Inspired by College Baseball Daily’s list of the top 100 college baseball players, BluGrass Baseball is counting down the top 25 returning Kentucky collegians in advance of the 2011 season. We continue the list today with what might be the state’s most high-profile baseball player but also its most confusing.
No. 6 — RHP Alex Meyer — University of Kentucky
Alex Meyer; UK photo by Chet White
UK junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer came to Lexington with the reputation as one of the best high school pitching prospects in the country. Meyer reportedly turned down a $2 million signing bonus as the 20th round pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2008 and was immediately listed among the candidates for the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft. Two years later Meyer’s performance at UK has been inconsistent to the tune of a 6-7 record with a 6.34 career ERA. Meyer has struck out 143 batters and walked 81 in 110 and two-third career innings.
Meyer missed three weeks of the 2010 season with mononucleosis but still led the Cats with five wins and 63 strikeouts. Baseball America recently ranked Meyer the No. 20 junior-class draft prospect and the No. 34 overall 2011 draft prospect. Meyer’s 63 strikeouts in 2010 rank No. 3 among returning Kentucky collegians, and his five wins are tied for fifth among returnees. The Indiana native is likely to be selected in the first round in the 2011 draft, assuming he doesn’t completely implode this season, but a strong campaign could catapult Meyer into a top 10 selection.
BluGrass Baseball 
What UK junior or senior eligible players have a shot to get drafted this June ? Meyer for sure…..how about the others???
Or some I might be missing. Thanks Max
Meyer
Kapetyn
Wright
McCarthy
Williams
Adams
Black
Adams is not yet eligible as a sophomore, but the rest all have a shot. Alex Meyer and Braden Kapteyn are sure bets. Chad Wright and Thomas McCarthy could go in the 2nd half of the draft and will face an interesting decision about whether to return. Michael Williams might be a late-round flier but is the most likely of the group not to get selected. Among the seniors, Taylor Black is probably the only draftee.
Sophomore pitcher Jordan Cooper is draft eligible since he will be 21 before the draft and should get selected somewhere. He hasn’t pitched that well this season, so he might be better served to come back for his junior year.
The only flier I could see is junior outfielder Cameron Flynn, who is sitting out the season as a transfer from Morehead St. He probably won’t get selected, but a team might take a late flier on him hoping he shows something in the Cape Cod League this summer.