STARKVILLE, Miss. — Six Arizona Wildcats were picked on the third and final day of the MLB draft Saturday – including one UA football player.
The Angels selected seniors Zach Gibbons and Cody Ramer in the 17th and 19th rounds, respectively. Ramer and Gibbons have batted 1-2 in the lineup for most of the season and rank first or second on the team in hits, batting average and on-base percentage.
While Gibbons, an outfielder, ranks fifth in school annals in hits, Ramer emerged this season as a starter and sparkplug for Arizona, which faces Mississippi State in Game 2 of their best-of-three Super Regional here this afternoon.
The Angels are Ramer’s favorite team. The left-handed-hitting second baseman is from Simi Valley, California.
The Diamondbacks used their 22nd-round pick on UA junior pitcher Kevin Ginkel. Saturday marked the third time Ginkel, a junior-college transfer, has been drafted. The 6-foot-5 right-hander has indicated he will turn pro after this season.
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The Seattle Mariners selected two Wildcats: senior pitcher Nathan Bannister (28th round) and senior wide receiver Trey Griffey (24th).
Bannister has emerged as Arizona’s ace this season. He takes an 11-2 record and a 2.63 ERA into today’s Super Regional matchup. Bannister won’t light up any radar guns. However, UA coach Jay Johnson had hoped that baseball’s increased emphasis on analytics would lead to Bannister being drafted, and that’s exactly what happened.
Griffey hasn’t played baseball at the UA. His father, Ken Griffey Jr., wore No. 24 with the Mariners - hence Try being picked in Round 24. The Mariners will retire that number this summer, when the elder Griffey is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
According to the team’s website, “the Mariners don't expect the 22-year-old to try baseball at this point, but they do love his athleticism and, yes, the Hall of Fame bloodlines.” Trey Griffey has one more year of football eligibility.
The Milwaukee Brewers selected UA senior first baseman Ryan Aguilar in the 31st round. Like Bannister, Gibbons and Ramer, Aguilar is in the midst of a breakout senior season. He leads the Wildcats in home runs (seven) and RBIs (48). The left-handed hitter also can play left field.
One of Arizona’s top signees, infielder Nick Quintana of Arbor View High in Las Vegas, went to the Boston Red Sox in the 11th round Saturday. It remains to be seen whether he’ll sign with Boston or attend Arizona.
The Red Sox took UA third baseman/pitcher Bobby Dalbec in the fourth round Friday.
The Diamondbacks selected another UA commit, shortstop Cameron Cannon of Mountain Ridge High, in the 21st round.
Arizona’s total of six draftees (from the baseball team) is its most since it had six picks in 2013.
Four locals taken
Four Southern Arizona products were also taken on the final day of the draft.
The Phillies took Dallas Baptist first baseman Darick Hall with their 14th-round (407th overall) pick. Cochise College pitcher Tyler Falwell was selected by the Royals in the 19th round (No. 583), while West Texas A&M pitcher Austin Moore went in the 26th round (770th overall) to the Colorado Rockies. North Dakota State catcher Juan Gamez was taken by the Twins in the 31st round (933rd overall).
All four played high-school ball in Southern Arizona. Hall went to Sierra vista Buena, Falwell attended Palo Verde, Moore went to Mountain View and Gamez prepped at Cienega.
