The
landscape of the MLB Draft and how it effects the number of players
that are drafted out of high school and eventually end up signing was
changed significantly the last time the Collective Bargaining
Agreement (CBA) was updated in 2012. Due to the institution of
pre-determined monetary pools each team is assigned, all
organizations have to work within those financial parameters without
being penalized either by fine or loss of draft picks or both.
Due
to that we have witnessed an increase of some of the top high school
players opting to honor their college commitments and playing at the
college level instead of beginning their professional career straight
out of high school.
The
2012 PG All-American Classic was the first year in which the players
were effected, and that group represents an impressive wave of prospects that are set to begin their junior years in college. Eighteen of the
players that participated in the 2012 Classic are still in college, a
group with several projected early picks including, but not
limited to, A.J. Puk (Florida), Nick Banks (Texas A&M), Chris Okey
(Clemson), Jordan Sheffield (Vanderbilt), Zack Collins (Miami),
Robert Tyler (Georgia), Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame), Ryan Boldt
(Nebraska), Jeremy Martinez (USC) and Sheldon Neuse (Oklahoma).
Twenty players from the 2013 Classic took their game to the college level
including several that made an immediate impact. Kel Johnson (Georgia
Tech), Cobi Johnson (Florida State), Keaton McKinney (Arkansas) and
David Peterson (Oregon) all enjoyed successful freshmen campaigns for
their respective programs.
While
half (27) of the players that participated in the 2014 PG
All-American Classic (54) have already begun their professional
careers, the other half are already on college campuses across the
nation.
The
National Champion Virginia Cavaliers will welcome outfielder Doak
Dozier for the 2016 season. The runner-up Vanderbilt Commodores
welcome yet another high-octane arm to campus in Donny
Everett, along with speedster Alonzo Jones. The third-ranked Florida Gators
receive reinforcements to their already strong team with Daniel Reyes
and infielder Jonathan India.
Some other notable new faces around the nation for schools that
finished ranked in Perfect Game's final top 25 rankings for the 2015
college season include two-way talent Luken Baker and hard-hitting
slugger Ryan Johnson (TCU); Cole McKay is in Baton Rouge to
bolster an already deep LSU pitching staff. A promising pair of arms
– Justin Hooper and Kyle Molnar – look to continue UCLA's
impressive pitching factory that churned out Pittsburgh Pirates ace
and 2007 PG All-American Gerrit Cole.
After
hitting a walkoff home run in the state championship game for Bishop
Gorman (Nev.) High School to cap an incredibly successful prep career,
Cadyn Grenier enjoyed an impressive tuneup in the West Coast League
last summer before reaching Oregon State's campus. Grenier hit .329
with 19 extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases for the league champion
Bend Elks on his way to being named the league's No. 1 prospect.
In
addition to the incoming crop of freshmen there are also a handful of
upperclassmen that figure to play a prominent role in the success of
their respective teams. Mitchell Traver, who went 9-2 with a 1.89 ERA
as a redshirt sophomore for the CWS particpant TCU Horned Frogs,
returned to school for his junior year of eligibility and is poised
to take the ball on Friday nights. Cancer survivor Clate Schmidt
could also be handed the ball on Fridays for Clemson as a senior.
Catcher and fellow senior Jason Goldstein looks to carry the reigns
from last year's upstart Illinois club while leading a new wave of
young talent.
This
group of young players looks to continue the impact the PG
All-American Classic has not only at the professional level, but also
in college. From early round picks from last year's draft, including
the Nos. 2 and 8 overall picks Alex Bregman and Carson Fulmer, to
established big league stars such as Cole, Buster Posey, Matt Harvey
and Kris Bryant, the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year, the
wealth of talent that flows through the Classic continues to be as
rich as ever.
Here
is a full list of former PG All-Americans that are currently in
college filtered alphabetically by the school they attend.
Year
indicates year they played in the Classic
Player |
Position |
Year |
Class |
School |
Keaton McKinney |
RHP |
2013 |
SO |
Arkansas |
Kevin Davis |
RHP |
2012 |
JR |
Auburn |
Kyle Dean |
OF |
2014 |
FR |
Brigham Young |
Scott Hurst |
OF/RHP |
2013 |
SO |
Cal State Fullerton |
Reese Cooley |
OF/IF |
2013 |
SO |
Chipola (JC) |
Chris Okey |
C |
2012 |
JR |
Clemson |
Clate Schmidt |
RHP |
2011 |
SR |
Clemson |
Justin Bellinger |
1B |
2013 |
SO |
Duke |
Daniel Reyes |
OF |
2014 |
FR |
Florida |
Jonathan India |
SS/2B |
2014 |
FR |
Florida |
A.J. Puk |
LHP |
2012 |
JR |
Florida |
John Sternagel |
3B |
2012 |
JR |
Florida |
Cobi Johnson |
RHP |
2013 |
SO |
Florida State |
Robert Tyler |
RHP |
2012 |
JR |
Georgia |
Brandt Stallings |
OF |
2014 |
FR |
Georgia Tech |
Tristin English |
RHP |
2014 |
FR |
Georgia Tech |
Kel Johnson |
OF |
2013 |
SO |
Georgia Tech |
Jason Goldstein |
C |
2011 |
SR |
Illinois |
Hogan Harris |
LHP |
2014 |
FR |
Louisiana |
Cole McKay |
RHP |
2014 |
FR |
Louisiana State |
Greg Deichmann |
SS/3B |
2013 |
SO |
Louisiana State |
Keven Pimentel |
RHP |
2013 |
R-FR |
Miami |
Carl Chester |
OF |
2013 |
SO |
Miami |
Justin Smith |
OF |
2013 |
SO |
Miami |
Derik Beauprez |
RHP |
2012 |
JR |
Miami |
Zack Collins |
C/1B |
2012 |
JR |
Miami |
Nick Fortes |
C |
2014 |
FR |
Mississippi |
Elih Marrero |
C |
2014 |
FR |
Mississippi State |
Bryce Montes de Oca |
RHP |
2013 |
SO |
Missouri |
Ryan Boldt |
OF |
2012 |
JR |
Nebraska |
Wyatt Cross |
C |
2014 |
FR |
North Carolina |
Cavan Biggio |
2B |
2012 |
JR |
Notre Dame |
Christifer Andritsos |
RHP/OF |
2014 |
FR |
Oklahoma |
Sheldon Neuse |
3B/RHP |
2012 |
JR |
Oklahoma |
Jon Littell |
OF |
2013 |
SO |
Oklahoma State |
Parker Kelly |
C/IF |
2014 |
FR |
Oregon |
David Peterson |
LHP |
2013 |
SO |
Oregon |
Cadyn Grenier |
SS/2B |
2014 |
FR |
Oregon State |
Willie Burger |
3B/C |
2014 |
FR |
Penn State |
Jared Brasher |
RHP |
2012 |
JR |
Samford |
C.J. Saylor |
C/RHP |
2011 |
R-JR |
San Diego State |
Nick Shumpert |
SS |
2014 |
FR |
San Jacinto (JC) |
Devin Smeltzer |
LHP |
2013 |
SO |
San Jacinto (JC) |
Brandon Murray |
RHP |
2013 |
SO |
South Carolina |
Chris Chatfield |
OF |
2014 |
FR |
South Florida |
Jeremy Martinez |
C/1B |
2012 |
JR |
Southern California |
Kep Brown |
OF |
2014 |
FR |
Spartanburg Methodist (JC) |
Bryce Carter |
C |
2013 |
SO |
Stanford |
Brett Morales |
RHP |
2012 |
JR |
Tampa (D-II) |
Benito Santiago |
C |
2013 |
SO |
Tennessee |
Kody Clemens |
SS/2B |
2014 |
FR |
Texas |
Kacy Clemens |
RHP/1B |
2012 |
JR |
Texas |
Nick Banks |
OF |
2012 |
JR |
Texas A&M |
Luken Baker |
RHP/1B |
2014 |
FR |
Texas Christian |
Ryan Johnson |
OF |
2014 |
FR |
Texas Christian |
Mitchell Traver |
RHP |
2011 |
R-JR |
Texas Christian |
Chris Oakley |
RHP |
2012 |
R-SO |
Tulane |
Justin Hooper |
LHP |
2014 |
FR |
UCLA |
Kyle Molnar |
RHP |
2014 |
FR |
UCLA |
Sean Bouchard |
3B |
2013 |
SO |
UCLA |
Alonzo Jones |
IF/OF |
2014 |
FR |
Vanderbilt |
Donny Everett |
RHP |
2014 |
FR |
Vanderbilt |
Jordan Sheffield |
RHP |
2012 |
R-SO |
Vanderbilt |
Doak Dozier |
OF |
2014 |
FR |
Virginia |
Zack Shannon |
OF/RHP |
2013 |
FR |
Wabash Valley (JC) |
John Aiello |
SS |
2014 |
FR |
Wake Forest |
Joe DeMers |
RHP |
2014 |
FR |
Washington |
D.J. Peters |
OF |
2013 |
SO |
Western Nevada (JC) |