LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky capped off an impressive first season under Nick Mingione with eight players selected in the MLB Draft. UK’s eight selections are the second most in school history, just one behind the 2012 draft class that had nine draftees.
MLB Draft selections
1B Evan White, Seattle Mariners, Rd. 1 (17)
2B Riley Mahan, Miami Marlins, Rd. 3 (89)
LHP Logan Salow, Oakland Athletics, Rd. 6 (171)
RHP Zach Pop, Los Angeles Dodgers, Rd. 8 (220)
LHP Zach Logue, Toronto Blue Jays, Rd. 9 (279)
LF Zach Reks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Rd. 10 (310)
RHP Justin Lewis, Tampa Bay Rays, Rd. 11 (319)
SS Connor Heady, Los Angeles Dodgers, Rd. 23 (700)
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
There haven’t been any official announcements on players signing yet, but it’s a safe bet that every player taken in the top 10 rounds is signing a professional contract. Reks and Salow are seniors and wouldn’t impact next season’s roster anyway, but White, Mahan, Pop and Logue will likely all sign.
The big question comes with Justin Lewis. Lewis, who went 6-4 with a 3.56 ERA, was selected early in the 11th round on Wednesday. Sources in recent weeks indicated to Catsillustrated.com that Lewis, who is just a redshirt sophomore, could return to UK. However, MLB.com reported that Lewis is likely to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays. The article, written by Rays beat writer Bill Chastain, said this.
"I thought I was going to go sooner," said Lewis, who indicated a few teams called him in the earlier rounds, but he wasn't interested in what they had to offer, so those teams did not draft him. "But the Rays came up with a good offer that I don't think I'll be able to refuse.”
If the signing bonus that Lewis and his family asked for is met, he's likely to sign with the Rays.
FOUR COMMITMENTS SELECTED IN DRAFT
UK’s coaching staff is likely happy with the way the draft turned out. Four UK commitments were selected in the draft, while some of the other top talent went undrafted because they couldn’t reach deals with teams.
Junior college lefthander Jackson Stoeckinger was the highest-drafted commitment. Stoeckinger attended Mercer County High School in Kentucky prior to attending junior college. He was taken by the Washington Nationals in the 12th round. We're told he'll sign with the Nationals.
Prep righthander Aaron Perry was selected in the 14th round by the Boston Red Sox. Perry had a stress fracture in his right elbow in the spring and was limited in the spring. His decision will be a close one to follow over the coming weeks. It's likely 50/50 right now on whether he'll turn pro or choose UK.
Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year Joey Cantillo was selected in the 16th round by the San Diego Padres. Cantillo, a lefthanded pitcher, went 5-1 with a 1.24 ERA during his senior season. He's not yet made a decision, but UK should be in good shape.
Brad Dobzanski, who was New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year, was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 39th round. He told Catsillustrated.com that he wasn’t 100 percent sure yet on a final decision, but that he would likely attend UK.
With that said, almost all of UK’s top talent in the 2017 class should be on campus. Cats Illustrated reported on Wednesday that infielder Kaden Polcovich, the top infielder prospect in UK’s class, will attend UK.
Junior college prospect Zach Haake, who was listed as the 151st best draft prospect by Baseball America, likely priced himself out of draft negotions and went undrafted. Haake's fastball was up to 95 miles per hour in the spring.
Ben Jordan, an Under Armour All American in high school, also went undrafted after having Tommy John surgery in April.
The Wildcats have the 18th ranked class in the nation according to Perfect Game.
