I'm personally just as interested in maps as I am in the MLB Draft, so naturally I really like it when players go to their hometown team. Seeing Ryan Zimmerman (Virginia Beach, VA) on the Nationals, Justin Turner (Lakewood, CA) on the Dodgers, Joe Musgrove (La Mesa, CA) on the Padres, etc. makes me happy. Last year, the Cubs drafted Chicago native Ed Howard in the first round, which I thought was really cool. Obviously, picking the hometown guy usually plays a negligible part in the selection process, but it's still fun to think about. So, if teams were drafting to make me happy, what hometown players could they target early in the draft? Note, I'll usually think in terms of the first pick if possible, but if necessary I'll find targets for the second or third pick (especially in the "other options" section). This is the second of three articles, as I previously wrote on the AL and NL East. Note this is NOT a mock draft – it's just for fun and I don't actually think many of these will happen. They're just fun to think about. AL/NL West article here.
Chicago Cubs/White Sox
Hitter: SS Branden Comia, Illinois (hometown: Orland Park, IL)
I'm going to do the same thing here that I did with the Mets and Yankees, just combining the Cubs and White Sox and picking a hitter and a pitcher. Despite its size, Chicago doesn't bring quite as much baseball talent to the table as warmer places like Atlanta, Houston, or Los Angeles, but it's usually good for a couple names every year. This year, Day One likely won't yield any Chicagoland natives, especially not any bats, so I dug a little deeper to find Illini shortstop Branden Comia. A graduate of Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, about twenty miles southwest of downtown, Comia hit just .255/.322/.370 as a freshman but has caught fire ever since. He burst onto the scene with a .426/.526/.702 line over 13 games in the shortened 2020 season, and his 2021 has been nearly as hot. A bit undersized at 5'10", he shows great feel for the barrel from the right side and has tapped some moderate power in Urbana-Champaign, and he does a very good job of limiting his strikeouts. The power will likely never be more than fringe-average, as his swing is geared towards line drives and he hasn't hit well with wood bats. Comia will stick in the middle infield, either at shortstop or second base, and has a utility projection. He probably doesn't make sense for the Cubs or White Sox in the first two to three rounds, but once we get into triple digits on the overall board, one of them might like his consistent profile.
Other options: C Ian Moller (Wahlert Catholic HS, Dubuque, IA), OF Levi Usher (Louisville via Fairfax, IA), 1B Niko Kavadas (Notre Dame via Granger, IN), 3B Alex Binelas (Louisville via Oak Creek, WI), OF Zaid Walker (Michigan State via Homewood, IL)
Pitcher: RHP McCade Brown, Indiana (hometown: Normal, IL)
We'll move a little outside of Chicagoland to get to a really interesting pitcher. McCade Brown went to Normal West High School in Normal, Illinois, just over one hundred miles southwest of Chicago and home of Illinois State University. To call his first two years at Indiana unremarkable would actually be a compliment; in 6.2 innings, he allowed eleven earned runs (14.85 ERA) and walked thirteen batters (31% of those he faced). However, something clicked for the 6'6" righty over the summer and by fall practice, he was a completely transformed pitcher. Brown came out absolutely dealing to start the season, shutting down Rutgers and Penn State for one run over fourteen innings, allowing just three hits, two walks, and two hit batsmen along the way and striking out 28. He's come back down to Earth a bit since then, but we still have a heck of a prospect on our hands. At his best, Brown can touch 96 with his fastball and drop in an absolute hammer curveball, backed up by a distinct slider with late break as well. However, over extended innings, his stuff has flattened out just a little bit and the command has backed up a hair as well, so both the Cubs (pick #21) and White Sox (pick #22) might be a little bit of a stretch in the first round at this point unless he regains that early season form. If he's still on the board when they pick again at #56 and #57, respectively, both could be very interested.
Other options: RHP Glenn Albanese (Louisville via Batavia, IL), RHP J.P. Massey (Minnesota via Chicago, IL), RHP Jack Perkins (Louisville via Kokomo, IN), RHP Johnny Ray (Texas Christian via Quincy, IL), RHP Luke Smith (Louisville via Champaign, IL)
Cincinnati Reds: OF Daylen Lile, Trinity HS, Louisville, KY
I was torn between Daylen Lile and Ohio State ace Seth Lonsway, but despite Lonsway being a Buckeye State lifer who grew up in Celina, I went with Lile because a) I think he has a better chance of landing in Cincinnati than Lonsway and b) I've written about Lonsway a lot over the years since he was on draft radars in both 2017 and 2020, so I think it's time we give the new kid a shot. Lile is a really interesting bat out of Louisville who is committed to stay in town and play for the Cardinals should he push pro ball down the road, but he's trending up and might not end up at school. Nobody doubts his pure hit tool, as he brings an extremely professional approach at the plate that he combines with a smooth, leveraged left handed swing to find the barrel consistently. Up until this spring, there were some minor concerns over his power output, as he lacked the pure strength to really maximize his skill set, but he's come out swinging a hot bat lately and has been turning on more baseballs. If he can continue to add muscle to his 6'1" frame, he has a chance to be an extremely well-rounded hitter. The defense is a bit of a question mark, as he is fringy in center field and doesn't quite have the arm for right field. Because there's a chance he ends up in left field, teams will really need to bank on that strength continuing to manifest, which is why his hot 2021 has been very good for his stock. Lile will not be in play for the Reds' first round pick at #17, but they have a couple of comp picks at #30 and #35, then their second round pick comes in at #53. He could make sense at either of those comp picks, or if bonus demands push him down, the Reds should have space to sign him above slot at #53.
Other options: LHP Seth Lonsway (Ohio State via Celina, OH), RHP Sam Bachman (Miami of OH via Fishers, IN), SS Luke Waddell (Georgia Tech via Loveland, OH), OF Colson Montgomery (Southridge HS, Huntingburg, IN), SS Trey Sweeney (Eastern Illinois via Louisville, KY)
Cleveland Indians: LHP Evan Shawver, Cincinnati (hometown: Amherst, OH)
Northern Ohio can be hit or miss in terms of producing baseball talent, last year giving us Massillon natives Dillon Dingler (Ohio State) and Kyle Nicolas (Ball State), and this year we have one Day One prospect in Cincinnati lefty Evan Shawver. A product of Steele High School in Amherst, on the western edge of the Cleveland suburbs, Shawver transformed himself as a pitcher between his freshman and sophomore years. The undersized lefty greatly improved his command while seeing his stuff tick up as well, bumping into the low 90's with his fastball and topping out as high as 97. His slider flashes plus with late diving action and his changeup is an above average pitch as well, and the entire package put him in the top tier of college lefties according to some evaluators. However, he's barely pitched lately and I can't find information as to why, which has knocked him into the second tier. Depending on why he's missed time, durability questions could start to creep up given his size. He won't be in play at pick #23 but depending how he returns, he could be at #58, #69, or #95.
Other options: LHP Seth Lonsway (Ohio State via Celina, OH), LHP Michael Kirian (Louisville via New Riegel, OH), RHP Ryan Bergert (West Virginia via Canton, OH), LHP Jackson Wolf (West Virginia via Gahanna, OH), LHP Drake Batcho (Cincinnati via Warren, OH)
Detroit Tigers: SS Alex Mooney, Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS, West Bloomfield, MI
Prep middle infielders seem to have an interesting tendency to get drafted higher than the national rankings say. It seems like every year, the national rankings will have one of these kids in the second round that at least a few teams like at the back of the first, such as Matt McLain in 2018, Anthony Volpe in 2019, and Nick Yorke and Carson Tucker in 2020. There are a few more names like that in 2021, and if the Tigers want to go that route, one is from Michigan. Alex Mooney stands out for his feel for the game over his tools, in a somewhat similar vein to Jordan Lawlar at the top of the draft (who could be an option for the Tigers at pick #3). Mooney isn't as athletic as Lawlar, but he's simply a gamer who makes things happen on the field. He has a quick swing from the right side and puts some nice lift on the ball, maximizing his impact by choosing good pitches to swing at and doing damage. The Rochester Hills native definitely has the feel for shortstop, but a superior defender may be able to push him to third base. Also like Lawlar, Mooney is old for the class and will be 19 on draft day, which works against him for many teams, and he'll be eligible again in 2023 after two seasons at Duke if he chooses that route.
Other options: SS/RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (Nebraska via Saginaw, MI), 3B Luke Leto (Portage Central HS, Portage, MI), RHP Mason Erla (Michigan State via Cass City, MI), 1B Niko Kavadas (Notre Dame via Granger, IN), LHP Michael Kirian (Louisville via New Riegel, OH)
Kansas City Royals: RHP Ben Kudrna, Blue Valley Southwest HS, Overland Park, KS
I was tempted to go with KC native and Arkansas star Christian Franklin here, but pick #7 might be just a little rich for him given his slight strikeout concerns. We'll go with Ben Kudrna, an interesting high school pitcher out of Blue Valley Southwest High School at the southern edge of the KC suburbs, since the Royals tend to like these types of arms and he makes a lot of sense at pick #43. Kudrna's velocity has been ticking up little by little over the last few years, and this spring he's been sitting in the mid 90's more often and touching 97-98. He adds an above average slider and changeup to make for a very well-rounded arsenal, and on top of all that, he fills up the strike zone with a repeatable delivery that should enable him to remain a starter over the long run. There's a really nice combination of ceiling and floor here for a high school arm, and Kudrna isn't too dissimilar to Ben Hernandez, the Royals' 41st overall pick last year who was older for his class and didn't quite have Kudrna's breaking ball.
Other options: OF Christian Franklin (Arkansas via Overland Park, KS), C Carter Jensen (Park Hill HS, Kansas City, MO), LHP Jordan Wicks (Kansas State via Conway, AR), RHP Brannon Jordan (South Carolina via Collinsville, OK), RHP Cole Larsen (Kansas via Jamestown, KS)
Milwaukee Brewers: 3B Alex Binelas, Louisville (hometown: Oak Creek, WI)
It's really hard to pin down Alex Binelas' draft stock right now. He entered the season a potential top ten pick, but picked up just two hits in his first eight games, spanning 31 at bats, and even then continued on a cold stretch. However, he righted the ship towards the end of March and has been on a tear ever since, and in a crop of college bats that has really disappointed so far, he's starting to stand out once again. The Brewers pick at #15, which at this point is too rich for the slugging infielder, but if he continues to hit this way, he could make more and more sense. Milwaukee picks again at #33, which could also be a fit if Binelas cools off just a little bit. He's proven to be one of the streakiest hitters in the draft, so anything is really possible. The Oak Creek native has tremendous raw power from the left side, the product of a lightning quick barrel and plenty of strength in his 6'3" frame. He goes through stretches where he's tapping that power virtually every game, and at those times he looks like a top ten pick, but also can start to swing through pitches at other times, especially soft stuff. Defensively, he shows a strong arm at third base but his mobility there has become increasingly questionable, especially after Lucas Dunn forced him over to first base. Binelas could also make sense in at a corner outfield spot.
Other options: SS Noah Miller (Ozaukee HS, Fredonia, WI), C Ian Moller (Wahlert Catholic HS, Dubuque, IA), RHP Tanner Kohlhepp (Notre Dame via Eau Claire, WI), RHP Glenn Albanese (Louisville via Batavia, IL), OF Levi Usher (Louisville via Fairfax, IA)
Minnesota Twins: C Ian Moller, Wahlert Catholic HS, Dubuque, IA
Sometimes it can be tough to find Day One prospects from the Twin Cities, though last year we did get third overall pick and Woodbury native Max Meyer out of Minnesota. This year, nobody stands out from the Gopher State, so I headed south of the border into Iowa to grab Dubuque star Ian Moller. It makes sense, because the Twins are no stranger to catchers in the early rounds and plucked Ben Rortvedt out of a Wisconsin high school in the second round in 2016 as well as UNC Wilmington's Ryan Jeffers in the second round in 2018. Moller probably won't be in play at pick #26 in the first round, though the Twins' pick at #36 might represent his draft ceiling and an over slot deal at #61 could make sense as well. Moller has a picturesque swing that looks a little like a right handed Cody Bellinger, generating a ton of torque in his vicious but controlled uppercut. That in turn produces plus raw power that looks especially good from a catcher, and while his hit tool can be streaky, he has shown strong feel for the barrel against good pitching. The LSU commit also shows a good all-around defensive profile, with smooth glove work, a strong arm, and a quick release. It's a really well-rounded profile for a high school catcher, especially when he's hot at the plate, but high school catchers are notoriously risky and some teams avoid them altogether in the early rounds. The ceiling, though, is tantalizing, especially for a team like the Twins with an extra competitive balance pick.
Other options: RHP Aidan Maldonado (Illinois via Rosemount, MN), 2B Cooper Bowman (Louisville via Rapid City, SD), RHP Will Frisch (Oregon State via Stillwater, MN), OF Levi Usher (Louisville via Fairfax, IA), RHP Tanner Kohlhepp (Notre Dame via Eau Claire, WI)
Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Will Bednar, Mississippi State (hometown: Valencia, PA)
Since Gibsonia native Neil Walker's star faded, we haven't had a star major leaguer from western Pennsylvania to take his place, but a few are coming up the pipeline. Between the Twins' Alex Kirilloff (Plum) and the Reds' Austin Hendrick (Imperial), there are a couple power hitting outfielders ready to make their marks, and now Mississippi State has what could be the best yinzer arm in a very long time. The younger brother of current Pirates reliever David Bednar, Will rode an excellent but short freshman season in Starkville (1.76 ERA, 23/6 K/BB in 15.1 IP) to an even bigger sophomore season, where he has pitched himself into the fringes of the first round conversation. While he won't be in play when the Pirates lead off the draft with the first overall pick, he could make a lot of sense at #37 if he's still available. The Valencia native deals a low to mid 90's fastball that gets up to 95-96 at its best, bringing nice ride that misses bats. His slider has taken a step forward this year and has become a true plus pitch, a wipeout offering that misses bats even when he misses his location. Bednar has also worked in a solid curveball and changeup in the past, but since his slider took off, he hasn't had much need for them. His control is ahead of his command for now but he fills up the strike zone and has proven durable thus far. As a draft-eligible sophomore/COVID freshman, he might have a high asking price, but Pittsburgh should be able to swing it given the size of their bonus pool.
Other options: LHP Joe Rock (Ohio via Aliquippa, PA), RHP Cameron Weston (Michigan via Canonsburg, PA), OF Benny Montgomery (Red Land HS, Lewisberry, PA), RHP Michael Morales (East Pennsboro Area HS, Enola, PA), RHP Ryan Bergert (West Virginia via Canton, OH)
St. Louis Cardinals: LHP Drew Gray, IMG Academy, FL (hometown: Swansea, IL)
The Cardinals could target Memphis product Hunter Goodman in the second round, but if we really want to go with a hometown pick, we'll wait until the third or fourth round with Drew Gray. Gray grew up just across the river in Swansea, Illinois, next to Belleville, but headed across the country to the IMG Academy in Florida to hone his baseball skill set. Primarily known as an outfielder throughout most of his prep career, he's very new to pitching and is a pure projection pick at this point. He brings a low 90's fastball that gets up to 93-94 at its best, but can dip into the upper 80's later in his starts, and his breaking ball is pretty slurvy for now. However, scouts love the way his arm works and see a lot to like in his mechanics as well, and some thing that a simple combination of added strength and seasoning could make him a monster. Of course, given that Gray only turns 18 in May, there is plenty of time to do both of those things. The Cardinals could choose to bite with the 70th or 90th overall pick, in which case they'd be taking a risk but hopefully buying into the breakout before it happens. If he goes unsigned and makes it to campus at Arkansas, he could come out a first round pick in 2024.
Other options: C Hunter Goodman (Memphis via Arlington, TN), SS Benjamin Sems (Michigan via Chesterfield, MO), OF Colson Montgomery (Southridge HS, Huntingburg, IN), 1B Kevin Graham (Mississippi via O'Fallon, MO), LHP Hugh Fisher (Vanderbilt via Eads, TN)
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