SEC in the MLB: Langford, Waldrep among 2023 Draft picks who impressed

This past July, SEC baseball took center stage during the upper rounds of the 2023 MLB Draft, as the conference saw numerous players selected early. With the 2023 minor league season having now come to an end as well, let’s check back in with some of those former SEC greats, and list a few who certainly impressed in their first sample size of professional baseball.

SEC in the MLB: Langford, Waldrep among 2023 Draft picks who impressed

OF Wyatt Langford – Texas Rangers

Likely the SEC’s most impressive 2023 MLB Draft pick since July was Langford, who was selected No. 4 overall by the Texas Rangers out of Florida. Rising all the way up to Triple-A across only 44 games, Langford slashed a phenomenal .360/.480/.677 with 10 HR, 30 RBI, and 12 SB.

RHP Hurston Waldrep – Atlanta Braves

The No. 24 overall pick out of Florida by the Atlanta Braves, Waldrep also rose all the way up to the Triple-A level across only eight starts. Across that sample size, Waldrep posted a combined 0-1 record with a 1.53 ERA and a 41:16 K:BB ratio across 29.1 IP, while also holding opponents to a .179 AVG against.

OF Dylan Crews – Washington Nationals

Crews, the 2023 SEC Player of the Year, appeared in 35 games across three different levels after being selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Nationals. Across that span, a majority of which came in Double-A, the former LSU outfielder slashed .292/.377/.467 with five HR, 29 RBI, and four SB.

OF Andrew Pinckney – Washington Nationals

Taken in the fourth round by the Washington Nationals, Pinckney played a total of 41 games after being drafted, where he would rise all the way up to Double-A. The former Alabama outfielder would slash a combined .321/.415/.457 with four HR, 20 RBI, and 11 SB.

OF/C Jared Dickey – Kansas City Royals

Selected in the 11th round by the Kansas City Royals, Dickey certainly impressed offensively across 32 games, a majority of which came in Low-A. The former Tennessee product slashed .330/.425/.453 across that span with 20 RBI and four SB.

1B/OF Tre’ Morgan – Tampa Bay Rays

After being a key piece of LSU’s national championship team, Morgan was selected in the third round by the Tampa Bay Rays. Morgan would go on to play in 14 games, a majority of which came in Low-A, slashing .396/.482/.542 with six RBI and four SB.

OF Jace Bohrofen – Toronto Blue Jays

A sixth round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays, the former Arkansas outfielder appeared in 24 games after being drafted, a majority of which came in Low-A. Bohrofen would slash .299/.443/.636 with seven HR and 18 RBI.

OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. – Baltimore Orioles

The former No. 17 overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles, Bradfield, who was a former outfielder at Vanderbilt, appeared in 25 games after the 2023 MLB Draft to reach the High-A level. Bradfield slashed a combined .291/.473/.329 across that span with six RBI and 25 SB.

OF Colton Ledbetter – Tampa Bay Rays

Selected in the second round by the Tampa Bay Rays, the former Mississippi State outfielder saw action in 21 games at the conclusion of the 2023 season, a majority of which came in Low-A. The former Bulldog slashed a combined .274/.376/.438 during that span with two HR, 12 RBI, and three SB.

LHP Jaden Woods – Pittsburgh Pirates

Woods, a former Georgia left-hander, was selected in the seventh round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The southpaw made 10 relief appearances in Low-A, owning an 0-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and a 21:3 K:BB ratio across 14.1 IP, while also holding opponents to a combined .196 AVG against.

SS Cole Foster – San Francisco Giants

Taken in the third round out of Auburn by the San Fransisco Giants, Foster saw time in 32 games, a majority of which came in Low-A. Foster slashed .254/.317/.462 with seven HR, 23 RBI, and two SB during that span.