2025 Guardians Amateur Draft - Part 3 - How I got to my Mock Draft 1.0 - First Round Pick (#27)

 When I put a mock draft together for the Guardians I feel that you have to use a shotgun approach.  That is, at each draft slot pick a number of guys of similar talent who I think would be available at that slot and then pick the one that makes the most sense to me.

The one thing to consider is that sometimes the guy you want is selected before you get them.  Colt Emerson is the perfect example. In some cases a guy falls into your lap who is much more highly rated but slides in the draft for some reason.  Chase DeLauter is an example of that. Finally, and this is the part I hate, sometimes teams just like who they like.  Sometimes that works out (Mike Trout) but, mostly, it ends in disaster.  

So, knowing this, let's take a look at my mock 1.0 and the prospects available and see what my thinking was:

First Round - Slot 27

Dennis pick: Andrew Fischer 1B/3B - Tennessee

Rationale: If you read Part 1 in this series you will see that I am prioritizing college power hitters and college pitchers in this draft.  Fischer, due to his defensive limitations, is rated lower on some sites than on others and I get that.  But he has the power I covet and we are seeing that college power hitters get to the majors quickly, if you look at Kurtz and Cags.  So, while Fischer may be a slight overdraft and, if he is only a first baseman, doesn't play a position of need for this organization, I think he is the best fit for the Guardians from the players I think will be available.

Other possible picks

High School kids: The Guardians selected HS guys (Velasquez and Doughty) the last 2 years. I don't think they would go to that well again.

Guys who drop - .The hardest category to identify until right before the draft.  Kiley McDaniel in his first mock suggested the Guardians might be able to snag Tyler Bremner, RHP from UC Santa Barbara. If he fell to the Guardians, he is the one guy I would take before Fischer..

College outfielders - The problem is that college outfielders available at this point (Conrad, Belyeu and Neville) don't have enough power for me and I actually like Fischer more than the one OFer who might be available who has power (Devin Taylor).

College catchers - Irish should be gone.  Stevenson is a draft-eligible sophomore and I am concerned with his bat.  Bodine is the best hitter of the bunch and is a switch hitter, but his profile is very much like Ingle.  The only way i see drafting him is if I use Ingle in a deadline deal.  With Huff at AAA, Ingle at AA and spending a 2nd round pick in 2024 on Cozart who is in A+, I think the Guardians will not spend a high draft pick on a catcher, college or HS.

College pitchers - The 27 spot is a void for college pitchers.  The best ones will likely be gone and the second tier does not have the same potential as Fischer.

In summary, when I looked at the guys available, unless someone falls to the Guardians who was supposed to be an early round pick and that person is willing to sign for slot or a little above, I think Fischer is the best value for the Guardians in terms of what they need in tools and in positional fit in the organization.

Next time we will look at our 2nd round picks, #64. #66 and #70.