I’ve been researching mock drafts for almost 2 months as I’ve been preparying my mocks. In the last few weeks, there have been tons of new ones.

I’ve decided to do 2 things – give the average ranking of the top 31 players (or the first round) and give the high and low for these players. I’ll also throw out some notes as I see fit.

Average rankings are based off Mock Drafts from May; there is too much change from the previous month to get an accurate picture. The high and low are both from all of the mocks I’ve looked at.

1. Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
Average: 1.48
Ranked: 55 of 55
High: 1
Low: 8

A majority of mocks have Appel at #1, even with Buxton being the best player available. As I noted here, new GM Jeff Luhnow built up the Cardinals farm system by taking safer college players. I’m expecting that again.
My High: 1
My Low: 5

2. Byron Buxton, OF, Appling Count HS (GA)
Average: 2.55
Ranked: 55 of 55
High: 1
Low: 20

Buxton is easily the best player available. The mock that had him at 20 was a little out of hand overall, so I’d be more willing to say his low was 4.
My High: 2
My Low: 4

3. Mike Zunino, C, Florida
Average: 3.77
Ranked: 54 of 55
High: 2
Low: 9

Zunino didn’t make 1 mock, and that was the one that had Buxton as the 20th pick.
My High: 3
My Low: 5

4. Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU
Average: 4.45
Ranked: 55 of 55
High: 1
Low: 10

You either really like Gausman or you don’t. He won’t be outside of the top 5 picks.
My High: 1
My Low: 5

5. Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy (PR)
Average: 5.94
Ranked: 55 of 55
High: 2
Low: 26

My High: 6
My Low: 7

6. Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco
Average: 7.37
Ranked: 54 of 55
High: 2
Low: 37

Again, the list that left him off was the one that left off Zunino. He’s had a hamstring problem recent and is dropping on some boards.
My High: 2
My Low: 4

7. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (FL)
Average: 7.77
Ranked: 48 of 55
High: 1
Low: 17

While there are concerns that he’ll need Tommy John surgery sooner than later, most analysts believe that he’s still a first round pick.
My High: 6
My Low: 13

8. Albert Amora, OF, Marion Christian Academy (FL)
Average: 8.77
Ranked: 54 of 55
High: 4
Low: 53

That 53 came last September, so you can see how much his stock has risen.
My High:7
My Low: 16

9. Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (FL)
Average: 8.93
Ranked: 54 of 55
High: 5
Low: 20

The one list that didn’t include him was adding 1 player at a time and they were up to 12. He’s been blessed by teammate Giolito’s injury, as he’s gotten the spotlight.
My High: 8
My Low: 9

10. Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona St.
Average: 10.17
Ranked: 54 of 55
High:
Low:

Like Fried, Marrero wasn’t on 1 list and it was because they only ranked picks 1-8. Apparently the Pirates are really high on Marrero.
My High: 8
My Low: 19

11. Richie Shaffer, 3B, Clemson
Average: 13.96
Ranked: 48 of 55
High: 5
Low: 54

My High: 10
My Low: 26

12. Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M
Average: 14.11
Ranked: 52 of 55
High: 5
Low: 37

My High: 10
My Low: 12

13. Courtney Hawkins, OF, Carroll HS (TX)
Average: 14.90
Ranked: 53 of 55
High: 9
Low: 60

Hawkins has been the big mover as of late. He’ll be closer to this in my next mock.
My High: 25
My Low: 32

14. Lance McCullers Jr, RHP, Jesuit HS (FL)
Average: 14.92
Ranked: 47 of 55
High: 2
Low: 43

There are rumors that McCullers will be a tough sign and I’ve seen some of the analysts drop him off the mocks. You won’t find that many player this year that drop for signability, then get an over slot bonus later in the draft; the new collective bargaining agreement has limit on spending for the first 10 rounds and teams will be penalized for exceeding it.
My High: 16
My Low: 23

15. Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma St
Average: 15.56
Ranked: 48 of 55
High: 9
Low: 52

Another guy that has shot up the mocks in the last 2 months.
My High: 15
My Low: 34

16. Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (LA)
Average: 16.52
Ranked: 52 of 55
High: 8
Low: 24

My High: 12
My Low: 18

17. David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS (AL)
Average: 17.79
Ranked: 44 of 55
High: 7
Low: 29

My High: 8
My Low: 17

18. Chris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi St
Average: 17.88
Ranked: 35 of 55
High: 13
Low: 59

Stratton is another hot pitcher that’s moving up boards.
My High: 16
My Low: Not Ranked

19. Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke
Average: 17.93
Ranked: 51 of 55
High: 5
Low: 45

Size if the main concern here, but teams that passed on Tim Lincecum might be willing to give him a shot.
My High: 13
My Low: 24

20. Steve Nyisztor, SS, Rutgers
Average: 18.00
Ranked: 1 of 55
High: 18
Low: 18

Nyisztor is only on 1 list (the same one that left off Zunino and Zimmer). Even lists that went into the 4th round did not include him.
My High: Not Ranked
My Low: Not Ranked

21. Matt Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (OH)
Average: 20.64
Ranked: 47 of 55
High: 6
Low: 32

Smoral has jumped up due to injuries in recent weeks.
My High: 14
My Low: 22

22. Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford
Average: 21.85
Ranked: 50 of 55
High: 11
Low: 52

My High: 11
My Low: 18

23. Striker Trahan, C, Acadiana HS (LA)
Average: 23.08
Ranked: 50 of 55
High: 6
Low: 31

There are questions about his ability to stay behind the plate, but many believe his bat still works as an outfielder.
My High: 15
My Low: 19

24. Zach Eflin, RHP
Average: 23.52
Ranked: 45 of 55
High: 11
Low: 65

My High: 24
My Low: 31

25. Joey Gallo, 1B, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)
Average: 24.96
Ranked: 49 of 55
High: 12
Low: 57

My High: 27
My Low: 17

26. Victor Roache, OF, Georgia Southern
Average: 25.50
Ranked: 36 of 55
High: 9
Low: 100

One of the largest variations on mocks due to his injury.
My High: 21
My Low: 28

27. Ty Hensley, RHP, Santa Fe HS (OK)
Average: 26.00
Ranked: 36 of 55
High: 17
Low: 60

My High: 33
My Low: 53

28. Addison Russell, SS, Pace HS (FL)
Average: 26.81
Ranked: 48 of 55
High: 12
Low: 49

Russell was ranked higher at the beginning of the season due to concerns over his ability to stick at shortstop. He came into the season leaner than in the past and has had a strong season. Most of the concerns are gone for now.
My High: 26
My Low: 31

29. Corey Seager, 3B, Northwest Cabarrus HS (NC)
Average: 27.28
Ranked: 29 of 55
High: 15
Low: 64

Seager is another quick riser in the last week or so. He’s been able to creep his way into the back end of most of the recent mocks.
My High: 47
My Low: 63

30. Tyler Naquin, OF, Texas A&M
Average: 28.79
Ranked: 36 of 55
High: 17
Low: 56

My High: 26
My Low: 35

31. Walker Weickel, RHP, Olympia HS (FL)
Average: 29.75
Ranked: 37 of 55
High: 8
Low: 44

Weickel has been the opposite of most of the guys listed; he’s fallen over the course of the season. He was a Top 10 pick in some of the mocks in early April.
My High: 9
My Low: 39

Be sure to check out final mock draft before the draft and the draft trends of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, Billy Beane, and Jeff Luhnow.