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With the 2019 MLB Draft now in the books, we have a clearer picture of what the UCF Knights Baseball team’s roster will look like heading into 2020. Overall, Head Coach Greg Lovelady should be happy with the results, as he might have some returnees he thought he might not have coming back.
First, let’s look at who got chosen:
Seniors Drafted
RHP Jordan Spicer - Colorado Rockies (24th Round)
- 2019: 3-0, 3.14 ERA, 47K in 14 appearances (13 starts)
The Spice is Rocky Mountain right
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) June 5, 2019
Spice is heading to the @Rockies! pic.twitter.com/o8mkTQqb1o
RHP Garrett Westberg - Seattle Mariners (26th Round)
- 2019: 2-5, 3.38 ERA, 55K in 30 appearances
Tell the world he's heading
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) June 5, 2019
Westy goes to the @Mariners pic.twitter.com/dNgGHU9YOh
INF Tyler Osik - Chicago White Sox (27th Round)
- 2019: .325, 10 HR, 40 RBI, .952 OPS
We always called him a professional hitter
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) June 5, 2019
Now, O gets to do it with the @whitesox! pic.twitter.com/t9EovieL0d
Breakdown: All three guys picked went late, so this is a sort of last chance for all three. They’ll have to work their way up from Rookie Ball. Nonetheless, they heard their named called, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.
High School Commits Drafted
LHP Keegan Pulford-Thorpe - San Diego Padres (33rd Round)
#Padres select #JNT LHP Keegan Pulford-Thorpe (Newmarket, ON) in the 33rd round, 983rd overall!
— Baseball Canada (@baseballcanada) June 5, 2019
Congrats, @keeganPT!#MLBDraft ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/O248imcSEP
LHP Hunter Patteson - Chicago Cubs (35th Round)
Vero Beach LHP Hunter Patteson (@hpatt_25) has been drafted by the Chicago Cubs, with the 1062nd overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft
— HSSportsFlorida (@HSSportsFL) June 5, 2019
Patteson is a #UCF commit@baseball_vero @JonSantucci @TCPalmPrepZone @PBRFlorida
Breakdown: Two lefties off the board for the Knights might not sound great, but considering they were drafted so late, the bonus money available might not be enough to entice them to not come to UCF. We’ll have to wait and see until the signing deadline to determine what they do.
Listen to our latest podcast for a full UCF Baseball/MLB Draft breakdown:
Seniors Not Drafted
- RHP Kyle Kemp
- RHP Chris Williams
- LHP Grant Schuermann
- 2B Matthew Mika
Breakdown: Prior injuries and mileage questions were the main factors in the three pitchers not getting their names called, although Mika’s going undrafted was a mold-to-moderate surprise, especially considering the tools he showed this year in the hitting, power and speed department.
Underclassmen Not Drafted
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- OF Ray Alejo
- C Dallas Beaver
Breakdown: Both Alejo and Beaver were key to the Knights’ success, and it was a surprise in baseball circles that neither of them got drafted, particularly Alejo, who seemed to get caught in a numbers game among the top outfielders in the draft. it’s not known for sure whether they’ll be back, as they could elect to leave school and sign pro contracts if offered. But the mere fact that they weren’t drafted dramatically ups the chances that they’ll be back at UCF for their senior seasons in 2020.