Pirates 2015 Draft selection bios
1 Kevin Newman INF University of Arizona
Was named a first-team Pac-12 selection in 2015 after hitting .370 (84-for-227) with 19 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 36 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 55 games with the University of Arizona. Was also named to the 2015 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Watch List, a second-team Louisville Slugger pre-season All-American and a Perfect Game pre-season third-team All-American. Was named to the Pac-12 all-conference team and Pac-12 all-defensive team while hitting .304 in 55 games as a sophomore. Earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors and was named to the Pac-12 All-Conference team in 2013. Was a starting shortstop for all 165 games in his career with Arizona. Was the 16th player in Arizona history to be selected in the first round of the draft and the highest drafted Wildcat since Trevor Crowe in 2004 (14th overall). Was a three-time Pac-12 Conference honoree in his career and a two-time Pac-12 Defensive team selection. Hit .337, recorded 227 hits, scored 132 runs and had 112 RBI in three years with the Wildcats. Was also one of two freshmen named a quarterfinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award for the best college shortstop in 2013. Took home back-to-back batting titles in the Cape Cod League after hitting .375 in 2013 and .380 in 2014 (became the first freshman to win the batting title in 2013).
1 (CB) Ke'Bryan Hayes INF Concordia Lutheran (TX) HS
Hit .436 (41-for-94) with 16 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 27 RBI and 12 stolen bases as a senior. Was a 2015 pre-season Perfect Game All-American and Texas All-Region first-team selection. Was a Perfect Game USA 2014 underclass first-team selection and 2013 underclass first-team selection. Is the son of former big leaguer and Pirate Charlie Hayes.
2 Kevin Kramer INF UCLA
Hit .323 (82-for-254) with 14 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 34 RBI and 55 runs scored as a red-shirt junior in 2015 with UCLA. Was also named a first-team All-Pac 12 selection in 2015 and was a Collegiate Baseball pre-season All-American. Ranked second in the Pac-12 in runs (55) and fourth in hits (82) while posting a career-high in batting average (.323) in 2015. His seven home runs in 2015 were tied for the team lead. Was the starting third baseman for the 2013 National Championship winning team. Started all 66 games for UCLA in 2013 at third base while earning honorable mention All-Pac 12 honors while finishing tied for third on the team with 68 hits. Finished career at UCLA with a .297 batting average, 114 runs scored and 89 RBI.
3 Casey Hughston OF University of Alabama
Started all 60 games as a sophomore in 2015 in right field for the University of Alabama while hitting .332 (78-for-235) with 14 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 44 RBI and 39 runs scored. Turned 21-years-old the day he was drafted (June 9). Was named to the Golden Spikes Award mid-season Watch List in 2015. Led the Tide in hits and total bases (118) in 2015. Hit .306 (125-for-409) with 21 doubles, six triples, 10 home runs and 69 RBI in 112 games in his two-year career at Alabama. Is the first player drafted by the Pirates out of the University of Alabama since pitcher Jason Townsend in 2010.
4 Jacob Taylor RHP Pearl River (MS) Comm. College
Went 2-5 with a 3.90 ERA and 44 strikeouts in nine games as a sophomore at Pearl River Community College. Posted a 3-1 record and two saves along with a 3.14 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 28.2 innings as a freshman at PRCC. Was a four-year starter and a first-team All-State selection while playing for Picayune High School in Mississippi. Is the first player drafted by the Pirates out of Pearl River Community College since John Hughes in the 50th round of the 2003 draft.
5 Brandon Waddell LHP University of Virginia
Is 3-5 with a 4.15 ERA (91.0ip/42er) in 16 starts this season as a junior at the University of Virginia. Was a third-team All-ACC honoree and was selected to the College World Series All-Tournament Team in 2014. Went 10-3 with a 2.45 ERA (114.0ip/31er) in 18 starts as a sophomore for Virginia (the Cavaliers went 15-3 in his starts). Went 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts during the 2014 NCAA tournament. Ranked second in the ACC with 10 wins in 2014...Tied for third among all freshmen nationally in strikeouts (84) in 2013. Has posted a 19-11 record and 3.43 ERA in 50 games (50 starts) in his three year career with Virginia.
6 JT Brubaker RHP University of Akron
Went 5-4 with a 3.63 ERA (89.1ip/36er) in 15 games (15 starts) as junior this year at the University of Akron. Led the Zips in strikeouts (72) and starts (15) while finishing second in wins (five) and innings pitched (89.1); also ranked fourth in appearances (15) for Akron in 2015 . Was the third Akron player to be drafted in the last four years. Led the Zips in strikeouts (39) as a freshman in 2013 while making 12 starts.
7 Mitchell Tolman INF University of Oregon
Started all 62 games as a junior in 2015 in the infield for the University of Oregon while hitting a .325 (75-for-231) with 20 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 42 RBI and 43 runs scored. Ranks third in program history in multiple-RBI games (21) after just two seasons at Oregon. Was named a third-team preseason All-American by both Perfect Game and College Sports Madness in 2015. Was named to the PAC-12 All-Conference team as a sophomore in 2014 after batting .315 with two home runs, 49 RBI and 18 doubles while starting each of Oregon's 64 games at third base, first base or designated batter. Was named a freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger in 2013.
8 Seth McGarry RHP Florida Atlantic University
Went 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA (40.0ip/10er) in 21 relief appearances as a junior this year for Florida Atlantic University. Was named one of Perfect Game's top 100 junior players in the nation entering 2015. Is a graduate of Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton, Florida, where he set the school record for the most hits in a single season under coach Mike Mullen.
9 Bret Helton RHP University of Utah
Went 2-8 in 18 appearances (10 starts) as a junior in 2015 with the University of Utah. His father, Barry Helton, was an All-American football player at Colorado, spent four years in the NFL and won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. Was a two-time all-state selection at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado. Is the first player drafted by the Pirates out of the University of Utah since Chris Shelton in 2001.
10 Logan Sendelbach RHP Tiffin (OH) University
Went 5-3 with a 2.84 ERA (57.0ip/18er) with five complete games in 11 appearances (10 starts) as a junior this year at Tiffin University. Was named an All-GLIAC honorable mention in 2015. Also took home All-GLIAC honorable mention accolades in 2014.