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Draft  | State Preview  | 5/20/2014

State Snapshots: Southeast

Patrick Ebert     
Photo: Vanderbilt

2014 Perfect Game draft preview content

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



Alabama

Alabama State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Power arms, high school talent
WEAKNESS: High-end college talent
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 3

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Alabama
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Chattahoochee Valley
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Spanish Fort

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Cody Reed, lhp, Ardmore HS, Athens
WILD CARD: Keith Holcombe, of/lhp, Hillcrest HS, Tuscaloosa

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Alabama Connection:
Chris Ellis, rhp, University of Mississippi (attended high school in Birmingham)
Top 2015 Prospect: Mikey White, ss, University of Alabama
Top 2016 Prospect: Keegan Thompson, rhp, Auburn University

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Gregg Olson, rhp, Auburn University (1988, Orioles/1st round, 4th pick)
2009 Draft: Ben Tootle, rhp, Jacksonville State University (Twins/3rd round)
2010 Draft: Todd Cunningham, of, Jacksonville State University (Braves/2nd round)
2011 Draft: Adam Morgan, lhp, University of Alabama (Phillies/3rd round)
2012 Draft: David Dahl, of, Oak Mountain HS, Birmingham (Rockies/1st round, 10th pick)
2013 Draft: Phillip Ervin, of, Samford University (Rockies/1st round, 27th pick)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
18/16
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 5/3
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 7/3

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Spencer Turnbull, rhp, University of Alabama (56)
Cody Reed, lhp, Ardmore HS, Athens (81)
Matt Morgan, c, Dothan HS, Thorsby (96)
Emmanuel Marrero, ss, Alabama State University (236)
Tyler Filliben, ss, Samford University (249)
Grayson Jones, rhp, Shelton State JC (256)
Keith Holcombe, of/lhp, Hillcrest HS, Tuscaloosa (278)
Ben Moore, of/c, University of Alabama (320)
Tripp Martin, 3b, Samford University (424)
Caleb Beech, rhp/3b, Shelton State JC (473)
Kyle Wright, rhp/3b, Buckhorn HS, Huntsville (498)



Kentucky

Kentucky State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Impact college talent
WEAKNESS: High school talent
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 3

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Louisville
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Tates Creek HS, Lexington

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: A.J. Reed, 1b/lhp, University of Kentucky
WILD CARD: Nick Burdi, rhp, University of Louisville

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Kentucky Connection:
Evan Stephens, of, Wake Forest University (attended high school in Lexington)
Top 2015 Prospect: Kyle Funkhouser, rhp, University of Louisville
Top 2016 Prospect: Easton McGee, rhp, Hopkinsville HS, Lexington

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Drew Hall, lhp, Morehead State University (1984, Cubs/1st round, 3rd pick)
2009 Draft: James Paxton, lhp, University of Kentucky (Blue Jays/1st round, 36th pick)
2010 Draft: Thomas Royse, rhp, University of Louisville (White Sox/3rd round)
2011 Draft: Alex Meyer, rhp, University of Kentucky (Nationals/1st round, 23rd pick)
2012 Draft: Matt Koch, rhp, University of Louisville (Mets/3rd round)
2013 Draft: Clinton Hollon, rhp, Woodford County HS, Lexington (Blue Jays/2nd round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
13/13
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 5/3

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Nick Burdi, rhp, University of Louisville (19)
A.J. Reed, 1b/lhp, University of Kentucky (28)
Jared Ruxer, rhp, University of Louisville (168)
Austin Cousino, of, University of Kentucky (178)
Micah Miniard, rhp, Boyle County HS, Danville (268)
Chandler Shepherd, rhp, University of Kentucky (286)
Jeff Gardner, of/c, University of Louisville (480)



Mississippi

Mississippi State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Early round college and high school talent
WEAKNESS: High school depth
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 5

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Mississippi
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Hinds
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: DeSoto Central HS, Southaven

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Justin Steele, lhp, George County HS, Lucedale
WILD CARD: Brandon Woodruff, rhp, Mississippi State

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Mississippi Connection:
Daniel Sweet, of, Polk State (Fla.) JC (attended high school in Jackson)
Top 2015 Prospect: Austin Riley, rhp, DeSoto Central HS, Hernando
Top 2016 Prospect: J.B. Woodman, of, University of Mississippi

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Highest Pick, Draft History:
Will Clark, 1b, Mississippi State University (1985, Giants/first round, 2nd pick)
2009 Draft: Billy Hamilton, ss, Taylorsville HS (Reds/2nd round)
2010 Draft: Drew Pomeranz, lhp, University of Mississippi (Indians/1st round, 5th pick)
2011 Draft: Conner Barron, ss, Sumrall HS (Marlins/3rd round)
2012 Draft: D.J. Davis, of, Stone County HS, Wiggins (Blue Jays/1st round, 17th pick)
2013 Draft: Hunter Renfroe, of, Mississippi State University (Padres/1st round, 13th pick)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
17/17
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 9/5
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 2/1

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Jacob Lindgren, lhp, Mississippi State University (45)
Ti'Quan Forbes, ss, Columbia HS (60)
Justin Steele, lhp, George County HS, Lucedale (68)
Chris Ellis, rhp, University of Mississippi (73)
Bobby Bradley, 1b/3b, Harrison Central HS, Gulfport (94)
Bradley Roney, rhp/3b, University of Southern Mississippi (148)
Blake Anderson, c, West Lauderdale HS, Collinsville (181)
Brandon Woodruff, rhp, Mississippi State University (216)
Josh Laxer, rhp, University of Mississippi (245)
Clay Casey, of, DeSoto Central HS, Southaven (251)
Jonathon Holder, rhp, Mississippi State University (262)
Austin Bousfeld, of, University of Mississippi (349)
Hawtin Buchanan, rhp, University of Mississippi (368)



Tennessee

Tennessee State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Power arms
WEAKNESS: Position players
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 3

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Vanderbilt
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Columbia State
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Christian Brothers HS, Memphis

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Brent Honeywell, rhp, Walters State JC
WILD CARD: Adam Ravenelle, rhp, Vanderbilt University

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Tennessee Connection:
Chris Marconcini, of/1b, Duke University (attended high school in Brentwood)
Top 2015 Prospect: Walker Buehler, rhp, Vanderbilt University
Top 2016 Prospect: Kyle Serrano, rhp, University of Tennessee

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Highest Pick, Draft History:
David Price, lhp, Vanderbilt University (2007, Rays/1st round, 1st pick)
2009 Draft: Mike Minor, lhp, Vanderbilt University (Braves/1st round, 7th pick)
2010 Draft: Bryce Brentz, of, Middle Tennessee State University (Red Sox/1st round, 36th pick)
2011 Draft: Sonny Gray, rhp, Vanderbilt University (Athletics/1st round, 18th pick)
2012 Draft: Sam Selman, lhp, Vanderbilt University (Royals/2nd round)
2013 Draft: Kevin Ziomek, lhp, Vanderbilt University (Pirates/2nd round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
30/28
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 2/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 9/2

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Tyler Beede, rhp, Vanderbilt University (12)
Justus Sheffield, lhp, Tullahoma HS (39)
Adam Ravenelle, rhp, Vanderbilt University (114)
Lane Thomas, of, Bearden HS, Knoxville (130)
Brent Honeywell, rhp, Walters State JC (138)
Jared Miller, lhp, Vanderbilt University (208)
David Hess, rhp/of, Tennessee Tech (238)
Sam McWilliams, rhp, Beech HS, Hendersonville (253)
Zac Curtis, lhp, Middle Tennessee State University (304)
Austin Coley, rhp, Belmont University (379)
Clint Freeman, of/lhp, East Tennessee State University (384)
Vince Conde, ss, Vanderbilt University (433)
Kevin Steen, rhp, Oak Ridge HS (467)
Hunter Tackett, of, Anderson County HS, Heiskell (493)