MLB Draft roundup for local players
It started with Oaks Christian High School pitcher Phil Bickford being taken tenth overall by Toronto and ended with former Santa Barbara Foresters catcher Nick Parent going in the 36th round to the Chicago White Sox. Close to twenty players with local high school, college or Foresters ties were chosen in the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft.
The 6’4 Bickford led the Lions to a CIF Division 4 crown and was snatched up quickly by the Blue Jays.
UCSB shortstop Brandon Trinkwon became the highest Gaucho position player to be selected since 2006 as the Los Angeles Dodgers nabbed the junior in the seventh round.
UCSB first baseman Tyler Kuresa, a redshirt sophomore, went in the 14th round by the Atlanta Braves. The Gauchos also had senior right-handed reliever Jared Wilson go in the 19th round to the Minnesota Twins.
Dos Pueblos High School senior left-handed pitcher Gabe Speier also went in the 19th round to the Boston Red Sox. He will either choose to sign with the Sox or pitch for UCSB.
Former Nipomo High School star Jeff McNeil was taken in the 12th round by the New York Mets. McNeil is a junior at Long Beach State.
Cal Poly had five players drafted on the final day. Right-handed pitcher Joey Wagman went in the 17th round to the Chicago White Sox. One round later saw righty Reed Reilly get selected by Baltimore. The Boston Red Sox chose Mustangs third baseman Jimmy Allen in the 23rd round, right-handed pitcher Michael Holback is taken by St. Louis in round 25 while Denver Chavez is taken off the board by the Diamondbacks in the 30th round. Chavez also starred at Santa Barbara High School.
Six players with ties to the Santa Barbara Foresters were selected as well. Besides McNeil, who played with the ‘Sters in 2011, current member Shane Rowland goes in the 20th round to Cleveland. Otis Beck went in the 14th round to Colorado, Richy Pedroza is taken in the 17th round by St. Louis, Albert Minnis is nabbed in round 25 by Houston and Parent is selected in the 36th round by the White Sox. All four of those players were members of the Foresters last year.
