High School Draft Analysis

June 8, 2018
Ronald Sims
Mississippi Scouting Director

The 2018 MLB Draft took place earlier this week featuring 30+ players with Mississippi roots hearing their names called during the three-day draft. Arguably one of the richest draft classes for the state in recent history, Mississippi had five high school players that went in the draft.

Since we had the pleasure of seeing the players throughout the year, today we'll highlight their performances from their senior years.

JT Ginn RHP / SS / Brandon, MS / 2018

1^st Round, 30^th overall to the Los Angeles Dodgers

The Mississippi State signee pitched 39.1 innings with an ERA of 0.36. Allowed only ten hits in 149 batters faced while recording 78 strikeouts and just nine walks. At the plate the right-handed hitter batted .419 and drove in 27 runs with six doubles, two triples and nine home runs.

Joe Gray OF / Hattiesburg, MS / 2018

2^nd Round, 60^th overall to the Milwaukee Brewers

The Mississippi signee batted .485 while driving in 34 runs. Gray recorded 36 extra base hits in 99 at-bats while only striking out 13 times, posting a 1.526 OPS. On the mound Gray threw 28.2 innings going 5-0.

Willie Joe Garry Jr. OF / Pascagoula, MS / 2018

9^th Round, 274^th overall pick to Minnesota

Pearl River CC signee batted .432 while driving in 21 runs. Gary recorded five doubles and three home runs in 81 at-bats while only striking out 10 times, posting a 1.144 OPS.

Regi Grace RHP / Madison Central, MS / 2018

10^th Round, 304^th overall pick to Minnesota

The Mississippi State signee pitched 64 innings and finished with a record of 7-2. Posting an ERA of 1.31. Grace was able to log 98 strikeouts and just ten walks limiting his opponents to only 20 runs in 255 batters faced. At the plate Grace finished with 17 extra base hits and a .360 batting average.

Brendan Hardy SS / RHP / Harrison Central, MS / 2018

31^st Round, 920^th overall pick to New York Mets

The Jones County JC signee pitched 51 innings finishing with an ERA of 1.51 while recording 69 strikeouts with an opposing batting average of .225 . At the plate the right-handed hitter batted .301 and drove in 24 runs with ten doubles.