MLB Draft truly begins for the Ozarks

When you cracked open your laptop or picked up the newspaper this morning, it’s likely you read about Bryce Harper and how he was the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Nationals and he and RHP Stephen Strasburg are both once-in-a-generation prospects.

That’s all and good, but the local portion of the MLB draft starts today, and it could get interesting. Rounds 2-30 pop off today and it could include a fair amount of local talent.

Here is Missouri’s top prospects according to Baseball America:

• NATIONAL TOP 200 PROSPECTS
• 1. Mike Kickham, lhp, Missouri State (National Rank: 110) (Glendale HS)
  
• 2. Nick Tepesch, rhp, Missouri (National Rank: 130)
• OTHER PROSPECTS OF NOTE
• 3. Matt Stites, rhp, Jefferson CC
• 4. Jordan Shipers, lhp, South Harrison HS, Bethany
• 5. Brett Nicholas, c/3b, Missouri
• 6. Aaron Senne, 1b, Missouri
• 7. Aaron Meade, lhp, Missouri State
• 8. Chuckie Jones, of, Boonville HS
• 9. Les Smith, of, Meramec CC
• 10. Ryan Hafner, rhp, Lee’s Summit West HS
• 11. James Hudelson, rhp, Jefferson CC
• 12. Tyler Clark, rhp, Missouri (Springfield Catholic HS)
  
• 13. Zach Beringer, rhp, Harrisburg HS
• 14. Brooks Martin, rhp, Central Missouri State
• 15. Steven Ross, of, Maple Woods CC
• 16. Jim Klocke, c, Southeast Missouri State
• 17. Seth Conner, 3b, Rogersville HS
• 18. Dan Kickham, rhp, Crowder CC (Glendale HS)
  
• 19. Danny Brock, 1b, Saint Louis
• 20. Zach Tolliver, rhp, St. Charles CC
• 21. Matt Linderer, rhp, Bishop DuBourg HS, St. Louis
• 22. Jon Myers, 3b, Saint Louis
• 23. Sam Bates, of, Crowder CC
• 24. Drew Levi, of, Jefferson CC
• 25. Sal Belfonte, of, Rockhurst HS, Kansas City

MSU and former Glendale pitcher MIke Kickham

There are a ton of things at play, here. First of all, is some good old fashioned SGF pride. In all, three Springfield natives could get drafted by the end of today. Of course, both Kickham twins could get drafted today, with Mike, the southpaw, being the state’s top prospect. He could be drafted by noon and handed a ton of cash. His brother Dan, who set the saves record at Crowder CC as a righthanded pitcher, could go, which would put his 2011 status as an MSU arm in jeopardy.

Former Catholic pitcher Tyler Clark, a Mizzou junior righthanded pitcher, wasn’t as good in 2010 (4.97 ERA, 43 KS in 38 IP, 26 appearances, 2 starts) as he was in 2009 with his 2.86 ERA, but he is still big and strong and throws hard. He could get drafted today, giving three Springfield natives draft status, something that doesn’t happen all that often. Clark was a 46th round pick in the 2007 draft by the Chicago Cubs, but didn’t sign and enrolled at Mizzou.

Missouri State’s Aaron Meade should get drafted within the first 10 rounds, and as the News-Leader’s Lyndal Scranton pointed out today, if both Kickham, a draft-eligible sophomore, and Meade, a junior, sign professionally, because of Pat Doyle’s graduation, MSU’s weekend starting rotation would be wiped out. In the link, Scranton points out a few of MSU’s signees could get drafted, as well.

The most notable of those MSU recruits is Rogersville infielder Seth Conner. We wrote about Conner’s improbably emergence over the past 10 months, seeing as how he went from a Jefferson College recruit, to signing with MSU to likely signing, no matter what round he’s drafted in.

We will have reaction and news on the picks, so check back after the draft picks back up at 11 a.m. To follow along, check out MLB.com’s Draft Tracker by clicking here.