Latest Pipeline mock has Rangers taking Bishop

2019 MLB Draft: Rumors continue to swirl and mock drafts continue to drop, with the latest mock draft coming from Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline, who has the Texas Rangers taking Hunter Bishop, the outfielder from Arizona State, at the #8 spot in 11 days.

Mayo acknowledges that it seems like there is a consensus top six players, and those six players appear quite likely to go, in some order, in the top six, with Cincinnati expected to take TCU pitcher Nick Lodolo at the #7 spot. Bishop is the next guy on the board, and while Mayo acknowledges that Rangers could go with San Jacinto JuCo pitcher Jackson Rutledge or a high school player at #8, he sees Bishop as being the most likely pick.

At this point the question seems to be whether the Rangers will go below slot at #8 in order to go above slot at #41 and/or #50 to get higher-priced, higher-rated talent that falls, or go the safer route. As we wrote in our capsule piece on him, Bishop does fit the Rangers’ profile, being a toolsy outfielder with big time power. The swing-and-miss issues keep him from going higher, and he may take a little longer than you’d expect from a top-10 college pick. Still, there’s an exciting package with Bishop. If they don’t go with an underslot guy who gives them significant pool savings here, and don’t opt for Bishop, Rutledge or Corbin Carroll would seem to be the most likely choice here.