Other Side of the Coin

The MLB baseball draft took place this week and there are now 14 players that are at a crossroads. Each of those 14 were just out of high school and now have the choice between signing with the major league team that drafted them or honoring their commitment to play in college. The deadline to make this decision is August 15th and there will be millions of dollars involved.


Dylan Bundy selected fourth by the Baltimore Orioles and Blake Swihart selected 26th by the Boston Red Sox are part of the same Texas recruiting class. Bundy has slightly tipped his hand by stating that he would like to play in the same rotation as his brother Robert who was drafted by the Orioles in 2008. Swihart is a talented catcher that grew up a Texas fan and it may take well above the normal 26th spot signing bonus to entice him to head to Boston. 


Bubba Starling selected fifth by the Kansas City Royals and Archie Bradley selected seventh by the Arizona Diamondbacks both have the option to play quarterback in college. Starling has to choose between playing football and baseball at Nebraska or signing with his local team that is just minutes from his hometown. Bradley has the same offer to play both football and baseball for his home state Oklahoma Sooners or joining the Diamondbacks organization.


I believe that Javier Baez drafted ninth by the Chicago Cubs and Brandon Nimmo drafted 13th by the New York Mets may have the easiest decisions to make. Baez is a shortstop that is bound for Chipola Junior College in his home state of Florida but now has the no-brainer to accept top ten money to sign with the Cubs. Nimmo could go to Arkansas and play for Coach Dave Van Horn who also coached his brother Bryce at Nebraska but will likely opt for what the Mets have to offer which is a huge jump for a player limited to Legion ball since they don't play spring baseball in Wyoming.


Francisco Lindor drafted eighth by the Cleveland Indians is a shortstop from Florida who could choose Florida State. Jose Fernandez drafted 14th by the Florida Marlins is a RHP from Tampa and committed to play for his hometown team University of South Florida. Tyler Beede drafted 21st by the Toronto Blue Jays is a RHP from Massachusetts could head to Vanderbilt. Taylor Guerrieri drafted 24th by the Tampa Bay Rays has the option to play for his hometown South Carolina Gamecocks. Joe Ross drafted 25th by the San Diego Padres is a California boy that might see it enticing to be a right-handed pitcher for UCLA after seeing two of their pitchers develop into top three draft picks this week. Robert Stephenson drafted 27th by the Cincinnati Reds is another RHP from California and his choice could be to take the Tim Lincecum route through the University of Washington. Jake Hager was another Rays pick at the 32nd position who is a shortstop from Nevada that could head to Arizona State. Finally Kevin Matthews drafted 33rd by the Texas Rangers is a LHP from Georgia who could play for Virginia.


Some of these players have to make the choice between their hometown team or going pro. There will be numbers with many zeros tossed around as they make the biggest decision of their young lives. In the end it will involve a lot more than the flip of a coin.