Danny Payne

Payne is popular among coaches and scouts alike. He plays the game with zeal, and when he injured his non-throwing shoulder and missed the end of his sophomore season, it was evident how important he was to the Yellow Jackets, who couldn't replace his leadership. His baseball IQ helps his fringe-average tools play up, and he's compared to Rusty Greer for his ability to track balls down in the alleys and reach base in a number of different ways. He has solid-average bat speed but slightly below-average power. He controls the strike zone and has improved his approach, from dead-pull as a freshman to more of a gap-to-gap hitter with a propensity to pull mistakes out of the park. He has solid-average arm strength, which he showed by doubling as Georgia Tech's closer. He'll likely be drafted in the supplemental round.