Dreams come true for three Chattanooga area baseball stars taken in MLB draft

MLB draft tile 2021
MLB draft tile 2021

While the dream of playing professional baseball is just a fantasy for most, three talented local players have achieved that dream.

Being selected in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft was a surreal experience for Cooper Kinney, John Rhodes and Logan Workman.

Kinney, an 18-year-old left-handed slugger became the earliest position player picked from the area since fellow Baylor School graduate and shortstop Ted Shipley was taken 14th overall by the Minnesota Twins in the 1974 MLB Amateur Draft. Kinney was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 34th pick in the first round on Sunday night.

photo Baylor's Cooper Kinney was taken in the first round of this year's MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I am super excited to join the Rays," Kinney said. "They have one of the best farm systems in baseball. The development side of their franchise is top notch and they have so many good players I can learn from. I am just super blessed and so grateful the Rays took a chance on me. I am excited to go to Tampa and sign my contract this week and get to work."

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Kinney was one of the top high school bats in the draft after hitting .480 with 30 extra base hits (10 home runs) and 50 RBIs this past spring for the Red Raiders, who won their third straight Division II-AA state title. He will play second and third base in the Rays' system and projects as a player who can hit for a high average and has power to all fields. The 34th spot had a pick value estimated at $2,148,100.

On Monday, Rhodes, a Chattanooga Christian School graduate, was selected 76th overall by the Baltimore Orioles, a third-round pick with a value of $818,200.

photo Former Chattanooga Christian School and University of Kentucky star John Rhodes was selected by the Orioles in the third round of the MLB draft.

For just the second time in history two local baseball stars were taken in the first 100 overall picks of the MLB Draft. In 2006 Ooltewah's Kyler Burke and Baylor's Wes Hodges went 35th and 69th to the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians.

Rhodes was solid in his two seasons with the University of Kentucky after starring at CCS. The right-handed slugger batted .426 as a freshman and led the nation with 10 doubles in the COVID-19 shortened season, while he showed improvements with his power, speed and fielding as a sophomore.

Rhodes hit 11 home runs and 15 doubles in 187 at-bats this year and also stole seven bases, led the nation with eight outfield assists while making zero errors in right field. He led the Wildcats in runs (47), walks (28) and hit by pitch (18).

"I have worked hard on my game and feel like I am what teams would consider a five-tool player," said Rhodes, a Soddy-Daisy native. "After my freshman year people thought I was lacking over the fence power. But as I got older it has come to me more. I also really worked this past year on my speed and hammered home defensively too. I feel like I can play centerfield too in pro ball."

Rhodes hit .560 in his senior year at CCS and this past season hit a ball off the bat at 111 miles per hour.

Another Soddy-Daisy native had his name called on Monday as Lee University redshirt junior Logan Workman, who was one of the most dominant arms to come through Division II baseball, was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh round. The 221st overall pick comes with a slot value of $195,700.

photo Former Soddy-Daisy pitcher Logan Workman was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in Monday's MLB draft.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound right hander features a 98-mile per hour fastball along with a slider and changeup. He was considered one of the best non Division I overall talents in the entire draft as he was a lights-out ace for the Flames.

Over his last two seasons at Lee University, Workman went 13-1 with a 1.26 earned run average over 121 2/3 innings in which he allowed just 59 hits, 43 walks and struck out 163. The 22-year-old Soddy-Daisy High School graduate had a 20-5 record in his college career with a 2.13 ERA and seven saves. He struck out 243 over 198 1/3 innings.

Workman celebrated with teammates, family and friends as they watched the MLB Draft from The MET at Dallas Bay Church in Hixson.

The draft experience was special for all three local stars.

"You never think you will actually be in this spot, but it happened and I couldn't be happier," said Kinney, who is excited to be joined by Workman in the Tampa Bay organization. "Watching the draft and seeing your name on TV was insane. This was a super experience that I will never forget. I am thankful to my great teammates, coaches and family who helped me get to this moment."

Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.

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