Lake Mary shortstop expected to be high pick in baseball draft – Orlando Sentinel
When Brendan Rodgers enters the MLB Network studios Monday night for the amateur baseball draft, he will be dressed appropriately for such a big occasion.
He will be lacking the most important fashion accessory, though: a baseball cap identifying the franchise that will allow him a chance to play out his dream.
“I’m trying to relax,” Rodgers said last week. “Obviously it’s the only thing that is in the back of my mind, but I try not to make it a huge deal. I know it is going to end up being a big deal in a couple of days.”
Well, tonight’s the night, not only for Rodgers — rated the top overall prospect by Baseball America in what one of the magazine’s writers, Teddy Cahill, called a draft “that is maybe a little light on talent” — but possibly high-school pitchers Juan Hillman of Olympia and Brady Singer of Eustis. They, too, could be selected before the second round is concluded.
Rounds 3-10 are scheduled for Tuesday, with the remainder of the 40 name-dropping rounds Wednesday. The first day of the draft will be televised by MLB Network, beginning at 7 Monday night.
Florida State outfielder DJ Stewart and Florida shortstop Richie Martin are possible selections in the first round or with one of the 16 supplemental or “competitive-balance” picks before Round 2.
Rodgers, though, likely will have the shortest wait of any area or state player to be draft.
“The teams at the top of the draft don’t seem to be quite as excited about [him], and you don’t hear a lot of buzz around either the Diamondbacks [at No. 1] or the Astros [at No. 2] when it comes to picking him,” Cahill said. “It’s certainly possible he could go there still, but it seems likely that he will slide a little bit further down. If he got to four, where the Rangers pick, we are pretty sure they would take him.
“The Rockies could take him at three.”
With any draft, it’s all a guessing game. Rodgers, who will be joined by about 20 family, friends and former coaches on his big night, understands.
” I don’t really know where or who or anything like that,” said Rodgers, who batted .368 with eight home runs and 23 RBIs and turned 15 double plays for Lake Mary in 2015. “I wish I knew.”
Said Cahill: “There’s always nitpicking with a player of his caliber.”
When a team is investing so much money in a prospect, nitpicking is OK — and necessary. The slot value for the fifth overall pick, held by the Astros, is $4.2 million. The top overall selection by the Diamondbacks has a slot value north of $8.6 million.
At this point, the money doesn’t concern Rodgers. Why should it? That cap is so much more valuable.
Copyright © 2015, Orlando Sentinel
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