Predicting the Rockies’ 2020 first-round draft selection (3.0)

It’s Draft Day!

Below are some final mock draft predictions. You’ll notice that Tyler Soderstrom is now being linked to the Rockies. Also, check the comments here to get Sage Farron’s updated draft predictions. In the meantime, here’s what the experts are saying in their final predictions.

Tyler Soderstrom

C, Turlock HS (CA), UCLA commit

Kiley McDaniels (ESPN)

“Colorado is hoping for Hancock, Hassell or Veen, but none make it to them in this scenario. They also have a wide mix that includes Cade Cavalli, Kjerstad and others, but Soderstrom is the preference in this scenario. The Soderstrom underslot rumor heated up significantly late Tuesday night.”

Keith Law (The Athletic)

“I expect them to go with a hitter here, more likely high school — Soderstrom, Veen if he got here, Crow-Armstrong on a deal — but with Kjerstad also a possibility.”

Carlos Collazo (Baseball America)

“We’re hearing the Rockies tied to a hitter at No. 9. Their ideal bat might be Veen, but there’s no way to see him falling to this spot. One interesting rumor that has gotten a good amount of heat in recent days is Northern California catcher Tyler Soderstrom. Several different sources believe the Rockies are in heavily on him and many scouts are praising his lefthanded hitting ability. Clubs love his swing and believe he could be an impact bat; whether or not he sticks behind the plate is of secondary concern. Kjerstad is another player they have interest in. Colorado seems to be one of the teams out on UCLA outfielder Garrett Mitchell, and perhaps the elevation concerns when paired with his Type I Diabetes is the reason for that.”

Photo by Peter DaSilva/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Read more about Soderstrom here and here. Watch video here.

Reid Detmers

LHP, Louisville

Jim Callis (MLB.com)

“The first nine players I project to get selected are the consensus best nine players available, so the Rockies simply could take whichever one remains. It’s believed they prefer bats if they have multiple options from that group, though in this scenario they’d get Detmers. They also could go for a high school outfielder such as California’s Pete Crow-Armstrong or Hassell.”

Read more about Detmers here.

Emerson Hancock

RHP, Georgia

Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com)

“No way the Rockies thought the Georgia ace would be around for their pick, but if he is, they won’t let him get past them.”

Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Read more about Hancock here, here, and here.

Heston Kjerstad

OF, Arkansas

Joe Doyle (Lookout Landing)

Alternatives: Reid Detmers, Max Meyer, Emerson Hancock, Cade Cavalli, Tyler Soderstrom

“Kjerstad is a popular name all over draft boards, and Colorado is no different. Putting his power in Coors Field will be awfully fun and he should move awfully quick, possibly debuting as soon as 2022. The Rockies have been attached to several college arms left on the board here too.

If Kjerstad ends up in Baltimore or Pittsburgh, don’t be surprised to see Colorado grab prep bat Tyler Soderstrom here. It’s become a very real possibility with Kjerstad rising.”

Mike Axisa (CBS Sports)

“Believe it or not, the perpetually pitching needy Rockies are said not to love any of the arms likely to be available here in a pitching rich draft class, and they’d likely prefer Hassell or Veen to Kjerstad. Since neither is available, we have Colorado taking the player with the most usable game power in the draft class outside Torkelson. It’s not impossible the Rockies take an arm here. I just think it’s unlikely.”

Read more about Kjerstad here.

Purple Row will be following the draft throughout the day and into the evening, so check back for updates. In the meantime, leave your predictions in the comments.