First, let's begin with the mock draft from one of the best in the business, Jim Callis of Baseball America. His newest mock just came out so let's take a look at who he considered and who he mocked to the Cardinals.
Phillip Erwin - OF - Samford University
Phillip Erwin fits the Cardinals draft pick profile with a scalding season in the Cape Cod League. We took a look at Erwin earlier this year in our Cape Cod League hitter roundup. He fits the Cardinals style to a 'T'. I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals selected him in any of their two first round selections.
Here's what Jim Callis has to say about his thought process:
A lot of college pitchers get mentioned here, including [Alex] Gonzalez [RHP - Oral Roberts], Florida’s Jonathon Crawford, Jacksonville’s Chris Anderson and Gonzaga’s Marco Gonzales. A selection will still be available when St. Louis picks again at No. 28, so the better play could be to take a toolsy college outfielder such as Ervin, Judge or Wilson, who was a Cardinals 12th-rounder out of high school.
Let's look next at:
Alex Gonzalez - RHP - Oral Roberts
Gonzalez is mocked to the Cardinals by Bleacher Report in their mock.
Gonzalez is the Friday starter for Oral Roberts and touches 94 with his fastball, and MLB.com indicates that he has heavy sinking movement on his fastball. Seems like a Cardinals pick already. Here's Jonathan Mayo on Gonzalez:
The tall and lean right-hander has been performing well all spring, but he seems to be pouring it on even more now. On Friday, he was a tough-luck loser against McNeese State, giving up two earned runs (three total) while striking out 11 and allowing just four hits in a complete-game effort. Gonzalez has a nasty fastball-slider combination with excellent command. Some think he can be a Mariano Rivera-like reliever who gets to the big leagues, while others think he can start. Whatever the role, it looks like Gonzalez is working is way into the first-round picture.
The next pitcher mentioned by Callis is:
Jonathon Crawford - RHP - Florida
Crawford was mocked to the Cardinals by Minor League Ball.
Here's some bullet points from Big League Futures on Jonathon Crawford:
- Low to mid 90′s fastball that touches 97
- Some reports of 98
- Fastball has late sink
- Above average slider with plus potential
- Both his curve and change show good potential, as well
- Struggles with command at times, but is improving in that aspect
- High 3/4 arm slot
Chris Anderson - RHP - Jacksonville
Jonathan Mayo mocks Anderson to the Cardinals at 19.
Keith Law in a video for ESPN profiles Anderson as a #2 starter but indicates that Jacksonville has worked him really hard because they have a lack of other talent on their roster. Anderson will need to be handled with kid gloves for the next year or so, but has the potential for great stuff.
Marco Gonzales - LHP - Gonzaga
No other mocks have Gonzales to the Cardinals at this time, but Callis mentioned him, so let's take a look.
Gonzales is an advanced college lefty who would move quickly through the minors like Michael Wacha (well, maybe not that quickly). He performed well on the Cape and Minor League Ball has a good writeup on Gonzales with video.
One other college arm that didn't make Callis' list, but made some mock draft appearance is:
Bobby Wahl - RHP - Mississippi
Big League Futures and DraftSite.com mocked him to the Cardinals.
Here's Big League Future's bullet points on Wahl:
- Fastball generally in the 92-93 range, hits 95
- Some reports as high as 97
- Arm side run on fastball
- Slider, 82-84, with plus potential
- Change 78-80, with late movement
- High 3/4 arm slot