2015 MLB Draft hopefuls from New Mexico high schools

It's only an educated guess at this time, but it appears New Mexico may have just two seniors taken during the Major League Baseball Draft, June 8-10.

From a hitting standpoint, the pick should be Austin Treadwell, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound outfielder from Eldorado (Albuquerque). The top senior pitching prospect is Jared Mang, a 5-10, 200-pound righthander from Los Alamos. Mang was named the New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year.

Treadwell was the state's No. 1 player in preseason rankings, but had a slow start with the bat.

Eldorado coach Jim Johns told MaxPreps, "He came on really strong at the end of the year. I knew he had it in him. He also won the state (Class 6A) championship on the mound."

Johns was riding home with his assistants following the semifinal victory when he "kind of rolled the dice. I said, 'I'm thinking about starting Treadwell (who had pitched just a few innings all year).' There was a long silence inside the truck."

Treadwell recalled that when he toed the rubber against Volcano Vista (Albuquerque), "I felt nervous, to be honest."

When he walked the leadoff batter, the bullpen started to get warm. He also gave up a one-out double to put runners on first and third.

However, as if he had been dominating hitters all year, he quickly settled down and pitched a spectacular two-hitter during a 9-0 victory. He also drove in two runs and led the state with 39 RBIs (on 40 hits). He finished his final campaign with a .430 batting average, slammed eight doubles, five homers and scored 23 times. He also was errorless in the field and threw out nine baserunners.

The Eldorado slugger feels good about his draft potential.

He was one of just 50 players recently invited to a Perfect Game Showcase in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and did well.

Mang, who probably will be a second baseman at the next level, posted a lofty .575 batting average during the regular season. He had nine doubles, five triples and six homers while scoring 41 runs and driving in 29. He walked 27 times, struck out just four times and stole 24 bases in 24 attempts.

Coach Mike Gill noted, "He was our leadoff hitter because he just kept getting walked (from the No. 3 position). The Royals looked at him pretty hard last summer. Last fall the Dodgers invited him to play some games at Dodger Stadium. The Red Sox and Yankees also have had some contact."

There are several underclassmen who could be drafted in the future.

Mang's brother, Connor Mang, is a 5-11, 175-pound junior who stands out at shortstop and on the mound. He batted .370 with seven doubles, seven triples, struck out just five times and stole 14 bases in 15 attempts. On the mound he was 5-2 with a 0.68 ERA. He struck out 86, walked 22 and allowed just 31 hits in 51 1/3 innings.

Coach Gill pointed out, "He has got raw tools to be a really good pitcher. He clocked out at 92 mph this year."

Eldorado also has a junior, Nathaniel Garley, who was named Metro Player of the Year. The pitcher/third baseman batted behind Treadwell and finished with a .429 average while driving in 26 runs. On the mound he was 7-1 and set a state record with a 0.80 ERA. In 61 innings he gave up just 36 hits, held opponents to a meager .170 batting average and led the state with 87 strikeouts.

Another top junior with pro potential is Tanner West, a 6-1, 180-pound lefty from Volcano Vista (Albuquerque). He compiled an 8-2 record with a 2.86 ERA. In 56 innings, he struck out 53, walked 24 and yielded 48 hits. As a sophomore he posted an 8-1 record with a 1.86 ERA.

Coach Kevin Andersh, a former pitcher, analyzed, "Next year he's got to put a couple more miles on his fastball. He's in the upper 80s now. He needs to get to 90 (at least)."

New Mexico's top sophomore could be Trevor Rogers, a 6-6, 190-pound lefty from Carlsbad. In 63 1/3 innings, he gave up just 27 hits, 25 walks and struck out 117. He compiled a 6-3 record with three saves and a superb 0.66 ERA.

Coach Cody May pointed out that this spring, "He threw 89-90-91. By the time he's a senior he should get drafted out of high school."

Meanwhile, Treadwell conceded, "I have no idea right now (where and if he will be drafted), but I am hopeful. I'll probably be watching it (on TV)."