2017 MLB Draft Recap
The 2017 Major League Baseball draft took place between June 13-15, and saw 1,215 high school and college players selected by pro ballclubs. Among them were 21 players who have played in the Florida League.
The first former player off the board was RHP Seth Elledge of Dallas Baptist University. Elledge has served as the Patriot’s closer for the past two seasons, and found himself on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason watch list. He posted a 2.59 ERA in 22 games this spring, and helped DBU to their fourth straight College World Series regional. Elledge was a member of the 2015 Altamonte Springs Boom, where he earned the Reliever of the Year award thanks to a 32:4 K/BB ratio and a miniscule 0.52 ERA. The big righty was taken in the fourth round, #123 overall, by the Seattle Mariners.
One round later, Jason Bahr heard his name called. Another tall RHP, Bahr dominated hitters as a member of the UCF bullpen, amassing 98 strikeouts in 60.2 innings. He struck out nine batters in a game three different times this spring, including UCF’s College World Series regional game against Florida State. Bahr won two championships in the Florida League as a member of the 2015 Sanford River Rats and the 2016 Altamonte Springs Boom. Bahr was selected #156 overall by the Giants on Tuesday.
The third Top 10 Round pick was Kentucky OF Zachary Reks. Reks enjoyed tremendous success at the plate for the Wildcats this year, finishing with a .352 average with 44 runs scored and 44 driven in 65 games played. Reks suited up for the DeLand Suns last summer, collecting 33 hits in 36 games. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in Round 10, #310 overall.
A run of River Rats ensued next. Kevin Williams (Samford), a 2017 signee, was taken 13-385. He was followed by Vanderbilt RHP/OF Reed Hayes at 13/398. Hayes starred for the Rats last summer, batting .271 with three HR and 15 RBI. He was also a member of the 2016 Florida League Prospect Team. Throwing it back to 2014, the next selection was SS Demetrius Sims of Bethune Cookman. The Marlins drafted Sims at 14-419 following his standout season for the Wildcats. After former Diamond Dawg Matt Duce interrupted the streak, three more Rats jumped off the board: Tyler Ratliff (Marshall, 2015), Kevin Santa (Tampa, 2015) and Justin Smith (St. Johns River, 2016).
Other notable selections from the draft include Alex House of Florida Atlantic who went 24-721 to the Astros. House played for Sanford in 2015 and was named the Championship Game MVP after tossing a complete game against Leesburg at Tropicana Field. Yahir Gurrola, a member of the 2015 Winter Garden Squeeze, had a banner year at UNF and was rewarded with the Phillies’ 27th round pick. Laz Rivera Tampa) was the fourth member of the 2015 Rats to be drafted when he went the White Sox in the 28th round.
2017 MLB Draft
4 123 Seth Elledge Mariners
5 156 Jason Bahr Giants
10 310 Zack Reks Dodgers
11 322 Tra’Mayne Holmes Arizona
13 385 Kevin Williams Angels
13 398 Reed Hayes Orioles
14 419 Demetrius Sims Marlins
14 427 Matt Duce Giants
17 524 Tyler Ratliff Rangers
19 573 Kevin Santa Mariners
20 590 Justin Smith Braves
21 633 Connor Hoover Mariners
24 721 Alex House Astros
25 750 Tyler James Royals
26 793 Kameron Esthay Nationals
27 803 Yahir Gurrola Phillies
28 837 Laz Rivera White Sox
30 894 Cody Beckman Brewers
32 968 Max Hogan Orioles
33 988 Ryan Valdes Pirates
34 1026 Connor Nurse Giants
In addition to the collegiate league players, a number of athletes who played in the Florida League High School Invitational were selected. This draft saw twenty-one former preps have their name called, led by #7 overall pick Pavin Smith. A standout from the University of Virginia, Smith played alongside Florida Gator JJ Schwarz (drafted in the 38th round) for Palm Beach Gardens High School in 2014 when the team claimed the FHSI Classic trophy. Lake Brantley High School had Logan Warmoth (1-22), Carl Chester (12-349) and Tate Blackman (13-387) selected; all three played in the FHSI multiple times between 2011-14. More recently, University High School in Orange City, FL had three players drafted as well: Nathan Peden, Logan Allen and Cam Robinson. The trio played in the FHSI in both 2016 and 2017, and went all the way to the state finals this season.
High School Invitational Participants
1 7 Pavin Smith Arizona
1 22 Logan Warmoth Toronto
4 107 Cash Case Cincinnati
4 112 Harry Francis Arizona
7 204 Bowden Francis Milwaukee
7 221 Tyler Esplin Boston
8 243 Billy Cooke Seattle
11 342 Matthew Turner Cleveland
12 349 Carl Chester Tampa Bay
13 387 Tate Blackman White Sox
13 397 Nathan Peden Mets
16 488 Logan Allen Orioles
19 584 Nick Snyder Rangers
23 684 Cam Robinson Brewers
27 798 Christian Robinson Padres
27 802 Andrew Eyster Arizona
28 842 Shane Roberts Yankees
33 989 Kyle Farjad Marlins
34 1033 Bennett Sousa Nationals
35 1062 Spencer Strider Indians
38 1129 JJ Schwarz Rays
