Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers selected eight players on the second day of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Rounds three through 10 of the draft took place today. The rest of the draft, through round 40, will be completed on Wednesday beginning at 11:00 a.m. CDT.
Below is additional information on the club's selections today through the 10th round. The club will send out a final list at the conclusion of the draft tomorrow.
In rounds 3-10, the Rangers selected eight players. In the first 10 rounds of the draft, Texas has chosen three right-handed pitchers, three left-handed pitchers, a shortstop, a catcher, a first baseman, and two outfielders. Texas selected seven college players and made four high school selections.
C MATT WHATLEY (104th overall) - The 5-foot-9, 205-pound Whatley hit .302 (64-212) with 11 home runs and 49 RBI in 59 games this season as a junior at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK…a native of Claremore, OK, Whatley paced Oral Roberts with a .446 on base percentage and drew a team-high 50 walks, 11th-most in the nation…Whatley was a three-year starter for the Golden Eagles, a three time First Team All-Summit League selection, and one of three finalists for the 2017 Johnny Bench Award, awarded annually to the nation's best catcher…he was a 3-sport standout at Claremore (OK) High School, lettering in wrestling, football, and baseball…Whatley becomes the 11th Golden Eagle catcher to be drafted since 2000, and joins Chi Chi Gonzalez (2013 1st Round) and Jose Trevino (2014 6th round) as recent Rangers draft picks from Oral Roberts.
RHP RYAN DEASE (134th overall) - The 18-year-old Dease was selected out of The Next Level Academy in Longwood, FL…the academy plays outside the Florida High School Athletic Association and competes against junior colleges, Division 2 colleges, and high schools…recorded 18 strikeouts over 10.0 innings in the Perfect Game High School Showdown-Academies tournament...permitted just one hit over 5.0 innings in the championship game against Alabama's Next Level Academy…also played for the Orlando Scorpions travel team alongside first round pick Chris Seise…has committed to the University of Central Florida.
LHP JAKE LATZ (164th overall) - The 21-year-old left hander is currently enrolled at Kent State University and sat out the 2017 season after transferring from Louisiana State University…made seven appearances (three starts) for the Tigers in 2016, going 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA in 8.1 innings with four walks and 11 strikeouts…was LSU's starting pitcher in the championship game of the NCAA Regional against Rice…graduated from Lemont (IL) High School in suburban Chicago and was named the 2014 Illinois Player of the Year after striking out 114 batters in 62.1 innings during his senior season…was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th round of the 2014 June Draft…his father, Jeff, played basketball at Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX.
RHP NOAH BREMER (194th overall) - The right-hander was an All-Pac-12 selection in 2017 for the Huskies, going 6-3 with a 3.15 ERA (36 ER/103.0 IP) and 103 strikeouts over 15 games/9 starts…was among the conference leaders in innings (T3rd), strikeouts (4th), and wins (T9th)…left Seattle ranked among the Huskies all-time leaders in innings (3rd, 284), strikeouts (6th, 205), and career starts (T6th, 40)…was a first-team All-West Alameda Foothills and third team all-state at Berkeley (CA) High School under his father, Matt…brother, Tyler, played at Baylor and was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 27th round of the 2012 draft.
LHP JOEL URENA (224th overall) - The 17-year-old left-hander went 4-2 with a 3.43 ERA (16 ER/42.0 IP) with 56 strikeouts this season as a freshman at Monroe College in Bronx, NY...an All-Region selection for the Mustangs, Urena did not allow a home run and surrendered four total extra-base hits this season...made his final appearance of the season on May 19 against Harford Community College in the district championship game, matching a season high with 6.0 innings pitched and recording a season-high 10 strikeouts...the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Urena prepped at Gregorio Luperon (NY) High School in his native New York City, and was twice named the school's Player of the Year...was drafted by the New York Mets in the 27th round of the 2016 June Draft.
1B TYREQUE REED (254th overall) - The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Reed batted .504/.638/.943 (71-141) with 15 doubles, 1 triples, 15 home runs, and 57 RBI as a sophomore at Itawamba JC in Fulton, MS…he had 46 walks and just 11 strikeouts…he led the NJCAA Division II in batting, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs, and walks…the right-handed batter and thrower was a unanimous first team selection on the MACJC All-State and NJCAA Region 23 list of honorees…he was named the Division 4, 1A Most Outstanding Offensive Player at Houlka (MS) High School, where he also starred in football and basketball…he has committed to Mississippi State University.
OF TANNER GARDNER (284th overall) - The 21-year-old outfielder batted .305 (61-200) with 5 home runs and 33 RBI this season as a junior at Texas Tech University...went 6-for-14 with 3 home runs in 6 RBI in the Red Raiders' NCAA Regional series against Sam Houston State…helped Texas Tech clinch a College World Series berth last season, as Gardner was named an All-Big 12 First Team Outfielder…the Carrollton, Texas native prepped at Centennial High School in Frisco, Texas, where he was a four-year varsity letterwinner…participated in Team USA Trials in 2010 and 2012, and played in the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars in 2013.
LHP JOHN KING (314th overall) - The senior left-hander went 8-1 with a 3.11 ERA (28 ER/81.1 IP) in 13 games/12 starts this season at the University of Houston…was named to the American Championship All-Tournament Team this season…pitched two seasons at Angelina College and was a first team All-Conference selection in his second year…is a native of Missouri City, Texas and was a three-year letterwinner at Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas.
 RANGERS SELECTIONS IN THE 2017 FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT