Latest Mayo mock has Leiter to Texas

2021 MLB Mock Draft: Jonathan Mayo has his latest mock draft out at MLB Pipeline for the 2021 MLB Draft, which takes place in just ten days. Mayo has the Texas Rangers taking Vanderbilt righthanded pitcher Jack Leiter with the second overall pick.

Leiter and his Vandy teammate Kumar Rocker are generally considered the top two college pitchers in the draft, though Leiter appears to have a slight edge over Rocker from what is being reported. Mayo says that the Rangers “are though to have” Leiter, Dallas Jesuit shortstop Jordan Lawlar, and late rising Wake Forest high school shortstop Kahlil Watson on their list. Presumably that list also includes Marcelo Mayer, the California prep shortstop who Mayo mocks as going to Pittsburgh at #1.

Mayo’s MLB Pipeline colleague Jim Callis did an Inbox column yesterday, in which he noted that there seems to be a consensus top tier of eight players in this draft. Along with Leiter, Rocker, Lawlar, Watson and Mayer, there is Oklahoma high school pitcher Jackson Jobe, Louisville catcher Henry Davis, and prep shortstop Brady House. While boards are going to differ and there are going to be guys among those eight that each team has a little higher or lower than others, the consensus is that the drop-off occurs after those eight. The Rangers pick second, which gives them a lot of options, and while they’ve been primarily linked to Leiter, Mayer, Watson and Lawlar, it wouldn’t be shocking if any of those eight players went at #2.