Five MCC Eagles Picked In Major League Draft

From wire reports
June 08, 2006

Five members of the state champion Meridian Community College baseball team were chosen in the Major League baseball draft this week.

Right-handed pitcher Jordan Brown was the first taken. The Braves picked him in the 21st round.

The Washington Nationals took left-hander Michael Robbins in the 28th round, then selected first baseman Tyler Moore five rounds later.

Other Meridian CC players taken were left-hander Kendrick Martin (Florida Marlins, 28th round) and outfielder Michael Guerrero (Diamondbacks, 38th round).

A total of 10 Mississippi players picked on Day 2 came from the state’s junior-college ranks. Michael Beno of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College was the first Mississippian taken Wednesday when he was selected in the 19th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 563rd overall pick. Michael Ross of Northwest Mississippi Community College was taken by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 35th round.

Also, Holmes JC outfielder Gary Taylor went to the Cardinals in the 49th round and two junior college players went in the 50th round — Southwest Mississippi CC outfielder Jarrod Dyson (Kansas City Royals) and Hinds CC left-handed pitcher Thomas Jordan (Braves).

Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies took Southern Miss. quarterback and wide receiver Damion Carter in the 46th round Wednesday, making him one of the more intriguing second-day selections in the baseball draft.

‘‘He’s a good athlete. We’ll see how he progresses over the summer,’’ Rockies scouting director Bill Schmidt said of Carter.

A total of 21 Mississippians were selected on Day 2, one day after 12 players were taken during the first 18 rounds. Justin Woodall of Lafayette High School was the first Mississippi high school player picked during Day 2 and second overall. The left-handed pitcher was taken in the 19th round by the New York Mets but has said he will play football at Alabama.

A third high school player, East Union right-hander Brendan Porch, went to the Atlanta Braves in the 32nd round.

Eight of the second-day picks came from the state’s Big Three colleges, including the first three Mississippi State players selected. Six players — three each from Ole Miss and Southern Miss — went on Day 1.

Bulldogs left-handed pitcher Brooks Dunn went in the 23rd round to the San Diego Padres, teammate Joseph Hunter was selected two rounds later by the Chicago White Sox and second baseman Jeffrey Rea was the 33rd-round pick of the Boston Red Sox.

Southern Miss right-hander Scott Massey was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 24th round, 22 rounds before Carter’s surprising selection.Carter caught 14 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns last season, his first full season at receiver. He started twice at quarterback in 2004, sparking the Golden Eagles’ 35-29 overtime victory over Houston. Carter, who hasn’t played competitive baseball since he was a senior three years ago at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment by The Associated Press. He was a shortstop on the Newman team that won the Louisiana championship in 2003. The Rockies drafted him as an outfielder.

Ole Miss left-hander Tommy Baumgardner went to the Rockies in the 28th round. Righty Will Kline, who has told professional teams he will return to Ole Miss next season, was taken by the Houston Astros in the 39th round. Rebels catcher Justin Brashear was picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 44th round.

Alcorn State catcher Bradley Roper-Hubbert went to the Mets in the 32nd round.