2012 Houston Astros First-Year Player Draft information

HOUSTON SELECTIONS (DAY 1-3): The Houston Astros selected 41 players in the three-day 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Overall, the Astros have selected 13 right-handed pitchers, six left-handed pitchers, 11 infielders, seven outfielders and four catchers. Thirty of those players were drafted out of four-year and junior colleges, while 11 were high school players.

“I think we hit on Major League value today,” said Astros Assistant GM/Director of Scouting Bobby Heck. “Every round was a mission to try to find a big leaguer. We are very happy with the players and the level of talent we were able to select in this year’s draft.”

Today’s portion of the draft included rounds 16-40.

TEXAS TIES: Of the club’s 41 players selected in this year’s draft, 10 have ties to the state of Texas. Joining Brady Rodgers (Arizona State) and Daniel Minor (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) from yesterday: Austin Elkins (Dallas Baptist), Travis Ballew (Texas State), C.J. Hinojosa (Klein Collins HS), Angel Ibanez (UT-Pan American), M.P. Cokinos (St. Mary’s), Mitchell Traver (Houston Christian HS) and Joseph Shaw (Ennis HS).

IN THE FAMILY: In the 35th round, Houston drafted catcher James Sinatro, son of Houston Astros Major League Catching & Advanced Scouting Coordinator Matt Sinatro, out of Skyline High School in Washington. Entering the 2012 draft, James was ranked by Rawlings Perfect Game as the 19th-best high school prospect from the state of Washington.

ASTROS SIGN 3RD-ROUND PICK:

The Astros announced today the signing of third-round selection Brady Rodgers, a right-handed pitcher from Arizona State University and a Richmond, Texas native. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

ASTROS SELECT CORREA WITH FIRST-OVERALL PICK:

The Astros selected shortstop Carlos Correa with the first-overall pick in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday. Correa, 17, played amateur baseball at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy in Gurabo, P.R. The 6-foot-4 shortstop is the highest-drafted player ever out of Puerto Rico. That label was held by catcher Ramon Castro, who was picked 17th overall by Houston in 1994. Correa was named a Rawlings First Team All-American this season, in his final year at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.

ASTROS SELECT MCCULLERS IN COMPENSATION FIRST ROUND (41ST OVERALL):

The Astros selected right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers with the 41st overall pick in the compensation first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday. McCullers, 18, posted a 13-0 record and a 0.18 ERA with 140 strikeouts in 77.1 innings pitched for Jesuit High School in Tampa, FL.