2016 State Draft Report: Louisiana

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

 

Number of players drafted in 2015: 28

As long as Louisiana State is in Louisiana, it’s safe to say that there will be a number of draftable players in the state.

The Tigers may not have had a top three pick this year like they did last year with Alex Bregman, but between Jameson Fisher (Southeast Louisiana), Jake Fraley (LSU) and Jake Rogers and Stephen Alemais (Tulane), it’s still a very solid year for the state’s college talent.

The high school talent is a little thinner at the top, but Louisiana State has signed an excellent in-state recruiting class if their bevy of high school shortstops make it through the draft.

NATIONAL TOP 500 PROSPECTS

BA 500 Scouting Reports

1. Jameson Fisher, of, Southeastern Louisiana (National Rank: 64)
2. Jake Fraley, of, Louisiana State (National Rank: 66)
3. Jake Rogers, c, Tulane (National Rank: 95)
4. Stephen Alemais, ss, Tulane (National Rank: 120)
5. Jared Poche, lhp, Louisiana State (National Rank: 239)
6. Josh Smith, ss, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge (National Rank: 293)
7. Zach Watson, ss/of, West Ouachita HS, West Monroe, La. (National Rank: 306)
8. Will Reese, rhp, Anacoco (La.) HS (National Rank: 385)
9. Simon Landry, 3b, Ponchatoula (La.) HS (National Rank: 424)
10. Reed Smith, ss/2b, Russellville (Ala.) HS (National Rank: 484)

 

OTHER PROSPECTS OF NOTE

2016 Draft Map

11. Austin Bain, rhp, Louisiana State
12. Parker Bugg, rhp, Louisiana State
13. Jake Slaughter, ss, Ouachita (La.) Christian HS
14. Tre Turner, of, Holy Cross HS, New Orleans
15. Jesse Stallings, rhp, Louisiana State
16. Domenick Carlini, lhp, Southeast Louisiana
17. Corey Merrill, rhp, Tulane
18. Kyle Cedotal, lhp, Southeast Louisiana
19. Phillip Diehl, lhp, Louisiana Tech
20. Chandler Hall, ss, Louisiana Tech
21. Kramer Robertson, ss/2b, Louisiana State
22. Cole Freeman, 2b, Louisiana State
23. Reagan Bazar, rhp, Louisiana-Lafayette
24. Ryan Reynolds, 2b/3b, Ouachita (La.) Christian HS
25. Blair Frederick, lhp, Brother Martin HS, New Orleans, La.

 

ADDITIONAL SCOUTING REPORTS

Austin Bain, rhp, Louisiana State – Draft eligible as a sophomore, Bain bounced back quickly from offseason shoulder surgery to remove a bone spur, but he wasn’t as consistently sharp as a sophomore as he had shown in an excellent freshman year. Expected to step into a starting role, Bain instead had to settle for work out of the bullpen. He mixed an 89-91 mph fringe-average fastball with a low-80s fringe-average slider and a fringy changeup. Bain has touched 93 mph more regularly in the past, and could benefit from a chance to build back his arm strength with another season at LSU.

Parker Bugg, rhp, Louisiana State – Bugg is at his best when he uses all of his 6-foot-7 frame to get downhill, pounding the zone with an 88-91 mph fastball and a slider that flashes plus.

Jake Slaughter, ss, Ouachita (La.) Christian HS – Slaughter has a prototypical middle infielder’s body and above-average speed. He’s a Louisiana State signee.

Tre Turner, of, Holy Cross HS, New Orleans – Turner has been a prominent football prospect for quite a while as a speedy running back. But he also has played enough baseball to show his promise as a fascinating power/speed combo to sign with Arizona State to play both sports. Turner has plus, plus speed as well as above-average raw power. Turner’s swing is a little long but he has played more baseball than the average two-sport star–he played for USA Baseball’s National Talent Identification program in the summer before his senior season.

Jesse Stallings, rhp, Louisiana State – Stallings has had a 93-95 mph fastball for a while, but his improved secondary stuf has helped the fastball play better.

Domenick Carlini, lhp, Southeast Louisiana – Carlini blossomed as a senior for Southeast Louisiana as he went 6-2, 2.13 as a weekend starter. Carlini doesn’t miss all that many bats, but he does have an interesting fastball/breaking ball combo as he’ll sit 89-91 mph and touch 93 mph while flashing an average breaking ball although it’s too inconsistent. He should get picked as an inexpensive senior sign.

Corey Merrill, rhp, Tulane – Merrill began the season as Tulane’s ace. But after a sore muscle in his arm shut him down for a month. He returned as the team’s closer. Merrill’s fastball has a lot of life.

Kyle Cedotal, lhp, Southeast Louisiana – Cedotal began his Southeast Louisiana career as an outfielder who also pitched. He ends it as a lefthanded pitcher who sporadically fills in as an outfielder. Cedotal’s bread-and-butter is a plus cutter, but his reliance on that pitch may have negatively affected his fastball. Where he once pitched with a fringe-average fastball (89-91 mph) he now sits 87-88. He also has a usable breaking ball and changeup but both are fringy offerings. The senior’s athleticism and reliability should earn him an opportunity as a later-round senior sign.

Phillip Diehl, lhp, Louisiana Tech – Diehl was a reliable member of the Bulldogs rotation in 2016 after missing most of 2015 with an arm injury. The redshirt junior lefty struck out 90 in 80 innings.

Chandler Hall, ss, Louisiana Tech – Hall is a college shortstop with some pop and speed, which makes him a draftable commodity.

Kramer Robertson, ss/2b, Louisiana State – The son of Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, Robertson took a big step forward as a junior as he filled the very large hole left by Alex Bregman’s departure. A light-hitting second baseman in his first two years with the Tigers, Robertson led LSU with a .331 average and played a better-than-expected shortstop. The 5-foot-9, 160-pounder profiles as a second baseman/utility infielder in pro ball, and may be best served returning to LSU for his senior season before going pro.

Cole Freeman, 2b, Louisiana State – Freeman is a speedy slap hitter whose lack of pop limits his pro potential. To his credit, the plus-plus runner plays a speedster’s game, slapping the ball and causing havoc on the basepaths.

Reagan Bazar, rhp, Louisiana-Lafayette – Bazar has barely pitched for Louisiana-Lafayette (19 innings in the past two seasons) but he has a big arm that has touched 100 mph in the past and is regularly 95+.