Ole Miss baseball is affected by the MLB draft each year. Here’s a look at the decisions current players and signees who are draft eligible will face.
After an amazing 43 win season, and a disappointing loss in the Oxford Regional, Ole Miss is ready to learn the fate of the future Rebel baseball teams. Thursday, June 9th is the MLB Draft on MLB Network at 6 PM ET. Ole Miss have a few players on the team that are threats to be drafted and to sign with a major league team. They also have a few signees that are threats to go the majors before they show up to campus.
Current Players
This Ole Miss team has a ton of talent that I expect the MLB to feed off of. From pitchers to fielders, the 2017 squad will have a different look to it.
J.B. Woodman – Junior OF
This one is a no brainer. Woodman is expected to go in one of the early rounds of the draft. I expect him to go in the late 4th-early 5th round of the draft. This means Woodman will fall into one of the value slots in the draft, meaning he has most likely already agreed to terms with a team.
If a team was to take Woodman in the first 10 rounds, but he did not sign with them, that team would then lose the money allotted for that slot. So keep in mind, if a player goes in the top 10 rounds, that means he is most likely not returning.
Woodman made a name for himself this season, leading the SEC in home runs. He also showed out in centerfield, showing off his arm on many occasions. Expect a new center fielder in Swayze Field next season. I think Woodman has a 10% chance of coming back.
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Brady Bramlett – Junior RHP
Bramlett was the Friday night starter for Ole Miss all season, posting an 8-3 record with a 3.17 ERA. Bramlett is a tricky case for me. He is a solid pitcher who faced some of the best competition, but he also struggled at times going deep into games. I am interested to see how that hurts him in the draft. I do expect Bramlett to be drafted by a team, maybe late 10th-12th round, but I feel like he comes back to Ole Miss for his senior season. I put Bramlett at a 55% chance of coming back.
Henri Lartique – Junior C
Lartique was easily the most improved player on the team this season. He posted a team leading .353 batting average, along with 4 home runs and 31 RBI’s. Lartique has some interest from MLB scouts after doing a great job behind the plate, as well as at the dish. King Henri showed some promise on defense behind the plate all season. He was also coached by one of the best catcher coaches in the country, former LSU catcher Mike Bianco.
Lartique was the third Ole Miss Rebel in four years to be award the 1st-team All-SEC award for catcher. Stuart Turner and Will Allen are the other two. If Lartique is drafted in the top 15 rounds, I expect him to sign. His stock is at an all time high right now, so it is time to sell high. I put Lartique at a 60% of returning.
Rebel Nation... It's been a pleasure.
— Errol Robinson (@therealerob_6) June 4, 2016
With love,
Your shortstop, Errol Robinson
Errol Robinson – Junior SS
Errol Robinson announced his intentions of signing a MLB contact on Twitter after the final game of the season. Robinson, who was ranked as one of the top shortstops in the nation preseason, is now hoping to land in one of the top 10 rounds.
Robinson has shown promise at the shortstop position, and that is where he will play at the next level. He has been a consistent bat at the top of the lineup since he walked on campus. Robinson has been a key to the success Ole Miss has had. If he can improve his defense, I could see him making it to the majors one day. Errol has a 0% chance of coming back to Ole Miss.
Wyatt Short – Junior LHP
Short only has one problem that might keep him in Oxford, he is short. Wyatt comes in at a cool 5’8″, which might keep teams away from him. Does this make sense? No. But MLB teams have templates for players and they rarely go outside of that template. There are a lot of good pitchers who are short, including Marcus Stroman who is the spokesman for short pitchers.
Wyatt has the command to play anywhere. He improved his fastball to a low 90’s pitch that he can command, and has a nasty slider to throw around the high 80’s. Short has the body of work to impress a team, it just depends on a team feeling confident in him. I expect Short to be gone by day two of the draft. Short has a 45% of returning in my opinion.
Related Story: Ole Miss baseball: 2016 Season Review
Tate Blackman – Sophomore 2B
Blackman improved offensively, but still struggled on the defensive side. If Blackman can improve his defense and lower his errors, he could be a MLB star in the infield. I don’t think this draft is the draft for him though.
Blackman, who is eligible for the draft due to this age, was assigned to the Falmouth team of the Cape Cod league. This is usually a sign that a player is coming back. So Rebel fans should have some optimism for next season. I think Blackman is back, but he has a chance to go the pros. I put him at a 55% chance to come back.
Chad Smith – Junior RHP
Smith is a perplexing case. He has the build and the style that the MLB wants, but he struggled in conference play this season. I think Smith should return for his senior season and try to improve his reputation against SEC teams, but if a team takes a chance on him, then sign.
Smith could hear his name in the later rounds on day two. I put Smith at a 50% chance to return. This feels odd, but I think Smith will sign if he is drafted within the first 15 rounds or so.
Colby Bortles – Junior 3B
Bortles has the offensive skills to play in the league, but he is inconsistent at best. He his a .269 average with 8 home runs this season, but that included a team high 59 strikeouts. Bortles will most likely move the other side of the diamond at the next level.
His defense needs some improvement, and he isn’t fast enough to play third base at the next level. But Bortles could make some improvements to his defense, and improve his plate discipline. I could see him making his way into a 20th round pick or so. I think Bortles returns for his senior season at Ole Miss. I put Bortles at a 85% chance of returning.
High School Signees
This class that Bianco and company are bringing in could be one of the best classes in Ole Miss history. But the draft could deplete this class.
Thomas Dillard – Oxford C
Dillard is one of the key members of this Ole Miss class. The Rebels need a defensive catcher who can hit for power, and Dillard fits that mold perfectly. Dillard hits for power from both sides of the plate, leading the country in home runs this season. Dillard has been compared to Kyle Schwarber early in his career.
Dillard is looking for a top 10 round pick, and just might get that. I put Dillard at 65% chance of showing up to campus.
Cooper Johnson – Carmel Catholic C
Johnson is gone. He is projected to go in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft this season. Johnson is a star catcher who can hit for power, average, and plays defense. He is one of the top catcher prospects in the nation.
I give Johnson a 0% chance of showing up to campus.
Grae Kessinger – Oxford SS
Kessinger will be one the prospects to keep an eye out on during the draft. A lot of fans think Kessinger will show up on campus due to his name, but I don’t see it. Kessinger is a top draft pick and could go in the top 10 rounds. Kessinger is an elite shortstop and would most likely start day one at Ole Miss.
I put Kessinger at a 60% chance of showing up to Ole Miss.
Ryan Rolison – University School of Jackson LHP
Rolison was not even a worry for the Rebels until this season. He seriously improved his fastball from 87 to 94 MPH and has shot up draft boards. Rolison could go in the first two rounds of the draft tonight. If Rolison makes it to Ole Miss, expect him to become a rotation starter quickly.
I put Rolison at a 40% chance of showing up to Ole Miss.
Will Ethridge – Parkview RHP
Ethridge is a star pitcher who could see his name called early on Friday. Unless Ethridge outprices himself in the draft, don’t be too surprised if he signs with a team. He has a one-two punch with his fastball and curveball, with an okay off-speed pitch that could improve.
I put Ethridge at a 50% chance to come to Ole Miss for his freshman season.
Conclusion
I don’t see the Rebels losing anybody outside of these guys. The Rebels are in good shape for the future. We shouldn’t lose Jason Barber or Houston Roth from OHS. We are also bringing in JUCO talent Timothy Rowe from ICC.
Next: Ole Miss football's 3 most unheralded players for 2016
How to Witness The Draft
The MLB draft is being broadcast on MLB Network on Thursday night at 6PM CT.
Thursday – Rounds 1-2
Friday – Rounds 3-10
Saturday – Rounds 11-40.
Also, the MLB Network website has a draft tracker page that is very helpful and informative if you are unable to follow the draft pick-by-pick on TV.