MLB Amateur Draft Starts Today; Gator Players And Signees Should Get Calls

Major League Baseball’s Amateur Draft starts tonight and several Gator players and signees could be having decisions to make soon as to stay in school or go to the pro level.

The first player with a Gator tie to be selected will probably be pitching signee Grant Holmes from South Carolina; most believe he will be selected in the first round.   Catcher JJ Schwarz is another signee who could be drafted early.   Several other signees could be drafted in later rounds.

The first current Gator that could be selected is catcher Taylor Gushue, who most believe should be taken somewhere from the fifth round down.   Other Gator players who could be drafted include pitchers Ryan Harris and Karsten Whitson.   An intriguing draft eligible prospect is junior Justin Shafer who has pitched well of late and scouts have taken notice of a fastball that gets up to 92-94 miles an hour.

Several position players are also draft eligible like juniors Josh Tobias, Casey Turgeon and  Zack Powers and they were also drafted out of high school.   Braden Mattson is also draft eligible as the junior college transfer played primarily in the outfield for Florida this past season.