The Athletic mocks the Mariners to pick OF Trevor Larnach, joining several other publications

We are now less than a week from the June Amateur Draft, which is next Monday, holy cow. I recognize that for many of you, the MLB Draft and the minor leagues are just too much to be bothered with, and I get that. Still, even if nothing past the 1^st round sticks in your memory, it’s an opportunity for us to get insight on the future of the organization, and the future of the league on the whole. Somehow I have a distinct memory of Dee Gordon being drafted. I was on my couch after school, eating Goldfish and puzzling over the fact that Tom Gordon had a kid old enough to be drafted. I can’t imagine that feeling ever happening again, no not at all.

Anyways, as is always exciting in the leadup to drafts of all sporting sorts, we have mock drafts to pick apart and wonder on. Today’s comes courtesy of The Athletic. Jim Bowden, a former GM of the Reds, Expos, and Nationals, and current MLB analyst, gathered with over a dozen Athletic beat writers to project the 1^st round of the draft.

Seattle’s Athletic beat writer, Corey Brock, predicts the Mariners select Oregon State OF Trevor Larnach with the 14^th overall pick. It’s an increasingly common supposition, as Jerry Dipoto has shown a tendency towards college bats in the 1^stround. Larnach has drawn Christian Yelich comparisons following his 2018 breakout based on his powerful left-handed swing and physical profile, which is obviously appealing. What makes this particular mock surprising, however, is that Larnach is taken over early-spring top-10 projections like high schoolers Brice Turang (SS) and Jarred Kelenic (OF). The draft also slates high-ceiling Vanderbilt commit/prep arm RHP Kumar Rocker at 12^th, the highest I’ve seen him in some time.

For reference, here is a list of the latest 1^st round mock predictions we’ve seen for the M’s from various notable outlets:

Fangraphs: OF Trevor Larnach – Oregon State University

Perfect Game: OF Trevor Larnach – Oregon State University

MLB.com (Jonathan Mayo) – OF Trevor Larnach – Oregon State University

Bleacher Report: OF Travis Swaggerty – South Alabama University

Baseball America: OF Travis Swaggerty – South Alabama University

Beyond the Box Score: RHP Cole Winn – Orange Lutheran HS (CA)

Sporting News: LHP Ryan Weathers – Loretto HS (TN)

MLB.com (Jim Callis) – LHP Ryan Rolison – Ole Miss University

ESPN (Keith Law) – OF Jarred Kelenic – Waukesha West HS (WI)

From what we’ve seen, most experts seem to be torn between Dipoto’s recent history of taking college players and the fact that several high-ceiling prep players may be available. In less than a week, we’ll see.