MLB's annual amateur draft's first round concluded Sunday. The Pirates held the No. 1 pick and used it on Louisville catcher Henry Davis. Right-hander Jack Leiter went second overall to the Rangers and his Vanderbilt teammate Kumar Rocker was the 10th overall pick to the Mets.
UC-Santa Barbara right-handed pitcher Michael McGreevy was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 18 overall. McGreevy has received comparisons to Cleveland's ace (and the 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner) Shane Bieber that stem from them both pitching for the Gauchos. McGreevy offers a big, athletic right-handed frame who has demonstrated excellent control, as evidenced by his career four percent walk rate. His arsenal could well feature four average or better pitches at maturation, including a low-to-mid-90s fastball and a curveball that might be his best offering.
The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox picked back to back at 21 and 22 respectively. The Cubs selected Kansas State left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks. One scout described Wicks as a "less-athletic Marco Gonzales" during the preseason. It fits.
Wicks is a command-and-changeup left-hander who is held as a safe, no-frills selection. His low-90s fastball has good carry and his cambio is one of the best in the class.
Factor in above-average control, and you have the makings of at least a back-end starter. Teams would like to see more from his breaking balls, with his slider showing greater promise than a curve that gets caught in-between too often to be an effective offering.
The White Sox selected tall and athletic prep shortstop Colson Montgomery. Montgomery is on the older side for a high school draftee, as he'll celebrate his 20th birthday before beginning his first full professional season. Expect Montgomery to engender countless Corey Seager comparisons whenever he's selected because of his size (he's listed at 6-foot-4), position, and powerful left-handed swing.
Eastern Illinois shortstop Trey Sweeney was selected 20th overall by the New York Yankees.
Former Illinois State standout and current Indians prospect, Owen Miller's brother Noah was selected by the Twins in the competitive balance round at 36th overall.
