MLB Draft Preview

The MLB Draft is set to take place beginning tomorrow and ending Wednesday, and several Oregon State players are in line to have their name called. All players who have been out of high school for 3 years are eligible, meaning any redshirt sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible. Unlike the NBA or the NFL draft, players do not have to choose whether to enter the draft or to stay in school, as a player can be drafted and decided to pass on the opportunity and complete his college eligibility.

When?

Monday: 4pm-Rounds 1 & 2

Tuesday: 10am- Rounds 3-10

Wednesday: 9 am- Rounds 11-40

How to watch

The first round will air on MLB network, while the rest of the first day will stream on MLB.com. Rounds 3-40 will not stream, but up to the minute results can be found on MLB.com

Beavers that will hear their names called:

KJ Harrison

The junior first baseman has had an outstanding season at the plate batting .355. The power numbers have been down for KJ, but that can be partially credited to the miserable wet weather that plagued Corvallis much of the spring, and several games missed late in the year due to an ankle injury. The biggest question will be where do teams see him fit on the diamond. Harrison came to OSU as a catcher before transitioning to first base. The 6 foot Hawaii native is athletic enough that a major league team could try to shift him back to catcher as well as third base or a corner outfield position.

BTD Projection: 2nd-3rd Round

Jake Thompson

Not enough can be said about the year that Jake Thompson has had, as the redshirt junior has finally put it all together and been absolutely lights out for the Beavs. Thompson, who was drafted by the Cubs out of high school did not have his name called last year even though he was eligible. Teams were concerned with his lack of consistency and his confidence issues that plagued his first 3 seasons in Corvallis, but a stellar 2017 season has put those concerns to rest. The Oregon native is in the running for some major awards at the end of the year and will likely hear his name called fairly early in the draft.

BTD Projection: 2nd-3rd Round

Drew Rasmussen

Had Rasmussen been able to stay healthy his entire career I believe he would be a consensus first round pick. Teams will have questions about his long term health after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but Drew has been spectacular in his return. The author of Oregon State’s only perfect game returned mid season and has put up some ridiculous numbers for the Beavs.

BTD Projection: 3rd round

Michael Gretler

Gretler isn’t high on many prospect lists but his recent hot streak at the plate and his defensive prowess at the hot corner is sure to have garnered some attention from major league scouts. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Washington native picked up earlier than some expect.

BTD Projection: Early third day

Christian Donahue

A down year by Donahue may have dropped C-Boy down some draft boards, but the junior has shown the talent needed to play at the next level. Donahue has been a victim of the teams depth as he has seen him playing time shrink from previous years, and has had to play outside of his normal middle infield position. I would expect a major league team to shift him back to second base and hope with consistent playing time in the minors Donahue returns to form that saw him garner all-Pac 12 honors as a sophomore.

BTD Projection: Early third day

Jack Anderson

Let’s be honest Anderson is not going to wow anybody with any particular skill set. He doesn't have blazing speed or the most powerful of bats, he fields well but not spectacularly, and he doesn’t really strike fear into the opponent. That all being said the redshirt junior has turned himself into quite the ball player for the Beavs. After platooning last season, and early this year Anderson came on strong and made himself into an everyday starter. The Lake Oswego native is a perfect embodiment of hard work paying off. While he may not be a top flight prospect many coaches would love to have his hard work and enthusiasm for the game on their roster.

BTD Projection: Third day

Max Englebrekt

The only senior on the Beavers roster this year will see his time in Corvallis come to an end, but not his playing days. The senior didn’t see as much action this year as some may have expected due to injuries and the emergence of freshmen Jake Mulholland and Brandon Eisert, but when he pitched he did so very well. The fact that he doesn’t have the leverage of the option to return to school, and the fact that he has pitched solely out of the pen may drop him to the later rounds, but teams looking for some bullpen depth and an occasional pinch hitter will have him on their board.

BTD Projection: Third day

Kevin Abel

What? Who? I have never seen this guy on the field. Well that’s cause you obviously haven’t spent a whole lot of time watching high school baseball in San Diego, it’s ok, neither do I. Abel is the top recruit of the 2017 draft class and is ranked as the 217th best draft prospect by Baseball America. Figuring about 30 picks per round(not counting compensatory rounds) that puts the right handed pitcher in about the 7th round range. I admittedly do not know much about Abel’s desire to play college ball, or whether the right offer from a major league team could sway him to forgo his college education and head to the minor leagues. He could go the Nick Madrigal route and tell teams he is committed to college ball, at which point most teams will back off until the late rounds of the draft. Abel will be a name for Beaver fans to watch come draft time.

Luke Heimlich

Heimlich had worked his way to being a potential first round pick, but this weeks disturbing revelations have led to many major league teams taking him off their draft board.

Others that are eligible and could have their name called: Sam Tweedt, Elliot Cary and Mitch Hickey