State Preview: Maryland

Contributing: David Rawnsley

Maryland State-by-State List
2011 Maryland Overview

Maryland Overview:
Maryland Draft Drought Nearing an End

Maryland had no college or high-school players drafted in the first 10 rounds in either 2010 or 2011, and that scenario will likely be repeated this year.

But that drought should end in 2013 as a rapidly-improving University of Maryland baseball program should begin to make its presence felt in the draft by then, and the state has a top young high-school talent on the way in outfielder Matthew McPhearson, who is already projected to go in the top 2-3 rounds.

Despite missing the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament again this season, Maryland made a statement early in the 2012 season that it is a program to be reckoned with in the future as it beat eventual Pacific-12 Conference champion UCLA in two of three games on Opening Weekend, on the Bruins home turf. The Terrapins eventually won 11 of their first 12 games against a strong non-conference schedule, before getting a reality check when the ACC season started. They promptly lost their first five conference games and went 10-20 overall in league play.

At least Maryland had a winning overall record at 32-24, something no other Maryland Division I college could claim in 2012. Collectively, the state’s other D-I schools went 89-234, including a 1-53 mark by Coppin State. In 2011, the state’s seven Division I schools were 119-238 overall; in 2010, they were 117-242.

Though the Terrapins, under second-year coach Erik Bakick, have showed clear indications of becoming one of the most-competitive college teams in the mid-Atlantic region in the near future, beginning as early as 2013, the school’s impact on the draft this year should be limited. Several seniors are expected to be targeted any time after the 15th round, like righthander Sander Beck and shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez, who were both unsigned 2011 draft picks.

Maryland’s high-school crop, meanwhile, is thin again on draftable talent, but has a noteworthy name in Gilman School first baseman Ryan Ripken, son of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken. He may end up being taken as a late-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles, but it’s much more likely that he will end up in college at South Carolina.

Maryland in a nutshell:

STRENGTH: University of Maryland players.
WEAKNESS: Draftable high-school talent.
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 1.

BEST COLLEGE TEAM: Maryland.
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Harford.
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: James M. Bennett HS, Salisbury.

BEST OUT-OF-STATE PROSPECT, Maryland Connection: Branden Kline, rhp, University of Virginia (Attended high school in Frederick).
Top 2013 Prospect: Matthew McPhearson, of, Riverdale Baptist HS, Hyattsville.
Top 2014 Prospect: K.J. Hockaday, 3b, University of Maryland.

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History: Harold Baines, of, St. Michaels HS (1977, White Sox/1st round, 1st pick).
2006 Draft: Matt Sweeney, c, Magruder HS, Rockville (Angels, 8th round).
2007 Draft: Brett Cecil, lhp, University of Maryland (Blue Jays/1st round, 38th pick).
2008 Draft: L.J. Hoes, of, St. John’s College Prep (Orioles/3rd round).
2009 Draft: Branden Kline, rhp, Johnson HS, Frederick (Red Sox/6th round).
2010 Draft: Adam Kolarek, lhp, University of Maryland (Mets/11th round).
2011 Draft: K.J. Hockaday, ss, Carroll HS, Bel Air (Orioles/14th round).

2011 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed: 6/3.
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 0/0.
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 1/0.

TOP PROSPECTS, GROUPS ONE and TWO

None

5 PROSPECTS TO WATCH

SANDER BECK, rhp, University of Maryland (Sr.)
At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, with a fastball at 90-93 mph, Beck has the frame and raw arm strength of a pro pitcher. Control issues as a junior at Maryland (2-5, 5.59, 58 IP, 50 BB/58 SO) hurt his draft chances in 2011, though he was still selected in the 33rd-round by the Baltimore Orioles. The O’s watched Beck closely as he returned for a second summer to play for the Maryland Orioles, a team they sponsor in the local Cal Ripken Collegiate League, but elected not to sign him, even as Beck went a much-improved 3-1, 2.25 over the summer with 14 walks and 41 strikeouts in 32 innings. Hopeful that he might carry over that performance into his senior year at Maryland, Beck was consistently 91-92 mph and flashed a plus slider this spring, while going 6-2, 2.87 with 27 walks and 42 strikeouts in 53 innings. Though there was a notable improvement from 2011, Beck continued to have some issues with his command, particularly in his early role as a Friday starter, and was eventually installed as a mid-week starter.