Each June more than 1,500 players are selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Baseball America recently came out with their rankings of the top 500 draft-eligible players for the 2012 draft that begins next Monday and runs through Wednesday.
FIU has five players among those top 500 players according to Baseball America. The list below does not include players, who have committed to FIU, but have not signed yet with the Panthers. So there are more, but the following players are the only ones I can publish here.
No. 198 -- Right-handed pitcher/FIU signee Reid Scoggins from Howard College in Dallas. Scoggins was ranked No. 99 in the top 100 JUCO prospect rankings by Perfect Game. Scoggins can reach 100 mph with his fastball on the radar gun.
No. 356 -- Left-handed pitcher Mason McVay, who throws in the low-to-mid 90's. McVay started and relieved games this past season compiling a 2-3 record with a 3.36 ERA. McVay struck out 72 batters in 64 1/3 innings. Opponents hit .242 against him.
No. 362 -- Outfielder Jabari Henry, who was a Texas Rangers draftee coming out of high school. Henry (right) hit .301 with a team-leading 12 home runs and had 45 RBI this past season.
No. 478 -- Infielder Mike Martinez, who became FIU's all-time hits, total bases and RBI leader this past season. Martinez also led the Panthers with a .383 average and had seven home runs and 46 RBI. He played third base most of the season, but also played first base.
No. 487 -- Left-handed pitcher/FIU signee Tyler Alexander from Hillsborough JUCO in Tampa. Alexander was ranked as the No. 2 JUCO prospect by Perfect Game.
I'll have FIU coach Turtle Thomas drop by The Prowl on Thursday to look at the 2012 season and look ahead to 2013.
*Thanks Sam Lewis photo (Henry)
