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2021 MLB mock draft: Jim Callis has his latest mock draft up for MLB Pipeline, and he has the Texas Rangers going with Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter with the second pick:
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-mock-draft-june-23-2021?t=mlb-draft-coverage
Callis says that the Rangers appear to be focusing on Leiter, California high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer (who the Pittsburgh Pirates are projected to take with the first pick), and North Carolina high school shortstop Kahlil Watson. Callis describes Louisville catcher Henry Davis and Dallas Jesuit shortstop Jordan Lawlar as “on the back burner” for the Rangers.
Leiter would probably be the safest pick at #2, and also the player most likely to contribute right away, as he could potentially be in the majors in 2022 as a polished college arm. Leiter doesn’t necessarily have the ceiling of one of the prep shortstops, though, and his bonus demands are reportedly aggressive, with previous reports indicating he’s trying to drop to Boston by making unrealistic bonus asks to the teams ahead of Boston in the draft order.