Florida State MLB Draftees
Florida State MLB Draft News
UPDATED JUNE 23RD at 2:00 P.M.
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First Round
Houston Astros drafted Florida State baseball signee Maxwell Sapp with the 23rd pick of the first round. Sapp, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, is a catcher from Bishop Moore High School in Florida. He has left handed power offensively and improved conditioning during the past year has improved his defense, but many still think he won't stay behind the plate at the next level. Sapp, 18, batted .572 going 40-for-70 with nine home runs and 48 RBIs this past season. Sapp, a catcher from Bishop Moore in Orlando, was named the Florida Dairy Farmer's Mr. Baseball this past season.
Max Sapp agreed to terms with the Astros on Thursday, June 15th. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. He will report to Houston on Tuesday June 20th for a physical and tour at the Astros home. He will also participate in batting practice.
Another Florida State signee, Cody Johnson went at 24th in the first round to the Atlanta Braves. Johnson, an impressive 17-year-old who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 195 pounds, possesses a powerful left-handed swing that helped him hit .525 with 15 homers, six doubles and 43 RBIs during his senior season. His production was enough for him to be named Florida's 5A state Player of the Year. Also, Johnson impressed the Braves' scouts with the power he displayed while grabbing MVP honors at last summer's Perfect Game wood bat tournament, held in Marietta, Ga. He attended Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Fla.
The Braves signed Cody Johnson on Wednesday June 7th. He received a bonus of about $1.2 million. That is the average for players taken in his slot the last three years.
Second Round
Football signee, wide receiver Brent Brewer was drafted in the second round with the 60th pick by the Milwaukee Brewers. The 6-foot-2, 190 pounder is considered raw and toolsy but has ridiculous speed. A possible center fielder, though he was a shortstop in high school.
Brewer signed with the Brewer's and they have assigned him to their Arizona rookie league. He signed for a bonus believed to be about $500,000. The Brewers will also pay for a college scholarship. He will not play football.
Fifth Round
Shane Robinson was the first active Florida State player taken in the draft when the St. Louis Cardinals took him in the fifth round with the 166th pick overall. Robinson, a 5-foot-9 160 pound junior center fielder is undersized, but he did nothing but produce at FSU. In 2005, he was the national player of the year according to Collegiate Baseball, had a 40-game hitting streak and led the country in hits and runs. Even in a "down" year in 2006, Robinson hit .361, stole 32 bases in 36 tries and walked much more often than he struck out. He's got excellent speed and knows how to get on base and uses it to his advantage.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat on June 16th Robinson told FSU baseball coach Mike Martin Friday afternoon that he would sign with St. Louis Cardinals after being selected in the fifth round of last week's Major League Baseball amateur draft. Robinson is currently with the Cardinals Single-A ballclub, Quad Cities. Contract terms were not announced.
Ninth Round
Cole Figueroa, who has been offered a scholarship by FSU, was selected in the ninth round with the 270th pick by the Toronto Blue Jays. Figueroa, whose father played at Florida State, played shortstop at Tallahassee's Lincoln High School last season while leading the Big Bend in batting. The 5-foot-10, 180 pounder is rumored to be possibly attending a junior college next season. The 18-year-old infielder, who was scouted by Joel Grampietro of the Blue Jays, impressed Toronto with his sound defensive skills -- anchored by a strong arm.
Figueroa, the Tallahassee Democrat's All-Big Bend player of the year from Lincoln High, signed with the Florida Gators over the Seminoles. Figueroa, a shortstop, felt he had a better chance of playing his freshman season at UF. Figueroa's father, Bien Figueroa, started at shortstop at FSU (1985-86) and currently is a minor-league manager for the Baltimore Orioles. He also said he does not expect the Blue Jays to meet his contract demands.
Eleventh Round
With the first pick of the eleventh round the Kansas City Royals selected Tyler Chambliss with the 317th pick overall. Chambliss is a 5-foot-11 175 pound right hand pitcher who just concluded his junior season at Florida State struck out 117 batters in 115 innings for Florida State, going 12-4 with a 2.97 ERA.
Tyler Chambliss signed with the Kansas City Royals on June 23rd. Chambliss is scheduled to report to the Royals' short-season team in Idaho Falls on Monday, June 26th. Chambliss received a signing bonus of $75,000.
Fifteenth Round
Former 'Nole Nick Francis was the first pick of the fifteenth round, 437th pick overall, by the Kansas City Royals. The former 'Nole shortstop played right field this past season at Pensacola Junior College. Francis' eight home runs and 53 RBIs led PJC while he batted .364. The possibility exists of him being converted to a pitcher at the next level.
Nick Francis who played one season at Florida State signed a professional baseball contract with the Kansas City Royals. He is expected to report to the Royals' Rookie League team in Surprise, Ariz. Francis received a signing bonus of around $70,000.
Twenty-Eighth Round
Senior Barret Browning was the first 'Nole selected on the second day of the MLB Draft. The 852nd pick of the draft is a left handed pitcher who was chosen by the LA Angels. This past season Browning had a 7-2 record in 23 appearances and 11 starts. His ERA was 5.72 through 67.2 innings pitched.
Barret Browning has signed with the Angels.
Thirty-Second Round
Florida State signee Matt Fairel was drafted in the 32nd round with the 956th pick by the SF Giants. Fairel is a 6-foot-3, 215 pound left hand pitcher/infielder/outfielder from Winter Haven High School in Winter Haven, Florida. He can pitch and hit from the left side, has a 94 MPH fastball and a good curve that has been clocked at 74 MPH. He was 2005 IBC High School Player of the Year. He is also rated one of Florida's top recruits by sunshinestatebaseball.com.
Thirty-Fifth Round
Florida State football signee, quarterback/pitcher/centerfielder D'Vontrey Richardson was drafted in the 35th round with the 1051st pick by the Washington Nationals. Richardson hails from Lee County High School in Georgia. Richardson hit at a .507 clip this season in addition to 20 RBIs and 34. The future Florida State quarterback was a tough out anytime he stepped into the batter's box.
D'Vontrey Richardson is not expected to sign. He has reported to Florida State's campus to begin classes and summer workouts with the football team.
Thirty-Ninth Round
Florida State junior relief pitcher Luke Tucker was taken with the 1170th pick of the draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. Tucker was the highest rated FSU junior listed among Baseball America's top 85 players from Florida to be selected in the draft. He checked in at 40th in the rankings. Tucker had a 1.06 ERA on the season after making 27 appearances, pitching 34 innings, and getting 9 saves while posting a 2-1 record. He also struck out 51 while issuing only 16 walks this season. On the season he only allowed four earned runs.
Luke Tucker is participating in the Cape Cod Summer League in hopes of convincing the Blue Jays to sign him for the amount he is interested in. Negotiations continue between the two sides.
Forty-Ninth Round
Florida State junior third baseman Ryne Malone was the final 'Nole picked on the afternoon in the 49th round when the Chicago Cubs used the 1459th choice to select him. Malone batted .275 on the season while starting 63 ballgames for the 'Noles. He had 14 doubles, 2 triples, and 12 homeruns to go along with driving in 52 on the season.
Ryne Malone signed with the Chicago Cubs.
Free Agent Signings
Senior pitcher Mark Sauls signed a free agent deal with the California Angels on Thursday. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The MLB Draft has now concluded after fifty rounds. Please stay tuned to Warchant to hear what current and future 'Noles decide to do concerning their future in the Major Leagues or elsewhere.