The Boston Red Sox drafted Michael Chavis, a shortstop out of Sprayberry Senior High School in Georgia, in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft Thursday night.
Chavis, who has committed to Clemson, was picked by the Red Sox 26th overall and is sure to add talent to Boston’s farm system. He’s a versatile infielder who could be moved to second or third base, and he can hit (.580 with 13 home runs in 28 games as a senior).
Chavis told MLB Network his favorite Red Sox player is second baseman Dustin Pedroia because he’s a “little dude” like him — Chavis is 5-foot-10, 192 pounds — and plays the game hard.
The Red Sox later used the 33rd overall pick — compensation for losing Jacoby Ellsbury to the New York Yankees — on Mount Pleasant, Texas, high school pitcher Michael Kopech. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-hander could hit 97 mph with his fastball, and his breaking ball has shown promise.
Their third pick brought Indiana University first baseman Sam Travis to the team. Picked 67th overall, Travis was initially drafted by the Cincinnati Reds out of his Illinois high school in 2011. He has one of the best bats of all of the college prospects, but a seeming inability to play another position — one that he’s not necessarily a superstar at — caused him to fall in the draft.
MLB.com provided video highlights and analysis of Chavis, Kopech and Travis.
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Two Massachusetts natives also were drafted back to back in the first round for the first time in baseball history.
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Photo via Twitter/@MLB
