Draft Day Prospects...
The MLB draft will start today and the Aggies will have several of their recruits and current players drafted. Texas A&M has taken significant hits in the draft since Coach Childress and company arrived in Aggieland but this year could see more of the premium signees follow the example of Barrett Loux and come to school instead of signing for significant money. Winning matters when competing with the dollars that MLB throws around and the Aggies back to back Super Regional appearances make the program even stronger when players decide to improve their draft status by playing for the Aggies.
Here is a run down of the high school signees and where they could be drafted:
SS Adam Smith, could go in the first 6 rounds. His ties to Aggieland (his father played here before coaching him in high school) should help the Aggies keep him. He is the fastest rising senior ballplayer in the state and that could raise his bonus level and see him sign. The coaches knew he would develop quickly and if he comes to school he will remind fans of Brandon Hicks.
LHP Ross Hales could go in the first 6 rounds. Was another player that matured into the low-90's from the left hand side and had scouts flocking to see him pitch. He is looking for first round money to bypass Texas A&M. He struggled in a playoff warm-up game and a first round loss and that final impression on scouts helps the Aggies.
RHP Nathan Eovaldi could go in the first 15 rounds. Came back from Tommy John surgery to throw in the low 90's less that 9 months after the surgery. I watched him in the playoffs and he is still not 100% but can bring the heat. The word in the scouting ranks is to expect him in Aggieland.
OF Randall Thorpe could go in the first 20 rounds. College would help Thorpe, he is still learning to hit, but he is among the fastest players in the country with excellent defensive skills and the pro scouts still have the Area Code evaluations that made him a top prospect to draw on.
RHP Denny Clement could be drafted after the 20th round. Clement has made it known in the scouting circles that he is going to come to school. An excellent student, his 90+ heat led Casica Hall to the Oklahoma HS quarterfinals this season.
Here is a look at some of the current players on the squad that have eligibility remaining but could be drafted:
1B Luke Anders could go in the first 20 rounds. Anders continues to improve offensively and defensively but this draft is heavy with power hitting first basemen. The wild card is the arrival of his younger brother Nick from Temple JC, many think they wouldn't pass up the chance to play one season together at Olsen Field.
SS Jose Duran could go in the first 10 rounds. 2007 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Brandon Hicks took over the shortstop position and his tremendous season led to him going high to the Atlanta Braves. Fast forward one season and 2008 Big 12 Newcomer and POY Duran is going to see the same thing happen. He is not the physical specimen that Hicks is but his talents will still make him a high draft pick.
OF Kyle Colligan could go in the first 20 rounds. Colligan continues to raise his stock in the scouts eyes and his post season performance the past two year shows his ability to perform in the clutch. His offense has improved each season and soon it will match his physical tools and his defensive ability in the outfield.
Util. Brian Ruggiano could be drafted after round 20. Ruggiano does everything you want on the field and more and that will have him drafted this year. He doesn't have a defined position but he has a strong arm, great hands and his hitting is only getting better. He could be the key to the Aggie infield next year if he stays in school.
RHP Kyle Thebeau could be drafted in the first 10 rounds. Thebeau has improved his stock to the point that even his strong desires for a petroleum engineering degree won't keep scouts from signing him into pro baseball. Read the Corpus Christi Caller-Times article below to get the latest on Thebeau and the draft.
RHP Jordan Chambless could be drafted after round 20. Chambless continues to battle back from his surgery and he could be drafted for the third time.
RHP Travis Starling could be drafted after round 20. Starling continues to improve as a closer and is eligible for the draft since he is a redshirt sophomore. His stock will be higher next year after another season that promises to be even better than the past two.
RHP Alex Wilson could be drafted in the first 10 rounds. Wilson is one of the biggest wild cards in the nation after throwing in the 90's in May. He will be drafted today and watched closely this summer while pitching in the Cape Cod league. He will go in the first two rounds next season, and since he redshirted, he still has bargaining power to return to Aggieland. If a large market team drafts him today, watch out but the chances are still good that he will return next year. Putting him in the rotation next year with Elhert, Loux, Migl and Raley would give Texas A&M the top pitching staff in the country!
Here is a run down of the high school signees and where they could be drafted:
SS Adam Smith, could go in the first 6 rounds. His ties to Aggieland (his father played here before coaching him in high school) should help the Aggies keep him. He is the fastest rising senior ballplayer in the state and that could raise his bonus level and see him sign. The coaches knew he would develop quickly and if he comes to school he will remind fans of Brandon Hicks.
LHP Ross Hales could go in the first 6 rounds. Was another player that matured into the low-90's from the left hand side and had scouts flocking to see him pitch. He is looking for first round money to bypass Texas A&M. He struggled in a playoff warm-up game and a first round loss and that final impression on scouts helps the Aggies.
RHP Nathan Eovaldi could go in the first 15 rounds. Came back from Tommy John surgery to throw in the low 90's less that 9 months after the surgery. I watched him in the playoffs and he is still not 100% but can bring the heat. The word in the scouting ranks is to expect him in Aggieland.
OF Randall Thorpe could go in the first 20 rounds. College would help Thorpe, he is still learning to hit, but he is among the fastest players in the country with excellent defensive skills and the pro scouts still have the Area Code evaluations that made him a top prospect to draw on.
RHP Denny Clement could be drafted after the 20th round. Clement has made it known in the scouting circles that he is going to come to school. An excellent student, his 90+ heat led Casica Hall to the Oklahoma HS quarterfinals this season.
Here is a look at some of the current players on the squad that have eligibility remaining but could be drafted:
1B Luke Anders could go in the first 20 rounds. Anders continues to improve offensively and defensively but this draft is heavy with power hitting first basemen. The wild card is the arrival of his younger brother Nick from Temple JC, many think they wouldn't pass up the chance to play one season together at Olsen Field.
SS Jose Duran could go in the first 10 rounds. 2007 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Brandon Hicks took over the shortstop position and his tremendous season led to him going high to the Atlanta Braves. Fast forward one season and 2008 Big 12 Newcomer and POY Duran is going to see the same thing happen. He is not the physical specimen that Hicks is but his talents will still make him a high draft pick.
OF Kyle Colligan could go in the first 20 rounds. Colligan continues to raise his stock in the scouts eyes and his post season performance the past two year shows his ability to perform in the clutch. His offense has improved each season and soon it will match his physical tools and his defensive ability in the outfield.
Util. Brian Ruggiano could be drafted after round 20. Ruggiano does everything you want on the field and more and that will have him drafted this year. He doesn't have a defined position but he has a strong arm, great hands and his hitting is only getting better. He could be the key to the Aggie infield next year if he stays in school.
RHP Kyle Thebeau could be drafted in the first 10 rounds. Thebeau has improved his stock to the point that even his strong desires for a petroleum engineering degree won't keep scouts from signing him into pro baseball. Read the Corpus Christi Caller-Times article below to get the latest on Thebeau and the draft.
RHP Jordan Chambless could be drafted after round 20. Chambless continues to battle back from his surgery and he could be drafted for the third time.
RHP Travis Starling could be drafted after round 20. Starling continues to improve as a closer and is eligible for the draft since he is a redshirt sophomore. His stock will be higher next year after another season that promises to be even better than the past two.
RHP Alex Wilson could be drafted in the first 10 rounds. Wilson is one of the biggest wild cards in the nation after throwing in the 90's in May. He will be drafted today and watched closely this summer while pitching in the Cape Cod league. He will go in the first two rounds next season, and since he redshirted, he still has bargaining power to return to Aggieland. If a large market team drafts him today, watch out but the chances are still good that he will return next year. Putting him in the rotation next year with Elhert, Loux, Migl and Raley would give Texas A&M the top pitching staff in the country!
posted by scott@aggiebaseball.net | 10:00 AM
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