The 2022 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft began Sunday night, with a total of 80 selections made on the first night. That includes the Baltimore Orioles making their third No. 1 pick in franchise history, selecting Oklahoma high school outfielder Jackson Holliday, son of longtime major league outfielder Matt Holliday. You can find every pick from Sunday night in our draft tracker.
The draft will resume with Round 3 beginning Monday afternoon. But first, let’s take a look back at an unforgettable opening night by giving grades to each first-round pick, plus the Dodgers’ first selection. As always, keep in mind that this is more art than science; what looks like a questionable pick on draft night can easily turn into a great pick for a team in time. It is, in a sense, a snapshot of that moment in time and nothing more.
Let’s move on to the grades.
1. Orioles: Jackson Holiday, SS, Stillwater HS (OK)
Holiday, ranked No. 3 by CBS Sports before the draft, is a defensible top pick. He increased his stock this summer, showing improved physicality and a better plan at the plate, allowing him to use the entire field more often. The upside here is a lefty shortstop with a plus bat. This will play. Degree: A
2. Diamondbacks: Drew Jones, CF, Wesleyan HS (GA)
Jones entered the summer ranked by CBS Sports as the No. 1 prospect in the class. He was the preferred choice of industry sources who also spoke to CBS Sports. Therefore, the Diamondbacks should be content to draft him at No. 2. A fully updated Jones could feature five-plus tools or better, including a good glove in center field. Degree: A
3. Rangers: Kumar Rocker, RHP, unattached
One of the big surprises of the first round. Rocker’s stock has been hard to pin down after a year that included shoulder surgery and a Frontier League proof-of-life tour. There’s no evidence of Rocker’s past success at Vanderbilt, but clubs have expressed reservations about his long-term prospects because of his lack of change and the negative impact his performance is having on his command and, potentially, his arm health. The Rangers Rocker’s reunion with his former Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter is insane. Grade: C
Termar Johnson finished fourth overall in Pittsburgh. Getty Images
4. Pirates: Termar Johnson, 2B, Mays HS (Georgia)
Johnson would be a defensible No. 1 pick. A veteran scout told CBS Sports in the spring that he threw an 80 — or the highest possible grade — on his hit tool. Keep in mind that he has average or better raw power as well as one of the highest baseball IQs in the class, and he’s a very interesting prospect. Degree: A
5. Nationals: Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy (Florida)
Green is one of the top risk-reward prospects in the class. He has incredibly strong tools, including his power potential and speed, but teams have reservations about his hitting tool. If he can contain his tendency to spin and miss, he could develop into a star-level player. Some scouts have cautioned that the floor is lower than you’d expect from a top-5 player with that kind of explosiveness. Degree: B
6. Marlins: Jacob Berry, 1B/DH, LSU
This is puzzling. Berry is a limited linebacker who was compared by one scout to Seth Beer, the 28th pick in the 2018 draft. He performed well in his one year at LSU, increasing his stock, but evaluators cautioned that his basic speed data on the way out suggest there isn’t as much power potential here as you might think. Considering some of the other players on the board, we have no choice but to give the Marlins a low grade. Degree: D
7. Cubs: Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma
Horton had a phenomenal June for the Sooners, which sent his stock soaring after our top 30 rankings were released. That’s what vacations are sometimes. He has a big impact, though none of the scouts or evaluators who spoke to CBS Sports were inclined to stick with a rotation. For the Cubs to take him so early, then, is a big risk, albeit one that could end up looking brilliant. Grade: C
8. Twins: Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
We have a simple rule. If you take a No. 2 player at the No. 8 pick, then you get A. Lee is a good hitter with strong instincts; he may have to retire from shortstop as a pro, and there are some questions about the long-term health of his knee and back. Still, he looked like a lock to go in the top five all summer, making this one of the best picks in the draft. Degree: A
9. Royals: Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech
Cross is a perfect corner outfield prospect who has trended in the right direction this season, improving his walk and strikeout rates and increasing his power production. He played center field this spring but is expected to end up in the corner. Degree: B
10. Rockies: Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga
The third of three surprise righties taken in the top 10. Hughes is a big, powerful righty who will need to work on his changeup to stick in the rotation. Scouts cautioned that there is more relief risk here than is ideal for a top-10 pick.Grade: C
The Mets took Kevin Parada with their first of two picks in the first round. Getty Images
11. Mets: Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
The expectation all summer was that Parade would be in the top five. The Mets should be happy to bring him here. His ball tracking data at Georgia Tech was excellent and hinted at average potential. Meanwhile, he’s improved his defense enough to figure out how to stay behind the plate. This combination deserves an initial screening. Degree: A
12. Tigers: Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech
Jung has excellent feel for both contact and the strike zone. The questions evaluators had about his game revolved around his power (he has plus raw power, though he rarely touches it) and his defense, which is expected to be subpar even in the keystone. Still, he’s a pretty solid and proven collegiate hitter who can reasonably be expected to play a position other than first base. That’s solid. Degree: B
13. Angels: Zach Neto, SS, Campbell
If the draft had gone a little differently, Neto could have ended up with a top 10 pick. He’s a well-rounded player who crushed Big South competition throughout the spring and summer, hitting almost as many home runs as and strike outs. Neto is also considered an instinctive player, a trait that could help him stick at shortstop for a long time. Degree: B
14. Mets: Jett Williams, SS, Rockwall-Heath HS (Texas)
The Mets’ interest in Williams was a poorly kept secret before the draft. However, they got their man with their second pick of the night. Williams is small but strong; he’s also quite athletic and has what some scouts project as a 70-hit tool. This prediction may turn out to be optimistic, but it’s worth a gamble. Degree: B
15. Hitter: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford HS (GA)
Lesko had to undergo Tommy John surgery earlier this summer, otherwise he could have gone several times higher. He has the best changeup in the class and a fastball with good spin. Lesko’s breaking ball lights up Trackman’s output, but scouts question whether he’ll play effectively given his arm shape. The Padres will be happy to find out. Degree: B
16. Guards: Chase DeLaughter, OF, James Madison
DeLauter entered the spring ranked by CBS Sports as the No. 2 prospect in the class. He struggled out of the gate against the only high-quality competition he faced this season, then later broke his leg. He has hitting experience everywhere, including the Cape Cod League, but some scouts worried he was a product of a weak conference. It doesn’t help that he has unusual swing mechanics that see him kick off his back foot. Custodians, a data-obsessed organization, will take the risk. Degree: B
The Phillies swept Justin Crawford, Carl’s son, in the first round. Getty Images
17. Phillies: Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman HS (Nevada)
Crawford has been rumored as a potential top-10 pick all summer. Has good contact feel and top speed. Ultimately, his ceiling will depend on how much of his raw power he can tap into as he matures. Degree: B
18. Redskins: Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola College (FL)
Absolutely the best first round pick. Collier is the dream of the mock squad as he performed well against junior college competition as a 17-year-old third baseman. He would have been a defensible top 5 pick and would have been a great fit in the back end of the top 10. Getting him here at pick 18 is a slam dunk. Degree: A
19. Track and field: Andrew Susak, C, Arizona
Susac likes to swing the bat and lift the ball, the latter of which allows him to display good power ratings. Unfortunately, he could stand to walk more often and strike out less often, as he had a strikeout-to-walk ratio north of 2.20. Susac has a big arm, but would benefit from the implementation of the automated ball striking system. Degree: B
20. Braves: Owen Murphy, RHP, Riverside-Brookfield HS (Illinois)
Murphy is an intriguing two-way player whose upside landed him in CBS Sports’ top 30. The Braves have listed him as a right-hander, but will also give him a chance as a two-way player. He shows some Jack Leiter-like qualities in his hitting as well as a lively fastball. Murphy really needs to improve his breaking ball and changeup if he wants to stick in a rotation, but he has plenty of time to figure that out. Degree: B
21. Mariners: Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny HS (PA)
Young is a well-rounded prep shortstop who lacks both a carry tool and an obvious downside. One scout predicted to CBS Sports in the spring that he would be a top-10 pick if he went to college…
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