Oklahoma OF John Spikerman drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies

While the SEC Media Days dominate the new cycles in the Oklahoma sports community this week, Major League Baseball is also having its 2024 draft, and a Sooner is making his way to the MLB.

Despite Oklahoma’s season ending sooner than expected, it’s important to note that the team needed more talent. Their journey may have been cut short, but it’s a testament to the potential and skill that one of their key players saw his name go off the board on Monday afternoon.

Over the last three seasons, John Spikerman, Oklahoma’s switch-hitting starting centerfielder, has been a shining star. His journey from the Sooners to the Phillies, where he was selected with the 100th overall pick, is a testament to his hard work and the pride of the Oklahoma sports community.

Spikerman has been a mainstay in the Sooners baseball program since he was a spark on the OU baseball team that reached the championship series against Ole Miss in 2022.

Spikerman’s exceptional speed and defensive skills are exciting and intriguing. His ability to steal 50 bases in three seasons in Norman, combined with his reputation as a plus defender, could make him a long-term player in the MLB. The only surprise was the Phillies’ announcement of his pick as a shortstop.

This past season, Spikerman made 42 appearances, including 40 starts. He recorded a career-high .367 batting average while racking up 32 RBIs and three home runs. In the field, Spikerman notched 86 putouts and a .978 fielding percentage. His injury history has kept him from playing as much as he and Skip Johnson might have liked, but the talent is evident in Spikerman.

Spikerman hasn’t played in the infield since high school. Do the Phillies plan on moving him to shortstop in the minors? He doesn’t have the arm or bat most MLB scouts covet from the shortstop position, but he has the athleticism to be a terrific defender. In the long term, it’s possible to see Spikerman play a utility role in which he can play infield and outfield while providing excellent speed to cause havoc at the topic or bottom of lineups as a table setter.

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