OVC players draw much interest in MLB draft

The Ohio Valley Conference isn't ranked among the nation's better leagues in any sport, but OVC baseball continues to make a name for itself -- at least individually.

A conference-record 13 players were selected in last week's major league draft, giving the OVC 38 players drafted over the past four years. That's impressive by anybody's standards.

The OVC had 12 draftees on day two of last week's three-day draft, when rounds 2 through 30 were conducted. Two of those picks were in the top five rounds.

OVC regular-season champion Tennessee Tech and league tournament winner Jacksonville State led the way as both had four players drafted.

Jacksonville State outfielder Todd Cunningham was the first OVC player taken, going to the Braves with the third pick of the second round. He was the No. 53 overall selection, meaning he's in for a pretty sizable signing bonus.

Tennessee Tech pitcher Stephen Pryor was drafted by the Mariners in the fifth round, No. 162 overall, which also should result in a pretty nice amount of money. Pryor was the Eagles' flame-throwing reliever who was clocked at 96 mph during a game at Southeast Missouri State this season.

Also taken in the top 10 rounds was Tennessee Tech first baseman A.J. Kirby-Jones, who went in the ninth round to the Athletics at No. 275 overall. He tied the OVC single-season home run record by belting 26 this year.

There were six more picks in the first 20 rounds, led by Morehead State shortstop Drew Lee (12th, 368 overall, White Sox) and Eastern Illinois pitcher Josh Mueller (13th, 410, Rockies).

They were followed by Eastern Kentucky third baseman Jayson Langfels (16th, 500, Rockies), Murray State first baseman Wes Cunningham (17th, 514, Padres), Tennessee Tech outfielder Chad Oberacker (19th, 589, Cardinals) and Jacksonville State outfielder Daniel Adamson (20th, 603, Astros). Cunningham's 86 RBIs this season set a league record.

Rounding out the selections in the top 30 rounds were Tennessee Tech pitcher Adam Liberatore (21st, 641, Rays), Jacksonville State catcher Andrew Edge (24th, 742, Dodgers) and Jacksonville State pitcher Alex Jones (27th, 819, Brewers).

Todd Cunningham, Pryor, Kirby-Jones, Mueller, Langfels and Oberacker all are juniors, meaning they have the option of returning to school for their final seasons of eligibility, but I anticipate most or all of them will go pro.

Then early on the final day of the draft, Southeast All-American catcher Jim Klocke was picked. He went to the Phillies in the 31st round, No. 951 overall.

Klocke, who recently completed a record-setting four-year career at Southeast, was drafted 15 rounds higher than last year when his hometown Cardinals selected him in the 46th round.

Klocke elected to return to school for his senior season. He went on to earn first-team all-OVC honors for the third straight time and was voted OVC male athlete of the year. He also graduated, which was one of his reasons for coming back to Southeast. Taking all of that into account, Klocke made a good decision.

No one knows if any of the 13 OVC players drafted last week will make it to the major leagues, but it will be fun to follow their careers over the next few years.

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Missouri State men's basketball player Michael Porter, a Sikeston, Mo., native, is recovering from surgery in a Springfield, Mo., hospital after sustaining serious injuries in a single-vehicle accident early Thursday, according to a news release issued by Missouri State.

The release said a crash report issued by the Missouri State Highway Patrol indicated the vehicle Porter was driving overturned and ejected him. The cause of the accident, which occurred in rural Christian County, is not specified in the report.

According to the Springfield News-Leader, Porter underwent hip surgery. He is expected to make a good recovery, although the newspaper said recovery time will be about four to six months.

Porter missed all but six games his freshman season in 2009-10 with a hamstring injury. He scored 23 points and collected 13 rebounds in limited action. He recently was approved for a medical redshirt, which would give him four years of eligibility remaining with the Bears.

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It's going to be interesting following what happens with the University of Missouri athletic program as all the major-conference shuffling takes place.

Whether MU remains in the Big 12 Conference or if there even will continue to be a Big 12 Conference, still is to be determined.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian