MLB Draft Recap

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

Just to recap, here are the results from the MLB draft for current players and signees:

CURRENT PLAYERS (round)
Konnor Pilkington (3)
JP France (14) - senior
Hunter Stovall (21)
Ethan Small (26)
Zach Neff (31) - senior
Jake Mangum (32) - returning to MSU
Jacob Billingsley (32) - senior


SIGNEES
Carter Stewart (1)
J.T. Ginn (1)
Jeremiah Jackson (2) - signed
Keaton Winn (5)
Regi Grace (10) - signed
Gunner Halter (26)
Eric Cerantola (30) - MSU
Bryce Bush (33)
Sam Knowlton (39) - MSU


Notably, Brad Cumbest was not drafted.

 

[maroonmania]

Just asking but will we have a roster issue next year if Mangum, Small, Stovall and Alexander are all back? Right now I'm thinking they likely will be. Stovall might be the only one in question. I'm counting possibly having 10 Seniors on the roster next year (Mangum, Small, Stovall, Alexander, Gordon, Liebelt, Vansau, Gilbert, MacNamee, Price). That is about the most Seniors I can remember in a long time although we could lose a few from attrition/transfer and Price and Pener may actually qualify as R-Jrs next year since I don't believe either played this year. I just don't know what kind of eligibility they have left.

 

[stateu1]

We will have some transfers. I heard of one just yesterday.

 

[jack daniels dog]

Could be wrong but don’t see Vansau coming back

 

[512taylor]

Could be wrong but don’t see Vansau coming back

He and Poole aren't getting much playing time, if at all. I would be surprised if either return.

 

[8dog]

Poole is a sr.

I count 26 non seniors (and also excluding pilk and gordon)

That 26 includes liebelt, vansau, pener along with stovall. If those dont return you are down to 22

 

[maroonmania]

Poole is a sr.

I count 26 non seniors (and also excluding pilk and gordon)

That 26 includes liebelt, vansau, pener along with stovall. If those dont return you are down to 22

Why are you excluding Gordon? Isn't he just a R-JR this year?

 

[8dog]

He went through senior day festivities

 

[philduckworth]

Poole is a sr.

I count 26 non seniors (and also excluding pilk and gordon)

That 26 includes liebelt, vansau, pener along with stovall. If those dont return you are down to 22

19 signees coming in so that's 6 over the 35 man roster.

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

Not naming any names, but I think some of the older guys who haven’t been performing this year may be asked to move on. We have a lot of talent in the field and should be really good offensively next year.

 

[maroonmania]

Not naming any names, but I think some of the older guys who haven’t been performing this year may be asked to move on. We have a lot of talent in the field and should be really good offensively next year.

We should be loaded with position players and bats. Having enough SEC quality pitching will be the big question mark. Key will be how guys like James, Ashcraft, and Price come back from injury. Also, was Barlow hurt this year? I don't remember him pitching at all and he did contribute some last year.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

Are you counting Stewart, Ginn, Jackson, Winn, and Grace in that 19?

 

[philduckworth]

Are you counting Stewart, Ginn, Jackson, Winn, and Grace in that 19?

no.

 

[kired]

WHAT? I won't get to see him spit on his batting gloves and rub his hands together after every pitch again?

For some reason his batting routine annoys the hell out of me...

 

[mparkerfd20]

Eric Cerantola just tweeted he's coming to State.

 

[bomanishus]

It was stated on twitter today that Regi Grace had signed with the Twins.

 

[Carbaryl]

Just to recap, here are the results from the MLB draft for current players and signees:

CURRENT PLAYERS (round)
Konnor Pilkington (3)
JP France (14) - senior
Hunter Stovall (21)
Ethan Small (26)
Zach Neff (31) - senior
Jake Mangum (32) - returning to MSU
Jacob Billingsley (32) - senior


SIGNEES
Carter Stewart (1)
J.T. Ginn (1)
Jeremiah Jackson (2)
Keaton Winn (5)
Regi Grace (10) - signed
Gunner Halter (26)
Eric Cerantola (30) - MSU
Bryce Bush (33)
Sam Knowlton (39)


Notably, Brad Cumbest was not drafted.

Jackson has signed with the Angels and Knowlton has said he'll be at State.

 

[maroonmania]

Just to recap, here are the results from the MLB draft for current players and signees:

CURRENT PLAYERS (round)
Konnor Pilkington (3)
JP France (14) - senior
Hunter Stovall (21)
Ethan Small (26)
Zach Neff (31) - senior
Jake Mangum (32) - returning to MSU
Jacob Billingsley (32) - senior


SIGNEES
Carter Stewart (1)
J.T. Ginn (1)
Jeremiah Jackson (2)
Keaton Winn (5)
Regi Grace (10) - signed
Gunner Halter (26)
Eric Cerantola (30) - MSU
Bryce Bush (33)
Sam Knowlton (39)


Notably, Brad Cumbest was not drafted.

So strictly looking at pitchers coming in next year it looks like we will get:

Eric Cerantola (30)
Sam Knowlton (39)
Bryce Brock - undrafted
JP Elkins - JUCO undrafted
Colby White - JUCO undrafted
Christian MacLeod - undrafted

Anyone have any insights on any of these? A shame we lost 4 pitchers in the Top 10 rounds. Pitching will determine how good we are next year. We are loaded in the field. Pitchers expected back include:

Ethan Small
Denver McQuary
Riley Self
Keegan James
Spencer Price (injured)
Graham Ashcraft (injured)
Kale Breaux (injured)

 

[Len2003]

I wonder why he doesn’t want to use his last year of availability.

 

[57stratdawg]

James' stuff in Nashville was looking pretty solid. He was hitting 93 to 94 on the gun at their stadium. Who knows if he can keep it in the zone consistently though.

 

[maroonmania]

James' stuff in Nashville was looking pretty solid. He was hitting 93 to 94 on the gun at their stadium. Who knows if he can keep it in the zone consistently though.

After you get past Small and Self, our pitching staff next year will be a total crapshoot.

 

[HumpDawgy]

Hopefully Liebelt and Vansau transfer out. I don't believe they help us much. I would like to see Hatcher working more as a pitcher with Tanner settling in at 1B. Hatcher can still DH or PH, but we only had one freshman pitcher in last year's class being Stephens (Neff and France were grad transfers, Liebelt was a Juco Jr and Marsh was a Juco So). With our outfield set with Jordan, Mangum, and Mac next season, there is no other position for Hatcher to play in the field and I don't want to see him leave.

 

[Todd4State]

So strictly looking at pitchers coming in next year it looks like we will get:

Eric Cerantola (30)
Sam Knowlton (39)
Bryce Brock - undrafted
JP Elkins - JUCO undrafted
Colby White - JUCO undrafted
Christian MacLeod - undrafted

Anyone have any insights on any of these? A shame we lost 4 pitchers in the Top 10 rounds. Pitching will determine how good we are next year. We are loaded in the field. Pitchers expected back include:

Ethan Small
Denver McQuary
Riley Self
Keegan James
Spencer Price (injured)
Graham Ashcraft (injured)
Kale Breaux (injured)

Cerentola is really good and was drafted. I think he will be a weekend guy for us as long as he stays healthy at least in the future. He's probably the closest to being ready for the rotation of our incoming freshmen. Christian MacLeod is really good and is a LHP who I think will also eventually be a rotation guy and was good enough to be drafted. Knowlton was hurt for most of this year. Brock took a big step this year and will be a good pitcher for us. Brandon Smith is a pitcher that you didn't mention that I think will be good for us as well. Elkins was hurt but throws hard. White throws hard and struggled as a starter. Elkins and White are both projects to me. Brock and Smith I think could help us potentially out of the bullpen to start their careers and depending on how they develop they could potentially start down the line.

 

[Todd4State]

Hopefully Liebelt and Vansau transfer out. I don't believe they help us much. I would like to see Hatcher working more as a pitcher with Tanner settling in at 1B. Hatcher can still DH or PH, but we only had one freshman pitcher in last year's class being Stephens (Neff and France were grad transfers, Liebelt was a Juco Jr and Marsh was a Juco So). With our outfield set with Jordan, Mangum, and Mac next season, there is no other position for Hatcher to play in the field and I don't want to see him leave.

I think Hatcher will end up as the starting first baseman once he makes some adjustments. Rowdey could move to second because I don't think Stovall will be back. I think we will get Gunner Halter and that will be a big pick up for us. If he comes to school he's probably our biggest JUCO pick up since Nate Lowe. Moving Rowdey to second will open up LF for Jordan Anderson and then Allen can DH.

 

[maroonmania]

Cerentola is really good and was drafted. I think he will be a weekend guy for us as long as he stays healthy at least in the future. He's probably the closest to being ready for the rotation of our incoming freshmen. Christian MacLeod is really good and is a LHP who I think will also eventually be a rotation guy and was good enough to be drafted. Knowlton was hurt for most of this year. Brock took a big step this year and will be a good pitcher for us. Brandon Smith is a pitcher that you didn't mention that I think will be good for us as well. Elkins was hurt but throws hard. White throws hard and struggled as a starter. Elkins and White are both projects to me. Brock and Smith I think could help us potentially out of the bullpen to start their careers and depending on how they develop they could potentially start down the line.

On the 247 site they have Brandon Smith listed as a 3B. That's why I didn't mention him as a pitcher.

 

[patdog]

Yeah. That's the sweet spot for a signee. Low round draft pick out of HS. Not likely to go pro, but very likely to be a good SEC player for 3 years.

 

[Carbaryl]

Hopefully Liebelt and Vansau transfer out. I don't believe they help us much. I would like to see Hatcher working more as a pitcher with Tanner settling in at 1B. Hatcher can still DH or PH, but we only had one freshman pitcher in last year's class being Stephens (Neff and France were grad transfers, Liebelt was a Juco Jr and Marsh was a Juco So). With our outfield set with Jordan, Mangum, and Mac next season, there is no other position for Hatcher to play in the field and I don't want to see him leave.

You don't have to worry about Liebelt being on the team next year.I haven't heard anything on Vansau.

 

[Todd4State]

On the 247 site they have Brandon Smith listed as a 3B. That's why I didn't mention him as a pitcher.

Him playing third base is a possibility but I think it's more likely he ends up as a pitcher.