In coach Elliott Avent’s N.C. State coaching tenure, there hasn’t been another player who left the basketball team and two NCAA Tournaments behind to play solely for him.
So with that attention already upon him, junior right-hander Andrew Brackman became arguably the most hyped and heavily-followed player Avent has had. And there might not be anyone drafted as highly as him either, but that will have to be determined with today’s Major League Baseball draft.
Earlier this year, some experts put forth their mock drafts with Brackman almost always going in the top 10 and possibly even in the top five of the draft. Either way, it would place him above Avent’s last (and only) first round selection, Joey Devine, who was selected 27th by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2005 draft.
But as of late, Brackman has been absent from the mound and dugout, missing the last three weekends. Bereavement and his inflamed right elbow have kept him off the field.
And so now, those same experts are suggesting that Brackman has played himself out of the first round altogether, and that his numbers aren’t up to par. It’s these suggestions that Avent said comes with the territory of being a celebrated player.
“Anytime you have a high-profile player, the expectations are obviously going to get distorted, and therefore the pitfalls are going to be there as well,” Avent said. “The expectations were way out of context with his history. They had taken several great moments and tried to build these super expectations and therefore these expectations weren’t met.”
Besides Brackman, there are few other players who figure to be taken in the upper rounds of the draft.
Ramon Corona has watched his draft stock take a roller-coaster-like course this season. He entered the year a reigning 2006 third-team All-American, but struggled out of the gate with a dismal .156 batting average through 17 games.
But in the last 42 games, Corona finally came around and batted .348.
“Unfortunately, a lot of the decisions are made by professional clubs early in the year. But I think if you’re going to spend a lot of money on somebody you’re going to see what he did against the best competition at the end of the year,” Avent said.
Right-hander Eryk McConnell established himself as one of the nation’s dominant closers, one year removed from being a starter. As a redshirt sophomore, he will be eligible for the draft as well.
“This closer role is actually really fun. It wasn’t a big deal to me, I just wanted to do whatever the team needed, and we needed a closer and we had some good starters this year.” McConnell said. “I’m definitely hoping to be drafted as early as possible and see how things turn out.”
Though McConnell’s numbers were eye-popping with a 1.72 ERA and 11 saves, the quarterfinalist for the nation’s best college baseball player award doesn’t see himself as a closer on the next level.
“I think I can do it all, but I think I would be really good as a set-up guy or a long reliever or a starter. I probably don’t have the stuff to be a closer to be honest with you,” McConnell said. “I could see me doing a couple of things, and whatever they ask me to do I’ll definitely do it.”
Another Pack player who must await word on his future is second team All-ACC catcher Caleb Mangum. Mangum showed his grit as a senior leader with his ability to block the plate and his defensive prowess by committing only three errors all year.
“He’s quite a competitor,” Avent said. “He played a lot of the season with pain and injury that would’ve kept a lot of people on the bench. I see a healthy Caleb Mangum playing pro ball for a long time and doing quite well.”
Out of the eight players who were drafted by MLB teams last year, only right-handed pitcher Jeff Stallings decided to return to school. Stallings missed all of last season while undergoing Tommy John surgery.
He was in and out of the starting rotation throughout the year, and by year’s end was mostly on the outside looking in.
“Jeff battled some injuries,” Avent said. “I don’t think a lot of money is going to be spent in an investment for someone who didn’t show what he can do down the stretch.”
Also eligible for today’s draft will be juniors Ryan Pond, who led the team in on-base percentage, slugging, runs, total bases and walks, and Mike Roskopf, who led the team in home runs.
