This year’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft is June 8-10, and July 17 is the deadline for amateur draft picks to sign. I love the new schedule. It allows players to finish college seasons prior to the Draft, and it removes all the crap where prospects wait until the last minute before an August deadline to decide what they are doing. This lets colleges know a lot sooner what they are looking at for the next season.
Check out below as I give some thoughts I've gathered from scouts in relation to what Ole Miss is looking at this summer. I'll throw in some of my own observations, as well.
Current team notes
The following players on Ole Miss’ roster are draft eligible or seniors:
Sam Smith - senior
Scott Weathersby - senior
Sikes Orvis - senior
Austin Knight - senior
Scott Ashford - senior
Matt Denny - junior
Josh Watkins - junior
Connor Cloyd - junior
Jacob Waguespack - junior
Christian Trent - junior
Holt Perdzock - junior
Cameron Dishon - junior
Drake Robison - junior
Sean Johnson - junior
Jack Kaiser - junior
Mitchell Babb - junior
Brady Bramlett - draft eligible sophomore
Obviously the seniors are gone, but the junior class isn’t one I would expect to lose much to the pros this time around. If anything, a couple may not be asked back to make room for newcomers. There’s a 35-man roster limit, after all.
There is plenty of time for things to change, but I talked to multiple scouts the last couple days, and the consensus is the two non-seniors to be concerned about are Trent and Waguespack. Trent was taken by the Dodgers in the 29th round and returned to school last year. He still has leverage this year, and while I think he’ll probably go, his projections are all over the board and it’s unknown if a team tries to short him on the slot amount. So, while I think he signs, I think it will be an interesting situation as far as what he's offered.
With Waguespack, I wouldn’t be shocked to see a team throw some cash at him. Tall, lanky frame with good arm action. The fastball can get up into the mid 90s, but he’s struggled with secondary pitches (more on that later in the week) and mentally it’s been inconsistent. However, the talent is undeniable. I assume he’ll have a decision to make. I've always thought he was one or two outings from it all clicking.
Otherwise, at this point, the scouts don’t see a major worry unless something happened with Cloyd or someone, but that’s doubtful as of now. So, from a draft standpoint, most of this team should be back. The scouts didn’t see a scenario where Bramlett has a major decision, though his ceiling brings some Lance Lynn comps. The velocity doesn’t get to that level.
Incoming player notes
I also got the following notes on Ole Miss’ incoming players who are obviously draft eligible. It’s a class without an automatic sign, so that’s good for the Rebels from that standpoint. This certainly isn’t a Cecchini, Hensley, Trahan type class.
Deland, Fla., catcher Nick Fortes is a tremendous talent and Perfect Game has him No. 115 nationally. He’s not the best thrower in the world, probably average at the next level, but he can hit like crazy and receive very well. If he was trying to go pro he could easily sign in the top five rounds, but he’s pricing teams out with a huge seven-figure numbers, scouts said. If that’s accurate, the Rebels are in good shape because it’s just not realistic unless he comes off the number some. Wouldn’t shock me if he’s the catcher next season.
Hinds Community College right-handed pitcher Austin Sanders has been throwing the mess out of it. Originally from Madison Central he can run the fastball into the mid 90s, but all indications are that he will be at Ole Miss. He wants to be in college and isn’t giving the other side much hope.
There’s a similar situation with Memphis 6-foot-3 RHP Connor Green. He’s been throwing into the 90s as late as the seventh inning, and I would bill him as a weekend possibility early in his career. He’s not highly ranked and could easily be the steal of the class. I love his game. One scout yesterday: “He throws the hell out of it.”
Dallas Woolfolk, a right-hander out of Desoto Central, is an interesting case. He’s potentially the biggest draft risk in the class — at 6-foot-3 and can run it to 93 MPH or so. He’s had some outings at 88 or 89 though. Sort of all over the place. He’s probably a reliever as a projection, and teams don’t pay for relievers. The breaking ball isn’t polished, and it’s a reliever delivery. Lot of effort. But he’s figured out the windup some, and a couple teams really like him. It just takes one. The Phillies liked Jake Overbey and took him in the 10th round. No one else liked him in the top 30 rounds.
Wallace State Community College pitcher Chad Smith is one to follow. He had some ridiculous stuff in the fall, up to 97 MPH with a good breaking ball. He’s a tick above everybody else when healthy, but he’s struggled with back and oblique injuries this spring. This could go either way with scouts, but they may very well reach for a guy who sits 90-95 with an 80 MPH breaking ball. Feels like a JUCO sign, but I don’t know much about his intentions. Need more info here.
Right-handed pitcher Andy Pagnozzi, son of Tom Pagnozzi, is 6-foot-1 and someone I expect you’ll like during his career. He’s telling everybody he’s going to college, so we’ll see. The stuff doesn’t jump off the page. It reminds me of Scott Weathersby — except a little stronger for this stage of the career. He can show 90-91, but it’s usually 87-88 and it’s even been 84-86, but he just gets outs. No one squares him up, and he eats innings. Threw the Weathersby comp at some people and got agreement.
Gainesville, Ga., infielder Luke Maddox is no longer committed to Ole Miss.
Ryan Olenek, who signed as a shortstop, has really improved on the mound. A scout said he could very well end up a legitimate two-way player in college. The arm may be better than the position at this point.
There are other players in the class, but that’s a quick overview of some of the ones who have gotten looks from scouts and potentially have interesting things going on. Overall, I really like this class from a projection standpoint. The players who don’t show can’t help you. This class has a few athletes as position players, a top-flight catcher and a ton of arms.
For perspective, there are a lot of Chris Ellis types. John Creel, Green, James McArthur, Andrew Lowe are all big projectable pitchers who may not light up draft boards but have tools that will get outs at the college level. On paper, it’s a nice class.
More on some others later, and I’ll continue to update as the draft gets closer. This should give you a solid initial point of reference. Where Ole Miss has been fortunate so far, no one has just blown up and skyrocketed up the boards. I still think Woolfolk is most interesting, especially considering how many scouts see him nightly because of Austin Riley.
Check out below as I give some thoughts I've gathered from scouts in relation to what Ole Miss is looking at this summer. I'll throw in some of my own observations, as well.
Current team notes
The following players on Ole Miss’ roster are draft eligible or seniors:
Sam Smith - senior
Scott Weathersby - senior
Sikes Orvis - senior
Austin Knight - senior
Scott Ashford - senior
Matt Denny - junior
Josh Watkins - junior
Connor Cloyd - junior
Jacob Waguespack - junior
Christian Trent - junior
Holt Perdzock - junior
Cameron Dishon - junior
Drake Robison - junior
Sean Johnson - junior
Jack Kaiser - junior
Mitchell Babb - junior
Brady Bramlett - draft eligible sophomore
Obviously the seniors are gone, but the junior class isn’t one I would expect to lose much to the pros this time around. If anything, a couple may not be asked back to make room for newcomers. There’s a 35-man roster limit, after all.
There is plenty of time for things to change, but I talked to multiple scouts the last couple days, and the consensus is the two non-seniors to be concerned about are Trent and Waguespack. Trent was taken by the Dodgers in the 29th round and returned to school last year. He still has leverage this year, and while I think he’ll probably go, his projections are all over the board and it’s unknown if a team tries to short him on the slot amount. So, while I think he signs, I think it will be an interesting situation as far as what he's offered.
With Waguespack, I wouldn’t be shocked to see a team throw some cash at him. Tall, lanky frame with good arm action. The fastball can get up into the mid 90s, but he’s struggled with secondary pitches (more on that later in the week) and mentally it’s been inconsistent. However, the talent is undeniable. I assume he’ll have a decision to make. I've always thought he was one or two outings from it all clicking.
Otherwise, at this point, the scouts don’t see a major worry unless something happened with Cloyd or someone, but that’s doubtful as of now. So, from a draft standpoint, most of this team should be back. The scouts didn’t see a scenario where Bramlett has a major decision, though his ceiling brings some Lance Lynn comps. The velocity doesn’t get to that level.
Incoming player notes
I also got the following notes on Ole Miss’ incoming players who are obviously draft eligible. It’s a class without an automatic sign, so that’s good for the Rebels from that standpoint. This certainly isn’t a Cecchini, Hensley, Trahan type class.
Deland, Fla., catcher Nick Fortes is a tremendous talent and Perfect Game has him No. 115 nationally. He’s not the best thrower in the world, probably average at the next level, but he can hit like crazy and receive very well. If he was trying to go pro he could easily sign in the top five rounds, but he’s pricing teams out with a huge seven-figure numbers, scouts said. If that’s accurate, the Rebels are in good shape because it’s just not realistic unless he comes off the number some. Wouldn’t shock me if he’s the catcher next season.
Hinds Community College right-handed pitcher Austin Sanders has been throwing the mess out of it. Originally from Madison Central he can run the fastball into the mid 90s, but all indications are that he will be at Ole Miss. He wants to be in college and isn’t giving the other side much hope.
There’s a similar situation with Memphis 6-foot-3 RHP Connor Green. He’s been throwing into the 90s as late as the seventh inning, and I would bill him as a weekend possibility early in his career. He’s not highly ranked and could easily be the steal of the class. I love his game. One scout yesterday: “He throws the hell out of it.”
Dallas Woolfolk, a right-hander out of Desoto Central, is an interesting case. He’s potentially the biggest draft risk in the class — at 6-foot-3 and can run it to 93 MPH or so. He’s had some outings at 88 or 89 though. Sort of all over the place. He’s probably a reliever as a projection, and teams don’t pay for relievers. The breaking ball isn’t polished, and it’s a reliever delivery. Lot of effort. But he’s figured out the windup some, and a couple teams really like him. It just takes one. The Phillies liked Jake Overbey and took him in the 10th round. No one else liked him in the top 30 rounds.
Wallace State Community College pitcher Chad Smith is one to follow. He had some ridiculous stuff in the fall, up to 97 MPH with a good breaking ball. He’s a tick above everybody else when healthy, but he’s struggled with back and oblique injuries this spring. This could go either way with scouts, but they may very well reach for a guy who sits 90-95 with an 80 MPH breaking ball. Feels like a JUCO sign, but I don’t know much about his intentions. Need more info here.
Right-handed pitcher Andy Pagnozzi, son of Tom Pagnozzi, is 6-foot-1 and someone I expect you’ll like during his career. He’s telling everybody he’s going to college, so we’ll see. The stuff doesn’t jump off the page. It reminds me of Scott Weathersby — except a little stronger for this stage of the career. He can show 90-91, but it’s usually 87-88 and it’s even been 84-86, but he just gets outs. No one squares him up, and he eats innings. Threw the Weathersby comp at some people and got agreement.
Gainesville, Ga., infielder Luke Maddox is no longer committed to Ole Miss.
Ryan Olenek, who signed as a shortstop, has really improved on the mound. A scout said he could very well end up a legitimate two-way player in college. The arm may be better than the position at this point.
There are other players in the class, but that’s a quick overview of some of the ones who have gotten looks from scouts and potentially have interesting things going on. Overall, I really like this class from a projection standpoint. The players who don’t show can’t help you. This class has a few athletes as position players, a top-flight catcher and a ton of arms.
For perspective, there are a lot of Chris Ellis types. John Creel, Green, James McArthur, Andrew Lowe are all big projectable pitchers who may not light up draft boards but have tools that will get outs at the college level. On paper, it’s a nice class.
More on some others later, and I’ll continue to update as the draft gets closer. This should give you a solid initial point of reference. Where Ole Miss has been fortunate so far, no one has just blown up and skyrocketed up the boards. I still think Woolfolk is most interesting, especially considering how many scouts see him nightly because of Austin Riley.
