Rangers select RHP Dillon Tate with fourth overall pick in 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft
Texas will also have 45th overall selection later this evening
Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers selected RHP Dillon Tate with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander was a 2015 Louisville Slugger All-American and Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist as a junior at the University of California-Santa Barbara. He went 8-5 with a 2.26 ERA (26 ER/103.1 IP) and 111 strikeouts against 28 walks in 14 starts for the Gauchos this season. The right-hander was tabbed as the top pitcher and 3rd-best prospect overall in the draft by Baseball America.
After recording 12 saves a sophomore, Tate was named the Gauchos' Friday starter this season. The right-hander earned a spot on USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team last summer, recording 3 saves with a 0.79 ERA in 11 appearances. Tate is the highest selection ever out of UCSB, the school that also produced former Ranger Michael Young.
Tate attended Claremont (CA) High School, earning three letters for the Wolfpack. He played his summer ball for the Urban Youth Academy.
Texas will also have the 45th overall pick in the draft's second round, which will take place later tonight.