Indians Prepare for Potentially Historic Draft Day

Story By: Dustin Kent - JCFloridan.com  Photo: Kristie Cloud  

The Major League Baseball Amateur Draft is almost always a big occurrence for the Chipola baseball program, which has seen a bevy of players drafted and signed to play professional baseball during coach Jeff Johnson's 18 years at the helm.

But the Indians could be in for one of their biggest draft days yet this week with potentially four players to be picked in the top 8-10 rounds of the draft.

Starting sophomore pitchers Michael Mader and Taylor Lewis are both projected to be picked early on Friday's second day of the draft, while fellow sophomores Danny Mars and Ian Rice are also likely to be picked by the 10th round at the latest.

"It's an exciting week for our guys and our program. I just proud," Johnson said Monday. "I think this would be the first time since I've been at Chipola that we could have four kids go by the eighth or 10th rounds. It's an exciting time and they're having fun with it. But it's like I tell them, don't get too high or too low. There are a lot of variables that you can't control.

"It's about how much someone sees in you and how much they're willing to put in to get you. It only takes one club to really like you. You don't need all 30 to like you, just one. But one thing about the draft is that there's no certainty about it."

Mader, a 6-foot-3 left-hander who was named Panhandle Conference Pitcher of the Year as a freshman, is projected to be the first Indian picked and could go as high as the third round.

Lewis, the 6-foot-1 right-hander, was Pitcher of the Year in 2014 and is also projected to go in the top 10 rounds, with the catcher Rice – who was drafted in the 40th round by St. Louis in 2012 – and outfielder Mars projected somewhere between the sixth and eighth rounds.

However, as with all top 10 round picks there is the issue of sign-ability, with each potential draftee putting in his own number for the amount of money it would take to sign a contract with a pro team.

And with all four of the Indians' projected high picks, there is the college option, with Mader and Mars committed to play for Florida State, while Lewis is set to go to Florida, and Rice to Houston.

It's a good option for any underclassmen and gives them a bit of leverage in contract negotiations.

"The great thing about all four of these kids is they all did their academic work and if this doesn't work out that they're prepared to go to school," Johnson said. "It gives them more bargaining power too that they can go to school. If they're taken in the right spots, then I think all of them will sign. If not, then I think they'll go to school."

Freshman Kevin Santa and sophomores Josh Merrigan, and Palmer Betts could also get drafted, though Johnson said that Santa would likely return to Chipola for his sophomore season to improve his draft stock.

"I think that's probably the smart thing to do," Johnson said of Santa. "It's like I've told these guys before, it's not about just being drafted, it's about being in position to get drafted and then make it to the big leagues. It's about securing your future and getting a better chance to make it. When a team gives you more money, they're going to give you more chances to be successful.

"With Santa, he wants to come back and get stronger and be a top 10 draft pick next year like these other guys."

Those that do make the jump to pro baseball will look to add to the growing list of Major Leaguers who have played at Chipola, with 13 former Indians currently on MLB rosters.

"I say this all the time, but we've got people around here who run over to watch games at FSU and Florida and they may not have as many people picked in the draft as we do. It's kind of funny, but it's a very exciting time for us," Johnson said. "These guys have come here and developed and put their work in mentally and physically to learn how to play the game. The great thing as a coach is to get to watch them move on and get a great opportunity to make it to the big leagues."