Five Seminoles ranked in top 300 for 2020 MLB draft

Last week, MLB.com dropped their top 100 for the 2020 MLB draft and had CJ Van Eyk at number 19, the lone current Seminole on the list. Today Perfect Game dropped a more extensive list, with the top 300 prospects in the nation, including five Seminoles and three FSU commits. Once again, Van Eyk found himself within the top 30 at #21 on the list.

As Shane Drohan will follow Van Eyk on weekends in 2020, he was the next ‘Nole to see his name appear on the list at number 140. Drohan came out of high school as the 19th highest rated LHP in the country, but command held him back his first two years as he walked 8.84 batters per nine innings. But a fix in his mechanics in Jim Belanger appears to have fixed the lefty’s command, as he didn’t walk a single batter throughout fall scrimmages. The junior’s lanky frame and high spin rates make him a very high ceiling prospect with lots of helium heading into the spring. If Dro finds the zone on a regular basis with his 92-94 MPH fastball, he could help FSU win a lot of games and earn himself a pretty high draft pick.

Reese Albert was the third ‘Nole to find his name on the list at #147. When Albert has been healthy in his career, he’s been a very consistent player. Reese is a rangy OF that has a good amount of pop in his bat for his frame. Albert is a player that has more to prove with his health than his skills to scouts, as he recovers from shoulder surgery. The junior doesn’t have the skills of an Andrew Benintendi, but he is that type of player and can make an impact in any phase of the game from the top of the FSU lineup. If Albert can find consistency with his shoulder, he should earn himself a sizable bonus coming out of college.

The next two players are both wild cards that could find themselves anywhere from the first round to not even drafted in 2020. Nander De Sedas found himself ranked #157 while Elijah Cabell inched into the rankings at #297. Both guys came into FSU as top 10 prospects last year, but had major struggles. But each of them have shown strides in their game this fall and also the potential they have. Each of them have raw first round talent, but they have to put it all together on the field. They can both make major leaps with just simple fixes in their games. For De Sedas, he needs to make the routine play on the infield at a more consistent basis and Cabell just needs to put the ball in play more. The sophomore eligible prospects are x-factors to both the 2020 FSU baseball team and the 2020 MLB draft.

The Seminoles’ 2020 recruiting class boasted three pitchers in the rankings as Carson Montgomery picked up another top-50 ranking at #41. Hard-throwing RHP Najer Victor joined him at no. 278 and physical LHP Ross Dunn sneaked in at number 295. Victor is a very talented, yet not so polished pitcher, chucking anywhere in the mid-90’s range with his FB, but also struggling with command at times. Dunn is not your typical lefty, using his FB to overpower hitters out of his big frame. You can read more about each of these guys in the 2020 pitchers’ recruiting breakdown.

FSU fans may get to see Van Eyk walk across the stage and shake commission Rob Manfred’s hand after some major changes to the draft.

For the last few years, the draft has been right after and even during some super regional games, deterring many college players’ draft experience. The draft will now be in Omaha and run the three days leading up to the College World Series, giving college players the experience to live out their MLB draft dreams. The event will no longer be just a few high school players in an MLBNetwork studio, but a celebration of college and high school baseball in the baseball heart of America, as it should be.