The MLB Draft kicked off on Saturday afternoon, as the dreams of 615 prospects will come true when they hear their names called to kick off their professional career. The event is far more interesting as a fan of a college than any other draft, as High School prospects could opt not to sign and head to the college ranks, or college baseball stars could pull their name out of the draft and opt to return to school.
The Transfer Portal was far from kind to the Oregon Ducks as star freshmen Angel Laya and Junior Lauaki, along with catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus, departed, leaving major holes in the lineup. The hope for Mark Wasikowski's program was to continue producing top draft picks, while also hoping some of the top recruits would make their way to campus.
Oregon Ducks MLB Draft Tracker: Which players are heading to the MLB
3rd Round: Ryan Cooney - Infielder - Toronto Blue Jays
The first of the Oregon Baseball stars to come off the board was infielder Ryan Cooney when the Blue Jays selected him in the 3rd round. Ryan Cooney made an impact on the program from the time he was a freshman, through his Junior season, and now he'll become one of the top prospects in the Blue Jays' organization.
4th Round: Andruw Giles - Outfielder - Pittsburgh Pirates
The first of the High School signees for the Ducks to hear his name called was outfielder Andruw Giles out of Nevada. While there would traditionally be some hope that Oregon could still get Giles on campus, the Pirates entered the draft with a ton of pool money to hand out, which likely makes them believe they could reach a deal. Giles is a compact left hander at 6-foot with high offensive potential, and he'll likely find a role at a corner outfield position in the pros.
5th Round: Cal Scolari - Pitcher - Chicago White Sox
The first pitcher off the board for Mark Wasikowski's program was right-hander Cal Scolari, who's headed to the White Sox. It's easy to see why a team would take the risk on Scolari, who's already had Tommy John surgery, as he brings a massive frame at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, with a lively fastball and great breaking balls. The hope for Scolari and the White Sox now will be that he's able to develop into a starter to begin his career, but he'll certainly have upside as an option in the bullpen.
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