College World Series deep with Draft talent
At least one player from eight remaining schools selected on Day 1
Dansby Swanson was still celebrating Vanderbilt's Super Regional victory over Illinois on Monday night when the shortstop found out the D-backs had made him the first overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. Swanson soon will begin his professional career with Arizona, but first he and his Commodores teammates are heading to Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series.
Vanderbilt, the defending national champion, is one of eight teams advancing to Omaha for the Series, which begins on Saturday. The tournament opens with double-elimination bracket play, followed by a best-of-three championship series.
All eight remaining schools had at least one player selected on Monday. Here is a quick look at how they fared in the Super Regional, along with others on MLB.com's Top 200 prospects list who could come off the board on Tuesday, when the Draft continues with Rounds 3-10. The MLB.com preview show begins at 12:30 p.m. ET, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 3-10 beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
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Arkansas: Outfielder Andrew Benintendi was selected by the Red Sox with the seventh overall pick. In three Super Regional games against Missouri State, the sophomore left-handed hitter went 1-for-8 with his 19th home run, which is tied for first in the nation. He also drew five walks, scored four runs and stole his 23rd base of the season.
Cal State Fullerton: The Astros grabbed right-hander Thomas Eshelman with the fourth pick of the second round (No. 46) on the same night he earned the save in the Titans' 4-3 victory over Louisville in Game 3 of their Super Regional. Eshelman tossed a scoreless bottom of the 11th inning, with one strikeout. He had started on Saturday, dueling Cardinals right-hander Kyle Funkhouser, who went 35th overall to the Dodgers. Over seven innings, Eshelman allowed one run on eight hits, with one walk and five strikeouts in a no-decision.
Video: 2015 Draft: A's draft SS Richie Martin No. 20
Florida: The Gators got good production from the top two hitters in their lineup as they rolled past in-state rival Florida State in a two-game Super Regional sweep. Shortstop Richie Martin, taken 20th overall by the A's, went 3-for-9 with a homer and two RBIs out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Left fielder and leadoff man Harrison Bader, the No. 78 Draft prospect, was 3-for-9 with a walk, a homer and four RBIs.
Video: Draft 2015: Astros draft SS Alex Bregman No. 2
LSU: The Tigers moved on by sweeping Louisiana-Lafayette, though they did it without a ton of offensive production from their two Day 1 picks. Shortstop Alex Bregman, a Golden Spikes Award finalist and the No. 2 overall pick by the Astros, picked up one hit and two RBIs in eight at-bats. Outfielder Andrew Stevenson, a second-round selection by the Nationals (No. 58 overall), went hitless in eight at-bats, with three strikeouts.
Miami (Fla.): Left-hander Andrew Suarez, a second-round pick by the Giants (No. 61), started the Hurricanes' opener against VCU and picked up the win, improving to 9-1 this season. Over five innings, he allowed one run on three hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. Third baseman David Thompson, the No. 127 Draft prospect, went 1-for-8 with two RBIs over the two games.
Video: Draft 2015: D-backs draft LHP Alex Young No. 43
TCU: The Horned Frogs advanced past Texas A&M with a wild 5-4, 16-inning victory in Monday's decisive Game 3. Left-hander Alex Young, taken 43rd overall by the D-backs, got the start and allowed one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings, with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Lefty Tyler Alexander, the 65th overall pick by the Tigers, walked the only batter he faced in relief, while righty Riley Ferrell, the No. 45 Draft prospect, gave up two runs without recording an out. Righty Mitchell Traver (No. 113) picked up the win with four scoreless frames and six strikeouts.
Vanderbilt: Not that Swanson needed to do anything in the Super Regional to boost his stock, but it couldn't have hurt that he went 4-for-10. That included a home run and a double on Monday against Illinois left-hander Tyler Jay, whom the Twins took at No. 6 overall.
Video: Carson Fulmer discusses being picked No. 8 overall
Right-hander Carson Fulmer, selected eighth by the White Sox, earned the win in Game 1 by throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings, with four hits, five walks and five strikeouts. Righty Walker Buehler, who went 24th to the Dodgers, didn't get to pitch in the Super Regional. Outfielder Rhett Wiseman, the No. 120 Draft prospect, went 5-for-9 with two RBIs and a steal.
Virginia: The Cavaliers advanced past Maryland without using left-handed pitcher Nathan Kirby, who was selected 40th overall by the Brewers. Right-hander Josh Sborz, whom the Dodgers took at No. 74, saved a 5-3 win in Game 1 by tossing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Outfielder Joe McCarthy, the No. 68 Draft prospect, was 1-for-5 with three walks and a steal in the series, while lefty Brandon Waddell (No. 163) gave up four earned runs over eight innings in his Game 2 start, with two walks and seven strikeouts.