MLB Draft Recap: Who’s on the way out for Georgia Tech?

With the 2017 MLB Draft now solidly in the rear-view mirror, we can finally take the opportunity to step back and have a quick look at the damage done to Tech’s 2018 baseball roster by professional franchises. Talent loss is to be expected for all ACC schools, but Danny Hall’s Yellow Jackets actually got off easy this time around with only three players drafted — a number that is disappointingly low given the talent on the roster yet quite reassuring in that it guarantees a much-needed veteran presence on next year’s team.

A Brief Introduction to the MLB Draft

For those who aren’t familiar with the rules of the MLB Amateur Draft, they are strange compared to the NBA and NFL Drafts. Here are a few things to know that will impact whether or not we see Tech’s draftees back on the Flat next season:

• Players are eligible to be drafted when they finish high school, play any length of time at community college, complete three years of college, or if they are 21 years old by the time of the draft. (The final point is why Kel Johnson was draft eligible as a sophomore last year.)
• It is commonplace for players drafted by MLB teams in the later rounds to not sign and return to college.
• Each MLB team has a pool of money which they can distribute as they see fit to draftees, and each draft position for the first ten rounds has a slot value which is essentially a recommended price for the player selected there. Seniors are almost always cheaper and underclassmen are more expensive.

So, which players comprised the lucky trio this season?

Jr. UTL Trevor Craport — Baltimore Orioles, 11th Round (No. 338)

Craport can play just about anywhere, and his versatility was rewarded by the Baltimore Orioles in the 11th round of the draft. He is the only former Yellow Jacket who is eligible to return next season and may well choose to do so, but it is important to remember that only two 11th round selectees from last season did not sign with an MLB team. The Orioles have one of the smallest pools to work with out of any MLB team, but it is common practice for a deal to be reached with underclassmen prior to the draft; whether or not that’s the case with Craport remains to be seen.

If the 2017 season was his last on the Flats, it was wildly successful for Trevor Craport — he hit .336 with 5 homeruns and 30 RBIs for Danny Hall over the course of his junior campaign en route to being named an All-American. Though he did pitch as a freshman at Tech, his future is almost certainly with a bat in his hands.

Sr. RHP Zac Ryan — Los Angeles Angels, 23rd Round (No. 685)

Ryan was selected roughly half way through the draft by the Angels, No. 685 overall. His Georgia Tech career was over regardless of his draft status since he’d exhausted his college eligibility, so he will likely receive a modest signing bonus before starting his MLB career in Anaheim. Ryan spent time as a starter and a reliever at Tech but almost certainly projects as a bullpen arm at the next level.

He finished his senior season with a 3.33 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 46 innings over 27 games. Ryan served as the team’s closer, securing a team-high 5 saves for the season.

Sr. OF Ryan Peurifoy -- Pittsburgh Pirates, 38th Round (No. 1138)

Ryan Peurifoy was selected by Pittsburgh in the 38th round of the draft, bringing a nice end to his successful Georgia Tech career. Like Zac Ryan, he will likely receive a very small signing bonus and report to the rookie leagues with the Pirates in the near future.

One of the most consistent Tech hitters for four seasons, Peurifoy finished his senior campaign batting .295 with 7 homeruns and 33 RBIs over 54 starts.

Congratulations to Tech’s three draftees and best of luck in the pros!