• Michael Dault

MLB RE-DRAFT EDITION (2013 Draft)
Kris Bryant

(USA TODAY)

  1. Houston Astros: Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego
    Original Pick: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

    Oh, Mark Appel. What went wrong? Back then it was hard not to like Appel number one. His stuff was magic. Going back, and knowing what we know now, Kris Bryant was always the guy. The Dude. The should’ve been, could’ve been number one. The Cubs organization got lucky with Bryant, who was a key member of their 2016 World Series team. He might be a Giant now, but he’ll always be a Cub wherever he goes.
  2. Chicago Cubs: Cody Bellinger, OF/IF, Hamilton HS (AZ)
    Original Pick: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs, San Diego

    Well, of course, if we had a time machine, Kris Bryant would still become the pick at number two. But if we’re saying he’s off the board, Cody Bellinger is the destined picked. Originally a fourth round pick by the Dodgers, it baffles me to this day how Bellinger fell through the cracks of the first rounder. Many scouts dropped the ball here.
  3. Colorado Rockies: Aaron Judge, OF, Fresno State
    Original Pick: Jon Gray, RHP, Oklahoma

    Right now you’re thinking this class was stacked, right? You’d be right if we’re talking one through four. Gray is still solid for the Rockies, but Judge is a franchise-changer. He’s not quite a super star, but is on his way. Who knows, in the next few seasons we could be talking about Judge as the first pick of the 2013 re-draft.
  4. Minnesota Twins: Tim Anderson, SS, East Central CC (MS)
    Original Pick: Kohl Steward, RHP, St. Pius X High School (TX)

    It took some time for Tim Anderson to reach his full potential, but he was well worth the wait! Anderson isn’t mentioned much among the best shortstops in the league, but he should be. He’s an all-around perfect shortstop. The White Sox look at him as their nucleus and should just keep re-upping his contract.
  5. Cleveland Indians: Brad Keller, RHP, Flowery Branch HS (GA)
    Original Pick: Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS (GA)

    While I still believe Frazier is worthy of a top-five, I’m basing my picks solely from overall career success to date. Keller, in my re-draft, would’ve been the first pitcher off the board. In three seasons in the pros, he’s amassed 349 strikeouts. Yes, he’s a .500 pitcher at the moment but that’s not entirely his fault. If Keller was helming the 2015 Royals, he’d have abundant success and would don the “star ace” status others have.
  6. Miami Marlins: Jeff McNeil, 2B, Long Beach State
    Original Pick: Colin Moran, 3B, North Carolina

    McNeil is tricky. Solid all-around. Is he a franchise player a team can build around? Not really. He’s more supporting cast than anything. With Javier Baez‘s trade to the Mets, I expect McNeil’s role to be shifted to an every day utility player. Moran was a great pick at the time, but he hasn’t taken off as expected to date.
  7. Boston Red Sox: Trey Mancini, 1B, Notre Dame
    Original Pick: Trey Ball, LHP, New Castle Chrysler HS (IN)

    Mancini blasted onto the scene in 2016, hitting balls a country mile, but his strikeout rate was high. He’s matured over the years and while he’s not a .300 hitter, he’s still considered a reliable hitter. Baltimore has made it clear they want to build around him. If the Sox had drafted him, I think is path would’ve mimicked much of the same.
  8. Kansas City Royals: Clint Frazier, Loganville HS (GA)
    Original Pick: Hunter Dozier, SS, Stephen F. Austin

    Listen, I like Clint Frazier. At the time of this draft, his ceiling could’ve been considered the highest. Hell, I still think he has a high ceiling. The problem with Frazier is circumstance. If he had remained in Cleveland’s system and was not traded to the Yankees I think we’d have a different conversation about him as a number three pick. He was log-jammed in the outfield once Giancarlo Stanton was traded to the Yanks from the Marlins, which put Frazier on notice. Even the slightest dip in play would result in him being demoted to the minors. This pick might be a reach to some, but I feel if KC had drafted him, he’d become a star on the team. I’ll double down, if any low-market team had drafted him he’d be a star. There’s still time for him.
  9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Austin Meadows, Grayson HS (GA)
    Original Pick: Austin Meadows, OF, Grayson HS (GA)

    Early mock drafts in 2013 had Austin Meadows at the top. As his high school season progressed, other prospects stood out more. In my re-draft, Meadows is still drafted at nine. His ceiling is still high. While he isn’t a focal point in Tampa’s offense, he starting to come into his own. His strikeouts are a little much, but once he matures, which it is taking time, he should explode into the form of a Charlie Blackmon type. That’s crazy potential, right? It’s possible. It was a surprise the Pirates moved on from him in their latest rebuild, but Meadows found a good home in Tampa.
  10. Toronto Bluejays: Mike Yastrzemski, OF, Vanderbilt
    Original Pick: Phil Bickford, RHP, Oaks Christina HS (CA)

    Two years ago, Yastrzemski wouldn’t even crack my top-20 of 2013. Devin Williams from the Brewers or Tyler O’Neill from the Cardinals would’ve better suited the 10 spot. When the Giants gave the kid a chance, he blossomed. He took advantage of his opportunity and relied on what got him to the higher levels. The value for the Jays at 10 would’ve been just right in 2013. Whether he would’ve survived the plethora of trades the Jays made over the last eight years is debatable. At 10 though, Yaz is the pick here.