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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)

 
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