2018 Draft: Latest FanGraphs and MLB.com mock drafts

We are less than three weeks away from the 2018 amateur draft, which begins Monday, June 4th. The Yankees hold the 23rd overall pick this year. Here are the latest mock drafts for your perusal.

FanGraphs mock draft v2.0

Kiley McDaniel and Eric Longenhagen posted their second mock draft of the spring earlier this week — their first mock draft covered only the top ten picks — and, of course, they have Auburn RHP Casey Mize going first overall to the Tigers. Mize is the consensus No. 1 pick right now. Here is their mock pick for the Yankees:

23. N.Y. Yankees – Xavier Edwards, 2B, North Broward Prep HS (FL)
Like Oakland, the Yankees keep an open mind with high picks but likely aren’t looking for a high-school pitcher here unless one of the better prep arms falls here for some reason. Edwards is in play at a number of picks higher than this one and has the electrifying 80-grade speed to play everyday in Yankee Stadium. Pennsylvania prep CF Mike Siani has also been mentioned here.

As is often the case, the information in the blurb is more interesting than the mock pick itself. That the Yankees “likely aren’t looking for a high-school pitcher” in the first round jibes with previous reports about them wanting a bat. Edwards (and Siani) fit their usual draft target profile as toolsy up-the-middle guys with high-end athleticism. Sounds like a position player is the most likely outcome right now (which of course means they’ll take a pitcher.)

MLB.com’s mock draft v3.0

Once again, it is Jim Callis’ turn to take the wheels of MLB.com’s mock draft. (Callis and Jonathan Mayo alternate weeks with the mock draft.) Callis has Mize going to the Tigers with the No. 1 pick. Here is his mock selection for the Yankees:

23. Yankees: Brice Turang, SS, Santiago HS (Corona, Calif.)
Right after the 2017 Draft ended, we projected Turang as this year’s possible No. 1 overall selection. That won’t happen because he’s not hitting well, but the son of former big leaguer Brian Turang is still a lock to stay at shortstop with speed and bat-to-ball skills.

Here is my write-up on Turang. He’s another up-the-middle athlete with tools and, as an added bonus, he’s a Southern California kid. Scouting director Damon Oppenheimer has a known affinity for SoCal prospects. At one point Turang was considered the top high school prospect in the draft. His stock has slipped through, and if the Yankees are still enamored with the tools, they could grab him and try to get him back to where he was last year.