LOS ANGELES — Georgia shined bright on the first night of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft.
Seven players who played high school or college baseball in the Peach State heard their names called Sunday night.
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Teams took three players, including the son of an Atlanta Braves legend, in the first four picks of the draft.
Here is a look at each player and where they ended up.
No. 2 Arizona Diamondbacks: Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan High School
Druw Jones is a 6-foot-3 18-year-old from Wesleyan High in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. He hit .570 with 13 homers, 39 RBIs, 72 runs, 33 walks and 32 stolen bases this year. He also went 10-1 as a pitcher, though he is projected as an outfielder.
His father was a five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner.
“We’re probably almost exactly the same,” Druw said. “I try and make it my own game and be able to pursue and keep my career going and not really worry about what he did back in past but to be able have my own name and play my own way.”
With his father away from home playing ball during much of his youth, Druw learned to hit from his mom’s father, J.D. Derick. Ahead of the draft, Druw was met with chants of “Over-rated!” from about 75 fans when Wesleyan played at Decatur High on May 3. In his third at-bat, Druw homered off Brady Jones, who committed to attend Georgia State.
“It was one of those moments that you’ll remember forever,” Druw said. “I enjoyed that moment, but I’ll probably never have that moment again.”
- Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
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No. 3 Texas Rangers: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt (played at North Oconee High School)
Texas used the third pick on Kumar Rocker, a 6-foot-5 right-hander who failed to sign with the New York Mets after being selected 10th overall last year. Rocker will be reunited with Rangers minor league pitcher Jack Leiter, his teammate on Vanderbilt’s 2019 NCAA baseball championship team. Texas chose Leiter with the No. 2 pick last year.
Rocker, a 22-year-old from Georgia, failed to sign last year after the Mets became concerned over his physical. He had shoulder surgery last September and pitched this year for the independent Frontier League’s Tri-City ValleyCats as a showcase ahead of the draft.
“We’re extremely comfortable with the medical review that our team has done, our medical team,” Rangers general manager Chris Young said.
Rocker was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in five starts at Tri-City.
“My talent speaks for itself,” Rocker said.
- Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
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No. 4 Pittsburgh Pirates: Termarr Johnson, SS, Benjamin E. Mays High School
The Pirates selected Termarr Johnson out of Mays High School in Georgia.
Johnson won WSB-TV’s Montlick Injury Attorneys 2022 Male Athlete of the Year award. Channel 2′s Zach Klein presented him with the award earlier this year.
Johnson said the Pirates were getting “the best player in the draft.” Channel 2 attended a local watch party at Nancy’s Pizza as his family and friends erupted at hearing his name called.
A family friend says Johnson will be in the majors in no time.
“Two years or less. The fact that he went No. 4 is gonna motivate him to the other teams why he should have been drafted higher,” James Walker said.
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OTHER GEORGIA TALENT TAKEN:
- No. 11 New York Mets: Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
- No. 15 San Diego Padres: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford High School
- No. 18 Cincinnati Reds: Cam Collier, 3B, Mt. Paran
- No. 34 Arizona Diamondbacks: Landon Sims, RHP, Mississippi State (played at South Forsyth High School)
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