Day two of the MLB First Year Player Draft saw five Indiana High School players get drafted. Christian Montgomery, Lawrence Central HS, was the first off the board going to the New York Mets in the 11^th round (pick 342). Montgomery is 6?1, 230 pound right handed pitcher.

 

Christian Montgomery is known as the power arm of the state. He is big and blessed with a strong right arm. He was the setup man for Team USA, an Aflac All American and was known going into the spring as a top five round talent. The spring was a tough one for Christian coming off an arm injury he never settled down and his velo was down a notch as he was more 88-91 touching 93 than any 94, 95. While his delivery was irractic at times, his ceiling is still the highest of anyone one in the state. Factor that in wih his high signability and you get the highest drafted player in the state from the high school ranks.  

 

University of Texas commit Dillon Peters, Cathedral HS, was the next high school player selected. The 5?9, 195 pound left handed pitcher was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 20^th round (pick 608).

 

Dillon is the golden child of the draft. He is easily the best pitcher and the most feared arm in the state. He sits 90-93 and has a filthy slider/curveball. He dominates most games he throws in and loves the spotlight. The bigger the lights, the better he is. He is a true competitor. Sign ability was caused Dillon to fall a little bit. If Cleveland pays him what he wants they will get a top notch arm that could climb the quickest out of any arm in the state. If they don?t, I have a feeling he will be just fine in the Big 12, and in three years Dillon might just be a top 5 round pick.

 

University of Kentucky commit Max Kuhn, Zionsville HS, was the third player from Indiana drafted. The 5?11, 185 pound shortstop was taken in the 24^th round by the Oakland A?s (pick 736).

 

He fits Oakland?s style of player. A great baseball player that will produce a high on base percentage, will hit gap to gap, and just will be a solid baseball player. Max will be a fun one to watch this summer.

 

 A.J. Reed, Terre Haute South HS, was taken in the following round by the New York Mets (pick 762). Reed, a 6?4, 230 pound left handed pitcher is also a University of Kentucky commit.

 

Big country strong describes A.J. He is a force on the mound and at the plate. While, he was probably drafted more as a hitter than a pitcher, I imagine he might get a chance to do both and allow it to work itself out. He has been as high as 92 on the mound and hit 15 homeruns this season. I saw A.J. this winter at the PBR Super 60 and left impressed. He hit with wood and put on an absolute power display. Hitting balls into what would have been light towers. He has big league pop with a big league body. That day he also followed it up with an 86-88 fastball from a ? arm slot.

 

 The fifth player taken on day two was Louisville commit, Jared Ruxer, taken in the 29^th round by the Cleveland Indians. Ruxer, the second Lawrence Central HS player taken, is a 6?3 190 pound right handed pitcher.

 

Jared Ruxer is the kid that climbed the most in the draft. He was a wiry freshman that topped out at maybe 82-83. He became a coache?s dream. He worked out harder than 99% of the players in high school. He settled in as a 90-93 right handed pitcher. He showed run on every fastball and high pitch ability. His delivery is simple and easily repeatable. His slider will have to get more consistent. But if this pitch develops he instantly becomes a high level prospect.