SBNation Mock MLB Drafts Include some Georgia Tech influences

by Winfield Featherston on May 6, 2010 10:30 AM EDT

Two SBNation baseball blogs conducted MLB Mock Drafts in anticipation of the Draft being about a month away on. First off, John Sickels of Minor League Ball projected the first and supplemental rounds of the Major League Baseball draft yesterday. A second baseball blog, MLB Bonus Baby conducted their 5th Mock Draft for the first round only.

The Georgia Tech influence is felt in both rounds in Deck McGuire and signee DeAndre Smelter.

In the 1st Round, Sickels projects Deck going as the 7 th overall pick to the New York Mets.

The Mets are usually conservative in the draft, and I don't think that will change this year, so I have them opting for a nice safe polished college arm.

Andy Seiler of MLB Bonus Baby meanwhile projects McGuire as the 9th overall pick to the San Diego Padres.

Almost all of the Padres' high-level brass has seen McGuire in person over the course of the season, and I'd be surprised if he fell past this spot barring injury or a complete meltdown late in the season. The upside isn't huge, but he's solid and a perfect fit for Petco Park. He could be a big part of the next successful Padres team.

I have seen these scouts at the game. Seiler's right. There's been a good amount of Padres personnel. A top-10 pick for Deck McGuire is great news and we thoroughly look forward to this becoming a reality.

Some of you may not have heard of DeAndre Smelter, a flame throwing right-hander out of Tattnall Square Academy in Macon, GA. He has committed to Georgia Tech but don't count on him ever donning a uniform. The Baseball Rumor Mill says: Smelter is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-hander with broad shoulders and a thick lower half. He rocks back and fires 89-92 mph fastballs from a lower three-quarters arm slot and touches 93. Smelter hides the ball well and mixes in an 83 mph changeup and an 80-81 mph slider. He’s a good athlete who ran the 60-yard dash in 6.6 seconds.

Smelter_medium

DeAndre Smelter

via 1.bp.blogspot.com

Minor League Ball projects Smelter as the 36th pick going to the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox have the money to buy him [Smelter] away from Georgia Tech, and his athleticism and arm strength are very impressive.

It should be a known fact that Smelter is never going to step foot on campus. Rather, we should all take some sort of pride that he committed to us and be happy with that thought itself. He's just too good to stop in for some college ball.

The MLB Draft begins June 7th! Follow Minor League Balll and MLB Bonus Baby for constant prospect news.

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MLB Bonus Baby Draft Locks

Andy Seiler just put out a list of guys that are “locks” to get drafted this season. Doesn’t list where each is projected. Here are the GT guys he has on the list:

Chase Burnette OF
Brandon Cumpton RHP
Derek Dietrich SS
Kevin Jacob RHP
Cole Leonida C
Deck McGuire RHP
Andrew Robinson RHP

I am very surprised Rowland and Plagman are not on that list at this point. Maybe he accidentally missed them.

by Kayne on May 6, 2010 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

had to have missed them

No way Plagman gets missed by those teams

FromTheRumbleSeat: Where Georgia Tech and statistics go hand-in-hand.

by Winfield Featherston on May 6, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Seiler said they are on the border. Not locks, but probable for the other 205 slots.

by Kayne on May 6, 2010 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

if Tech loses all of these guys and the seniors… next year is going to be interesting

by Yellow Jackette on May 6, 2010 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

Seniors that have contributed: Plagman
Seniors that have played some: Jacob, Dantzler, Garofalo, Long

Of the juniors that get drafted, I think the two that will definitely leave are Dietrich and Deck. Both will be picked in the top three rounds.

After those two, I guess it depends on where the guys get drafted and what type of money they would get. Thomas Nichols is another guy that could get drafted, but he might be better served to stay IF he is guaranteed to get to play a position next year.

by Kayne on May 6, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Robinson is also a senior so he is gone regardless. Rivals had Kevin Jacob in their top 50 propects. If he can prove to be healthy I’d imagine he won’t stay. The pitching staff will have some big roles to fill. Thank goodness Pope and Jed will be still be around. Also Bard has been looking pretty solid.

by Yellow Jackette on May 6, 2010 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

You are right. I was thinking Robinson was a redshirt Junior. And don’t know why I thought Jacob was a senior.

Yeah, I agree about Jacob. Do you know when he is expected to return to pitching for us?

by Kayne on May 6, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

From what I understand he has started throwing again but they are trying to take it slow so as not to hurt his draft status. I applaud the coaching staff for not rushing this process and trying to keep the best interests of their players in mind. I’m hoping he will be back any day now.

by Yellow Jackette on May 6, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions