MLB Mock Draft 2013: Latest Predictions, Updates on Top 2-Sport Stars
Projecting high school baseball talent is one of the hardest things to do in all of pro sports from an organizational standpoint.
Much of that is due to the fact that the players are spread all throughout the country and sometimes scouts only get to see a guy once. Factor in the varying levels of talent one kid faces compared to another, and it's easy to see why it can be tough.
Another factor that influences some high school baseball players, however, is the fact that their attention is spread out over two and in some cases three different sports during their time in high school.
Most recently, top prospects Bubba Starling and Dylan Bundy walked away from scholarships to play quarterback at Nebraska and Oklahoma, respectively, and each season there are a handful of high school players who not only have to decide between going pro or attending college, but also which sport to pursue long-term.
Here is a look at the top two-sport athletes of the 2013 MLB draft, and my best guess on where they're selected and what decision they wind up making.
*Prospect Pipeline Draft Rankings taken from Mike Rosenbaum's Final Pre-Draft Rankings.
Cody Thomas, OF, Heritage HS (Texas)
1 of 7Prospect Pipeline Draft Ranking
No. 38 Outfielder
Commitment
Summary
A 4-star recruit and the No. 7-ranked pro-style quarterback in the nation, according to Rivals.com, Cody Thomas has the talent to be a major force at one of the nation's most prestigious football programs.
As a senior, he completed 265 of 419 pass attempts for 4,154 yards and 46 touchdowns, throwing just six interceptions.
As a baseball player, he's a physical specimen at 6'5" and 220 pounds, but that also means he doesn't have as much room for projection as some high school bats. His overall skills are incredibly raw, but his overall athleticism should still make him a relatively high pick.
Prediction
Short of him being a day-one pick, which is highly unlikely, I don't think Thomas signs.
J.B. Woodman, OF, Edgewater HS (Fla.)
2 of 7Prospect Pipeline Draft Ranking
No. 28 Outfielder
Commitment
Summary
The starting quarterback at Edgewater High School for three seasons, J.B. Woodman is committed to playing baseball moving forward and is committed to play in the talented SEC at Ole Miss.
Back in May 2012 when he first committed to Ole Miss, he said he would hold to his commitment, via Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel:
"I told Ole Miss I was coming and that's what I plan to do ... keep my commitment. It's a big sport up there...probably one of the biggest sports they have. They get a lot of fans at their games, they got a good program and I like that they have kind of a small school. It's a good fit for me.
"
However, after impressing on the Perfect Game National Showcase this past summer, his stock may be high enough that he changes his tune. With plus speed and good contact skills, he profiles as a top-of-the-order threat, and that is something the draft is incredibly thin on.
Prediction
Fourth-round pick and signs.
Thomas Milone, OF, Masuk HS (Conn.)
3 of 7Prospect Pipeline Draft Ranking
No. 20 Outfielder
Commitment
Summary
Committed to play baseball at UConn since before his junior season on the diamond, Thomas Milone served as the football team's No.1 receiver his junior year, catching 48 passes for 1,082 yards and 25 touchdowns thanks to 4.3 40-yard-dash speed, according to the CT Post.
Despite the fact that his future was clearly on the baseball field, Milone still opted to suit up for his senior season of football and was a weapon at a number of difference positions.
The tools are there for him to be a future starter at the big league level, according to former big leaguer Darren Bragg, who has worked with Milone the past two seasons in winter clinics (h/t CT Post):
"As long as he stays healthy, I could see him playing every day in the big leagues one day. I played in the bigs 11 years. I'm in player development. I see kids that get drafted, Thomas is right there with any first-rounder I've seen."
Playing baseball on the East Coast, there is always a question as to how a player will adjust to the higher level of competition, but Milone certainly looks the part of a potential impact player.
Prediction
Second-round pick and signs.
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Joey Martarano, 3B, Fruitland (Idaho) HS
4 of 7Prospect Pipeline Draft Ranking
No. 19 Corner Infielder
Commitment
Summary
A three-sport star before giving up basketball his senior season to focus on the other two sports, Joey Martarano was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year in Idaho following a fantastic senior season.
On offense, he threw for 1,175 yards and ran for 463 yards with 22 total touchdowns as the team's starting quarterback. As a linebacker on defense, where he would likely play at Boise State, he had 134 tackles (50 solo), four interceptions and two sacks, according to the Idaho Statesman.
The commitment to Boise, a school that has not had a baseball program since 1980, means he'll focus on football if he doesn't wind up signing. That will all depend on how high he's drafted, and with terrific power potential and plus defensive skills at third base, it will likely be relatively high.
Prediction
Falls to the seventh round because of signability, honors commitment to Boise State.
Cord Sandberg, OF, Manatee HS (Fla.)
5 of 7Prospect Pipeline Draft Ranking
No. 63 Overall, No. 12 Outfielder
Commitment
Summary
Ranked as the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, according to Rivals.com, Cord Sandberg committed to Mississippi State to play football following a senior season in which he threw for 2,817 yards and ran for 813 while leading Manatee High School to the state title.
He will focus on football if he goes the college route, but if he's drafted high enough, he's willing to give pro baseball a shot, according to an article from the Bradenton Herald:
"If I'm fortunate enough to get drafted, I want to do that. If the baseball thing doesn't work out, and I go to Mississippi State, I'm going to play football. If I had to pick between the two, and everything draft-wise was good, yeah, I would do baseball. But I'm going to have to weigh my options and see what I want to do.
"
That's far from a ringing endorsement that he's headed for a career in pro baseball, but the tools are there for him to be taken high enough that the money convinces him to take to the diamond.
Prediction
Falls to the fourth round, but signs above slot.
Ryan McMahon, 3B, Mater Dei HS (Calif.)
6 of 7Prospect Pipeline Draft Ranking
No. 52 Overall, No. 6 Corner Infielder
Commitment
Summary
Ryan McMahon entered the fall season as the starting quarterback for the same Mater Dei program that produced former USC quarterback Matt Barkley, but a broken wrist put him on the bench when he struggled while trying to play through it.
Seeing as he's committed to USC to only play baseball, it's clear that's where his future lies. The question now is whether he'll be taken early enough to forgo his college career.
With a smooth left-handed swing that should develop plenty of power and a solid glove that should play well at third base as he moves away from the shortstop position he plays in high school, there are plenty of tools there.
Prediction
Third-round pick and signs.
Kohl Stewart, RHP, St. Pius X HS (Texas)
7 of 7Prospect Pipeline Draft Ranking
No. 5 Overall, No. 3 Right-Handed Pitcher
Commitment
Summary
After throwing for 3,130 yards and 30 touchdowns as a sophomore, Kohl Stewart committed to play football at Texas A&M, and he made that commitment official when he signed a letter of intent this past February.
A 4-star recruit and the No. 15-ranked pro-style quarterback in the country, according to Rivals.com, Stewart certainly could have a future on the gridiron if he opted to go the college route.
However, considering he's the consensus top high school pitcher in the MLB draft and would likely have to redshirt while sitting behind reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, it's hard to imagine Stewart not opting to go the baseball route at this point.
Texas A&M just received a commitment from 4-star class of 2014 quarterback Kyle Allen on Monday, per his personal Twitter account, as they appear to be preparing to move forward without Stewart.
Prediction
No. 4 overall to Minnesota and signs. Won't sign if he falls out of top 10.
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