Local players await to hear name called in 2021 MLB Draft this week

By TIM GAYLE

Several local players will have their eyes on the 2021 Major League Draft, hoping to hear their name called on Monday or Tuesday.

The draft gets under way with the first round televised by ESPN on Sunday evening. The draft continues on Monday afternoon with the second round and concludes on Tuesday with the 20th round.

There are several players with Alabama and Auburn ties that could be drafted along with several high school stars. Five players with local ties could be drafted as well.

Former Macon East Academy star Drew Baker, now a sophomore at Chipola College, could be one of those. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound pitcher was 7-2 with a 3.45 earned run average this past season, recording 92 strikeouts in 15 appearances. With a fastball in the low 90s, he has the potential to be a high draft pick.

Former Trinity pitcher and catcher Trace Bright is another who led Auburn in wins (four) and starts (11) this past season, striking out 43 batters in 19 appearances. 

His teammate at Trinity, Jacksonville State pitcher Camden Lovrich, could hear his name called after a sophomore season that included 22 appearances. He was 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 31 strikeouts.

Former LAMP standout Parker Chavers hoped to hear his name called last year, but COVID restrictions limited the MLB draft to five rounds. Like last year, he is projected to go in that area in this year’s draft after leading Coastal Carolina with a .318 batting average, 12 doubles and 14 stolen bases. The All-American center fielder, who was recovering from should surgery last summer, also had five home runs and 33 RBIs. 

Former Edgewood Academy and Park Crossing star Jackson Tate came on late in the season to make an impact for Alabama in 2021. Tate played his first two years at Lawson State and played sparingly for the Crimson Tide in 2020. This past season, he made 26 starts as he alternated between left field and center field, batting .292 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs.

Over the final 18 games, he forced his way into the starting lineup 14 and in that stretch led the Crimson Tide with five home runs, 11 RBIs and a .615 slugging percentage.

Most of the state’s high school stars that could get drafted are pitchers, including UMS-Wright’s Maddux Bruns, Dothan’s Chase Allsup (an Auburn signee), Smiths Station’s Trent Hodgdon, Chilton County’s Pico Kohn, Briarwood’s Carson McKinney and Josh Neutze of St. Luke’s Episcopal.

Other high school hurlers that could be considered are Cole Cheatham of Ardmore, Grant Cherry of Vestavia Hills, Bryce Cunningham of Headland, Brady Garcia of Spanish Fort and Grant Taylor of Florence.

Among the top position players are Bob Jones third baseman Slate Alford, Oxford outfielder Trey Higgins and Bob Jones catcher Max Soliz.

The top prospect is this state, as ranked by MLB, is former Andalusia standout Ethan Wilson, who is rated 35th (high second round) after leading South Alabama to the NCAA regional finals and the Sun Belt Conference tournament title. Bruns is rated as a middle second rounder, followed by Alabama second baseman Peyton Wilson and Auburn shortstop Ryan Bliss.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the first pick in the 20-round draft. The Tampa Bay Rays have the 28th pick and potentially could send that selection to their Double-A affiliate in Montgomery since the restructuring of the minor league system eliminated Rookie, Short Season A and one of the two Single-A franchises this season. 

2021 MLB DRAFT

Sunday -- Round 1, 6 p.m., ESPN

Monday -- Rounds 2-10, noon, MLB Network

Tuesday -- Rounds 11-20, 11 a.m., MLB Network