8 Locals Selected In 2019 MLB Draft
Jun 6, 2019, 1:53 PM
(Photo Courtesy of Dale Stelz)
(Photo Courtesy of Dale Stelz)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The 40 round Major League Baseball Draft has concluded and all 1,217 picks are in with eight players with local ties to the state of Utah getting picked.
The first local off the board was BYU shortstop Jackson Cluff, who was selected in the sixth round by the Washington Nationals.
The next day, Utah second baseman Oliver Dunn was picked by the New York Yankees in the 11th round.
MORE:
- BYU SS Jackson Cluff Selected In Sixth Round By Nationals
- Utah 2B Oliver Dunn Selected In 11th Round By Yankees
Six other players from the state of Utah, whether from high school or college were taken in the draft.
Porter Hodge
Hodge is a pitcher, who just finished his high school career with Cottonwood. The Murray, Utah native was taken in the 13th round (402nd overall) by the Chicago Cubs and committed to the University of Utah to play college baseball.
During his junior season, he posted an 11-3 record with a 1.80 ERA.
Congrats to incoming RHP, Porter Hodge who was drafted to the @Cubs today in the 13th round!#MLBDraft2019 pic.twitter.com/Y4GKu83YLw
— Utah Baseball (@utahbaseball) June 5, 2019
Paxton Schultz
The right-handed pitcher from Utah Valley was drafted in the 14th round (433rd overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers. Schultz tied the single-season school record with 99 strikeouts in 99.1 innings. He limited opponents to a .260 batting averaged and led the team with a 4.08 ERA.
Congrats to @UVUBaseball RHP @PaxtonSchultz for being drafted in the 14th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. By being selected in the 14th round, Schultz becomes #UVU's highest draftee in the program's NCAA Division I history! #GoUVU #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/0mccLhJtyl
— UVU Athletics (@GoUVU) June 5, 2019
Jayden Murray
The Dixie State University pitcher was taken in the 23rd round (698th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays. Murray is from Vernal, Utah and had a record-setting senior season. He set the school record for most strikeouts with 92, and 9.93 strikeouts per nine innings.
BASE: Congrats to @Dixie_Baseball senior RHP @Murray_Jayden08 on being selected in the 23rd Round of the 2019 @MLBDraft by the @RaysBaseball!! #DixieBlazers #RMACbase #D2Baseball pic.twitter.com/F4x6b7Oj1i
— Dixie St. Athletics (@DixieAthletics) June 5, 2019
Dixie State shortstop Kayle Yates was drafted in the 31st round, 941st overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Pepperdine pitcher Wil Jensen, who graduated from Cottonwood High School was taken in the 28th round, 854th overall by the Oakland A’s.
Spanish Fork High School pitcher Cy Nielson was selected in the 40th round, 1,210th overall by the Cleveland Indians.
