Tonight’s draft order
First round1. Philadelphia Phillies; 2. Cincinnati Reds; 3. Atlanta Braves; 4. Colorado Rockies; 5. Milwaukee Brewers; 6. Oakland Athletics; 7. Miami Marlins; 8. San Diego Padres; 9. Detroit Tigers; 10. Chicago White Sox; 11. Seattle Mariners; 12. Boston Red Sox; 13. Tampa Bay Rays; 14. Cleveland Indians; 15. Minnesota Twins; 16. Los Angeles Angels; 17. Houston Astros; 18. New York Yankees; 19. New York Mets; 20. Los Angeles Dodgers; 21. Toronto Blue Jays; 22. Pittsburg Pirates; 23. St. Louis Cardinals; 24. San Diego Padres; 25. San Diego Padres; 26. Chicago White Sox; 27. Baltimore Orioles; 28. Washington Nationals; Washington Nationals; 30. Texas Rangers; 31. New York Mets; 32. Los Angeles Dodgers; 33. St. Louis Cardinals; St. Louis Cardinals.Lottery round A35. Cincinnati Reds; 36. Los Angeles Dodgers; 37. Oakland Athletics; 38. Colorado Rockies; 39. Arizona Diamondbacks; 40. Atlanta Braves; 41. Pittsburg Pirates.Second round42. Philadelphia Phillies; 43. Cincinnati Reds; 44. Atlanta Braves; 45. Colorado Rockies; 46. Milwaukee Brewers; 47. Oakland Athletics; 48. San Diego Padres; 49. Chicago White Sox; 50. Seattle Mariners; 51. Boston Red Sox; 52. Arizona Diamondbacks; 53. Tampa Bay Rays; 54. Baltimore Orioles; 55. Cleveland Indians; 56. Minnesota Twins; 57. Toronto Blue Jays; 58. Washington Nationals; 59. San Francisco Giants; 60. Los Angeles Angels; 61. Houston Astros; 62. New York Yankees; 63. Texas Rangers; 64. New York Mets; 65. Los Angeles Dodgers; Toronto Blue Jays; 67. Kansas City Royals; 68. Pittsburg Pirates; 69. Baltimore Orioles; 70. St. Louis Cardinals.Lottery round B71. San Diego Padres; 72. Cleveland Indians; 73. Minnesota Twins; 74. Minnesota Twins; 75. Milwaukee Brewers; 76. Atlanta Braves; 77. Tampa Bay Rays.
Tre Carter has a baseball scholarship from the University of Tennessee, but the recently graduated Soddy-Daisy High School outfielder is looking toward the professional first-year player draft with both curiosity and anxiety.
"In one word, excited," he said. "In one sentence, I'm anxious for it to get here."
The first two rounds of the draft are tonight, and there's a chance that Carter's name will be called - and if not tonight, then early Friday. He has been ranked among the top 150 candidates.
"I don't think there's any doubt that he will be drafted," Soddy-Daisy coach Jared Hensley said. "He's been to several showcases for different teams, and he's had quite a bit of success."
One professional critique of the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder gives him pluses for his speed, arm and fielding. At the USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars last summer, he ran the fastest 60-yard dash with a time of 6.51 seconds.
"He's a five-tool player," observed Soddy-Daisy assistant Jamie Tricoglou, a sixth-round draft pick by the Colorado Rockies whose career was cut short by injuries.
Carter also is a three-sport athlete who had options other than the baseball diamond.
USA Basketball invited Carter to try out as a guard for its international competition team, and numerous Southeastern Conference schools were interested in him for his football skills as a receiver and defensive back. He also kicked off, punted and returned kickoffs and punts for Trojans football coach Justin Barnes.
One scout said Carter was one of the best pure athletes available in the draft.
"He has gotten better, and I think a lot of it is not playing three sports now," Tricoglou added. "He's been on the showcase circuit and has done pretty well."
This spring, Carter hit .481 with a 1.074 slugging percentage and reached base in more than 60 percent of his plate appearances for the Trojans. He scored 49 runs, had 39 RBIs (while batting second in the lineup) and added nine home runs, eight triples and 19 stolen bases.
Hensley talked with numerous scouts during the high school season - "probably close to the 30s when you count multiple guys from the same team," the coach said, adding that Carter had talked to at least one representative from almost every team in the majors.
"I won't be surprised to see him go between the third and fifth rounds," Hensley added. "The interest level depends on the team, its needs and how many picks they have."
The Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres each own five of the first 80 picks, and Carter worked out for both. He also has worked out most recently for the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers.
"I had good interaction with the Padres, but then I did too with the Braves. Actually I had good interaction with everybody," Carter said. "To be honest, I probably end up saying whoever gets here first. I'm not looking for too much (money), but I don't want less than the round where I'm drafted. I just want to get to the next level and get better."
Tricoglou is fairly well known in pro baseball scouting circles, and he has shared positive observations.
"I have seen Tre come from a kid whose work ethic was minimal to a kid who came to practice an hour or two early or stayed an hour or two after," Tricoglou said. "He calls me and asks if we can go hit, and he has worked to become a complete hitter.
"If somebody is better than he is, it makes him mad and he works harder and harder. That's why he'll succeed in pro ball. Once he sees kids who are better, he will work and work and then work some more."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.