Astros Complete Day 2 of 2015 First-Year Player Draft
HOUSTON SELECTIONS (DAY 1-2): The Houston Astros have selected 12 players through the first two days of the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Today's portion of the draft included rounds 3-10 out of a scheduled 40. The final day of the draft will resume tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m. CT and will include rounds 11-40.
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES SELECTIONS: So far, Houston has selected four players that will play in the 2015 College World Series, which begins this weekend. Shortstop Alex Bregman joins left-handed pitcher Zac Person from LSU, while right-handed pitchers Thomas Eshelman (Cal State-Fullerton) and Riley Ferrell (TCU) will also be in Omaha.
BIG 12 TIES: With the Astros first two selections today, Houston chose a pair of Big 12 juniors in right-handed pitcher Riley Farrell and catcher Anthony Hermelyn. Farrell was selected out of TCU, while Hermelyn was chosen out of Oklahoma. Houston would also select left-handed pitcher Michael Freeman in the seventh round out of Oklahoma State.
ASTROS SELECT FOUR ON FIRST NIGHT OF DRAFT: Last night, the Astros selected four players on the first night of the 2015 Major League First-Year Player Draft, including shortstop Alex Bregman and outfielder Kyle Tucker with the second and fifth overall pick. With their Competitive Balance Round A and second round selections last night, Houston chose outfielder Daz Cameron and right-handed pitcher Thomas Eshelman.
Bregman is hitting .316 (77x244) with 16 doubles, six home runs, 47 RBI, 12 stolen bases and a .397 OBP in what is his junior season at LSU. Bregman is one of four finalists for the 2015 Golden Spikes Award, which is given annually to the nation's top collegiate player.
Tucker hit .484 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI and 29 runs scored in his senior year at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Fla. The left-handed hitting outfielder was named the 2014-15 Gatorade Florida Baseball Player of the Year and is the younger brother of Astros outfielder Preston Tucker.
Cameron hit .455 (35x77) with 10 doubles, eight home runs, 17 stolen bases and 32 RBI during his senior year at Eagle's Landing Christian Academy High School in Atlanta, Ga. The right-handed hitting outfielder was the 2014-15 Gatorade Georgia Baseball Player of the Year.
Eshelman has gone 8-5 with a save and a 1.58 ERA (23ER/131.2IP) in 18 games (17 starts) for Cal State Fullerton this season. An extreme control pitcher, Eshelman has recorded 131 strikeouts and issued only seven walks in his 131.2 innings pitched so far this season.
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