Alabama Baseball Has Six Current Players, Three Signees Selected in Draft

Six current roster players for Alabama baseball and three incoming signees were drafted in the MLB First-Year draft over the past few days.

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The MLB First-Year Draft was held over the past few days and the Alabama baseball team will have some holes to fill in the pitching staff next season if everyone decides to go with the show.

Altogether, Alabama baseball potentially lost six current roster members and three signees that would be in for next season. Out of the six that the Tide lost or has the potential to lose, two of those were weekend starters on the mound and two were out of the bullpen.

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The first Tide player taken off of the board was closer Thomas Burrows to the Seattle Mariners with the 11th pick in the fourth round (117th overall). Burrows already announced he would sign but even if we didn’t know, it would be hard to turn down the MLB Slot value of $506,4000. The lefty leaves the Tide with 30 saves and a 7-6 record over 72 relief appearances. Burrows carried a 2.20 ERA (25 ER/102.1 IP), only allowing 76 hits while holding opponents to a .210 average.

Other Tide Players Drafted from the 2016 Roster

NICK EICHOLTZ (13th Round, 383rd Overall) Miami Marlins

Over his three years at The Capstone, the Tide’s Sunday starter tallied a 2.91 ERA (46 ER/142.1 IP) and held opponents to .216 at the plate. He notched 39 appearances on the bump with 26 starts, striking out 106 batters. Roger Patrick Myers from Roll Bama Roll noted that he could return next season but would wait a while and see what happens.

WILL HAYNIE (16th Round, 470th Overall) Colorado Rockies

According to Myers’ report again, Haynie is quoted as saying he got what he wanted and he was signing for sure. The Tide catcher closes his time with Tide with 21 career home runs, 66 RBIs, and 61 runs scored. In the past two seasons, he led the Crimson Tide with home runs with 10 this past season. Haynie also finished up 2016 with .992 fielding percentage and cut down 33-percent of the runners.

MATT FOSTER (20th Round, 596th) Chicago White Sox

The Gulf Coast State College top junior college transfer only spent one season with the Crimson Tide as the primary set-up man out of the pen. Does that mean we get him one more season? Time will tell. In his only season in Tuscaloosa, Foster finished with a team-high five wins and two saves in 25 appearances and toted a 2.92 ERA (13 ER/40.0 IP). He didn’t allow one home run all season and kept opponents to a .231 average.

COLTON FREEMAN (20th Round, 614th Overall) Chicago Cubs The pitcher on the staff that Gaspard and crew didn’t use much already has his degree and is ready to get started with the Cubbies according to Myer. The lefty only pitched in 15 relief outings for Alabama spanning 16 innings. He struck out 27 batters and stifled them at the plate with a .125 for hitters.

GEOFFREY BRAMBLETT (30th Round, 913th Overall) Kansas City Royals

There’s some belief that Bramblett could return for the 2017 season but like most when the MLB Draft is the talk, it’s wait-and-see. In his three seasons at Alabama, Bramblett has compiled an 18-9 overall record and a 3.40 ERA (86 ER/227.2 IP) with 35 starts and 47 appearances. Opposing offenses were held to a .234 average while Bramblett struck out 192 batters and walked 75.

2016 Signees Drafted

CAL JONES (6th Round, 193rd Overall) Kansas City Royals

You can take his one off of the list for the incoming guys as Jones intends to sign with the Royals per Opelika/Auburn News.

"Jones said he will sign with the Royals today and head to Arizona on Monday for rookie ball.“I don’t know exactly what he’ll sign for,” Nolen said, “but he’s the type of kid that would sign for a meal and a bus ticket just to have this opportunity."

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ZACHARY CLARK (19th Round, 561st Overall) Milwaukee Brewers

If Clark does head to Tuscaloosa, he will come by way of Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. Baseball America has the outfielder listed as the eighth-best prospect out of the Magnolia State. There haven’t been too many rumblings on what his decision may be just yet.

GARRETT SUCHEY (30th Round, 893rd Overall) Miami Marlins

This is yet another prospect participating in the wait-and-see program. That position would drop the slot value pretty low, so he may indeed head to Title-Town for at least one season. The right-handed pitcher would come to the Tide from Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, AL. He graduated from Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, AL and became the school’s all-time leader in doubles and RBIs. Suchey was also named the Jefferson County Player of the Year and the North Jefferson News Player of the Year as well as the 5A All-Area team.

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Of course with these guys not knowing who the skipper could be for the 2017 season, it should give them a bit of pause until they find out who athletic director Bill Battle gives the reigns to lead the Tide. Good luck to all of them, no matter what.