The Fayetteville Regional this weekend will have a bevy of All-Americans on display, but none of them are expected to be taken as high in the next week’s Major League Baseball Draft as Dallas Baptist outfielder Jameson Hannah.
Hannah (5-9, 184 pounds), a left-handed hitting and throwing center fielder who made his name in the Cape Cod League last summer, is projected by some industry insiders to go as high as the No. 30 pick in next week's draft.
That is a slot that would bring more than $2 million to Hannah, who is hitting .360 so far this season with 6 home runs, 45 RBI and 8 steals and viewed as the 32nd-best prospect in draft by MLB.com and 55th by ESPN.
“Being in this regional, I am trying not to think about that too much, but it is always dwelling in the back of your head,” Hannah said. “But I am just trying to focus on today and let that fall into its place.”
He leads a Dallas Baptist offense that has been high-powered this season.
“We are just looking for good pitches to hit and when we get those, we practice really hard and try not to miss those pitches,” Hannah said. “We try to focus on getting our best swings off and drive the ball and it seems to be working for us.”
Hannah is among a talented group of players on hand for the regional that includes five players named All-American on Thursday.
Arkansas pitcher Blaine Knight (10-0, 2.78 with 86 strikeouts) was named a second-team All-American by Baseball America and a third-team selection by Collegiate Baseball.
Southern Mississippi boasts a pair of first-team All-Americans in junior pitcher Nick Sandlin and third baseman Luke Reynolds.
Dallas Baptist outfielder Devlin Granberg was named a first-teamer by Collegiate Baseball and second-teamer by Baseball America, and his pitching teammate Trevor Conn (8-1, 2.92) was named a third-team selection by Collegiate Baseball.
Sandlin (9-0, 1.13), a side-winding right hander leads the nation in both ERA (1.13) and WHIP (Walks and hits per innings pitched) at 0.69.
Sandlin, who has fanned 134 batters while allowing 51 hits in 95 1/3 innings after making the move from a closer to a starter, called it a great honor for both himself and his teammate to be named an All-American, something he was also tabbed as last season in his closer role.
“I mean, just a complete team effort,” Sandlin said. “I had a great offense behind me, so even when the other team scored some runs I could count on them to put up more. Being able trust my defense and my offense and then everybody around me has just led to that undefeated thing.”
He went to his current style of pitching as a junior in high school.
“This is my fifth year doing it,” Sandlin said. “My pitching coach just wanted to try it out with me. It just really took off from there. I'm definitely glad I made that move. It definitely adds a little confusion to the hitters. It's something I really enjoy.”
Sandlin has enjoyed the transition from closer to starter.
“I never doubted that like I couldn't start,” Sandlin said. “It was just how our staff lined up the last couple of years that they needed me in the pen a little bit. But I've had to kind of keep the pitch count down at times. Walks were a little bit of an issue last year. So really just trying to fill up the zone, keep the pitch count down. That's been the main adjustment I guess you would say.”
Reynolds is batting .400 with 15 home runs and 60 RBI and was named both the Conference USA Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
“I just want to say it wouldn't be possible without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Reynolds said. “I mean God is good. That's a huge honor with some great talent, especially with my teammate. That's really cool to share that with him. It's a great honor, a huge honor for sure.”
Reynolds believes the second-seeded Golden Eagles have a good shot at winning the regional.
“I think we can compete with anybody in the nation,” Reynolds said. “We don't really try to play against our opponent. We try to just play our game and not focus on who we're playing or the atmosphere that we're playing in. But I know it's going to be a great one.”
Reynolds lauded Sandlin’s work on the mound.
“His mentality, his competitiveness is second to none,” Reynolds said. “I mean that guy just goes out there and competes so hard. You just want to play behind him. It's easy to play with a guy who has tempo like that on the mound.
“He has presence, not being like the biggest guy on the mound, he has such good mound presence. He's our leader and it's great to have him on our team.”
Granberg, who started his career at Creighton then went to Cisco Junior College, is third nationally in batting average at .426 and hits (100), fourth in the country in on-base average (.531). He has also stolen 23 bases in 24 attempts.
“I’m extremely blessed,” Granberg said. “I’m extremely blessed to have found this place. It is a wonderful place to play with some great coaches and great guys and it has been a great couple of years for me.”
Granberg says his team looks forward to facing Sandlin.
“We are going to be ready for him,” Granberg said. “We are going to stick to our approach. It really doesn't matter what pitcher they throw at us, we are just going to try and do what we do and let the chips fall where they may.”