MLB Pipeline posted an updated mock draft on Thursday and they have the Pittsburgh Pirates going for a high school shortstop with the 18th overall pick in the draft. Gunnar Henderson from Morgan Academy in Selma, Alabama isn’t a name we have mentioned yet this year while covering 25 of the top players in this draft class. He hasn’t been rated this high until just recently, but Pipeline believes that he could be a fit for the Pirates. Day one of the draft is just 24 days away.
Henderson was just rated 33rd by Pipeline in their most recent top 100 draft prospects update (about a week ago). There is a lot of buzz around him now, so he could be moving into the middle of the first round.
The scouting report on Henderson says that he has at least average tools across the board, rating slightly above average in hitting and running, while his arm gets a 60 grade. He’s 6’3″, 195 pounds and doesn’t turn 18 until a month after day one of the draft. Henderson is considered a very athletic player and he’s also a talented basketball player, but baseball is his future. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, though Pipeline points out that he could end up being an above average third baseman once he fills out more. Henderson has a commit to Auburn. That shouldn’t come into play if he’s drafted 18th overall.
Here are some videos, starting with one from Baseball Factory that has more fielding practice than you’ll usually find, which is nice in this case when you’re talking about an athletic shortstop
This one is slightly dated, especially since he’s a late riser, but here’s some game action from Perfect Game Baseball
More game action from 2080 Baseball
UPDATE: Baseball America updated their mock draft. I would have waited to post it tomorrow on its own, but they picked the same player as their last update seven days ago. Clemson shortstop Logan Davidson was covered here during one of our earlier updates. He’s an above average defender, with speed and some power, but there are some strikeout issues and concerns about his past performances in wood bat leagues. He is hitting .307/.422/.615 through 49 games.
