MLB Draft: Picks 18-33 - Pitchers, pitchers, pitchers, including two local products
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The Major League Baseball draft. One round, 33 picks.
There were 19 pitchers selected, including Alhambra’s Robert Stephenson and Florida State’s Sean Gilmartin, a former standout at Crespi High in Encino, Calif. Six more shortstops chosen.
Four outfielders. Two second baseman. One third baseman. One catcher. Here’s the last of the first round selections:
18. Oakland Athletics: Sonny Gray, RHP
The Vanderbilt starter accumulated an 11-3 record this year with a strong 2.01 earned-run average. Oakland’s farm system has shown a history of developing young arms (see Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Dallas Braden), so Gray and his two high-quality pitches should fit right in.
19. Boston Red Sox: Matt Barnes, RHP
The second player drafted from UConn in the draft -- George Springer went 11th to the Astros, Barnes finished last season with an 11-4 record and an astounding 1.62 ERA. He threw three shutouts.
20. Colorado Rockies: Tyler Anderson, LHP
Somewhat of a local prospect for the Rockies -- Anderson went to Oregon but is originally from Las Vegas -- the lefty struck out 114 batters this season in 107.2 innings.
21. Toronto Blue Jays: Tyler Beede, RHP
The high schooler out of Massachusetts was expected to drop a bit further in the draft, but the Blue Jays need pitching, and need it soon.
22. St. Louis Cardinals: Kolten Wong, 2B
The 5-foot-9 Hawaiian hit for a .378 average as he started every game for the Warriors this year. Wong stole 23 bases in 30 attempts.
23. Washington Nationals: Alex Meyer, RHP
Meyer celebrated his selection the old-fashioned way: a tweet shortly after MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced the pick. ‘Just got drafted by the Washington Nationals!!’
24. Tampa Bay Rays: Taylor Guerrieri, RHP The South Carolina high schooler is known for a strong arm, but is raw and will need fine-tuning in the Rays’ farm system.
25. San Diego Padres: Joe Ross, RHP
With their second pick, the Padres draft a high schooler out of Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland. He turned 18 last month.
26. Boston Red Sox: Blake Swihart, C
This switch-hitting prepster fills a need for the Red Sox, as its minor league teams have not produced a quality catcher since Jason Varitek made it to the big leagues in 1997.
27. Cincinnati Reds: Robert Stephenson, RHP
A product of Alhambra High, Stephenson throws a fastball in the low to mid-90s and utilizes a changeup and a curve well.
28. Atlanta Braves: Sean Gilmartin, LHP
Gilmartin, once a star at Crespi, could spark some fans to remember a young Tom Glavine, as his fastball doesn’t have overwhelming speed but hitters seem to have an increasingly difficult time putting it in play.
29. San Francisco Giants: Joe Panik, SS
A semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, Panik goes from St. John’s University to the defending World Series champions.
30. Minnesota Twins: Levi Michael, SS
The Tar Heels’ shortstop was predicted to be drafted as high as the middle of the first round, and as low as the middle of the second. Splitting the difference, Michael should provide strong defense for the Twins for years to come.
31. Tampa Bay Rays: Mike Mahtook, OF
The Tiger from LSU is known for power and average, hitting .383 with 14 home runs this season.
32. Tampa Bay Rays: Jake Hager, SS
With their third and final first-round pick, the Rays grab a Nevada prepster.
33. Texas Rangers: Kevin Matthews, LHP
Matthews wows fans with his athleticism -- at 5-foot-11 he can dunk a basketball -- but Rangers fans may be out of luck. The Georgia high schooler is committed to Virginia, and all indications are he’ll stay that way.
RELATED:
Players begin the long journey to major leagues
How 2010 draft selections have fared
Keep track of the first round here
-- Douglas Farmer