Four Hawkeye hopefuls await their fate in the upcoming 2017 MLB draft, starting today.
By Megan Sprengeler
Today marks the start of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft; it will run through Wednesday with 40 rounds of selection.
The first two rounds of the draft will occur today, followed by rounds three through 10 on Tuesday and 11 through 40 on Wednesday.
Regional top seed No. 15 Houston broke the Iowa baseball team’s impressive run in a hard-fought game on June 4 in their NCAA regional matchup. However, this may not be the end this year for four hopeful Hawkeyes.
Jake Adams
In his first season as a Division 1 baseball player, Jake Adams of Brandon, South Dakota, made his mark, earning a unanimous Big Ten Payer of the Year title and leading the NCAA with 29 home runs.
The Iowa junior was recently selected as a Baseball American third-team All-American, announced June 8 by the baseball publication. It marked the third All-American honor for Adams, previously tabbed by Collegiate Baseball and College Sports Madness.
Additionally, Adams was named a semifinalist for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award, an award given to the top amateur player in the United States, the first Hawkeye to do so.
Adams is a talented and agile first baseman that teams should have interest in, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he goes in round two on Monday night.
Nick Gallagher
The Iowa City native proved to be Iowa’s most consistent arm this past season.
After commanding the mound on Fridays. Gallagher went 8-2 on the season with a 3.48 ERA over 95 innings.
Gallagher claims his spot as a candidate alongside Adams after being ranked 339th in Baseball America’s top 500 draft prospects.
The right-hander is projected to go late in the second day or early in the third day.
Mason McCoy
After the 2016 draft ended in disappointment for him, the Iowa shortstop from Washington, Illinois, re-established himself and came back with force in 2017.
He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors while hitting .328 with 55 runs scored.
Determined to reduce his strikeout percentage, McCoy ended the season striking out a mere 25 times in 253 at-bats.
He has the potential to be one of Iowa’s highest draft prospects as he awaits his outcome.
Ryan Erickson
An essential member of the Hawkeye staff, Erickson was Iowa’s second most consistent starter behind Gallagher.
The 6-3 left-handed pitcher from Mason City, Iowa, made 12 starts and was a key component late in the season for the Hawkeyes.
Allowing only 2 earned runs over the course of 12 innings in the postseason, Erickson has gained momentum, and he hopes to be picked before the week is over.
The four Hawkeye hopefuls will wait to see what the future holds for them in the MLB Draft.
