Our top 100 countdown continues with redshirt sophomore Brant Blaylock at 89.
The 6-foot-1, 205 pound outfielder began his college career at Mississippi State.
After being redshirted as a freshman in 2016, he broke onto the scene with an impressive showing in the Florida Collegiate Baseball League.
There he hit .323 in 96 at-bats with 5 doubles, a triple and a home run. He also scored 15 runs and drove in 15, while walking 12 times and striking out 24 times. Blaylock also showed some speed by stealing five bases in six attempts, and he had a very good on-base-percentage of .400.
He came into his sophomore season ranked as the 47th best sophomore prospect in the country according to Perfect Game, and he was ranked as the 12th best SEC prospect for the 2018 MLB Draft.
However, he did not follow-up on that success in his redshirt freshman year at Mississippi State. In 83 at-bats he hit just .193 and struck out 40 times. He did hit 2 home runs and stole a couple of bases, but it was obviously not the year many of us expected.
Blaylock also spent some time in the Mississippi State bullpen. He had a 7.50 ERA in 6 innings pitched with 4 strikeouts.
This past summer he played in the Cal Ripkin Collegiate Baseball League where he got back on track with the bat. He managed to hit a solid .280 in 75 at-bats with 2 home runs, 16 runs scored and 11 RBI. Blaylock walked nine times and struck out 23 times, but stole 12 bases.
He also threw 5.1 innings this past summer, but had an ERA of 6.75 with 5 walks, 6 hits and 5 strikeouts.
Towards the end of June Blaylock decided to transfer to Northwest Mississippi Community College. You have to wonder if this had something to do with the Bulldogs using him only as a pitcher at the end of 2017.
Either way, Blaylock will go to a school where he’ll be able to develop his craft with less attention and against easier competition.
Blaylock remains on this list because of the talent he posses. Hopefully a change of scenery will get him back on track. This spring will be a huge year for Blaylock as he tries to get back on the scout’s radar.
