Tag: Baseball

Red Sox select Biola University left-hander Connor Butler with final pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 609th overall pick in the 2022 MLB first-year player draft, the Red Sox selected Division II Biola University left-hander Connor Butler.

Butler, 22, is not ranked by Baseball America as one of the top pitching prospects in this year’s draft class. The Idaho native began his collegiate career at the University of Hawaii — where he was briefly teammates with Jeremy Wu-Yelland — before transferring to Spokane Falls Community College and then again to Biola ahead of the 2021 campaign.

This past season with the Eagles, Butler posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.68 WHIP to go along with 47 strikeouts to 32 walks over 15 appearances (one start) spanning 22 innings of work.

Listed at 6-feet and 180 pounds, Butler does not turn 23 until next April. He has eligibility remaining, so it is no guarantee that he will sign. If he does, the allotted slot value for the 609th pick in this year’s draft sits at $125,000.

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That concludes the 2022 MLB Draft. In all, the Red Sox selected 21 players. Of those 21 players, seven were taken out of high school and 14 were taken out of college.

(Picture of Connor Butler: Biola University Athletics)

Red Sox select Oklahoma right-hander Jaret Godman with 19th-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 579th overall pick in the 2022 MLB first-year player draft, the Red Sox selected University of Oklahoma right-hander Jaret Godman.

Godman, 22, is not regarded by Baseball America as one of the top pitching prospects in this year’s draft class. This past season for the Sooners, the Las Vegas native posted a 6.98 ERA and 1.91 WHIP to go along with 17 strikeouts to seven walks over 20 relief appearances spanning 19 1/3 innings of work.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Godman operates with a 92-95 mph fastball and an 81-82 mph slider. The senior hurler also spent part of his summer last year pitching for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Godman, who does not turn 23 until next May, was college teammates with fellow righty Wyatt Olds, whom the Red Sox took in the seventh round of last year’s draft. He becomes the 12th college pitcher to be selected by Boston this time around.

The allotted slot value for the 579th pick in the 2022 draft comes in at $125,000. The Red Sox will have until August 1 to ink Godman, who could sign for less than that amount.

(Picture of Jaret Godman: University of Oklahoma Athletics)

Red Sox select Santa Rosa Junior College right-hander Austin Ehrlicher with 18th-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 549th overall pick in the 2022 MLB first-year player draft, the Red Sox selected Santa Rosa Junior College (Calif.) right-hander Austin Ehrlicher.

Ehrlicher, 19, is not ranked by Baseball America as one of the top pitching prospects in this year’s draft class. This past season, the California native posted a 4.26 ERA with 43 strikeouts to 14 walks over 10 appearances (eight starts) spanning 38 innings of work for the Bear Cubs.

He also made five appearances (three starts) for the Healdsburg Packers of the California Collegiate League earlier this summer, pitching to a 4.15 ERA with 12 punchouts to seven walks across 13 innings.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Ehrlicher is a two-sport athlete who also plays basketball and averaged 6.4 points per game as a freshman. Since he attends a junior college, Ehrlicher does not need to sign with the Red Sox before the traditional August 1 deadline.

Instead, the Sox can wait up until one week before next year’s draft to sign Ehrlicher for up to $225,000. As Boston’s director of amateur scouting, Paul Toboni, explained to reporters on Tuesday, Ehrlicher is now considered a “draft and follow” player.

(Picture of Austin Ehrlicher: Darryl Bush /For The Press Democrat)

Red Sox select Lutheran South Academy outfielder Deundre Jones with 17th-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 519th overall pick in the 2022 first-year player draft, the Red Sox selected Lutheran South Academy (Texas) first baseman/outfielder Deundre Jones.

Jones, 18, is not regarded by any industry publications as one of the top prospects in this year’s draft class. The Houston-area native is currently committed to play college baseball at Kansas State University.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Jones hits from the left side of the plate and throws with his left hand. According to Perfect Game USA, he “hits from a slightly open stance” and has a “high contact line drive swing with some strength behind it.”

On the other side of the ball, Jones is a solid defender at first base and also possesses the athleticism to play the outfield since he makes accurate throws and “moves well side to side.”

It may be tough for the Red Sox to sway Jones — who turns 19 in December — away from his commitment to Kansas State. The allotted slot value for the 519th pick in this year’s draft is $125,00. Boston will have until the end of the month to sign Jones.

(Picture of Deundre Jones: VYPE Houston)

Red Sox select Missouri left-hander Nathan Landry with 15th-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 459th overall pick in the 2022 MLB first-year player draft, the Red Sox have selected University of Missouri left-hander Nathan Landry.

Landry, 23, is not regarded by any major publication as one of the top pitching prospects in this year’s draft class. The Quebec native spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Mineral Area College before transferring to Mizzou for his junior season.

In 15 appearances (four starts) for the Tigers this spring, Landry posted a 3.67 ERA and 0.91 WHIP to go along with 54 strikeouts to just seven walks over 41 2/3 innings of work.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Landry becomes the first player the Red Sox have taken out of the University of Missouri since 2017, when they used their first-round pick on right-hander Tanner Houck.

Landry, who does not turn 24 until next May, is not a guarantee to sign with Boston since he has one year of eligibility remaining at Mizzou. If the lefty elects to go pro, the allotted slot value for the 459th pick in the 2022 draft is $125,000. The Red Sox will have until August 1 to sign him.

(Picture of Nathan Landry: University of Missouri Athletics)

Red Sox select Copperas Cove High School shortstop Travis Sanders with 14th-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 429th overall pick in the 2022 MLB first-year player draft, the Red Sox selected Copperas Cove High School shortstop Travis Sanders.

Sanders, 18, is not regarded by Baseball America as one of the top infield prospects in this year’s draft class. The right-handed hitter is currently committed to play college baseball at Texas Tech University.

As a junior at Copperas Cove in 2021, Sanders batted .437 with 12 doubles, six triples, seven home runs, 30 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases en route to being named the First Team All-State shortstop by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association. As a senior in 2022, he was named the 12-6A Offensive Player of the Year.

Per Prep Baseball Report, the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has a “quiet, balanced stance” at the plate and uses his hands to spray the ball to all fields with consistently hard contact. Perfect Game USA, on the other hand, notes that Sanders “moves well to the ball with nice balanced and body control throughout.” In other words, he has the tools to stick at shortstop.

Sanders, who turns 19 in December, becomes the fourth high school infielder the Red Sox have taken in this year’s draft, joining first-rounder Mikey Romero, second-rounder Cutter Coffey, and 13th-rounder Gavin Kilen.

The allotted slot value for the 429th selection in the 2022 draft comes in at $125,000. Sanders will have until August 1 to decide if he wants to sign with Boston now or rather go to Texas Tech and re-enter the draft in a few years.

(Picture of Travis Sanders: Texas Tech Athletics)

Red Sox select Milton High School shortstop Gavin Kilen with 13th-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 399th overall pick in the 2022 MLB first-year player draft, the Red Sox selected Milton (Wisc.) High School shortstop Gavin Kilen.

Kilen, 18, is regarded by Baseball America as the 149th-ranked prospect in this year’s draft class. The Badger State native is currently committed to play college baseball at the University of Louisville. He batted .459 with nine doubles, four triples, and two home runs, 16 RBIs, and 33 runs scored as a high school senior.

Per his Baseball America scouting report, Kilen “possesses a compact left-handed swing with good balance in his lower half. His exceptional bat-to-ball skills allow him to lace line drives to all fields and drive balls to the gaps. It may take some time for the 18-year-old to grow into added power, but the ingredients are there to mold into a solid, consistent bat.”

Defensively, the 5-foot-11, 184 pound infielder “has impressed on the dirt as well. A fundamentally sound defender with very good footwork, Kilen has an arm that can sling it across the diamond at 92 mph. His throws are accurate, and his baseball IQ assists in his defensive capabilities. He is projected to stay on the dirt long term, primarily at shortstop, with the ability to move around the infield and contribute elsewhere if needed.”

As the reigning Badger-East Player of the Year who led his team to its first-ever Division 1 state title this spring, Kilen “is a solid-average runner and possesses the intangibles scouts identify outside of the main components of the game,” according to Baseball America.

Kilen, who does not turn 19 until next March, becomes the first Wisconsite to be drafted by the Red Sox since 2019, when left-hander Connor Prielipp was taken in the 37th round. Prielipp ultimately decided to honor his commitment to the University of Alabama and was just selected by the Twins in the second round on Monday.

The same sort of thing may very well happen with Kilen, as the allotted slot value for the 399th pick in the 2022 draft comes in at only $125,000. Kilen will have until August 1 to decide whether to go to college, and re-enter the draft in three years, or go pro as a teenager.

(Picture of Gavin Kilen: Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox select Auburn left-hander Hayden Mullins with 12th-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 369th overall pick in the 2022 MLB first-year player draft, the Red Sox selected Auburn University left-hander Hayden Mullins.

Mullins, 21, is not regarded by Baseball America as one of the top pitching prospect’s in this year’s draft class, though the Tennessee native was ranked 119th by BA coming out of high school in 2019.

While he was not drafted back then, Mullins recently put the finishing touches on a junior season with Auburn in which he posted a 3.63 ERA and 1.39 WHIP to go along with 43 strikeouts to 25 walks over 11 appearances (eight starts) spanning 34 2/3 innings of work for the Tigers.

One of the primary reasons Mullins was limited to just 34 2/3 innings this spring was because of injury. On March 25, he left his start against Texas A&M after throwing three innings. On April 29, he left his start against Tennessee after throwing 1 2/3 innings and was later shut down for the rest of the season due to an elbow injury.

Listed at 6-foot and 194 pounds, Mullins has a high leg kick in his delivery and works with an 86-90 mph fastball that reaches 92 mph as well as a 72-79 mph curveball, per his 2019 scouting report.

Mullins, who turns 22 in September, has eligibility remaining so it is no sure thing he will go pro right now. Regardless of that, though, it is worth mentioning that the lefty played with 2021 ninth-rounder Tyler Miller as both a freshman and sophomore at Auburn.

The recommended slot value attached to the 369th pick in the 2022 draft comes in at $125,000, which is actually the case for all of Boston’s Day 3 selections. The Red Sox will have until the end of the month to sign Mullins.

(Picture of Hayden Mullins: Auburn University Athletics)

Red Sox select Long Beach state right-hander Marques Johnson with 11th-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 339th overall pick in the 2020 MLB first-year player draft, the Red Sox selected California State University, Long Beach right-hander Marques Johnson.

Johnson, 22, is regarded by Baseball America as the 328th-ranked prospect in this year’s draft class. Formerly of Riverside Community College, the Hemet, Calif. native posted a 3.25 ERA and 1.15 WHIP to go along with 51 strikeouts to 21 walks over 14 appearances (six starts) spanning 44 1/3 innings of work for the Dirtbags this season.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Johnson “has a fast arm,” according to his Baseball America scouting report. “His average fastball touches 95 mph and sits 91-93 mph. He generates high spin rates with his fastball, but as of yet, that has not generated exceptional movement or life on his heater. He throws a low-80s above-average slider that has plenty of tilt. He’s steadily improved his now fringe-average changeup.”

The hard-throwing senior began his collegiate career as a reliever before moving into Long Beach State’s starting rotation towards the end of the 2022 season. Because of that, some evaluators wonder if Johnson would be better suited for a relief role moving forward, though he still could develop into a productive starter.

Johnson, who does not turn 23 until next July, becomes just the third player the Red Sox have ever drafted out of Long Beach State, joining the likes of 2019 21st-rounder Dylan Spacke and 2018 seventh-rounder Jarren Duran. The righty also becomes the seventh college pitcher Boston has taken in this year’s draft.

The recommended slot value attached to the 339th selection in the 2022 draft comes in at $125,000. The Red Sox will have until August 1 to sign Johnson, as well as the rest of their draft picks.

(Picture of Marques Johnson: Long Beach State Athletics)

Red Sox select Oral Roberts right-hander Isaac Coffey with 10th-round pick in 2022 MLB Draft

With the 309th overall pick in the 2022 MLB first-year player draft, the Red Sox selected Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, Okla.) right-hander Isaac Coffey.

Not related to second-round selection Cutter Coffey, Isaac was not ranked by Baseball America or any other major publication as one of the top pitching prospects in this year’s draft class.

After being named Summit League Pitcher of the Year in 2021, Coffey posted a 3.77 ERA and 0.96 WHIP to go along with 78 strikeouts to 16 walks over 15 starts spanning 88 1/3 innings of work for the Golden Eagles this season.

Coffey, 22, hails from Goleta, Calif and possesses a fastball that sits between 88-91 mph. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder was a two-way player in college, but seems solely focused on pitching now since he only made 33 trips to the plate as a junior this spring.

The Red Sox last drafted a player out of Oral Roberts in 2005, when they took left-hander Matt Hancock in the 27th round. Coffey, meanwhile, becomes the sixth college arm Boston has taken in this year’s draft, joining the likes of Dalton Rogers, Noah Dean, Alex Hoppe, Caleb Bolden, and Jonathan Brand.

The recommended slot value attached to the 309th pick in the 2022 draft comes in at roughly $149,900. The Sox will have until August 1 to sign Coffey and the rest of their draft selections.

That concludes Day 2 of the MLB Draft. The third and final day of the draft will consist of rounds 11-20, meaning the Red Sox have 10 more picks to make. Day 3 begins at 2 p.m. eastern time.

(Picture of Isaac Coffey: Oral Roberts University Athletics)