Saarloos, Seven Other Titans Are Easy Pickin’s

As Cal State Fullerton practiced Tuesday, its final workout before leaving today for the College World Series, players got the good news one by one, as soon as draft results could be downloaded. And there was plenty of good news, as eight players were drafted, the most through 20 rounds for any Titan team since 1985.

The day was particularly enjoyable for seniors Kirk Saarloos and Aaron Rifkin. Neither player was selected last year, but the Houston Astros picked Saarloos in the third round and the New York Yankees picked Rifkin in the fourth round.

Instead of starting his pro career last summer, Saarloos burst into national prominence as the closer on the U.S. national team. The right-hander earned All-America honors this season, winning his last 15 decisions en route to a 15-2 record and 2.24 earned-run average. He pitched four shutouts, including a no-hitter, and struck out 150 in 145 innings, walking 23.

“It’s been a fun year, playing with Team USA and getting to go back to the World Series,” he said. “I’m glad I didn’t sign last year as [an undrafted] free agent. It turned out to be the best move.”

If Saarloos was happy, Rifkin was ecstatic. The first baseman, who hit .312 with a team-high 15 home runs--including three in Saturday’s 9-3 victory over Mississippi State that clinched the Titans’ World Series berth--said he never heard any projection that had him as high as the fourth round.

“Eighth through 12th round would have been nice. Realistically, I was thinking 15th round, and I was getting it into my mind I would be happy about that,” Rifkin said. “When they first told me, I thought it was a joke. I’m still kind of in shock.”

Shortstop Mike Rouse, who homered three times in Friday’s 12-3 victory over Mississippi State in the opener of the super-regional, was selected in the fifth round by the Toronto Blue Jays. The other Titans selected: junior catcher Brett Kay (eighth round, Montreal Expos), junior third baseman Shawn Norris (ninth round, Montreal Expos), junior right-hander Shane Waroff (13th round, Arizona Diamondbacks), senior left-hander Jon Smith (16th round, Pittsburgh Pirates) and junior outfielder Robert Guzman (18th round, Minnesota Twins).