The 2021 MLB draft is less than two weeks away. After a five-round edition in 2020, this year's 20-round format will take place from July 11 to 13 in conjunction with Major League Baseball's All-Star Game festivities in Denver.
Here is a guide for all 30 teams, with each organization's greatest needs, the best fits in the draft, each team's typical approach, where each farm system ranks and more.
Teams are listed in draft order. (The Astros do not have a first-round pick in this year's draft.)
Jump to a franchise:
American League
BAL | BOS | CHW | CLE | DET
HOU | KC | LAA | MIN | NYY
OAK | SEA | TB | TEX | TOR
National League
ARI | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL
LAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PHI
PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH
1. Pittsburgh Pirates
Where their farm system ranks: Fourth
Biggest system strengths: Lower minors upside
Biggest system needs: Catching
How they typically draft: In two drafts under the Ben Cherington regime, the Pirates have leaned toward position players -- and hit-first ones at that -- but mixed in players from all four major demographics (prep hitters, college hitters, prep pitchers and college hitters).
Best fits: Louisville C Henry Davis fits a need and is in the top tier of acceptable 1-1 picks, but teams don't pick for need up top. Prep C Joe Mack also fits perfectly at their second pick.
Past five first-round picks: 2B Nick Gonzales (2020); RHP Quinn Priester (2019); OF Sammy Siani (2019); OF Travis Swaggerty (2018); RHP Gunnar Hoglund (2018)
2. Texas Rangers
Where their farm system ranks: 20th
Biggest system strengths: Quality depth
Biggest system needs: Starting pitching depth
How they typically draft: The Rangers' style has shifted a bit in the past few years, leaning more now toward contact-oriented position players and strike-throwing pitchers as they have pivoted from a past focused on upside at all costs.
Best fits: Marcelo Mayer and Kahlil Watson are the prep shortstops who fit the Rangers' recent style the best, while Jack Leiter addresses their biggest need.
Past five first-round picks: 2B Justin Foscue (2020); 3B Josh Jung (2019); 3B Davis Wendzel (2019); RHP Cole Winn (2018); OF Bubba Thompson (2017)
3. Detroit Tigers
Where their farm system ranks: Third
Biggest system strengths: Premium position players
Biggest system needs: The next wave of pitchers
How they typically draft: The Tigers love power arms, especially with SEC pedigree, and hunting for position players with a potential above-average hit/power combo.
Best fits: Jack Leiter fits their tendencies and needs to a T, but picking third means a rare chance at a high-ceiling position player, which seems more likely, with the top four prep shortstops the leading candidates.
Past five first-round picks: 1B Spencer Torkelson (2020); OF Riley Greene (2019); RHP Casey Mize (2018); RHP Alex Faedo (2017); RHP Matt Manning (2016)
4. Boston Red Sox
Where their farm system ranks: 21st
Biggest system strengths: Upper minors hitters
Biggest system needs: Starting pitching
How they typically draft: Chaim Bloom has had one draft in charge, and his first pick was a big curveball, going almost $1 million under slot to take prep SS Nick Yorke. There's a hit-first infielder model that the Rays went to often under Bloom that might be the tiebreaking preference.
Best fits: They will get a shot at at least one of the four prep shortstops, with Marcelo Mayer and Kahlil Watson fitting best. An increasing chance Jack Leiter gets to them would be ideal to address a need and quickly boost the big league club.
Past five first-round picks: 2B Nick Yorke (2020); 3B Triston Casas (2018); RHP Tanner Houck (2017); LHP Jay Groome (2016); OF Andrew Benintendi (2015)
5. Baltimore Orioles
Where their farm system ranks: Eighth
Biggest system strengths: Mix of quality and quantity
Biggest system needs: Big upside (beyond the top four prospects)
How they typically draft: Hitters. General manager Mike Elias has taken hitters at basically every high pick since he took over, and luckily, the top of this draft is also hitter-heavy, so I'd expect them at the top two picks, at least.
Best fits: Brady House and Kahlil Watson get mentioned the most and fit the tendency for upside and hit-first position players, but there are at least a half-dozen connections here, as Baltimore will work the phones price shopping until the pick is made.
Past five first-round picks: RF Heston Kjerstad (2020); C Adley Rutschman (2019); RHP Grayson Rodriguez (2018); SS Cadyn Grenier (2018); LHP DL Hall (2017)
6. Arizona Diamondbacks
Where their farm system ranks: 10th
Biggest system strengths: Up-the-middle hitters
Biggest system needs: Power bats
How they typically draft: The D-backs tend to lean toward up-the-middle, hit-first prospects, and that has worked well for them. On the mound, they tend to prefer higher arm slots who can create more swing and miss than the raw stuff would indicate.
Best fits: Kahlil Watson and Marcelo Mayer, if they make it to six, fit these leanings perfectly, with a falling Jack Leiter or Henry Davis also in the D-backs' preferences.
Past five first-round picks: RHP Bryce Jarvis (2020); OF Corbin Carroll (2019); LHP Blake Walston (2019); RHP Brennan Malone (2019); RHP Drey Jameson (2019)
7. Kansas City Royals
Where their farm system ranks: 17th
Biggest system strengths: Upper minors pitching
Biggest system needs: Outfielders
How they typically draft: Historically, the Royals had leaned into upside and risk, but they have swerved in recent years to focus on college players -- specifically starting pitching.
Best fits: This has long been seen as the most likely landing spot for Kumar Rocker, whom Kansas City was on heavily in high school.
Past five first-round picks: LHP Asa Lacy (2020); SS Bobby Witt Jr. (2019); RHP Brady Singer (2018); RHP Jackson Kowar (2018); LHP Daniel Lynch (2018)
8. Colorado Rockies
Where their farm system ranks: 27th
Biggest system strengths: Position players
Biggest system needs: Pitching
How they typically draft: The Rockies like to lean into high school hitters and college sinkerballers under longtime scouting director Bill Schmidt, who is now interim GM.
Best fits: Brady House and Benny Montgomery have been long-rumored targets and fit Colorado's preferences well.
Past five first-round picks: OF Zac Veen (2020); 1B Michael Toglia (2019); LHP Ryan Rolison (2018); 1B Grant Lavigne (2018); RHP Riley Pint (2016)
9. Los Angeles Angels
Where their farm system ranks: 23rd
Biggest system strengths: Up-the-middle hitters
Biggest system needs: Pitching
How they typically draft: There's a first-year GM in Perry Minasian, who has a scouting background but has never run a draft, so we will see what his preferences are. The Angels historically have had an approach focused on mixing in all sorts of players.
Best fits: Impact talent is what's needed here, and the Angels are just outside of definitely getting someone from the top tier of six to eight prospects. If any of those players falls here, the decision is easy; and otherwise, they're likely to take the best position player, with plenty of prep and college options in this draft's second tier of talent.
Past five first-round picks: LHP Reid Detmers (2020); SS Will Wilson (2019); OF Jordyn Adams (2018); OF Jo Adell (2017); C Matt Thaiss (2016)
10. New York Mets
Where their farm system ranks: 25th
Biggest system strengths: Upside infielders
Biggest system needs: MLB-ready pitching
How they typically draft: This is the first draft under new owner Steve Cohen, but head of baseball ops Sandy Alderson has been here before. Alderson tended to choose left-handed hitters and pitchers with good breaking balls.
Best fits: Jackson Jobe has a shot to get this far and would be a home run, as would Kumar Rocker. Otherwise, an upside prep lefty bat makes sense, which is why Colson Montgomery has some late heat at this pick.
Past five first-round picks: OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (2020); 3B Brett Baty (2019); OF Jarred Kelenic (2018); LHP David Peterson (2017); RHP Justin Dunn (2016)
11. Washington Nationals
Where their farm system ranks: 30th
Biggest system strengths: Upside pitching
Biggest system needs: Upper-level hitters
How they typically draft: The Nationals take some upside swings in the draft, hit often enough to regularly turn out high-end big leaguers, trade the leftovers and often are in the bottom third of farm rankings due to lack of quality depth. I expect them to keep hunting All-Star upside this year.
Best fits: I'd expect this to be the lowest spot, at overslot rates, for a falling Kumar Rocker or Jackson Jobe. There's some buzz that Ty Madden also is seen by the Nats as a fit here. He is a pitcher who fits along the lines of their past two first-round picks -- Jackson Rutledge and Cade Cavalli -- but more analytically inclined teams see Madden in the back of the first round.
Past five first-round picks: RHP Cade Cavalli (2020); RHP Jackson Rutledge (2019); RHP Mason Denaburg (2018); LHP Seth Romero (2017); SS Carter Kieboom (2016)
12. Seattle Mariners
Where their farm system ranks: Sixth
Biggest system strengths: High-end hitters
Biggest system needs: Infielders
How they typically draft: The Mariners have leaned heavily on college players with their top picks in recent years, and that's expected to continue this year -- particularly with their first pick.
Best fits: There are three college bats projected around their pick (Matt McLain, Sal Frelick, Colton Cowser), and I think one of them will get to the 12th pick.
Past five first-round picks: RHP Emerson Hancock (2020); RHP George Kirby (2019); RHP Logan Gilbert (2018); 1B Evan White (2017); OF Kyle Lewis (2016)
13. Philadelphia Phillies
Where their farm system ranks: 24th
Biggest system strengths: Starting pitching
Biggest system needs: Power bats
How they typically draft: This is the second draft under new scouting director Brian Barber and the first under new GM Dave Dombrowski. They hunted upside and separating tools last year, and I would expect that to be a focus again this year.
Best fits: The second tier of prep bats (local outfielder Benny Montgomery, Harry Ford, Will Taylor) have been connected here and fit the track record.
Past five first-round picks: RHP Mick Abel (2020); SS Bryson Stott (2019); 3B Alec Bohm (2018); OF Adam Haseley (2017); OF Mickey Moniak (2016)
14. San Francisco Giants
Where their farm system ranks: 12th
Biggest system strengths: Upside position players
Biggest system needs: Starting pitching
How they typically draft: They've leaned heavily toward position players at high picks in recent years, and I'd expect that to continue with their top pick this year.
Best fits: Any of the three second-tier college bats (Matt McLain, Sal Frelick, Colton Cowser) should have a backstop here, but I'd expect a slight lean toward the second tier of prep position players if they make it here, with Benny Montgomery the top option and Will Taylor another likely target.
Past five first-round picks: C Patrick Bailey (2020); OF Hunter Bishop (2019); C Joey Bart (2018); OF Heliot Ramos (2017); RHP Phil Bickford (2015)
15. Milwaukee Brewers
Where their farm system ranks: 29th
Biggest system strengths: Upside position players
Biggest system needs: Lower-level pitching
How they typically draft: Milwaukee leans on a draft model more than most clubs, so its pitching preference trends toward TrackMan-friendly concepts such as bat-missing characteristics (approach angle, spin rates); and for hitters, it often looks to a track record of contact and some type of upside (positional, max exit velo, age, etc.)
Best fits: Harry Ford and Will Taylor fit the bill on the prep hitter side, while Colton Cowser, Sal Frelick and Tyler Black fit on the college hitter side. Will Bednar, Jordan Wicks and Gunnar Hoglund also fit on the college pitching end of things.
Past five first-round picks: CF Garrett Mitchell (2020); LHP Ethan Small (2019); SS Brice Turang (2018); 2B Keston Hiura (2017); OF Tristen Lutz (2017)
16. Miami Marlins
Where their farm system ranks: Second
Biggest system strengths: Upper-level everyday types
Biggest system needs: Catching
How they typically draft: Flexible, based on what the board gives them. Miami took pitchers with all six of its picks last year and five position players up top in 2019.
Best fits: I would expect this to be a floor for the second-tier hitters mentioned above (Matt McLain/Colton Cowser/Sal Frelick on the college side and both Benny and Colson Montgomery, Harry Ford, Will Taylor on the high school side), with some chance of the best available pitcher (Hoglund, Bednar and Bubba Chandler have been mentioned) if none of the preferred hitting targets get there.
Past five first-round picks: RHP Max Meyer (2020); OF JJ Bleday (2019); OF Kameron Misner (2019); OF Connor Scott (2018); LHP Taylor Rogers (2017)
17. Cincinnati Reds
Where their farm system ranks: 19th
Biggest system strengths: Power hitters
Biggest system needs: Outfielders
How they typically draft: Cincinnati leans traditional in the draft, targeting power bats and power arms in most instances.
Best fits: Prep upside such as Will Taylor, Bubba Chandler and Andrew Painter are among the preference fits and rumors here, but with extra picks, the Reds also are likely to move money around with non-consensus talents up top.
Past five first-round picks: OF Austin Hendrick (2020); LHP Nick Lodolo (2019); 3B Jonathan India (2018); RHP Hunter Greene (2017); SS Jeter Downs (2017)
18. St. Louis Cardinals
Where their farm system ranks: 18th
Biggest system strengths: Power hitters
Biggest system needs: Up-the-middle hitters
How they typically draft: The Cardinals strike a nice balance of chasing upside and limiting risk with known quantities, usually even within any given draft year.
Best fits: Since that second tier of college bats won't get here, I'd expect a mix of college pitching (Jordan Wicks, Will Bednar, Ty Madden, Gunnar Hoglund) and position players (Jay Allen, Tyler Black, Connor Norby).
Past five first-round picks: 3B Jordan Walker (2020); LHP Zack Thompson (2019); 3B Nolan Gorman (2018); RHP Griffin Roberts (2018); SS Delvin Perez (2016)
19. Toronto Blue Jays
Where their farm system ranks: 11th
Biggest system strengths: Infielders
Biggest system needs: Outfielders
How they typically draft: Toronto has a nice mix of risky/safe, pitcher/hitter and prep/college at high picks, taking what the board gives it.
Best fits: College pitching (Gunnar Hoglund, Will Bednar, Ty Madden), the top of the third tier of position players (Jay Allen, Jud Fabian) and the second tier of prep arms (Anthony Solometo, Frank Mozzicato) are what the board is giving the Blue Jays here and what they're rumored to be shopping for.
Past five first-round picks: INF Austin Martin (2020); RHP Alek Manoah (2019); SS Jordan Groshans (2018); SS Logan Warmoth (2017); RHP Nate Pearson (2017)
20. New York Yankees
Where their farm system ranks: 15th
Biggest system strengths: Up-the-middle upside
Biggest system needs: Upper minors hitters
How they typically draft: The Yankees lean to up-the-middle bats with a mix of offensive and defensive value along with pitchers who either have big raw stuff or subtle characteristics that juice their whiff rates.
Best fits: They haven't taken a prep pitcher high in a while, but they could take the plunge this year. Leaning more on their tendencies, the second-third tier of bats (Will Taylor, Trey Sweeney) and the middle first-round type of college arms (Gunnar Hoglund, Will Bednar, Ty Madden)) seem to be the most likely fits here.
Past five first-round picks: C Austin Wells (2020); SS Anthony Volpe (2019); LHP T.J. Sikkema (2019); C Anthony Seigler (2018); RHP Clarke Schmidt (2017)
21. Chicago Cubs
Where their farm system ranks: 22nd
Biggest system strengths: Upside prospects
Biggest system needs: Starting pitchers
How they typically draft: There's been a subtle shift in the past year or so in trades and the draft from safer college types to embracing variance and hunting for upside.
Best fits: Jud Fabian is definitely the best upside in this region, with Bubba Chandler, Ty Madden and Andrew Painter all fitting the bill.
Past five first-round picks: SS Ed Howard (2020); RHP Ryan Jensen (2019); SS Nico Hoerner (2018); LHP Brendon Little (2017); RHP Alex Lange (2017)
22. Chicago White Sox
Where their farm system ranks: 14th
Biggest system strengths: Power pitchers
Biggest system needs: Upper minors depth
How they typically draft: When picking high, the White Sox leaned hard toward safer college picks, mostly position players, then looking for upside at some later picks. Picking later this year might help push them to shift their strategy a bit.
Best fits: Colson Montgomery, a high-upside prep hitter, is the most often rumored name here, along with Max Muncy, another of that sort.
Past five first-round picks: LHP Garrett Crochet (2020); 1B Andrew Vaughn (2019); SS Nick Madrigal (2018); 3B Jake Burger (2017); C Zach Collins (2016)
23. Cleveland Indians
Where their farm system ranks: Ninth
Biggest system strengths: Quality depth
Biggest system needs: Center fielders
How they typically draft: Cleveland is the foremost model-focused team in the draft, leaning on prep players with long track records who are younger than average and mixing in polished college prospects.
Best fits: Tyler Black, Connor Norby and Trey Sweeney fit the polished college performer label, as would the leftovers of the second tier of college pitching. Carson Williams and Josh Baez are among the prep hitters who fit Cleveland's type.
Past five first-round picks: SS Carson Tucker (2020); RHP Daniel Espino (2019); C Bo Naylor (2018); RHP Ethan Hankins (2018); RHP Lenny Torres (2018)
24. Atlanta Braves
Where their farm system ranks: 13th
Biggest system strengths: Up-the-middle hitters
Biggest system needs: True starting pitching
How they typically draft: Under Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves have leaned heavily on cut-rate bonuses up top to save money to create depth later in the draft, along with up-the-middle college hitters at high picks.
Best fits: Spencer Schwellenbach fits the bill both as a pitcher and hitter and has been heavily rumored here. The Trey Sweeney/Connor Norby/Tyler Black college infielder group also fits the bill, as does any of the second tier college arms (Will Bednar, Michael McGreevy, Jordan Wicks) who make it here.
Past five first-round picks: LHP Jared Shuster (2020); C Shea Langeliers (2019); SS Braden Shewmake (2019); RHP Carter Stewart (2018); RHP Kyle Wright (2017)
25. Oakland Athletics
Where their farm system ranks: 26th
Biggest system strengths: Young, upside hitters
Biggest system needs: Quality depth
How they typically draft: The A's sunk most of their draft capital into taking prep hitter Tyler Soderstrom last year, to great results so far, with safer college players the rest of the way. They tend to lean toward upside on earlier picks to try to find a player who will be good enough that they couldn't afford him on the free-agent market.
Best fits: They've been tied mostly to prep hitters at this pick, with Tyler Whitaker, Lonnie White Jr. and Joe Mack among the most often mentioned. Upside can mean a lot of different things, but prep hitter is often the most advantageous kind.
Past five first-round picks: C Tyler Soderstrom (2020); SS Logan Davidson (2019); OF Kyler Murray (2018); OF Austin Beck (2017); SS Kevin Merrell (2017)
26. Minnesota Twins
Where their farm system ranks: Fifth
Biggest system strengths: Power hitters
Biggest system needs: Infielders
How they typically draft: Minnesota tends to lean heavily on power bats and arms, as those are the most valuable raw tools in the sport, and the Twins trust their development group to fill out the player's game.
Best fits: Tyler Whitaker, Lonnie White Jr., Joe Mack, Josh Baez and Wes Kath are the intriguing upside prep power bats in this range. Miami C Adrian Del Castillo could have dormant power the Twins could tease out, while likely relievers Ryan Cusick and Sam Bachman and two-way talent Spencer Schwellenbach bring the power on the mound.
Past five first-round picks: 1B Aaron Sabato (2020); SS Keoni Cavaco (2019); OF Matt Wallner (2019); OF Trevor Larnach (2018); SS Royce Lewis (2017)
27. San Diego Padres
Where their farm system ranks: Seventh
Biggest system strengths: Upside prospects
Biggest system needs: Infielders
How they typically draft: GM A.J. Preller and his scouts tend to lean toward what their eyes tell them and upside, with an expectation for bulldog-mentality lefties.
Best fits: There are three good prep lefties rumored with the Padres (Anthony Solometo, Frank Mozzicato, Josh Hartle), along with a typically long list of prep hitters Preller has seen this spring.
Past five first-round picks: OF Robert Hassell (2020); SS CJ Abrams (2019); LHP Ryan Weathers (2018); SS Xavier Edwards (2018); LHP MacKenzie Gore (2017)
28. Tampa Bay Rays
Where their farm system ranks: First
Biggest system strengths: Incredible depth
Biggest system needs: Shrug emoji
How they typically draft: The Rays mix it up well but tend to lean toward upside with their high picks and then select standout tools later.
Best fits: The Rays have been tied to a lot of prep names at their first day picks, with Cooper Kinney, Wes Kath and Jay Allen among prep hitters; Tyler Black, Connor Norby and Trey Sweeney on the college hitter end of things; and Michael McGreevy and Michael Morales on the pitching side.
Past five first-round picks: RHP Nick Bitsko (2020); SS Greg Jones (2019); RHP JJ Goss (2019); RHP Seth Johnson (2019); LHP Matt Liberatore (2018)
29. Los Angeles Dodgers
Where their farm system ranks: 16th
Biggest system strengths: Upside hitters
Biggest system needs: Pure starting pitchers
How they typically draft: The Dodgers have the benefit of one of the best development systems in the game, so they tend to look for qualities that are hard to teach (like power hitters with some feel to hit and power pitchers) and trust their development crew to finish the project.
Best fits: Power pitchers who could use some refinement such as Ryan Cusick, along with hit-first prospects who also have a strong secondary characteristic, including Cooper Kinney, Adrian Del Castillo, Carson Williams and Ethan Wilson.
Past five first-round picks: RHP Bobby Miller (2020); 3B Kody Hoese (2019); 2B Michael Busch (2019); RHP J.T. Ginn (2018); OF Jeren Kendall (2017)
Houston Astros (No first-round pick)
Where their farm system ranks: 28th
Biggest system strengths: Upper minors depth
Biggest system needs: Outfielders
How they typically draft: They've pivoted a bit from being the most progressive team in baseball (that is, leaning hard into analytics) to, while under new GM James Click, diversifying their approach a bit but still targeting spin rates and players with the most upside.
Best fits: Their first pick is 87th overall, so as a wild shot in the dark, prep RHPs Thatcher Hurd and Peter Heubeck, Indiana RHP McCade Brown, Juco LHP Ricky Tiedemann and prep CF Michael Robertson all fit the bill.
Past five first-round picks: C Korey Lee (2019); OF Seth Beer (2018); RHP J.B. Bukauskas (2017); RHP Forrest Whitley (2016); SS Alex Bregman (2015)