Taking a closer look at the Houston Astros’ selections in this week’s Major League Baseball Draft.
After all, this is where many of the 2010 Lexington Legends are sure to come from. Background info, courtesy of the Astros media relations staff.
1st Round (#21): SS Jiovanni Mier, Bonita (Calif.) H.S.; 6-2, 175
Year AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB OBP
2009 .394 71 37 28 10 1 5 18 22 9 18 .545
Ranked 44th on Baseball America’s draft rankings, noted as having above average speed and a powerful arm that grades out to well-above-average. … Homered in his last at-bat for Bonita High. … Also pitched in high school, and reportedly had his fastball gunned in the 91-93 mph range. … Maintained a 2.80 ERA (4ER/10IP) through the 2008-09 season. … MVP of the Miramonte League in his 2007 junior season (.479 , 3 HR, 30 RBI, 5 SB). … Brother, Jessie Mier, is a catcher for Inland Empire, Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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2nd Round (#69): RHP Tanner Bushue, South Central (Ill.) H.S.; 6-4, 190
Year ERA W-L G IP H R ER BB SO
2009 0.62 8-3 13 68.1 31 15 6 22 140
No. 140 in Baseball America’s draft rankings. … As a junior in 2008, Midland Trail Conference Player of the Year (6-0, 2 sv, 47.2 ip, 11 h, 21 w, 126 so).
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3rd Round (#100): OF Telvin Nash, Griffin (Ga.) H.S.; 6-2, 220
Year AVG AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP
2009 .527 78 39 7 1 10 40 9 9 .591
A Louisville Slugger High School Pre-Season All-Star in 2009.
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3rd (Supplemental-#111): 3B Jonathan Meyer, Simi Valley (Calif.) H.S.; 6-1, 195
Year AVG H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB
2009 .390 36 10 3 34 13 19 7
177th in Baseball America’s draft rankings. … As a junior in 2008 (.387 , 13 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 43 RBI, .802 SP), led Simi Valley to CIF title. … The Ventura County Star and the Daily News Player of the Year in 2008, as well as All-State First-Team, All-CIF Southern Section First-Team and L.A. Times All-County Team that year.
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4th Round (#131): RHP B.J. Hyatt, South Carolina — Sumter; 6-4, 205
Year ERA W-L G/GS S IP H R ER BB SO HR WP
2009 7.24 3-0 16/3 3 32.1 33 34 26 19 31 4 1
Former member of the Coastal Plain League’s Florence RedWolves.
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5th Round (#161): SS Brandon Wickoff, Illinois; 5-9, 170
Year AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009 .373 228 56 85 17 5 4 41 25 7 10-13
Rivals.com Preseason All-Big Ten as junior this season. … All-Ping! Baseball second team. … Finished on a career-best 18-game hitting streak, including nine multiple-hit games, and reached base in every game except one this season. … Had 23 multi-hit games, second-best on team, and 10 multi-RBI games. … In 2008, All-Big Ten SS. … Started all 56 games and hit in No. 3 spot in 50 games. … Hit .369 with team-high 61 RBI, tied for team lead in doubles (12) and tied for Big Ten lead in sacrifice flies (9). … His 37 RBI in Big Ten games ranked second in the league and were third-most in Illini history. … Had 24 mult-hit games and 15 multi-RBI efforts. … Played 56 games in 2007, starting 54, all at third base. … Batted mostly in the No. 2 spot. … Led his high school team to the Illinois State Tournament in 2005 and 2006, placing fourth in his junior season. … 2006 All-State pick by Prep Baseball Report and the Chicago Tribune. (Peoria) Journal Star Player of the Year in 2005.
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6th Round (#191): SS Enrique Hernandez, American Military Academy (Puerto Rico); 5-11, 170
2009 Puerto Rico High School Baseball All-Star.
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7th Round (#221): LHP Dallas Keuchel, Arkansas; 6-2, 180
Year ERA W-L G IP H R ER BB SO
2009 4.04 7-3 16 98.0 106 54 44 28 62
186th in Baseball America’s draft rankings. … Led Razorbacks in wins and innings pitched. … 4-3, 4.58 ERA, 61 strikeouts, 74.2 inning pitched and 11 starts in 2008. … Threw five or more innings in six of 11 starts and had 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. … In SEC play, 2-1, 4.72, 30 strikeouts over 47.2 innings. … Pitched two seasons for Wareham Gatemen of Cape Cod League; a West Division all-star.
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8th Round (#251): RHP Brandt Walker, Stanford; 6-3, 185
Year ERA W-L G IP R ER BB SO
2009 7.11 0-1 12 19.0 16 15 13 12
2008 4.50 0-0 6 6.0 5 3 7 4
Opened the year as a starter. … Sophomore season (2008), reached College World Series with the Cardinal. … Pitched in 15 games (two starts) over his first two seasons, going 0-1 with a 6.38 ERA (13er, 18.1 ip. …Graduated in 2006 from St. Stephens Episcopal School in Austin, Texas. … A 2006 first-team Preseason Louisville Slugger All-American. … Ranked No. 7 among 2006 Texas High School players. … Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
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9th Round (#281): SS Ben Orloff, Cal-Irvine; 5-11, 170
Year AVG GP AB R H 2B RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009 .358 60 254 62 91 11 28 21 16 18-23
2008 .344 60 227 50 78 17 23 30 19 19-28
Named a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American this year; Top 10 Returning Senior by Rivals.com; Brooks Wallace Award Preseason Watch List. … In 2008, All-Big West Conference first-team honoree; Lincoln NCAA Regional All-Tournament team. … Ranked 12th in the country in sacrifice bunts (16). … Tied for third on UCI career list with 44 stolen bases; seventh in games played (181); tied for 13th in runs (116); tied for 19th in hits (190). … Started 155 consecutive games. … Struck out 35 times in 481 at bats over his last two seasons.
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10th Round (#311): 3B Erik Castro, San Diego State; 6-4, 200
Year AVG GP AB R H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009 .388 58 206 48 80 19 11 56 42 37 3-4
All-Mountain West Conference second team as utility/DH. … Homered in four consecutive games against three different opponents May 10-15 (vs. Air Force, San Francisco, Utah). … Two of his team-leading 11 home runs came at PETCO Park (home of the San Diego Padres) against UC Davis on April 3; the first player in the 10 collegiate games played in the Major League stadium to hit two homers in a game. … .496 on-base percentage led the Aztecs. Also led in batting, homers and RBI. … Errorless in 19 games at catcher and four appearances at first base. .… Batted .446 (33-for- 74) with runners in scoring position … Hit .400 in league play with eight doubles, seven homers, 24 runs and 29 RBI.
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11th Round (#341): C David “Bubby” Williams, Crowder (Mo.) College; 6-0, 190
NJCAA Division I Baseball All-Region 16 Team in 2008. … As a freshman last year, 1st Team All Region and Region 16 Player of the Year.
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12th Round (#371): RHP Geoffrey Thomas, Stephenson (Ga.) H.S.; 6-0, 187
Year ERA W-L IP BB SO
2009 0.51 3-2 27.2 23 48
Team MVP in 2006 and 2008, all-county in 2007 and 2008. … Rawlings/Perfect Game USA Preseason All-Region Team this season. … Participated in the Major League Baseball Inaugural Breakthrough Series and was a MLB Urban Academy All-Star selection in 2008.
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13th Round (#401): OF Jake Goebbert, Northwestern University; 6-0, 205
Year AVG GP AB R H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009 .280 30 107 24 30 10 4 23 18 15 2-3
2008 .353 49 173 41 61 22 10 48 28 27 3-3
As a sophomore in 2008, second-team All-Big Ten. … The Wildcats’ Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient. … Broke a 31-year-old school season record by posting a Big Ten-leading 22 doubles; also led team in HR, RBI, BB and with .665 slugging percentage, . 458 on-base percentage. … Hit safely in 17 straight games. … Pitched twice, at Illinois and in a home win over Elmhurst, and did not allow a run. … ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V team . … Academic All-Big Ten.
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14th Round (#431): LHP David Berner, San Jose State; 6-2, 205
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 3.20 7-2 13/13 3 0 95.2 84 43 34 15 84
In 2008, made 14 appearances, 13 starts. … Tossed 83.0 innings, second-most on the team and seventh-most in the WAC. … Led the Spartans with 67 strikeouts, fifth-most in the conference. … Went at least 4.2 innings in every start.
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15th Round (#461): CF Ryan Humphrey, St. Louis Community College–Meramec; 6-0, 195
Year AVG GP-GS AB H 2B 3B HR RBI
2009 .278 44-44 133 37 6 0 0 21
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16th Round (#491): 1B Ronald Sanchez, Manuela Toro (Puerto Rico) H.S.; 5-10, 170
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17th Round (#521): RHP Justin Harper, Oklahoma City University; 6-3, 210
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 4.94 9-3 15-14 4 0 71.0 63 44 39 38 86
Went 2-1 with 6.00 ERA as sophomore, fanning 42 over 36 innings. … Ranked as top junior-college prospect in Arizona by Baseball America. … 0-2, 3.24 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 25 innings as freshman. … All-state for Greenway High School in Phoenix, Ariz.
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18th Round (#551): RHP James (J.B.) MacDonald, Boston College; 6-2, 190
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 4.86 5-7 15-15 1 0 96.1 96 58 52 32 71
Started 11 games and made one relief appearance as a junior in 2008, going 4-7. … As a sophomore, pitched in 13 games, totaling 28.1 innings; 1-0, one save, 23 strikeouts. … Went six straight appearances — 9.2 innings — without surrendering an earned run. … Played four years at Danvers High School, earning Northeastern Conference MVP and all-region honors in 2005.
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19th Round (#581): CF Brian Kemp, St. Johns; 5-9, 180
Year AVG GP-GS AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009 .379 52-52 219 83 68 13 3 3 35 25 25 16-21
2008 pre-season All-Big East selection as a sophomore. … Played 36 games, all starts, batting a team-high .360 with 20 RBI, three doubles, five triples and one home run. … Stole a team-best 16 bases in 21 attempts and had 15 multi-hit games. … Had a 15-game hitting streak. … As a freshman, started 56 games and batted .348, with team-bests of 53 runs and 25 stolen bases. … Louisville Slugger freshman All-American; All-Big East third team.
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20th Round (#611): RF Julio (J.D.) Martinez, Nova Southeastern (Fla.); 6-3, 194
Year AVG GP-GS AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT E FLD%
2009 .428 55-55 187 80 73 15 2 15 57 41 26 8-9 6 .921
2008 .370 51-50 192 71 54 18 1 12 56 27 18 6-7 1 .989
Set single-season program record in runs scored (73) while placing second in batting average this season; top 10 season in slugging percentage (.770), hits, home runs, RBI, total bases (144) and walks. … Set NSU career home run record April 17 vs. Barry University, hitting his 31st. … Sophomore season of 2008, led team in RBI, second in at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, homers and total bases (124). … First-Team All-Sunshine State Conference, Daktronics All-South Region Second-Team, NCBWA All-South Region First-Team, ABCA/Rawlings All-America Baseball third team. .. Finished with 21 multiple hit and 10 multiple RBI games. … As freshman in 2007, hit .379 with 5 HR, 29 RBI. … Back-to-back state title teams at Flanagan High School. … Team Gold Glove winner senior year. … 2006 MLB Draft 36th Round Pick of the Minnesota Twins.
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21st Round (#641): 2B Barry Butera, Boston College; 6-0, 180
Year AVG GP-GS AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009 .326 57-57 215 70 37 9 4 4 34 19 49 6-14
In 2008, played 52 games, 51 starts, leading team in walks (31), triples (3) and stolen bases (11); second on team in runs (42) and homers (6). … 14 multi-hit games. … 17 games in 2007, six starts, getting five hits and two RBI. … Three-year varsity infielder and pitcher at Jesuit High School, a two-time district title team in New Orleans; two-time All-District team and American Legion All-District team, two-time Academic All-District. … Member of 2005 5A State Champion team.
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22nd Round (#671): RHP Mark Jones, Manheim Township (Pa.) H.S.; 6-7, 205
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23rd Round (#701): RHP Robby Donovan, Stetson; 6-5, 220
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 5.19 5-3 13-13 0 0 76.1 87 54 44 34 68
Led the team in strikeouts (59, 22 looking) games started (12) in 2008; also second in innings pitches (65 1/3) and third in wins (3). … As a freshman in 2007, tied for fourth on the team in appearances (17, including seven starts), fifth in innings pitched (55). … Finished with a 3.93 earned run average and 33 strikeouts, holding opponents to a .250 batting average. … 8-3 with 100 strikeouts in 79 innings for Royal Palm Beach High School, reaching district playoffs. … First Team All-County, 2005 Puma All-American, going 5-0 as a junior. … Drafted in the 35th round by the Minnesota Twins.
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24th Round (#731): LHP Michael Modica, George Mason; 6-0, 175
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 4.34 11-2 14-14 1 0 87.0 42 81 51 35 75
2009 second-team All-American status, the highest honor ever afforded a Mason pitcher. … First-team All-CAA and South Jersey Baseball Coaches Association University Pitcher of the Year. … Second all-time at Mason in strikeouts (221) and third in wins (22) and innings pitched (268 2/3). … His 11 wins are second-most in school history in a single season. … Appeared in 14 games in 2008, with 13 starts and one complete game (4-5, 7.09 ERA, 72 1/3 ip, 78 SO). … His 78 strikeouts tied Major-Leaguer Shawn Camp for fifth-most in a single-season in school history. … As a high school senior, All-Conference, All-South Jersey and All-State, going 9-3 with 107 strikeouts. … Finished career with more than 200 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA.
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25th Round (#761): 1B Nicholas Stanley, Florida Southern College; 6-2, 195
Year AVG GP-GS AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT E FLD%
2009 .344 57-57 227 78 57 23 3 11 59 20 27 2-2 7 .985
Played 2008 at North Carolina State, starting 30 of his 51 games (23 at catcher, seven DH). … Hit .305 with 2 HR, 22 RBI, nine multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games. … Started in 16 of his 28 Atlantic Coast Conference games, hitting .348 with two homers and 14 RBI. … Played in two of three Super Regional games vs. Georgia, going 1-for-2. … Played two seasons at South Florida Community College. … Hit .491 with 7 HR, 36 RBI in 2007. … First-team all-state and first-team all-conference selection. … Hit .339 with 1 HR, 15 RBI in 2006. … Second-team all-conference selection.
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26th Round (#791): 1B Matthew Watson, Pompano Beach (Fla.) H.S.; 6-0, 200
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27th Round (#821): 3B Aaron Bray, North Carolina-Charlotte; 6-0, 180
Year AVG GP-GS AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT E FLD%
2009 .339 50-50 189 64 43 10 1 1 36 29 22 11-15 12 .928
UNC-Charlotte’s all-time career hits leader with 293, eclipsing Bo Robinson’s 289. … One of two players in program history with more than 200 hits and 200 runs scored; Kevin Ayers is the other. … Second with 212 career runs (Ayers leads with 216). … Bray also is tied for seventh with 10 career triples and is 10th in career stolen bases with 59 … .347 career batting average is tied for ninth on the all-time list. … Played first, second and third this season. … All-Raleigh, N.C. Regional in 2008, as well as second Team All-Atlantic 10. … First-Team All-Atlantic 10 in 2007, and on Pre-Season Wallace Watch List. … As freshman in 2006, became second Niner ever named to Louisville Slugger Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America Team. … Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, the second Niner in team history named Freshman of the Year. … Second team All-Atlantic 10 and All-Rookie Team.
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28th Round (#851): RHP Eric Anderson, Mountain Vista (Colo.) H.S.; 6-4, 187
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 1.67 9-0 12-8 0 2 58.2 32 18 14 18 80
2008 Colorado Class 5A All-State honorable mention infielder.
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29th Round (#881): CF Garen Wright, Putnam City (Okla.) H.S.; 6-3, 230
Year AVG GP AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO
2009 .385 25 78 30 22 8 0 3 15 9 24
2008 participant in the Rawlings Perfect Game USA South Top Prospect Showcase.
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30th Round (#911): RHP Brandon Petite, Vauxhall (Alberta, Canada) H.S.; 6-3, 210
2009 participant in Baseball Canada Cup as a member of Team Nova Scotia. … Named to Team Canada’s roster for 2008 World Junior ‘AAA’ Baseball Championship.
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31st Round (#941): LHP Travis Smink, Virginia Military Institute; 6-2, 200
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 4.33 8-4 18/13 1 0 87.1 100 580 42 32 72
Had strong 2008 season as a redshirt sophomore: 7-for-7 in save opportunities, notching 11 strikeouts and one walk in 12 innings in save situations. … Overall, 2-1 with seven saves and a 3.48 ERA. … Led team with 19 appearances, including two starts. … In conference play, 2-1 with four saves in nine appearances, posting a 2.67 ERA and 17 K’s in 27 innings, with opponents hitting .224 against him. … Three-time TVL (high school) All-Star. … As a senior, 0.79 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 71 innings.
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32nd Round (#971): RHP Gregory Peavey, Oregon State; 6-1, 185
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 5.74 4-3 13-12 0 0 62.2 70 44 40 27 42
Made 15 appearances, including five starts, and went 2-3 with a 4.96 ERA in 2008. … Worked 49 innings, striking out 35. … Opponents hit .266 against him. … Eight appearances and one start in Pac-10 games (1-1, 4.56 ERA). …Picked by the New York Yankees in the 24th round of the 2007 MLB Draft, out of high school. … No. 17 among nation’s top 300 players in high school class of 2007 by Baseball America. … Ranked No. 1 among Washington’s top 75 players in high school class of 2007 by Baseball Northwest. … No. 34 among 2007 Major League Baseball Draft Top 50 Prospects (high school and college) by Baseball America.
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33rd Round (#1001): RHP Brenden Stines, Ball State; 6-2, 190
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 5.77 4-4 17-13 0 0 64.0 89 69 41 32 43
In 2008, appeared in 16 games, including 12 starts, going 3-3 with a 7.95 ERA over 54.1 innings; 42 strikeouts. … In 2007, started 13 games and appeared in 15, serving as the Cardinals’ No. 1 starter. … Led team with 68 strikeouts and topped the starters with a 4.20 ERA over 75.0 innings. … All-State as a high school senior in 2005 and All-State honorable mention in 2004. … 18-4 with a 2.80 ERA over his high school career. … 10-2 with six shutouts and a 2.98 ERA as a senior, striking out 101 over 79 innings. … First team All-Northern Indiana Conference in 2004 and 2005.
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34th Round (#1031): RHP Scott Migl, Texas A&M; 6-3, 190
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 7.50 0-1 2/2 0 0 6.0 11 8 5 1 2
Made 15 appearances in 1008, starting 12 games, going 3-3 with a 4.26 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings. … Aggies were 9-3 in games he started. … Named a 2007 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. … Appeared in 20 games, starting 11 (7-3, 3.77 ERA). … Four-year letter winner for Coach Tom McGee at St. Pius High School in Houston. … Second-team all-state as a sophomore and first-team as a junior and senior. … Struck out 100 over 87 innings as a senior.
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35th Round (#1061): CF Jackson “Grant” Hogue, Mississippi State; 6-0, 190
Year AVG GP AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009 .315 48 181 57 43 7 1 2 22 16 26 29-34
Switch-hitter posted the team’s third-high batting average this season and the most stolen bases by a Bulldog since 1985… In 2008, as a junior, played in 55 of MSU’s 56 games, 49 as a starter. (34 cf, 15 rf). … Hit .321, leading the Bulldogs with 63 hits, 47 runs and 25 stolen bases in 29 attempts — the most MSU stolen bases since Dan Van Cleve’s 38 in 1985 and tied for fourth-most in school history.
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36th Round (#1091): SS Tyler Saladino, Palomar College (Calif.); 6-0, 185
Year AVG GP AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009 .441 45 161 71 58 14 2 2 33 24 25 12-14
First-team Community College All-American as well as first-team all-state, Pacific Coast Conference Player of the Year, PCC Defensive Player of the Year, and Palomar’s MVP and Gold Glove Award winner. … Batted 453 during the regular season, .364 in the post-season and .441 on the year, fourth on the all-time Palomar single-season list. … In 2008, first-team All-Pacific Coast Conference, hitting .348 over 45 games (41 starts) as true freshman. … 16 doubles, two triples, four home runs and team-leading 33 RBI and .585 slugging percentage. Also tied for team lead in stolen bases (7-for-11). … Third on the team with 37 runs scored and was No. 2 in successful sacrifice bunts with 37. … Hit .350 in PCC games with 11 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 22 RBI.
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37th Round (#1121): RHP Raul Rivera, Colegio San Vicente de Paul (Puerto Rico); 6-3, 170
Younger brother of Washington Nationals catcher Saul Rivera.
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38th Round (#1151): OF Sean Barksdale, Temple; 6-0, 210
Year AVG GP AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009 .371 48 210 78 53 11 0 15 56 15 27 12-15
Started 55 games in 2008, all in right field. … Batted .307 (66-for-215) with 12 doubles, five home runs and 47 RBI. … His 27 steals led the Big 5, were fifth in the Atlantic 10, and sixth in a single season at TU; most steals by an Owl since Mike Palys swiped 40 in 1988. … 47 RBI were third in the Big 5 and tied for seventh in the A-10. … Hit .377 (43-for-114) over final 30 games, driving in 30 runs…. First Team All-Atlantic 10, Philadelphia Big 5 Co-Player of the Year and First Team All-Big 5 in 2007. … Batted .359 (78-for-217) with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 59 RBI; led team with 14 steals. … Philadelphia Catholic League MVP and Delaware County Times Player of the Year as a high school senior. … Hit .536 with nine homers and 44 RBI. … Philadelphia Daily News First Team All-City pick and Philadelphia Inquirer All-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection.
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39th Round (#1181): RHP Rory Young, R.E. Mountain Secondary H.S.(Canada); 6-1, 210
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40th Round (#1211): RHP Daniel Sarisky, Oglethorpe University (Ga.); 6-1, 184
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 2.45 5-1 15/3 0 3 40.1 32 15 11 14 65
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41st Round (#1241): C Carlos Escobar, Jr., Chatsworth H.S. (Calif.); 6-2, 185
Hit .316 with four home runs and 23 RBI in 2008. … Batted .688 when leading off an inning. … Threw out 10 of 18 would-be base stealers. … First-team All-City and All-WVL. … In 2007, hit .289 with four home runs and 15 RBI. … Threw out nine of 13 would-be base stealers. … Second-team All-City and first-team All-WVL. … Did not commit an error in 32 total chances as a freshman (2006).
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42nd Round (#1271): CF Ivory Thomas, Downey H.S. (Calif.); 5-9, 175
Year AVG GP AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO
2009 .360 28 105 27 35 4 3 1 18 20 12
Named a Southern California prospect by Baseball America prior to this season.
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43rd Round (#1301): RHP Anthony Tzamtzis, La Salle (Fla.) H.S.; 6-0, 185
Named All-Area South Florida.
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44th Round (#1331): RHP Michael Schurz, Iowa; 6-2, 205
Year ERA W-L CG SV IP H ER SO
2007 3.72 6-1 0 9 29.0 32 12 35
Served as Iowa’s closer and had nine saves and team-leading six wins. … Made 24 appearances and factored into 18 decisions. … Led Hawkeyes with a 2.7/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
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45th Round (#1361): 2B Adrian Morales, Miami Dade CC; 5-11, 185
Named to Southern Conference Second Team as an infielder.
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46th Round (#1391): SS Justin Gonzalez, Christopher Columbus (Fla.) H.S.; 6-2, 175
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47th Round (#1421): RHP Matthew Branham, South Carolina-Upstate; 6-5, 220
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 4.39 2-5 15/13 0 3 82.0 87 49 40 27 82
Pitched with the Brockport Riverbats of the New York Collegiate Baseball League, helping the team to the 2008 championship. … Served as closer, with eight saves in 15 games; 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 21 1/3 innings. … Started 12 games as a weekend starter, finishing 6-5 with a 4.04 ERA over 84.2 innings. … Struck out 57 and walked 18, with two complete games. … 6wins is 11th in school history and his 84.2 innings pitched is seventh. … Finished season with 3.84 career ERA, third in school history.
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48th Round (#1451): LHP Steven Rodriguez, Gulliver Prep (Fla.) H.S.; 6-3, 215
A 2008 Under Armour All-American. … Also named an All-American Prospect.
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49th Round (#1481): 1B Matthew Smith, Mississippi; 6-3, 230
Year AVG GP AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT FLD%
2009 .336 64 232 78 52 15 2 8 59 30 57 4-6 .988
Appeared in 61 games, drawing 60 starts in 2008. … Hit .283, with 40 RBI, 39 runs, 11 doubles, a triple and 14 home runs. … His 14 home runs set the Ole Miss freshman record as he posted a .527 slugging percentage. … Also drew 22 walks and posted 17 multiple-hit games, 11 multiple-RBI games.
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50th Round (#1511): LHP Spencer Hylander, Oklahoma Baptist; 6-1, 195
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO
2009 5.02 5-1 16/10 4 0 61.0 61 34 26 26 56
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Posted by Mark Maloney
Ask me when I fell in love with sports and you may as well ask when I first registered a pulse. I can't recall ever being without either. 
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