JuCo star Honeywell goes to Rays at No. 72

ST. PETERSBURG -- With their final selection of the first day of the 2014 Draft, the Rays used the 72nd selection to pick right-hander Brent Honeywell from Walters State.

"Brent Honeywell is a lean, wiry-body kid," Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison said. "Fast arm. Live arm. He actually throws a screwball.

"I thought he was going to be a gimmick guy when I heard about him and actually came into our workout the other day. He has a really good ability to do a lot of things with the ball. Good breaking ball, changeup. He's an interesting character."

Honeywell, 19, is a graduate of Franklin County High School in Carnesville, Ga. He went 11-3 with a 2.81 ERA this year in his freshman season at Walters State.

He struck out 102 batters while walking just 15 in 83 1/3 innings. He allowed just 71 hits and 26 earned runs.

On Tuesday morning, Walters was named a National Junior College Athletic Association Second Team All-American.

With their first pick, the Rays selected Casey Gillaspie, a switch-hitting junior first baseman from Wichita State, at No. 20.

With the 60th overall pick of the Draft, the Rays selected Cameron Varga, a right-handed pitcher from Cincinnati (Ohio) Hills Christian Academy.