2018 commits provide something rare for FSU baseball

The MLB Draft is over and it appears likely that Florida State will welcome all of its top commits from the high school ranks. Typically, collegiate baseball power-houses get ransacked by professional baseball clubs during the 3-day MLB Draft when highly touted high school players decide to sign pro contracts rather than enroll in college.

In the last two years, FSU has lost five of the nation’s top high school athletes to MLB clubs.

• 2016: 3B Joshua Lowe — 1st Round (Tampa Bay Rays)
• 2016: RHP Forrest Whitley — 1st Round (Houston Astros)
• 2016 LHP Cole Ragans — 1st Round (Texas Rangers)
• 2016 RHP Tyler Mondile — 6th Round (Cincinnati Reds)
• 2017: LHP D.L. Hall — 1st Round (Baltimore Orioles)

Looking at the current list of Top 100 MLB prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, you’ll find three players that were FSU commits before ultimately being selected in the MLB Draft. Whitley (No.7), Brendan Rodgers (No. 10) and Nick Gordon (No. 72) could have been on this year’s FSU squad had they not signed big-league deals with the Astros, Rockies, and Twins, respectively.

Unlikely FSU loses any top prospects to the draft

With all 40 rounds of this year’s draft in the books, it appears that Florida State will secure all of their high-level commits. Five high-schoolers were selected during the draft period this year, led by shortstop Nander de Sedas. However, it appears likely that they will all head to Tallahassee in the fall.

After watching his stock plummet on draft day, de Sedas was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 29th round. He quickly took to Twitter to announce his commitment to the Seminoles.

“I will start by thanking the Milwaukee Brewers organization for drafting me in this year’s draft. It was a long process, full of blessings! With that being said, I have decided to attend Florida State University!”

Several others followed suit.

When asked whether he would go pro, right-handed pitcher Jack Anderson told me that he would not sign with the Yankees.

“No. I’m going to school,” he said via text after the New York Yankees selected him in the 36th round. “FSU is really important to me I’m excited to be there.”

Catcher Matheu Nelson, who was preparing for a Collegiate Summer League game when he received the news that he had been selected by the Phillies in the 39th round, also appears to be headed to Tallahassee. Sources close to Nelson told me that they are “sure he’s going to FSU” when asked about his level of commitment.

Perhaps the biggest question mark is the Boston Red Sox’ 21st round selection, third baseman Brandon Howlett. The George Jenkins HS (Lakeland, Fla.) product could attend a JUCO rather than play for the Seminoles. Howlett has not made his intentions known at this point.

Robby Martin was taken by the Miami Marlins in the 37th round and his status is also unknown. At this point, the only reason he wouldn’t step on the field at Dick Howser Stadium next season is because he decided to go the Junior College route and enter the draft again next year. The same can be said for right-hander Cole Beverlin after the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 39th round.

Since 2003, when Perfect Game started tracking high school commitments, Florida State has never kept all of it’s drafted commits. They’ve lost at least one player to the draft, or to a JUCO after being selected in the draft, in each of the last 15 seasons.