MLB Draft 2016: Mock draft has A.J. Puk first overall to the Phillies

Over the last few months we have taken a look at over 100 of the top draft-eligible prospects in the 2016 MLB Draft. Now the fun begins as the draft is only three days away. This Thursday I will be tracking the draft live here on Beyond the Box Score starting at 7 p.m. ET. Here is my mock draft, covering the first round, competitive balance A round, and second round.

First Round

1. Philadelphia Phillies - A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida

Puk has been a consistent option for the Phillies at the 1-1 slot, along with Kyle Lewis, Jason Groome, and even Mickey Moniak lately. In the end the Phillies go with a collegiate arm who has pitched extremely well down the stretch for Florida.

2. Cincinnati Reds - Delvin Perez, SS, Puerto Rico

The Reds almost certainly will go with a bat here, and Nick Senzel is a hot name, but many feel Perez may be the best player in this draft over time, so the Reds go for a high ceiling here.

3. Atlanta Braves - Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

The Georgia product goes home in this draft, as the Braves continue a theme of drafting local products from their state. Lewis has been at the top or near the top of my rankings all season.

4. Colorado Rockies - Riley Pint, RHP, St. Thomas Aquinas HS

I think the Rockies go for pitching early. There are some who think they will look to draft a bat early, but it is hard for the Rockies to acquire pitching. They need to develop their own, and Pint is the guy at #4.

5. Milwaukee Brewers - Jason Groome, LHP, Barnegat HS

If Perez falls to the Brewers here, he is definitely their guy as he has been connected to them all over, but in this version Perez goes to Cincinnati and the Brewers opt for a pitcher who was thought to be a possible top overall pick in Jason Groome.

6. Oakland Athletics - Nick Senzel, 3B, Tennessee

Senzel is another bat I had near the top of my rankings this year, finishing fifth in my last installment. He is a solid collegiate bat and is possible the most developed bat in the draft.

7. Miami Marlins - Braxton Garrett, LHP, Florence HS

Garrett has one of the best curveballs in this draft, which is saying a lot for a high school arm; the offspeed stuff normally takes more time to develop. Miami would love Perez to fall this far, but I don't think that happens and the Marlins will go for a prep arm instead.

8. San Diego Padres - Blake Rutherford, OF, Chaminade College Prep

Rutherford was at one point thought to be a possible number one pick, but he has fallen back a little. If Rutherford makes it down to San Diego, I think it is a steal in what is a huge draft for them with three picks in the first 25.

9. Detroit Tigers - Mickey Moniak, OF, La Costa Canyon HS

Another prep bat that has the potential to go first overall, Detroit will go for the higher ceiling here instead of the possibility of one of the collegiate arms available at this spot.

10. Chicago White Sox - Corey Ray, OF, Louisville

Perhaps there is no better fit than Corey Ray and the White Sox due to his prior history with them when he was younger in the Amateur Elite Program. Ray has great speed and a solid bat and profiles as a top of the order hitter.

11. Seattle Mariners - Dakota Hudson, RHP, Mississippi State

The Mariners would go with Rutherford or Moniak if they make it down to 11, but if they don't the Mariners go with a collegiate arm. Dakota Hudson is just the man for them.

12. Boston Red Sox - Connor Jones, RHP, Virginia

Boston already has an impressive young core at the major league level in their lineup, but I think they need to add more on the pitching side. Connor Jones has been in my top ten pitching prospects all season, and Boston will take him or Hudson in this spot.

13. Tampa Bay Rays - Ian Anderson, RHP, Shenendehowa HS

Historically a team in the Rays' situation will need strong pitching to win at the major league level. I think Tampa goes pitching in this slot, and in this version Anderson, who has a commitment to Vanderbilt in the way, goes to Tampa.

14. Cleveland Indians - Zack Collins, C, Miami

Collins is one of the upperclassmen who has impressed all season. In a draft stocked with catching, Collins will be the first one off the board.

15. Minnesota Twins - Forrest Whitley, RHP, Alamo Heights

The Twins will look to add pitching in this slot, and if Hudson were available he would be the pick, but since he isn't I think it comes down to Whitley or Matt Manning, with Whitley getting selected.

16. Los Angeles Angels - Alex Kirilloff, OF, Plum HS

Kirilloff is the man LA wants and he is the man they get. If he is off the board, look for LA to go with some much needed pitching, but Kirilloff will be the selection if he is available.

17. Houston Astros - Jordan Sheffield, RHP, Vanderbilt

The general consensus is Houston will go with a collegiate arm here, and Sheffield was another arm I had in my top ten all season. I think he edges out the other possibilities here in Eric Lauer, Justin Dunn, and Cody Sedlock.

18. New York Yankees - Matt Manning, RHP, Sheldon High

The Yankees may take a look at Will Craig or Matt Thaiss on the collegiate side or Ian Anderson or Joey Wentz if they are available, but in this scenario the Yankees go with the best prep arm available in Manning.

19. New York Mets - Will Craig, 1B/3B, Wake Forest

The Mets get the man they are most attached to in Will Craig. He was not even considered a top 50 draft prospect before this season, but with a monster junior season Craig is one of the top bats in this draft.

20. Los Angeles Dodgers - Josh Lowe, 3B/RHP, Pope HS

The Dodgers go with a two-way player here who has the possibility to develop either as a third baseman or pitcher. This can be a huge draft for the Dodgers, who three picks in the top 36.

21. Toronto Blue Jays - Joey Wentz, LHP, Shawnee Mission East HS

Toronto may look for one of the top prep bats available in this spot in Drew Mendoza or Taylor Trammell, but I think they look for a young left-hander who many say has the potential to be a front-line starter at the big league level.

22. Pittsburgh Pirates - Nolan Jones, 3B, Holy Ghost Prep

This will be an interesting spot for Pittsburgh as they will have the option to go with Zack Burdi of Louisville, who many feel can be in the major leagues this summer helping a team down the stretch, but I think they go with a local kid who has a high ceiling.

23. St. Louis Cardinals - T.J. Zeuch, RHP, Pittsburgh

For St. Louis, I think this comes down to Zeuch or Eric Lauer, and they will select the 6-foot-7 Zeuch, who has a plus fastball. St. Louis has two more picks at the end of the first.

24. San Diego Padres - Eric Lauer, LHP, Kent State

If Lauer falls to San Diego, then they will be extremely happy to get one of the best collegiate arms this year. Once my analysis expanded to over 100 players, Lauer caught my eye.

25. San Diego Padres - Cal Quantrill, RHP, Stanford

San Diego gets their man Quantrill, and this could top off a very impressive haul for a team in desperate need of it. There is talk San Diego may need to take Quantrill with their first selection, eighth overall, but I personally feel that may be too high if some better players are available.

26. Chicago White Sox - Justin Dunn, RHP, Boston College

The White Sox get one of the fastest moving names in the second half of the collegiate season in Justin Dunn. There is potential for him to be selected in the top 20, but I think he should slot in at the back end of the first round.

27. Baltimore Orioles - Buddy Reed, OF, Florida

This is another spot where Burdi may go to help a team down the stretch, but Baltimore will go with Reed, who in the preseason was a potential top five selection.

28. Washington Nationals - Drew Mendoza, 3B, Lake Mineola HS

Washington will have to battle the commitment Mendoza has to Florida State, but if they can sign him Mendoza has the potential to be one of the top prep bats in this draft.

29. Washington Nationals - Cody Sedlock, RHP, Illinois

In one of these two selections Washington will go with a collegiate arm. Sedlock may go earlier in the first, but in this version he is still on the board and Washington takes him.

30. Texas Rangers - Matt Thaiss, C, Virginia

In a draft heavy on backstops, Texas will scoop one up after losing one of their top catchers in the farm system last season in Jorge Alfaro in the Cole Hamels trade.

31. New York Mets - Chris Okey, C, Clemson

The Mets continue the trend of catchers in this year's draft and take Okey, who I feel is the second best catcher in this draft behind Collins and when all is said and done may be the one who sticks behind the plate. If Okey is gone, look for the Mets to go the collegiate arm route.

32. Los Angeles Dodgers - Robert Tyler, RHP, Georgia

Tyler is an arm I am high on. His K% was high all season, and his fastball can be overpowering. Texas may look to select the hard-throwing righty, but if Tyler is on the board LA would be smart to scoop him up.

33. St. Louis Cardinals - William Benson, OF, The Westminster Schools

St. Louis looks to Benson or Trammell in this scenario, and I give the edge to Benson.

34. St. Louis Cardinals - Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Stoneman Douglas

Luzardo is recovering from Tommy John surgery, but St. Louis can select him here with the idea of rehabbing him to come back in 2017. Before the injury, Luzardo was thought to be a top 25 selection.

Comp. Balance Round A

35. Cincinnati Reds - Daulton Jefferies, RHP, California

36. Los Angeles Dodgers - Taylor Trammell, OF, Mt. Paron Christian HS

37. Oakland Athletics - Logan Shore, RHP, Florida

38. Colorado Rockies - Bryan Reynolds, OF, Vanderbilt

39. Arizona Diamondbacks - Gavin Lux, SS, Indian Trail Academy

40. Atlanta Braves - Alec Hansen, RHP, Oklahoma

41. Pittsburgh Pirates - Zack Burdi, RHP, Louisville

Second Round

42. Philadelphia Phillies - Joe Rizzo, 3B, Oakton High

43. Cincinnati Reds - Jared Horn, RHP, Vintage HS

44. Atlanta Braves - Kyle Muller, LHP, Jesuit College Prep

45. Colorado Rockies - Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Louisville

46. Milwaukee Brewers - Anfernee Grier, OF, Auburn

47. Oakland Athletics - Kevin Gowdy, RHP, Santa Barbara HS

48. San Diego Padres - Mike Shawaryn, RHP, Maryland

49. Chicago White Sox - Alex Speas, RHP, McEachern HS

50. Seattle Mariners - Carter Kieboom, 3B, Walton HS

51. Boston Red Sox - Anthony Kay, LHP, UConn

52. Arizona Diamondbacks - Jon Duplantier, RHP, Rice

53. Tampa Bay Rays - Corbin Burnes, RHP, St. Mary's

54. Baltimore Orioles - Dane Dunning, RHP, Florida

55. Cleveland Indians - Cole Irvin, LHP, Oregon

56. Minnesota Twins - Zach Jackson, RHP, Arkansas

57. Toronto Blue Jays - Ryan Boldt, OF, Nebraska

58. Washington Nationals - Sean Murphy, C, Wright State

59. San Francisco Giants - Zack Brown, RHP, Kentucky

60. Los Angeles Angels - Chad Hackin, RHP, Cal State Fullerton

61. Houston Astros - Nick Kahle, C, Chaminade College Prep

62. New York Yankees - Gio Brusa, OF, Pacific

63. Texas Rangers - Ian Hamilton, RHP, Washington State

64. New York Mets - Matt Krook, LHP, Oregon

65. Los Angeles Dodgers - Logan Ice, C, Oregon State

66. Toronto Blue Jays - Colby Woodmansee, SS, Arizona

67. Kansas City Royals - Heath Quinn, OF, Samford

68. Pittsburgh Pirates - Bailey Clark, RHP, Duke

69. Baltimore Orioles - C.J. Chatham, SS, Florida Atlantic

70. St. Louis Cardinals - Ben Rortvedt, C, Verona Area

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Carl Triano is a contributor at Beyond the Box Score and Minor League Ball.