Local Talent Looks to Make Mark at MLB Draft

The 2017 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft takes place on Monday with teams making first round and second round selections and continues through Tuesday (rounds 3-10) and concludes on Wednesday (rounds 11-40). Live coverage of the draft begins at 6 p.m. on Monday with coverage of the picks being aired on the MLB Network beginning at 7 p.m.. Two of the top 200 players available according to a list compiled by MLB.com have local ties; Westfield School senior Cole Brannen and former Houston County High School and more recently Valdosta High School player D.L. Hall. Another player, Veterans High School senior Gabe Holt did not make the list but the Texas Tech commit is considered to be one of the many high school players out of Georgia to be a potentially drafted this week.

Brannen, a centerfielder, who is committed to play his college baseball at Georgia Southern University, is 68th overall prospect on the MLB.com list and could be the 10th Georgia high school outfielder drafted in the first round. As a senior for coach Rob Fitzpatrick and the Hornets, Brannen hit .439 with 36 hits, 23 doubles, 19 RBI (in 82 at bats), five home runs and 42 runs scored. Brannen stole 22 bases and scored 42 runs as well. The chance for him to be drafted early would be no surprise to his head coach. “I know this has been a goal of his for as long as I have known him,” says Fitzpatrick. “Cole has spent countless hours preparing himself for this day and I wish him the best in the future. He has meant a lot to Westfield and our baseball program.”

Hall, 6’0”, 190 lb., was a key part of Houston County’s 5A 2016 state championship team and he was even more vital to a very good Valdosta High program as a senior. A left-handed pitcher, Hall, who is committed to play at Florida State University this year, is expected to be a first round draft pick. He is ranked the 14th overall prospect by MLB.com.

Holt sticking with Texas Tech

Holt, the AAAAA Player of the Year, is expected to help the Red Raiders next season as a number of infielders are graduating or moving on via the draft. According to his father Greg Holt, he’ll be playing college ball next season no matter if and where he gets drafted. “Gabe wants to mature a little bit more,” says Greg. “I think it’s a safe bet because he gets educated and he will get better.” Holt would be the first player in the history of the program to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft. Veterans rising senior Leyton Pinckney has potential to be the second during the 2018 draft or the first if Holt isn’t drafted this week.

The elder Holt used the path taken by current Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson who was drafted in the 38th round by the Colorado Rockies in 2012 out of Marietta High School, passed on that opportunity and after three years of baseball at Vanderbilt University became the number one overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015. “That’s not what we’re saying will happen to Gabe but that’s what we are aiming at, says Greg.

Holt, whose expected to play shortstop in Lubbock next season, wants to get better and he believes college baseball at the sport’s highest level will get him to where he wants to be in the near future. “It’d be good to get the draft over with,” says Holt who was in Florida over the weekend attending the NCAA baseball tournament regionals. His mind made up about playing college ball, Holt’s now a spectator like the rest of us, watching the draft and waiting.

However if drafted Holt recognizes how important of a moment that could be. “That would be a pretty cool thing,” he says. “I just want to see my name in the draft.”

Holt hit .455 during his senior season with 51 hits, 44 RBI and 7 home runs. He scored 52 runs for David Coffey and the Warhawks last season while stealing 28 bases with 33 walks. His 170 career hits and 88 career stolen bases are both school records.

The odds are good that after solid senior seasons Holt, Brannen and Hall will be drafted, either way the next stage of their careers will begin.

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