Marlins complete 2014 First-Year Player Draft
Select 42 Players, Including RHP Tyler Kolek No. 2 Overall
MIAMI - The 2014 First-Year Player Draft came to a conclusion on Saturday, with the Miami Marlins making 30 of their 42 overall selections on the final day. The announcements were made by Vice President of Scouting Stan Meek.
The Marlins held the second overall selection of the Draft this year, the highest they have selected since having the first overall pick in 2000 (Adrian Gonzalez). This year, the Marlins made Texas high-school right-handed pitcher Tyler Kolek their top pick. It was tied for the highest they have selected a pitcher, having also taken Josh Beckett with the second overall pick in 1999.
Kolek, the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year for 2013-14, posted a 5-2 record and a 0.35 ERA in his senior season, with 126 strikeouts and eight walks in 60.1 innings pitched. He allowed just 23 hits, and no home runs.
The final day of the Draft began with the Marlins selecting three right-handed pitchers over their first five selections. Nick White (Tulsa, OK) was taken out of Berryhill High School (OK) with Miami's 11th round pick (No. 317 overall). White, the top-rated pitching prospect out of Oklahoma according to MLB.com, was 37-4 over his four-year high school career, including a 6-3 mark with 157 strikeouts as a senior, and a 10-1 mark with 116 strikeouts as a junior, when Berryhill won the Class 4A state title.
Also among the right-handed pitching haul early on Saturday were two collegiate pitchers, Jacob Smigelski (Glendora, CA) out of the University of California-Riverside, and Connor Overton (Mechanicsville, VA) out of Old Dominion University. Smigelski, taken in the 13 th round (No. 377 overall), was 8-6, 3.25 (91.1 IP/33 ER) as a junior this year, with 66 strikeouts. Overton, taken in the 15th round (No. 437 overall), was 3-3, 2.79 (42.0/13) as a redshirt sophomore this year, notching four saves and striking out 43 batters.
Between the three pitchers, Miami selected catcher Roy Morales (Lares, PR) out of Colegio Angel David High School in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the 12th round (No. 347 overall). He was one of four catchers drafted by the Marlins, including Blake Anderson (Collinsville, MS) out of West Lauderdale High School (MS) with their second overall pick (36th overall). Miami also selected high-school shortstop Zach Sullivan (Corning, NY) with their fourth pick of day three, in the 14th round (No. 407 overall), out of Corning East High School (NY).
Of the 42 players drafted by the Marlins, 27 were from the college ranks and 15 were high school players. Miami drafted 23 pitchers (nine left-handers), four catchers, 12 infielders and three outfielders.
Additional information including a full listing of drafted players is available on the team's official website, www.marlins.com and on mlb.com/draft.