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MLB draft Round 1 recap: Cardinals make a few nice gambles

With the first round, compensation picks and competitive balance round complete, here's a look at the best picks and biggest reaches from the first 41 picks of the 2016 MLB draft.

Best picks

5. Corey Ray, OF
Louisville
Big Board rank: 1

In my view, Ray was the best prospect in this muddled draft class, a power/speed guy who can hit, takes quality at-bats and should end up as an adequate left fielder. There were concerns about his defense this year, as he has played center and left, neither of them very well, but he's a superb athlete with outstanding makeup and aptitude, and the offensive profile is really sound. Several scouts compared him to Ray Lankford this spring, which would be a superb outcome for the fifth overall pick, and there's always the chance he becomes a better defensive outfielder with the help of professional coaching.


12. Jason Groome, LHP
Barnegat (New Jersey) HS
Big Board rank: 2

This was the pick of the night, and about as good a sign as Red Sox fans can get on the direction of the amateur scouting department under new president Dave Dombrowski.