2017 State Draft Report: Oklahoma

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

This is a very solid year for Oklahoma high school talent, helped by Ryan Vilade’s transfer from Texas for his senior year of high school. But in a state that produced seven first-round picks from 2011-2013, the lack of clear first-round talents makes it more a productive year than a sensational one.

NATIONAL TOP 500 PROSPECTS

BA 500 Scouting Reports

1. Ryan Vilade, 3B, Stillwater (Okla.) HS (67)
2. Conner Uselton, OF, Southmoore HS, Oklahoma City (89)
3. Matt Whatley, C, Oral Roberts (110)
4. Mitchell Stone, LHP, Deer Creek HS, Edmond, Okla. (228)
5. Cade Cavalli, RHP, Bixby (Okla.) HS (295)
6. Tyler Buffet, RHP, Oklahoma State (353)
7. Kaden Polcovich, SS/2B, Deer Creek HS, Edmond, Okla. (445)
8. Trey Cobb, RHP, Oklahoma State (452)

OTHER PROSPECTS OF NOTE

2017 Draft Map

9. Garrett McCain, OF, Oklahoma State
10. Justin Cooke, C, Norman (Okla.) HS
11. Garrett Benge, 3B, Oklahoma State
12. Jake Taylor, C, Shawnee (Okla.) HS
13. Devon Perez, RHP, Oklahoma
14. Renae Martinez, C, Oklahoma
15. Tanner Griffin, C, Bixby (Okla.) HS
16. Roman Phansalkar, RHP, Heritage Hall High, Oklahoma City
17. Zack Mathews, RHP, Wellston (Okla.) HS
18. Ryan Sluder, OF, Oklahoma State
19. Brent Williams, C/1B, Oral Roberts
20. Carson Teel, LHP, Oklahoma State
21. J.B. Olson, RHP, Oklahoma
22. Alex Rodriguez, SS, Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa
23. Jhon Santos, 3B, Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa
24. Nic Minor, OF, Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa
25. Dylan Snypes, OF, Oral Roberts
26. Logan Gragg, RHP, Connors State
27. Easton Elliott, OF, Eastern Oklahoma JC

Garrett McCain, OF, Oklahoma State
McCain had a breakout junior season, hitting .388/.491/.549. He played some center field for the Cowboys, but is likely a left fielder in pro ball.

Garrett Benge, 3B, Oklahoma State
Benge was a junior college star in 2015 and hit .304/.437/.533 with 10 home runs this spring as a junior. He has a solid track record as a hitter. He is below-average defensively at third, so his best path to pro ball may be if he can convert to catcher, but that means he likely makes more sense as a senior sign next year.

Jake Taylor, C, Shawnee (Okla.) HS
Taylor was the leader of his Shawnee HS team that went 40-0 en route to winning the Oklahoma 5A State Championship. A physical catcher, Taylor has power in his bat and an average arm. Taylor hit nine home runs with a 20-to-4 walk-to-strikeout mark. Scouts are impressed with Taylor’s defensive potential that stems from the combination of his solid arm, his work ethic and his focus behind the plate, in addition to leadership qualities he shows on the field.

Devon Perez, RHP, Oklahoma
A transfer from Iowa Western CC, Perez quickly became one of Oklahoma’s most reliable pitchers, getting the call in the Sooners’ first game of the NCAA regionals. His 88-92 mph fastball is his second-best pitch, as he trusts and relies on a 79-81 mph slider.

Renae Martinez, C, Oklahoma
After playing sporadically as a freshman at UC Irvine, Martinez headed to junior college before ending up at Oklahoma. After a solid but unspecatular junior season, he hit .323/.399/.510 this year while throwing out 30 percent of basestealers.

Roman Phansalkar, RHP, Heritage Hall High, Oklahoma City
Phansalkar’s velocity has wavered this spring, but the Arizona signee is projectable and has a track record of success.

Ryan Sluder, OF, Oklahoma State
Sluder hit only .260/.357/.370 this year, but he is a plus runner and a solid center fielder who was a perfect 10-for-10 on steals, making him a potential senior sign.

Brent Williams, C/1B, Oral Roberts
A senior, Williams didn’t catch much this season because he was working back from nerve transposition surgery and also was blocked by Matt Whatley. But, Williams is a potential pro catcher with significant power, with 17 home runs this year.

Carson Teel, LHP, Oklahoma State
Teel’s 88-90 mph fastball gives him a chance to be a later-round draft as a lefty reliever.

J.B. Olson, RHP, Oklahoma
Olson is a crafty sidearming senior reliever with an 87-88 mph sinker that makes him a tough at-bat for righthanded hitters.

Alex Rodriguez, SS, Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa
A Kentucky signee, Rodriguez paced Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa with 12 home runs and a .720 slugging percentage this season.

Nic Minor, OF, Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa
A plus runner who was clocked at 6.42 seconds in the 60-yard dash at a pro scout day in the fall, Minor led off for Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa and stole 22 bases while getting caught just three times.

Dylan Snypes, OF, Oral Roberts
Snypes hit .335/.393/.438 to lead Oral Roberts in batting. He’s more likely to get picked as a senior next year, but as a shortstop with at least an average arm, he may get some interest this year.

Easton Elliott, OF, Eastern Oklahoma JC
Elliott ranked among junior college leaders with 21 home runs.