Oklahoma State Baseball's MLB Draft Primer:
STILLWATER – It seems like just yesterday we were lining up at O’Brate Stadium to watch Oklahoma State host the NCAA Stillwater Regional. Well, we blinked and now the 2022 MLB Draft is finally upon us.
There are several Cowboys, including one very notable soon-to-be Cowboy, set to be drafted over the next three days, with a few possibly going in the first two rounds on Sunday evening.
Here’s everything you need to know going into Sunday night.
The draft begins Sunday, July 17 at 6 p.m. CT, with the first-round airing on ESPN.
Stillwater HS star and Oklahoma State signee Jackson Holliday is projected to be taken somewhere in the first three picks, with most publications stating he’ll either be taken by the Baltimore Orioles with the first overall pick, a slot value of $8,842,200, or by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the second overall pick, a slot value of $8,185,100.
CBS Sports has Holliday going third overall to the Texas Rangers with a slot value of $7,587,600.
So, will Jackson decide to follow in his father Matt’s footsteps and go straight from Stillwater High to the Major Leagues, or will he play for his uncle at Oklahoma State and be an immediate impact player for the Pokes? We’ll have our answer within the first few minutes of the draft.
There’s also a real possibility that Cowboy pitcher Justin Campbell gets selected in the first round as well. MLB.com lists Campbell as the 36th overall prospect entering the draft, up a considerable number of spots from when he was drafted 556th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft.
With Campbell being projected in the first round, there’s a better than not chance he won’t be returning to Stillwater next season.
Nolan McLean is next on the list as he’s projected No. 115. It’ll be really interesting to see what MLB teams think McLean will be at the next level, a pitcher or a position player? I’d imagine he’ll do a little bit of both early on in his pro career.
McLean: “Few players in this Draft can match his combination of raw power and arm strength, though he has had an up-and-down year at the plate while setting an NCAA Division I record with 107 strikeouts.” -MLB.com.
Bryce Osmond checks in at No. 163, another considerable jump up in the draft order as he was originally selected 1,053 overall in the 35th round of the 2019 draft.
There are two other Pokes who are listed in the top-250 as well, such as Victor Mederos at No. 202, Trevor Martin at 208.
You can read what MLB.com has to say about each of the Cowboys listed above, but everything rides on how much money each Cowboy is offered on whether or not they return to Stillwater for at least one more season to try and improve upon their draft stock.