Legacy picks, late-round steals headline Day 2

Breaking down an array of picks from MLB Draft Rounds 3-10

By Sam Dykstra @SamDykstraMiLB

July 10, 2023

Even after the first 70 picks came off the board in an exciting Day 1 of the 2023 MLB Draft, there was still tons of talent available for Day 2, which covered Rounds 3-10. Below are some of Monday's most notable picks, including sons of former MLB stars, some serious

Day 3 of the Draft on Tuesday will include Rounds 11-20 and starts at 2 p.m. ET, with no delay between selections, all heard on MLB.com.

Round 3

Pick 1 (71st overall), Nationals: Travis Sykora, RHP, Round Rock (Texas) HS (Ranked No. 40 on MLB Pipeline’s Draft Prospect list)
The Nats went bat-heavy on Day 1 with Dylan Crews and Yohandy Morales, and they went to the pitching well to begin Day 2. Sykora can touch 101 mph with his plus-plus fastball and also showcases a plus splitter (rare for prep pitchers) and above-average slider. Standing at 6-foot-6, the right-hander has some projection remaining.

With the 71st pick, the @Nationals select Round Rock (TX) right-handed pitcher Travis Sykora, No. 40 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.

Watch live: https://t.co/lv70TuxxSC pic.twitter.com/JhX54iiJxF
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) July 10, 2023

Pick 6 (76th overall), Tigers: Paul Wilson, LHP, Lakeridge (Ore.) HS (No. 51)
Trevor Wilson pitched eight years in the Majors (seven with the Giants) after being an eighth-rounder in 1985. His son Paul sits 92-94 mph with a fastball that features great carry up in the zone and plays off it well with an above-average power curveball. He’ll become one of the best lefties in a Detroit system that boasts only one southpaw among its top 30 prospects.

Pick 10 (80th overall), D-backs: Jack Hurley, OF, Virginia Tech (No. 36)
Considered by MLB Pipeline to be the best player available headed into Day 2, Hurley heads to Arizona -- a system that knows how to develop outfielders -- and brings plus speed and improving power to the table. He had back-to-back seasons with an OPS above 1.000 for the Hokies in 2022 and '23, and he moved back to center field this spring, where his wheels and instincts should serve him well in pro ball.

Pick 18 (88th overall), Rays: Tre’ Morgan, 1B, LSU (No. 137)
Anyone who followed LSU’s run to a Men’s College World Series title should recognize Morgan, a potential plus-plus fielder who made an incredible catch on a safety squeeze in the MCWS semis. The 20-year-old is the rare first baseman who is hit over power as he prioritizes contact over producing eye-popping exit velocities from the left side. Morgan is the fifth LSU player selected through 88 picks.

Pick 21 (91st overall), Mets: Nolan McLean, TWP, Oklahoma State (No. 97)
A third-round pick of the Orioles last year, McLean didn’t sign due to worries about a post-Draft MRI. He heads to the Mets in the same round one year later. The 6-foot-4 right-hander is a better bet as a pitcher with a fastball up to 98 and two good breakers in his curveball and slider, but he has plenty of power (with a propensity to swing and miss) as a hitter too.

Pick 22 (92nd overall), Mariners: Teddy McGraw, RHP, Wake Forest (No. 84)
Major health concerns have caused McGraw to tumble after 2019 Tommy John surgery and another elbow issue kept him from pitching this spring, but he has first-round-level talent. The 6-foot-3 right-hander sits 92-95 mph with his fastball and offers two above-average offspeeds in a mid-80s sweeper and upper-80s change. He joins a Mariners organization that knows how to get the most out of arms. Just look at the rises of Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo this year.

First pick of Day ✌

With the 92nd pick in the 2023 #MLBDraft, we’ve selected @teddy_mcgraw, a RHP from @WakeBaseball. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/6m3LppiAUf
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 10, 2023

Round 4

Pick 4 (105th overall), Reds: Cole Schoenwetter, RHP, San Marcos (Calif.) HS (No. 43)
Make that four arms in five picks for Cincinnati, which boasted a bat-heavy system at the start of this process. Schoenwetter, a 6-foot-3 right-hander committed to UC Santa Barbara, brings decent 92-94 mph heat to the Reds but stands out more for his plus spike curve, a true swing-and-miss option at the next level.

Pick 5 (106th overall), Royals: Hunter Owen, LHP, Vanderbilt (No. 56)
With Blake Mitchell (No. 14) and Blake Wolters (No. 41) already in the mix, the Royals grabbed Owen to give themselves three of MLB Pipeline’s Top 60 prospects through four rounds. The 6-foot-6 southpaw missed time with arm fatigue this spring but showed a 92-94 mph fastball with good carry and a mid-80s slider that flashed plus. Owen struck out 76 in 64 innings in 2023 in his first season as a full-time starter.

Pick 16 (117th overall), Giants: Maui Ahuna, SS, Tennessee (No. 48)
Ahuna hit .396/.479/.634 as a sophomore at Kansas, transferred to Tennessee and couldn’t quite replicate those numbers as his strikeout rate climbed. There is still a lot to like here, starting with his 65-grade speed and stellar defensive chops on the dirt, and San Francisco is banking on helping the bat turn around, perhaps starting with tamping down Ahuna’s aggressive approach.

Maui to the Bay! 🌉

With the 117th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the @SFGiants select Maui Ahuna!!#GBO // #OTH // #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/y0rnFTttTc
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) July 10, 2023

Pick 20 (121st overall), Blue Jays: Landen Maroudis, RHP, Calvary Christian (Fla.) HS (No. 72)
Calvary Christian boasts three pitchers ranked among MLB Pipeline’s top 150 prospects with Liam Peterson (No. 85) and Hunter Dietz (No. 141) still waiting. Maroudis is the first off the board, thanks to a fastball that can touch 96 and an above-average changeup. Supremely athletic at 6-foot-3, Maroudis also starred at short in the prep ranks but could take off as he focuses on pitching.

Pick 21 (122nd overall), Cardinals: Quinn Matthews, LHP, Stanford (No. 86)
Matthews sparked national debate when he threw 156 pitches in a 16-strikeout, complete-game effort in a Super Regionals win over Texas. From a stuff standpoint, the 6-foot-5 southpaw boasts an above-average fading changeup and sits in the low-90s with his heater. A 19th-round pick by the Rays last year, Matthews jumped 15 rounds after returning to the Cardinal as a senior.

Pick 27 (128th overall), Padres: Homer Bush Jr., OF, Grand Canyon (No. 94)
San Diego went to a quick runner from the prep ranks in Dillon Head at No. 25 overall and adds a college outfielder with plus wheels three rounds later. Bush -- son of the seven-year Major Leaguer of the same name -- hit .370/.478/.500 with more walks than strikeouts as a junior this spring but lacks even average power (two homers).

With the 128th pick in the 2023 #MLBDraft, the Padres have selected Homer Bush Jr. from Grand Canyon University. pic.twitter.com/zPus1dXwAe
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 10, 2023

Round 5

Pick 4 (141st overall), Reds: Connor Burns, C, Long Beach State (No. 169)
A Big West Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023, Burns is arguably the best defensive catcher in the entire class and earns 70 grades on the 20-80 scale for both his glove and arm behind the plate. He threw out 15 of 32 attempted basestealers (46.9 percent) this spring, and anything close to that rate would be huge in today’s steal-heavy game. The lack of an average bat likely makes him a future Major League backup.

Pick 8 (145th overall), Rockies: Kyle Karros, 3B, UCLA (No. 136)
Make that two straight years Karros brothers (and sons of Eric) have been drafted out of UCLA. Right-hander Jared went to the Dodgers in the 16th round last summer, and Kyle beats his sibling by 11 rounds while staying in the NL West. An ankle injury may have slowed Karros down a bit this spring, but the Bruins infielder doesn’t strike out much and brings average power and a plus arm when healthy.

With the 145th pick, the @Rockies select @UCLABaseball third baseman Kyle Karros, No. 136 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.

Watch live: https://t.co/lv70TuxxSC pic.twitter.com/l7LSYopPGC
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) July 10, 2023

Pick 11 (148th overall), D-backs: Kevin Sim, 3B, San Diego (No. 180)
Chon Soo Shim hit 300 homers over a 15-year career in the KBO, earning the nickname Hercules along the way. His son also shows decent power that helped him hit .298/.401/.624 with 13 dingers this spring, and his ability to make contact in the zone should help the bat translate to the next level too. Sim has experience in all four corners on both the grass and dirt.

Pick 12 (149th overall), Cubs: Michael Carico, C, Davidson (No. 110)
Carico had a stellar 2022 when he led Division I with a .559 OBP and a 1.402 OPS while setting his school’s record for homers (21), extra-base hits (43) and total bases (166) among other stats. He broke a bone in his left wrist early in the spring, limiting his pre-Draft looks, but those who saw him believe he has true above-average power and great plate discipline as a lefty bat. He’ll need to hit too, due to defensive questions.

Round 6

Pick 1 (165th overall), Nationals: Gavin Dugas, 2B, LSU (Unranked)
Washington took Dylan Crews second overall and made the star outfielder happy by selecting his Tigers teammate five rounds later. Dugas was a fifth-year senior for the College World Series champions in 2023 and certainly performed, hitting .290/.464/.589 with 17 homers and earning MCWS All-Tournament Team honors as a 23-year-old. The Nats should be able to use savings from his signing on the rest of their Draft pool.

Pick 8 (172nd overall), Rockies: Cade Denton, RHP, Oral Roberts (No. 184)
The 6-foot-3 right-hander has been one of Division I’s most dominant relievers the last two years and tied for the Division I lead with 15 saves in 2023. A key piece of the Oral Roberts team that made the Men’s College World Series as a No. 4 seed, Denton sits 93-95 mph with a fastball that looks flat out of the hand and also adds a low-80s slider that earns above-average grades with depth. Impressive control could help move him quickly toward Denver.

Pick 10 (174th overall), Angels: Camden Minacci, RHP, Wake Forest (No. 160)
The Demon Deacons spent a good chunk of the spring at No. 1 in the polls, and after Minacci’s selection, the program boasts seven picks through the first 174 made this year. The fifth Wake pitcher taken in 2023, Minacci shows a mid-90s fastball and whiff-heavy slider that both earn plus grades. Because of those two pitches and a high-effort delivery, he’ll remain a reliever in the Halos system.

Pick 18 (182nd overall), Brewers: Cooper Pratt, SS, Magnolia Heights (Miss.) HS (No. 45)
Considered by some to be a right-handed-hitting Gunnar Henderson, Pratt’s fall made it look like he was headed to Ole Miss for school. It’ll likely take an over-slot deal for the Brewers to sign him, but if they can, the organization will add a 6-foot-4 shortstop with great contact ability, solid bat speed and ample arm strength for the left side of the infield.

With the 145th pick, the @Rockies select @UCLABaseball third baseman Kyle Karros, No. 136 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.

Watch live: https://t.co/lv70TuxxSC pic.twitter.com/l7LSYopPGC
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) July 10, 2023

Pick 20 (184th overall), Blue Jays: Jace Bohrofen, OF, Arkansas (No. 66)
Entering 2023, Bohrofen was known more as a Cape Cod League standout than he was for his performance at Oklahoma (2021) and Arkansas (2022). He became a regular performer for the Razorbacks this spring, hitting .318/.436/.612 with 16 homers in 60 games. His above-average raw power will be what plays best in the Toronto system.

Round 7

Pick 9 (203rd overall), Marlins: Justin Storm, LHP, Southern Miss (No. 185)
The first thing that should pop about the Golden Eagles southpaw is his frame at 6-foot-7. He doesn’t have stellar velocity at 90-93, but his high release point and deception makes it play like an above-average pitch. Storm also brings a plus 82-85 mph slider that gives him the two good pitches needed to be a quality reliever at the next level. He is Miami’s fifth pitcher taken through its first eight picks.

Pick 15 (209th overall), White Sox: George Wolkow, Downers Grove North (Ill.) HS (No. 71)
This could be one of the steals of the Draft, and the White Sox went local to pull it off. Standing at 6-foot-7, Wolkow already showed incredible power as a 17-year-old, and he has plenty of arm to handle right field. Whether he joins the Chicago system or honors his commitment to South Carolina, the left-handed slugger will need to shorten his swing some and cut down on his whiff rates.

Pick 20 (214th overall), Blue Jays: Nick Goodwin, SS, Kansas State (No. 163)
Goodwin doesn’t boast a true plus tool, but he’s been a solid three-year starter in the Big 12 and helped his stock with a good showing in the Cape Cod League last summer. He projects for 15-20 homers with a good walk rate in the pros, and while he’s improved at short, he might be better as a bat-first second baseman in the Toronto system.

With the 214th pick, the @BlueJays select @KStateBSB shortstop Nick Goodwin, No. 163 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.

Watch live: https://t.co/lv70Tuy5Ia pic.twitter.com/RxV3f7Jfmn
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) July 10, 2023

Pick 24 (218th overall), Guardians: Alex Mooney, SS, Duke (No. 114)
A Draft-eligible sophomore, Mooney improved his ability to make contact in his second season on campus and saw his OPS jump from .786 to .938 as a result. It’s a definite hit-over-power profile, but with above-average speed and arm strength, he can provide defensive value as well, whether he sticks at short or needs to move around the dirt for Cleveland.

Round 8

Pick 7 (231st overall), Rangers: Julian Brock, C, Louisiana-Lafayette (No. 122)
Brock relies on strength over bat speed to generate impressive raw power, and he’s shown an ability to control the strike zone this spring too, resulting in a .315/.435/.559 line with 11 homers and 42 walks over 64 games. He moves well enough behind the plate to stick there and should get a chance to do so in a Texas system without a catcher among its current top 30 prospect ranking.

Pick 10 (234th overall), Angels: Barrett Kent, RHP, Pottsboro (Texas) HS (No. 126)
The Arkansas commit has the four-pitch mix and size (6-foot-4) to project as a starter in the pros. He can touch 96 with his fastball, though his velocity has been inconsistent, and his curveball, slider and changeup all earn average grades. Should the Halos sign him away from the Razorbacks, Kent could be a No. 4 option if it all clicks on his long road of development.

Pick 16 (240th overall), Giants: Josh Bostick, RHP, Grayson (Texas) Junior College (No. 176)
It’s been a JUCO journey for Bostick to arrive here with three different stops, including one as a shortstop with Howard (Texas) JC in 2021. He’s shown a lot more potential on the mound with a 91-94 mph fastball that can touch 97 and get whiffs up in the zone. His low-80s sweeping slider flashes above-average to give him two solid offerings from a 6-foot-4 frame. There could be even more growth ahead as he gets more comfortable on the bump.

Pick 21 (245th overall), Cardinals: Ixan Henderson, LHP, Fresno State (No. 166)
It isn’t a huge shock to see a college pitchability lefty head to the St. Louis system. Henderson’s stuff doesn’t pop off the page, but it is a true four-pitch mix out of an easy delivery. The 6-foot-2 southpaw posted a 3.74 ERA with 100 strikeouts over 89 innings in his best season on campus this spring, and if he can squeeze out a little more velo -- he averages around 91 with the heater now -- his starting chances increase dramatically.

With the 245th overall pick of the 2023 #MLBDraft, the #STLCards select LHP Ixan Henderson! pic.twitter.com/saK2B9uw3h
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 10, 2023

Round 9

Pick 4 (258th overall), Reds: Logan Van Treeck, LHP, Lipscomb (No. 227)
Van Treeck has some funky mechanics with a deep drop at the beginning and low arm slot on release, and that helps create the deception needed to keep hitters off-balance. The 6-foot-4 southpaw can hit his spots too, as his 108/14 K/BB ratio this spring proves. He’ll need that control and deception with just a fastball and slider that project as average Major League pitches.

Pick 15 (269th overall), White Sox: Jake Peppers, RHP, Jacksonville State (No. 187)
Peppers is listed at 6-foot-3, 160 pounds, but he already throws a 93-95 mph fastball that should tick up more as he fills out. His low-80s slider breaks both horizontally and vertically to get whiffs, and there are some makings of a solid mid-80s changeup. Peppers helped his stock by posting a 2.60 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings on the Cape this summer.

Pick 24 (278th overall), Guardians: Jay Driver, RHP, Harvard (No. 241)
The second Crimson pitcher selected after Chris Clark went to the Angels in the fifth round, Driver moved from the bullpen to the rotation this year but still projects best in relief. His best pitch is a low-80s slider with ample sweep out of a low arm slot, and he can touch 97 in shorter stints. Nine scoreless innings (featuring 12 K’s) on the Cape left a solid pre-Draft impression.

Congratulations to 2022 & 2023 Harbor Hawk Jay Driver for getting drafted 278th overall to the Cleveland Guardians! @driver_jay3 @HarvardBaseball @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/AZTSo99V1j
— Hyannis Harbor Hawks (@harborhawks) July 10, 2023

Pick 26 (280th overall), Dodgers: Ryan Brown, RHP, Ball State (No. 237)
Collegiate batters just couldn’t touch Brown’s low-80s splitter, a pitch that earned a 70 percent swing-and-miss rate, because of its sudden drop. A 92-94 mph fastball gives batters something else to think about, but he needs to do a better job of spotting it. Brown struck out 56 but walked 24 over 28 1/3 innings of relief this spring.

Round 10

Pick 5 (289th overall), Royals: Justin Johnson, SS, Wake Forest (Unranked)
Johnson transferred from Lafayette to Wake Forest and was an instant contributor for one of the best teams in the nation. He earned All-ACC First Team honors after hitting .324/.424/.618 with 16 homers and seven steals. The 23-year-old infielder is the ninth Demon Deacon selected through the first two days of the Draft and should be a bonus saver for Kansas City.

Pick 13 (297th overall), Twins: Ross Dunn, LHP, Arizona State (No. 140)
A transfer from Florida State to Arizona State, Dunn shows a decent three-pitch mix with a 90-93 fastball, a low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup -- all of which hitters can find difficult to pick up due to a deceptive delivery. Dunn walked 44 batters in 65 1/3 innings for the Sun Devils this season, and that lack of control likely caused him to slip despite his deeper repertoire.

Pick 17 (301st overall), Orioles: Matthew Etzel, OF, Southern Mississippi (No. 229)
The O’s go for another outfielder who can fly after taking Enrique Bradfield Jr. with their first pick. Etzel put himself on the map with a .371 average and 25 steals in 33 games in the MLB Draft League last summer and carried that momentum forward to Southern Miss, where he had a .317/.381/.47 line in 66 games. There is a concern about his lack of pop at the plate, but the 65-grade speed will be his carrying tool.

Pick 29 (313th overall), Phillies: Cam Brown, RHP, TCU (No. 191)
Brown can show special stuff when he lands his mid-90s fastball up in the zone and spots his mid-80s slider in tough-to-reach places. But he was inconsistent as a junior this year, particularly when it came to repeating his mechanics, and his numbers were rough (5.20 ERA, 62 strikeouts, 40 walks in 55 1/3 innings) as a result. If he can iron out the command, there’s promise as a two-pitch reliever.

Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB.