Buddy Reed Should Be Seattle Mariners First-Round Pick In 2016 MLB Draft

With the first round of the NFL draft over, baseball fans have started to get interested in the MLB draft. The MLB draft does not start until June 9, but it is about that time that clubs start to make the big decisions when it comes to the draft. It is also the time when fans start to look at who their team could possibly pick up in the first round.

The Seattle Mariners currently have the No. 11 overall pick. Unlike the NFL draft, trades are not common in the MLB draft, so I would expect the Mariners will take the pick at No. 11. With the new regime in command and the history of first-round picks for the Mariners going south, you can bet that Jerry Dipoto and Co. will put a lot of stock into that top selection.

The Mariners have a decent amount of young pitching, although having more is never a bad thing. That being said, I have a feeling the Mariners will go after a position player. Delvin Perez, the top shortstop prospect and most likely the first Puerto Rican since Carlos Correa to go in the first round, could be an option for the Mariners. They have Ketel Marte and Robinson Cano for the middle infield, so I don’t see that happening unless a plan to move Cano to first base eventually is in the works. Not to mention, Perez will most likely be off the board by No. 11.

The best, most realistic option for the Mariners is Buddy Reed, the speedy outfielder from the University of Florida. Reed was drafted in 2013 by the Texas Rangers in the 13th round, but he decided to go to college to strengthen his skills. At 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, he has the size to play in MLB quickly after being drafted.

Reed was a multi-sport athlete during high school in Rhode Island, and his skills on the ball field show that. He has plenty of speed, with 18 stolen bases in 26 attempts over 69 games as a sophomore. He also had a .305/.367/.433 batting line, 47 RBIs, 14 doubles, five triples and four home runs in his sophomore year. All of that is even with a slow start in which he began the season 1-for-14 at the plate. He started wearing glasses on the field and it seems to have made all of the difference.

Reed is seen as a safe bet to stay at center field, although the Mariners would most likely put him in one of the corner spots with Leonys Martin expected to play center for a long time. Reed’s switch hitting is also considered a plus, although his power is a lot more prominent on the right side. His arm is considered above average as well, making him a true multi-tool threat.

Reed is currently ranked No. 16 on MLB’s Top Draft Prospects list, so he’s right in the range of where the Mariners will have their first pick. Having an outfield future of Martin, Boog Powell (one of the Mariners’ top prospects) and Reed could create one of the best in baseball, both on the field and at the plate. The home run power would not be there, but with the new direction of the team, Reed fits the bill perfectly for the Mariners’ first pick.

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