As I head down the backstretch of day 2 picks. here are my picks and rationales for the Guardians picks in rounds 6-10 of my mock draft.
Sixth Round Slot 192
Dennis pick: Zane Taylor, RHP UNC Wilmington
Rationale: In the 2024 draft the Guardians selected college senior pitcher Caden Favors in the 6th round, partially to save money for HS flyer picks later in the top 10 rounds (Sullivan and Mobley). Taylor, also a college senior, will be a hot commodity in this draft. He is a college senior with very good control (55 grade) whose fastball jumped up this year (60). I moved him up to the 6th round because I believe he will be gone after that, despite the fact that Antonio Jean may be a better long-term pitching prospect. The goal here is to draft a couple of pitchers in the first 10 rounds who are college seniors to save money. College seniors historically get lower bonuses because they have no leverage to return to school. This saved money can then be used to sign other prospects to overslot bonuses. The thought process for drafting guys like Taylor is that these college seniors with good control may still have some upside and to get them into the Guardians FSFCP to maximize that upside. Looking at Taylor's grades, he fits into what Cleveland would likely be looking for: college pitchers with good control and some potential left in their fastball development. FYI, in 3 drafts before 2024 they took 2 college junior pitchers and Tommy Hawke so there is precedent for them drafting college pitchers in this spot is there.
Seventh Round Slot 222
Dennis pick: Antoine Jean, LHP - Houston
Rationale: Ditto for what I said about Taylor, Antoine Jean is a college senior, one of the highest ranking college seniors in the draft and maybe the best college senior pitcher available. He flourished as a long reliever at Houston this year and his fastball ticked up a couple of MPH. He is the perfect college senior sign to throw into the Guardian's' FSFCP and see what comes out the other side AND save some money for overslot bonuses later.
Eighth Round Slot 222
Dennis pick: Henry Allen, IF - NW Florida JC
Rationale: I said that the two areas I wanted to add this year was power hitting and college pitching. Since I don't like HS hitters, I thought I would do something very un-Guardians-like and dip into the junior college ranks for one of the best power hitting prospect in that group, but a guy who doesn't check enough boxes to be included in draft prospect rankings. Allen is the classic boom-or-bust pick but likely will sign for a slot or a little below bonus and checks the box for adding another intriguing college power bat into the organization and, as a JUCO guy, one who would likely be a year or two behind Fischer, Turley and even Ralphy Velasquez.
Nineth Round Slot 282
Dennis pick: Jake Knapp - RHP - University of North Carolina
Rationale: OK, if you follow the draft closely you might start to get the thought that I have lost my mind. Knapp is a 24 year old college JUNIOR whose biggest assets are that he is a winner (14-0 this year, including winner the opener in North Carolina's super regional last night and a guy who has very good control. To me, he is very comparable to Austin Peterson from 2022 and, yest, he should be readily signable due to his age, although he does have college eligibility left. He would also give us another draftee who we could sign for underslot, giving us more money for HS flyers later.
Tenth Round Slot 312
Dennis pick: Marcelo Harsch - RHP - Seton Hall Prep
Rationale: After the 9th round you might have been thinking, 'What is Dennis saving money for?' Well, just like 2024 with Chase Mobley, there will be a number of quality HS pitching prospects left at this point who will require well overslot bonuses. The Guardians should have saved enough money to get Harsch and probably 1-2 other HS players (power hitters or pitchers) on the 3rd day of the drafted, similar to Jacob Bresnahan in 2023.
SUMMARY
I think Mike Tyson said 'Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face' or something like that. My mock draft, like all mock drafts, is subject to one major things: guys who I want being available when I suggest the Guardians draft them AND there being good HS or JUCO prospects available to spend the money I saved by not going overbudget much in the first 2 days of the draft. Like all mock drafts, mine is a house of cards, being even more so as I selected their picks through the top 10 rounds of the draft.
In any case, this gives you an idea into my thought process in doing my mock draft. Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed doing my mock draft.
Now on to watch some college playoff baseball.
Go Guardians!
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