Mississippi has make its mark on the MLB draft, with eight players being selected in the top 10 rounds. Star Ole Miss pitcher Ryan Rolison came off the board first with the 17th overall pick, and will likely be headed to the Colorado Rockies. Rolison’s projected slot value is $2.9 million.

Rolison went 10-4 on the season with a 3.70 era.

Brandon High’s J.T Ginn went in round one, pick 30 to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Hattiesburg High’s Joe Gray went 30 picks later in the second round to the Milwaukee Brewers. Ginn committed to play at Mississippi State, but with a projected slot value of $2.3 million, it’s more likely he suits up with a Dodger’s minor league affiliate next season.

Likewise, Gray had also committed to play college ball, choosing Ole Miss, but with a projected signing bonus of $1.1 million, his chances of playing collegiate baseball are also slim.

Southern Miss’ Nick Sandlin went seven picks later, and Mississippi State’s Konnor Pilkington was drafted by the White Sox with the 81st overall pick in round three.

Sandlin won the 2018 C Spire Ferris Trophy as the top college player in the state of Mississippi and has a projected signing bonus of 939,000. Sandlin went 8-0 for the Golden Eagles this year and compiled a 1.24 ERA.

Pilkington was the top arm for the Bulldogs and went 8-5 with a 3.08 ERA this season.

Rounding out the Mississippi draft picks are Ole Miss catcher Nick Fortes going to the Miami Marlins in the fourth round, Rebel pitcher Brady Feigl going in the fifth round to the Oakland Athletics, and Madison Central pitcher and Mississippi State signee Regi Grace getting picked by the Twins in the 10th round.

Fortes hit .319 this season while batting in 32 runs and hitting five home runs. Meanwhile, Feigl went 2-2 with a 4.08 era.

By Cody Thomason

The Vicksburg Post