2020 MLB Draft: Spencer Torkelson goes No. 1 overall; four taken on 1st day
Though their 2020 campaigns were cut short, Pac-12 baseball stars will still have a chance to realize lifelong dreams during MLB Draft, Wednesday and Thursday.
Follow along below the conference's former stars are selected in the five-round draft.
Spencer Torkelson, No. 1 — Detroit Tigers
Spencer Torkelson was taken first overall by the Detroit Tigers, making the Pac-12 the first college conference to have the No. 1 pick in back-to-back years after OSU's Adley Rutschman went first to the Orioles last year.
.@ASU_Baseball leads all NCAA programs with four No. 1 overall picks in #MLBDraft history.
No other school has more than two. pic.twitter.com/pRcU0rkwGY
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) June 10, 2020
Torkelson is the fourth Sun Devil to go No. 1 overall (Rick Monday in the first ever draft in 1965, Floyd Bannister in 1976 and Bob Horner in 1978). He's also the first right-handed first baseman to be selected with the No. 1 pick in MLB Draft history.
Garrett Mitchell, No. 20 — Milwaukee Brewers
Garrett Mitchell became the Bruins' highest-drafted position player since Chase Utley (No. 15, Philadelphia) in 2000. It's good news for the Brewers if history holds, as every UCLA non-pitcher to be drafted in the top 20 has gone on to win a World Series (Shane Mack - MIN 1991, Troy Glaus - LAA 2002, Chase Utley, PHI 2008).
Mitchell teamed up with Oregon softball star Haley Cruse for a TikTok-inspired dance to mark the occasion.
Bet you didn’t know you just drafted a professional dancer @brewers @GarretMitchell5 pic.twitter.com/RkzdTSYbwY
— Haley Cruse (@haley_crusee) June 11, 2020
Austin Wells, No. 28 — New York Yankees
Arizona got its first top-30 pick since 2015 (Kevin Newman, No. 19 - PIT) when the Yankees took Wells with the No. 28 pick. It’s clear the Yankees liked Wells from the onset — they also drafted him in the 2018 MLB Draft out of high school in the 35th round. But his time at Arizona catapulted him into the first round two years later.
Alika Williams, No. 37 — Tampa Bay Rays
With Alika Williams headed to the Rays at No. 37 overall, this year marks the first draft that ASU has had two top-40 picks since 2008 (Brett Wallace, 13-STL/Ike Davis, 18-NYM).
[Related: See the first-round draft order (MLB.com)]
| Player | Position | Pac-12 School | MLB team | Round / Overall Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Torkelson | 1B | |
 |
1st / 1st |
| Garrett Mitchell | OF | |
 |
1st / 20th |
| Austin Wells | C | |
 |
1st / 28th |
| Alika Williams | SS | |
 |
CBA / 37th |
| Holden Powell | RHP | |
 |
3rd / 94th |
| Trevor Hauver | LF | |
|
3rd / 99th |
| Gage Workman | 3B | |
|
4th / 102nd |
| Christian Chamberlain | LHP |  |
 |
4th / 105th |
| R.J. Dabovich | RHP | |
 |
4th / 114th |
| Matthew Dyer | C | |
 |
4th / 120th |
| Kyle Hurt | RHP |  |
 |
5th / 134th |
| Stevie Emanuels | RHP |  |
 |
5th / 157th |