Collegiate pitching a theme for Nats on Day 2
On Day 2 of the MLB Draft, the Nationals only selected college players, taking six pitchers, an outfielder and a first baseman.
The most noteworthy player taken by Washington was Mariano Rivera Jr., who is the son of the great Yankees closer, and he's a starter with potential.
"Once we got past the top group there, we tried to focus on some pitching and ended up getting a couple of quality left-handed arms," Nationals assistant general manager Kris Kline said. "We are trying to take the best player available. Money is a factor at this point with the way the Draft works now."
The Draft concludes on Wednesday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at noon ET.
Round 3 (103rd overall): OF Rhett Wiseman, Vanderbilt
A left-handed hitter with some power, Wiseman had his best year in 2015, hitting .316 with a team-leading 14 home runs and 46 RBIs in 64 games.
Video: Draft 2015: Nationals draft OF Rhett Wiseman No. 103
Wiseman can play the corner-outfield spots, and he's considered an above-average defender. The only negative about his game is that he struck out 64 times in 263 at-bats last season.
Round 4 (134th overall): RHP Mariano Rivera Jr., Iona
Rivera went 5-7 with a team-best 2.65 ERA for Iona in 2015. He was named the MAAC Pitcher of the Year this past season, and he was also named to the All-MAAC First Team, leading the conference with 113 strikeouts.
Video: Draft 2015: Nationals draft RHP Mariano Rivera
Rivera posted a dominating 11.96 strikeouts per game and 12.87 strikeouts per game in conference play. He held opposing batters to a .211 average against, and he kept conference hitters to a .155 average. Rivera threw six complete games -- one shy of the Iona record -- and led the MAAC with three shutouts in 85 innings pitched. He was a three-time recipient of the MAAC's Pitcher of the Week Award.
• Nats draft Mariano Rivera's son in 4th round
Round 5 (164th overall): LHP Taylor Hearn, Oklahoma Baptist University
He's a left-handed power pitcher who pitched just one season, going 9-0 with a 3.50 ERA in 15 games for Oklahoma Baptist in 2015. Hearn struck out 71 in 64 1/3 innings pitched.
Round 6 (194th overall): LHP Matt Crownover, Clemson
He continues to get better after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Crownover was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year after going 10-3 with a 1.82 ERA with 108 strikeouts in 16 starts for Clemson. He could be a bullpen guy or a fourth or fifth starter in a rotation.
Round 7 (224th overall): LHP Grant Borne, Nicholls State University
Borne led the Southland Conference with a 1.39 ERA, and he ranked fourth in the league in strikeouts (93). He went 6-5 in 15 starts.
Round 8 (254th overall): RHP Koda Glover, Oklahoma State University
Glover could be in the Nationals' bullpen in the future. Glover posted a 1.90 ERA in 23 appearances in 2015, striking out 28 and walking seven.
Round 9 (284th overall): 1B David Kerian, University of Illinois
In his senior season, Kerian was a second-team Louisville Slugger All-American and the Big 10 Conference Player of the Year. He set career highs in home runs, RBIs and batting average.
Round 10 (314th overall): LHP Taylor Guilbeau, University of Alabama
Guilbeau went 3-6 wth a 3.69 ERA in 15 starts during his senior season at Alabama. He went 12-11 with a 3.95 ERA in 63 games during his four years.