Georgia high schools had another respectable showing in the MLB draft, which concludes Wednesday with 20 more rounds.
Richmond Hill left-handed pitcher Kevin Matthews was the last pick of the first round, picked at No. 33 by the Texas Rangers. He was followed by two Georgia high schoolers in the Compensation Round A — Berrien outfielder Larry Greene by the Philadelphia Phillies at No. 39 and McIntosh outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. by the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 53.
Last year, Georgia had five high schoolers drafted in the first round.
“It was exciting, and I’m glad to get it over with like everybody else,” said Smith, son of the former Atlanta Braves outfielder by the same name.
Smith has signed a baseball scholarship with Georgia Tech, and Yellow Jackets coach Danny Hall said players drafted high have his blessing. However, Smith is unsure. “Money won’t be a factor. I’m going to discuss it with my family, and it will be a big decision.”
On Tuesday, Tech’s Matt Skole and Mark Pope were selected in the fifth round, followed by shortstop Jacob Esch in the 11th. Skole, a third baseman, went 157th overall to the Washington Nationals. Sixteen picks later, Pope, a pitcher, went off the board to the San Diego Padres. Esch, a second baseman, was selected by the Florida Marlins. All three players are juniors.
Two Georgia Bulldogs junior pitchers were drafted Tuesday: Cecil Tanner by the Oakland A’s in the 23rd round (No. 706 overall) and Michael Palazzone by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 24th round (No. 731).
Taken from the college ranks Monday were Tech left-handed pitcher Jed Bradley by the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 15, Georgia outfielder Zach Cone by the Rangers at No. 37 and former Wesleyan pitcher Grayson Garvin, a junior at Vanderbilt, by the Tampa Bay Rays at No. 59.
Staff writer Ken Sugiura contributed to this article.
About the Author
