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MLB draft day 2: 15 Pac-12 players selected

by David Lombardi
Jun 6, 2014

Here are the players selected on day 2 of the 2014 MLB draft:

Third Round

Oregon State

Pick 77 - Chicago White Sox: LHP Jace Fry, Oregon State

Fry helped form the heartbeat of Oregon State's excellent rotation, which ranked among the best nationwide in ERA and opponent's batting average. The White Sox obviously liked Fry's stellar results, picking him up in the third round while rolling the dice on a previously successful Tommy John surgery (Fry has shown no ill effects) and a fastball that tops out in the low 90s.

Oregon State

Pick 87 - San Francisco Giants: OF Dylan Davis, Oregon State

This is a cool story: Davis played high school ball with Michael Conforto (Redmond, Washington) before the two dominated together in the middle of Oregon State's lineup. Continuing that trend of togetherness, both Conforto and Davis were taked early in the 2014 MLB draft. Conforto went No. 10 overall (Mets), while Davis will stay closer to home in the Giants' system. He led the Cape Cod league with a .567 slugging percentage and also threw a 97 MPH fastball that may one day make him a pitching option.

USC

Pick 94 - Cincinnati Reds: RHP Wyatt Strahan, USC

The Trojans' program enjoyed a resurgent 2014 season, and Strahan -- their Friday night starter -- was a big reason why. Scouts certainly like his mid-90s fastball that features sink and a biting curve that's seen as a potential out pitching at the big league level. His six-foot-three, 205-pound frame is pro ready.

[Related: 2014 MLB draft tracker (MLB.com)]

Fourth Round

Washington

Pick 129 - Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Jeff Brigham, Washington

Brigham is still considered raw, but he throws hard even after Tommy John surgery in 2012. His fastball touched 97 MPH in 2014, and that leads the Dodgers to believe that they can turn Brigham into a quality pitcher if they can refine his fastball and change-up.

Fifth Round

Oregon

Pick 140 - Minnesota Twins: RHP Jake Reed, Oregon

The Twins got themselves an excellent arm by taking Reed, who became the Ducks' closer in 2014 after serving as a starter for two years. His fastball reaches the mid-90s and features plus-life, while his slider is well suited for bullpen work now. If Reed can continue to develop his change-up, he can turn into an extremely dangerous weapon at the professional level.

UCLA

Pick 160 - Detroit Tigers: C Shane Zeile, UCLA

Zeile has always had a pro pedigree being the nephew of long-time big leaguer Todd Zeile but now he is officially in the MLB after being selected by the Tigers in the fifth round. Standing at six-foot-one and weighing 195 pounds, Zeile has the frame to be a full-time catcher but also comes with valuable versatility, having started eight games at first base this past year. He already has good bat speed and his power from the right side should only continue to grow.

[MLB draft day 1: Oregon State's Conforto, Stanford's Blandino taken]

Seventh Round

UCLA

Pick 211 - Baltimore Orioles: LHP Max Schuh, UCLA

Schuh was a back-up quarterback for the Bruins' football team from 2010-11 who joined UCLA's baseball program in the fall of 2012. The six-ffot-four, 210-pounder may still be realizing his potential, and that's scary, because he was awfully good in a conference-leading 37 appearances this past year. Try a 1.55 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched.

Eighth Round

Oregon

Pick 229 - Chicago Cubs: LHP Tommy Thorpe, Oregon

Thorpe used his low-90s fastball and strong command to post an 11-4 record, 2.14 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 2014. The Cubs like the control the southpaw has over his secondary pitches. He becomes the second Oregon pitcher taken in this 2014 MLB draft.

Utah

Pick 237 - San Diego Padres: RHP Mitch Watrous, Utah

When Watrous first came out of high school, his fastball topped out in the mid-80s. Three years later, he's a completely different pitcher, throwing a hard mid-90s fastball with nasty sink. Watrous posted a 3.91 ERA while pitching at altitude in one of the nation's toughest conferences this year. If he can make it to the show with the Padres, he'll enjoy the benfits of pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

Stanford

Pick 238 - San Francisco Giants: OF Austin Slater, Stanford

Slater's future position in the outfield is unclear, but he's sure developed as a hitter during his three years at Stanford. He began his career as a freshman on the bench before splashing onto the scene as a sophomore last year. This season, the six-foot-two, 205-pound Slater has demonstrated impressive power from the right side. The Giants stayed in their Bay Area backyard with this pick a year after selecting Cardinal first baseman Brian Ragira.

Ninth Round

Oregon State

Pick 257: Miami Marlins: LHP Ben Wetzler, Oregon State

Wetzler has certainly experienced an eventful year after declining to sign with the Phillies following his fifth round selection last year. His season started late after the NCAA investigated him for breaking the "no agent" rule, but Wetzler was again very good from the left side after he returned. Scouts project him as a future back half member of a big league starting rotation.

Arizona

Pick 259 - Chicago Cubs: RHP James Farris, Arizona

As a sophomore, Farris started the clinching game of Arizona's 2012 College World Series championships. He was a three-year starter for the Wildcats, and now the Cubs have taken a chance on his upper-80s fastball and his solid repertoire of pitches, which features a well-contolled change-up and curve ball.

Tenth Round

Oregon State

Pick 300 - Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Scott Schultz, Oregon State

Schultz was one of the many Oregon State pitchers who put together excellent 2014 campaigns. He went 7-2 with a 1.61 ERA and finished his year with a complete-game shutout against UC Irvine. He joins Jace Fry and Ben Wetzler as Oregon State pitchers to be drafted. Michael Conforto and Dylan Davis have also been taken in these first 10 rounds.

Utah

Pick 303 - Kansas City Royals: LHP Nick Green, Utah

Green finished his Utah career with a 4-8 record and a 3.94 ERA, a respectable figure considering the park is at altitude and the Pac-12 has been so strong. The Royals like his good control from the left side and quality secondary pitches.

Stanford

Pick 315 - St. Louis Cardinals: IF Danny Diekroeger, Stanford

Diekroeger displayed excellent bat control during his time on the Farm, cranking out a .311 batting average and team-leading .402 on-base percentage this past season. He was the last player selected Friday, which should certainly relieve some stress entering Stanford's super regional elimination game at Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Cardinals also chose Stephen Piscotty, another Stanford product, two years ago. He's been successful in the St. Louis minor league system.

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