The Miami Marlins focused on the college ranks with their eight selections on Day 2 of the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Today's announcements were made by Marlins' Vice President of Scouting Stan Meek.
Miami started Day 2 by drafting six consecutive college juniors, led by University of Kentucky second baseman Riley Mahan (Cincinnati, OH) in the third round (89th overall) and Stanford University right-handed pitcher Colton Hock (Bloomsburg, PA) in the fourth round (119th).
Mahan batted .336 (88x262) in 66 games this season, leading the Wildcats in home runs (15) and RBI (67). His 67 RBI were the sixth-most in a season in Kentucky history, as were his 23 doubles; he finished the year with 42 extra-base hits. Mahan was one of just two players to earn SEC Player of the Week honors three times this season, and was named second-team All-SEC.
Hock set a Stanford single-season record with 16 saves this season, and is one of five finalists for the Stopper of the Year Award; the winner will be announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in Omaha on June 17 at 11 a.m. Hock led the Cardinal with a 2.08 ERA and a .211 average against, and was second with 27 appearances and six wins. Ten of his 16 saves were over 1.0 inning, including a long of 2.2 innings twice; he converted 16-of-18 save chances and held opponents scoreless in 22-of-27 outings.
Hock began a run on pitching by the Marlins that lasted four rounds. The Club selected UC-Riverside right-hander Ryan Lillie (Murrieta, CA) in the fifth round (149th), University of Southern Mississippi right-hander Taylor Braley (Hattiesburgh, MS) in the sixth round (179th), and University of Notre Dame left-hander Sean Guenther (Atlanta, GA) in the seventh round (209th).
The run on pitching ended in the eighth round, but not the run on college juniors, as Miami selected catcher Jared Barnes (Tallahassee, FL) out of the University of South Alabama (219th). Barnes batted .320 (55x172 with 13 home runs this season, and had a perfect fielding percentage in 51 games, throwing out 13 of 23 runners attempting to steal.
Miami made three selections on the first day of the Draft on Monday, and made the occasion a family affair. With their first-round pick, 13th overall, the Marlins selected LHP Trevor Rogers, 19, out of Carlsbad High School (NM). Rogers is the second cousin of former Marlins' outfielder and 12-year Major Leaguer Cody Ross. Rogers went 11-0 with a 0.33 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 11 starts as a senior, a year after going 9-2, 0.70 with 122 strikeouts in leading the Cavemen to a Class 6A state championship.
After taking University of North Carolina center fielder Brian Miller (Raleigh, NC) in Competitive Balance Round A (36th overall), Miami closed out Day 1 by going local, selecting North Carolina State shortstop Joe Dunand (Miami, FL) in the second round (51st overall). Dunand, who hit 18 home runs and slugged .632 this season as a junior, is the nephew of former Major Leaguer Alex Rodriguez.
A complete list of Miami's 2017 draft picks and a positional breakdown are available on the attached PDF. The Draft concludes tomorrow with Rounds 11-40, beginning at 12:00 p.m.