One has to wonder when the Nebraska baseball team’s luck is going to turn for the positive again. After having what can only be described as a disastrous run in the post season, it appears one of the players that could have helped the program take the next step is going to move on.
John Swanda is a member of the 2017 recruiting class and committed to Nebraska back in June of 2016. On Tuesday, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. It seems more than likely with that high a draft pick, Swanda is going to be going pro, rather than setting foot in Lincoln.
Nebraska loses one of the more talented players in the country
The events on Tuesday underline the dangers of college baseball. Nebraska thought it had either a right handed pitcher or a shortstop coming into the class. It’s possible it might have even been a Jake Meyers situation, where Swanda could pull double duty.
Nebraska instead will have to pick up the pieces after the Angels threw a monkey wrench into the plans. This is hardly the first time the Huskers have seen a commit get drafted early enough in the process that he decided he wasn’t coming to school after all.
It should be pointed out nothing is set in stone yet, but Swanda seems to have tipped his hand on Twitter. Unless something changes drastically, it looks like the Nebraska recruit is going to try his hand at the “next chapter” in his baseball career.
Thank you to the @Angels for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime! Can't wait to get started on the next chapter of my life! #MLBdraft
— John Swanda (@john_swanda) June 13, 2017
Nebraska is not the only team losing serious talent
The Huskers are hardly the only school that are going to have to go back to the drawing board after the draft.
The draft’s number one pick, Hunter Greene was a commit to UCLA before he was selected by the Cincinnati Reds. Nebraska at least, isn’t losing the best player in the country.
Swanda was at the very least, one of the best. Most draft services had him going in the early part of the draft and minor league baseball had him listed as the 421st best prospect.
The righthander, out of Roosevelt Iowa actually went higher than people expected when taking that into account.
It’s likely one of the reasons the Nebraska commit was drafted so high is because he has the build and the tools to be, at least a middle of the rotation type starter. He’s listed as 6-2 and 185 pounds and is reported as having a fastball that is already touching mid-90’s. He certainly has some room to grow into a major league baseball pitcher, but the Angels appear to have confidence he’ll do that growing.
