The early rounds of the 2015 MLB Draft were kind to Georgia prospects as a whole, but not, possibly, to its top candidate.
Two Georgia high school players were drafted in the first round, and the No. 1 overall pick, Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, is from Marietta High School.
Dazmon Cameron, a center fielder from Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, figured to hear his name called pretty close to Swanson’s. Most online mock drafts had him going fourth or fifth, and Baseball America ranked him the No. 5 prospect in the draft.
However, picks four and five came and went, and Cameron remained on the board. Then came the eighth pick, belonging to the Chicago White Sox, who drafted Cameron’s dad, Mike Cameron, in 1991. Would they keep it in the family and trust their pick — and money — with Cameron’s kid?
“With the eighth pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, the Chicago White Sox select … Carson Fulmer, right-handed pitcher from Vanderbilt,” announced Robert Manfred, the MLB commissioner.
Baseball America national writer Teddy Cahill told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before the draft that scouts disagreed about Cameron’s pro potential.
“He’s one of the most divisive players among scouts in this year’s draft,” Cahill said. “I’ve talked to long-time scouts in Georgia that say he’s got a chance to be as good or better than his father. … But then there are also guys that wonder about his general hitting issues, like the timing.”
Cameron finally heard his name called as the 37th pick by the Houston Astros. Since Cameron had made it known that money was a big issue, that the Astros took a gamble made sense. Houston entered with the most money in its draft pool and might still be able to lure Cameron away from his commitment to Florida State.
Cornelius Randolph, a shortstop from Griffin High School, was the first prospect from Georgia off the board, getting picked 10th by the Philadelphia Phillies.
He hit .528 with four home runs, 18 RBIs and 18 stolen bases his 17-game senior season.
Baseball America ranked him third among Georgia prospects and No. 20 in the country.
Scouts love his compact swing that allows him to hit to all fields, and they think he’ll likely move to third base or the outfield in the pros.
Draft experts said this could be the “Draft of the Shortstops,” and they were right. For the first time in MLB history, three shortstops were taken with the first three picks. Randolph was the fourth shortstop selected.
It didn’t take long for the second Georgia prospect to hear his name. Tyler Stephenson, a catcher from Kennesaw Mountain High School, went 11th to the Cincinnati Reds.
Stephenson hit .415 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs in his senior season. Baseball America rated him the No. 2 prospect in Georgia behind Cameron.
At 6-4, 210 pounds, Stephenson has somewhat of a big frame for a catcher — much like All-Star Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles.
“I think he could be the next Matt Wieters, he’s got the body,” MLB.com senior writer Jim Callis said during MLB Network’s draft coverage. “(He) looks like a potential All-Star catcher if he reaches his ceiling.”
The draft was continuing as of press time.
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