KC Royals Draft Review: Pitching, Pitching And More Pitching
By Mike Norris
A general view of Kauffman Stadium – Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
At this point in the draft it starts to become hit and miss. The stats are as impressive, and many of these players will switch positions as they play — sometimes saving their jobs.
Kansas City abandoned all thought of high school players at this point, selecting all 10 in this group from the college ranks.
Round 21: Austin Bailey, San Diego, SS, Senior — Bats: S, Throws: R, 5-10/160
Bailey hit .314 for the Aztecs his senior season, with one home run and 27 RBI. His three triples and 29 walks led the team. He also committed just one error on the year. According to the school’s website, Bailey turned down offers from UCLA, Arizona, Cal-State Fullerton and Long Beach State coming out of high school.
Round 22: Stephen Milligan, Delta State (MS), LHP, Senior — Bats: L, Throws: L, 6-6/230
The Delta State senior had a modest 3-3 record and 4.43 ERA this season, but posted 69 strikeouts in the same amount of innings while walking only 22. He finished his career 11-6 with a 3.10 ERA and two complete game shutouts.
Notable MLB 22nd round draft picks: John Smoltz, RHP; Andy Pettitte, LHP
Round 23: Colton Frabasilio, St. Louis, OF, Senior — Bats: R, Throws: R, 6-2/205
Frabasilio finished out his Billiken career with a solid .313 batting average, four home runs and 35 RBI. Against Northern Colorado early in the season, the outfielder was 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI.
Round 24: Jonathan McCray, San Bernardino Valley College (CA), 2B, J1 — Bats: S, Throws: R, 5-10/180
McCray showed off his overall game at San Bernardino this past season with a .347 average, five home runs and 40 RBI in just 37 games. He also added 12 stolen bases for good measure. Here is a video of him proving he can do nearly anything when his team needs him.
Round 25: Tyler Carvalho Mesa CC (AZ), RHP, J2 — Bats: R, Throws: R, 5-11/160
Carvalho impressed back in March with a no-hitter against league-leader Cochise, earning him ACCAC Division II Pitcher of the Week honors. The performance moved his record to 6-0 and dropped his ERA to a nation’s best 0.24. He finished the season 7-2 with a 0.90 ERA and 64 strike outs in 60 innings.
Round 26: Alex Close, Liberty University (VA), C, Senior — Bats: R, Throws: R, 6-3/225
As a senior Close decided to finish out his career with a bang, leading the Flames in average (.342), RBI (46), hits (75) and walks (28). He also added seven home runs to finish second on the team.
Round 27: Jacob Bodner, Xavier, RHP, Senior — Bats: R, Throws: R, 5-10/185
Bodner’s career at Xavier was not overly impressive, recording just seven wins in four seasons, mostly as as reliever. His best season came in 2013 when he was 6-2 with a 3.23 ERA. He missed the 2014 season with an injury.
Round 28: Reed Hayes, Walters State CC (TN), RHP, J2 — Bats: R, Throws: R, 6-3/185
Hayes only appeared in four games this past season, compiling a 10.80 ERA and one save in 3 1/3 innings pitched.
Round 29: Mark McCoy, Rutgers, LHP, Junior — Bats: L, Throws: L, 6-2/200
It was a tough junior season for McCoy, who pitched 60 innings but labored to a 2-8 record and a 5.71 ERA. He allowed 86 hits and a .331 batting average against.
Round 30: Luke Willis, George Mason (VA), OF, Senior — Bats: R, Throws: R, 5-11/190
Willis, who earned second-team all-conference honors, was fourth in the CAA with a .355 average. He tied for the league league with 29 stolen bases and recorded a 26-game hitting streak, one shy of the school record.
Next: Rounds 31-40