Tag: MLB Draft

Druw Jones’ contract with the Diamondbacks set a high school record

Druw Jones’ reported contract sets a record for MLB draft picks out of high school, and Jackson Holliday’s bonus might eclipse it.

The hype for outfielder Druw Jones has existed for essentially his entire life as the son of former MLB All-Star Andruw Jones. He lived up to this in his high school career, dominating the prep diamond, and is now getting paid in anticipation for what’s to come.

Jones was selected second overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2022 MLB draft. The two sides almost immediately reached an agreement, with Jones signing a deal with an $8,189,400 bonus, according to MLB.com.

It breaks the previous high school record of $7.7 million that was set in 2019 by another son of a former major league player, Bobby Witt Jr., who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals.

Jones’ contract is the full slot value for the No. 2 pick, according to MLB’s Steve Gilbert.

He might not hold the record for long. The Associated Press reported that the No. 1 pick, Jackson Holliday, also has a deal in place for more than $8 million. If it is for full slot value, the signing bonus would be $8.84 million.

There are only three other players who have received bonuses of at least $8 million, according to CBS Sports. Spencer Torkelson received a record $8.4 million from the Detroit Tigers in 2020, while Adley Rutschman and Gerrit Cole also reached that plateau in 2019 and 2011, respectively.

Where each Longhorn landed in the 2022 MLB Draft

Texas baseball has had at least one player selected in every single MLB Draft.

The 2022 Major League Baseball Draft came to a conclusion on Tuesday afternoon.

Texas baseball was well represented through the 20 rounds on the draft. Eight Longhorns were selected this year, Gold Spikes Award Winner Ivan Melendez was the first off the board in the second round.

Four members of the Texas 2022 signing class heard their named called over the past three days. Cutter Coffey, Henry Bolte, Brenner Cox and Wyatt Cheney will likely turn pro over suiting up in the Burnt Orange.

Texas’ eight draft picks ranked fourth among college programs behind a few Big 12 and SEC schools.

David Pierce’s roster is going to have a much different look next season. Pitcher Lucas Gordon and outfielder Dylan Campbell return as key contributors from the 2022 team. Texas has already landed a few transfers to replace the slew of players headed out the door.

Here is where all eight Longhorns landed in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Alabama pitcher Garrett McMillan selected in Round 19 by Twins

Alabama pitcher Garrett McMillan was selected in the 19th round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins.

Alabama pitcher Garrett McMillan saw several of his teammates’ names get called before hearing his own. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Twins chose McMillan with the No. 564 overall pick in Round 19 of the 2022 MLB draft.

After being signed as a two-way player out of Shelton State Community College, head coach Brad Bohannon called on McMillan to be the game-one starter for the Tide this past season. He had a 4-5 record in 86 innings pitched while holding a 4.29 ERA. He provided great leadership and effort for the Tide and almost helped them reach the post-season.

This season he will look to improve on the mound with hopes to upgrade his draft stock for next year. Throughout the summer, McMillan has been playing in the Valley Baseball League for the Strasburg Express. At the plate, he has hit .222 with one home run and 13 runs batted in. It will be interesting to see how Bohannon chooses to use McMillan next season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama baseball and those who could potentially find their way into the major leagues.

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Recapping Clemson baseball’s activity through first half of MLB Draft

The first half of the Major League Baseball Draft is in the books, and the number of Clemson’s players and recruits that have heard their names called has been minimal. To what extent those selections will impact the Tigers’ roster for next season, …

The first half of the Major League Baseball Draft is in the books, and the number of Clemson’s players and recruits that have heard their names called has been minimal.

To what extent those selections will impact the Tigers’ roster for next season, though, remains to be seen.

Three players either on or signed to join Clemson’s roster have been drafted through the first two days of the draft. That number could increase when the draft concludes with the final 10 rounds Tuesday, but things have gone about as expected when it comes to the Tigers’ current players.

Max Wagner and Mack Anglin, Clemson’s highest-ranked prospects entering the draft, have each been drafted. Wagner was first to come off the board, going to the Baltimore Orioles in the second round with the 42nd overall pick. Anglin went to the Kansas City Royals five rounds later with the 205th overall selection.

Clemson first-year coach Erik Bakich told The Clemson Insider before the draft that he was approaching it as if neither player would be returning to school, and understandably so.

It would be difficult for Wagner to increase his draft stock more than he did this past season when he matched a school record with 27 home runs, and the approximate slotted bonus money associated with the 42nd overall pick ($1.86 million) is likely too good to pass up. Anglin, Clemson’s Friday starter this past season, jumped six rounds after being drafted in the 13th a year ago. A year older than Wagner as a third-year sophomore, Anglin would also be 23 years old by the time next year’s draft rolls around, which would naturally decrease his stock if he returned to school for another season.

Clemson also had two signees ranked among the top 50 prospects going into the draft, but only one of them has been selected to this point. And Brock Porter went later than expected, though that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll make it to school.

Ranked as the No. 11 overall prospect by MLB.com, Porter slid to the fourth round before the Texas Rangers drafted the hard-throwing right-hander with the 109th overall pick. But the Rangers are reportedly paying under slot value for its first-round pick, Kumar Rock, and didn’t have any second- or third-picks to spend money on, so they may have the extra money needed to pay over slot for Porter’s signature.

While Clemson awaits Porter’s decision, the Tigers have a better chance of getting left-hander Tristan Smith to campus. MLB.com rated the Boiling Springs High standout as the 46th-best prospect, but Smith heads into the final day of the draft still on the board. It’s a good indication teams won’t be able to match Smith’s asking price.

Still, a team could take a flyer on Smith in the later rounds. Who else with Clemson ties could be drafted?

Shortstop Ben Blackwell and pitchers Geoffrey Gilbert, Ryan Ammons and Jackson Lindley are among the Tigers’ other draft-eligible players. Winnacunnet (New Hampshire) High right-hander Joe Allen and Porter’s high school teammate, St. Mary’s Prep (Michigan) School infielder Jack Crighton, MLB.com’s No. 220 prospect, are other recruits who could be selected.

Photo credit: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal/USA Today Network

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Michael Turner turned one year with Hogs into draft spot with White Sox

Arkansas catcher Michael Turner is third Hogs player to be taken by the Pale Hose.

Michael Turner’s one season in Arkansas was memorable.

The Razorbacks catcher transferred from Kent State before the 2021 season and proceeded to hit .323/.388/.502 and win Stillwater Regional MVP.

That performance led to Turner being selected in the ninth round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox, becoming the third Arkansas-related player taken by the organization through the first two days of the draft. Peyton Pallette and Jordan Sprinkle, who announced his transfer destination as Arkansas from Cal-Santa Barbara just over a week ago, were taken earlier.

Turner was Arkansas’ seventh player taken overall, which is the most in school history within the first 10 rounds.

Turner’s most recognition nationally came after the SEC Tournament when local sports radio host Derek Ruscin had unkind words about him after the Diamond Hogs were eliminated in two games, earning Ruscin a suspension.

Turner followed the SEC Tournament with an 8-for-18 performance at the Stillwater Regional where he had two walks, two home runs, a double, nine RBIs and seven runs.

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Alabama pitcher Dylan Ray selected in fourth round of 2022 MLB Draft

Alabama relief pitcher Dylan Ray selected No. 108 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Another Alabama pitcher heard his name called in the 2022 MLB draft. On Monday, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Alabama relief pitcher Dylan Ray with the No. 108 overall pick of the 2022 MLB draft.

Ray spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa. Coach Brad Bohannon called on Ray multiple times in adverse situations. When it comes to adversity, Ray has been faced with plenty of it in his time at Alabama. As a freshman, he suffered a season-ending injury before the start of the season.

As a result, Ray would have to redshirt that year and return to the mound this past spring for the Tide. In his redshirt-freshman season, he compiled a 1-4 record with a 4.60 ERA. The numbers don’t do any justice for how well Ray pitched. In 31.1 innings pitched, he allowed 23 hits while striking out a total of 49 batters and walking only 15 batters.

Although the numbers don’t appear stellar, Ray made the Freshman All-SEC Team and was also selected as a Freshman All-American by College Baseball News. The Alabama native will have to decide on whether he wants to pursue professional opportunities with the Diamondbacks or return to Tuscaloosa for another season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama baseball and the players making their way to the major leagues.

Thank you, Connor: Noland drafted by Cubs, likely ending his Arkansas career

Connor Noland will go down as an all-time Arkansas athlete.

Few Arkansas athletes have been as beloved as Connor Noland in the last decade.

The Razorbacks’ pitcher and former quarterback, plus a Greenwood graduate, Noland had to play through the Chad Morris era in football and deal with a season lost to injury and another to COVID in baseball.

In 2021, his fifth season in Fayetteville, Noland was the Arkansas ace. He had 113 strikeout in 116 innings with a 3.65 earned-run average. Noland was even better in the postseason, rocking a 1.53 ERA in 29 1/3 innings as Arkansas made it within a game of reaching the National Championship series.

That season was enough to have him selected in the ninth round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs on Monday night, likely signaling the end of his career with the Razorbacks.

Noland had mentioned in the early summer that he was considering returning to Arkansas for a sixth and final season. But as pointed out by Best of Arkansas Sports’ Andrew Hutchinson, 99 percent of players taken in the first 10 rounds sign.

Arkansas lefty Evan Taylor likely to sign with Marlins after going in ninth round

Evan Taylor has the build and the stuff to make it all the way to The Show.

Evan Taylor looks the part of Major League bullpen arm. He may get his chance.

Taylor, an Arkansas left-handed reliever, was taken in the ninth round of the 2022 MLB draft on Monday by the Miami Marlins. He was the eighth player taken in the draft with Arkansas connections.

Taylor’s first three years at Arkansas didn’t look like they would amount to much, having never logged an earned-run average lower than 6.43 in any of his seasons. But the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder broke out in a big way in his final season with the Razorbacks.

The Florence, Alabama, native struck out 54 batters in 44 1/3 innings and held opponents to a .179 average. Left-handed batters had no chance, batting .095 against him.

Left-handed specialists aren’t a thing in the MLB anymore since the league instituted the three-batter rule, but the best ones, those who can retired hitters from both sides of the plate, still find themselves with high value.

Taylor could return to Arkansas for one final season if he chose to, but it’s likely he will sign as he would lose all leverage in next year’s draft.

Arkansas’ expected 2023 starting shortstop taken in MLB draft

Jordan Sprinkle could still land at Arkansas, but a fourth-round selection will be tough to turn down.

Jordan Sprinkle announced he would be transferring to Arkansas for the 2023 season just days ago. Now he may never make it to campus.

Sprinkle, a transfer from Cal-Santa Barbara, was taken in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. The Sox had selected Arkansas pitcher Peyton Pallette in the second round the day before.

Sprinkle has two seasons of college eligibility left should he decline to sign with Chicago and play at Arkansas, instead. He hit .285/.381/.413 with the Gauchos last year. Sprinkle was expected to slot into the starting shortstop role left vacant by Jalen Battles, whose eligibility was exhausted.

Battles was taken a round later than Sprinkle, in the fifth, by Tampa Bay.

Through six rounds, Arkansas had six players associated with the school selected: four who played with the team last year, Sprinkle, and high-schooler Cole Phillips.

Arkansas shorstop Jalen Battles taken by Tampa Bay in MLB draft

Jalen Battles, a slick-fielding middle infielder, will join the Rays organization.

Jalen Battles’ glove has always played at a Major League-level. Turns out, teams like his bat, too.

The former Arkansas shortstop was taken in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB draft on Monday by the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit hit .289/.364/.480 with 10 home runs this past season while combining with Robert Moore at second base to give the Diamond Hogs one of the NCAA’s best double-play combinations.

Battles considered leaving for the professional ranks after the 2021 season when he hit .269/.371/.407 as his fielding skills had made him a prospect already. Instead, he returned to Fayetteville and helped the Razorbacks to the College World Series.

Battles was the fourth Arkansas player taken in the draft after Sunday saw third baseman Cayden Wallace, pitcher Peyton Pallette and Moore all selected.

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