The MLB Draft begins this evening and we've already detailed the current Ducks that George Horton and his coaching staff will be closely monitoring.

And while the Ducks could certainly lose out on a year of service to some quality players, the biggest blow to the team may come in the form of players who aren't in Eugene yet.

The Ducks had a very strong recruiting season, signing five players in Baseball America's top 100. It was one of the strongest recruitments of the George Horton era, but it comes with its caveats.

Mainly, there's a good chance Alex Jackson will never set foot in Eugene.

Getting the catcher/outfielder from Escondido, Calif., was a coup for the Ducks. Ranked by BA as the No. 2 high school prospect in the country, Jackson has a strong frame, can hit for power, contact and is an above-average fielder. All these traits made him a tantalizing signing for the Ducks, but it's those very same skills that will likely keep him away.

Jackson is a guaranteed first round pick, with BA ranking him as the No. 4 overall pick in the draft. If Jackson is picked anywhere in that neighborhood, he'll command around a $4.5 million signing bonus.

Another Oregon recruit, Derek Hill, is expected to go in the first round as well. A outfielder out of Elk Grove, Calif., he's the son of a first round draft pick -- Orsino Hill -- and is expected to provide speed and pop at the top of the order.

In addition to Hill and Jackson, the Ducks have five other recruits listed in the top 500 draft prospects.

Don't be surprised to see David Peterson (LHP, Regis Jesuit, Denver), Tim Susnara (C, St. Francis HS, Redwood City, Calif.) Brandon Kelliher (RHP, Lake Stevens, Wash.), Case Soltis (C, Granada HS, Calif.) and Slade Heggen (OF, Loylola Sacred Heart, Missoula, Mont.) taken over the coming days.

The Ducks are expecting to lose several of these players to the draft, but it's not always a sure thing. A year ago, Matt Krook was taken with the 35th overall pick before coming to Eugene.

"We'll keep our fingers crossed that a guy like Matt Krook will slip through the cracks and come to school," Horton said. "It takes a courageous young man to say wait a minute on the draft and turn down life changing money."