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2011 MLB Mock Draft Discusses Josh Bell's Situation The 2011 MLB Draft is chock-full of talented arms, but there are some pretty good bats to be found at the high school level. For example, outfielder Bubba Starling has drawn comparisons to Josh Hamilton, and shortstop Francisco Alcindor is a defensive wiz that could go as high as the top five. And then there's Josh Bell, who is one of the best pure hitters in the draft. A switch-hitting outfielder, Bell hit .584 in his senior season at Jesuit Prep School in Texas, with 13 home runs, 50 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Pretty good numbers, to say the least. On Monday, Bell is all but assured to be a first-round selection, but whoever drafts him might be wasting their time. The Dallas Morning News reported over the weekend that Bell told the MLB that he plans to follow through on his commitment to the University of Texas. Not unusual, perhaps, but here's the kicker: Bell made this decision despite having Scott Boras as an adviser. Clearly, Boras told him he'd be worth more after a season or two in college. MUST READ: The 50 Greatest Walk-Off Home Runs in Baseball History
Then again, perhaps Boras will be proved wrong. First-rounders are generally worth a signing bonus of a couple million dollars, with the high-water mark being the $6.25 given to No. 1 overall pick Bryce Harper last year. Basically, Bell can get paid if he wants. It's a simple question of how much it will take to lure him away from the Longhorns. And in fact, that he says he is committed to the Longhorns can only help him. He has negotiating leverage. Well played, Boras. 1. Pittsburgh Pirates: Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA 2. Seattle Mariners: Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice 3. Arizona Diamondbacks: Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia 4. Baltimore Orioles: Bubba Starling, OF, HS 5. Kansas City Royals: Dylan Bundy, RHP, HS 6. Washington Nationals: Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA 7. Arizona Diamondbacks (Comp for Barrett Loux - unsigned): Francisco Lindor, SS, HS 8. Cleveland Indians: Alex Meyer, RHP, Kentucky 9 .Chicago Cubs: Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Texas 10. San Diego Padres (Comp for Karsten Whitson - unsigned): Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt 11. Houston Astros: Archie Bradley, RHP, HS 12. Milwaukee Brewers: George Springer, OF, HS 13. New York Mets: Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgia Tech 14. Florida Marlins: Matt Barnes, RHP, UConn 15. Milwaukee Brewers (Comp for Dylan Covey - unsigned): Javier Baez, SS, HS 16. Los Angeles Dodgers: Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, HS 17. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Jose Fernandez, RHP, HS 18. Oakland Athletics: Mikie Mahtook, OF, LSU 19. Boston Red Sox (Comp for V. Martinez - DET): Blake Swihart, C, HS 20. Colorado Rockies: Dillon Howard, RHP, HS 21. Toronto Blue Jays: Joshua Bell, OF, HS 22. St. Louis Cardinals: Daniel Norris, LHP, HS 23. Washington Nationals (Comp for Adam Dunn - CWS): Tyler Anderson, LHP, Oregon 24. Tampa Bay Rays (Comp for Carl Crawford - BOS): Kolten Wong, 2B, Hawaii 25. San Diego Padres: Henry Owens, LHP, HS 26. Boston Red Sox (Comp for Adrian Beltre - TEX): Anthony Meo, RHP, Coastal Carolina 27. Cincinnati Reds: Levi Michael, SS, North Carolina 28. Atlanta Braves: Joe Ross, RHP, HS 29. San Francisco Giants: Brian Goodwin, OF, Miami Dade 30. Minnesota Twins: Jackie Bradley, OF, HS 31. Tampa Bay Rays (Comp for R. Soriano - NYY): Brandon Nimmo, OF, HS 32. Tampa Bay Rays: Robert Stephenson, RHP, HS 33. Texas Rangers (Comp for Cliff Lee - PHI): C.J. Cron, 1B, Utah
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