A's agree to terms with first-round Pick Chapman from First-Year Player Draft
OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland A's agreed to terms with third baseman Matt Chapman, their first round pick from the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal State Fullerton. The A's also agreed to terms with shortstop Trace Loeher (6th round, Rex Putnam HS) and have now signed or agreed to terms with 20 of their 40 picks, including eight of the top 11.
Chapman, a 6-2, 215-pound junior, batted .312 with six home runs and a team-leading 48 RBI this season for the Titans. He walked 27 times against just 26 strikeouts and finished the season with a .412 on-base percentage. The right-handed hitter also hit 16 doubles and stole six bases in eight attempts. The Trabuco Canyon, Calif., native was named to the First Team All-Big West Conference team following the 2014 season.
Loehr-who was signed to play collegiately at Oregon State-was named a 2014 First Team All-American by the website Perfect Game. He won back-to-back Northwest Oregon Conference Player of the Year awards in 2013-14. This season, he hit .538 with 11 doubles, five triples and a home run while stealing 21 bases.