Updated 7:30 p.m.
Former Catholic pitcher Tyler Clark was drafted by the Detroit Tigers today.
Tyler Clark now has a decision to make. The former Springfield Catholic righthanded pitcher who is a junior at Mizzou was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 24th round (733rd overall). It’s the second time Clark was drafted. He was a 46th round pick in the 2007 draft by the Chicago Cubs.
But the rest of the MLB Draft’s Day 2 ended with a thud, or at least to some local prospects, the opposite of a thud — no official draft status.
Despite being ranked as the No. 17 and No. 18 prospects in Missouri according to Baseball America, respectively, Rogersville infielder Seth Conner and Crowder CC and Glendale pitcher Dan Kickham are still in the draft pool. Of BA’s top 20 prospects in Missouri, 10 are still available, including Jefferson CC’s Matt Stites, who was ranked No. 3.
Very few high school or junior college players that are drafted beyond the 30th round rarely sign, so we will see if either gets drafted during Wednesday’s final day.
Check back tomorrow to see what happens during Day 3.
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5:02: I just got back from MSU’s JQH Arena and a press conference for Mike Kickham, getting some reaction after he was taken in the sixth round of the MLB Draft (198th overall). I’ll let Mike tell the full story, but you’ll see that he is set on doing whatever it takes to sign and start his MLB career.
Why did he drop? He said he priced himself out of some teams’ price ranges, having to turn down nearly a handful that called and weren’t willing to meet his terms. He said San Francisco is ready to pay that price, which he is not willing to reveal. All he said was second-round money. He also wants to get a deal done as quickly as possible and get into the Giants system.
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Aaron Meade made his bones in the Cape Cod League last summer.
3:30: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim made Aaron Meade their 10th round pick, the 324th player taken overall. After being drafted in the 28th round of last year’s draft by the New York Yankees, Meade was 2-4 with a 4.18 ERA in 15 appearances, 14 starts. Over 75 1/3 innings, he struck out 71 batters and walked 40. Opponents hit .260 off Meade.
Meade is the second MSU Bear to be selected, after fellow lefty Mike Kickham was drafted in the sixth round, 198th overall, by San Francisco. If both Meade and Kickham sign, that will mean that the Bears’ starting rotation will be wiped out, with senior Pat Doyle’s departure.
Meade is also the third player from Missouri to be drafted, with Mizzou first baseman Aaron Senne going seven picks before Meade at No. 317. Mizzou righthanded pitcher Nick Tepesch was rated as the No. 120 prospect in the country by Baseball America, but is still on the board. Kickham was the No. 1 prospect in the state and Meade was No. 7.
Still on the board and making MSU coach Keith Guttin very happy is the fact that two recruits have yet to be taken. Bethany HS LHP Jordan Shipers, ranked No. 4 by Baseball America, and Lee’s Summit West RHP Ryan Hafner, ranked No. 10 by BA are still on the board.
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Despite being ranked in the top 110 picks by two media outlets, MSU pitcher Mike Kickham wasn't selected until No. 198.
1:52: It may not have been where he wanted, but Missouri State lefthanded pitcher and Glendale High School grad Mike Kickham has been selected here on Day 2 of the MLB Draft. He was taken in the sixth round (No. 198) to San Francisco. Kickham is expected to address the media later this afternoon, so we will get his thoughts — especially since he was expected to be drafted well before this.
Despite finishing his sophomore year at Missouri State with a 4-9 record and a 5.25 ERA in 96 innings, striking out 103 and walking 30, Baseball America’s Jim Callis had Kickham as Missouri’s top prospect and the No. 110 prospect overall. ESPN’s Keith Law had him as high as No. 68 as of May 14.
A couple things could be at play here. Teams could have been slightly scared off by the stats, even though the MSU newcomer, who played a year at Crowder Community College in Neosho last year, ended the season as the team’s Friday night starter. Callis explained to me that despite the numbers, Kickham has the desired frame (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and velocity (low 90s).
Or, once his expected draft slot passed, some teams might be fearful of Kickham’s signability. See, the southpaw is 21 as a sophomore, giving him ultimate leverage because he can return to MSU for his junior season. Every pick that comes and doesn’t have his name on it lessens the chances he’ll turn pro, since the dollars are dwindling and he still has time to improve his skill set in college. Another possible plus for Bears fans is how if Kickham returns to MSU, it’s likely he’ll reunite with his twin brother, RHP Dan Kickham, who just finished his sophomore year at Crowder. Dan Kickham is rated as Missouri’s No. 18 prospect. It’s been implied that both twins would either go pro or go back to MSU.
The third scenario that I highly doubt is that Calls and Law were completely wrong, but those two pros had to be getting their information somewhere. Whatever reason, it’s unfortunate for Mike Kickham, because the dollars won’t be as lucrative, but is possibly a happy day for MSU, seeing as how there’s a better chance they could keep both Kickhams, now.
Stay tuned. It could get very interesting. We will be updating this all day long, so keep checking back.
Previous draft coverage
If you missed any of our previous MLB Draft coverage, here is all of it, bullet-point style:
• SGF has a lot at stake in Day 2 of MLB Draft, with locals and Missouri State
• Why do people have a hard time believing in Republic’s Tyler King?
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