The 2011 MLB Draft is upon us with Round 1 of the First-Year Player Draft kicking off Monday at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT with TV coverage on the MLB Network and live online streaming available at MLB.com (full MLB draft schedule). We will have full draft coverage all day along with AZ Snake Pit looking in more depth at the Arizona Diamondbacks choices. Here's a final look at a few of the 2011 MLB Mock Draft Boards from some experts including Keith Law, Baseball America, and SB Nation's own John Sickels.
Reading the tealeaves from various interviews with the Arizona Diamondbacks about the third and seventh picks in the first round, a few names to watch are Trevor Bauer, Danny Hultzen, Francisco Lindor, and Dylan Bundy. There doesn't seem to be a ton of interest in the two star position player prospects, Anthony Rendon or Bubba Starling.
As you can see from these three mock drafts, there's a lot of disagreement on how the top ten will play out once the actually 2011 MLB Draft gets underway Monday evening.
2011 MLB mock draft: Gerrit Cole still Pittsburgh Pirates choice at No. 1 - ESPN
1- Pittsburgh Pirates Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
2- Seattle Mariners Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
3- Arizona Diamondbacks Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA
4- Baltimore Orioles Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia
5- Kansas City Royals Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso HS (OK)
6- Washington Nationals Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner Edgerton HS (KS)
7- Arizona Diamondbacks Archie Bradley, RHP, Broken Arrow HS (OK)
8 - Cleveland Indians Joe Ross, RHP, Bishop O'Dowd HS (CA)
9 - Chicago Cubs Mikie Mahtook, OF, LSU
10 - San Diego Padres Matt Barnes, RHP, UConn
Baseball America still has Gerrit Cole falling to fifth with the D-backs taking Dylan Bundy and Sonny Gray.
BaseballAmerica.com: Draft: Mock Draft: June 3 Mock Draft (List Only)
1. PIRATES: Danny Hultzen, lhp, Virginia.2. MARINERS: Anthony Rendon, 3b, Rice.
3. DIAMONDBACKS: Dylan Bundy, rhp, Owasso (Okla.) HS.
4. ORIOLES: Trevor Bauer, rhp, UCLA.
5. ROYALS: Gerrit Cole, rhp, UCLA.
6. NATIONALS: Bubba Starling, of, Gardner-Edgerton HS, Gardner, Kan.
7. DIAMONDBACKS: Sonny Gray, rhp, Vanderbilt.
8. INDIANS: Jed Bradley, lhp, Georgia Tech.
9. CUBS: Archie Bradley, rhp, Broken Arrow (Okla.) HS.
10. PADRES: Matt Barnes, rhp, Connecticut.
This mock draft from the SB Nation baseball blog managers has the D-backs taking Hultzen and then short stop Francisco Lindor who worked out recently for Arizona.
2011 Minor League Ball Community Mock Draft: Round One - Minor League Ball
1. Pirates Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA2. Mariners Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
3. Diamondbacks Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia
4. Orioles Dylan Bundy, RHP, Oklahoma HS
5. Royals Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA
6. Nationals Bubba Starling, OF, Kansas HS
7. Diamondbacks Francisco Lindor, SS, Florida HS
8. Indians Archie Bradley, RHP, Oklahoma HS
9. Cubs Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
10. Padres Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgia Tech
Here's a few links to several excellent stories about the 2011 MLB Draft from the Diamondback's perspective.
- SnakePit Draft Q&A: Greg Amsinger and Harold Reynolds In anticipation of the MLB Rule 4 Draft, MLB Network's Greg Amsinger and Harold Reynolds answered questions about the D-backs plans, particularly with their #3 and #7 picks.
- The 2011 Diamondbacks Draft: A Primer As we get closer to the draft, which will be important for the D-backs, here's a primer on what's happening for Arizona fans.
- What Might The Diamondbacks Expect From Picks #3 + #7?
- Diamondbacks Draft Round-Up: D minus 1 Come Monday, the D-backs will have the #3 and #7 picks in the first round of the Rule 4 Draft. An in-depth look at who could be considered at either slot, and my take on how I'd like for things to shake out.
- The History Of The Diamondbacks Drafts
For more on the 2011 MLB Draft, visit AZ Snake Pit for in-depth coverage of the Arizona Diamondbacks and SB Nation's Baseball Nation for national draft coverage.