CBC's Nazzan Zanetello headlines MLB Draft picks from Missouri

Eight prospects from the Show-Me State were picked

The news broke in the hours leading up to the start of the Major League Baseball Draft that hard-throwing lefty pitcher Adam Hachman had pulled his name out of consideration. 

Hachman, an imposing 6-foot-5, 215-pound pitcher from Timberland High School, was rated as the 101st-best prospect in the Draft by MLB.com, but will instead head to the University of Arkansas.

Timberland High School left-handed pitcher Adam Hachman / Nate Latsch photo

With Hachman no longer a storyline to watch throughout the 20-round Draft that started on Sunday night and concluded on Tuesday, the attention turned more to another Razorbacks signee – Christian Brothers College High School shortstop Nazzan Zanetello. 

Zanetello, ranked as the 52nd-best prospect in the Draft, was invited to participate in the Draft festivities in Seattle and looked like a sure bet to hear his name called in the first few rounds.

A talented shortstop with five-tool potential, Zanetello was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the second round on Sunday night, pick No. 50 overall.

"Man, it was just a dream come true because I remember my first Little League team was the St. Louis Red Sox," Zanetello told Xavier Scruggs on the MLB Network Draft broadcast. 

A dream come true for Nazzan Zanetello! pic.twitter.com/6Aib1eDCEx

— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 10, 2023

Zanetello is expected to sign with the Red Sox and begin his professional career soon, reportedly agreeing to a signing bonus more than the projected pick value of $1.7 million. 

The CBC shortstop was the first of eight selections from Missouri high schools – he was the only high school player picked – and colleges in the 20-round Draft.

MLB.com had five players from the Show-Me State ranked among its top 250 prospects and only two of those were selected: Zanetello and Missouri State outfielder Spencer Nivens (No. 119).

In addition to Timberland's Hachman (No. 101), Blair Oaks lefthander Wil Libbert (No. 134) and Liberty North right-hander Tate McGuire (No. 183) were also not selected.

Libbert has signed with the University of Missouri. McGuire, the Gatorade Player of the Year who led Liberty North to back-to-back state championships, will head to Arkansas.

So while the Razorbacks will likely lose Zanetello, they will end up with two of the top high school pitchers from Missouri in Hachman and McGuire.

Here's a quick look at the selections: 

CBC SS Nazzan Zanetello

The second-round pick by the Boston Red Sox (No. 50), Zanetello wasn't phased by the attention from pro scouts following him throughout his final high school season. He batted .421 with nine doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 33 RBIs, 47 runs scored and a .557 on-base percentage. He also recorded 21 stolen bases.

University of Missouri RHP Austin Troesser

Selected in the compensation portion of the fourth round (No. 135) by the New York Mets, the junior right-hander from Fatima High School went 5-3 with one save and a 4.73 earned-run average in 45 2/3 innings over 22 appearances (three starts) this season. He limited opposing batters to a .229 batting average. 

Missouri State OF Spencer Nivens

A left-handed hitting outfielder, Nivens was picked in the fifth round (No. 142) by the Kansas City Royals following an outstanding redshirt sophomore season that saw him hit .341 with 16 doubles, six triples, 14 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .437 on-base percentage in 56 games. The Rock Bridge High School product was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.

Missouri State RHP Jake Eddington

A Missouri native (Doniphan High School) who transferred back home after two seasons at the University of Alabama, Eddington was selected in the seventh round (No. 223) by the Philadelphia Phillies. The righty went 4-2 with a 4.20 ERA in 55 2/3 innings over 14 appearances (13 starts) during his redshirt sophomore season. He limited opponents to a .226 batting average.

Missouri State RHP Hayden Minton

The Detroit Tigers selected Minton in the ninth round (No. 260) following a senior season where the Oklahoma native went 6-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 84 innings over 15 starts. The righty struck out a team-high 96 batters and walked just 27.

Missouri RHP Zach Franklin

A 10th round selection (No. 299) by the Chicago White Sox, Franklin went 6-3 with two saves and a 7.45 ERA in 38 2/3 innings over 20 appearances (one start) in his redshirt freshman season. The North Carolina native transferred from Western Carolina and then led Mizzou in wins and saves in his first season.

Missouri RHP Chandler Murphy

The Tampa Bay Rays selected Murphy, an Arizona native, in the 12th round (No. 363) after a redshirt junior season where the righty went 4-5 with a 5.47 ERA in a team-best 74 innings over 14 starts. Murphy, who transferred to Mizzou after three seasons at the University of Arizona, was selected by the Houston Astros in the 36th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Liberty High School in Peoria, Ariz.

Missouri 3B Luke Mann

One of the top hitters in the Southeastern Conference over his final two seasons, the left-handed hitting Mann was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 14th round (No. 406). As a fifth-year senior this season, Mann batted .311 with 21 home runs, 54 RBIs, 54 runs scored and a .428 OBP. Mann, who led Vianney High School to the 2018 state championship as a two-way standout, hit 38 home runs over his final two seasons with the Tigers. He finished his career in Columbia with 49 home runs, which tied the school record.