Two high school baseball players from Southern Nevada are making waves as they have been identified as potential picks in the upcoming MLB draft. Ty Southisene, a shortstop, and Burke Mabeus, a catcher from Bishop Gorman, are both ranked among the top 250 prospects by MLB.com and ESPN.
The MLB draft is set to kick off on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas, with the first two rounds. Subsequent rounds will take place on Monday and Tuesday, wrapping up with rounds 11-20. Southisene, standing at 5 feet 9 inches and weighing 170 pounds, has been recognized as the No. 111 prospect by MLB.com and No. 132 by ESPN. Despite his draft prospects, he has committed to playing college baseball at Tennessee, a decision influenced by the Volunteers’ recent College World Series win.
With an impressive batting average of .495 and 24 RBIs last season, Southisene has secured his position as a two-time first-team All-Southern Nevada infielder. On the other hand, Mabeus, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound catcher, is ranked as the No. 159 prospect by MLB.com and No. 234 by ESPN. Committed to Oregon for his college career, Mabeus has also made a name for himself as a two-time first-team All-Southern Nevada player, winning the Class 5A Desert League player of the year title with a .320 batting average and 21 RBIs last season.
Additionally, UNLV pitcher Austin Cates has earned a spot on ESPN’s list as the No. 190 overall prospect. Cates, a right-hander, delivered an impressive performance last season with a 6-5 record, 4.08 ERA, and 107 strikeouts during his time with the Rebels. The Henderson native and Coronado graduate previously played at the College of Southern Nevada before joining UNLV.
Looking at the national scene, players like Charlie Condon and Travis Bazzana are emerging as top contenders for the draft. Condon, a standout at Georgia, led the NCAA with a .433 average and 37 home runs this year, earning him the title of national player of the year. Bazzana, on the other hand, a former cricket player from Australia who now plays for Oregon State, boasted a .407 batting average with 28 homers and 66 RBIs.
As the MLB draft approaches, baseball enthusiasts are eager to see how these promising young talents will fare in the professional leagues. With Cleveland holding the first overall pick, followed by Cincinnati, the draft is expected to showcase a mix of college and high school prospects. Stay tuned for the draft action happening in Fort Worth, Texas, starting this Sunday.
