Goldstein: Mayer, Lawlar favorites to go 1:1

MLB Draft Rumors: Kevin Goldstein handicaps the candidates to go first overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, and a pair of prep shortstop are at the top of the list.

Marcelo Mayer, a shortstop out of California, and Dallas Jesuit’s own Jordan Lawlar are both listed at 3:1 to go first overall in the draft. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the first overall pick, and while the initial scuttlebutt was that one of the Vanderbilt pitchers, either Jack Leiter or Kumar Rocker, would be the likely pick, Goldstein sees both of them as being less likely that Lawlar or Mayer at this point.

The Rangers pick second, and regardless of who the Pirates select, Texas will have a quality crop of players to pick from. I am hoping that the Rangers don’t select Marcelo Mayer, mainly because I’m going to be spelling his name “Meyer” and having to go back and fix it repeatedly.

While the MLB draft has historically been held in early June — which means that we’d be just a week or two away at this point from the Rangers making their selection — the draft has been moved to early July this year, with the first round taking place on July 11, 2021.