STARKVILLE — Several sources in the Major League Baseball scouting community told The Dispatch on Thursday night that professional organizations are confident in the willingness of Mississippi State University right-handed pitcher Chris Stratton to sign a professional contract.
“I honestly haven’t thought about the draft or anything like that since the beginning of this season,” Stratton said April 19 after a victory against the University of Tennessee. “I know that’s hard to believe, but I really haven’t worried about it and let others handle that. Don’t get me wrong, I see the scouts all along the back wall at home – they’re hard to miss.”
Baseball America Executive Editor Jim Callis projects Stratton as the
16th selection in the 2012 MLB draft by the Washington Nationals. In his first mock draft for Baseball America this summer, Callis has six college pitchers and one high school pitcher projected to be taken before Stratton, who is from Tupelo, in what is considered a draft that will be filled with college pitchers.
“Stratton commands four average or better pitches and would be the best value on the board in this scenario,” Callis stated in his mock draft.
Multiple professional scouts who have seen Stratton pitch this season have told The Dispatch they’re “nearly 100 percent confident” in Stratton’s ability and willingness to sign next month after he is drafted.
“(Chris) and everybody in his camp have all told us he can’t wait to sign to play professional baseball, and I’ve spoken to him a lot,” a MLB scout, who requested not to be named, told The Dispatch.
Stratton (9-0, 2.19 ERA) is one of 14 Division I pitchers in Division I with at least nine wins this season.
“I’m just focused on giving my team a chance to win every time I go to the mound on a Friday night in the Southeastern Conference,” Stratton said. “That’s a big enough responsibility. I’d love for us to get to another Super Regional, and even Omaha (the site of the College World Series).”
The right-hander, who is tied for third in the country with LSU’s
Kevin Gausman with 101 strikeouts, will pitch at 6 tonight at the University of Florida in game one of the Southeastern Conference series. The series is a rematch of the 2011 Gainesville Super Regional that Florida won.
With a month left in his college season, Stratton continues to move up the draft boards, but the momentum he has generated momentum has some in the scouting community wondering if he will be able to produce consistent results at the next level, or if Stratton has high-level stuff and is having a great season.
“I gave him a first-round grade,” a MLB scout told The Dispatch. “But our concern about him is does he have the overall résumé of a first-round draft pick? No. However, what he’s done in less than a year to get his mechanics back and the work he’s put into his craft at MSU is really impressive.”
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