2017 State Draft Report: Michigan

CROP RATING
	Solid, not spectacular
Rating compares this year’s group to what a state typically produces, not to other states

After a couple of really good years for Michigan draft talent, this year is more run of the mill. There’s no Nick Plummer (first round in 2015) or Keegan Aiken (second round in 2016), but it’s also better than 2012 when only one player from Michigan was taken in the top 10 rounds.

NATIONAL TOP 500 PROSPECTS

BA 500 Scouting Reports

1. Alex Troop, LHP, Michigan State (179)
2. Oliver Jaskie, LHP, Michigan (184)
3. Brandon Hughes, OF, Michigan State (240)
4. Jeff Criswell, RHP, Portage (Mich.) Central HS (263)
5. Sam Weatherly, LHP, Howell (Mich.) HS (350)
6. Drew Lugbauer, C/3B, Michigan (378)
7. Steve Mann, OF, Detroit Country Day School (454)
8. Michael Hendrickson, LHP, Michigan (459)

OTHER PROSPECTS OF NOTE

2017 Draft Map

9. Jackson Lamb, RHP, Michigan
10. Zach Sterry, 1B, Oakland
11. Daniel Jipping, 1B/OF, Central Michigan
12. Nathan Witt, RHP, Michigan State
13. Michael Brdar, SS, Michigan
14. Jordan Nwogu, OF, Pioneer HS, Ann Arbor, Mich.
15. Matt Byars, C, Michigan State
16. Tanner Allison, OF, Western Michigan
17. Jonathan Cheshire, RHP, Davenport (Mich.)
18. Jesse Heikkinen, LHP/OF, Holt (Mich.) HS
19. Obie Ricumstrict, SS, Mt. Pleasant (Mich.) HS
20. Adam Proctor, C, St. Johns (Mich.) HS
21. Joe Wiemer, OF/RHP, Bedford HS, Temperance, Mich.
22. Caleb Balgaard, SS/3B, Howell (Mich.) HS
23. Andrew Click, RHP, Davenport (Mich.)
24. Krystien Johnson-Battilana, RHP, Davenport (Mich.)

Jackson Lamb, RHP, Michigan
Lamb’s medical history gives teams cause for concern as he missed the 2015 season with Tommy John surgery and pitched only 8.1 innings in his redshirt sophomore season in 2016 because of an oblique injury. But he’s a big (6-foot-6) righthander with a low-90s fastball and is coming off a very good redshirt junior season as Michigan’s closer (3-1, 0.96, 12 saves).

Zach Sterry, 1B, Oakland
Sterry has been one of Oakland’s best hitters for several years and impressed in the summer Prospect League. The 5-foot-11, 225-pound slugger hit .346/.441/.643 with 13 home runs this year. He’s a lefty bat who may be a solid senior sign.

Daniel Jipping, 1B/OF, Central Michigan

Jipping has significant raw power and he did hit 11 home runs this year, but he also struggles to make contact at times.

Michael Brdar, SS, Michigan
Brdar has been Michigan’s starting shortstop since the day he arrived from Diablo Valley (Calif.) CC. He’s a solid contact hitter with some footspeed and savvy.

Jordan Nwogu, OF, Pioneer HS, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Nwogu is a physically imposing corner outfielder who is committed to Michigan to play baseball, but also had several Division I programs recruiting him as a football player. Nwogu has plus raw power and the potential for a plus arm, but is extremely raw and needs to more work in developing both throwing motion and his swing. He also dealt with a shoulder issue that came from an injury on the gridiron this spring. Once Nwogu starts focusing exclusively on baseball, there’s a chance he develops several real tools.

Matt Byars, C, Michigan State
Byars is a physical catcher who is a solid receiver, but his bat is light and he threw out only 17 percent of basestealers this season.

Tanner Allison, OF, Western Michigan
Allison was the No. 1 prospect in the summer wood-bat Prospect League in 2015 as a pitcher. The two-way player struggled on the mound, but blossomed at the plate this year after giving up pitching. The lefthanded-hitting outfielder hit .356/.432/.574.