Experts split on who Reds should pick in latest 2023 MLB mock draft

Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com put their heads together recently and put forth their best guess as to who the Top 10 picks would be in the 2023 MLB Draft.

The Cincinnati Reds, thanks to the first-ever draft lottery, fell outside the Top 5 and have the seventh selection this year. Perfect Game's latest mock draft had the Reds going with 17-year-old shortstop prodigy Arjun Nimmala.

Callis didn't foresee Nimmala going in the Top 10, but Mayo thinks the Marlins might take the young infielder with the 10th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. So, which direction does the MLB.com writing staff think the Reds will go?

Experts split on who Reds should pick in latest 2023 MLB mock draft.

Jim Callis thinks the Cincinnati Reds will go shortstop, but not Arjun Nimmala, Instead, he forecasts the Redlegs to take Grand Canyon University's Jacob Wilson. Wilson ranks seventh on MLB Pipeline's draft board and could be brought up through the Reds farm system rather quickly.

Jonathan Mayo believes Cincinnati will go with a prep pitcher by selecting Noble Meyer out of Jesuit High School in Oregon. Meyer ranks No. 16 according to MLB Pipeline, but is the highest-ranked high school pitcher in the class.

Both selections offer something different. With Wilson, you get a skilled, advanced hitter with the ability to play a premium position. Yes, it's another shortstop, but as Reds great Barry Larkin always likes to point out, the shortstop is generally the best athlete on the field.

Turning the attention to Meyer, you'll see a right-handed pitcher with great mound presence. The 18-year-old is 6-foot-5 with a plus-fastball and above-average slider. Meyer has the ability to be a top-of-the-rotation starter.

These two projections offer contrasting viewpoints. In Wilson you get a college player bat with the ability to make it to the big leagues in two years or less. In Meyer, you're playing the long-game, but the potential is certainly tempting.

Will either player even be on the board when the Cincinnati Reds make their selection at No. 7? Who knows. The one thing we do know, is that LSU outfielder Dylan Crews is going to be off the board. Book it!