STARKVILLE – Mississippi State got some good news from one of the top baseball prospects in the state Monday, when highly-touted Wheeler pitcher Brandon Woodruff turned down an offer from the Texas Rangers.
The right-handed pitcher was drafted in the fifth round of the MLB Draft in June, but decided to turn down an offer worth “a little more than $400,000″ from the Rangers. Woodruff is a big addition for the Bulldogs, who are still awaiting word from St. Stanislaus pitcher Jacob Lindgren (Cubs, 12th round).
State coach John Cohen, who has not returned phone calls or texts seeking comment, “was pretty excited,” Woodruff said.
“I kind of messed with him a little bit. I called him and he answered and he was excited to talk to me and I told him I had just gotten done talking to the Rangers and his mood changed a little bit. I said, ‘Well, you’re going to have to put up with me for three years,’ and he got excited. They were happy.”
Woodruff carried a .618 batting average and is expected to pitch and hit at MSU. He could be used as a reliever or midweek starter, but could also field in at one of the corners in the outfield. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Woodruff was clocked at 95 mph on some pitches, according to the local Scout.com affiliate.
“I couldn’t pass up college and get the experience of playing in the SEC, the best conference in the nation,” Woodruff said. “That’s priceless. I couldn’t pass that up to play in that league. That’s what made my decision because, if you sign pro, you’ll never get to have the college experience. I’ve always wanted to have it and play at Mississippi State.”
