Arizona State has 6 players attending MLB Draft Combine

For just the fifth time in history, the MLB will hold its annual combine for players in this year's upcoming draft. Starting tomorrow, the five-day event will unfold in Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. With 322 players participating, Arizona State will be represented by six standout names.

The Sun Devils will see a handful of players preparing to be drafted this week. Pitcher Jack Martinez enjoyed a huge senior year, with his 110 strikeouts ranking 23rd among all pitchers in the nation this year. Ben Jacobs was even better, with his 120 strikeouts ranking ninth in the nation.

While Martinez is out of eligibility, Jacobs has the option to return for one more year in Tempe. However, Jacobs is widely anticipated to be a high draft pick this year, making it unlikely he opts for another season in college.

The Sun Devils also see three impressive outfielders taking to the field this week.

Brandon Compton won the Pac 12's Newcomer of the Year award last year, and came into this season with sky high expectations. He didn't quite live up to the hype, finishing as the Sun Devils' only hitter with at least 150 at bats to not hit above .300 at the plate. Still, his slugging potential should make Compton a hot commodity in the draft.

Speaking of slugging, Isaiah Jackson improved his draft stock more than any other player for Arizona State this year. After srteaky play the last two years, Jackson led the team in slugging percentage and home runs. Not only that, but Jackson proved wildly reliable playing centerfield for the defense.

Kien Vu, a breakout star a couple seasons ago, continued his run of solid play this year. Vu missed a couple of weeks earlier in the year with an injury, and his return was a bit slower than initially anticipated, but the rightfielder caught on soon enough. His .354 batting average was second-best among starters this year.

Finally, shortstop Kyle Walker is ready for the majors after one season in Tempe. The Grambling State transfer started the year on the Golden Spikes watchlist, and after a rough start at the plate he caught fire fast. Walker finished fourth in batting average, on base percentage, and OPS while making a ton of athletic plays on defense throughout the year. He also led the team in stolen bases.

While these players' participation in the combine does not guarantee they're leaving the Sun Devils - players can opt to come back to college even after they've been drafted, provided they have remaining eligibility - it seems likely they'll all be starting their professional careers this summer.

Head coach Willie Bloomquist has already been busy working the transfer portal in hopes of filling the void left by all of these standout Sun Devils. While he would certainly be thrilled to welcome any of them back, he and the rest of the Sun Devil fan base will eagerly await draft night.