MLB Pipeline Mock Draft Has Josh Jung in the Top 15 of Round One
Josh Jung is a bonafide major league prospect and will get drafted in the first round next month in the MLB draft that is set for June 3rd, 2019. There's not a lot left to prove for Jung, though if he continues the hot streak he's on it will make teams hesitate when their number comes up in the draft.
With the draft so close there are mock drafts popping up all over the place. Not all mock drafts are created equal though. The nature of the MLB draft is so much different than the NFL or NBA. Immediate impact is rare and that talent pool is more broad with high school, College and JUCO talent all drafted at similar rates. It's also 40 rounds and just because your drafted that doesn't mean you have to go or sign.
Jung though is a special talent that could actually force his way to the majors within a calendar year. His mature approach and solid defense make him closer than most to major league ready. It also helps he played with Team USA last summer.
Locally the most popular mock has him listed as the 8th overall selection in the MLB draft to the Texas Rangers. An obvious hole at 3rd base with the void of Adrian Beltre and no obvious candidate to fill the spot the Jung Rangers marriage does make sense.
Jim Callis thinks differently. If you don't know Jim Callis he's an MLB draft guru and has his finger on the pulse of these teams as they prepare for the draft next month.
Callis has the Rangers passing on Jung in his mock draft on MLBPipeline.com and instead taking Hunter Bishop from Arizona State who has cranked 18 home runs this season. Jung doesn't fall too far from 8 though when the Phillies come up on the clock at number 14.
Now, the Phillies took a 3rd baseman in the first round last year out in the top 5 but I'm not going to pretend to know more than Jim Callis. If the Phillies take a 3rd baseman, Jung is the first 3rd baseman in the prospect rankings in most services.
There are also several Big 12 names on the list in front of Jung. Shea Langeliers from Baylor, Nick Lodolo from TCU and Alek Manoah from West Virginia are all off the board in Callis' mock by the time Jung gets drafted.
The real lug nut in the gear here is that Josh Jung will play short stop for the final two months of the season and has found his power stroke in the last two weeks doubling his 2019 home run total. If his SS defense can show more range and he can keep his power up he could force his way into the top 10 pretty quickly. All of which he's doing at a high level right now.