By: Katie Sellers
In 2017, the clutch hitting was just beginning for the pitcher-turned-centerfielder for Mississippi State. Fans knew he was special and frequent spectators at The Dude kept their eye on the kid from Jackson Prep. With a .324 batting average and a eye-catching 90 hits for the future SEC Hits King, he caught the attention of MLB scouts. Jake Mangum was drafted by the Yankees in the 30th round of the 2017 draft. He opted to stay in StarkVegas.
In the 2018 season, Mangum was even more efficient at the plate. With a batting average of .351, an on base percentage of .434 (!!!) and a whopping 101 hits, not to mention leading his team to the CWS and showing out in Omaha, Mangum heard his name at the MLB draft again. The New York Mets offered the outfielder in the 32nd round. He denied.
He had goals left to accomplish wearing the M over S. “I am thankful to return to MSU for my 4th and final season. But first, we have unfinished business in 2018.” posted Jake Mangum, on twitter June 2018.
Staying for your senior season is a bit unusual in the baseball world. Critics would argue that Mangum, and all other senior baseball players, lose time, energy, and effort that could have been devoted to the organization that drafted them in the year they chose to stay in school. After all, hearing your name during the MLB draft is the dream, right? Why waste time?
Critics are wrong.
The average single A minor league baseball player makes $1300/month. The further down in the draft a prospect goes, the longer they spend in single-A league. Making approximately $8.125 an hour. There’s a reason none of the slot values passed the 10th round are even mentioned when media outlets are posting which MLB organization drafted which player. Also, on average, it takes 4-6 years in the minors before even being considered to be called up to the majors.
Why would these kids want to rush into that? Staying in school for another year and developing as a player — and men — could be the mature decision to make. Obviously, it will effect every aspect of their lives so it is not something to rush into or take lightly. Also, it should be noted that approximately 2/3 of the players drafted in the FIRST round will make it to the big leagues.
10% of drafted minor league players will make it to playing in the majors.
10. Percent.
Mangum was not the only player that proved the theory of participating in his senior baseball season to be beneficial in the drafting process. Ethan Small, the lanky lefty on the same Mississippi State squad, did the same thing. The redshirt junior was drafted in 2018 by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 26th round after posting a solid 2.94 ERA in 15 starts and leading the MSU pitching staff with 107 strikeouts.
Small decided to stay in the maroon and white.
In 2019, Ethan Small was drafted as the only first rounder from Mississippi State, 28th overall. The first Bulldog to go in the first round since triple crown winner Brent Rooker in 2017.
Ethan Small’s draft slot improved from the 26th round, to the 1st. His first round draft slot was valued at $2,493,900. So, being patient and developing as a player for that 4th year of school proved to be advantageous – in a lot of ways – for this bulldog as well.
But, back to the Mayor. Mangum’s statistics were exceptional yet again in the 2019 season. A .357 batting average, 100 hits (so far) — and the only player in Mississippi State history to record back-to-back 100 hit seasons. For his career at MSU, he has a .365 batting average, .419 on base percentage, and has an exceptional .976 career fielding percentage with only 14 errors in 4 seasons.
Mangum has been described as a “mutant” at the plate, by teammate Tanner Allen. He is the obvious leader on and off the field and will be an asset at the plate, in the outfield, and in the dugout at the next level of baseball.
June 4th, 2019. Mangum’s worth has finally been recognized. The New York Mets drafted the SEC hits record holder in the 4th round- a 28 round jump compared to last year’s draft spot. The value for this MLB draft slot is $487,900. Mangum played his cards right and worked a little bit harder than a lot of the other guys.
He is certainly going to be rewarded for the way he approached his MLB career and for choosing to spend his senior season in Starkville. Mangum will be playing for the same organization that also drafted Antoine Duplantis – LSU outfielder that is the closest player to breaking Mangum’s hit record – and Tim Tebow, current minor league player and former football star. SEC fans everywhere would love to see that electric combination in the outfield one day even if it is for New York.
Katie Sellers 