Yesterday, four of the first 22 selections in the MLB Draft had ties to the state of Missouri with one state prep star and two Mizzou pitchers getting scooped up in the first round. Links to bios and videos can be found right here.
Westminster Christian Academy right handed pitcher Jacob Turner from St. Charles was selected 9 th overall by the Detroit Tigers. Aaron Crow , the former Mizzou pitcher who was the 9 th overall pick last year, but did not sign with the Washington Nationals was grabbed by the Royals this time at #12. The Cardinals selected a high school pitcher from Texas that many scouts compare to Nolan Ryan. Shelby Miller of Brownwood, Texas was picked 19 th . Junior pitcher Kyle Gibson of Missouri was chosen three picks later at #22 by the Minnesota Twins.
The Royals didn’t pick again until the third round and grabbed Wil Myers, a catcher from Wesleyan Christian Academy, H.S. (High Point, N.C.): The book on Myers is that he is a right-handed slugger who was tabbed by Baseball America as the second-best pure hitter among high school players in this Draft.
The Cardinals grabbed two other players. In the second round, the picked Robert Stock, a catcher from USC. He actually pitched with the Trojans as well, but the Cardinals like his defensive skills. He hits for a low average, but draws walks. They also picked another pitcher, Joe Kelly, of Cal-Riverside. He has a high 90’s fastball and hard slider.
