Mock Draft: Phillies could take Florida lefty No. 1

The first four selections in this first-round projection match those from my mock Draft two weeks ago. Those picks aren’t locked in, however.

With less than a week to go before the 2016 MLB Draft, there’s still time for change as teams work to finalize their boards and explore the financial parameters of signing players. Many college prospects will participate in NCAA regional tournaments this weekend, and some prominent high schoolers are still active in their playoffs as well.

The three teams at the top of the Draft — the Phillies, Reds and Braves — have the three largest bonus pools for the first 10 rounds and figure to save $2 million or more on the bonus for their first-rounders versus those assigned pick values. All of them have choices soon after the first round (Cincinnati at Nos. 35 and 43, Atlanta at Nos. 40 and 44, Philadelphia at No. 42) and will be in position to spend handsomely on any talented players who slide.

First-round prospects with signability questions include California high school right-hander Matt Manning, Kansas prep lefty Joey Wentz and Florida high school third baseman Drew Mendoza.

The Draft runs June 9-11, with Day One broadcast coverage on MLB Network and MLB.com, and Days Two and Three on MLB.com. Scouting reports for all players mentioned below can be found at MLBPipeline.com’s Prospect Watch:

1. Phillies: A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida

Puk’s most recent outing was one of this best, as he displayed a mid-90s fastball, wipeout slider and atypical command at the Southeastern Conference tournament last Wednesday in front of a huge audience of scouts. That performance reinforced the notion that Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Atlanta all would take him with their first selection. The Phillies also have been out in force to see California high school outfielder Mickey Moniak, and Mercer outfielder Kyle Lewis looks like their third option.

2. Reds: Nick Senzel, 3B, Tennessee

Unless Philadelphia passes on Puk, Cincinnati will take Senzel. Puerto Rico shortstop Delvin Perez and Lewis also are in the running.

Video: Draft Report: Nick Senzel, college third baseman

3. Braves: Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

High school arms are the strength of this Draft, and Atlanta is enamored of several, particularly Kansas right-hander Riley Pint. He might have the highest ceiling of any player available but also comes with some risk, so the Braves are more inclined to go for a college bat here (Senzel or Lewis) and spend on a prep pitcher at 40 or 44.

4. Rockies: Mickey Moniak, OF, La Costa Canyon HS (Carlsbad, Calif.)

Colorado also could pick Pint or New Jersey high school left-hander Jason Groome, MLBPipeline’s top-rated prospect. The Rockies are believed to want a college arm, though there isn’t one besides Puk who the industry consensus believes belongs this high in the draft. They likely will take an outfielder, either Moniak or Lewis.

5. Brewers: Delvin Perez, SS, International Baseball Academy (Ceiba, P.R.)

Milwaukee has worked out most of the toolsiest first-round candidates and has been linked for a long time to Perez. The Brewers also could be the first team to dip into the deep high school pitching pool with Pint or Groome.

6. Athletics: Jason Groome, LHP, Barnegat (N.J.) HS

Oakland is all over four players: Groome, Lewis, Moniak and Senzel. The order is unclear, but only Groome would be available in this scenario.

7. Marlins: Braxton Garrett, LHP, Florence (Ala.) HS

Garrett has the highest floor among the prep pitchers, not to mention a lofty ceiling, and could be a better bet for long-term success as a starter than Puk or Groome. Pint and Perez also would be in play if they’re still on the board.

8. Padres: Riley Pint, RHP, St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Overland Park, Kan.)

Less risk averse than other clubs, San Diego strongly will consider all of the top prep arms, and Pint could be their preference if all of them were available. Perez is another possibility. The Padres are on Stanford right-hander Cal Quantrill, a top 10 talent who missed this season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and probably will have to take him here if they want him because it’s increasingly unlikely that he gets to them at Nos. 24 or 25.

9. Tigers: Matt Manning, RHP, Sheldon HS (Sacramento, Calif.)

There’s no way Pint gets past Detroit. The consolation prize could be Manning, another flamethrowing high school right-hander. Don’t rule out Mississippi State’s Dakota Hudson, the consensus second-best college pitcher, or two more college righties with as much first-round helium as anyone …

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