2014 Top Draftable College Baseball Players

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball
(From Jan. 3, 2014 Edition)

TUCSON, Ariz. — The following is a list of college players who have an excellent chance of being drafted in the first two rounds of next June’s Free Agent Draft with a good season.

The list was made after consulting with college baseball coaches across the nation along with scouts.

LHP Carlos Rodon
N.C. State
The heavy favorite to be the No. 1 pick overall in the 2014 draft, Rodon has put together a remarkable career at N.C. State.

This chiseled 6-foot, 234-pound southpaw pitcher has carved up opposing hitters for two seasons with the Wolfpack after being chosen in the 16th round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011 out of Holly Springs H.S. (Holly Springs, N.C.).

The development of Rodon as been something to behold after N.C. State pitching coach Tom Holliday began working with him.

As a freshman at N.C. State, he punched out 135 (third in the nation) as he posted a 9-0 record in 2012 to become the first freshmen in Atlantic Coast Conference history to earn conference Pitcher of The Year honors.

Last season, he struck out 184 batters and averaged 12.51 strikeouts per game to rank No. 1 in both categories.

SS Trea Turner
N.C. State
Turner is an electric player with plus speed as demonstrated by his 6.25 speed in the 60.

Overall, he is the N.C. State’s best hitter and a fabulous defensive player as well. Turner is expected to be one of the first three picks in the entire 2014 draft because of his amazing skills.

Last season for N.C. State, he hit .368 with 7 homers, 13 doubles and 42 RBI.

He also swiped 30 of 36 bases.

RHP Jeff Hoffman
East Carolina
Hoffman had a tremendous summer as the top prospect last summer in the Cape Cod League and is expected to be a high draft pick next June.

His fastball ranges from 93-98 mph and has a power curve and slider with a good changeup.

Last season for East Carolina, he was 6-7 with a 3.20 ERA and struck out 84 batters with 39 walks over 109 2/3 innings.

RHP Aaron Nola
Louisiana State
Nola earned first team All-American honors and the Pitcher of The Year award in the SEC last season.

He posted a 12-1 record, 1.57 ERA and struck out 122 batters with only 18 walks over 126 innings.

Nola is a big time righthander who is expected to go high in the draft.

RHP Tyler Beede
Vanderbilt
Beede had a superb season one year ago for the Commodores as he posted a 14-1 record, 2.32 ERA and fanned 103 batters with 63 walks over 101 innings.

He was a first round pick during the 2011 draft.

OF Bradley Zimmer
San Francisco
The Cape Cod League MVP, he had a superb season one year ago for the Dons as he hit .320 with 7 homers, 12 doubles and 37 RBI.

He also swiped 19 bases.

Zimmer is expected to be a high first round pick.

C Kyle Schwarber
Indiana
The 6-foot, 235-pound Schwarber put up incredible offensive numbers last season for the Hoosiers.

He hit .366 with 18 homers, 10 doubles and knocked in 54 runs.

OF Derek Fisher
Virginia
Fisher is a superb athlete who has improved his plate approach and has greatly improved his defensive skills.

He has excellent power and speed.

Last season, Fisher hit .293 with 7 homers, 12 doubles and knocked in 48 runs.

RHP Nick Burdi
Louisville
Burdi flashes a 98-101 mph fastball for the Cardinals.

Last season, he posted 16 saves with a 0.76 ERA and fanned 62 batters in 29 appearances with only 13 walks.

OF Michael Conforto
Oregon St.
An incredible defensive outfielder, the reigning Pac-12 Player of The Year not only threw out two runners at home on fly balls to the outfield during the 2013 College World Series.

But he made a diving catch on another occasion and then made the defensive play of the 2013 CWS as a deep fly ball was hit to left field by Mississippi State’s Wes Rea.

On a full sprint, he reached out with his glove and barely caught the ball inches from the outfield wall and then crashed into it.

Offensively, he hit 11 homes, 14 doubles and knocked in 47 runs.

Collegiate Baseball has a rundown on 50 more top college baseball players who are expected to be high draft picks in next June’s Free Agent Draft. Read about all of them in the Jan. 3, 2014 College Preview edition of Collegiate Baseball which is now on sale. To obtain a copy, CLICK HERE.