The Mariners spent rounds 16-40 of MLB’s first-year player draft Wednesday stockpiling the organization with arms. Seattle added 15 pitchers, six of which were left-handed, three outfielders, one of whom is Carl Yastrzemski’s grandson and six infielders.
A junior right fielder at Vanderbilt, Michael Yastrzemski batted .286 with six home runs and 41 RBIs during the 2012 season. According to Baseball America, there is a good chance the grandson of the Hall of Famer from the Boston Red Sox member will return to school for his senior season.
The Mariners also took two local players, selecting pitcher Aaron Brooks from Edmonds Community College in the 26th round and Bellevue College catcher Alexander Ross in the 34th round.
Tom McNamara, director of amateur scouting, was naturally optimistic after selecting 41 players from 17 states. The Mariners took 26 college players and 15 high school prospects.
“Overall, we’re very pleased with the athleticism, talent level and character of the players we drafted,” he said. “Our scouts did an excellent job traveling all over the country finding the top talent at both the high school and college levels.”
Three more players from WSU were selected in the draft, which this year was limited to 40 rounds per the new collective bargaining agreement with the players union. The Baltimore Orioles picked up senior second basemen Tommy Richards in the 24th round. A Bend, OR. native, Richards hit .289 in 2012 while helping the Cougars lead the Pac-12 in double plays. At .983, Richards posted the highest single-season fielding percentage ever by a Cougars second baseman.
One round later, the LA Angels selected WSU center fielder Kyle Johnson. The leadoff man led the Pac-12 in stolen bases with 17 while hitting .309 his senior year.
Patrick Claussen rounded out the WSU draft choices when the Miami Marlins took him in the 34th round. The WSU third baseman hit .301 his senior year on a WSU team that finished .500.
Despite a disappointing record, WSU head coach Donnie Marbut sounded pleased in a press release on the team’s website.
“This is the best draft for me since I have been at Washington State,” he said. “All of these guys worked very hard to have a professional opportunity and each one deserves it.”
The Mariners third-day selection can be found here:
Other Notable Local Selections:
- The Houston Astros took University of Washington pitcher Aaron West with the first pick in the 16th round.
- The Oakland Athletics took Tyler Olsen, a left-handed pitcher from Spokane who spent the 2012 season at Gonzaga University.
- The Atlanta Braves selected Husky left fielder Chase Anselment in the 16th round. The Twins chose UW catcher Bryan Santy with the 910th pick.
- The Detroit Tigers chose Lake Stevens High School third basemen Dylan LaVelle in the 18th round.
- The Texas Rangers selected Zachary Brill from Mark Morris High School in Longview in the 31st round.
