Tampa Bay Rays 2014 First-Year Player Draft

BOLD INDICATES PLAYER SIGNED

Drafted Totals
Pitchers: 8 | Catchers: 1 | Infielders: 2 | Outfielders: 0 | High School: 3

CASEY GILLASPIE. FIRST BASEMAN

ROUND 1 - NO. 20 OVERALL

B/T. S/L                HT/WT. 6-4/240                BORN. 1/25/1993             SCHOOL. Wichita State University

Is only the third college hitter selected by the Rays with their first overall selection, joining 3B Richie Shaffer (Clemson, 2012) and 3B Evan Longoria (Long Beach State, 2006).

As a junior this year hit .389 (82-for-211) with 15 HR, 50 RBI, .520 OBP and a .682 SLG in 59 games…tied for 5th in NCAA Division I with 15 HR, led the nation with 58 BB and ranked 2nd in OBP…led the Missouri Valley Conference in avg., OBP, SLG, hits and HR, ranked T-1st in RBI, T-2nd with 50 runs scored and T-6th with 15 2B.

Named first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, first Shocker to do so since Mike Pelfrey in 2005.

Was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.

Joined OF Joe Krsnich in 1972 (Yankees), OF Joe Carter in 1981 (Cubs), OF Russ Morman in 1983 (White Sox) and brother 3B Conor Gillaspie in 2008 (Giants) as former Wichita State position players drafted in the first round…Conor was the first of his draft class to reach the majors after he debuted on Sep 9, 2008 vs. ARI.

Father Mark Gillaspie was a former All-American outfielder at Mississippi State and 11th-round selection by the San Diego Padres in 1981 June Draft…played eight seasons in the minor leagues (primarily as an outfielder).

Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 1 first baseman-high school or college-available in this year's draft.

A natural righty, he started switch-hitting when he was 8 years old.

Led the Cape Cod League with 8 HR while playing for the Falmouth (Mass.) Commodores last summer.

Last name is pronounced guh-LESS-pee.

CAMERON VARGA. RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER

ROUND 2 - NO. 60 OVERALL

B/T. R/R               HT/WT. 6-3/205                BORN. 8/19/1994             SCHOOL. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

As a high school senior, compiled a 10-0 record with 141 SO to 6 BB in 58 IP…tossed his 5th no-hitter of the season on Day 1 of the 2014 June Draft in the Ohio High School Athletic Association's Division III State Semifinals (15 SO, 1 BB).

Named the 2014 Gatorade Ohio Baseball Player of the Year.

Set a national record this year by striking out 33 consecutive batters…passed the previous record of 22 set in 1973.

Originally committed to the University of Florida as a shortstop but has since changed his commitment to UNC.

At 19 years and 10 months old, is one of the oldest players in the high school draft class.

Ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect from Ohio and the No. 60 overall prospect overall…ranked by

MLB.com as the No. 47 overall prospect in this year's draft.

BRENT HONEYWELL. RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER

ROUND B - NO. 72 OVERALL

B/T. R/R               HT/WT. 6-2/180                BORN. 3/31/1995             SCHOOL. Walters State CC (TN)

Compiled an 11-3 record with a 2.81 ERA (83.1-IP, 26-ER) and 102 SO to 15 BB as a freshman this season.

Named a second-team NJCAA All-American.

Earned the Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the best defensive pitcher in NJCAA Division I.

His father Brent played for three seasons in the Pirates minor league system…he pitched for Saint Leo University under coach Mike Marshall, who won the Cy Young Award as a reliever with the Dodgers in 1974.

BROCK BURKE. LEFT-HANDED PITCHER

ROUND 3 - NO. 96 OVERALL

B/T. L/L HT/WT. 6-2/170                BORN. 8/4/1996                SCHOOL. Evergreen HS (CO)

Was 5-1 with a 1.05 ERA (40-IP, 6-ER) and 79 SO for Evergreen HS in 2014.

University of Oregon signee had a 1-hit shutout victory with 19 SO in an April game at Coors Field.

Pitched in the 2013 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif.

Became the first Colorado HS player taken in this year's Draft…was the first ever draft pick out of Evergreen HS.

BLAKE BIVENS. RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER            

ROUND 4 - NO. 127 OVERALL

B/T. R/R               HT/WT. 6-2/205                BORN. 8/11/1995             SCHOOL. George Washington HS (VA)

Is the sixth player drafted out of George Washington HS (Va.) and first since 2003.

Committed to Liberty University (Va.).

Was a second team selection for the 2014 Perfect Game Preseason Senior High School All America.

As a junior, went 9-0 with a 0.36 ERA…struck out 99 batters in 53 innings…named Western Valley District Player of the Year…also named Western Valley District Co-Player of the Year as a sophomore.

MICHAEL RUSSELL. SHORTSTOP

ROUND 5 - NO. 157 OVERALL

B/T. R/R               HT/WT. 6-2/200                BORN. 1/30/1993             SCHOOL. University of North Carolina

Led the Tar Heels with a .339 (78-for-230) avg. and 13 SB as a junior in 2014.

Led the ACC in hits, doubles and total bases during conference games this season.

Three-year starter was named to the 2014 Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I All-American third team…named All-ACC second team and was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award given to the nation's top shortstop.

Played 26 games with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod League last summer.

Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 134 player in the Draft and drew comparisons to Hunter Pence.

Was the 4th selection out of the University of North Carolina in franchise history and first since Tommy Coyle in 2012.

MAC JAMES. CATCHER

ROUND 6 - NO. 187 OVERALL

B/T. R/R               HT/WT. 6-1/195                BORN. 6/2/1993                SCHOOL. University of Oklahoma

Played 2 seasons at Oklahoma after transferring from Brookhaven College (Texas).

In 57 games this season, led the Sooners in batting average (.330) which also ranked 8th in the Big 12 Conference…finished 6th in the conference with a .477 SLG…had 15 2B, 1 3B and 5 HR with 41 RBI and a .398 OBP.

Threw out 11 of 20 (55 percent) attempted base stealers as a junior.

Played 5 positions throughout his junior season: catcher, first base, third base, left field and designated hitter.

After playing in only 9 games as a sophmore, named to the Gregg Olson Award watch list, given to the nation's Breakout Player of the Year.

MIKE FRANCO. RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER

ROUND 7 - NO. 217 OVERALL

B/T. R/R               HT/WT. 5-11/200              BORN. 11/30/1991           SCHOOL. Florida International University

Ranked second in NCAA Division I with a 1.09 ERA (99-IP, 12-ER) and 12th with 112 SO in 2014…set a Conference USA single season record for ERA, passing the previous park of 1.21 set in 2003.

Helped Florida International finish fourth in the country with a 2.29 team ERA.

Went 9-3 and was named to College Baseball Daily's Pitcher of the Year watch list…nearly cut his walk rate in half from the previous season…named a finalist for the Gregg Olson Award given to the nation's Breakout Player of the Year.

Spent two seasons at Howard (Texas) JC before he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012…named NJCAA first-team region 5 and Most Valuable Pitcher in 2011 with a 10-2 record and 2.84 ERA…two-time WJCAC Champion.

Became the second Florida International player drafted this year, joining teammate Aramis Garcia who went to the San Francisco Giants in Round 2.

DANIEL MILES. THIRD BASEMAN             

ROUND 8 - NO. 247 OVERALL

B/T. R/R               HT/WT. 6-2/190                BORN. 8/9/1991                SCHOOL. Tennessee Tech University

Mississippi native hit .380 (90-for-237) with 17 2B, 11 HR and 54 RBI in 58 G as a senior for the Golden Eagles.

Picked up first-team Louisville Slugger All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and was a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection for the second straight season. 

Tied for 2nd in NCAA Division I with 67 runs scored and ranked 10th with 90 hits…ranked in the Top 25 with a .481 OBP and .599 SLG.

CHRIS PIKE. RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER

ROUND 9 - NO. 277 OVERALL

B/T. R/R               HT/WT. 6-0/175                BORN. 10/11/1992           SCHOOL. Oklahoma City University

Went 10-3 with a 1.89 ERA (90.2-IP, 19-ER) and 125 SO while holding opponents to a .182 avg. as a senior.

Named first-team all-SAC and an honorable mention NAIA All-American finishing 7th in strikeouts and 5th in SO/9 IP.

Worked 17 consecutive hitless innings from Feb 28-March 14…pitched the 24th perfect game in NAIA history on March 7 against St. Gregory's (7-IP, 18-SO) and added a no-hitter at Southwestern Christian (7-IP) on March 14.

Started his college career at Fordham and pitched three seasons there…ranked 7th on the career innings pitched list (253.2) and 8th in career strikeouts (198).

BRADLEY WALLACE. RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER

ROUND 10 - NO. 307 OVERALL

B/T. R/R               HT/WT. 6-2/175                BORN. 9/12/1992             SCHOOL. Arkansas State University

Was 4-5 with a 4.37 ERA (78.1-IP, 28-ER) over 15 games as a senior for the Red Wolves.

Had 69 SO to 25 BB…led the Arkansas State pitching staff in innings pitched and opp. avg. (.280).

Named a Northwoods League All-Star in 2012 with the Green Bay Bullfrogs…led the league with a 1.29 ERA.