Central Georgia players keeping an eye on the MLB draft

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com
 

          There won’t be the same first-round anticipation for high school and college baseball players in and from Central Georgia this year, but there are still a number who will be by the phone Monday night for the start of the Major-League baseball draft.

          The top prospect in the state is Georgia Tech’s Joey Bart, the ACC player of the year. He’s expected to go in the top 5. Auburn pitcher Casey Mize is projected to be the No. 1 pick.
          The draft starts at 7 p.m. on the MLB Network with two rounds and nearly 80 selections set for the first night. It also includes “competitive balance rounds A and B”. The draft lasts three days and will include more than 1,200 players.

          Baseball America lists the top prospects by state, and Mercer pitcher Austin Cox of FPD is ranked No. 10, as the second-best college player in Georgia behind Bart.

          Tattnall shortstop Logan Simmons is right behind Cox at No. 12 with Bleckley County outfielder Carter Raffield No. 18.

          Baseball America doesn’t have any of the three ranked high enough to go on the first day, with Cox 212th overall, Simmons 226 and Raffield 341st.

          Keegan McGovern is Georgia’s highest-ranked prospect at 15th in the state and 282 overall. North Oconee pitcher Kumar Rocker is second in state and 13th overall.

          Baseball America has seven players ranked high enough to go in the first round.

          Mercer pitcher Robert Broom is 30th in Georgia and 453rd overall.