Major League baseball’s amateur draft gets underway today, without near the publicity given to the NFL and NBA drafts. The primary reason for that is the fact that these players will take several years before they reach the major leagues. The Royals have the fourth overall pick, while the Cardinals will pick 13th and 24th in the first round. Baseball America rates Bob Keppel as the best amateur prospect in Missouri. Keppel helped pitch DeSmet to a 4A state title over the weekend, striking out 15 Joplin batters in the semi-finals. He was 8-2 as a senior with a 1.78 ERA. He pitched 63 innings, allowing 48 hits with 22 walks and 92 strikeouts.
