With the College World Series right around the corner, I decided to look at which active MLB players would create dangerous all-conference lineups.
Unlike the NBA and the NFL, many of today’s Major League players did not play college baseball. Instead, they get drafted and signed with professional teams straight out of high school, and some international players signed with teams as early as 16 years old.
That backdrop offered a challenge when creating my lineups, primarily because only three major conferences fill out full lineups–the SEC, Pac-12, and ACC. Yes, Big Ten and Big 12 players, like Kyle Schwarber (Indiana) and Max Muncy (Baylor), are active MLB’ers. But there aren’t enough players from those conferences to fill out entire starting nines.
After I go through my SEC, PAC-12, and ACC picks, I’ll share my All-High School Team.
Southeastern Conference
Max from June 2, 2006 (Photo by Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
C Austin Nola (LSU), 1B Pete Alonso (UF), 2B DJ LeMahieu (LSU), 3B Alex Bregman (LSU), SS Dansby Swanson (VAN), LF Andrew Benintendi (ARK), CF Bryan Reynolds (VAN), RF Whit Merrifield (SC), DH Jared Walsh (UGA), SP Max Scherzer (MIZZ), RP Taylor Rogers (UK)
The All-SEC MLB team I’d put on the field reflects the league’s dominance in the college game. The SEC currently has ten teams projected to be in the 2022 CWS field of 64. My lineup is LOADED from top to bottom with 19 All-Star appearances, eight top 10 MVP finishes, three Silver Sluggers, one ROY, and three Cy Young awards (Max Scherzer). This lineup has excellent balance with two lefties and a switch hitter in Bryan Reynolds. There is also an even split of contact and “pop” players with DJ LeMahieu, Andrew Benintendi, and Whit Merrifield as pure contact hitters, and Pete Alsono, Alex Bregman, and Jared Walsh as big-time sluggers.
PAC-12
Cole at UCLA (photo, Perfect Game)
C Adley Rutschman (ORST), 1B Spencer Torkelson (ASU), 2B Marcus Semien (CAL), 3B Tommy Edman (STAN), SS Brandon Crawford (UCLA), LF Steven Kwan (ORST), CF Mark Canha (CAL), RF Kole Calhoun (ASU), DH CJ Cron (UTAH), SP Gerritt Cole (UCLA), RP Mark Melancon (ARIZ)
My All-Star teams will never face each other, of course, but what a great match-up it would be to see Max Scherzer (SEC) vs. Gerritt Cole (PAC-12)! Cole would be surrounded by a terrific group of veteran ballplayers on the West Coast side, including Brandon Crawford, Marcus Semien, and CJ Cron. There are up-and-comers, too. Adley Rutschman and Spencer Torkelson will forever be linked in history as they were the #1 draft picks in back-to-back seasons (2019 and 2020). And in his first big league season, Steven Kwan burst on the scene, taking 100+ swings before recording his first swing-and-miss. The PAC-12 has won the most College World Series titles (29), and that is just one reason why the league is called “The Conference of Champions.” So, maybe my team could give the SEC a run for its money.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Former NC State standouts, Rodon and Turner (photo, Pack Insider)
C Will Smith (LOU), 1B Colin Moran (UNC), 2B Chris Taylor (UVA), SS Trea Turner (NCST), 3B Chad Pinder (VT), LF Adam Duvall (LOU), CF Charlie Blackmon (GT), RF Pavin Smith (UVA), DH Gavin Sheets (WAKE), SP Carlos Rodon (NCST), RP Michael King (BC)
Albeit weaker than the other two leagues, give the ACC credit for filling out an All-Star lineup. That lineup has some platoon players and perennial superstars at important positions. Trea Turner, who finished 5th in MVP voting last year, leads this All-ACC team. Turner was 2021’s batting and stolen base champ and is one of the most dynamic players in the game today. Turner’s fellow NC State alum, Carlos Rodon, takes the bump. Rodon finished 5th in AL Cy Young voting last season, compiling a career-high 12.6 K/9 with a WHIP under 1.00. The rest of the lineup is a combination of valuable “glue” guys, like Will Smith, Chris Taylor, and Adam Duvall, and young players, like Pavin Smith and Gavin Sheets, who are starting to find their way.
Honorable Mention: All-High School Team
C Jonah Heim, 1B Matt Olson, 2B Corey Seager, 3B Manny Machado, SS Tim Anderson, LF Mike Trout, CF Byron Buxton, RF Kyle Tucker, DH Giancarlo Stanton, SP Zack Wheeler, RP Devin Williams
The “Drafted out of High School” team is so good that Mike Trout doesn’t even start in center field! This lineup shows how many superstar baseball players go straight to the professional ranks. This team has it all, from home run leaders to batting champs to MVPs!
