Pick 43: Chris McMahon, RHP Miami
JT Ginn would be the dream here. He is a first-round talent who recently went under the knife for Tommy John surgery. But it’s unlikely he falls this far. Chris McMahon may not be either. There is a lot to like in McMahon and he could move up boards quickly.
McMahon brings serious heat, sitting 95-96 MPH and touching 98 with some good arm-side run and late-life up in the zone. He spins a decent curveball, but it is inconsistent and can sometimes morph into a loopy slider. McMahon has a great feel for a changeup. He throws it with excellent arm speed and sink, generating both swings-and-misses and groundballs.
When he’s at his best, McMahon could be a #2 starter. He is a good athlete with good stuff but his inconsistent arm action can result in flat stuff, allowing him to get hit harder than his stuff would allow. These concerns will likely push McMahon down to the early second round, but he has an insanely high floor of a high-leverage reliever with a good chance to be a mid-rotation starter. And with the Mariners knack for developing pitching, it is well worth the risk.
Pick 65: Alerick Souliare, OF Tennesee
Finally, the first bat of our draft. Alerick Soulaire is a hitter with a good understanding of the strike zone and has a knack for putting the barrel on the ball. He can hit the ball hard to all fields and has some solid raw power despite a swing that is built for line drives.
The pitch recognition, advanced game plan, and well-above-average hit tool give him a great chance to maximize his power tool. The reason Soulaire may be available in the third round has a lot to do with the rest of his game. Soulaire has fringe-average speed and doesn’t have the quickness to stick in centerfield. The power isn’t ideal for a corner outfield spot, so Soulaire has been labeled as a “tweener”.
Soulaire has pretty good instincts and fits the profile of an offensive second baseman, more so than an outfielder. The bat is good enough to be an everyday player and if he can be fringe-average in multiple spots, he could be a steal with this competitive round b selection.