STARKVILLE — The MLB Draft has become an annual coronation of Mississippi State baseball in recent years.
In the past two years alone, 18 former Bulldogs have been selected in the 40-round event — including four players in the draft’s first six rounds. But with the COVID-19 crisis continuing to affect professional baseball, it remains to be seen how many members of MSU’s 2020 squad will hear their names on draft night this summer.
“The biggest thing is we always tell them, ‘Make sure that you get what you think your value is,’ and that really hasn’t changed even with a different format of the draft,” MSU pitching coach Scott Foxhall told The Dispatch. “We still think they should take whatever they think their value is and nothing less because they’re in a great situation whether they’re a high school recruit or on our current roster, this is the best place to play in the country.”
At present, MLB has yet to decide on an actual format for the draft this season, though it’s been widely speculated the draft will last just five rounds instead of its usual 40 — likely leaving a slew of draft-eligible Bulldogs to sign as undrafted free agents or to return to school.
On the surface, sophomore JT Ginn and juniors Justin Foscue and Jordan Westburg would be the most likely in-house players to be taken in a five-round model. MSU commits Blaze Jordan and Austin Hendrick could also factor into a shortened event.
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo released his first mock draft of the season on April 27, and listed Hendrick, Foscue and Westburg at Nos. 13, 26 and 29, respectively.
Jordan has also shown massive power in his prep career, most notably winning the MLB High School Home Run Derby last summer, but his lack of a true position makes him a variable option at the top of the draft.
As for Ginn, he’s likely the largest unknown of any MSU player to potentially be taken. After spurning his first round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school, the Brandon native finished his inaugural campaign as the No. 2 starter behind 2019 first round pick Ethan Small with a 3.13 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings pitched — earning himself National Freshman of the Year honors from Perfect Game.
But for the dazzling display he offered in his 17 starts as a freshman, Ginn’s sophomore year was cut shorter than even that of his teammates due to a lingering arm injury that forced him to undergo season-ending surgery after just one outing in 2020. MLB teams will surely monitor his rehab progress before investing a high pick in him, but the talent alone is there to see his name at the top of draft boards.
And while MSU should still experience some draft-related turnover this summer, a shortened event stands to benefit the Bulldogs tremendously.
Of MSU’s five seniors, graduate transfers Carlisle Koestler and David Dunlavey would be the most likely to leave as UDFAs. A shortened draft could also bring juniors Rowdey Jordan, Josh Hatcher and Tanner Allen back into the fold next season.
Jordan is the least pro-ready of MSUs prolific junior class, while an injury to Allen limited his potential impact in 2019. As for Hatcher, he was primed for a breakout year and had delivered through 16 games with a .311 batting average, nine RBIs and seven extra-base hits, but a shortened season may leave scouts wanting more before they spend a top-five round pick on the Alabany, Georgia native.
“There’s no manual (for this),” MSU hitting coach Jake Gautreau told The Dispatch. “None of us were trained or trained for this, so it literally is kind of a wait and see deal and just trying to do your best job of being able to be there for your current team and recruits if they have questions and things like that.”
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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