A Sea Of Red

Here is the list of draft eligible players (not assuming all of these guys will be drafted, just those that have that option) :

Cody Albright*
Alex Close*
Shawn Clowers*
Blake Fulghum
Danny Grauer (2013 draftee)
Carson Herndon*
Clay Keranen*
Nick Lacik
Trey Lambert
Jared Lyons*
Matt Marsh
Nick Paxton
Ashton Perritt*
Becker Sankey*
Ryan Seiz*
Matt Pennington*

* denotes Junior

I think a big part of next years team is going to depend on the draft with Seiz, Perritt, and Close in particular and Bevins. If we have to replace all of most of those guys it could leave the coaching staff with a difficult challenge.

I think the juniors you will see get drafted are Close, Clowers, Grauer, Herndon (although he is recovering from surgery so he would probably decline), Lyons, Perritt and Seiz. Add to that seniors Fulghum, Lambert and Marsh and this could be a banner year for the Flames in the draft

It very well could be a banner year in draft for LU. I hope the incoming recruits and step in and contribute as freshmen.

BJWilliams wrote:I think the juniors you will see get drafted are Close, Clowers, Grauer, Herndon (although he is recovering from surgery so he would probably decline), Lyons, Perritt and Seiz. Add to that seniors Fulghum, Lambert and Marsh and this could be a banner year for the Flames in the draft

I'm not so sure Herndon would decline if drafted. If a team were willing to take on his rehab expenses and possibly pay for him to finish his degree, it would be tempting to take them up on it. Coming back to play another year in 2016 would give him a really late start to his pro career. Having said that, I'm not so sure he will be taken, and if he is, it will be late. As good a track record as this particular operation has, it is still a major surgery and a risk for any team that were to sign him.

Grauer is a senior BJ. As far as the other Juniors are concerned, Perrett, Seiz and Close are almost sure to be drafted. I think Lyons and Clowers are borderline. Clowers had an amazing year, but basically had done nothing previously, and at 5'10", he is not the type of physical specimen the pros are looking for. Same with Lyons, who is 5'11" and has an iffy arm.

I think Lambert and Marsh get drafted for sure. Grauer got drafted last year and put together a pretty good senior season, but he did one thing to lower his stock. He got a year older. Fulgham is borderline IMHO.

The thing in Clowers" favor is he throw left-handed. If he returned and could add a couple MPH to fastball, his stock would go up next year.

I agree. If Shawn is drafted low he should consider returning. Another good year could prove this one was not a fluke .

Thanks for the correction on Grauer olldflame...I think that as a lefthanded reliever, Clowers probably could use one more year, but some team with a need for lefthanded arms in their system is going to take a flyer on him, which can also be said about Lyons.

You are forgetting one that will more than likely be drafted. Adam Parks

Expect probably top 25 rounda

newoldschool17 wrote:You are forgetting one that will more than likely be drafted. Adam Parks

Adam was a Sophomore this year. He may be eligible for the draft because he redshirted (I confess to not being positive on how that works) but I would be interested in knowing what you think he has done that would merit it.

He's eligible for the draft this year. As for what he's done to merit it, I'd say the 94MPH fastball he showed at UVA is enough. An organization sees that and know he's getting that on bad mechanics and little coaching. If he can get the mechanics fixed and get coached up a little, who knows how good he could be.

I think getting under a good pitching coach will definitely be the ticket Jon. I think Atlanta or Detroit would be a good fit

Anyone would be a step up.

Draft is under way, we shall find out soon where they land. Three Cavaliers drafted in top 40 picks. Pretty impressive

Justin Feldkamp ‏@JustinABC13 3m
GW-Danville's Blake Bivens has just been drafted by the @RaysBaseball in the 4th round (127th overall).

Justin Feldkamp ‏@JustinABC13 4m
GW-Danville's Blake Bivens has just been drafted by the @RaysBaseball in the 4th round (127th overall).

Let's hope! Story on Blake http://www.wset.com/story/25686931/will ... to-liberty

Good looking arm!

Hearing he will be going pro.

Feldkamp confirms.

Justin Feldkamp @JustinABC13
Official word from Blake Bivens family: GW-Danville product is going pro. He'll sign with @RaysBaseball. @libertyflames fans-sorry Charlie.

I was hoping he'd go to LU, rather than turn pro.

MLB and (before the age limit restriction) the NBA were the only leagues of the "Big 4" where you could go straight to the pros from high school and have a chance to contribute immediately and make a pretty decent living. Good luck to him.

BJWilliams wrote:MLB and (before the age limit restriction) the NBA were the only leagues of the "Big 4" where you could go straight to the pros from high school and have a chance to contribute immediately and make a pretty decent living. Good luck to him.

Define immediately? Most high school kids are in the minors at least 3-4 years.

I mean being able to come right in and play for the big club within the first year (some do end up in the Majors pretty quickly).

BJWilliams wrote:I mean being able to come right in and play for the big club within the first year (some do end up in the Majors pretty quickly).

Need facts to back t his up BJ - I don't think this is right. Name me 10 that played in majors in their first year out of High School?

Mike Morgan
Brian Milner
Tim Conroy
David Clyde
Catfish Hunter
Dick Calmus
Jerry Walker
Bob Miller
Von McDaniel
Bobby Henrich

(Bear in mind you did not specify that it had to be within the last 20 years proto)

While it hasn't happened in recent memory, it HAS happened. Teams are much more careful to get their players time in the farm system these days, but it is possible to go straight to the big club.