Collegiate draftees highlight A's Day 2 focus
Starting with right-hander Derby, club takes three college hurlers from Rounds 6-10
OAKLAND -- After beginning Day 2 of the 2015 Draft with their first high-school pick in right-hander Dakota Chalmers on Tuesday, the A's stuck with collegiate talent in Rounds 4-10, including San Diego State products in both the sixth and 10th rounds.
The Draft concludes on Wednesday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 on MLB.com beginning at 9 a.m. PT.
Round 6: RHP Bowdien "Bubba" Derby, San Diego State
Derby made 17 appearances, including 16 starts, for the Aztecs this season, going 8-4 with a 3.32 ERA. His strikeout numbers were off the charts, as he fanned 131 batters in 103 innings.
The 5-foot-10 right-hander split time as a starter and reliever in college, flashing a 96-mph fastball in the latter role. He could develop in either role in the A's system.
Round 7: RHP Kyle Friedrichs, Long Beach State
Friedrichs injured his elbow in 2012 and missed all of '13 and part of '14 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he returned as a redshirt senior this year to post a 2.79 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 100 innings over 15 starts, walking only 12.
The righty compensates for his lack of velocity by flashing pinpoint command. He also throws a changeup and slider.
Round 8: C Nick Collins, Georgetown
Collins excelled as a left-handed-hitting catcher at Georgetown, finishing his collegiate career as one of the most decorated players in the school's history.
He hit .370 with a .435 on-base percentage, seven home runs and 36 RBIs in 53 games for the Hoyas this season, numbers that earned him recognition as Georgetown's first Big East Player of the Year.
Collins' defense behind the plate is a work in progress, but the A's have not shied away from such projects.
Round 9: LHP Jared Lyons, Liberty University
Lyons earned Big South Pitcher of the Year honors after going 8-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 16 games, including 13 starts. He struck out 100 batters in 99 2/3 innings and walked just 22.
Along the way, the southpaw compiled three complete games, two of them shutouts, and held opponents to a .197 average.
Round 10: CF Steven Pallares, San Diego State
Pallares hit .352 with nine home runs and 48 RBIs in 64 games for the Aztecs this year, adding 37 walks and getting hit by a pitch nine times for a .447 on-base percentage. He also compiled 15 stolen bases.
He was responsible for the winning run in San Diego State's upset victory over No. 1 seed UC Santa Barbara in their first game of the NCAA Regionals last month, pulling off an outright steal of home plate in the top of the eighth inning to give the Aztecs a 4-3 lead they would never give back.