Happy MLB draft day! The first round starts tonight, and that means your team could take its next superstar. But because baseball draft prospects are not always household names on draft night, we found current MLB stars who are the best big league comparisons for five top players likely to come off the board early in Sunday's first round.
Sunday at 7 p.m. ET: Watch the 2021 MLB draft on ESPN
Mock draft 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0
Team-by-team draft guide: Fits, needs for all 30 teams
Ranking the top 200 MLB draft prospects
Jack Leiter is the next ... Walker Buehler
Leiter goes to the same school Buehler did (Vanderbilt) and has a similar build, similar delivery, similar physical characteristics, similar approach to pitching and similar arsenal. That doesn't mean he's a slam dunk to have the same developmental path, but all the same pieces are here, and Leiter is more dynamic at the same stage, making him the most likely ace in this draft class.
Mock Draft 3.0 projection: No. 2 to Texas Rangers
Kumar Rocker is the next ... German Marquez
Rocker doesn't have the dynamic bat-missing characteristics to his fastball that Leiter does, but Rocker has a number of positive traits that project him as a No. 2 or 3 starter like Marquez. Rocker's fastball can be effective in certain zone and counts. He has a plus breaking ball and a sturdy frame to go with feel for adjusting and executing, but doesn't necessarily possess the ideal ace components that Leiter/Buehler do.
Mock draft 3.0 projection: No. 7 to Kansas City Royals
Marcelo Mayer is the next ... Corey Seager
Mayer is more advanced than Seager was at the same stage with a loose swing and a more physical frame, but I also don't think he'll get as big as Seager has.
This comp is more to point out that the 6-foot-3-plus shortstop with a lefty stick and real hit/power/fielding ability is rare enough that there aren't a lot of compelling comps to toss out there; Christian Yelich is a little closer to Mayer purely as a hitter at the same stage, but Seager is closer on the whole package.
Mock draft 3.0 projection: No. 1 to Pittsburgh Pirates
Brady House is the next ... Bobby Witt Jr.
OK, Witt isn't a major league star yet, but he's one of the best and most well-known prospects in the minors right now. Witt is a plus defensive shortstop with clean swing mechanics, while House is a good shortstop now with a chance to stay there and be solid, but with a swing that might need some slight tweaks. Aside from that, these two have very similar characteristics: explosive hands, power and exit velo; multiple summers of showcase/tournament performance; and arguably the most upside in their draft class but with some risk on the contact rate.
Mock draft 3.0 projection: No. 3 to Detroit Tigers
Harry Ford is the next ... Will Smith
Ford is tough to find a comp for because his build -- yoga instructor who is also a power lifter -- doesn't really exist in baseball. But the dynamic catcher who can hit and stick behind the plate while standing under 6 feet tall points toward the Dodgers backstop. Both entered the draft process with plus foot speed, plus bat speed and standout movement behind the plate. Ford's swing, like House, also needs some fine-tuning, but Smith also didn't hit for much in-game power until the Dodgers made some changes with his swing in the minors.
Mock draft 3.0 projection: No. 16 to Miami Marlins