You can already watch these Draft picks play this weekend in the college Super Regionals
For the overwhelming majority of MLB Draft picks, there is a bit of a waiting period before fans get to see them on the field of play. However, because the Draft occurs before the end of the Division I baseball postseason, there are some draftees who are still busy competing for a national championship with their college team. This weekend is the start of the Super Regionals to determine which eight teams will compete next weekend at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Thirty-nine players selected in the top 10 rounds will be playing in the Super Regionals this weekend. These players were drafted by 23 different MLB teams, which means 23 different fan bases will have the opportunity to watch some of their teams' top picks compete at the highest level of collegiate baseball. Here are some to watch especially close over the next few days:
Auburn RHP Casey Mize (1st round; Tigers) vs. Florida
Who wouldn't want to watch the No. 1 overall pick pitch against a conference rival in a high-intensity postseason game? It'll be more than just Tigers fans watching Mize compete this weekend against the Gators, as the right-hander looks to slow down a Florida team that has been ranked No. 1 in the country for most of the season. Mize's electric fastball and devastating splitter have been baffling SEC hitters all year long, but now he'll be going up against ...
Florida 3B Jonathan India (1st round; Reds), RHP Brady Singer (1st round; Royals) and Jackson Kowar (1st round; Royals) vs. Auburn
It's no surprise to see the Gators have another group of top Draft picks, but three first-rounders is still nothing to sneeze at. Royals fans in particular will enjoy watching Florida's top two starters, Singer and Kowar, face off against Auburn. Two years after selecting an SEC third baseman in Nick Senzel (Tennessee) and watching him blossom into one of the top prospects in baseball, the Reds will hope to see a similar development with India. The Gators also had two other players drafted in the top 10 rounds: C JJ Schwarz (8th round; Athletics) and OF Deacon Liput (10th round; Dodgers).
Duke OF Griffin Conine (2nd round; Blue Jays) vs. Texas Tech
Griffin is the son of Jeff Conine, as the Blue Jays decided to continue stockpiling kids of former big leaguers alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Cavan Biggio. Conine was huge for the Blue Devils in the regional round, hitting two home runs in the game that sent Duke to the Round of 16.
Stetson RHP Logan Gilbert (1st round; Mariners) vs. North Carolina
Mariners fans have had a lot to cheer about lately, and now they'll immediately be able to see what kind of stuff their first-round pick has. The 6-foot-6 Gilbert leads all of Division I in strikeouts, and looks to become the next elite arm to come out of Stetson after
Texas 2B Kody Clemens (3rd round; Tigers) vs. Tennessee Tech
The son of Roger Clemens, Kody performed exceptionally well in the regional round for the Longhorns, notching clutch hit after clutch hit in front of the Austin crowd.
Oregon State SS Nick Madrigal (1st round; White Sox) and OF Trevor Larnach (1st round; Twins) vs. Minnesota
Oregon State has been one of the elite programs in college baseball for a few years running now, so it's no surprise to see the school produce six top 10-round Draft picks. Announced as a shortstop, Madrigal is a 5-foot-7 second baseman with an exceptional all-around game, while his teammate and fellow draftee Cadyn Grenier (Competitive Balance Round A; Orioles) plays short. Larnach is a power-hitting outfielder who has had a monster junior season for the Beavers. These three will also be joined in the pro ranks by OF Steven Kwan (5th round; Indians), RHP Drew Rasmussen (6th round; Brewers) and 3B Michael Gretler (10th round; Pirates).
