this range don’t pan out.
No. 18 pick - Giants - Southern Nevada right-hander Phil Bickford
Bickford was the 10th overall pick out of high school in 2013, but he opted not to sign with the Blue Jays. His stuff has been up and down, more due to mechanical issues than any physical problems. He’s thrown in the mid-90s and shown a plus slider at times, and if he puts it all together, he could prove to be an excellent starter in time. Some believe he’s more likely to wind up in the pen.