Pac-12 Baseball Produces Record Eighth No. 1 Overall Pick in MLB Draft
SAN FRANCISCO —Twelve Pac-12 student-athletes were selected over two days of the 2020 MLB Draft including ARIZONA STATE’s Spencer Torkelson being selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Detroit Tigers. The Pac-12 has produced four No. 1 overall picks in the last 10 drafts and maintains its NCAA-best record with eight all-time.
Despite this year’s shortened draft Arizona State had five picks for the third-straight year, led by standouts Torkelson. The infielder was selected as the fourth No. 1 overall pick in Sun Devil program history. Four Sun Devils later added to the ASU draft class as Alika Williams was picked 37th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays, Trevor Hauver was selected 99th by the Washington Nationals, Gage Workman was the 102nd pick by the Detroit Tigers, and R.J. Dabovich was chosen with the 114th pick by the San Francisco Giants.
UCLA’s Garrett Mitchell was picked 20th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the Bruins’ highest-selection since 2000 (Chase Utley, No. 15) and the first UCLA outfielder to be taken in the first round since 1984 (Shane Mack, No. 11). 2019 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Holden Powell was selected by the Washington Nationals in the third round with the 94th pick overall.
Two-time All-American Austin Wells of ARIZONA was selected as the 12th first-round pick in program history with the 28th overall pick by the New York Yankees. Catcher Mathew Dyer was selected by the New York Mets in the fourth round with the 120th pick, giving the Wildcats their 10th-consecutive season with multiple draft picks.
OREGON STATE’s Christian Chamberlain became the eighth Beaver all-time to be taken by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round with the 105th overall pick.
The fifth round saw USC’s Kyle Hurt go to the Miami Marlins with the 134th pick, and WASHINGTON’s Stevie Emanuels taken by the Oakland Athletics with the 157th selection.
2020 MLB Draft Selections by School
Arizona – 2
Arizona State – 5
Oregon State – 1
UCLA – 2
USC – 1
Washington - 1
2020 MLB Draft Picks
| Name | Pos. | School | Round | Pick | Team |
| Spencer Torkelson | INF | Arizona State | 1st round | 1st overall | Detroit Tigers |
| Garrett Mitchell | OF | UCLA | 1st round | 20th overall | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Austin Wells | C | Arizona | 1st round | 28th overall | New York Yankees |
| Alika Williams | SS | Arizona State | CBA | 37th overall | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Holden Powell | RHP | UCLA | 3rd Round | 94th overall | Washington Nationals |
| Trevor Hauver | 2B | Arizona State | 3rd Round | 99th overall | New York Yankees |
| Gage Workman | 3B | Arizona State | 4th Round | 102nd overall | Detroit Tigers |
| Christian Chamberlain | LHP | Oregon State | 4th Round | 105th overall | Kansas City Royals |
| R.J. Dabovich | RHP | Arizona State | 4th Round | 114th overall | San Francisco Giants |
| Matthew Dyer | C | Arizona | 4th Round | 120th overall | New York Mets |
| Kyle Hurt | RHP | USC | 5th Round | 134th overall | Miami Marlins |
| Stevie Emanuels | RHP | Washington | 5th Round | 157th overall | Oakland Athletics |
OVERALL NO. 1 SELECTIONS FROM THE PAC-12
2020 – Spencer Torkelson, INF, Arizona State (Detroit Tigers)
2019 – Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State (Baltimore Orioles)
2013 – Mark Appel, RPH, Stanford (Houston Astros)
2011 – Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA (Pittsburgh Pirates)
1978 – Bob Horner, 3B, Arizona State (Atlanta Braves)
1976 – Floyd Bannister, LHP, Arizona State (Houston Astros)
1972 – Dave Roberts, 3B, Oregon (San Diego Padres)
1967 – Rick Monday, OF, Arizona State (Kansas City A’s)