draft watch

Mississippi will be quiet during the first round of the major league draft on Tuesday and possibly the second round, too. Heck, maybe the whole first day, which includes the first three rounds. At least Baseball America thinks so. The highest-rated draft prospect in the state is South Panola High’s David Renfroe, checking in at No. 67. And Renfroe, a pitcher-shortstop, has signed with Ole Miss, where his dad, Laddie, played, and pro teams might not want to pay what it’ll take to lure him away from the Rebels. The next highest rating goes to Taylorsville infielder Billy Hamilton at No. 98. Still, the draft will be compelling. It always is, often because of unheralded junior college players who get plucked. This year, keep an eye or ear out for Mississippi Gulf Coast CC pitchers Drew Granier and Clint Dempster. The latter, a lefty, struck out 113 hitters in 69 2/3 innings this year. Scouts love that kind of power arm. Granier also has high-octane stuff. Meridian CC has two intriguing hitting prospects in Corey Dickerson, an outfielder, and Tyler Vick, a third baseman. Both have uncommon power, and Vick comes by his skills naturally. He is a distant relative of former New York Yankees outfielder Sammy Vick, a Batesville native remembered by some as the man who was displaced in right field when the Yanks acquired Babe Ruth in 1920.
P.S. Sorry to see that Cooper Farris retired as Gulf Coast CC coach shortly after the Bulldogs’ season ended in the state playoffs. Farris’ program was consistently one of the best in the state and produced a number of big leaguers, including one-time All-Star Matt Lawton. Farris was 698-376-1 in 20 years at Perk. His clubs won 15 division titles, including one this season, and two state titles and made one national tournament appearance. His successor, not yet picked, may have a tough time matching that resume.