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Draft  | State Preview | 5/23/2018

State Snapshots: South Central

Photo: Grayson Rodriguez (Perfect Game)

 


Perfect Game 2018 MLB Draft Preview Index

South Atlantic
– FL, GA, NC, SC
Southeast – AL, KY, MS, TN
South Central – AR, LA, OK, TX
Mountain – AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY
Pacific – AK, CA, HI, OR, WA
Great Plains – IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD
Great Lakes – IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Mid-Atlantic – DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV
New England – CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Canada and Puerto Rico


Arkansas

Best College Team:
Arkansas
Best Junior College Team: Arkansas Baptist
Best High School Team: Har-Ber

Prospect on the Rise: Blaine Knight, rhp, Arkansas
Wild Card: Isaiah Campbell, rhp, Arkansas

Top 2019 Prospect: Dominic Fletcher, of, Arkansas
Top 2020 Prospect: Heston Kjerstad, of, Arkansas

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
Jeff King, 3b, Arkansas (1986, Pirates/1st round, 1st pick)

2013 Draft: Ryne Stanek, rhp, Arkansas (Rays/1st round, 29th pick)
2014 Draft: Brian Anderson, 2b, Arkansas (Marlins/4th round)
2015 Draft: Andrew Benintendi, of, Arkansas (Red Sox/1st round, 7th pick)
2016 Draft: Zach Jackson, rhp, Arkansas (Blue Jays/3rd round)
2017 Draft: Tyler Zuber, rhp, Arkansas State (Royals/6th round)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 12/10
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 0/0
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 0/0

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Blaine Knight, rhp, Arkansas (81)
• Isaiah Campbell, rhp, Arkansas (105)
• Jaden Hill, rhp, Ashdown HS (125)
• Grant Koch, c, Arkansas (166)
• Eric Cole, of, Arkansas (251)
• PJ Hilson, of, Nettleton HS (265)
• Kacey Murphy, lhp, Arkansas (267)
• Tyler Gray, rhp, Central Arkansas (349)
• Wade Beasley, rhp, Horatio HS (369)
• Kaleb Hill, lhp, Watson Chapel HS (374)
• Jax Biggers, ss, Arkansas (457)


Louisiana


Best College Team:
Louisiana State
Best Junior College Team: LSU-Eunice
Best High School Team: John Curtis Christian

Prospect on the Rise:
Nick Lee, rhp, Louisiana
Wild Card: Zach Watson, of, Louisiana State

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Louisiana Connection:
 Travis Swaggerty, of, South Alabama
Top 2019 Prospect: Cade Doughty, ss, Denham Springs HS
Top 2020 Prospect: Daniel Cabrera, of, Louisiana State

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
Danny Goodwin, c, Southern U. (1975, Angels/1st round, 1st pick); Ben McDonald, rhp, Louisiana State (1989, Orioles/1st round, 1st pick)

2013 Draft: Ryan Eades, rhp, Louisiana State (Twins/2nd round)
2014 Draft: Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State (Phillies/1st round, 7th pick)
2015 Draft: Alex Bregman, ss, Louisiana State (Astros/1st round, 2nd pick)
2016 Draft: Jake Fraley, of, Louisiana State (Rays/2nd round)
2017 Draft: Alex Lange, rhp, Louisiana State (Cubs/1st round, 30th pick)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
25/23
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 0/0
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 4/2

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Nick Lee, rhp, Louisiana (85)
• Zach Watson, of, LSU (90)
• Landon Marceaux, rhp, Destrehan HS (98)
• Hogan Harris, lhp, Louisiana (120)
• Christopher Willis, c, Ruston HS (151)
• Zack Hess, rhp, LSU (155)
• Hunter Feduccia, c, LSU (224)
• Basiel Williams, of, Ponchatoula HS (254)
• Grant Witherspoon, of, Tulane (304)
• Antoine Duplantis, of, LSU (315)
• Will Ripoll, rhp, John Curtis Christian HS (413)
• Logan Stoelke, rhp, Louisiana (417)
• Destin Dotson, lhp, Scottlandville HS (463)
• Caleb Gilbert, rhp, LSU (489)


Oklahoma


Best College Team:
 Oklahoma State
Best Junior College Team: Connors State
Best High School Team: Blanchard

Prospect on the Rise: Kyler Murray, of, Oklahoma
Wild Card: Kyler Murray, of, Oklahoma

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Oklahoma Connection: Jackson Goddard, rhp, Kansas
Top 2019 Prospect: Nathan Wiles, rhp, Oklahoma
Top 2020 Prospect: Nate Wohlegemuth, rhp, Owasso HS

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
Mike Moore, rhp, Oral Roberts (1981, Mariners/1st round, 1st pick)

2013 Draft: Jonathan Gray, rhp, Oklahoma (Rockies/1st round, 3rd pick)
2014 Draft: Gavin LaValley, 3b, Carl Albert HS (Reds/4th round)
2015 Draft: Anthony Hermelyn, c, Oklahoma (Astros/4th round)
2016 Draft: Alec Hansen, rhp, Oklahoma (White Sox/2nd round)
2017 Draft: Conner Uselton, of, Southmoore HS (Pirates/2nd round)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 17/14
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 5/3
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 7/4

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Steele Walker, of, Oklahoma (38)
• Kyler Murray, of, Oklahoma (97)
• Jonathan Heasley, rhp, Oklahoma State (124)
• Jake Irvin, rhp, Oklahoma (127)
• Cade Harris, of, Oklahoma (399)
• Austin Hansen, rhp, Oklahoma (323)
• Gunner Halter, ss/rhp, Seminole State (389)


Texas


Best College Team:
 Texas Tech
Best Junior College Team: San Jacinto
Best High School Team: Argyle

Prospect on the Rise: Grayson Rodriguez, rhp, Central Heights HS
Wild Card: Steven Gingery, lhp, Texas Tech

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Texas Connection:
 Steele Walker, of, Oklahoma
Top 2019 Prospect: Bobby Witt Jr., ss, Colleyville Heritage HS
Top 2020 Prospect: Tanner Witt, ss, Episcopal HS

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
David Clyde, lhp, Westchester HS, Houston (1973, Rangers/1st round, 1st pick); Matt Anderson, rhp, Rice (1997, Tigers/1st round, 1st pick)

2013 Draft: Kohl Stewart, rhp, St. Pius X HS, Houston (Twins/1st round, 4th pick)
2014 Draft: Tyler Kolek, rhp, Shepherd HS (Marlins/1st round, 2nd pick)
2015 Draft: Trent Clark, of, Richland HS (Brewers/1st round, 15th pick)
2016 Draft: Forrest Whitley, rhp, Alamo Heights HS (Astros/1st round, 17th pick)
2017 Draft: Shane Baz, rhp, Concordia Lutheran HS (Pirates/1st round, 12th pick)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 71/66
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 19/12
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 24/12

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Grayson Rodriguez, rhp, Central Heights HS (22)
• Jordan Groshans, ss/3b, Magnolia HS (49)
• Adam Kloffenstein, rhp, Magnolia HS (52)
• Jameson Hannah, of, Dallas Baptist (57)
• Aaron Hernandez, rhp, Texas A&M Corpus Christi (77)
• Jonathan Childress, lhp, Forney HS (82)
• Mason Montgomery, lhp, Leander HS (83)
• Durbin Feltman, rhp, TCU (84)
• Steven Gingery, lhp, Texas Tech (86)
• Sean Wymer, rhp, TCU (91)
• Simeon Woods Richardson, rhp, Kempner HS (101)
• Mitchell Kilkenny, rhp, Texas A&M (110)
• Luken Baker, 1b, TCU (113)
• Max Marusak, of, Amarillo HS (119)
• Korey Holland, of, Langham Creek HS (126)
• Ty Madden, rhp, Cypress Ranch HS (134)
• Josh Breaux, c/rhp, McLennan JC (136)
• Nolan Kingham, rhp, Texas (139)
• Grant Little, of, Texas Tech (146)
• Ford Proctor, ss, Rice (149)
• Davis Martin, rhp, Texas Tech (156)
• Braxton Ashcraft, rhp, Robinson HS (183)
• Trey Dillard, rhp, San Jacinto JC (198)
• Mateo Gil, ss/rhp, Timber Creek HS (208)
• Caleb Kilian, rhp, Texas Tech (215)
• Mason Englert, rhp, Forney HS (223)
• Blair Henley, rhp, Texas (236)
• Joseph Menefee, lhp, George Ranch HS (241)
• Hunter Watson, 3b, Pottsboro HS (242)
• Matt Rudis, rhp, Madisonville HS (246)
• Brandon Birdsell, rhp, Willis HS (258)
• Bo Blessie, rhp, Lee HS (260)
• Zack Phillips, lhp, Grayson JC (270)
• Kody Clemens, 2b, Texas (298)
• Jack Neely, rhp, Chruchill HS (334)
• Josh Watson, of, TCU (355)
• Braydon Fisher, rhp, Clear Falls HS (363)
• Tyler McKay, rhp, Howard JC (371)
• Aaron Fletcher, lhp, Houston (377)
• George Janca, ss, Texas A&M (405)
• Devlin Granberg, of, Dallas Baptist (408)
• Trey Cumbie, lhp, Houston (410)
• Matt Willrodt, rhp, Cisco JC (416)
• Jared Janczak, rhp, TCU (443)
• Noah Vaughan, of/1b, UT-Arlington (488)



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