While University of Virginia outfielder Derek Fisher leads Pennsylvania's staggered list of professional baseball prospects, a handful of scholastic talents are hoping to join the chaos that is Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.
Fisher, the former high school All-American and state player of the year out of Cedar Crest, is expected to hear his name late Thursday night as MLB opens the three-day event with rounds 1-2 and a pair of compensation rounds.
Fisher, a junior outfielder, is hitting .288 with 23 RBIs for the Cavaliers (47-13), who host Maryland Saturday in the NCAA Super Regionals. Fisher, a former sixth-round selection by the Texas Rangers in 2011, and Virginia teammates Nick Howard (jr RHP) and Mike Papi (jr OF/1B) are all ranked inside Baseball America's Top 50 draft prospects.
Several high school prospects are still clawing in the PIAA postseason, as well, starting with Blackhawk southpaw Brendan McKay and Bloomsburg RHP Colton Hock.
McKay, 29-2 in his high school career, ran his historic scoreless innings streak to 71 2/3 innings before dropping a 5-3 decision to West Allegheny recently in the WPIAL Class AAA final.
Blackhawk will play District 1 runner-up Harriton today in a state quarterfinal at Greene Twp. Park in Scotland. Hock's Bloomsburg side will battle Neumann-Goretti in the Class AA quarters in Allentown.
Neumann-Goretti first baseman Josh Ockimey is another draft prospect alongside Norwin corner infielder J.J. Matijevic, Devon Prep RHP Zach Schellenger, LHP Taylor Lehman of Keystone Oaks and LHP Nick Raquet of State College.
MLB DRAFT
Today, 7 p.m.: Round 1, Compensation A, Round 2, Comp. B.
Friday, 1 p.m.: Rounds 3-10
Saturday, 1 p.m.: Rounds 11-40
*Live draft results at mlb.com
Epler on Twitter: @threejacker