2021 MLB Draft: Day 2 open thread

Yesterday, MLB began its annual MLB Draft and for the first time it was held in July as part of the All-Star Game festivities and in another first, it was open to the public. The MLB Draft has come a long way since it was held as a conference call, which happened as recently as 2006.

With the 21st pick of the first round, the Cubs selected Kansas State left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks. The Cubs have nine more picks today and 10 more tomorrow in the 20-round draft. The rest of the draft will conducted as a conference call, but there will be video and analysis on MLB.com as well as regular updates on MLB Network. If you are worried about how long it took to make each pick last night, teams only have one minute to make a pick now.

The second day of the draft starts at 12 noon CT today. Please use this space as an open thread to discuss the picks.

Going into day 2, here are some of the top players available:

Anthony Solomento. LHP Bishop Eustace HS (NJ)

Will Taylor OF Dutch Fork HS (SC)

Bubba Chandler SS/RHP North Oconee HS (GA)

Jaden Hill RHP Louisiana State

Jud Fabian OF Florida

Adrian Del Castillo C U. of Miami

Izaac Pacheco SS Friendswood HS (TX)

Joshua Baez OF Dexter School (MA)

Ethan Wilson OF South Alabama

Peyton Stovall SS Haughton HS (LA)

Wes Kath 3B Desert Mountain HS (AZ)

Matt Mikulski LHP Fordham

James Wood OF IMG Academy (FL)

Many of those players were connected to the Cubs in the first round, especially Taylor, Fabian, Solomento and Pacheco. There’s no guarantee any of them will still be available when the Cubs make the 56th overall pick. Taylor, in particular, is probably not signable with the bonus money the Cubs could offer in the second round. Nor would Chandler, although I’ve not heard him connected to the Cubs at all.

All of these players have flaws, of course, or they wouldn’t still be available. But some of them are going to overcome those flaws and become very good major league ballplayers.

Again, this is an open thread.