Houston Astros Linked to Standout Infielder in Latest Mock Draft
The Houston Astros have the No. 28 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft and ESPN recently linked the defending World Series champions to a high school shortstop in its first mock draft.
In this mock draft the Astros would select Eaton (Colo.) shortstop Walker Martin.
ESPN considers the draft class one of the deepest when it comes to prep players and explains that it’s possible Walker doesn’t fall to the Astros.
Per ESPN:
The Astros are the other likely spot for Martin if the Giants pass on him. Martin is (an) upside-types in this deep prep hitter class, and … this would be a nice fit for the Astros. They're also one of the higher teams on UNC third baseman Mac Horvath, though he likely will go in the second round.
According to Perfect Game, which keeps up with prep baseball, Walker has committed to play college baseball at Arkansas and writes that he has a “powerful left-handed swing with high-level bat speed, tools to stay in the middle of the field.”
The first five picks in the mock draft included Franklin (Ind.) Community High outfielder Max Clark (No. 1, Pittsburgh Pirates), LSU outfielder Dylan Crews (No. 2, Washington Nationals), Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford (No. 3, Detroit Tigers), South Brunswick High (Southport, N.C). outfielder Walker Jenkins (No. 4, Texas Rangers) and LSU pitcher Paul Skenes (No. 5, Minnesota Twins).
The Astros’ last five first-round pick included outfielder Drew Gilbert (No. 26 overall, 2022), catcher Korey Lee (No. 32 overall, 2019), outfielder Seth Beer (No. 28 overall, 2018), right-handed pitcher J. B. Bukauskas (No. 15 overall, 2017) and right-handed pitcher Forrest Whitley (No. 17 overall, 2016).
The MLB draft will be July 9-11 in Seattle, which will also host the MLB All-Star Game and the MLB Futures Game.
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