The 2017 MLB draft kicks off Monday, June 12 with pre-draft coverage starting on MLB Network at 4 p.m. MDT and the main event at 5 p.m. For the second time in franchise history, the Colorado Rockies don’t have a first-round pick, but they will have three picks inside the top 100.
By signing free agent Ian Desmond from the Texas Rangers for a five year $70 million deal the Rockies have forfeited their spot for the No. 11 pick this year. The Rockies still have the No. 48, No. 70, and No. 86 picks, however.
Unlike the NFL and NBA, MLB mock drafts can be anyone’s guess. Rather than trying to play psychic, we’re going to run down the top prospects at each of those draft positions, as rated by MLB.com, Baseball America and SB Nation’s Minor League Ball.
No. 48
MLB.com has TCU’s Evan Skoug as their prospect No. 48. Skoug is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound catcher previously drafted in 2014 as the 34th pick by the Washington Nationals. Wrapping up his junior year for the Frogs, Skoug hit .277 in 63 starts. As a sophomore he hit .301 with a career-high 75 hits and 54 runs scored.
Colorado has four catchers competing for the big league roster, including three who are under the age of 30. Not including Tom Murphy, who was vying for the big league squad this spring before an injury put him on the DL, Dom Nunez is their only catcher on Colorado’s top 30 prospects list at present. He’s struggled at Double-A Hartford so far this year, so a catcher wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility with this first pick.
Baseball America likes San Diego native Michael Mercado as the No. 48 prospect. Mercado stands at 6-foot-4, 160 pounds and is a right-handed pitcher from Westview High School. Ranked 10th in his state, Mercado’s fastball sits consistently at 91 mph touching up to 93. Rockies fans will love his self-proclaimed favorite pitch, a two-seam sinking fastball.
Mercado is in the very mold of many of Colorado’s recent top pitching prospects. Tall, lanky and with sink on the ball. Think Jon Gray, Jeff Hoffman or Kyle Freeland.
Minor League Ball rates M.J. Melendez of Westminster Christian (Fla.) as their No. 48 prospect. A catcher/third base hybrid, SB Nation thinks he’s the top high school catching prospect in the 2017 draft. He may be tricky to sign, however, as he’s committed to play for his dad at Florida International University.
Skoug seems like a better option, both in the short- and long-term if the Rockies are going with a catcher.
No. 70
Interestingly enough, MLB.com lists Michael Mercado 22 spots lower in their prospect rankings then Baseball America’s. MLB.com has Mercado as the No. 70 best prospect in the draft, which would be the Rockies not first but second pick Tuesday night.
The Rockies have selected 23 pitchers in the first round over the years, so even though they don’t have a first-round pick this year you can expect they’ll target one with either their first or second selection.
J.J. Matijevick, a freshman infielder from University of Arizona earns the No. 70 spot on the Baseball America prospect list. Matijevick’s explosive swing from the left side and diversity as a player is what makes him stand out to scouts. In high school he played shortstop, corner infielder and finished as second baseman. He continued his career in college at first base for Arizona where as a freshman earned the title of Arizona’s Baseball Summer Player of the Year. Matijevick has been efficient at any role asked of him.
Colorado pushed pause on the Ryan McMahon project for a few years when they signed Desmond to that big offseason contract, but Desmond has shown he can also play outfield as needed. McMahon is crushing Triple-A pitchers this year to the tune of a .350 average in his first 10 games. He hit .326 with six home runs for Hartford in 49 games this year before earning a promotion. They have two other top-30 prospects who can man first, so don’t expect them to grab one very high this draft.
At No. 70 for Minor League Ball is Caden Lemons of Vestavia Hills (Ala.) High School. The right-handed pitcher seems intent on getting into professional ball as quickly as possible, despite his commitment to Ole Miss, and he has worked out for the Cubs, Rangers and Padres among others. As a senior, Lemons 58 2/3 innings in 10 appearances. He posted a 5-1 record with a 1.4 ERA, striking out 65. He collected five shutouts and one no-hitter.
Lemons would be another sweet addition (pun intended) to a young corps of Rockies pitching prospects. Colorado has 10 right-handed pitchers alone in their top-30 list.
No. 86
Notre Dame’s right-handed pitcher Peter Solomon comes in at prospect No. 86 for MLB.com. After battling shoulder issues his freshman season, Solomon began splitting his time as a starter in Cape Cod League action but did show a interesting four pitch mix while posting a 0.54 ERA in 33 innings over the summer.
The Rockies have had success drafting experienced college starters recently. Jon Gray and Kyle Freeland were on the fast track to the majors because of the work they put in during their college years. Solomon could fit that same bill, assuming he’s healthy.
Luis Gonzalez, Baseball America’s No. 86 prospect, finished his sophomore season for the New Mexico Lobos earning Second Team All-Mountain West honors after hitting six home runs with a 48 RBI and .470 on base percentage. Gonzalez is a utility player (and pitcher) standing at 6-foot and weighing in at 185 pounds. Gonzales started 55 games for the Lobos in 2017, but ended his year on a down note with an injury.
The Rockies turned a great all-around athlete in Tony Wolters into their starting catcher for 2017. Gonzalez may have to go a similar route, with such well-rounded skills.
Rounding out our prospects list is Adam Hall, a shortstop from AB Lucas Secondary (Ontario, Canada), No. 86 as rated by Minor League Ball. Hall is a worldly prospect, having also lived in Bermuda as a child. He’s expected to be the first Canadian player selected in this year’s draft. It wouldn’t be the first time the Rockies grabbed a player from the great white north.
Jeff Francis was Colorado’s No. 1 pick in 2002, selected No. 9 overall. Francis went on to be one of the best pitchers of the early 2000s for Colorado. Having recently traded shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays, maybe another Canadian connection is waiting with another shortstop.
