C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
The MLB Draft starts Monday with a few different Gamecocks (signees and current players) going to hear their names called over the next three days.
The draft starts Monday night with Rounds 1-2 that night, Rounds 3-10 Tuesday and 11-40 Wednesday. The Gamecocks might not have many called the first day but should have a handful day two and even more day three.
As a general rule, if a college player gets selected in the top 10 rounds they usually go pro. Some high school prospects that get picked on day two can opt to go to school and increase their stock. High schoolers and college juniors drafted day three usually have decisions to make. USC's seen both sides of this recently with Josiah Sightler (12th round) coming to school and Blaze Alexander (11th round) going pro. Those usually depend on how much money teams can offer as a signing bonus.
So let's get started, going first with the incoming 2019 class.
--Right now, I'd expect Tyler Callihan (No. 37 Baseball America, No. 51 Perfect Game) and Ivan Johnson (No. 110 Baseball America, No. 161 PerfectGame) to be surefire prospects that will not make it to school. Callihan has had a good number of workouts in front of professional teams the last few weeks and will be a day one pick (Baseball America has him as the No. 30 overall pick) and Johnson, coming off a really good year at Chipola College, will be a early day two pick that will sign professionally.
--After that, things get interesting with the two remaining prospects that will get drafted day two or early day three in Brett Thomas (No. 98 Baseball America, No. 116 Perfect Game) and Brennan Milone (No. 134 Baseball America, No. 127 PerfectGame).
The thought process right now will be Thomas getting to school after getting drafted at some point day two or three. Thomas missed some time before his senior season with injury so that might be a turn off to scouts but a strong, strong senior year keeps him in the top 150 prospect list. Thomas, if he ultimately does come to school, he's an immediate help in the bullpen as a late-inning arm.
Milone is a different story. He's been surging up draft boards after a really good senior year and projects as a strong third baseman that can play all four infield spots and is athletic enough to learn a corner outfield spot. South Carolina had an in-home visit with him recently but Milone will get drafted high and the money may be too much to turn down.
If he does come to school, he's a high on-base hitter that probably profiles as a third baseman that can hit near the top of a lineup.
--As for the Gamecocks' newest outfielder commitment, James Nix (No. 307 PerfectGame), he'll likely hear his name called as well. He's been doing some pre-draft workouts for teams and is the No. 14 overall JUCO prospect in the country. This one will probably come down to how much he's offered, and MLB teams may not want to pay as much as he wants. There's a strong likelihood if he doesn't get the money he's asking for he comes to school.
Nix is in a good spot where he's only a freshman and has some bargaining power.
--South Carolina has a trio of highly-touted pitchers Thomas Farr (No. 213 Baseball America, No. 504 PerfectGame), Brannon Jordan (No. 467 Baseball America, No. 401 PerfectGame) and Andy Peters (No. 459 Baseball America, No. 357 PerfectGame) with all three likely ending up on campus.
Jordan confirmed to me a few weeks ago a team would have to really impress him with the money they offered and it'd take a really strong offer to pull him away from his South Carolina commitment. Being from Oklahoma, he's actually close friends with Braden Webb and Jonah Bride and the two have made him really excited about getting to Columbia.
Farr sat out the majority of this season with injuries but was in the mid-90s before that and will likely be a Friday night starter candidate in the fall and spring (along with Jordan, who's been up to 94 this spring).
Peters had Tommy John Surgery at the end of February and will be enrolling this summer to work with the Gamecocks' training staff to rehab together. Basing recovery on a 12-14 month timetable, he'll be ready in April to start pitching again.
--Speaking of Tommy John, catcher commit Jax Cash (No. 486 Baseball America) is still rehabbing from that surgery he had in early April. He told us in an interview he's not worried about the draft and is focused on coming to school. Cash is one of the better defensive catchers in the top 500 prospect list. He'll enroll before August and continue rehab with the thought he'll be able to swing a bat by the time fall scrimmages rolls around.
--There's a shot a few other prospects could get drafted but the majority are expected in school.
Other members of South Carolina's 2019 recruiting class that will likely make it to campus: Braylen Wimmer, Jeff Heinrich (JUCO), Shane Shifflett (JUCO), Will McGregor, Jonathan Machamer, RJ Dantin, Trey Tujetsch, Luis Aviles (JUCO), Noah Myers (JUCO)
Now, let's get on to the current team
--One of the biggest pieces of South Carolina's offense will probably get drafted this weekend in Luke Berryhill (No. 454 PerfectGame), who's coming off his redshirt sophomore season. He's receiving more attention from scouts recently. Entering the draft, I'd say Berryhill will be back next season in Columbia. He really loves it at South Carolina and has more bargaining power as a redshirt sophomore than most typical juniors. Things could change depending obviously on when/where he gets drafted and the money, but right now I project him coming back.
--Another big piece of last year's team, Reid Morgan will also likely get drafted and sign professionally if the money's right. With Morgan, he's coming off a junior year where he was solid as a starter and his draft stock and bargaining power is probably the highest it'll be, which lends itself to him signing a professional contact.
--Ian Jenkins is another player that will get drafted and likely sign a professional deal. Jenkins is a draft-eligible sophomore and will get professional looks on upside alone. The outfielder has incredibly plus power and a decent outfield arm. He was interested in going pro and got some looks from scouts of high school (was drafted in the 40th round) and I think is ready to make the jump to professional baseball.
--The last of the healthy Gamecocks that could get drafted is George Callil, whose glove will catch the eyes of professional scouts. The jury is still out on if he'll go pro, but if he gets picked up by the right organization and the money is right, I could see him signing a professional deal.
--Graham Lawson and Ridge Chapman are two players that were drafted but injuries prevented them from signing professional deals so they came back to school. Both could get drafted again (although teams probably want to see them fully healthy before pulling the trigger) or sign free agent deals. I will say nothing I've heard makes me think they won't be on next year's team, but things could obviously change during draft week.
Other draft-eligible players on the current team: TJ Shook, Hayden Lehman, Cole Ganopulos
--I'll add too at least two of the seniors in TJ Hopkins and Jacob Olson will hear their names called this week with Hopkins a chance to be picked in the top 10 rounds as a senior sign. Chris Cullen might, but his injury history is looming over his head. I know he'd love to continue to play. Gage Hinson is also draft eligible and listed as a senior but there's a chance he could be back next year if his application for another year of eligibility is approved, which there is a good chance of that.
The draft starts Monday night with Rounds 1-2 that night, Rounds 3-10 Tuesday and 11-40 Wednesday. The Gamecocks might not have many called the first day but should have a handful day two and even more day three.
As a general rule, if a college player gets selected in the top 10 rounds they usually go pro. Some high school prospects that get picked on day two can opt to go to school and increase their stock. High schoolers and college juniors drafted day three usually have decisions to make. USC's seen both sides of this recently with Josiah Sightler (12th round) coming to school and Blaze Alexander (11th round) going pro. Those usually depend on how much money teams can offer as a signing bonus.
So let's get started, going first with the incoming 2019 class.
--Right now, I'd expect Tyler Callihan (No. 37 Baseball America, No. 51 Perfect Game) and Ivan Johnson (No. 110 Baseball America, No. 161 PerfectGame) to be surefire prospects that will not make it to school. Callihan has had a good number of workouts in front of professional teams the last few weeks and will be a day one pick (Baseball America has him as the No. 30 overall pick) and Johnson, coming off a really good year at Chipola College, will be a early day two pick that will sign professionally.
--After that, things get interesting with the two remaining prospects that will get drafted day two or early day three in Brett Thomas (No. 98 Baseball America, No. 116 Perfect Game) and Brennan Milone (No. 134 Baseball America, No. 127 PerfectGame).
The thought process right now will be Thomas getting to school after getting drafted at some point day two or three. Thomas missed some time before his senior season with injury so that might be a turn off to scouts but a strong, strong senior year keeps him in the top 150 prospect list. Thomas, if he ultimately does come to school, he's an immediate help in the bullpen as a late-inning arm.
Milone is a different story. He's been surging up draft boards after a really good senior year and projects as a strong third baseman that can play all four infield spots and is athletic enough to learn a corner outfield spot. South Carolina had an in-home visit with him recently but Milone will get drafted high and the money may be too much to turn down.
If he does come to school, he's a high on-base hitter that probably profiles as a third baseman that can hit near the top of a lineup.
--As for the Gamecocks' newest outfielder commitment, James Nix (No. 307 PerfectGame), he'll likely hear his name called as well. He's been doing some pre-draft workouts for teams and is the No. 14 overall JUCO prospect in the country. This one will probably come down to how much he's offered, and MLB teams may not want to pay as much as he wants. There's a strong likelihood if he doesn't get the money he's asking for he comes to school.
Nix is in a good spot where he's only a freshman and has some bargaining power.
--South Carolina has a trio of highly-touted pitchers Thomas Farr (No. 213 Baseball America, No. 504 PerfectGame), Brannon Jordan (No. 467 Baseball America, No. 401 PerfectGame) and Andy Peters (No. 459 Baseball America, No. 357 PerfectGame) with all three likely ending up on campus.
Jordan confirmed to me a few weeks ago a team would have to really impress him with the money they offered and it'd take a really strong offer to pull him away from his South Carolina commitment. Being from Oklahoma, he's actually close friends with Braden Webb and Jonah Bride and the two have made him really excited about getting to Columbia.
Farr sat out the majority of this season with injuries but was in the mid-90s before that and will likely be a Friday night starter candidate in the fall and spring (along with Jordan, who's been up to 94 this spring).
Peters had Tommy John Surgery at the end of February and will be enrolling this summer to work with the Gamecocks' training staff to rehab together. Basing recovery on a 12-14 month timetable, he'll be ready in April to start pitching again.
--Speaking of Tommy John, catcher commit Jax Cash (No. 486 Baseball America) is still rehabbing from that surgery he had in early April. He told us in an interview he's not worried about the draft and is focused on coming to school. Cash is one of the better defensive catchers in the top 500 prospect list. He'll enroll before August and continue rehab with the thought he'll be able to swing a bat by the time fall scrimmages rolls around.
--There's a shot a few other prospects could get drafted but the majority are expected in school.
Other members of South Carolina's 2019 recruiting class that will likely make it to campus: Braylen Wimmer, Jeff Heinrich (JUCO), Shane Shifflett (JUCO), Will McGregor, Jonathan Machamer, RJ Dantin, Trey Tujetsch, Luis Aviles (JUCO), Noah Myers (JUCO)
Now, let's get on to the current team
--One of the biggest pieces of South Carolina's offense will probably get drafted this weekend in Luke Berryhill (No. 454 PerfectGame), who's coming off his redshirt sophomore season. He's receiving more attention from scouts recently. Entering the draft, I'd say Berryhill will be back next season in Columbia. He really loves it at South Carolina and has more bargaining power as a redshirt sophomore than most typical juniors. Things could change depending obviously on when/where he gets drafted and the money, but right now I project him coming back.
--Another big piece of last year's team, Reid Morgan will also likely get drafted and sign professionally if the money's right. With Morgan, he's coming off a junior year where he was solid as a starter and his draft stock and bargaining power is probably the highest it'll be, which lends itself to him signing a professional contact.
--Ian Jenkins is another player that will get drafted and likely sign a professional deal. Jenkins is a draft-eligible sophomore and will get professional looks on upside alone. The outfielder has incredibly plus power and a decent outfield arm. He was interested in going pro and got some looks from scouts of high school (was drafted in the 40th round) and I think is ready to make the jump to professional baseball.
--The last of the healthy Gamecocks that could get drafted is George Callil, whose glove will catch the eyes of professional scouts. The jury is still out on if he'll go pro, but if he gets picked up by the right organization and the money is right, I could see him signing a professional deal.
--Graham Lawson and Ridge Chapman are two players that were drafted but injuries prevented them from signing professional deals so they came back to school. Both could get drafted again (although teams probably want to see them fully healthy before pulling the trigger) or sign free agent deals. I will say nothing I've heard makes me think they won't be on next year's team, but things could obviously change during draft week.
Other draft-eligible players on the current team: TJ Shook, Hayden Lehman, Cole Ganopulos
--I'll add too at least two of the seniors in TJ Hopkins and Jacob Olson will hear their names called this week with Hopkins a chance to be picked in the top 10 rounds as a senior sign. Chris Cullen might, but his injury history is looming over his head. I know he'd love to continue to play. Gage Hinson is also draft eligible and listed as a senior but there's a chance he could be back next year if his application for another year of eligibility is approved, which there is a good chance of that.
