Local baseball players on MLB Top 50 draft list

Posted Nov 29, 2011 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Nov 29, 2011 at 02:04 PM

Jesuit’s Lance McCullers and King’s Keon Barnum have landed on the Major League Baseball list of the Top 50 draft picks for next June’s selection.

McCullers, a right-handed pitcher and shortstop for the Tigers, is ranked No. 4 on the list, while Barnum is No. 42. Ironically, both played in the 2011 Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego at PETCO Park this summer.

In August, McCullers, who signed a letter-of-intent to Florida, became the third player from Hillsborough County to receive the Jackie Robinson Award, given to the Perfect Game National Player of the Year. As a junior, McCullers, went 5-3 from the mound, posting a 2.02 ERA with 79 strikeouts. At the plate he hit .422 with 10 doubles, seven home runs and 46 runs scored. During that campaign, McCullers helped guide Jesuit to its second consecutive Class 4A state title game.

Barnum, a first baseman, who signed a letter-of-intent to Miami, led King with his .491 batting average 27 RBIs and six home runs last season as a junior. Barnum also scored 22 runs and hit six doubles and one triple.