C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
South Carolina had a school-record 10 selections this week in the MLB Draft. There's still a lot that can happen over the next few weeks with players negotiating signing bonuses and deciding on if they'll go pro or not.
Players usually have until mid-August to sign with a team, but the majority do so before then. A lot should be known over the next few week as teams start their preliminary meetings with players. South Carolina players who are drafted will start those meetings once the season ends.
Here's what I have so far as the draft just finished up.
General rule: The rule with the draft is players selected Rounds 1-10 sign professional contracts and those that go after that it'll come down to how much money they'll be able to pick up through the negotiating process.
Signees
Owen White: He was taken No. 55 overall by the Rangers. He's been in some preliminary talks with them already and will sign a professional contract. Right now the two signs are figuring out the money situation. He was someone the staff had been talking with recently, hoping he'd decide to come to South Carolina. The coaching staff went up and spent the evening with White and about 40 of his family members at a group gathering. In the end, with him it came down to the money, and with a $1,257,500 slot value, all signs point to him signing.
Taj Bradley: Bradley was a late add to South Carolina's recruiting class this year and he's really skyrocketed up the prospect charts with a fastball that sits around 93-95 and he can top out around 96 mph on it. He can also throw a changeup and curve for strikes. He's a guy going into the draft with a high likelihood to sign, and I don't see that changing now.
Blaze Alexander: This is an interesting one. A projected top five round guy, Alexander fell all the way to the 11th round Wednesday. That could mean his asking price on a signing bonus was too high or he was going to sign regardless so teams waited until the third day to pick him.
I still think signs point to him signing and playing professionally moving forward. That's what it looked like before the draft and I'll say he'll still sign going forward.
Josiah Sightler: This one is also interesting. Sightler was picked up in the 13th round by the Reds and hadn't heard much from them this afternoon. More on him should be known as the next few weeks go on, but this one should come down to money. I can't peg a way he's leaning right now. He's in a wait-and-see mode right now.
Brady Allen: He was picked really late in the draft, in the 39th round by the Yankees. I was talking him earlier this week and he said an offer would have to wow him, and I don't think that's coming in this late. He'll likely enroll at South Carolina.
Wes Clarke: A late round guy picked in the 40th and final round, chances are he'll come to school.
Current players
Carlos Cortes: Cortes has some incredible upside with his bat and the Mets obviously love him and the way he plays after drafting him in high school and taking him in the third round (83rd overall). A player taken that high will sign with his professional club.
Adam Hill: Hill's another player like Cortes, drafted by the Mets early, and he'll likely sign too.
Cody Morris: Morris was picked up in the 7th round in by the Cleveland Indians. All signs point to him signing as well. He's two years removed from Tommy John surgery and will likely want to get his professional career started now.
Madison Stokes: Stokes is a senior. He has a few classes to finish up but he'll move on to professional baseball.
Graham Lawson: He went in the 13th round and with him being a junior with his last little bit of leverage available, my guess would be he'd sign with the Nationals.
LT Tolbert: A lot like Lawson, Tolbert's a junior with limited leverage and I'd put him on leaning on signing.
Ridge Chapman: Chapman was picked up in the 17th round by the Nationals, a lot higher than I or a few others had projected him going. Like Lawson and Tolbert, I think the likelihood he signs is high.
Jonah Bride: Bride is a senior and will move on to pro ball.
Hunter Taylor: Taylor is also a senior and moves on to professional ball as well.
Eddy Demurias: Demurias was a little later in the draft, so it'll be interesting to see where he'll end up. I don't have a beat on him right now on which way he's leaning. Time will tell for him, and it should be as the season wraps up.
Players usually have until mid-August to sign with a team, but the majority do so before then. A lot should be known over the next few week as teams start their preliminary meetings with players. South Carolina players who are drafted will start those meetings once the season ends.
Here's what I have so far as the draft just finished up.
General rule: The rule with the draft is players selected Rounds 1-10 sign professional contracts and those that go after that it'll come down to how much money they'll be able to pick up through the negotiating process.
Signees
Owen White: He was taken No. 55 overall by the Rangers. He's been in some preliminary talks with them already and will sign a professional contract. Right now the two signs are figuring out the money situation. He was someone the staff had been talking with recently, hoping he'd decide to come to South Carolina. The coaching staff went up and spent the evening with White and about 40 of his family members at a group gathering. In the end, with him it came down to the money, and with a $1,257,500 slot value, all signs point to him signing.
Taj Bradley: Bradley was a late add to South Carolina's recruiting class this year and he's really skyrocketed up the prospect charts with a fastball that sits around 93-95 and he can top out around 96 mph on it. He can also throw a changeup and curve for strikes. He's a guy going into the draft with a high likelihood to sign, and I don't see that changing now.
Blaze Alexander: This is an interesting one. A projected top five round guy, Alexander fell all the way to the 11th round Wednesday. That could mean his asking price on a signing bonus was too high or he was going to sign regardless so teams waited until the third day to pick him.
I still think signs point to him signing and playing professionally moving forward. That's what it looked like before the draft and I'll say he'll still sign going forward.
Josiah Sightler: This one is also interesting. Sightler was picked up in the 13th round by the Reds and hadn't heard much from them this afternoon. More on him should be known as the next few weeks go on, but this one should come down to money. I can't peg a way he's leaning right now. He's in a wait-and-see mode right now.
Brady Allen: He was picked really late in the draft, in the 39th round by the Yankees. I was talking him earlier this week and he said an offer would have to wow him, and I don't think that's coming in this late. He'll likely enroll at South Carolina.
Wes Clarke: A late round guy picked in the 40th and final round, chances are he'll come to school.
Current players
Carlos Cortes: Cortes has some incredible upside with his bat and the Mets obviously love him and the way he plays after drafting him in high school and taking him in the third round (83rd overall). A player taken that high will sign with his professional club.
Adam Hill: Hill's another player like Cortes, drafted by the Mets early, and he'll likely sign too.
Cody Morris: Morris was picked up in the 7th round in by the Cleveland Indians. All signs point to him signing as well. He's two years removed from Tommy John surgery and will likely want to get his professional career started now.
Madison Stokes: Stokes is a senior. He has a few classes to finish up but he'll move on to professional baseball.
Graham Lawson: He went in the 13th round and with him being a junior with his last little bit of leverage available, my guess would be he'd sign with the Nationals.
LT Tolbert: A lot like Lawson, Tolbert's a junior with limited leverage and I'd put him on leaning on signing.
Ridge Chapman: Chapman was picked up in the 17th round by the Nationals, a lot higher than I or a few others had projected him going. Like Lawson and Tolbert, I think the likelihood he signs is high.
Jonah Bride: Bride is a senior and will move on to pro ball.
Hunter Taylor: Taylor is also a senior and moves on to professional ball as well.
Eddy Demurias: Demurias was a little later in the draft, so it'll be interesting to see where he'll end up. I don't have a beat on him right now on which way he's leaning. Time will tell for him, and it should be as the season wraps up.
