You know you do it. I know you do it. Everyone does it. A mock draft – what else would I be talking about? I wondered how my mock draft compared to our actual draft. I only look at one round. After pick two, my mock draft is usually way off. Spoiler alert – I had a great year this year. I got the first two picks right. Oh, and I got my picks right, too. Why yes, I do stock picks, too.
People have gotten rich doing the opposite of what I recommend.
| Draft Pick Name | Pick Owner | Player | Position | My Prediction – Position | My Prediction – Player |
| 2024 Williamsport #1 | Williamsport | De La Cruz, Elly | SS/3B | SS | De La Cruz, Elly |
| 2024 Milwaukee #1 | Milwaukee | Bibee, Tanner | SP | SP | Bibee, Tanner |
| 2024 DC #1 | DC | McLain, Matt | 2B/SS | SP | Elder, Bryce |
| 2024 Missouri #1 | Missouri | Lewis, Royce | SS/3B | 1B (SS) | Steer, Spencer |
| 2024 Crooked River #1 | Crooked River | Steer, Spencer | 1B/2B/3B/OF | 3B (2B/SS) | Westburg, Jordan |
| 2024 Dilwyn #1 | Dilwyn | Casas, Triston | 1B | SS (OF/1B) | Volpe, Anthony |
| 2024 Chesapeake #1 | Chesapeake | Diaz, Yainer | C/1B | C (OF) | Alvarez, Francisco |
| 2024 Outer Banks #1 | Kerry | Westburg, Jordan | 2B/3B | 3B | Westburg, Jordan |
| 2024 Philadelphia #1 | Philadelphia | Jung, Josh | 3B | 1B (SS) | Schanuel, Nolan |
| 2024 New Mexico #1 | Milwaukee | Elder, Bryce | SP | SP | Perez, Eury |
| 2024 Karnak #1 | Karnak | Rodriguez, Grayson | SP | OF (SP) | Carter, Evan |
| 2024 Mile High City #1 | Mile High City | Ragans, Cole | SP | 3B (OF) | Jung, Josh |
| 2024 Durham #1 | Outer Banks | Sanchez, Cristopher | SP | SP | Williams, Gavin |
| 2024 Mars #1 | Mars | Alvarez, Francisco | C | OF (SP/2B) | Jones, Nolan |
| 2024 West Chester #1 | West Chester | Brennan, Will | OF | 2B (OF) | Julien, Eduard |
| 2024 Troy #1 | Mile High City | Volpe, Anthony | SS | SS | Tovar, Ezequiel |
| 2024 Kerry #1 | Kerry | Winn, Masyn | SS | SS | Wynn, Masyn |
| 2024 Ephrata #1 | Ephrata | Neto, Zach | SS | OF (1B) | Walker, Jordan |
| 2024 St. John #1 | St. John | Tovar, Ezequiel | SS | OF (3B) | Wallner, Matt |
| 2024 North Georgia #1 | North Georgia | Turang, Brice | 2B/SS | SS (OF) | Lewis, Royce |
| 2024 Hooterville #1 | Hooterville | Woo, Bryan | SP | SP (OF/1B) | Rodriguez, Grayson |
| 2024 Muncy #1 | Muncy | O’Hoppe, Logan | C | OF (C) | Diaz, Yander |
| 2024 Sagamore #1 | Kerry | Bailey, Patrick | C | C | Bailey, Patrick |
| 2024 Sumner County #1 | DC | Moreno, Gabriel | C | C (1B/3B) | Moreno, Gabriel |
Its true, I don’t get much right in my mock drafts. Still, it is a useful exercise. I traded up twice to get my guy before they were scooped up by someone else. I checked with Tom. He does a mock draft, too. His room looks like this:
High tech. High priced consultants. Organized. The Thunderchickens are a dynasty in the making. Meanwhile, a shot of my draft room –
I’m the short guy in the back.
Lessons learned
I wish I had some deep learnings that I could use to help next year. I had multiple conversations with my neighbor about our potential first picks. He needed a big bat and/or a shortstop. With Bohm at third, I figured that was the one position he wouldn’t draft. Wrong again. He took Jung. Did I mention I at least predicted my picks correctly?
Looking at the results, my ability to pick the correct player was, uh, somewhat limited. I was better at identifying positions of need. But seriously, how could I have thought Grayson Rodriguez would be on the board until pick 22? Or Yander Diaz until 23? And why would I take Bailey before Diaz? (On that note, I took Winn over Tovar – so you should expect Tovar to make the Hall of Fame)
I spoke to my friend Captain Obvious. He confirmed what we all knew to be true. There are runs on positions during the draft. Four starting pitchers in a row from pick 10-13, Picks 16-20 all went to shortstops. (Shortstops, red hot shortstops, get your shortstops…) The last three picks of the round went to backstops. I guess we all have FOMO (fear of missing out).
I think I’ll start working on my mock for next year now. My dog offered to help. I turned him down.
He doesn’t look good in a toga.
“The Thunderchickens are a dynasty in the making.”
The Thunderchickens just lost six in a row.
Trying to make me jealous? Well, it’s working.