MLB Pipeline updated their draft on Thursday
With just a day until the MLB First Year Player Draft, MLB Pipeline has updated its final mock draft ahead of Sunday. We’re going to take a look at some of the players linked to the Guardians at pick 27.
THE PICK IS IN…RHP/IF JOSH HAMMOND
I touched on Hammond a couple weeks ago when I broke down in tiers who I wanted the Guardians to take here. He fit squarely into the tier of a player I would love to take here. Hammond will not pitch at the next level and will opt to focus solely on being a position player. He will be the best total package of the prep shortstop prospects likely to be available here, though he may slide to 3B down the line. The power is plus to all fields, and his arm is obviously plus plus given that he was seen as a pitching prospect primarily prior to this season.
His biggest growth as a hitter has been pitch recognition and overall swing decisions, making him less of a boom-or-bust candidate as a hitter. With Cleveland having just one pick in the top 50, going big money to nab a prep bat could be the way to go.
OTHER NAMES MENTIONED
OF ETHAN CONRAD — WAKE FOREST
I’ve said a lot about Conrad, but I won’t shy away from saying more. If he’s there, this is the pick. This is the guy. A lefty outfield bat with injury history driving down some of his stock is a perfect guy for Cleveland here. At 6-foot-4, Conrad has spent his college career growing into his power, and at Wake Forest prior to injury, he was destroying the ball, doing his best to find himself in the top 10-15 picks of this Draft.
The shoulder injury against Miami will cause his stock to fall unless a team above the Guardians get aggressive and snag him. On pure skill in a vacuum, Conrad is a top 10 pick. Conrad dominated the Cape Cod League as a 19 year old, and from there, he’s blossomed into a complete hitter who flashes good speed and great base running. He has the prototypical Guardians makeup as a guy whose talent does not tell the whole story. Conrad is a baseball junkie, and he hustles all over the field whether as a defender or a base runner.
3B/1B ANDREW FISCHER — TENNESSEE
Fischer sticking to third base is less of a sure thing, but what is a sure thing is that this guy can mash. Posting an OPS over 1.200 this past season, Fischer became one of college baseball’s most feared hitters. Fischer finds the barrel at a high level, and his optimal bat path helps create thunderous contact to all fields. Fischer is very similar tools-wise at the plate to previous picks like DeLauter and Kayfus.
THE PREVIOUS PICK
CF CAM CANNARELLA — CLEMSON
In MLB Pipeline’s previous mock draft, the result was one that I was less excited about. Cam Cannarella represents all the things that terrified me with Cleveland’s drafts prior to 2022. Cannarella is a very good defender who burns on the base paths. My biggest concern is him getting onto said base paths. The hit tool is Cannarella’s best offensive trait outside of his speed, but I struggle seeing it carry over and being as effective. Cannarella is not great in the zone for someone with an overall suboptimal approach should be.
Cannarella underwent shoulder surgery prior to the 2025 season to repair a torn labrum. The power numbers saw a major dip, as did the numbers under the hood. Cannarella’s average EV’s dropped below 88 mph, and this is with aluminum bats. There are tools there with Cannarella, I just don’t trust that they overly help his offensive game take a leap.
The Draft begins at 6 PM EST on Sunday, so join along as we count down the picks to 27!