2021 Major League Baseball Mock HBCU Draft

The 2021 Major League Baseball draft is right around the corner beginning on July 11th. Obviously, we don’t know which HBCU ball players will get drafted or even how many will get drafted. We’ve had numerous changes since our last draft ranking. However, we can make a prediction as to which ones we think will come to the forefront.   

At Black College Nines, we figured it’s time to look at a few potential HBCU draftees and our guestimation of where they may land during our mock draft. 

The 2021 draft class is expected to be stacked with top HBCU pitching prospects and good hitting position players.  

Changes to the Major League Baseball Draft reduced the number of draft rounds which in turn reduced summer ball opportunities thus limiting looks at HBCU baseball prospects across the country. Nonetheless, the 2021 draft looks loaded with quality pitchers and position players ranging from the booming bat of Alsander Womack (Norfolk State University) to the well-balanced pitching tools of Ryan Miller (North Carolina Central University) and the hard flame throwing arm of Austin Vernon (North Carolina Central University). 

Every year, expect college bats to fly off the draft board, especially with what looks to be a thin crop of infielders and a plethora of quality pitchers, making it much easier to select a similar talent arm in the early round or later for HBCU baseball talent. 

The MEAC continues to roll along as the HBCU baseball conference leader in our draft rankings with more pitchers on the draft board versus the SWAC in the most recents years. The top arms come out of the MEAC conference while the top draftable position players come from the SWAC. 

Jackson State University leads all schools in our mock draft with five draft prospects in 2021, including Chandler Dillard, Equon Smith, Anthony Becerra, Nikelle Galatas, and Mario Lopez. North Carolina Central and West Virginia State University all have three potential prospects apiece. 

Here is a list of six possible selections based on what we’re hearing and forecasting: 

Big talent in infielder Alsander Womack. We have seen him often, especially when he was starting to rank among the best hitters in collegiate baseball. A four-year starter who has been among national leaders at the plate in batting average throughout his college career. My guesstimate, a No. 10 or No. 12 round draft pick.

Ryan Miller. He’s athletic, has a plus breaking ball and a durable 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame, plus he has a strong college pitching track record against top Division I opponents. In a tough draft for college starters, Miller fits well in the middle of the 10th round. 

Some sources continue to wonder if the Milwaukee Brewers are focused on a future starter. I believe they will take North Carolina Central Austin Vernon, At 6-foot-8, 265 pounds with a upper-90s heater, (top out at 98) a nasty breaking ball he offers stuff, durability and high-level performance. The bottom line is that the Brewers will draft future arms. A possible 12th round pick. 

Jackson State Equon Smith, the Houston Astros should take him. He fits the Astros profile with his hitting track record and good defense in the outfield, Smith has tremendous hitting, speed and power potential. Look for him somewhere around the 16th round.

Jackson State Nikelle Galatas has an easy delivery and consistently throws strikes using every inch of the strike zone and outer plate for outs. He’s induced ground outs or pop ups at a high rate. Can reach in the lower 90s. His change up, ability to spin the curveball, quality breaking pitch draws good grades and should bode well for his ability to develop with pro instruction at the next level. Mid-teen draft rounder. 

Scouts could consider West Virginia State Matt Harrison (6’4″ 230), one of the better pure hitters in the Mountain East Conference (MEC). Harrison has a smooth swing and mature, all-field approach this past season. Hit for more power this year, showing the upside of 8 doubles, 13 home runs, 43 runs batted in, and was a .340 hitter. His record of success could get him in the late rounds. 

List of other possible selections: 

AJ Gardner, Alabama State, OF

Trenton Jamison, Alabama State, CIF

Ty Hanchey, Norfolk State, C

Jabronski Williams, Alabama State, OF

Jose Fernandez, Alcorn, LHP

Tristin Garcia, Alcorn, MIF

Kacy Higgins Jr, Arkansas Pine Bluff, OF 

Daniel Hosley, Norfolk State, RHP/C/Util.

Tony Horn, Arkansas Pine Bluff, RHP 

Oracio De Leon, Talladega, RHP

Zyon Avery, Bethune Cookman, CIF

Lawrence Bryant, FAMU, OF

Kelyn Fox, FAMU, LHP 

Kashif Hill, Lincoln (PA), OF 

Jason Alvarez, Grambling, RHP

Cameron Bufford, Grambling, MIF

Jahmoi Percival, Grambling, OF

Cameron Phelts, Grambling, OF

Jeremiah Hill, Jackson State, CIF

James Deloatch, Norfolk State, LHP

Xavier Meachem, NC A&T, RHP

Gianni Smith, NC A&T, RHP

Brayden Johnson, Prairie View A&M, OF

Victor Mendoza Prairie View A&M, RHP

Jerome Bohannon, Southern, LHP

Taj Porter, Southern, C

Conner Walker, Coppin State, CIF

John Weglarz, Delaware State, INF

Tremaine Spears, Southern, OF

Kamron Fields, Texas Southern, RHP

Oscar Ponce, Texas Southern, CIF

Terence Thomas II, Albany State, OF

Anthony Johnson, Benedict, CIF

Charles Jackson, Claflin, RHP

Lorenzo Peterson, Clark Atlanta, RHP

James Deloatch, Norfolk State, LHP

Zach Elias, Lane, MIF

Chris O’Neal, Lane, MIF

Zavian Caldwell, Miles, RHP

Derrick Odom, Morehouse, OF

Sieas Elliot, Rust, C

DJ Franklin, Savannah State, OF

Enrico Peele, Savannah State, RHP

Jeffry Roldan, Talladega, MIF

D’Anthony Morrow, Tougaloo, MIF

Jalan Daniels, Tuskegee, RHP

Joshua Lewis, Tuskegee, OF

Ronald McGhee, Tuskegee, C

Blair Frederick, Xavier (La.), LHP

Tristan Rodriguez, Xavier (La.), C