ESPN Insider's Keith Law released his "final" mock draft in advance of Monday night's 2011 MLB Draft. Law has stuck with Gerrit Cole at number one to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Anthony Rendon number two to the Seattle Mariners. According to Law he's got final in quotation marks because he plans on adjusting the board as more information about signability becomes available during the day. Baseball finds itself in a unique position for signability issues because high school players have the option of still going to college. Additionally, certain agents are marked as tough negotiations and that can cause some of their players to drop.
Law's "final" mock draft has the Oakland Athletics selecting University of Connecticut outfielder George Springer. Law thinks the A's are also interested in 3B Cory Spangenberg, RHP Sonny Gray, SS Levi Michael and possibly LHP Tyler Anderson. In summarizing Springer, Law said:
If a hitting coach can clean him up, he has the potential to hit in the middle of a major-league lineup with plus defense in right field, but that's a substantial and very open question.
Law's "final" mock draft has the San Francisco Giants selecting East Bay native Robert Stephenson, a RHP out of Alhambra HS in Martinez. Law thinks the Giants are also interested in Joe Ross but think Stephenson will sign for less. In summarizing Stephenson, Law said:
He's raw, pushing him below some other more advanced prep arms in the class, but has top-10 upside with the potential to pitch with a front-line fastball and two average or better off-speed pitches.