BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[forheavendial4999]

Bruce Maxwell of Birmingham-Southern was chosen in the second round (62nd overall) by the Oakland A's.  I wonder if this is the earliest a D3 player has ever been selected.

No. Jarrod Washburn was taken with the first pick of the second round by the Angels in 1995. Not sure if there were any first rounders.

The D3 write-up notes that Billy Wagner was taken in the first round, 12th overall.

I think Terry Mulholland was a first round choice as well.

It's possible that Maxwell is the earliest position player drafted out of D-III though.

[Ron Boerger]

Maxwell absolutely destroyed rookie league pitching (11-for-21 [.586] with a 1.33 OPS) but is off to a slow start in short-season A ball (3-for-20 [.156], .411 OPS).   Hope he gets it turned around soon.

[108 Stitches]

Maxwell was/is the best hitter I have seen in DIII baseball, and is in my top ten for any level of collge baseball.

He will likely figure it out, but as he moves up in levels the mental aspect become more important than the physical, which is very hard to predict. He is a "mini bonus baby" so they will give him more rope than a late round DIII pick and I am looking forward to watching him and a couple of other players that I saw this year move up through the MiLB system.

[Pat Coleman]

Maxwell absolutely destroyed rookie league pitching (11-for-21 [.586] with a 1.33 OPS) but is off to a slow start in short-season A ball (3-for-20 [.156], .411 OPS).   Hope he gets it turned around soon.

Well, he didn't belong in rookie ball, that's for sure. Short-A is generally more college guys, so it might take a little adjustment. The NYP is definitely a different brand of ball but he is 3-for-his-last-8 since Ron's post.

[infielddad]

Could not agree more that Maxwell getting out of the AZL and to the NY/PENN league is important in his being challenged, making adjustments and developing.
He will not only see many of the top picks in this year's draft, he will be seeing many of the top Latin prospects who were in extended Spring Training. A very different game in the jump from the AZL to the NY/PENN in terms of speed, talent and execution.
While the sample size is pretty small, he is having less success with RHP to this point.
What we can't see in his stats is the additional work defensively and  what is happening to develop/enhance his catching skills/calling and controlling a game aspects. 
In a sense, his head might be spinning somewhat from 2 moves in a short period of time as well as the adjustments he needs to make off the field in terms of living quarters, travel and the like which can be a pretty big challenge in a league as spread out as the NY/PENN.
In my view, this is where D3 players from the SCAC can actually have an advantage in the early stages of Milb. They are used bus travel and long trips, along with doing so many things themselves and being accountable for getting them done.

[OshDude]

Maxwell absolutely destroyed rookie league pitching (11-for-21 [.586] with a 1.33 OPS) but is off to a slow start in short-season A ball (3-for-20 [.156], .411 OPS).   Hope he gets it turned around soon.

Well, he didn't belong in rookie ball, that's for sure. Short-A is generally more college guys, so it might take a little adjustment. The NYP is definitely a different brand of ball but he is 3-for-his-last-8 since Ron's post.

Meant to post this link before. I'll piggyback here. List of notable picks and where they were assigned:
http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120612&content_id=33176378&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb

[Ron Boerger]

Southwestern names new head coach, RJ Thomas, until today HC at Hendrix.  He did a great job with the Warrior program and I imagine he'll have the Pirates back to their usual high level of play before too long.

http://scacsports.com/sports/bsb/2012-13/releases/southwestern_hires_thomas

[infielddad]

Southwestern names new head coach, RJ Thomas, until today HC at Hendrix.  He did a great job with the Warrior program and I imagine he'll have the Pirates back to their usual high level of play before too long.

http://scacsports.com/sports/bsb/2012-13/releases/southwestern_hires_thomas

Seems surprising to an outsider, but this also seems to be a very, very good hire for Southwestern.
I have been told there are some rumblings of regret, at least within the baseball part of the new SAA.
My immediate thought is this move and hire might be some reflection on the SCAC and on the SAA?  Could be completely off base too.
Coach Thomas built Hendrix by recruiting Nationally, to an extent.
Over the past 12 years, I would guess the number of Southwestern players from outside Texas might be counted on one hand.  I wonder whether Coach Thomas will continue his prior approach and bring some new and National visibility to Southwestern.
I think Ron has it right..this hire suggests Southwestern probably will become a factor again in SCAC baseball and the strength of SCAC baseball took another step up.

[108 Stitches]

Great hire for Southwestern. Will be good for the program, and the conference. It can only help pressure all programs to step up their game. With Trinity, SWestern, UofD, Centenary, and TLU all having solid programs it should be fun to watch and will put pressure on Schreiner and Austin College to step up their game.

[Ron Boerger]

Apropos of nothing, but with the changes in membership, the SCAC should be solely in the West Region in the upcoming season.

[historymajor]

I AM READY FOR SOME BASEBALL!!!!!  Are the TU Tigers ready?  At large and charging!

[Ron Boerger]

Former Southwestern coach Jim Shelton has popped up as an academic counselor for the University of Texas athletic program:

http://www.texassports.com/acad-services/acadserv-staff.html

[ThunderShoots]

Anybody know what format the conference tournament will follow in 2013?

[108 Stitches]

Good question Thunder.

Given that there will be 5 eligible teams in conf this year it would make sense to take the 4 top teams ranked 1- 4 and play a two loss bracket. This conf champion would have to play 3-5 games depending on if they come through the loser side or not.

The conf championships will be at Southwestern this year and I believe they have lights so they could get it done in a long weekend.

Teams should be firing up practices next weekend and we are less than one month away from first games!!!

[Pat Coleman]

Moving this board to the West, since the remaining SCAC teams are all in this region.