2023 MLB draft tracker: Skenes goes No. 1; Results, analysis for every first-round pick
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The first round of the 2023 MLB draft is over, with the Pittsburgh Pirates selecting LSU star Paul Skenes with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Washington Nationals followed by drafting Skenes’ teammate, Dylan Crews, with the No. 2 pick, making them the first pair of teammates to go 1-2 in MLB draft history. The Detroit Tigers took Max Clark with the third pick, the Texas Rangers followed with Wyatt Langford, and the Minnesota Twins rounded out the top five by selecting Walker Jenkins.
What will the following rounds bring?
Follow along for pick-by-pick coverage, with ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield and Dan Mullen breaking down everything you need to know about who your favorite team took in the first round as the picks come off the board.
Mock Draft 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0
Rankings: Top 300 prospects | Guide for all 30 teams
Who is Skenes? According to ESPN MLB draft expert Kiley McDaniel, Skenes is the best pitching prospect in the draft since Gerrit Cole went No. 1 overall in 2011. Like his college teammate Crews, Skenes was a dominant force on LSU’s national championship team as the right-hander went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and struck out an eye-popping 209 batters over 122⅔ innings during his lone season in Baton Rouge after transferring from Air Force.
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The highlight-reel plays top pick Paul Skenes is taking to Pittsburgh
Check out the highlights that helped make Paul Skenes the top overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Pirates took him here: While there are three clear top prospects in this class, Skenes is quite possibly the best pitching prospect in the draft since Stephen Strasburg or Gerrit Cole. In his one season at LSU, he absolutely dominated the best competition in the top conference in the country, handling the pressure that comes with pitching in the SEC with a presence that set him apart. The Pirates have shown signs of turning things around at the major league level and Skenes is about as major league-ready as a pitcher can be on draft day. — Mullen
Who is Crews? The most well-known player in this draft, Crews hit his way into college baseball lore in winning the 2023 Golden Spikes Award and becoming the first player to win back-to-back SEC Player of the Year awards. Though he is more likely to end up in a corner outfield spot than remaining in center, there is no doubt his bat will play anywhere after Crews hit .426 with 17 home runs and a 1.280 OPS in 71 games for the College World Series champion Tigers this season.
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The plays that helped Dylan Crews become a National
Check out the highlights that helped make Dylan Crews the second overall pick by the Nationals.
Why the Nationals took him here: For the first time ever, a pair of teammates have gone 1-2 in the MLB draft. Maybe the Nationals would have preferred Skenes, given that the strength of their farm system lies in its position players, but Crews dominated the best conference in the country and ranks as one of the best hitting prospects to come out of the college ranks in a long time. His combination of the hit tool, plate discipline and power indicates he should rise rapidly to the majors. — Schoenfield
3. Detroit Tigers: Max Clark, OF, Franklin Community (Ind.) HS
Who is Clark? The best prospect from the state of Indiana since Bryan Bullington went No. 1 overall (out of Indiana University) in 2002, Clark won 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year honors. Clark has a sweet left-handed swing that produces plus contact and bat speed with the only question being just how much power it will lead to in the pros given he has a smaller frame than the other elite hitters at the top of this draft.
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The plays that helped make Max Clark a Detroit Tiger
Check out the highlights Max Clark will be taking to Detroit after being selected third overall by the Tigers.
Why the Tigers took him here: We have our first true surprise of the night. Going into this draft, the talk was all about the three college stars who have separated themselves at the top of the class — yet the Tigers went with a high school hitter, and not Langford, with the No. 3 pick. But don’t let that fool you into thinking Clark is a stretch here. He would have been in the running for the No. 1 overall pick in many recent drafts if not for the SEC stars ahead of him this year. Clark has electric speed and could develop plus power as he develops, drawing comparisons to Corbin Carroll and Johnny Damon. — Mullen
4. Texas Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
Who is Langford? A slugger who would be the clear No. 1 in many recent MLB drafts, Langford has been overshadowed a bit this season by the LSU combo of Crews and Skenes. The Florida slugger hit .373 with 21 home runs and a 1.282 OPS for the national runners-up this season, showing why scouts have been flocking to see him since a breakout sophomore campaign with the Gators in 2022 followed by a strong performance with Team USA last summer.
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The highlight-reel plays Wyatt Langford is taking to Texas
Check out some of the plays that helped make Wyatt Langford a Texas Ranger.
Why the Rangers took him here: The Rangers have to be thrilled to see an advanced college hitter like Langford fall to them with the fourth pick — a player who had more extra-base power in the SEC this past season than Crews. Langford is somewhat limited defensively, but the Rangers can dream on soon adding him and prospect Evan Carter to an outfield that already includes All-Star Adolis Garcia and 2023 breakout performer Leody Taveras. — Schoenfield
5. Minnesota Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick (N.C.) HS
Who is Jenkins? Now the consensus top high school player in this draft, Jenkins packs high-end raw power into a compact swing that invokes comparisons to former MLB All-Star J.D. Drew. He won his second straight Gatorade state player of the year award this spring, batting .417 with an incredible .632 on-base percentage and .633 slugging percentage in 95 plate appearances while showing scouts he was fully recovered from a broken hamate bone that slowed him a bit in the summer of 2022.
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The top highlights the Twins can expect from Walker Jenkins
Check out the highlights that have helped the Twins select Walker Jenkins with the fifth pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Twins took him here: This was a five-player draft and the Twins get one of those players here before the talent drops off significantly. Jenkins has 30-home run power and the hit tool to project as a future .280 hitter in the majors, and he could stay in center field. In most drafts, that type of player is thick in the running for the No. 1 overall pick, so the Twins have to be ecstatic to get that kind of talent to round out the top five. — Mullen
6. Oakland Athletics: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
Who is Wilson? The son of former Pirates shortstop Jack, who also coached him in high school, Wilson is a polished defensive shortstop who makes contact at an elite rate. Wilson posted a .361 batting average over his three seasons at Grand Canyon, including a .412 mark with just five strikeouts in 192 at-bats this spring.
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The plays that helped make Jacob Wilson an Athletic
Check out the highlights that have helped make Jacob Wilson a top-10 pick by the Oakland Athletics.
Why the A’s took him here: This was always going to be the part of the draft where it started getting unpredictable, and the A’s pull out a mild surprise here in taking Wilson — although you have to love the big league bloodlines and the elite contact ability. The A’s will have to hope the power will develop, but even if it doesn’t, perhaps there is a Nico Hoerner-type player here. Plus, while teams rarely draft for need, there is no doubt the A’s need a shortstop, as Nick Allen has struggled at the plate. — Schoenfield
7. Cincinnati Reds: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
Who is Lowder? The ace of a Wake Forest squad that earned the No. 1 overall seed in this season’s NCAA tournament, Lowder joined former Virginia ace (and Mariners draft pick) Danny Hultzen as the only back-to-back ACC Pitchers of the Year. Using a fastball that hovers in the mid-90s and a strong changeup to keep hitters guessing, Lowder went a perfect 15-0 with a 1.87 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 120⅓ innings for the Demon Deacons this spring.
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The highlights the Reds can expect from Rhett Lowder
Watch the highlights that helped the Reds select Rhett Lowder with the seventh pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Reds took him here: Lowder might be the safest starting pitcher in this draft as a polished big-school starter with three above-average pitches. The big question here is if he has enough stuff to be a top-of-the-rotation ace or if he ultimately settles in as more of a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. But no matter Lowder’s ceiling, he should get to the majors quickly and that has become even more important since Cincinnati has vaulted itself into contention this season. — Mullen
8. Kansas City Royals: Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS
Who is Mitchell? A rifle-armed catcher with an LSU commit, Mitchell has hit 97 mph on the mound, but his future is behind the plate where he’s viewed as the top high school catcher in the class. Some teams viewed him as a top-10 overall talent while others shied away from his age (almost 19) and the general risk associated with prep catchers. His defensive abilities are his calling card, but he also has plus power, although he’ll have to improve the swing-and-miss.
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The highlights the Royals can expect from Blake Mitchell
Check out the highlights that enticed the Royals take Blake Mitchell with the eighth pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Royals took him here: Hey, Salvador Perez isn’t going to play forever and has continued to morph more into a DH anyway. This is a big roll of the dice for the Royals, as prep catchers taken in the first round have a checkered draft history. Mitchell is the first prep catcher to go in the top 10 since the Marlins drafted Kyle Skipworth sixth overall in 2008 (he never reached the majors). The Royals also look years away from being any good, so they can afford to let Mitchell develop and hope he grows into his power potential and turns into a strong two-way performer. — Schoenfield
9. Colorado Rockies: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
Who is Dollander? Dollander entered the 2023 season as the top pitching prospect in this draft before being passed by fellow SEC ace Skenes. The Tennessee right-hander’s ERA jumped more than two full runs to 4.75 this season after he went 10-0 with a 2.39 ERA while winning SEC Pitcher of the Year in 2022. At his best, he has a mid-90s fastball and a plus slider that helped make him a top-10 pick in this draft.
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The plays that helped make Chase Dollander a top-10 pick
Check out the highlights that helped Chase Dollander get selected by the Rockies in the first round.
Why the Rockies took him here: Let’s not forget, Dollander was the No. 1 pitching prospect in this draft class entering the season with a fastball that had scouts buzzing — things just didn’t go quite as planned from there. But that’s what makes the upside of this pick unusually high for a college pitcher.
If the Rockies can fix whatever was wrong with Dollander’s delivery this spring and bring out the 2022 version of the Tennessee ace, they’re getting a player who would have been off the board far before No. 9 tonight. Of course, the risk here is also greater, so this pick is a bet on Dollander and a bet on Colorado’s development department being able to bring out the best in him. — Mullen
10. Miami Marlins: Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit (Ore.) HS
Who is Meyer? The clear top prep pitching prospect in this draft, Meyer hails from the same Portland high school that produced 2020 first-rounder Mick Abel (No. 15 overall to the Phillies). Standing 6-foot-5 with a fastball that gets into the high 90s coupled with a strong breaking ball, Meyer has ace upside as a pro.
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The highlights the Marlins can expect from Noble Meyer
Watch the highlights that helped the Marlins select Noble Meyer with the 10th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Marlins took him here: He’s a huge upside right-hander with a triple-digit fastball and one of the best names in the draft. Start your preparation, Marlins marketing people! The Marlins have used just one of their past seven first-round picks on a pitcher and considering some of their misses on first-round position players, maybe this selection makes a lot of sense — especially if their 2026 rotations lines up as Eury Perez, Sandy Alcantara, Braxton Garrett and Meyer (and perhaps former first-rounder Max Meyer, as well). — Schoenfield
11. Los Angeles Angels: Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
Who is Schanuel? The powerful left-handed-hitting first baseman put up eye-popping numbers this spring, finishing second nationally in batting average (.447), first in on-base percentage (.615) and second in slugging percentage (.868). That combination of hit tool, patience at the plate and power had scouts flocking to FAU games as the season played out and has now made him the highest draft pick in Owls history.
Why the Angels took him here: The Angels strategy has been very clear at the top of recent drafts: Take guys who can get to the majors as quickly as possible, like 2022 first-rounder Zach Neto, who has already reached the majors. While Schanuel might not be ready to move quite that fast, he certainly fits the mold as a polished college hitter whose tools are more present than something to dream on for years down the road. While he isn’t going to match those incredible college numbers as a pro, it’s impossible to look past what he did at FAU this spring and he has the hit tool to back them up no matter the competition. — Mullen
Who is Troy? Troy has risen up draft boards after a strong summer in 2022, when he was named best pro prospect in the Cape Cod League. He followed it up by showing an uptick in power this spring at Stanford, belting 17 home runs (which matched his total from his two previous seasons with the Cardinal combined). While Troy played third base this season, the 5-foot-10, 197-pound infielder’s pro future could be at second base.
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The highlights the D-backs can expect from Tommy Troy
Watch the highlights that lured the Diamondbacks to take Tommy Troy with the 12th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Diamondbacks took him here: Because he can hit. Troy hit .394/.478/.699 for Stanford and showed he can handle high velocity up in the strike zone, a strong marker given the widespread major league philosophy of attacking hitters with high heat. He also offers some positional flexibility with the arm to handle third base and the range to play second base. Currently in first place in the NL West, the Diamondbacks are entering what they view as a multiyear contention window and Troy projects as a player who can reach the majors rather fast (and perhaps plug a hole at third base that has been a revolving door in Arizona in recent seasons). — Schoenfield
13. Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw, 2B, Maryland
Who is Shaw? The 2023 Brooks Wallace Award winner as college baseball’s best shortstop, Shaw is most likely ticketed for second base in the pros. No matter his future position, it is Shaw’s powerful bat that has scouts excited as he blasted 46 home runs in 122 games over his final two years at Maryland.
Why the Cubs took him here: While Shaw’s power is his standout tool, he is a pure hitter who can do a little bit of everything on the diamond. At the plate, he hits the ball hard to all fields, rarely strikes out, draws walks and can even run — as his 18 stolen bases this season show. Defensively, second base seems like the most likely ultimate destination for Shaw, but he has shown the ability to play shortstop, third base and outfield during his time at Maryland. That gives the Cubs plenty of options as he advances through their system. — Mullen
Who is Taylor? The first TCU position player to go in the first round of the MLB draft, Taylor’s eventual fit could be at either second or third base. His calling card is a left-handed swing that produces hard contact to all fields which helped him post an OPS over 1.000 in each of his seasons with the Horned Frogs and makes him one of the safest picks in this draft.
Why the Rays took him here: It’s a run of college bats! Eight of the past nine picks have been college hitters and it’s actually a little surprising that Taylor fell to the Rays at the back of that group. Taylor’s power jump — from 12 home runs as a sophomore to 23 as a junior — catapulted him into the first round and his approach is solid enough that he didn’t sacrifice much batting average to get to that newfound pop, instead just barreling baseball after baseball. Hitters like this are exactly who the Rays excel at getting the most out of and Taylor could be the next in a long line of Tampa Bay hitters who opposing pitchers dread facing. — Mullen
Who is Lombard? The son of a former big leaguer who played six seasons in the majors and is currently the bench coach for the Tigers, George Jr. is – no surprise – a fundamentally sound player with good baseball instincts. A 6-foot-3 right-handed hitter, he’s not a lock to remain at shortstop, but scouts love his makeup and he just turned 18 in June.
Why the Yankees took him: Have you seen Josh Donaldson‘s batting average? There are across-the-board tools here and given the recent success of sons of major leaguers, the Yankees are betting on that working for Lombard as well. Interestingly, he didn’t devote himself fully to baseball in high school — he also played soccer — so there might be untapped potential to go with the strong fundamentals. — Schoenfield
Who is Miller? A longtime member of various Team USA youth teams, Miller has drawn comparisons to Donaldson since he was 15. He’s viewed as one of the most advanced prep bats in the draft, with bat speed, plus power from the right side and a strong understanding of the strike zone. Two things that may have led some teams to pass on him: He’s already 19, so models that favor youth worked against him, and he missed most of the spring with a broken hamate bone, although he did return for pre-draft workouts.
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The top highlights the Phillies can expect from Aidan Miller
Watch the highlights that helped the Phillies select Aidan Miller with the 27th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Phillies took him here: Miller has been one of the most well-known players in this class since his mid-teens, winning MVP of the Under Armour High School All-America Game and the 2022 High School Home Run Derby at All-Star Weekend. He has drawn comparisons to Donaldson for both his power swing and ability to draw walks, showing plus power against high-level competition. So how did he fall here? Miller is already 19 years old and was slowed by a hamate bone injury that derailed his senior season this spring. — Mullen
28. Houston Astros: Brice Matthews, SS, Nebraska
Who is Matthews? A high school quarterback in Texas, Matthews hit .359 with 20 home runs and 20 steals for the Cornhuskers, the first player in school history to reach 20/20 — and it came with some of the data points that front offices love these days, including an average exit velocity equal to Crews.
Why the Astros took him: New GM Dana Brown comes from a more traditional scouting background, but this is a pick that aligns with the Astros’ number-crunching models of the past decade. But Matthews is more than just a data darling, as all of his tools grade as average or better. Given the huge improvement from his sophomore to junior seasons, he could be a late-blooming prospect. He has the range and arm to play shortstop but made 21 errors, so he could end up moving elsewhere in the infield or perhaps to center field. — Schoenfield
Compensation pick
29. Seattle Mariners: Jonny Farmelo, CF, Westfield (Va.) HS
(for Julio Rodriguez winning ROY)
After taking a high school shortstop with their first pick, the Mariners go back to the prep ranks here. Farmelo is a late-blooming explosive outfielder who looks more like a center fielder now than he did a year ago and with a combination of hitting ability, power and speed.
Competitive Balance Round A
30. Seattle Mariners: Tai Peete, SS, Trinity Christian (Ga.) HS
Peete is young for his class at age 17. He’s a switch-hitting shortstop with plus power and also an early-round prospect on the mound as a pitcher. The question is whether Peete’s hit tool is strong enough to allow that power to play.
31. Tampa Bay Rays: Adrian Santana, SS, Doral (Fla.) HS
Another 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop, Santana has a contact-oriented approach at the plate and 80-grade speed with the potential to be a very strong shortstop defensively — but his power could lag behind the rest of his game.
32. New York Mets: Colin Houck, SS, Parkview (Ga.) HS
(First pick dropped 10 spots because they exceeded the competitive balance tax threshold by more than $40 million.)
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The top highlights the Mets can expect from Colin Houck
Watch the highlights that helped the Mets select Colin Houck with the 32nd pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
The Mets couldn’t have asked for more than seeing a player who could have easily gone in the top 15 picks in this draft fall to them at No. 32. Houck was also a Power 5 recruit as a quarterback and while he’ll likely end up moving from shortstop to third base, his swing and offensive ability that draw Evan Longoria comparisons should play anywhere in the infield.
33. Milwaukee Brewers: Josh Knoth, RHP, Patchogue-Medford (N.Y.) HS
Knoth attended the same high school as 2023 All-Star Marcus Stroman, but his breaking-ball-heavy approach more resembles that of Lance McCullers Jr. or Matt Brash. Standing at just 6-foot-1 with inconsistent results as a prep, Knoth could develop into a starter or find his pro fit more as a reliever.
34. Minnesota Twins: Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian (Fla.) HS
Still just 17 years old, Soto has a lot of the things scouts look for in a starting pitcher: He stands 6-foot-5 with a fastball that touches 99 mph and backs it up with a plus slider and above-average splitter.
35. Miami Marlins: Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (Mass.) HS
White has struggled with consistency and command since being the best pitcher in his class just a few years ago. But he stands at 6-foot-5, hits 95 mph and shows three plus pitches when he’s on.
36. Los Angeles Dodgers: Kendall George, CF, Atascocita (Texas) HS
(First pick dropped 10 spots because they exceeded the competitive balance tax threshold by more than $40 million.)
George is in the conversation for fastest runner in this draft and has relied on that speed and his contact skills. The question here, like for many 80-grade runners coming out of high school, is how much power he can add as a pro.
37. Detroit Tigers: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner (Pa.) HS
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The top highlights the Tigers can expect from Kevin McGonigle
Watch the highlights that helped the Tigers select Kevin McGonigle with the 37th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
McGonigle, No. 21 on McDaniel’s big board, is a pure hitter who can stick in the infield, although maybe not at shortstop. The rest of the tools maybe don’t jump out at you, but the most important is the hit tool — and that’s what McGonigle has.
38. Cincinnati Reds: Ty Floyd, RHP, LSU
Floyd made himself a lot of money with one of the most memorable starts in College World Series, striking out 17 Florida hitters in Game 1 of the CWS finals and rocketing himself up draft boards. His fastball velocity and slider have always been there, so the key to his pro development will be finding consistency with the command that has abandoned him at times.
39. Oakland Athletics: Myles Naylor, 3B, St. Joan of Arc (Canada) HS
Yep, Naylor is the youngest of the three Naylor brothers and joins Josh (12th overall pick in 2015) and Bo (29th pick in 2018) as a high pick. Like his older brothers, he can hit, although he doesn’t have Josh’s raw power. A shortstop in high school, Myles likely moves to third base or even the outfield as a pro.
Second round
40. Washington Nationals: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
41. Oakland Athletics: Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers
42. Pittsburgh Pirates: Mitch Jebb, SS, Michigan State
43. Cincinnati Reds: Sammy Stafura, SS, Walter Panas (N.Y.) HS
44. Kansas City Royals: Blake Wolters, RHP, Mahomet-Seymour (Ill.) HS
45. Detroit Tigers: Max Anderson, 2B, Nebraska
46. Colorado Rockies: Sean Sullivan, LHP, Wake Forest
47. Miami Marlins: Kemp Alderman, OF, Ole Miss
48. Arizona Diamondbacks: Gino Groover, 3B, NC State
49. Minnesota Twins: Luke Keaschall, 2B, Arizona State
50. Boston Red Sox: Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers College (Mo.) HS
51. Chicago White Sox: Grant Taylor, RHP, LSU
52. San Francisco Giants: Walker Martin, SS, Eaton (Colo.) HS
53. Baltimore Orioles: Mac Horvath, OF, North Carolina
54. Milwaukee Brewers: Mike Boeve, 3B, Nebraska-Omaha
55. Tampa Bay Rays: Colton Ledbetter, OF, Mississippi State
56. New York Mets: Brandon Sproat, RHP, Florida
57. Seattle Mariners: Ben Williamson, 3B, William & Mary
58. Cleveland Guardians: Alex Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken (R.I.) HS
59. Atlanta Braves: Drue Hackenberg, RHP, Virginia Tech
60. Los Angeles Dodgers: Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
Remaining draft order
61. Houston Astros
Competitive Balance Round B
62. Cleveland Guardians
63. Baltimore Orioles
64. Arizona Diamondbacks
65. Colorado Rockies
66. Kansas City Royals
67. Pittsburgh Pirates
Compensation Picks
68. Chicago Cubs
69. San Francisco Giants
70. Atlanta Braves
