Prospects Selected in the 2018 MLB Draft Playing at the College World Series

Florida Gators/Kansas City Royals Pitcher Brady Singer, 2018 MLB Draft 18th Overall Pick

One of the more unique aspects about the MLB Draft is that it takes place in-season, while other sports such as the NBA and NFL have their drafts months following basketball and football respective NCAA and high school seasons. As the selection process of the amateurs throughout the collegiate and prep ranks concluded last week, some of the prospects drafted are now playing on the largest platform the NCAA has to offer in the College World Series — held annually in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Filtered throughout the field of eight teams that will play in two, four team double-elimination brackets, where the winner of each respective bracket will meet in a best of three series to decide the National Champions. Each of the eight teams feature multiple players who were chosen in the 40 rounds of the MLB Draft which took place over the course of three days, June 4-6. 

The University of Florida and Oregon State University enter the CWS headlined by three players each selected within the first 40 picks — all prior to the second round. However, Texas Tech and Arkansas lead the field overall with 11 selections each, with North Carolina following them with 10. Meanwhile Washington, Mississippi State, and Texas all have multiple members of their team selected. Including both pitchers and position players. 

Here I'll remark about a player from each school at the CWS that was selected during the 2018 MLB Draft to watch out for —not only as the College World Series takes place, but as each prospect continues their career in the professional ranks, beginning in the farm system of the team which they were selected with the dream of reaching the Major League one step closer. 

Arkansas/Kansas City Royals, Outfielder, Eric Cole

At 5'11, 185 pounds, switch-hitting Eric Cole had the profile of a pesky, quality outfielder who could be counted upon for competitive, tough at-bats and solid defense. This season he improved and proved his ability to hit with power, smashing 14 home runs, having hit five in 2017 and none in 2016. Along with his power, he improved his overall hit-ability, batting .329 on the season — the first time he's hit over .300 in his career. 

The Kansas City Royals were among the teams to take notice and select him in the fourth round of the MLB Draft. 

Cole mans right field for the Razorbacks, backing pitcher Blaine Knight who was picked in the third round for the Baltimore Orioles, but is thought to be capable of handling all three outfield positions moving forward. That would only increase his versatility and potential to become a viable piece for the Royals in the future.

Especially should he continue to swing the bat well as he has this season.

Florida/Kansas City Royals, Pitcher, Jackson Kowar

Teammates infielder Jonathan India and, ace of the pitching rotation, Brady Singer, may have went ahead of the lanky 6'5, 180-pound righty, but he has as high an upside as any arm in the CWS. Equipped with a fastball that sits in the mid 90s and reaches up to 98 mph, Kowar compliments it with a plus-changeup and a curveball that serves as a third offering. 

One that features some sharp break when at his best. 

Kowar will join Singer, as he was selected 33rd by Kansas City, as they look to stabilize the Royals rotation as they did the Gators. This season Kowar showed his stuff on the mound to the tune of 102 strikeouts to only 96 hits in 105.2 innings. He has pitched well on the big stage before, earning the save to clinch Florida the National Championship in 2017, following a starting performance against TCU in the CWS where he struck out a career-high 11 batters. 

Mississippi State/Chicago White Sox, Pitcher, Konnor Pilkington

By a look of the numbers it may have looked like Pilkington, the 6'3, 230-pound southpaw might have had a down season. With a record of 2-6, with a 4.56 ERA and allowing more hits than innings pitched for the first time in his college career. 

Some would argue that his dip in velocity — going from hitting 96 mph, to now recently maxing out at 93, consistently clocking in between 88-91— might have him caused him to dip to the 80th pick, where he was selected in the third round by the Chicago White Sox. 

Still the solidly-built lefty features the first-round potential many thought him to be prior to the draft, possessing high upside still short of his 21st birthday. While certain numbers may reflect Pilkington taking a step back this season, he's allowed a career-low 2.59 walks per nine innings, while striking out a career-high 9.59 in the same span. 

Pilkington's proven himself against high-quality talent in the past, pitching at the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2016 where he was recognized as an all-star, with a 1.37 ERA in 6 starts. He followed that by spending last summer with Team USA, playing with the some of the top college players in the country, where he held opposing talent from across the globe to a .183 batting average over five appearances. 

North Carolina/New York Yankees, Pitcher, Rodney Hutchison 

Drafted in the sixth round of the New York Yankees, Hutchison follows in the mold of other big pitchers for the pinstripes like CC Sabathia, Dellin Betances, and Aroldis Chapman, as he is listed at 6'6, 225-pounds. 

While his numbers with the Tar Heels won't wow you (3-3, 4.63 ERA in 21 games with 10 starts) he has struck guys out with 55 K's in 58 innings pitched, limiting batters to 16 walks (2.47 BB/9). With a fastball that usually varies between 90-94 mph, occasionally reaching 96, Hutchison off-sets it with a quality changeup that clocks in the mid-80s and a slider with tremendous tilt and side-to-side movement.

He, too, like Konnor Pilkington, acquitted himself well against the elite-talent from college baseball in the Cape Cod league, where he was 2-0 in nine games out of the bullpen, allowing zero home runs in 25.1 innings. With his ability to both start and offer length out of the bullpen in various roles, Hutchison compares well to Yankees pitcher Adam Warren —another product of UNC. 

Oregon State/Baltimore Orioles, Infielder, Cadyn Grenier

Selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 21st round out of high school Grenier made the decision to bypass an immediate opportunity to be a professional ballplayer and attend Oregon State. Since his time in Corvallis as a member of the Beaver program he's been seen as a glove-first guy — one who is as steady as they come at shortstop. 

This season he's had a career-year at the plate, having hit 5 home runs in 60 games, with 44 runs batted-in, to the tune of a slash-line .327/.408./.467 (batting average/on-base percentage /slugging percentage). Exhibiting a quick compact swing Grenier's approach would lend itself to be more conducive to contact than power. 

While experiencing a breakout season while at-bat, he's also proven his overall ability, being picked as PAC-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the Brooks Wallace Award winner — awarded to the nation's top shortstop. He'll hope to follow in the footsteps of recent Wallace Award winners and current Major Leaguers Alex Bregman, Dansby Swasnson, and Trea Turner.

Grenier was the third member of the Oregon State program picked in the 2018 MLB Draft when he went 37th to the Baltimore Orioles, following teammates Nick Madrigal (4th-White Sox) and Trevor Larnach (20th-Twins). 

Texas/Detroit Tigers, Infielder, Kody Clemens

Many are familiar with the Clemens last name, as Kody is the son of legendary, former Major League pitcher Roger. 

The younger Clemens does his work at the plate, as opposed to the mound, where he led the Big 12 Conference in home runs, currently standing on 24 — leading to him winning Big 12 Player of the Year Award.

After having Tommy John Surgery prior to entering Texas, the youngest of the three Clemens' sons was restricted to mostly being the designated hitter with limited power. However, this season during his junior season he's exhibited his quality power and defensive ability, batting .356/.449./.745, while also playing the infield. 

Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the third round, he is expected to primarily play at second base, professionally, where his combination of arm and range are best suited. Before that he hopes to lead the Texas Longhorns to the College World Series Title as his father did 25 years ago in 1983.

Texas Tech/San Diego Padres, Outfielder, Grant Little

Eligible for the 2018 MLB Draft as a 21-year old sophomore, Little was taken with the 74th pick by the San Diego Padres. 

Showing promise as a freshman when he batted .335/.405.476 with two home runs, he stepped it up as a sophomore to All-American status, batting .372/.469/.654, with 12 home runs in the 2018 season. 

With a "good eye" (40 BB/35 K) and a combination of speed and budding strength, the left fielder shows the ability to be a quality option at multiple spots, potentially including centerfield or second base. 

The 6'1, 185-pound right handed thrower and batter backs a variety of pitchers in the field for the Red Raiders, including Steven Gingery, Ryan Shetter, Jose Quezada, and Martin Davis. All of whom followed him in being selected in the 2018 MLB Draft. 

Washington/Oakland A's, Pitcher, Joe Demers

Entering the College World Series with his Washington Huskie team, Demers has had an eventful year to date. The junior began his 2018 season with a perfect game in February against Cal State-Fullerton and ended the year leading the PAC-12 in innings pitched with 123 frames. 

In those innings he complied a 7-3 record and 2.56 ERA, while consistently commanding the strike zone with his fastball that fires in at 89-92 mph. 

While he possess a slider that can get batters to swing and miss, the righty was efficient with his number of throws, with 99 pitches in 8.2 innings in the win to send Washington to the College World Series, two days after earning the save in the Super Regionals against Cal State-Fullerton. 

A couple of days prior to that the 6'1, 240-pound junior was drafted by the Oaklands A's in the 11th round.