Redrafting The 2010 MLB Draft: Bryce Harper Lives Up To Massive 1-1 Expectations

1. Nationals — OF Bryce Harper

• Actual Pick: OF Bryce Harper
• Original Drafting Team (Round.Pick): Nationals (1.1)

Harper is one of the most talented and hyped amateur prospects of all-time. Despite his massive expectations, he’s largely lived up to them. He’s one of four players in this draft class to exceed 50 bWAR, he’s a career .281/.389/.522 hitter with a 143 OPS+ and he’s a two-time MVP with eight all-star appearances. Since his first major league season in 2012, Harper is seventh in home runs (336), fifth in runs (1,082) and eighth in wRC+ (142). In addition to his consistent regular season exploits, Harper has been a reliable offensive force in the playoffs—especially in his Phillies tenure—and is a career .280/.394/.622 hitter in 53 postseason games with 17 home runs. 

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Harper has done some incredible things on a baseball field, like hitting 500-foot home runs, throwing runners out at first from the outfield, and scoring from second base on a passed ball. He’s received more attention and unfounded criticism than any amateur player in years. Perhaps the biggest question now is: Is it possible for him to live up to the hype?”

2. Pirates — SS Manny Machado

• Actual Pick: RHP Jameson Taillon
• Original Drafting Team: Orioles (1.3)

Machado’s performance as a hitter and fielder with Team USA’s 18U squad in 2009 pushed him up into the top of the draft class, and after earning a few Alex Rodriguez comparisons, the Orioles popped him with the third overall pick. No player from the 2010 class has compiled more than Machado’s 57.8 bWAR to this point, and he’s a career .279/.338/.488 hitter with a 124 OPS+, six all-star appearances, two gold gloves and a pair of silver slugger awards. 

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Scouts project him to hit for average future power, with a chance to be a .300 hitter. Defensively, Machado will remain at shortstop as a pro and has a chance to be an above-average defender. He’s smooth, makes all the routine plays and has a plus arm that allows him to make the play in the hole. Machado’s weakest tool might be his speed, though he’s an average runner.”

3. Orioles — LHP Chris Sale

• Actual Pick: SS Manny Machado
• Original Drafting Team: White Sox (1.13)

Sale was picked in the 21st round out of high school, then went to Florida Gulf Coast, where he pitched sporadically in a bullpen role early before lowering his arm slot, adding velocity and taking off. The White Sox picked him 13th overall, he quickly signed and then pushed to the majors in the same year he was drafted, posting a 1.93 ERA in 23.1 innings in the bullpen as a 21-year-old. Two years later, Sale moved to a starter role full-time. He has pitched as one of the best arms in the league over the last decade and a half and finally secured his first Cy Young award after a 2024 campaign in which he led the league in ERA (2.38) with the Braves as a 35-year-old. Sale’s 2,303 strikeouts since 2012 are second to Max Scherzer (2,809), he’s made eight all-star games and he was a World Series champion in 2018 with the Red Sox.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Sale’s changeup grades as plus like his fastball, and his slider is a solid-average pitch that’s effective against lefthanded hitters. With his low slot, Sale can get on the side of all his pitches, especially his slider, at times leaving them up in the zone. Some scouts are concerned about his durability, due to both his frame (he lost five to seven pounds off his 6-foot-6, 180-pound listed frame due to a bout of food poisoning in May) and upside-down takeaway at the beginning of his arm stroke.”

4. Royals — RHP Jacob deGrom

• Actual Pick: SS Christian Colon
• Original Drafting Team: Mets (9.272)

DeGrom is the first player in this redraft who enters the first round after going later than that originally. The Mets drafted deGrom in the ninth round and signed him for just $95,000 out of Stetson, where he was a shortstop and pitcher. On a per-inning basis, deGrom is one of the most dominant big league pitchers ever, though he has struggled to stay on the field over the last four seasons. DeGrom owns a 2.52 ERA, which is the second-best mark among starters since 2014, behind only Clayton Kershaw (2.43). He was the 2014 rookie of the year, won back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2018-19 and is a four-time all-star.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “A two-way talent at Stetson who was a shortstop/pitcher, deGrom started the year as a closer but wound up moving into the rotation and establishing himself as Stetson’s best pitcher. He threw 89-93 mph on scout day with command, and he had a strong outing going head-to-head with Chris Sale of Florida Gulf Coast. He throws strikes as his arm works well, he’s athletic and has a clean delivery.”

5. Indians — OF Christian Yelich

• Actual Pick: LHP Drew Pomeranz
• Original Drafting Team: Marlins (1.23)

Yelich made a name for himself as an athletic, projectable and sweet-swinging lefthanded hitter who played first base in high school and had an unusual profile for the position. He immediately moved to the outfield in pro ball, then saw a power surge in his mid 20s that led to four seasons with MVP-caliber production from 2016-19. Yelich is a career .287/.377/.466 hitter with 204 home runs, 205 stolen bases and 41.9 bWAR. He’s never had a season with an OPS+ lower than 101, he won the 2018 NL MVP award, finished second in 2019 and is a three-time all-star, three-time gold glove winner and also won a gold glove award in his first full season in 2014.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Tall (6-foot-3), angular and projectable and possessing a sweet lefthanded swing, Yelich is far more athletic than the usual lumbering first-base prospect, with above-average speed. He consistently runs a 6.75-second 60-yard dash in showcase events, and shows both range and a nifty glove around the bag. That kind of athleticism usually signals a position change, but Yelich has a below-average throwing arm that limits him to first.”

6. Diamondbacks — C JT Realmuto

• Actual Pick: RHP Barret Loux
• Original Drafting Team: Marlins (3.104)

Realmuto was a standout athlete, catcher, shortstop and quarterback in high school who won a football state title with his Albert High team in Oklahoma then set national hits records during the spring of his senior year. He converted to catching full time after signing for $600,000 with the Marlins in the third round, and since his major league debut in 2014, he’s been one of the best catchers in baseball. He’s a career .272/.329/.453 hitter with a 112 OPS+, has more than twice as many steals (96) as the second catcher since 2014 (Christian Vazquez and Willson Contreras with 32) and is a three-time all-star, three-time silver slugger and two-time gold glove winner.

From his draft scouting report: “Catcher/shortstop J.T. Realmuto set national high school records this spring with 88 hits and 119 RBIs. A 6-foot-1, 190-pound righthanded hitter, he has an unorthodox style at the plate. He has a wide stance and leans the bat behind his right arm, an approach that may not work against better pitching or with wood bats. He has good bat speed and the ball jumps off his bat.”

7. Mets — SS Andrelton Simmons

• Actual Pick: RHP Matt Harvey
• Original Drafting Team: Braves (2.70)

Simmons made it to junior college in Oklahoma by way of Curacao and became a must-see name in the 2010 class thanks to his excellent defensive work and massive arm strength. Some scouts thought he could become a pitcher—with a fastball that was up to 95 mph on the mound—but the Braves signed him for $522,000 in the second round as a shortstop. Simmons debuted just two years later and was one of the most impressive defenders in baseball for the majority of his 11-year career. He’s the all-time leader in defensive runs saved (201), is a four-time gold glove winner and won six consecutive fielding bible awards from 2013-2018. He has a case as one of the best defensive shortstops of all-time, though he was always a light hitter who ended his career with a .263/.312/.366 slash line and 87 OPS+.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Like Connors State outfielder Marcus Knecht, Simmons is an Oklahoma junior college player who went from obscurity to scouts’ must-see lists. Simmons turned down small bonus offers to sign out of Curacao at age 16, and that would have spelled the end of any professional baseball hopes if Western Oklahoma State coach Kurt Russell hadn’t seen him on a Caribbean scouting trip. He’s the best defensive shortstop in the draft, an athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pounder with a cannon for an arm and plus actions and instincts.”

8. Astros — C Yasmani Grandal

• Actual Pick: OF Delino DeShields
• Original Drafting Team: Reds (1.12)

Grandal was a high-profile high schooler who used a platform draft season at Miami in 2010 to earn the 12th overall pick and sign a $2 million bonus with the Reds. No player has a bigger split in the two primary WAR valuations than Grandal, whose 13-year career is good for 20.3 bWAR according to Baseball Reference and 40.0 fWAR according to FanGraphs, which gives him tons of framing value. Wherever you fall on Grandal’s total value, he was an above-average hitting catcher for 10 years of his 13-year career and is a career .236/.345/.424 hitter with a 110 OPS+. 

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “A switch-hitter, Grandal has some length to his swing but has shortened up from the left side and has solid-average raw power. Defensively, he plays with energy and is slightly above-average as a receiver. His throwing arm is his biggest concern, as some scouts have seen more 2.1-second pop times (below-average) than would be expected of a top draft pick.”

9. Padres — OF Kevin Kiermaier

• Actual Pick: RHP Karsten Whitson
• Original Drafting Team: Rays (31.941)

Kiermaier is the biggest long shot to make the top 10 of this redraft. He wasn’t a prominent draft prospect out of the time and was expected to make it to Purdue after a loud season with Parkland (Ill.) JC, but the Rays signed him for $75,000 in the 31st round. He’s one of only four outfielders since 2014 to accumulate more than 100 defensive runs saved, and of a group that includes Mookie Betts (148), Jason Heyward (107) and Lorenzo Cain (100), Kiermaier tops the list at 175. Kiermaier is a four-time gold glove award winner and three-time Fielding Bible award winner.

From his 2011 Rays scouting report: “His instincts and work ethic are impressive as well… He has plus speed and stole 17 bases in 22 attempts during his debut, but he still is learning how to read pitchers and steal bases. He has the tools to be a quality right fielder, with good range and a solid, accurate arm. Kiermaier will advance to low Class A this year and could prove to be one of the biggest late-round steals from the 2010 draft.”

10. Athletics — LHP Robbie Ray

• Actual Pick: OF Michael Choice
• Original Drafting Team: Nationals (12.356)

Ray was a prominent high school player in the 2010 class, but an up-and-down spring season created some uncertainty in his draft stock. He signed for $799,000 in the 12th round with the Nationals and has had a solid 11-year career, with one dominant 2021 Cy Young winning season sprinkled in. He owns a 3.98 ERA over 229 starts and more than 1,2000 innings with a 29% strikeout rate and 10% walk rate.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Lefthander Ray had a tumultuous spring, with inconsistent velocity and performances. He was never quite as good as he showed in showcases last fall, when his fastball reached the mid-90s and his slurvy breaking ball showed more power. He also has flashed a plus changeup with some late fade. His fastball velocity was more in the 89-91 mph range this spring, and in some starts it sat in the upper 80s. That didn’t keep him from throwing a five-inning perfect game, one of three no-hitters he authored in the spring.”

11. Blue Jays — OF Whit Merrifield

• Actual Pick: RHP Deck McGuire
• Original Drafting Team: Royals (9.269)

Merrifield has had a solid nine-year career and earned down ballot MVP votes after a 2018 season in which he hit .304 and led the American League in hits (192) and stolen bases (45). He’s led the league in hits twice, led the league in steals three times and is a career .280/.328/.413 hitter with a 101 OPS+. He’s also logged more than 500 innings at four different positions: second, left field, right field and center field.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “He’s the best athlete among South Carolina’s draft-eligible group, with 6.7-second speed in the 60 and team-highs in 12 home runs and 12 stolen bases. Merrifield earns Ryan Freel comparisons and plays with a swagger that defies his 6-foot, 165-pound frame.”

12. Reds — OF Adam Eaton

• Actual Pick: C Yasmani Grandal
• Original Drafting Team: Diamondbacks (19.571)

Eaton signed as a 19th rounder with the Diamondbacks and far outpaced his expectations. He hit .276/.354/.409 with a 108 OPS+ across 10 seasons, with his best stretch coming in a three-year stint with the White Sox from 2014-16 when he amassed 16 bWAR and led the league in triples twice.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Outside of Gauntlett Eldemire, Eaton has the best tools in the state, and he knows how to use them better than Eldemire does. Eaton is a lefthanded hitter with good on-base skills, and his solid speed plays up in the bases and in center field. He has surprising pop for his size and solid arm strength. Scouts worry about how well he profiles because of his size and may target him more as a senior sign for 2011, but Eaton plays the game well.”

13. White Sox — RHP Noah Syndergaard

• Actual Pick: LHP Chris Sale
• Original Drafting Team: Blue Jays (1s.38)

Syndergaard signed for $600,000 with the Blue Jays as the 38th pick in the draft, but broke out in the majors with the Mets in 2015 when he posted a 3.24 ERA over 24 starts and finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Syndergaard’s peak came as a 23-year-old in 2016 when he posted a 2.60 ERA over 30 starts and 183.2 innings with a 29.3% strikeout rate and 5.8% walk rate. 

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Syndergaard has an athletic 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame, and was dealing 90-94 mph fastballs in the postseason. His curveball also was much improved, and there’s talk that the Dallas Baptist recruit suddenly could sneak into the sandwich round with the right club.” 

14. Brewers — OF Joc Pederson

• Actual Pick: RHP Dylan Covey
• Original Drafting Team: Dodgers (11.352)

Pederson signed with the Dodgers for $600,000 in the 11th round and has proven to be a reliable lefthanded bat who has mashed righties over an 11-year career. He has two World Series championships and has played in 79 postseason games, with a .256/.332/.482 line and 12 home runs in the playoffs. Pederson’s career line in the regular season is .241/.342/.469 with a 119 OPS+.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “A young athlete with professional bloodlines, present tools and a football approach to the game, Pederson is a favorite among Northern California scouts. See him on the right day and you are seeing a borderline five-tool high school prospect, though the ceiling is basically average across the board. Pederson hits and throws lefthanded, has an average arm, above-average range, runs a bit above-average down the line, has plenty of bat speed, and at times shows projectable average raw power.”

15. Rangers — LHP James Paxton

• Actual Pick: OF Jake Skole
• Original Drafting Team: Mariners (4.132)

Paxton has had a steady, but unspectacular 11-year career. He owns a 3.77 era over 951 innings, with each and every one of those innings coming in a starter’s role. His best season came in 2017 with the Mariners when the lefthander posted a 2.98 ERA over 28 starts and 136 innings.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “The Blue Jays drafted Paxton 37th overall out of the University of Kentucky a year ago, but they couldn’t sign the native Canadian. Team president Paul Beeston told a Toronto newspaper that he had negotiated directly with Paxton’s adviser, Scott Boras, which would be a violation of NCAA rules. The Wildcats wouldn’t allow Paxton to play until he submitted to an interview with the NCAA, and when he couldn’t secure a temporary injunction in the Kentucky courts, he left the team and signed with the independent Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association, following the paths of several prominent pitchers in recent years, including Tanner Scheppers. Last spring, he worked at 93-94 mph and touched 97 with his fastball, which features good run and sink.”

16. Cubs — OF Mark Canha

• Actual Pick: RHP Hayden Simpson
• Original Drafting Team: Marlins (7.227)

Despite having a label as one of the safer picks in the 2010 draft, Canha lasted until the seventh round where he signed with the Marlins for $300,000. He lived up to that “safe” label and then some and has been a reliable, above-average hitter for 10 seasons. Canha has never made an all-star game, and has just one season with more than 3.0 bWAR (2019, 4.2), but he’s a career .249/.349/.414 hitter with a 113 OPS+.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “He is a strapping 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and has a good combination of athleticism, strength, skill, and tools. That combination, along with his history of performance, makes Canha one of the safest picks in this draft. He can drive the ball out of the ballpark from pole to pole, and his power to right field really stands out. He’s a good bet to hit for average and run production, with a realistic expectation to produce average power. He throws and runs slightly above-average and can man either outfield corner spot, as well as first base, drawing comparisons to Michael Cuddyer.”

17. Rays — RHP Jameson Taillon

• Actual Pick: OF Josh Sale
• Original Drafting Team: Pirates (1.2)

Taillon didn’t live up to his reputation as the best pitcher in the 2010 class and hasn’t quite missed the amount of bats necessary to be a frontline starter, but he has been a reliable, workhorse arm for eight big league seasons. He owns a 3.89 ERA over 200 starts and more than 1,100 innings, with a modest 21.2% strikeout rate and strong 5.8% walk rate.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “There’s no doubt that Taillon has more upside than any pitching prospect in the 2010 draft. The only debate is whether he’s a better pitching prospect than fellow Texas fireballer Josh Beckett was at the same stage of his career. They have similar stuff, with Taillon having a bigger frame (6-foot-6, 225 pounds) and Beckett possessing a meaner streak on the mound and turning in a more consistent high school senior season… Taillon owns the two best pitches in the draft: a heavy 93-97 mph fastball that has touched 99, and a hammer curveball in the mid-80s. He throws his heater with such ease that it looks like he’s playing catch. He also has a hard slider and the makings of a changeup, though he rarely has needed more than two pitches to this point.”

18. Angels — OF Nick Castellanos

• Actual Pick: RHP Kaleb Cowart
• Original Drafting Team: Tigers (1s.44)

Castellanos is a two-time all-star and 2021 silver slugger winner who owns a .274/.323/.470 line and 112 OPS+ in his 12-year career. His 233 home runs are good for 27th in baseball since 2013, just ahead of Albert Pujols (228) and behind Andrew McCutchen (237).

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “He’s one of the better hitters in the prep class, thanks to a strong swing featuring good extension and natural loft. He has used the whole field more this year and is a solid athlete with good aptitude. Some scouts question his ability to hit breaking balls, saying they’ve seen too much swing-and-miss this year to project him as a plus hitter, and have more confidence in his future power. Others debate whether Castellanos has true impact tools or is closer to solid-average. He is an average runner and doesn’t have a glaring weakness.”

19. Astros — RHP Matt Harvey

• Actual Pick: RHP Mike Foltynewicz
• Original Drafting Team: Mets (1.7)

Harvey was a Cy Young contender at the start of his career (he finished fourth in 2013) and managed a sub-3.00 ERA in three his first three seasons. He fell off quickly in his mid and late 20s and never replicated that stretch of dominance, but at his peak could challenge most pitchers in this redraft. In total, Harvey managed a 4.42 ERA over 172 starts and 966.1 innings with a 21.2% strikeout rate and 6.7% walk rate.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: ”Harvey has explosive stuff, and he has worked harder than ever, thanks to improved maturity, to improve his balance and tempo. As a result, Harvey has pitched like an ace, with only one clunker start (against Duke) this spring and several gems, including a 158-pitch, 15-strikeout complete game at Clemson. His final pitch was 96 mph, which is usually where Harvey sits when he’s right, in the 92-96 mph range. Once the owner of a power curveball, Harvey now prefers a hard slider that at times sits in the mid-80s with depth and late finish. Some scouts have given it a well-above-average grade.”

20. Red Sox — RHP Merrill Kelly

• Actual Pick: 2B Kolbrin Vitek
• Original Drafting Team: Rays (8.251)

Kelly had his doubters coming out of the draft, but after a four-year tour in the Korean league, he made his MLB debut in his age-30 season in 2019. He’s been a steady presence in the Diamondbacks’ rotation since, topping 150 innings in four of his six seasons and posting a 3.82 ERA over 140 starts and 824.1 innings.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Righthander Kelly gets results, but does it with a lot of funk and deception. He sinks an average fastball that touches 92 mph, and he throws it for strikes. But he’s rigid with an “iron Mike” delivery, and as one scout put it, “You just don’t see guys pitch like that in the big leagues.” Kelly mixes in a breaking ball, but it’s his above-average changeup that is his second-best pitch. Because of his mechanical issues, he profiles better as a reliever in pro ball.”

21. Twins — OF Kole Calhoun

• Actual Pick: RHP Alex Wimmers
• Original Drafting Team: Angels (8.264)

Colhoun had a 12-year career and was a league-average or better hitter in 12 of those seasons. While he was never an all-star or impact player, he earned a gold glove award in 2015 and managed a career .242/.315/.417 line with a 101 OPS+ and 179 home runs.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Outfielder Kole Calhoun is a 5-foot-10 overachiever who should get a job somewhere. He’s hit well at Arizona State, but is maxed-out physically and won’t hit for enough power to play a corner outfield spot in the big leagues, which is where he projects defensively.”

22. Rangers — OF Corey Dickerson

• Actual Pick: C Kellin Deglan
• Original Drafting Team: Rockies (8.260)

Dickinson is a career .280/.323/.476 hitter who finished his 11-year career with a 113 OPS+ and 136 home runs. He was an all-star in 2017, won a gold glove award in 2018 and had three different seasons with 20+ home runs.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “He’s the best juco prospect from the state since Desmond Jennings, a 10th-round pick of the Rays in 2006. Dickerson has the hitting ability to step right into the Bulldogs’ lineup, having hit .474 with 19 home runs in 137 at-bats at Meridian. He has a pro body and present strength, he plays hard and his best tool is his bat, an attractive profile. He’s a fringe-average runner and profiles as a left fielder.”

23. Marlins — LHP Drew Pomeranz

• Actual Pick: 1B Christian Yelich
• Original Drafting Team: Indians (1.5)

Pomeranz was one of the better pitchers in the 2010 class on draft day and made the majors a year after the Indians selected him fifth overall. He dealt with his share of injuries throughout his career, but he was an 11-year big leaguer who finished his career with a 3.91 ERA over 140 starts (plus 149 games out of the bullpen) and 858.1 innings. He made one all-star game in 2016 and was part of the Red Sox 2018 championship team.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “When he’s right, Pomeranz sits 90-94 mph with his fastball and creates tough angles for the hitter, pitching to both sides of the plate. Coaches assert that he’s nearly unhittable at the college level when he’s throwing his hard curve for strikes, a 12-to-6 downer. His changeup is solid-average as well, as he has shown feel for using it. Control has been Pomeranz’s biggest concern.”

24. Giants — LHP Drew Smyly

• Actual Pick: OF Gary Brown
• Original Drafting Team: Tigers (2.68)

Smyly has split time as a starter and reliever through his 11-year big league career, and after a solid 2024 campaign in his age-35 season, he owns a 4.20 ERA over more than 1,100 innings. He’s played for seven different organizations and was part of the 2021 Braves championship team.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Though he doesn’t have a signature pitch, Smyly has been the Razorbacks’ ace this spring. He mainly works with a fastball and a cutter/slider. He can add and subtract from his fastball, ranging from 86-93 mph, and works in the low to mid-80s with the cut/slider. He also mixes in a curveball and changeup. Smyly has exceptional feel for pitching, which allowed him to thrive even when a blister on his middle finger prevented him from gripping the seams on the ball for a couple of starts at midseason.”

25. Cardinals — RHP Taijuan Walker

• Actual Pick: 3B Zack Cox
• Original Drafting Team: Mariners (1s.43)

Expected to be a bit of a project, Walker made the majors just three years after being drafted as a 20-year-old with the Mariners. He took a few years to settle into a full-time starting role, and after 12 big league seasons, Walker owns a 4.19 ERA over 209 starts and more than 1,1000 innings with a 20.5% strikeout rate and 9.7% walk rate. He was an all-star in 2021 when he posted a 2.57 ERA in the first half of the season.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Walker doubles as an elite basketball player, averaging 21 points and 15 rebounds per game as a forward last season. He has great leaping ability, and his dunks on the court have made him into a local folk hero… When right, Walker fires a 91-93 mph fastball that can touch 95, and adds a slider and curve. His whippy three-quarters arm action can be free and easy on some occasions, restricted and stiff on others. Scouts agree that Walker, who hasn’t committed to a college yet, is a long-range project as a pitcher, but his combination of sparkling athletic ability, raw stuff and imposing build may make Walker a gamble worth taking.”

26. Rockies — OF Eddie Rosario

• Actual Pick: OF Kyle Parker
• Original Drafting Team: Twins (4.135)

Rosario has been a solid role player for 10 years and has largely lived up to his amateur reputation as an advanced pure hitter. He played a key role in the Braves’ 2021 championship team and was the NLCS MVP that season—after going 14-for-25 (.560) with three home runs, a triple and a double—and owns a career .262/.298/.450 line and 100 OPS+.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Outfielder Rosario is the best pure hitter on the island. Rosario, who is 6 feet, 170 pounds, will get a shot to go out as a center fielder, but profiles better in a corner. He’s an average runner with a strong arm, and his lefthanded bat will play enough for right field. He has a sound approach at the plate, drawing one comparison to Bobby Abreu. Rosario won’t be a huge power hitter, but could hit 12-15 home runs a year when he fills out and gets stronger.”

27. Phillies — OF Adam Duvall

• Actual Pick: LHP Jesse Biddle
• Original Drafting Team: Giants (11.348)

Duvall was an under-the-radar, low-money signee in the 11th round but has turned in an 11-year career as a solid regular with big righty power and great outfield defense in his peak seasons. He’s a .227/.287/.459 hitter with a 96 OPS+, made the 2016 all-star team, won a gold glove in 2021 and has three separate 30+ home runs seasons. Along with Eddie Rosario, Duvall was a key outfield piece for the Braves’ 2021 championship team.

From his 2012 Giants scouting report: “Duvall signed for just $2,500 as an 11th-rounder, he was old for low Class A at age 22 and his at-bats aren’t likely to be found on an instructional video. But he just keeps hitting baseballs over the fence and grabbed the Giants’ attention by hitting 22 homers at Augusta last year. He took home MVP honors at the South Atlantic League all-star game and probably would have topped 100 RBIs if he didn’t miss three weeks with a hamstring injury. Duvall doesn’t use his legs enough in his swing but takes a balanced, direct path to the ball. He has established himself as one of the better fastball hitters in the system.”

28. Dodgers — INF Jedd Gyorko

• Actual Pick: RHP Zach Lee
• Original Drafting Team: Padres (2.59)

Gyorko was expected to be a first-round pick in the 2010 draft, but ultimately slid to the Dodgers in the second round, where he signed for $614,700. He fits in the back of the first round in this redraft after an eight-year career that featured a .245/.310/.424 line and 101 OPS+. His best stretch came with the Cardinals in 2016-17 when he produced 5.5 bWAR and hit 50 homers while playing all over the infield for St. Louis.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Gyorko is on team’s draft boards for one reason: his bat. His position on those boards comes down to where teams think he’ll play. A shortstop for the Mountaineers, no one is giving him a chance to stay there as a pro… He’s an above-average hitter, though, thanks to a good, balanced approach at the plate, a good feel for the strike zone and an ability to hit to all fields.”

29. Angels — C Evan Gattis

• Actual Pick: RHP Cam Bedrosian
• Original Drafting Team: Braves (23.704)

Gattis was a late-bloomer who had a short, but exciting six-year major league career. Nicknamed “El Oso Blanco,” Gattis was a power-oriented backstop and outfielder who managed double-digit home runs in every big league season he played, finishing with 139 home runs in just 706 games. He ended his career as a .248/.300/.476 hitter with a 111 OPS+ and was a member of the Astros’ 2017 championship team.

From his 2012 Braves scouting report: “A bargain for $1,000 in the 23rd round of the 2010 draft, Gattis seemed to emerge from nowhere during the second half of his first full pro season… He gets excellent leverage from his tall frame and can hit lasers when he gets his arms extended. He lacks patience at the plate, something more advanced pitchers may be able to exploit…He spent three years driving around the country and living out of his pickup.”

30. Angels — RHP Aaron Sanchez

• Actual Pick: OF Chevy Clarke
• Original Drafting Team: Blue Jays (1s.34)

Sanchez was one of the younger players in the 2010 draft class and signed for $775,000 as the 34th overall pick with the Blue Jays. He made the majors four years later as a 21-year-old and had his most dominant season two years later in 2016 when he led the American League with a 3.00 ERA over 30 starts and 192 innings. He finished seventh in Cy Young voting that year and made his lone all-star team. Sanchez pitched in eight seasons and owns a 4.16 ERA over 113 starts and 685 innings for his career.

From his 2010 draft scouting report: “Sanchez has lured scouts to Barstow, stuck in the middle of the California desert halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Only one player–Royals righty Matt Mitchell, a 2007 14th-round pick–has been drafted out of Barstow in the last 20 years… Sanchez will need to add at least a pitch and potentially two to his current arsenal. Sanchez profiles as a No. 3 starter. He may take some time to reach the majors, but his tantalizing upside is difficult for any organization to ignore.”

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Below is a chart of each team’s total bWAR value from the 2010 draft. I’ve also ranked each team’s draft class on the 20-80 scouting scale. To see details of each team’s draft class, you can view our draft database here or the Baseball Reference database here.

80 — Marlins

70 — Nationals

60 — White Sox, Mets, Orioles, Rays, Braves

55 — Royals, Blue Jays, Tigers

50 — Mariners, Reds, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Astros, Angels, Pirates, Indians, Rockies, 

45 —Twins, Giants, Padres

40 — Brewers, Yankees, Cardinals, Athletics, Rangers, Phillies

30 — Red Sox

20 — Cubs