Sixteen teams saw their season end tonight in college baseball, as the MLB Amateur draft is less than a week away. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the 9th and 14th picks this upcoming Thursday and we saw the season end for one of the players who has been mentioned often as a possible target for them in the first round. Below we take a look at some of the best college bats and pitchers still playing, along with updates on a couple former Pirates draft picks.
Kris Bryant and San Diego, took on rival San Diego State in the second game of their College World Series run. On the mound against Bryant, was Michael Cederoth, who looks to be a top ten pick in next year’s draft. Cederoth lasted just 4.1 innings, giving up four runs(three earned) on two hits, with five walks and five strikeouts. Bryant went 1-for-3, with a walk, single and strikeout. San Diego won 6-3, so they will continue on.
Colin Moran and North Carolina won their second game today, beating Towson by an 8-5 score. Moran had another so-so day, going 1-for-4, with a walk. He failed to score or drive in a run. Moran has not been putting up big numbers recently, but his draft position is as strong as ever. Kent Emanuel was on the mound for NC today. The 2010 draft pick of the Pirates, went 7.2 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks, while striking out eight. He threw 124 pitches, 77 for strikes.
New Mexico lost 6-5 in 13 innings to Columbia tonight. First baseman DJ Peterson went 2-for-6 in the contest, driving home one run. He hit his 25th double of the season and drove in his 72nd run. Peterson also struck out twice in the game, the second one ending the game with the tying run on third base. With the loss, New Mexico’s season is over.
Hunter Renfroe and Mississippi State stayed alive today, with a 6-2 win over South Alabama. Renfroe drove in his 56th run of the season, going 1-for-5 on the night. He had two strikeouts and left four runners on base.
Bobby Wahl moved to 10-0 on the season in an 8-4 win over Binghamton. He gave up two runs over seven innings, surrendering eight hits, while walking two and striking out two batters. Wahl threw 100 pitches, 63 for strikes. Baseball America had a recap of Wahl’s start, which can be read here.
Former Pirates draft pick from 2010, Miami’s Dale Carey, continued his season-long struggles. He went 0-for-4 tonight, striking out once and dropping his average to .194 on the season. He is draft eligible this year, but he will likely return for his senior year to try to get back on track.
Draft Notes
From early Saturday morning, we posted an article on the chances the Pirates have of taking certain players in the draft, using the mock drafts of five of the leading draft experts. That article, with results, can be read here.
High School right-handed pitcher Phil Bickford has been mentioned numerous times as a first round pick this year, sometimes getting mentioned in the high teens in mock drafts. With his start today, he may have moved up a spot or two on the draft charts. In his school’s championship game, he threw a one-hitter and struck out 18 batters. Bickford has hit 96 MPH this year.
