MLB picks from state talent pool – Fort Worth Star Telegram
Major league teams continued to harvest Texas talent in the last day of the draft, on both the collegiate and high school levels.
TCU shortstop Keaton Jones was taken in the 15th round (460th overall) by the Detroit Tigers while right-handed pitcher Mitchell Traver went in the 28th round (851st overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals. That gave the Horned Frogs eight drafted players, including six pitchers, off the team headed to the College World Series for a second straight year.
Two players from UT Arlington were selected in the final rounds: first baseman Levi Scott, a graduate of Burleson High, went in the 28th round (842nd overall) to the Toronto Blue Jays, while right-handed pitcher Colin Tornberg was chosen by the Seattle Mariners in the 32nd round (965th overall).
A pair of local high school rivals were picked relatively close to one another. Keller Timber Creek pitcher Ike Schlabach, a 6-foot-6 left-hander headed to Texas A&M Corpus Christi, was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 19th round (577th overall). Keller shortstop Luke Wakamatsu, son of former Rangers coach Don Wakamatsu, was pegged by the Cleveland Indians in the 20th round (604th overall.)
Two Texas college pitchers with local roots were also drafted. Texas Tech right-hander Matt Custred, a Keller graduate, was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 31st round (930th overall), and Weatherford College right-hander Matt Walker, a three-time all-district choice at Aledo, was picked by Seattle in the 36th round (1085th overall).
The Houston Astros did their best to continue some famous bloodlines in their organization.
In the 34th round, Houston selected Conor Biggio, a left-handed outfielder from Notre Dame and son of the team’s all-time hits leader, Craig Biggio, who spent 20 seasons with the club.
In the 35th round, the Astros picked Kody Clemens, a left-handed shortstop from Houston Memorial High School and son of legendary pitcher Roger Clemens.
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