Henry awaits MLB Draft

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 9, 2009

From staff reports

Vicksburg’s Jordan Henry is one of thousands of players in the country awaiting his named to be called as the 2009 Major League Draft starts tonight at 5 p.m.

Henry, a junior, will be eligible for the draft for the first time as a collegiate player. College baseball players have to wait until they turn 21 before being draft eligible, which usually occurs their junior year.

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The Ole Miss standout led the SEC in stolen bases with 38 and hit .343 with 12 doubles, one triple and 31 RBIs.

Older brother Justin Henry was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 20007.

Jordan Henry likely won’t be the only Rebel to likely hear his name called. Senior pitcher Scott Bittle was drafted in 2008 by the New York Yankees in the second round, but the two parties could not agree to a deal and Bittle returned to Ole Miss for his senior season.

Bittle missed the entire postseason with an injured right biceps and will likely not be drafted as high this year. He threw 45 2/3 innings with a 2.17 ERA with 68 strikeouts and a 5-2 record. Opposing batters hit only .175 against him this season.

Bittle and Henry aren’t the only state players who stand a chance to be drafted.

Mississippi State third baseman Connor Powers is a likely draftee after hitting 19 home runs and driving in 63 runs for the Bulldogs this season.

Southern Miss senior shortstop Brian Dozier, who will likely play against Texas in the College World Series on Saturday after missing much of the season with a broken collarbone, is another likely draftee. He hit .371 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs this season for the Golden Eagles.