(Cover photo via soonersports.com)
The 2024 MLB Draft is not too far away. The draft will be 20 rounds over 3 days starting on July 14.
Once again, the Sooner State should be well represented with players that have ties to the Sooner State that will have their name called during the draft.
Leading up to the draft, we will take a look at some of the those players.
*Prospect Ranking: MLB Top 200 (MLB), ESPN Top 150 (ESPN), Perfect Game Top 500 (PG)
*When looking at the scouting grades, MLB uses a “20-80” system: 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average, 70-80 is well above average.
Today’s player: John Spikerman
Spikerman will go down as one of the all time favorites for Sooners fans. He was one of the catalysts in the 2022 CWS run and he played in a way that endeared him to the fans.
This past season Spikerman showed just how valuable he was to the Sooners’ lineup. He started out hot and the Sooners started hot. Then he got a broken hand in mid March and was out for several weeks. While he was out, OU struggled some until he came back. At the top of the lineup, Spikerman set the table as the Sooners won the Big 12 and hosted a regional.
Late in the 2024 season, Spikerman was batting in the .400 range as he ended with a slash line of .368/.429/.542 (.971 OPS) with 3 HR, 12 2B, 4 3B, and 32 RBI in 42 games (mostly as a lead off hitter).
Draft Prospect Rankings
- MLB – 126
- ESPN – N/A
- PG – 220
Scouting Grades and MLB Report
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 30 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 45
After missing the first two months of his freshman year with an injury, Spikerman joined Oklahoma’s lineup and helped spark a run to the 2022 College World Series Finals. He slumped throughout the first half of 2023 before finishing strong, then was enjoying the best season of his career when he broke the hamate bone in his right hand in mid-March. He returned as a pinch-runner a month later and rejoined the lineup in May.
Spikerman’s double-plus speed is the key to his game. He makes a lot of ground-ball contact, using his quickness to beat out hits, and he’s a prolific and successful basestealer. He also covers plenty of ground in center field and leaves no doubt that he can remain there at the next level.
In his first two seasons, the switch-hitting Spikerman struck out too much for a player trying to serve as a catalyst, but he has made more consistent contact this spring. He never has displayed much power, though some scouts think he has enough strength and bat speed to produce 10-12 homers per season if he opens up his approach. A shortstop in high school, he has at least average arm strength and could see some action as a middle infielder in a utility role as a pro.
Per mlb.com
Outlook
Spikerman will be an interesting watch come draft day(s). As you can see by the rankings, he is kind of all over the place when it comes to where he’ll go. MLB has him in the 4th-5th round range while PG has him in the 6th-8th round range.
Spikerman also has another year of eligibility left at OU so that could play a factor in where he’s drafted if the pro teams don’t think he’d sign where they’d draft him.
He improved his contact this past season, but he still doesn’t draw a lot of walks. If Spikerman doesn’t improve that, then that would put him in the bottom of the lineup where he could provide some contact.
Spikerman is an excellent center fielder with his speed and fielding ability. So many times watching the Sooners this year, I said the term, “Oh, Spike’s got it,” after seeing a ball jump off an opposing team’s bat.
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